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Venice, Louisiana:
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Local
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Mike Iaconelli
Fishing Reports Catch Photos News & Events
Talks Kayaks Inshore
PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF SCHNEIDER VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 267
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Each month, Coastal Angler Magazine and The Angler Magazine staff search our vast coverage area for photos that will grace our covers. With well over a million readers in diverse coastal and inland markets, our magazines strive for broad national appeal as well as local-level intelligence to put anglers on fish. The cover is different depending on which edition you, the reader, are holding. The following is a little information about this month’s covers.
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The cover of this month’s Coastal Angler Venice, Louisiana: editions features a gorgeous Louisiana red A Paddler's caught by Kaku pro-staffer and Louisiana Heaven tuna captain Jeff Schneider while fishing from the deck of a Kahuna SUP. There is perhaps no better place in the world to chase redfish from a paddle-powered boat Local Bass Pro Mike Iaconelli than Venice, Louisiana. Kaku’s president Talks Kayaks Inshore Kevin Hawkins tells us all about it in this issue. With thousands upon thousands of acres of marshland situated around the mouth of the Mississippi Delta, it is a paradise for inshore species and the anglers who target them. There are so many options for kayak and paddleboard anglers around Venice. They range from mothership trips out in the Gulf of Mexico for big cobia, jacks and bull reds to easier hand-launch expeditions off the side of the road in Venice, where marsh ponds and canals in tall grass make it easier to find fishing out of the wind. No matter where or how one decides to deploy a little plastic boat in the waters around the Delta, the fishing will be fantastic. It truly is heaven for anglers under paddle power.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF JEFF SCHNEIDER
VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 267
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THE ANGLER MAGAZINE Bass Pro Mike Iaconelli: Down Off The Deck
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Professional bass tournament angler and Mike Iaconelli TV personality Mike Iaconelli is one of the most recognized anglers in the world. The 2003 Bassmaster Classic Champion and 2006 Make New Lures Angler of the Year, “Ike” can claim to have won Confidence Lures Local almost every major award in professional bass fishing. But he’s also a self-described fish-head, who will fish anywhere, any way for anything that will pull on the other end of a line. It’s fitting that the rig pulling his stateof-the-art Bass Cat boat also has a Hobie kayak strapped to the roof for quick and easy, on-the-spot fun fishing. In this month’s magazine, Ike tells us about his love of kayak fishing in a question-and-answer session that delves into some of the tools and techniques he uses inshore. Ike is one of the best bass fishermen in the world, and his tournament skills translate well to saltwater. The cover of this month’s The Angler Magazines is of “Ike” with a good redfish caught while filming for his TV show “Going Ike” in Port Fourchon, Louisiana. We interviewed him in the run-up to this year’s Bassmaster Classic, and taking a moment to talk kayaks seemed a breathe of fresh air for him during crunch time. Talks Kayaks Inshore
ELITE SERIES PRO MIKE IACONELLI CHASES VOLUME 22 • ISSUE 267
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Kayakin’ The Spring
By Patrick Sebile
L
ife is getting vibrant. Things are warming up, and spring is here. As a ritual long established, I feel the need to be close to nature. And to me there’s no better way to experience the feeling of life awakening than riding a kayak with a rod in my hand. I have fished and guided from all kinds of boats, from small skiffs to majestic deep-sea vessels, but a small plastic shell puts me right next to the fish, my hands always a few inches from the water’s surface. It’s not a money matter, as I own boats. Perhaps it is the challenge? I definitively spend more time each year fishing from my skiff or bass boat, and surely catch more fish from these boats. They are true fishing machines, helping me cover lots of water to find fish. And they can carry all the gear necessary for any situation. On my kayak, I have to think effectively about what my needs are and carefully consider every single thing I will bring onboard. It’s a good way to find the balance between needs and wants. So how do I fish while kayaking? In freshwater and saltwater, my approach is to slowly and surely cover every spot. In a kayak, I am much more aware of, and more capable of, targeting the places where fish hide. Superbly silent, my Pro Angler carries me at the edge of two worlds, above the surface where we
live and the liquid world, which holds the object of all our passions. My kayak tackle boxes have a variety of carefully selected key lures that will help in different situations and environments, nothing more than what I will need. I carry Magic Swimmers, hard for open water and soft for heavy cover and structure. A Flatt Shad snagless is effective in both open and snaggy areas. Twitch baits like the Stick Shadd definitely go into my box, as they are needed if fish are active. A handful of plastic worms, a couple of bucktails, and then a topwater or a pivot frog will complete this set to fish from a ’yak. Seated just above the water, gliding silently with gentle movements of my feet on the pedals, rod in hand and with eyes searching, I use the smooth approach to get as close as I can to the spot or to the fish. Then all that’s left is a short but accurate cast. Proximity also gives me greater enjoyment of seeing the fish and seeing it bite. That’s why I love kayak fishing this time of the year. And you never know; I may let my lures sit in the tackle box and simply hook a shiner or a shrimp and let it swim. Or maybe I won’t even do a thing, just watch the water and the life that surrounds it—just enjoy life… and a kayak ride. Patrick Sebile is the owner and lure designer of Sebile Innovative Fishing (www.sebile.com).
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Mike Iaconelli Talks Kayaks And Redfish
Editor Nick Carter had the chance to interview professional bass angler Mike Iaconelli just before the Bassmaster Classic. We didn’t want to jinx Ike by talking about the Classic, so we asked the Hobie pro about his love of kayak fishing.
W
hat’s the appeal in stepping down from the deck of a bass boat into a kayak? Ike: Growing up in southern New Jersey, I consider myself a small-boat angler first. Many of my early childhood experiences fishing involved fishing from the bank, rowing a small jonboat or paddling a canoe. Kayak fishing fills a huge niche in my fishing life. Outside of competitive bass tournament fishing, I’m still a huge fish head. That means fishing for all freshwater and saltwater species in my down time. When I’m fun fishing or filming for TV shows, I love to access remote places that I can’t get into with my full size bass boat. Kayak fishing is also a HUGE breath of fresh air to leave behind the big boat and all of the time and preparation that go along with launching and running that boat. With your tournament schedule, do you get to spend much time on the salt? Ike: I definitely try to go inshore and offshore fishing each fall when the tournament season concludes. This past fall, I spent a week in Port Fourchon, Louisiana hanging out at Hobie Worlds 6 and filming a kayak fishing episode for season two of my TV show, Going Ike, which premiers this spring on the Pursuit Channel! I had a great time catching big redfish and trout, plus it was awesome meeting the Hobie World Championship competitors from all over the world who love fishing as much as I do. I also had a chance to go offshore fishing with my buddy Ish Monroe in San Francisco during November. We were mainly targeting lingcod, and it was an amazing day of fishing! Where do you put your kayak in and what do you fish for in New Jersey? Ike: I mostly fish the small lake behind my house, which has largemouth bass, northern chain pickerel, crappie and sunfish. My son, Vegas, got a brand new Hobie kayak from Santa for Christmas this year. The fish in our lake better watch out this summer! I’m really looking forward to spending time with my family and pursuing exciting new fishing adventures. How do redfish compare to “green fish?” Ike: Anyone who has caught a big redfish would agree that they are definitely more powerful and are a very aggressive fish in general. One of my favorite things about targeting redfish is that most of the time I can focus on shallow-water power-fishing techniques and search for active, feeding reds. With the “green fish,” there are a lot of times that I have to slow down and present a bait to them slowly such as with a jig, worm or finesse fishing.
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What skills, techniques and gear from your bass arsenal translate well to inshore? Ike: Casting accuracy/ presentation, reading tides and powerfishing techniques are the first three that come to my mind. Often when I’m inshore fishing, I am targeting fish that are relating to a grass edge or current break. If I can make accurate, quiet casts, there’s a good chance I’m going to catch more fish! Having grown up fishing the Delaware River, which can have up to a 7-foot tide swing between low and high tides, I’ve spent much of my life learning how fish position based on the tide level and current. This experience translates extremely well to inshore fishing…. I bring a lot of traditional power-fishing gear that you’d also find in my Bass Cat boat when I’m fishing for bass: Abu Garcia “Ike” Series Rods, Berkley Trilene braided/ monofilament/ fluorocarbon fishing lines, Rapala Skitter Walk and Skitter V topwaters, VMC jigheads, and Berkley Powerbait and Gulp swimbaits, grubs, and more soft plastics. How is your Hobie rigged out? Ike: I have a Power Pole Micro Anchor to stop the kayak on a dime. This is a very crucial piece of equipment, which allows me to quickly stop and fish an area without the kayak drifting with the current or wind. This is huge when you are fishing specific targets such as points, current breaks, laydowns, docks and more. I also have a Lowrance HDS 9 Touch unit, a storage crate for my Flambeau Zerust tackle boxes and tackle bags, landing net, rod holders, and of course, Hobie’s Mirage Drive pedals so I can keep my hands fishing instead of paddling! Electronics play a huge role on the bass tournament scene, what’re your thoughts on electronics in kayaks? Ike: Electronics play just as huge of a role in kayak fishing. I really use it the same as with my Bass Cat boat! As I just mentioned, I run a Lowrance HDS 9 Touch unit on my Hobie for its GPS/ sonar abilities. I rely heavily on the information I can gather from the Lowrance such as mapping/ bottom contours, reading the water temperature, and using the sonar for locating fish, cover and structure to name a few. I may mount a Hydrowave on the Hobie as well soon. It’s another great innovation in electronics, and I use it often in my boat to fire up fish. I’m always interested in adding tools to my boat or kayak that help me catch more fish!
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f there’s a heaven for folks who fish from paddle-powered boats, it must look a lot like Venice, Louisiana. This narrow spit of marshland at the Mississippi River Delta is a maze of canals and bays that flush into the Gulf of Mexico with fecundity born of joining waters. Channels and marsh ponds tucked into thousands of acres of wetlands make it the perfect habitat for redfish, seatrout, flounder and other species. It’s like the landscape was designed for fishing and exploring with a paddle. Kevin Hawkins was born and raised in Tarpon Springs, Fla. He is the president of Kaku Kayaks & Paddleboards but calls himself the company’s chief pro-staffer. He prides himself on the amount of fishing he does and designs his boats on experience. Venice is one of his favorite testing grounds. Whether its launching roadside into the marsh, a trip outside the pass from remote Port Eads or a mothership expedition to the Gulf ’s famous oil rigs, it’s the perfect setting to test his boats. It doesn’t hurt that the fishing is awesome. When the seas aren’t too rough, there’s no adventure quite like a mothership trip out to the oilrigs in search of cobia, kingfish and bull reds. Kaku pro-staffer Capt. Jeff Schneider is also a tuna captain who runs a 36-foot Contender when he’s not paddling a small plastic boat. With kayaks loaded, it’s about an hour and a half run from Venice Marina out to 50-foot-deep rigs in West Bay. Hawkins described a day he fished with Schneider, and although the primary target was cobia, a big 45-inch redfish was the highlight. Armed with big 5000 reels and 40- to 50-pound tackle, they dropped Kaku Wahoo kayaks into 2- to 3-foot seas. Even on the stable fishing platform, Hawkins said it might have been a bit much for new paddlers. For a veteran it was fun. “It’s awesome, man. I love paddling a good kayak in that stuff and busting over big waves,” said Hawkins. “When it gets rough like that, it’s fun.” They fished a series of four or five structures linked by a bridge, which gave space to paddle around and explore. Hawkins said he paddled right up to the corner of a pier, dropped his jig straight down and began back paddling before jigging. That’s when the big bull red ate. “When you’re in the shallows and they pull you around, they call that the Cajun sleigh ride,” Hawkins said. “When you’re in deep water like that, he heads straight down. He was pulling me, and that kayak was smashing straight down on those waves. It was pretty intense.” Invariably, fish seek something to wrap the line around, and only by kicking off a beam was Hawkins able to keep himself from going
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Experience Heaven
APRIL 2017
under the rig and losing the fish. He gave a piece of advice for battling big fish from a kayak in deep water. “Keep the tip of the rod toward the front of the boat,” he said. “When the rod goes to the side, that’s when you run the risk of flipping.” If an open-water mothership trip seems a little much, Port Eads sits on the southernmost tip of Louisiana, right at the end of the Mississippi River. It’s only accessible by boat, and reasonable prices buy lodging and good meals. Also known as South Pass, the location is a few minutes paddle from the open Gulf and offers excellent fishing for big jacks, reds, cobia, blacktip sharks and any number of other species big enough to warrant medium-heavy rods, 3000 to 4000 reels and 30- to 40-pound-test lines. Hawkins likes artificials and prefers Slayer Inc.’s Sinister Swim Tail rigged on a 4/0 jig head. For him, sinking bait outside the pass would detract from the reason he fishes from kayaks and SUPs in the first place. “Kayaks are about stalking and hunting the fish,” he said. “You’ve got to use your instincts to find them. I don’t like to just sit on a hole and fish bait.” It’s as much fun as you can have sitting down… or standing up if seas are calm enough for an SUP like Kaku’s Kahuna, which is specifically designed for fishing. But perhaps the best bet for calm waters is a third Venice option, to launch roadside. Highway 23 runs from New Orleans to Venice, and Tidewater Road is where the pavement ends. There are any number of places to hand-launch a kayak or paddleboard. Hawkins mentioned Yellow Cotton Bay as well as a series of marsh ponds and cuts at a circular canal known as The Pinwheel. Once you find fish off the grass edges, it’s probably the best inshore action in the world, and it’s easily accessible to paddlers. Popping cork rigs are a no-brainer, but Hawkins said once you get tired of catching scads of rat reds and trout, it’s time to switch to the paddletail rig he likes to fish outside the pass. “We’re looking for the big ones,” he said. “You’ve still got to be ready for the big ones. No matter where I am in Venice, I’ve got a 30-pound rig.” For more information on Kaku Kayaks & SUPs, see kakukayak. com.
To learn more about fishing from a Kahuna Paddleboard, go to
FISHINGLIFE.CO
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The 12.5′ length of the Wahoo helps ensure stability. The Wahoo spans 33″ wide, great for fishing! Weighing only 74 lbs, the Wahoo is WWW.kakukayak.com lightweight, but incredibly stable. The Wahoo has a capacity of 400lbs.
KAKUKAYAKS.COM
STABILITY LIKE YOU HAVE NEVER SEEN!
The Most Versatile Paddle Craft… Ever! The new Kahuna offers extreme stability, versatility and durability. Mount coolers, seats, storage boxes, rod holders and more to its rugged frame. It’s the first paddle craft of its kind to offer fully integrated mounting for the Micro Power Pole Shallow Water Anchor!
THE DAY’S BIG CATCH SHOULD BE YOUR ONLY FOCUS Insurance coverage through BoatU.S. makes for a great start to what could be an epic day of fishing. Our policies are designed with coverages custom-made for Anglers and include 24/7 claims service from boating experts. • Agreed Value Coverage for Your Boat, Engine(s) and Boating Equipment • Broad Cruising Areas • Charter and Guide Coverage Options Available • Coverage for Fishing Gear • Tournament Coverage • Water Towing and Roadside Assistance from TowBoatU.S. – the Nation’s Largest Fleet
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Paddlesports Product Review COVERALLS KAYAK COVER
CREEKKOOLER FLOATING COOLER
Who says kayak covers need to be bulky and thick? CoverAlls kayak covers deliver protection, strength and durability in a lightweight, tough material that keeps your kayak clean and dry year-round. Protect your kayak from nature and the elements. Prevent dirt, debris, pollen and leaves from piling up in the cockpit and seat. Block bugs and critters before they move in. Keep water out with material that’s not just water-resistant—it’s water-PROOF. Our covers are also UV-resistant to preserve your kayak’s hull and rigging from the sun’s damaging rays. Best of all, CoverAlls kayak covers are a breeze to use. They slip on quickly, draw closed with a single poly cord and cam lock—not zippers—and get snug with durable Velcro straps. There’s even a built-in red flag for transport. The cover slips off easily and stows neatly in an included compact stuff bag that even fits in most deck hatches. Spend more time with a rod and reel and less time with a hose and scrub brush. See how much better protection can be at www.coveralls.biz!
Space is always at a premium when you’re on the water in a paddle-powered vessel. Whether it’s a kayak, canoe or stand-up paddleboard, a lack of stowage often forces us to leave behind the things not absolutely necessary for the activity at hand. On a larger boat where there’s plenty of room, many anglers wouldn’t think of going fishing without a cooler full of iced-down beverages. With the new Creekkooler, those navigating under paddle power can have the same luxury. The Creekkooler is an innovative floating cooler designed with dual-wall construction and top-quality insulation to retain ice and keep things cold for extended periods. Its shape cuts through the water, limiting drag and allowing it to be pulled easily behind a boat. Creekkooler has a 30-quart capacity and will hold 30 12-ounce cans and 20 pounds of ice. It has four drink holders on deck and a 1/8-turn watertight lid that makes it a great tool for extra dry storage, too. Whether it’s for keeping drinks cold during a day on the water with buddies, packing in provisions for a multi-day float trip, or extra dry storage for the stuff you need but don’t have room in the boat for, Creekkooler is an innovative new product that will make your excursion under paddle power more comfortable.
WWW.COVERALLS.BIZ
KANOOLERPRODUCTS.COM
WHALEBACK PADDLEBOARDS TORTUGA
When I’m not in the studio or at the racetrack, I’m fishing. Every chance I get. I recently started SUP fishing, and the 12’6” Tortuga by Whaleback Paddleboards is a real game changer. At 12’6” x 34” x 10.5”, with twin pontoons, the stability is ridiculous. I can walk nose to tail and all around the rails to reel in fish from any direction. Its 3-inch side bite tracking fins allow me to squeeze into shallow flats, and its maneuverability and stability is great offshore as well. With a fullcoverage, water-resistant traction pad, the deck space is unmatched. And its 28 customizable
By Matt Nix, Racin’ Nation Radio
WWW.WHALEBACKPADDLEBOARDS.COM
JACKSON KAYAK KRAKEN 13.5
Jackson Kayak’s Kraken 13.5 is an all-new option for paddlers looking to tackle big water. Based on The Kraken 15.5 platform, the 13.5 sheds some length for more maneuverability but with all the punch of its big brother. This kayak, just like the original, is designed for the most challenging paddling environments and intended for the offshore and big-lake kayak angler. It’s a natural follow up to the first collaborative design between legendary kayak angler, Jim Sammons and Jackson Kayak’s design team led by Tony Lee. The new Kraken 13.5 is a boat shaped and built to accommodate those hitting the open water in a nimble, smaller footprint but still capable of big water management. It’s designed for punching through surf, handling rough offshore currents, swells, beach landings and those who desire ultimate performance and maneuverability. With more features than can be listed, Jackson has considered all the needs of bigwater anglers and packed them thoughtfully into this kayak. Its great-tracking hull has the speed to cover miles and the volume and storage to carry you and your gear comfortably on long outings. 16
inserts and deck tie downs let me rig up my YakAttack lean post, rod holders, GPS and paddle holder and still have room for the cooler, cup holder and lawn chair. Because let’s face it, nothing’s better than celebrating a good catch with a cold one. Whether you’re an experienced SUP fisherman or just getting started, the 12’6’ Tortuga is the board for you. It sets you up with everything you need. You just have to find the fish. All Whaleback boards are made in the USA. Visit www.whalebackpaddleboards.com or call 561-3361612 for a dealer near you.
PAU HANA BIG EZ ANGLER At 11 feet long and available in both 32 and 36 inches of width, Pau Hana’s Big EZ Angler is built to be stable, the perfect platform for fighting any game fish. This paddleboard is derived from the classic Big EZ, and is shaped to provide anglers the balance they need while remaining easy to maneuver in shallow water without disrupting fish underneath. It is lightweight at just over 30-pounds, which means it is easy to launch anywhere there’s a place to carry it to the water. It can be rigged up for any kind of fishing, can handle heavy loads and carry all the gear you need. With a soft and stylish deck and space in between the pieces for water drainage, the Angler comes pre-equipped with 25 multiple threaded mount attachment points using Pau Hana’s innovative SeaMount System. Coolers, tackle boxes, anchors, nets, rod holders, paddle clips, lights and anything else an angler needs can be easily mounted on deck. The Big EZ Angler is a real teak paddleboard with the capacity to carry everything an angler needs and provide a stable platform to fish from.
WWW.PAUHANASURFCO.COM WWW.JACKSONKAYAK.COM APRIL 2017 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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Paddlesports Product Review RAM MOUNTING SYSTEMS Whether you are on a lake, stream, whitewater, inlet or ocean, kayaking is all about adaptability. RAM has created a complete line of rust-resistant mounting solutions for kayaks that allow anglers to mount items where they are needed. RAM Mounting systems offer the widest selection of kayak fishing accessories to adapt to a wide range of fishing scenarios. With a patented ball-and-socket design, RAM mounts allow anglers to mount almost anything at the perfect angle. This provides flexibility to mount equipment within reach, but out of the way. RAM’s kayak mounts and fishing accessories are rugged, compact, and have no sharp edges or points. All of our kayak mounts are backed by a lifetime warranty and are made in the USA. RAM mounts are the solution for mounting anything you might need on the water. A full line of rod holders covers everything from fly rods to conventional baitcasters and spinning rods of all sizes. Electronics, like fishfinders, chartplotters, phones, tablets and cameras can be mounted securely where they are needed. RAM even has a special system for mounting transducers for depthfinders. If there is something that needs to be mounted on a kayak, chances are RAM has thought of it and designed a product to hold it.
WWW.RAMMOUNT.COM
THE SKIMMER KAYAK MOTOR KIT Paddle fatigue getting to you? Want to motorize your kayak or canoe? There’s no need to pay $2,000 for a motorized kayak. Watercraft Technologies’ The Skimmer is a simple system for motorizing your kayak or canoe, and it costs less than $400. It is a lightweight, portable motor that mounts easily to your stern. Just snap it on when you need it. Fishing has never been easier, safer and more convenient. Go farther and save your energy for fishing! Increase your range! Catch more fish! The Skimmer weighs only 6 pounds. It’s 12v battery operated. There are easy controls for steering and motor lift. It’s environmentally safe, with no pollution, oil or gas spills. The Skimmer is made for saltwater, but does great in brackish or fresh water. It is able to propel a craft 2-4 knots and lasts two to five hours per charge. Imagine running your kayak at that speed and that long with zero effort! This propulsion system is great for people who want to get on the water and not worry about paddling hard into a swift current or strong wind. It is also great for those with shoulder, back or elbow issues. This kayak trolling motor kit carries a one-year, full parts replacement policy. See The Skimmer in action and order online at www.kayaktrollingmotor.com or order by phone at 631-848-3119.
WWW.KAYAKTROLLINGMOTOR.COM
MALIBU X-WING CONSOLE
Storage is a huge issue when all the gear you need at hand must fit in a space the size of your legs and lap. Malibu’s X-Wing Console is a fantastic option for storing and organizing gear in the cockpit of a kayak. Mounting of electronics, rod holders and other accessories can all be accomplished on one unit without drilling unnecessary holes in a kayak’s deck. A dry-storage compartment included in the unit makes the perfect place for valuables as well as being a great place for a battery. The X-Wing slides back and forth on a track mounted to the gunnel, so placement can be customized on the fly so it’s there when you need it and out of the way when you don’t. It’s also completely removable for storage and transportation. The X-Wing fits Malibu Kayaks, and modifications and adapters can be used to make the console fit other brands.
WWW.MALIBUKAYAKS.COM
YAKGEAR COOLER SEAT A cooler is one of the most valuable tools in most anglers’ arsenals. It goes everywhere and serves as a refrigerator, stepladder, poling platform, storage box and even a seat. YakGear’s Cooler Seat and Rigging Kit allows anglers to turn their cooler into a more comfortable and practical seating platform. Perfect for fishing, paddling, camping, tailgating and hunting, the YakGear Cooler Seat and Rigging Kit consists of the YakGear Sting Ray Seat and the necessary hardware to mount and secure the seat to a cooler. The kit is compatible with all coolers that feature “Front Locking Holes” including Yeti, Grizzly, Engel, Yukon, Icehole, some of the Bison models, and many more. The YakGear Sting Ray Seat features built-in back braces, which allow rigid back support without pressure from an exterior backrest. While most seats slouch down or fold over, the YakGear back braces hold the seat in place. As an additional feature, the seat has an aggressive non-slip pad to prevent unwarranted movement while sitting.
YAKGEAR.COM APRIL 2017
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INSPIRED BY STRENGTH HELL-FOR-STOUT CONSTRUCTION INCLUDES STAINLESS STEEL GEARS AND UP TO 30-POUNDS OF AVAILABLE DRAG.
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Okuma KomodoSS-ShadowStalkerGC-Strength 7.625x5.0125.indd 2
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FLY FISHING A Modern Take On Booking Fishing Guides And Charters
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a better way. In April 2016, Fisher Guiding was founded. Since then, Hill has been working full time to turn his dream of easy one-stop shopping for charters and guided trips into reality. Fisher Guiding is a web-based service that lets anglers book trips with guides and charters online. It allows potential customers to search, review, message and pay guides all through an easy-to-use website. This service allows guides and captains to advertise and book clients based on available dates. It makes payment hassle free and allows guides and captains to market to customers in a way never before available. For some independent guides, the local fly shop is the only avenue available for them to book clients. Fisher Guiding is looking to supplement and modernize by offering a variety of scheduling and booking tools. Right now, Fisher Guiding currently has booking options from Alaska to the East Coast, Bahamas, Belize and Costa Rica. Although the consumer website just launched eight days ago, Fisher is already off to a great start with trips booked and new guides joining daily making for a constantly growing community. “Ultimately, the goal is to have guides and charters representing every market and fishing destination in the USA and around the world,” said Hill. It will be interesting to see how Fisher Guiding impacts the industry. The advantages are obvious for guides and charter services, but the greatest benefit may be for the consumer. Customers can read reviews and even message guides right through the website. Booking and paying for trips can be handled in two easy steps. While all change forces adaptation, a more competitive and transparent system will serve both the professionals and consumers. Ultimately the goal of Fisher Guiding is to make guides and charters more accessible to the public and contribute to the growth of the sport. A high tide will raise all the boats. See for yourself at www.fisherguiding.com.
FLY FISHING
ooking fishing guides and charters has not really changed at all for 50 years, so the industry is ripe for change and improvement. That is what Edward Hill—founder of Fisher Guiding– thought before launching his online service for guides and captains and the anglers who use them. Hill worked at Front Range Anglers before By Charlie Warfield graduating from the University of Colorado. There he saw firsthand how the guiding business worked in the local area. After school, he did private sector work in Washington, D.C., but after a couple years felt the need for a change and a new challenge. He began planning a trip to the Everglades with his father to do some fishing and reflection. Hill began searching the Internet for local guides. He was frustrated by the lack of information and the hoops he had to jump through to get hold of a guide. He had to look up guides and then call them for available dates and rates. It was a hassle, and it then turned out the guides he tracked down didn’t have the dates available he was looking for. Hill thought there must be
CHOOSING THE CORRECT BAITFISH FLY
I
f you look in many fly anglers’ boxes, you will see a huge array of flies in all shapes, sizes and colors. However, having the one correct fly in the box is the key to fishing success. Picking the correct flies for any saltwater fly fishing situation is key to whether or not you’ll be catching fish. Walking into a fly shop and looking into the fly bins can prove mindboggling to the uninitiated. The bins are filled with so many flies with which the fledgling saltwater fly fisher has little or no knowledge. Saltwater flies differ from their freshwater cousins in size and dress. Sometimes, like the kid in a candy store who is more influenced by the attractive wrapper than its contents, the beginning saltwater fly angler often chooses the eye-candy, over-dressed flies far too bulky to resemble a baitfish or a crab, flies that hook fishermen rather than fish.
Baitfish patterns
I believe a sparsely dressed baitfish pattern is preferable to a bulked up flashy fly. Why? The sparsely dressed fly will have a more natural look than will an all-too-spruced-up fly. Also, my experience has shown that a fish is far less selective when presented the sparsely dressed fly. The fly is only an imitation, a hint, of what the fish is feeding on, producing in the fish a reflexive action to strike. Perhaps one of the most important parts of the saltwater fly is its large eye that resembles closely the good-sized eyes on baitfish such as sardines, pilchards, and anchovies. Game fish zero in on that oversized eye when chasing and feeding on baitfish. Focusing on that eye results in fewer lost meals.
Color
Natural colors work best. Olive green, browns, tans and
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FLY FISHING Upstate New York
Bass On The Fly! By Mathew DeRosa
I
t was a very successful spring steelhead season on New York’s Salmon River. Approaching the tail end of the season, a friend and I made a “last chance” trip in hopes of finding a few final drop-back steelhead left in the system. We fished the lower section of the river, near Lake Ontario, to increase our chances of a tight line. It was one of those days when spring starts meshing into summer. The sun was shining with a few high clouds, the warm breeze was 70 degrees, and we had the river to ourselves. For an angler, being outside and fishing in a short sleeve shirt with no one around should be enough to call any day a success. This day was about to get better. As we cast into a river with increasing water temps and a majority of the steelhead already back in Lake Ontario, our expectations of a tight line were low. Soon enough, as we launched large flies
into the water, the addicting tight line grabs began. These fierce strikes were not steelhead, but hungry smallmouth bass. We enjoyed a full day on the river swinging 4-plus-inch flies and catching more than 25 smallmouth bass apiece. Are you a bass fisherman? Have you experienced the power of a bass on a fly rod? Smallmouth and largemouth bass will aggressively hunt down prey, which makes catching them on a fly rod extremely enjoyable. The late spring and early summer months are perfect to experience bass on the fly in Upstate New York. Altmar, N.Y. is on the Salmon River a short drive from the Tug Hill Sportsman Club. Both the Salmon River and the Tug Hill Sportsman’s Club are great places to learn how to fly fish and test your skills on bass. The beautiful scenery and vast expanse of meandering clear water make the Salmon River a top-priority fishing location in late spring. Favorable river conditions draw in large numbers of smallmouth bass. The river has more than 12 miles of public fishing property, and you can fish all day without encountering another angler. Smallmouth enter the river in April to spawn and remain in the system until September. Average Salmon River smallmouth bass range from 2 to 3 pounds; some weigh more than 5 pounds. Bass are present the entire length of the river from Altmar to the Douglaston Salmon Run. Tug Hill Sportsman Club The Tug Hill Sportsman Club is located on 450 acres of gently rolling land and is home to four lakes. The lakes make up about 45 acres of pristine largemouth bass-infested water. New to fly fishing or experienced, the opportunity to catch a world-class largemouth is there. The fish in these small lakes have had unpressured feeding, growing and reproductive conditions as the property has been carefully managed for more than 25 years. The goal is to provide guests with the highest quality angling. Enjoy Tailwater Lodge’s relaxing accommodations and fish the Tug Hill Sporting Club with Zero Limit Adventures! Matthew DeRosa is a guide with Zero Limit Adventures. For more information on the Tug Hill Sportsman’s Club and Zero Limit Adventures, visit www.zerolimitadventures.com.
whites are all great color combos for baitfish patterns. You should, however, carry a selection of blue and white, red and white and, of course, chartreuse and white in your fly box.
Size
Depending on what type of fish you’re pursuing, the size of your flies will vary. But, in most saltwater fly fishing situations, you’ll also need baitfish patterns that range from a small anchovy patterns in size 6 to large sardine or pilchard patterns in size 2/0. Remember, just as it is on the spring creek or on the large river, it’s all about matching the hatch, weather it’s insects or baitfish.
For more flyfishing with Bowman, go to
CAMFLYFISHING.COM
35 Acres of Private Access to the World-Renowned Salmon River 42 Luxurious Accommodations On-Site Bar and Restaurant • Daily Hot Breakfast Included Salmon River, Altmar, NY 315-298-3434
TailwaterLodge.com
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Center sp
You could get a discount when you combine your auto and boat policies.
for your boat geico.com | 1-800-865-4846 | Local Office Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or all GEICO companies. Boat and PWC coverages are underwritten by GEICO Marine Insurance Company. Multi-Policy Discount available to auto insureds that have purchased a boat policy through the GEICO Marine Insurance Company. GEICO is a registered service mark of Government Employees Insurance Company, Washington, D.C. 20076; a Berkshire Hathaway Inc. subsidiary. © 2017 GEICO
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SOUTHEAST
FRANKLIN COUNTY, FLA.,
A Tarpon Fishing Destination
T
he areas of the Forgotten Coast in Franklin County, Fla. might not be your first thought when planning your quest to bag a silver king, but you really should consider it for your next fishing destination. Franklin County is not only home to beautiful, historical areas that take you back in time, the fishing is also second to none. Typically, May through August is the best time to find these migrating monsters as they come north for the summer, but given the warm conditions this year it might be sooner. Tarpon are not always an easy fish to catch, but if you hire one of the many seasoned guides that understand their habits, it increases your odds of landing one exponentially. Capt. Jordan Todd, of Saltwater Obsessions (www.facebook.com/ SWOfishing) understands these fish extremely well, and regularly cracks the code to get them on the end of his client’s line. Having a keen understanding of the migration pattern and feeding habits, he can put you in the right place at the right time to do battle. If you bring your own boat to chase tarpon, you can count on them making an appearance around the mouth of the Apalachicola River, Ballast Cove, Dog Island, Mud Point and Alligator Point. Live bait, like threadfin herring, pilchards or pinfish are always a good bet. Try live mullet or jigs tipped with shrimp near the mouth of the Carrabelle River. They’ll often
be chasing mullet up and down the lower portion of the rivers and into the bays. Live mullet free-lined is a good bet when you’ve located actively feeding fish. You’ll know they’re active when they’re crashing on bait balls; mullet learn to fly and the commotion is intense! Techniques vary from casting and drifting live bait to sight fishing with a fly rod, but one thing is constant: these are big tarpon that migrate to this area! You won’t be chasing juveniles; they will usually be in the 70- to 100-pound class, so gear up accordingly. Spinning gear is always a good bet for presenting live bait. A 7’ med-heavy action rod with an 8000to 12000-series reel will do the trick. Fly fishermen should consider a 12-weight rod and a comparably matched reel with a quality drag system. These fish will test your equipment! Speaking of equipment, Apalachicola now features a fly fishing shop. The Forgotten Coast Fly Company, located in the historic downtown district, is a technical fly shop that provides the fly fishing community with fly tying material and tools as well as American-made rods, reels, line and merchandise. Your Franklin County tarpon quest awaits you along Florida’s forgotten coast. To hook up with one of Franklin County’s tarpon guides, visit www. floridasforgottencoast.com./ca.
Your fish is waiting. Florida’s Forgotten Coast
Boaters and mariners will find something to love in Franklin County. Carrabelle features deep water access to the Gulf of Mexico and freshwater rivers. Plan a kayak or day sailing eco-adventure from Apalachicola or St. George Island. Eastpoint and Alligator Point offer direct access to the best inshore fishing on the Gulf Coast. Bring your own boat or rent one here; there’s no better place to enjoy Florida’s Forgotten Coast.
Visit Floridasforgottencoast.com/ca for complete launch, marina, guide and tackle information.
ALLIGATOR POINT • APALACHICOLA • CARRABELLE • EASTPOINT • ST. GEORGE ISLAND COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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Picking the Right Inshore Rod
Agri Supply Is Your Boating & Fishing Headquarters Enjoy The Great Outdoors Carolina Cooker® Deep Fryer
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By Tobin Strickland CAM Special Correspondent
M
any overlook the importance of selecting the right rod for the job as it relates to casting artificial lures. There are five things to consider with casting performance in regard to graphite
rods. The first is the modulus of the graphite in the blank. Higher modulus graphite weighs less and is stiffer. Then there’s power of the blank, the tip action, the weight rating for the blank, and finally the rod length. For example, a medium power 6’6” or 6’9” rod, with a fast tip rated for 1/8 to 1/2 oz. is a great rod for inshore casting and fighting speckled trout and redfish with lures that range from 1/8 to ¾ oz. This rod specification will be well suited for topwaters and subsurface walkers. A medium light rod power with a fast action tip may cast the smaller lures slightly better, lures like the Mirrolure Little John on 1/16- or 1/8oz. jig head or a swimbait hook. The higher the graphite modulus of the blank, the lighter the blank will be and still keep the performance. For example, for my soft plastic rod I use a Lew’s Custom Lite Speed Stick in a medium lite action, 6’10” and rated for 1/8 to ½ oz. It’s constructed from 85 million modulus graphite. It’s light, casts far and accurately and is extremely sensitive. I can still cast larger lures such as She Dogs on this blank, and it makes for a lighter stick working lures all day. Tobin Strickland created TroutSupport.com - Tech Support for speckled trout and redfish anglers.
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3/20/17 9:34 AM
NORTH CAROLINA
Wee Willy Wigglers
Are Fly Rod Magic By Craig Riendeau
W
arm-water fly fishermen are always looking for the “magic fly” that will catch fish all the time no matter what the conditions… something irresistible to most species of fish in a lake all at the same time. Well, I think I’ve come up with that fly. Say hello to the Wee Willy Wiggler (W3). This fly pattern is as easy to tie as it is to fish. I would place it under a guide fly category as you can crank out a dozen easily in an hour. For detailed instructions on how to tie this pattern go to my website offthedeepedge.com. If it takes you more than five minutes to tie this, maybe fly tying isn’t for you, which then is the case I’d check out Rainys Flies Inc. They are making the Wee Willy Wiggler commercially available. As for fishing this fly pattern, it doesn’t get any easier. Several of my fishing companions call this style of fishing “just stupid easy.” I tend to fish this fly under a half inch foam indicator or as I refer to it, a depth regulator. Even though the indicator does detect strikes very well, that is really the secondary reason for its usage. Its main purpose to suspend the fly at a specific depth and hold it over a specific spot for as long as you want it to stay there. Basically, you’re putting the fly in the fish’s face and leaving it there until out of hunger, curiosity or annoyance he eats it. Lucky for us anglers, fish do not have fingers to poke at
the fly to see what it is or push it away. Any testing comes in the form of a bite. To fish this, set the fly’s depth under the “regulator” to be just above the cover you may be fishing over. Things such as weedbeds, rocks, logs, fish cribs or even fish you see suspended on your electronic devices. Most species tend to feed upward. Then simply cast at the area and wait. It is similar to being an impatient bait fisherman with a cricket and bobber. Let the fly dangle over the area you think there is a fish for say five or 10 seconds (sometimes more). If nothing happens, give it a six to twelve-inch strip and repeat. If there is a breeze blowing, just let the indicator drift with the current, mending occasionally to control the speed of the drift. It may sound silly but it is addicting, especially once you start catching fish. So, there you have it, the most productive fishing method that you’ll ever do. When using this method and anyone asks what are you fishing for you can blatantly say “fish” without being facetious. That’s because with the Wee Willy Wiggler you’re never quite sure what is going to eat it. Anything from a small bream to a
10-pound bass may show up at any time, so hang on to your rod tightly. Check out Craig Riendeau’s website: offthedeepedge.com.
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Wilmington/Morehead City edition
Flying Around with Captain Lee
Wow, what a fast year! It was January just the other day. With the warm winter, the water temps are staying in the 50’s. I think the Atlantic bonita will be here a little early. If not, they will be found on the 15th of April. The black drum bite is still going strong and I have seen a bunch that are in the 10- to 15-pound range. Red drum are already on the flats and they are happy to eat. The speckled trout bite is picking up again and will only get better as the month goes on. Flounder are moving in and I am seeing more of them all the time. Shad are up to Lock and Dam 1 and the stripers are moving up the river here. On the Roanoke River, the shad showed up early and the bite is off and running with catches of 100 fish per day. I think the stripers will show early also, but if not, you can count on them after the 15th of the month. Atlantic bonita will be found within three miles of most of our beaches south of Cape Lookout. Look around the wrecks and artificial reefs and hard bottoms. Trolling will produce them in good numbers using Clark Spoons or deep-diving Yo Zuri lures. Sight casting is a popular way to fish for these speed demons. Casting lures like Cripple Herrings, Got-Chas, Maria Jigs and topwater baits work very well. My favorite is a 1/2-ounce grub head with a five- or six-inch Trout Killer in Bubblegum Ice color. Not too expensive unless you’re on some bluefish too. above: Jay Walton of Tallahassee, FL shows off a nice spring I am a run striper. broken 3220 Wrightsville Ave •Wilmington, NC 28403 • (910) 791-6280 re c ord here, Drum have been on the inside all year and lately, New Penny or Root Beer Chartreuse Gulp on a weightless worm hook has been the ticket for me. For live bait, we have been using mud minnows on 2/0 khale hooks with no weight due to all the grass. Dead bait or cut fresh shrimp is the way to go. Up until last week the water has been very clear and that made it easy to find the fish. Speckled trout are showing back in their normal fall spots and the bite seems to be getting better all the time. We have been sticking to suspending baits as the grass is very thick right now and grubs get grass on them as soon as they hit the bottom. Here again, a weightless worm hook with Slurp or Gulp Shrimp will work well for you. More, and a little larger, flounder are moving in the inlets. Live bait and Gulp have worked the best and with the grass, I prefer looking and fishing for them on the flats this time of year. As for the shad that are up at Lock and Dam 1 on the Cape Fear and Canady’s Sports Center has been a fixture on the near Weldon on the Roanoke, you will do well with them on shad darts and small drone spoons. Try a dart on the bottom and a spoon on the top. Wilmington, North Carolina retail scene since Rig the spoon with an 18-inch piece of mono off the swivel and the dart opening in downtown Wilmington in 1944. 12 inches below that. White, Silver and Chartreuse are the “go to” colors. For stripers, with the snags in the river, I like a 1/2-ounce jig head with a • Sporting Goods • Boats and Boat white head and a Chartreuse and Pearl “fluke” body. If you want to troll, • Archery & Accessories Motors a clown color is the heat most days and sometimes blue and white. • Firearms, Ammo & • Apparel & Ski Wear Good luck out there and remember the days may be warm but the water Accessories is still very cold, please be careful on the water.
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About the author: Captain Lee Parsons 910-540-2464 www.gottaflyguideservice.com Located In Wrightsville Beach at the Bridge Tender Marina
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Atlantic Beach - Inshore & Nearshore Well, I guess that ol’ groundhog does not what he is talking about! Ol’ Man Winter has been in full effect last few days, with cold and strong winds. But surprisingly, the anglers toughing out the conditions are catching a few fish... but I’m not going to lie, it has slowed down the bite from what it was two weeks ago. How could it not, with the water temps dropping over ten degrees over the last week. But on the bright side of things, it looks like next week we get back into the 60’s and hopefully there’ll be no more cold weather. Inshore / Nearshore The sea mullet bite has slowed just a bit from the large numbers we were seeing in early March, but we did see some decent catches recently. I expect once the final cold blast moves out and the temps get back into the 60’s we should start to see the bite turn back on. We really need some of those 70 degrees days to really see things heat back up, but that will be soon enough. Sam Gitter Spec Rigs with bait shrimp has been the way to go for baits. I think because the water temps have dropped, the mullets more than likely have moved back out toward the deeper water in the Turning Basin. We won’t know until we can get back on the water and re- locate the schools. Gray trout have also been in the mix in the same areas. above: Chris Bryant, with a Speckled Trout that There have been some weighed in at 5lbs caught on a Berkley Gulp. fish hanging around the railroad tracks but most are still moving in the area. Bluefish have been thick until the cold blast. It’s hard to tell what the water temp drop will do to the fish but as many as we were seeing, I don’t think they’ll be moving too far off the beach, or be moving at all, as long as the temp does not keep dropping. In early March, we were seeing all you wanted around the inlet area and up toward the Cape Lookout area. Trolling Clarkspoons and the new Bowed-Up Spoons and casting Jigfish Lures were all working. Also we’re seeing some chopper bluefish schools showing up around Shackford, cruising the top of the water. I’m really hoping we see a good run of the choppers this year as we did not see that many last year. They’re always fun to catch when they show up in numbers. There have also been some albacore working along the beaches. Just riding, looking for birds working the water or sitting on the water is always a good sign there are some fish in the area. The best action has been between AR 315 back toward the beach...who knows what this cool down will do, but they will be close by. It is still a bit early for the flounder above: Wyndal Arnold with a gray bite to turn on. I did see some last trout that weighed in at four pounds, week that a customer had caught caught on bait shrimp off the jigging Spro bucktails off the reefs off bottom in the Turning Basin area. 2 wilmington/Morehead city
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so they are starting to make their way in. In the next few weeks we should start to see them really stack up around the reefs. I’ve even seen a few keepers caught inside the inlet...but when I say few, I mean few. Redfish action was crazy last week up at Cape Lookout area. Schools of smaller fish were working all around the Shark Island area. Then further off the beach, large schools of bull drum were working the shoals. Some of the schools were just massive and when they were up on top feeding, they would hit just about anything above: Russ and Josephine with some nice bluefish you put in front of they caught casting Hopkins Spoons off the beach . them. Also some schools of fish are still holding in the creeks and marsh areas. With the cold snap, the fish will get schooled up tight, making them pretty easy to catch if you find them. Anglers are also finding some black drum around the docks and bridges, using bait shrimp off the bottom. We’ve been weighing in some nice speckled trout lately...no huge fish, but I have seen some nice fish around the five-pound mark. Most of these fish are being caught in backwater creeks, but we did hear of few fish caught at Radio Island and Haystacks before the fronts moved in. Also, some of the anglers fishing up Adams Creek toward the Neuse River have been picking up some fish. Betts Halo Shrimp, Z-Man Plastics, MirrOlure 17MR’s and New Yo-Zuri Twitch Lures have been working the best. Sea Bass fishing has been excellent. We have been seeing keeper fish as close in as AR330. The further you go out, the more and the bigger the fish will be. Northwest Places, Big 10, Little 10, AR285 and Atlas Tanker all holding good numbers of fish. It has not been taking long for anglers to reach their limits when the weather allows. Piers / Surf You know it’s getting near fishing season when the piers start opening the doors back up! Bogue Inlet Pier and Oceana Pier opened recently. It’s still a little early for fishing to take off but some anglers have already caught some black drum, bluefish and puffers from Bogue. As for surf fishing, there have been some bluefish and pufferfish caught in the Fort Macon State Park area. I have also heard of some speckled trout being caught at the Radio Island Beach. Once we start to warm back up over the next week or so, fishing will only get better and better. Offshore In early March we had a few days of good weather and few boats made it out. Capt. Chris from our charter fleet ran out to the Big Rock and found some nice wahoo action and some nice blackfin tuna. On the same day, we also weighed a few more hoo’s in at the shop, so we are on the verge of wahoo season being in full swing. We have our wahoo selection all stocked up and have already got one fresh shipment of Bionic Ballyhoo that has arrived and will have another fresh shipment of Bait Master coming our way up from Florida soon. Having good fresh ballyhoo makes a huge difference and we will have you covered all this season, so make sure you come to see us for quality bait.
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FORECAST BY: Capt. Matt Lamb Chasin’ Tails Bait & Tackle Chasin’ Tails Charters Atlantic Beach, N.C. 252-240-FISH www.chasintailsoutdoors.com
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april 2017
wilmington/Morehead city 3
3/19/17 2:36 PM
Swansboro/ emerald Isle Well, what else is there to say? Go fill up your fuel tank, spool up your rods, tie on a few new baits, and spring into fishing this April! That’s what I’ll be doing this month. March 20 marks the beginning of spring and there will be some serious inshore and nearshore opportunities available for those ready to brave the traditionally tough conditions of April. Regardless of weather, April is a time of change. The length of day is getting longer, weather is often unsettled, and many animals (including a variety of fish) begin their spring migration patterns. Along the Crystal Coast, that means fishing heats up! So, get on the water and scout out the opportunities our marine environment has to offer. INSHORE BITE! We’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy another extremely mild winter with amazing numbers of puppy drum roaming the shallow flats and a great trout bite in the rivers and creeks this winter along the Crystal Coast. During April, anglers can expect the inshore waters to continue to offer many chances to hook-up with speckled trout, redfish and some southern flounder in our coastal rivers along the Crystal Coast. The water temps should be making a steady climb this month into the upper 60’s. The result will be above: Kellee Cronk, of Hubert caught this some hungry fish easing out of their winter slumslot puppy drum this March in the White ber to appease their inOak River on a Berkley Gulp Shrimp while creased metabolism. The fishing with Capt. Jeff Cronk. first areas to heat up will be our creeks off the rivers and creeks along the mainland side of the sounds. These warming waters will begin to attract our wintering populations of speckled trout and puppy drum as they attempt to feed upon the surfacing schools of peanut pogies, scattered finger mullets, clouds of mud above: Capt Jeff Cronk of Fish’nlife Charters minnows and doubled up with this big largemouth bass while fishing for speckled trout up New River this March.
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crabs. A large amount of “terd moss,” or slimy green algae will be covering much of the high salinity bays this month. Anglers can better target reds by setting up a Carolina rig or fishfinder rig and rigging it with a Gulp shrimp, frozen shrimp, cut mullet or some fresh blue crab. By casting this rig and letting it rest on the bottom in an area holding redfish, anglers can avoid constantly getting their bait covered in slime. If you prefer to cast artificial baits, I would suggest working a topwater bait such Sebile’s Bonga Minnow in the Natural Golden Shiner color or a five- to six-inch Berkley Gulp Jerkshad in the New Penny or Smelt color rigged on a weightless worm hook. Anglers wanting to target speckled trout this month will do well to head into the creeks off the rivers. These areas have a lower salinity and less terd moss. Some of the best baits for April trout fishing are three-inch Berkley Gulp Shrimp or four-inch Smelt Minnow, Bett’s Halo Shrimp and Halo Shad, Mirrolures MR17 and Rapala Shad Raps. All of these baits will suspend and attract some intense strikes! NEARSHORE BITE! The surf water temperatures usually surpass 60 degrees by early April, and we begin to see schools of one- to three-pound bluefish showing up around the inlets and nearshore live bottoms. But, regardless of the arrival of bluefish, large schools of false albacore and
above: Beth, from Chapel Hill, caught some large bonito last April with Capt. Jeff Cronk while fishing out of Bogue Inlet.
bonito will be working around the inlet tidelines, just outside the surf zone and around our nearshore hard bottoms and artificial reefs by April. The spring run of albacore and bonito will feed voraciously and will strike most three- to four-inch metal jigs or soft plastic shiner imitations. If these fish are not surfacing well, trolling four- to fiveinch shallow and deep-diving hard baits about two to four mph will get strikes. To locate these fish, anglers should look for flocks of small white terns hovering frantically just a few feet above the water’s surface. If sight casting to these fish, always approach a school of surfacing fish slowly from upwind and cast a few yards ahead of the school. Use a fast retrieve with an occasional pop or twitch to the rod tip. Both albacore and bonito strike swiftly and their run is high speed. It’s important to keep the rod bent and the drag light to avoid unwanted break-offs. Although the albacore are not great table fare, the bonito are excellent and are even sushi grade. That being the case, you’ll want to learn to identify both species and avoid using a gaff. I prefer to net them or grasp them by their forked tail and release them quickly after they are de-hooked if I’m not keeping them. The major identifying differences between the species are that bonito have stripes and noticeable sharp teeth while albacore have elongated blotchy dots and bristle-like teeth. This is an amazing fishery and by late April anglers can expect to catch a ton of action with a mix of albacore, bluefish, bonito and Spanish mackerel. FORECAST BY: Capt. Jeff Cronk Fish’n4life Charters www.nccharterfishing.com Ranger/Yamaha/PENN/Berkley Pro-Staff Cell 336-558-5697 • Home 910-325-8194 • jcronk@ec.rr.com
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3/19/17 2:36 PM
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Wrightsville Beach Winter really has been pretty good overall and things are running
a week or two ahead of most springs around our area. Fishing looks to be pretty great this spring and if it stays spring for a while, I believe it could be an epic spring fishing season! Here are some of the fish I target around Wrightsville Beach and some other close areas too. Another fish that really starts to show up around the inlets of southeast North Carolina is the good ol’ bluefish and during April you can catch some bigger bluefish too. These blues will hit Berkley Gulp seven-inch jerkshads in pearl and pearl/chart pepper colors; hard baits like big poppers and spoons like a one ounce or bigger Sea Striker Jigfish will also get these choppers to bite. Don’t forget the steel leaders for these fish or they will get a free lure from you every time! Light single-strand wire in sizes #2, #3 or #4 will keep your lures on the end of your line and not in a bluefish’s pocket! I catch blues in the one to 15-pound range during April. Towards early to mid April, the bonita and false albacore should show up just offshore of Wrightsville. Trolling Clark spoons and small deep-diver lures can be the key to success some days for the bonita and albacore. When using the Clark Spoons, I would recommend the pink flash spoon in sizes #00, #0 and #1; the pink flash series has really helped me put more fish in the boat. A bird rig on top with a Clark Spoon about five to six feet behind it or Blue water Candy Spanish Daisy Chain (blue, silver, pink) have worked very well for me on top too. Look for birds working or marking bait on your fish finder is the way to find the feeding fish. When the fish are not on top, I’ve caught some nice blues and a few bonita by casting a spoon out and letting it sink down before reeling it up. I’ve found that sometimes these fish are deeper and you can get them by getting down to deeper water. Last April was epic; I believe this year will be too! I know I talk about the redfish (red drum) a lot, but they are one of my favorites to catch! In April we are going to see the redfish really start to move around, and one thing I’ve found is if they’re moving around they are looking for food. If they are looking for food, then they are probably going to bite your hook! In April I rely on artificial baits or fresh cut bait to catch spring reds. You cannot go wrong with three-inch Berkley Gulp Shrimp in molting, sugar spice glow and new penny colors. Rigging the Gulp baits on 1/8-ounce or 1/4-ounce jig heads in red and gray should get the reds to bite for you. If you would rather use cut bait, rig fresh shrimp or mullet on a light Carolina rig with a L42 No. 1 size hook. Look for the reds on the edges of oyster rocks, mash grass edges, ICW docks and creek mouths. There is one fish that a lot of anglers overlook in April and that is the black drum. What I love about these fish is you can catch them in good numbers this time of year and they’re great to eat! On top of all that they are also easy to catch; use a light two-hook bottom rig with No. 2 or No. 3 size Eagle Claw bait holder hooks. I make my own rigs with 30-pound fluorocarbon leader by making two overhand knots to put the hooks on. I prefer as fresh as I can get shrimp for black drum fishing. Fish these rigs around docks, oyster rocks and inlets for black drum; you might even get a redfish mixed in as well. I will sometimes catch two black drum at the same time on the same rig. That’s what I call good fishing! Cape Fear River striped bass can bite very well in April too, but the fish move around a lot, so you’ll find them at one spot one day, and the next day they have moved on. In April the stripers will start to move in to shallower waters, I look for the stripers in three to ten feet of water in the early spring. This is when you need to also shallow up your presentation and go lighter with your tackle. I prefer sixinch Berkley Gulp Jerkshad and Berkley Havoc Grass Pig lures; I use pearl, chart pepper neon and new penny (swamp gas) colors. Using 5/0 swim bait hooks in 1/8- to 1/4-ounce made by Moaner Hooks should put a striper on the end of your line! Look for Cape Fear River stripers around mud-flat edges, bulkheads and shallow reed-grass edges on sunny warmer days. Also in the Cape Fear River I really enjoy heading to Lock & Dam 6 wilmington/Morehead city
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#1 during April to catch large American shad on light tackle and fly tackle. Casting shad darts in bright colors and shad flies is the best way to catch the shad. I use a double shad dart rig...this makes it easier to cast the light darts and sometimes you get two shad at the same time! The shad run from one pound to a few over four pounds; they’re super fun on fly and light tackle setups... “the poor mans tarpon!” Tackle run down: PENN Battle II & Clash Spinning reels (1000 for shad fishing), 2500 & 3000 sizes. Rods: PENN Battalion rods 6’6” and 7’ medium and med/heavy action. Line Spiderwire Ultra-Cast in 10- and 15-pound test (6-pound test for shad fishing). Berkley Pro Spec fluorocarbon leader material for all my leaders. Thanks for reading Coastal Angler Magazine. Good spring fishing and weather to you! Forecast by: Capt. Jot Owens Penn Tackle Elite Staff •Ranger Boats Pro Staff www.captainjot.com • 910-233-4139
lower Neuse river As we get the winds of March out of the way, we will see water and air temperatures easing up. This will put fish on the move. The trout that have been providing some great action back in the creeks will begin to ease out towards the river and sound. Their winter hibernation will be over. They will also be more in the “Let’s Eat” mode as their metabolism picks up. Look for them in the outer areas of creeks instead of the back. They will be hungry and I will be throwing DOA Cal baits on light jig heads, worked along the bottom to entice the bite. For subsurface folks, the Rapala Twitchin’ Rap is great but is being replaced by the Twitchin’ Minnow and Mullet that will do the job! DOA Lures’ new PT topwater can also be used as sub-surface by removing its insert and using a weighted hook, then work it through the water as a twitch bait...awesome walking action! The rock should start their pilgrimage back downriver, setting up an exciting spring topwater fishery. Concentrate along stumpy structural areas holding bait. Work your favorite topwater through the area and hang on! My favorite is DOA PT that can be worked completely weedless/ snagless through structure, as well as Rapala’s new Skitter V. The bridges and reef should also provide good jig and trolling action. My “go-to” is the new DOA Sna-Koil rigged with a weighted hook and dredged along the bottom–it is deadly! The DOA Terroeyz is the best jig bait by far. Pop, pop it hard along pilings and bottom and watch them inhale it. Trollers need to get the Rapala Rippin’ Rap and work around bridges, channels and the reef. NEED TO REMEMBER – New size limits are in effect! It is time to get out and go if you haven’t been during the winter, which has been pretty dang good! You also need to get geared up for following month’s cobia run!
Forecast by: Capt. Dave Stewart KneeDeep Custom Charters • Minnesott Beach Bait & Tackle 36 Country Club Drive, Minnesott Beach, NC 28510 252-249-1786 • specfeverhotmail.com • www.pamlicotackle.com
left: David Raines showed off this 4.82-pound speckled trout at Minnesott Bait and Tackle recently.
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3/19/17 2:36 PM
News from Marine Fisheries and Wildlife Commission
Flounder Bag Limit Changed to Four Fish; New Fish Attractors Deployed in Sutton Lake Diviision of Marine Fisheries
The recreational flounder bag limit has been reduced from six fish to four fish per person, per day in North Carolina waters. The recreational size limit remains at 15 inches. The bag limit reduction is necessary to comply with requirements of Addendum XXVIII to the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission’s Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan. In August 2016, the board approved an approximate 30 percent reduction in catch limits for both the commercial and recreational summer flounder fisheries in response to a 2016 stock assessment update, which indicated the resource is experiencing overfishing but is not overfished. Failure to implement the reduced bag limit would result in default management measures of a 20-inch size limit, a two-fish bag limit and a fishing season from July 1 through August 31. Because North Carolina manages its recreational fishery for all species of flounder with the same size and bag limits, the changes will apply to all recreational flounder fishing in all estuarine and ocean waters. Fisheries staff with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission placed artificial fish attractors in Sutton Lake on Feb. 25 to help augment and replace existing fish attractor structures.
THE
Wildlife Resources Commission
Commission biologists teamed with Bass Angling Southern Style Fishing Club of Jacksonville to deploy 12 Mossback™ Trophy Tree™ fish attractors in the 1,100-acre lake, which is located in New Hanover County. Club members serve as stewards of the Sutton Lake Access Area and assist with keeping the area clean through their participation in the North Carolina Angler Access Foundation’s Adopt-a-Boat-Ramp program. Sutton Lake, a power-cooling lake constructed by Duke Energy in 1972, has received habitat enhancements in the past, mostly in the form of sunken Christmas trees. Although Christmas trees make good fish habitat, they eventually degrade and need to be replaced every few years. After a recent sonar survey of Sutton Lake’s fish attractor sites, Commission biologists determined the sites were degraded and in need of replacement. Because the Mossback™ Trophy Tree™ fish attractors provide durable, long-lasting fish habitat, biologists believe they will make better fish attractors than Christmas trees. Anglers can see the locations of these latest fish attractors, as well as others deployed on inland waters across the state on the Commission’s fish attractor webpage. This habitat enhancement project is funded through the Sport Fish Restoration Program, which utilizes state fishing license money as match for federal grant funds derived from federal excise taxes on fishing equipment and motorboat fuels.
9th ANNUAL
Oriental In-Water Boat Show
AND NAUTICAL FLEA MARKET & WOODEN BOAT EXHIBITION
APRIL 21–23, 2017 at Oriental, NC’s
beautiful Oriental Harbor Marina details at www.OrientalBoatShow.com or email to director@OrientalBoatShow.com ICW M/M 182
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Harkers Island April should have red hot action around all the nearshore beaches and inlets, with some of the hottest action for bluefish and Spanish, both in the two- to four-pound size range. These first fish of the season will range from Beaufort Inlet out to the Cape Lookout Shoals and back into the hook of Cape Lookout. I’ve also witnessed a few flounder and nice drum being caught in mid-March. The first blues and Spanish to arrive will provide anglers with some great action after the long winter months. Most people are going to be trolling for these fish using rod planers and handlines with Clark spoons. One of the best methods I have come across for these fish is to troll using light tackle and a Yozuri DD (deep diver) in the pink and white colors. I only use #2 planers on my handlines, and by doing this you can cover both water columns and find out which gear is catching better. The best color for spoons that I’ve found is the Pink/Silver and Green/ Silver. By using the light tackle gear and the Yozuri plugs, if you get into a huge school you can reel in the lines and start casting to them, with no cutting and rerigging lines and tackle. Everyone should check out the new Sea Striker Prism Spoons for casting to blues, Spanish, albacore and bonito. These are brand new for 2016! For those looking to catch some bottom fish, the blow toads and sea mullet are now in and you better get them while they’re here, because they don’t last very long. The best baits for these bottom dwellers will be be shrimp and squid used on a two-hook bottom rig. Spec Rigs tipped with bait above: Sonny Golden of Bettie with a beauis also a killer. Several good tiful speckled trout caught on a Salty Bay reasons to go after these Opening Night Shrimp while fishing with great eating fish are that Capt. Noah Lynk. they are excellent table fare and they have no size or take limits. For those not sure of the blow toads (Atlantic puffers), they are not of the poisonous variety and are quite tasty. Although the weather has been very up and down lately as far as temps. and wind directions, there are still some nice fish to be caught during the warm part of the day back inside the creeks. The best baits will be topwater MirrOlures and the Cajun Sleigh by Cajun Thunder. Both will catch them every time. Another good method is to use either scented soft baits such as the Salty Bay Baits in the Glass Minnow, Slammer 3” and Jerkshad, MirrOlure Marsh Minnow and their five-inch Provoker bait, Paul Brown Softdines and your plain old favorite MirrOlure...all will be awesome. For hard baits I’m going to be using the MirrOlures in the MR27, MR17, and MR18 Heavydine in the Mardi Gras and 808 color scheme, as well as one of my throwback favorites, the 52MR in 808. MirrOlure also has the Paul Brown Soft Dine XXL out, which is a sinking bait that weighs 5/8-ounce and has proven to be deadly. I caught a nine-pound speck on the Electric Chicken color. The Soft Dine also comes in a 3/8-ounce size. Other soft baits will well also, as well as the new Sea Striker Shrimp. For low current conditions this bait is a killer on trout and reds as it is only a 1/8-ounce bait and can be fished easily over bad bottom where fish will be holding up. For those who put their gear up for the winter and are now looking into new gear, I have been working the fishing and boating shows for 8 wilmington/Morehead city
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the past three months, as well as field testing some new gear and tackle. Star Fishing Tackle has just released new S-series large spinning reels in 7000/8000 sizes. I have tested these reels on some sharks close to 200 pounds and on amberjacks off the local wrecks for the last year and can truly say they are really good reels. They are built super tough and can take a dip in saltwater with no harm, due to sealed bearings and old school construction with new technology! They are comparable to the expensive Van Stal reels, and that makes them even better when you see the price. Another really hot item for this season is a new Star VPR rod, which I checked out at the Big Rock Sports Show in January. These new rods are built with Nano technology and therefore are a totally different rod than we’re used to. Check ‘em out this spring. Also at the show this year was the new live bait containment by Ego Nets, so check them out online. (I wanted the show sample, but couldn’t get away with it! It’s an awesome new product.) Anyone looking for the coolest fishing gear-apparel on the market needs to check out GILLZ-Gear.com. GILLZ Performance Wear is very well-thought fishing apparel for the whole family. MirrOlure has introduced the Paul Brown Soft Dine in 13 colors and this bait is just plain awesome! It’s a sinking twitch bait modeled after the MR17 & MR27 hard bait and well worth a try. Salty Bay Baits has a new leadhead called the Pencil Head. It’s very light and comes in 1/16and 1/8-ounce sizes. This hook is awesome for fishing in and around rocks and structure as you can work over top and not get hung up on the bottom, as you would with heavier jig heads. For all you who target old drum in late summer and early fall, a lot of guys were catching these monsters on light tackle and popping corks! Well, Cajun Thunder has answered your above: Capt. Noah Lynk with a nice wincall for a larger cork called the ter speckled trout caught in a backwater Magnum Popper for fishing creek using a Paul Brown Softdine! large baits. This should be a really hot new tackle item for the old drum. These are just a few of the new items that I have seen and tested that will be on the store racks this spring. Hope to see some of you on the water...anyone looking for charters I am already starting to book up for Spanish, chopper blues, cobia and flounder, so give me a shout so you get the date you want. FORECAST BY: Capt. Noah Lynk Noah’s Ark Charters 252-342-6911 or at Cape Pointe Marina on Harkers Island, 252-728-6181 • www.noahsarkfishingcharters.com
Call Kenny Ritter at
910-550-9094
to discuss your 2017 Marketing Plan.
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3/19/17 2:36 PM
offshore/Pelagics Here we go folks, April is here and for many anglers along the NC coast it marks the beginning of the 2017 fishing season. There will still be some cool weather days and the water is still not going to be exactly where you want it for a short run to the grounds every day, BUT if you find the right spot and get on out there you are likely to find some very good early season action. This winter has seen some good fishing action. The Bluefin tuna made a good showing again in the nearshore spots where we used to see them, and offshore trips have brought fairly consistent action for wahoo and blackfin tuna, with a few sailfish to be found as well. So far this year we have seen warmer water staying around, or at least closer to our prime spots like the Big Rock and Swansboro Hole, which should bring an early start to our mahi fishing. Those who have found a good weather window have been well rewarded and has us all looking forward to the upcoming season. By now everyone is finishing up their season prep work – maintaining the boat and tackle, tying up new super-secret sea witches, sharpening hooks – all the things necessary to having success when you venture offshore. Start watching the satellite shots and actively looking for favorable bodies of water that will be moving into the area and then pick your day to get out there to find out what’s in it. Rutgers offers some good free basic surface temp data but you will definitely gain much more insight with a paid service such as Seaview from www.saltwatercentral.com or the data found on www.hiltonoffshore.com. I have used both and found both to be very good. There is a learning curve to interpreting all the data but once you figure it out you will definitely improve your chances when you “throw your dart” and pick a starting point. Dave at Saltwatercentral does offer a unique service called “Fish Here”, he interprets the data and predicts likely spots for a minimal fee.
Once you get your boat and tackle ready it’s time to catch some fish! April has traditionally offered yellowfin tuna, some early mahi, some blackfin tuna and wahoo and usually a sailfish or 2 will be around. I adjust my spread depending on what has been caught and where I start but this time of year you need to be prepared for almost anything – the tuna will bite wire but if you are in the right spot you will catch many more with mono wind-on rigs, however if you find yourself around wahoo and not seeing many tuna I will pull almost all wire. Cover the water column, use your sea witches or whatever bait that has “caught you” at the tackle shop this spring – what you use is not as important as where and when you use it! April can be a very exciting time of year to fish with mixed bags of all the good stuff available at times – mahi, wahoo, yellowfin or blackfin tuna, sailfish and maybe an early season blue marlin. Preparation is key for making the most out of your first trip for the season. I personally must admit this is the most excited I have been for a season in years – after 9 years I have moved to a new boat and a new location. I will be running Salty Dog Charters, the boat name is the Savanna Leigh and we will be docked at the Capt. Stacy Fishing Center at Atlantic Beach. Our new website and other info should be available by the time this publishes, we hope to see you folks around and would be happy to take you offshore for a day – just give me a call! Good luck to everyone for the upcoming 2017 season! Plan ahead, be prepared and have fun! FORECAST BY: Capt. Troy Pate 252-917-0445 • capttroypate@aol.com
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April, a Great Time for Big Bass!
I love spring time fishing. April can be a great month to knock the cob webs out of your boat, your tackle and more importantly, from you, from the cold months of winter. With the bass moving into the shallow waters, fishing can be awesome while they are coming into spawn. But, remember not all bass will come in at one time. They will come in different times to spawn. Try fishing the northern banks of the lake. This area will warm up the fastest and the females will head there to spawn until the rest of the lake starts to warm up as well. The fish will look for even a single or two digit warmer pocket of water for spawning. I keep a close eye on my Lowrance depth finder’s water temp gauge to look for subtle changes in water temps. Believe me it will make a difference. When the water temps start to hold steady at 55 degrees and higher, the bass will start listening to a little bit of Barry White music and will be looking for love! To find a spawning spot, you need to look for white round spots which will be their nesting area. Once the female lays her eggs, the male bass will come in and stand guard. I like to fish a Deep Creek lizard with the tale dipped in Chartreuse Spikeit dye with CB’s Garlic Hawg Sauce formula to make the fish hold on just a little bit longer to set the hook. In order to sight fish for bedding fish, you will need a good pair of polarized sunglasses so that you can see through the water. I personally use Flying Fisherman sunglasses. This is an awesome sunglass company that is owned by a fishing family, so they know what is needed for the water! There are two shades of Flying Fisherman sunglasses that I like to use. For low light or foggy mornings, I will use an amber or yellow lens. Later I will switch to a gray or a blue/green lens to help cut out the sun. Try these sunglasses, only the bass will regret that you have them in your boat! Since not all bass are spawning at the same time, you will have them coming in from creek channels to above: Hal Abshire shows off his big bass catch shallow flats. This from the Cedar Creek Bassmasters Tournament will give you two at Jordan Lake. options for your fishing pleasure, sight fishing or fishing the flats for the fish just coming in. For these shallow flat areas I will pick up my Lew’s TP-1 medium-heavy cranking rod lined with 14-pound Sufix monofilament or Sufix 832 braid and fish a lipless Lucky Craft LV Series crankbait. The Lucky Craft LV lipless crankbait will allow you to cover a lot of water in search of the fish moving in. You can reel it through grass and rip it out and a lot of times they will hit it as it rips through. This is a great way to catch fish. Believe me, when this Lucky Craft bait comes rattling through they will smash it and try to take it out of 10 wilmington/Morehead city
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your hands! I look for structure that hold heat as well as provides protection for their nesting areas. Rocks, wood and grass mats will provide both heat and protection. If a cold front moves through, bass will back off to nearby deeper, warmer water. Now, get your cameras ready to show off pictures of your big bass that you’re catching during the spring of the year! Article BY: Hal Abshire
kayak Fishing The New Light Kid on the Block Native Watercraft once again is bringing a new Propel hull to the market place. Now their fifth one is out, getting lighter is a key factor for many people who get a little nervous thinking of loading a 90-pound hull on the roof of their car, because they don’t have a pickup truck or trailer. Let me introduce the new Slayer 12 LT Propel tipping the scales at 62lbs with the drive system removed. Now that is lighter than most 12 foot roto-moled plastic kayaks. The Slayer 12 LT is made of a thermoformed ABS material which is light as it is strong. The hull of the Slayer 12 has a sharp flared bow entry which will add to its speed and glide on the water. The bow design is quite while stocking fish and the flare adds to performance in rough choppy water.
With their patented pedel drive you still have hands free forward and reverse. With the outfitting you have come to expect from Native. A First Class adjustable breathable seat for all day fishing comfort, groove tracks on both sides of the cockpit for adding rod holders or a fish finder. The Slayer 12 LT comes standard with 2 flush mounted rod holders behind the seat and a ample tank well for storage of your fishing gear and tackle. If you have been interested in a Propel kayak but a little nervous of the weight of the hull your worries are over. This new lean mean fishing machine meets a weight that anyone can manage, speed and efficiency that rivals any other kayak on the market. Come out and meet the new Slayer 12 LT I know you will become fast friends and it could be the best fishing partner you have ever had. . article BY: Chris Tryon Hook Line and Paddle Canoe and Kayak Outfitters, Wilmington, NC Phone 910-330-6999 email: hooklineandpaddle@yahoo.com
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3/19/17 2:36 PM
Surf city/ Topsail Island We have been very spoiled around Topsail so far this season with great weather. The inshore fishing has been very good in the area. Redfish, trout and flounder have been feeding more heavily now that the water temperatures are hovering around 60. The nearshore fishing is starting to pick up as well. The bottom fishing for black sea bass remains very good and there have been some nice flounder in the mix. The redfish bite has been very good around man made structure like docks, marinas and canals. The mainland creeks and creek systems closer towards the inlets are holding schools of fish. Z-Man Swimming Trout Tricks, PaddlerZ and MinnowZ fished on Fathom Inshore 1/8- and 1/4-ounce jigheads have been getting great results. above: Anne Crawford from Hampstead Using Pro-Cure bait with a pair of Topsail Beach redfish caught scents have been helping while fishing with South End Anglers. to get a few more bites, I prefer crab, shrimp and menhaden formulas. Fresh cut shrimp and blue crab fished on light Carolina rigs are getting the fish to bite when they are less active. Black drum are also jumping on the shrimp when fished around docks and shell bottoms. Use a 3/0 circle hook to prevent hooking fish deep, I like Eagle Claw Circle Sea hooks for this. Bluefish have invaded the inshore waters and some nice fivepound+ fish have been caught. The blues will take the same offerings used for redfish and trout. They make great cutbaits for redfish this time of year, so keep that in mind when you bring one boatside. Speckled trout fishing so far this spring has been exceptional. There is a great class of fish in the Topsail area. Do the fishery a favor and release those big girls so they can spawn, the 16-to 18-inch fish make better table fare. 1/4-ounce Betts Halo Shad and Z-Man Swimming Trout Tricks have been very effective on the trout. MirrOlure MR 17 and 18 have been getting bites as well. It’s the time of year to start trying topwater plugs. MirrOlure Poppa Mullet and Rapala Skitterwalk Jrs. are my favorite topwater offerings for trout. The water is still very clear, I’m still using 10- and 15-pound Suffix Invisline Fluorocarbon leader material. It is also smart to stay away from Hi-Vis running line. I opt for low-vis Suffix 832 braid in 15- and 20-pound weights. Just off the beach in the three- to five-mile range there is a nice bite of black sea bass going on. There will be a good mix of keeper fish. These fish make great table fare, but only take what you can use fresh as they don’t freeze particularly well. Two hook knocker rigs tipped with squid, Blue Water Candy Roscoe Jr. and Stingsilvers will get the job done on the sea bass. I like to swap out the treble hooks on metal jigs with VMC Inline Single hooks. They make releasing the fish much easier. April is the time of year when the Atlantic bonito make their appearance. These fish are only around for a short window, so take advantage of them while they are here. Use the same tackle used for targeting Spanish mackerel. These fish are some of the best eating fish available to small boat owners.
Light trolling tackle with #1 and #2 planers and nickel and gold #0 and #1 Clarkspoons will get good results. Yo-Zuri Crystal Minnow Deep Divers in the 3-1/2” size are also extremely effective for these fish. Look for the bonitos around nearshore structure and use visual clues to find them. Look for white water caused by surface feeding fish and birds to locate them. Be sure and support your local tackle shops and charter captains, they are your ticket to a great day on the water. Give us a call at South End Anglers for advice on inshore and above: Capt. Chadwick Crawford with a Topsail nearshore fishing or to Island speckled trout caught using a Fathom book a charter. Men- Inshore jig. tion Coastal Angler Magazine and take advantage of special pricing. Follow South End Anglers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/southendangersnc/ and Instagram at southendanglersnc. FORECAST BY: Capt. Chadwick Crawford South End Anglers 540.460.3432 capt.chadwickcrawford@gmail.com • www.southendanglers.com
L I G H T TAC K L E F I S H I N G C H A RT E R S Top of the Line Equipment & Boats All Ages & Experience Levels Welcomed
910.984.9981 www.southendanglers.com capt.chadwickcrawford@gmail.com Topsail Island | Figure 8 Island | Wrightsville Beach
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when you need us... we’re right here.
www.harnetthealth.org
Welcome to Harnett Health
|
two hospitals, six physician practices and seven outpatient centers
In partnership with Cape Fear Valley Health, Harnett Health has expanded professional medical services and improved access to our physicians. So now Harnett County residents can receive exceptional care close to home. Residents now have more access to board certified physicians in Emergency Medicine, Radiology, Pathology, General Surgery, Urology, Gynecology, Cardiology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, and Gastroenterology. The hospital offers a full range of health care services including: ER, imaging, lab, and surgery. Harnett Health is working to ensure you can find a family physician or a specialist of your liking when you need one. The physicians and staff at all our locations are committed to providing quality care, compassionate service, and community support. When you need us... we’re right here.
central harnett hospital 12 wilmington/Morehead city
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betsy johnson hospital
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3/19/17 2:36 PM
Jarrett Bay Boatworks Named As Official Major Sponsor of Big Rock Tourney The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament board of directors announced recently that Jarrett Bay Boatworks, a premier builder of custom sportfishing boats in North Carolina, has been named the official Major Sponsor for 2017, 2018 and 2019 tournament seasons. “Jarrett Bay Boatworks is a leader in the custom sportfish construction industry and among the most globally recognized boating brands for their iconic “Carolina Flare” styling. As such great ambassadors for our sport, and long history of supporting the Big Rock, we couldn’t be more excited to have them step into the Presenting Sponsor role ”, said tournament director, Crystal Hesmer. “We are grateful to have this association with Jarrett Bay”, commented
Billy Kornegay, Big Rock President. “Randy has not only served tirelessly on the board but has contributed a substantial amount of effort to the growth in sponsorship and participants. We could not be more pleased to see Jarrett Bay as our Major Sponsor.” Jarrett Bay Boatworks owner Randy Ramsey has served on the Big Rock board for more than 30 years and has been a strong leader in placing Big Rock on the forefront of world-class fishing tournaments. “The Big Rock Blue Marlin tournament holds so much meaning for me personally. The years of excitement I enjoyed as a charter captain in the 80’s trolling for that big purse, to what has evolved into a Lifetime Membership on the Big Rock Board of Directors, and now professionally today to be in the grateful position of advancing Jarrett Bay’s long-standing sponsorship contribution to the highest level as a Presenting Sponsor. I can’t think of a better way for me to show my appreciation for how much this tournament has done to foster so many treasured friendships, great business for my company and our family of 170+ employees, and most notably, the significant charitable impact our collective support of this event has made within our communities near & far. I’m excited about all of the fun & good things that Jarrett Bay’s Presenting Sponsorship will help give rise to in the coming years!” commented Ramsey. As part of the comprehensive Presenting Sponsorship package, Jarrett Bay Boatworks will receive top billing on the coveted annual Big Rock official t-shirt, on commercial advertising and on all print collateral and social media. In addition, Jarrett Bay stands proudly beside us with our charitable contributions, among a host of other benefits aligned with our national and on-site marketing plans. The Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament began in 1957 with a purse of $250 silver dollars and celebrated a record purse of $1,914,100 in 2016. Since it began, Big Rock has donated over $4.3 million dollars to charity. Big Rock and Jarrett Bay will work together to further the upward spiral of a successful tournament and to expand Big Rock’s charitable giving for worthy organizations across the county and state.
910 864-9500 13 wilmington/Morehead city
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3/19/17 2:36 PM
southport-ocean isle Spring is in the air, and the fish are well aware and are beginning their seasonal migrations following the bait and water temperature changes. Conditions change nearly daily this time of year and with the constant bombardment of frontal systems, it is hard to predict exactly when certain species will show up and where. However, April brings great catches to those who read the weather and wait for that special window of opportunity. Looking to the nearshore arena here in the Southport area, the Spanish mackerel should be showing up any day now in larger numbers and if fortunate you might run upon a school of Atlantic bonita while trolling the beach to 12mile range. Target these with Clarkspoons rigged with 30’ of fluorocarbon leader (we utilize 17-pound above: Holly Foster with some speckled trout she test Berkeand Capt. Chris found in the backwaters around the ley Vanish) Southport/Bald Head areas recently. trolled behind #1 and #2 planers. Oftentimes I get asked how do I know what color the Spanish will be on; I revert back to the methodology I often incorporate into my speckled trout fishing and look at the water color, how the sun is hitting the water–or if it is overcast–and what color the bait is that time of the year. On a sunny day with murky water I would tend toward a gold Clarkspoon; if it’s overcast and clear water then I would use a silver or silver with green holographic tape...I have also noticed early in the season that the pink holographic tape works well. On the offshore grounds the bottom fish will be beginning their spring feeding and limits of large “knobbed head” black sea bass should be found in most of the known locations from 30 to 40 miles offshore. Mixed in with these will be the occasional gray snapper and vermillion snapper. However, to target multiple species in a day you might find that you must move to the 50-mile range in order to get to deep enough water to eliminate the above: Joe and Patty LaFave of Woodleaf, black bass frenzy. Keep NC caught these nice black drum while in mind, grouper season fishing with Capt. Butch Foster of Yeah is still closed until May Right Charters. 1 and be sure to download the Fish Rules app and update it before you leave the dock each 14 wilmington/Morehead city
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morning, it has up-to-date regulations to help you with all the changes. On your way offshore be sure to keep a spinning rod ready with a bucktail jig or butterbean jig or something of the sort rigged ready to put a piece of squid on a circle hook at the ready for that meandering school of cobia that might happen to swim across your bow! The king macker- above: Blair Talley of Omaha, NE holds one of el bite should real- the many sharpnose sharks that can be caught ly be coming into nearshore in April. He was fishing with Yeah full action this Right Charters. time of year as they begin to follow the bait to warmer waters toward the 20-40 mile range. Deploying a spread of dead cigar minnows behind South Chatham’s Pirate Plugs will allow you to cover ground and several reefs and wrecks until you find the schools of bait with fish feeding in them. Be sure to run one or two of your baits down on a downrigger or handline, as many times this will allow several more fish in the cooler at the end of the day. Speckled trout, red drum, black drum, flounder should all be starting to show more prevalently as the water warms in the backwater and with the spring come the mullet and peanut pogies into these waters. Live shrimp under a Betts’ Popping Cork set-up will almost always create action with any of these fish species. Finding a good drop-off or point that allows an eddy from the strong tidal currents will often be good spots to start, since these create ambush points for flounder and trout. Mullet minnows may still be too small to be able to cast net. However, if you can find the small pogies then you have, in my opinion, one of the best backwater baits you can get. Rigged on a Carolina rig; red drum and flounder cannot stand the distress calls of a baited pogy as they swim by! Over time, the non-slip tread wears on the floors of our boats and non-slip paint additives and all sorts of coatings become the new floor surfaces. Running every day that weather permits, our charter boats’ floors suffer this same issue. We have found a product that is so profound compared to all the others we have ever utilized that I wanted to share it with you all. It is called Grizzly Grip and it comes in multiple colors, is applied via roller, and is an epoxy based aliphatic coating with real rubber pieces mixed in that applies in a uniform coating that creates a very durable and easy to clean non-skid surface. If you’re experiencing the slick deck issue on your boat, Grizzly Grip is a coating that you may want to consider during your preparations for the upcoming fishing season. Fishing this time of year in Southport is day to day, but if you catch the right day where the stars, and weather, line up in your favor it will quickly turn from a great day on the water fishing to a great day on the water, catching! We look forward to seeing you on the water soon, FISH ON! FORECAST BY: Capt. Chris Foster Yeah Right Charters www.yeahrightcharters.com boat: 336-239-5429 • office: 910-845-2004
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Morehead City Tides Morehead City, North Carolina 34.7200° N, 76.7283° W
Day
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Wrightsville Beach Tides Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina
april 2017
High
34.2133° N, 77.7867° W
Sunrise Sunset
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COLOR Me Caught…Choosing Lure COLORS
E
Ladies Fishing Weekend On The North Mills
T
he N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission is offering a women-only fly-fishing weekend April 21-23 at the North Mills River Recreation Area in Henderson County. The weekend is open to women of all skill levels who want to learn more about fly fishing. The $125 registration fee covers instruction, fishing equipment and camping for the weekend, and a light lunch, beverages and snacks on Saturday. The three-day program is being offered through the Wildlife Commission’s Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) program. Accommodations are at an outdoor campground, which includes a bath house with hot showers and restrooms. Participants should bring their own tents and equipment, if they have them; however, space in one of two small group tents will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis. The weekend is broken down into five skill-building sessions. In the stream ecology session, participants will search for aquatic organisms using nets and kick seines to understand what type of flies work best for trout fishing. They will learn how to tie flies that mimic the organisms they find. In the basic equipment session, participants will learn about proper waders, wading shoes, vests and other items. Other sessions include knot tying, fly casting and lure presentation. Experienced instructors will demonstrate casting techniques and offer one-on-one instruction. On Sunday morning, participants will practice their newfound skills with a guided fishing trip on the North Fork Mills River. Pre-registration is required and space is limited to 25 participants. Visit www.ncwildlife.org/bow for registration form. To register or for more information, contact Gillen at bb.gillen@ncwildlife.org or 919-218-3638.
haden migration, matching the natural appearance of the food is pretty important. How to put this to use: • Black is generally the most visible color and creates the best contrast in low visibility. • Create contrast by using dark colors next to light colors. In dirty water or lowlight situations, more contrast is better. Bright clear conditions call for less contrast. • When using lures deep, use blues and greens as they are the last colors absorbed. • Consider the visible colors of natural prey at the depth you will be fishing and match that, not the surface colors. Studies show that fish react to specific colors. Maybe it is a color that occurs during mating or a color that triggers another response. However, what fish see and react to varies species to species. Also, unlike humans, fish can see ultraviolet light, which leads to options when tying flies or using skirted lures. Many materials can bring this into play. There is no doubt that color plays an important role in lure selection. Utilizing colors that show up at the depth you are fishing is a good strategy. Also, use colors that create contrast and make your bait visible under the conditions you are fishing.
Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures
veryone has their go to lure or fly, that certain color and pattern that always gets the job done. But why is that one lure so effective? Is it the color, shape, action or just the fact that you have confidence in it? Undoubtedly it is a combination of all of the above, especially when you consider what the fish sees. The colors fish can see are limited by the light absorbing characteristics of water as well as the amount of light and the water clarity. In water, the longest color wavelengths are absorbed first. Red is affected nearly immediately, transitioning to a shade of gray within depths of just 15 feet in clear water. The absorption continues in the order of the color spectrum to affect orange, yellow, green and finally blue. It is important to note color absorption occurs both vertically and horizontally. No matter the depth, red will appear gray to a fish that is 15 feet away from the lure. The distance is shortened in stained water. Conversely, with blue being visible to about 90 feet in clear open water, it will show up pretty well. So does that mean color has little bearing? Absolutely not; while colors might not pop bright and vivid, they have a profound effect on contrast. This might be of even more importance in fishing. Many anglers have discovered that dark colors work better at night, in low light and in dirty water. This may seem counter-intuitive, but consider that fish see the contrast of a bait to its surroundings. Using baits with two colors boosts the contrast when fishing in turbid water. Colors, shapes and patterns are likely more important when fishing a particular run. If you are fishing the mullet run or a men-
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Tackle Corner:
By Mike Pehanich
Angling for comfort and joint health
O
nce upon a time, fishing was deemed a passive, even contemplative game, a quiet pastime spent under a straw hat and a warming sun. No more! Modern angling is an active endeavor generally characterized by energetic casts, and plenty of them. The aggressive style of the modern angler takes its toll on the body with back, wrist, elbow and shoulder injuries. “As we get older, our bodies kind of fall apart,” said Bassmaster Elite Series angler Mark Menendez during an outing on Kentucky Lake. Menendez has developed tendinitis in his elbow. “I have had to figure out ways to fish that are less taxing on my body.” He has changed technique and equipment to reduce the wear. He fishes soft swimbaits like the Strike King Shadalicious far more these days, working them on relatively light spinning tackle and line testing no more than 10 pounds. It’s effective and easier on his elbow. The other adjustments he makes relate to his tackle. He lauds the Winn grips now featured on Lew’s Custom Lite, Lew’s Tournament Performance TP1 Speed Stick and Lew’s Mach Speed Stick rods. “The advantage to the angler is that the Winn grip adheres to your hand, but it’s not sticky,” he explained. “It just makes you feel you have a good grip on your rod and reel. The grips also allow me to make longer casts because I have better control of my rod and reel.” Musky and saltwater anglers are also taking advantage of the “tacky” feel and security of the non-slip polymer to protect against joint stress. Eavesdrop on a group of musky fishers for long and you’re bound to hear complaints of sore elbows and forearms. Many musky anglers are building custom rods with Winn grips, employing larger 1.25-inch Straight Taper split grips or a Straight Taper fore
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grip coupled with a 15-inch Straight Cylinder Saltwater grip capped with a fighting butt to extend the rear handle to 18-plus inches. Winn will add a new 18-inch grip to the Saltwater line this spring. Builders of custom surf and offshore rods are already making plans for its use. But oversized grips and rod wraps are finding favor with other anglers, too. At the Bassmaster Elite Series event at Lake Okeechobee in February, anglers with arthritic hands and joint issues noticed the booth Winn shared with North Fork Bait & Tackle owner and rod builder Steve Keller, who also operates a Winn Authorized Service Center at his store in Jensen Beach, Fla. Arthritis sufferers noted their preference for larger grip diameters to ease gripping pressure. The 1.25-inch Winn grips caught their attention, as did the array of offerings in the Winn Superior Rod Wrap line of overwraps, which enable the angler to put a layer of non-slip Winn polymer over existing cork or EVA grips. Winn grips and rod wraps (www.winngrips.com) are available in a wide range of sizes and colors. The Winn interchangeable grip system offers an endless combination of configurations.
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TIPS FROM A PRO
FRESHWATER LEARN CONFIDENCE IN NEW TECHNIQUES
BRANDON LESTER
G
rowing up in southern middle Tennessee, I was fortunate to have a lot of really good fisheries within a couple hours of my house. I had my choice between the Tennessee River lakes like Guntersville, Wheeler and Wilson or the typical highland reservoirs located in the hills of Tennessee. I spent many days fishing club events and absorbing every bit of knowledge I could. It helped me become a versatile angler and to stay in tune with the seasonal movements of bass. These things helped prepare me for the situations I would later face on
the Bassmaster Elite Series. I remember my very first Elite Series event. It was at Lake Seminole. I had never been to the lake and didn’t know a thing about it. After a tough first day of practice, I ran way up the Flint River to see if I could find something up there all to myself. What I found was a couple of small backwaters with clear water and fish that were setting up to spawn. These places had been completely overlooked, and I finished 21st in that tournament. I caught almost every fish on a floating worm, something that is very popular during the spawn around my home waters. That tournament and many others since have taught me that no matter where you go in the country, or what body of water you’re on, there will always be something that fits your fishing style. It may not always be the winning pattern,
but more times than not, I would rather be fishing for fewer fish with more confidence. The very best lure in any tackle box is confidence. But this doesn’t mean I stubbornly sticking to the same techniques I’m comfortable with. Successful tournament anglers must keep up with the latest trends. Lures, line, rods, reels and everything else are constantly evolving. It helps to stay on the forefront. As I travel the country, I learn a lot of new techniques and about new baits that work in particular regions. Every time I go to a tournament and a new technique arises that I’m not familiar with, the first thing I do when I get home is take it to a nearby lake and try to learn it. When trying to learn something new, it’s best to do it in areas you know hold fish. A good example of this was at the first Elite Series event of this year at Lake Cherokee. Cherokee is in east Tennessee, but it is much different than my home waters. There is a hot new trend among the locals there called the “Damiki rig” that is dynamite for catching smallmouth relating to baitfish. It is a small fluke-style lure rigged on a Lake Erie-style jig head that allows for precise placement of the lure at depth. I had heard about the rig leading up to the tournament and tried it in practice, but I never could figure it out. Our tournament was actually won on that rig, and several of the top guys were doing it. After that tournament was over, I spent the next day on my home lake with nothing but that rig. I wanted to learn everything there was to know about it. I went on to catch some big smallmouth on my home lake with it, and although I still don’t consider myself an expert, I feel like I can catch them on it next time the opportunity arises.
Get more tips from Lester at
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Endless Fishing Opportunities
In Marathon
By Capt. Chris Johnson, SeaSquared Charters Marathon, the very heart of the Florida Keys, offers fishing options as vast as the crystal blue waters that surround the islands. to experience the exhilaration of big game sport fishing closer to shore and easier on your budget. Rounding out the sport fishing options in Marathon are bonefish, snook, Goliath grouper, permit and barracuda. Each challenging in its own right and all worthy of a place of honor on your trophy wall.
F
ill Your Trophy Wall With visions of Ernest Hemingway’s exploits in their heads, adventurers flock to Marathon from around the globe to fulfill their dreams of catching the sportfish of a lifetime. The offshore deep blue waters are the realm of the mighty swordfish, who live in the 1,500-plus-foot depths. Fishing for swordfish is highly technical and is best done with an electric set-up. While a magnificent creature to display above the fireplace, swordfish are also prized for their food value. Closer inshore are sailfish, which are unsurpassed in their size range for combined strength and spectacle. These silver speedsters, with their distinctive blue fan-shaped fin, are free-roamers that seem to prefer the coral reef areas. They are best fished for where their favorite foods are plentiful, such as along weed lines or around schools of blue runners, goggle eyes or pilchards. Perhaps the most elusive of all the sportfish in the Marathon waters is the Silver King. The tarpon that visit the Middle Florida Keys each spring love to hang out at bridge passes, where their food of choice is easily obtainable. These areas are known for their relative calm conditions, making tarpon fishing a comfortable experience for all anglers, even those prone to seasickness. Using light spinning tackle and circle hooks, fishing for tarpon is about as sporting as it gets. And, to hook one and chase it through the bridge pilings, hoping to be rewarded with a few jumps and maybe a picture at the side of the boat is an unforgettable experience. With a plethora of media coverage of sharks, catch-and-release fishing for them has become increasingly popular. The Marathon area sees a vast spectrum of sharks, including lemons, blacktips, bulls, blacknoses, nurse, spinners, hammerheads and tigers. These range in size from little guys to behemoths at 12 to 15 feet in length. Light tackle, shallow water angling for sharks in the Middle Florida Keys presents the opportunity 30
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Fill Your Dinner Plate When it comes to catching fish with a top-quality food value, you’d be hard-pressed to find a greater bounty than contained in the waters surrounding Marathon. On the Atlantic coral reefs and wrecks, snapper of all variety are plentiful for the taking year-round. Yellowtails, mangroves, muttons and lanes offer endless rod-bending entertainment and fill the bellies of hungry anglers at the end of the day. Grouper – blacks, reds and gags – are ever-present as well, although they tend to retreat to deeper waters during the summer heat. Additionally, the season is closed for them from January 1 to May 1. There are many more species that provide high-quality table fare – too many to list – but include amberjack, cobia, kingfish, Spanish mackerel, cero mackerel, pompano and on and on. Marathon’s offshore waters are fishing central for pelagic species that provide angling excitement. Venture 26 miles out to the Marathon Humps and you will be in tuna heaven. Blackfin and skipjack tuna are abundant year-round, and the only thing that can prevent you from getting there to catch them on any given day are the winds. But, on a calm day, the ride out and back is comfortable and the catching typically rapid-fire. Dolphin (mahi) and wahoo roam the open sea in a continuous hunt for food. Anglers seek them along weed lines and around any sort of floating debris. Feeding birds, particularly frigates, also indicate their presence. The spectacle of the blue and yellow blaze of a dolphin or the blue and white zebra-like stripes of a wahoo on the end of your line is indelible. Entertain The Family. There’s nothing finer for family bonding than spending quality time together on the water, away from the interruptions of everyday life. Marathon boasts multiple venues that are ideal for a day of family fun fishing. The patch reefs, Hawk Channel, the Seven Mile Bridge and the nearshore bay waters are chock-full of fun-catching fish. Snapper, hogfish, porgy, yellowjack, maybe even grouper, keep the rods bent with tasty rewards at the end of the day. Just for fun, there are sharks, barracuda, jacks and more. Catch ’em and release ’em and on to the next! So, whether you’re looking to fill your trophy wall or your dinner plate, or just have a great day out with the family, Marathon offers the fishing opportunities to make your dreams come true. Capt. Chris Johnson specializes in offshore, gulf/bay, reef/wreck, sailfish, shark and tarpon fishing with SeaSquared Charters, docked at Faro Blanco Resort and Yacht Club in Marathon. You can reach him at 305-743-5305, http://SeaSquaredCharters.com and http://Facebook. com/MarathonFishing.
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Micron: Generations of Innovation Every parent hopes their children will do well and have a better life than they did. At Interlux, we feel the same way about the products we make. With each new advancement and generation of Micron® Technology comes better performing, higher quality solutions. Innovation is a tradition we are proud to have carried on for over 30 years. From the long lasting and always dependable Micron CSC to our new, powerful water-based Micron Optima with Activated Biolux®, we build on our past success to deliver state of the art protection today. Whatever the year, you know you’ll always have the latest and best in Micron Technology. Visit our website for more information – yachtpaint.com
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All trademarks mentioned are owned by, or licensed to, the AkzoNobel group of companies. © AkzoNobel 2017.
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Register For
The Bahamas Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament
A
Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures
nglers with the guts to mix big-game tournament fishing with kayaking will head to beautiful Grand Bahama this month to compete in the Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament April 2023. This two-day kayak fishing tournament will attract anglers and their family members from all over the world for a chance to win more than $40,000 in cash and prizes, and all to help raise funds for the Humane Society of Grand Bahama. There will be free entertainment, food, drinks, a huge raffle and lots of fun for the entire family! “This event, now in its fourth year, has gained tremendous interest and notoriety for anglers and sporting enthusiasts from throughout the USA, Canada, China and Brazil. We have seen the competition grow each year from 40 anglers in our inaugural year in 2014 to some 280 participants last year,” said Bahamas Ministry of Tourism (BMOT) spokesman Richard Treco, Sr. “The high level of competition, coupled with our incredible on-island authentic cultural experiences and diverse product offering, makes this event most attractive for the seasoned as well as relatively new to the sport, angler.” Joe Hector, of Extreme Kayak Fishing International and organizer of the event, said he is excited to work with The BMOT on this tournament, and is particularly pleased with its rapid growth. “The Bahamas Extreme Kayak Fishing Tournament truly is the gold standard for kayak fishing in the world, as it provides everything into one great getaway: fun and family adventures, awesome fishing from white and blue marlins to huge mutton snappers, friendly people and the most beautiful destination in the world,” said Hector. Pre- and post-tournament packages range from $595 triple or qua-
druple occupancy for a three nights stay to $1,370 single occupancy for a seven nights stay, which includes tournament registration, hotel accommodations at the Flamingo Bay Hotel and Marina, round-trip transportation for the angler and his/her kayak from Port Everglades to Grand Bahama, a cocktail reception and awards dinner. Fish caught during the tournament will be given to the Grand Bahama Children’s Home, Flamingo Bay Hotel and Marina, and volunteers assisting with the project. For more information or to register for the tournament, visit www. extremekayakfishing.com or call 954-661-0175.
To learn more about the event and how to register, go to
THEFISHERMANPARADISE.COM
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UNDER THE SEA
SLINGS AND POLESPEARS
from companies have challenged this SHERI DAYE traditional design by changing the here’s a fun retro-movement taking hand position. The place in spearfishing—a trend toward Headhunter Guerilla primitive hunting gear. Slings and Sling has a comfortable polespears are used in places that do not allow trigger mechanisms, such as Bermuda or the grip, which transfers the weight load from Bahamas, but they are growing in popularity the wrist and distributes the force throughout the forearm. Sea Archer slings look like an outside these regions too. This could be attributed to the new Sling/ underwater bow and arrow. The user holds Polespear category for world records, run by the body of the sling just as they would with a the International Underwater Spearfishing bow and arrow. There’s nothing more beautiful Association (IUSA). However, I suspect the than watching a skilled underwater hunter real reason is that many hunters appreciate using a sling and hitting the mark with a freethe challenge and simplicity, not unlike land- flying shaft! Polespears are another fun option. hunters opting for bow-and-arrow over rifles. It’s a beautiful art form that evokes images of They can be made of fiberglass, aluminum Indians using extreme stealth and having great or carbon fiber. The tip can have a flopper, three-prong paralyzer tip or a slip-tip. Neritic respect for their prey. Slings and polespears are great tools for Diving company makes polespears with someone who is either learning how to spearfish interchangeable sections that can be assembled or interested in improving their hunting skills. in different length configurations. Users may Compared to modern spearguns, they force a choose to use a shorter polespear when hunting diver to become calmer and stealthier because in dirtier water or in tight spaces. When diving of their shorter range. One must slow down and in deep clear water, fish may not be cooperative study the behavior of fish in order to get closer and a longer polespear may be desired. The to them. While both slings and polespears are ability to quickly construct your weapon of powered using rubber bands without trigger choice is one of the best recent innovations, along with magnetic slip-tips that don’t fall off mechanisms, these two styles differ. Slings, sometimes called “Hawaiian slings,” while diving. I must admit that I can’t help feeling a are similar to a slingshot where the band is pulled back to launch the spear. Traditionally, smug sense of satisfaction when I land an the shooter was a tubular-shaped piece of wood elusive fish with a simple stick and rubber with a hole drilled down the center so the shaft band. Regardless if you are a novice or could slide through when being launched professional, primitive hunting offers a forward by the band. Recent innovations fun and entertaining challenge. Why not
T
Charles Duffie with a polespeared hogfish. Photo by James Ferrara.
add another skill to your spearfishing resume and another choice in your toolkit? It will double your fun and make you a better hunter! Sheri is a world-record holder, host of Speargun Hunter and producer of “The Blue Wild Ocean Adventure Expo” in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. Follow “Sheri Daye” and “The Blue Wild” on Facebook and Instagram.
For more Sheri Daye, go to
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Spearfishing Course for Freedivers
By Capt. Chad Carney Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures
I
n 2016, Freediving Instructors International (FII) presented their new spearfishing course at The Blue Wild Expo in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. If you’re new to spearfishing or a veteran, this wealthof-knowledge course, from many of the world’s best spearfishermen and freedivers will be invaluable. All students must already have a Level 1 freediving certification from an internationally recognized agency. FII founder Martin Stepanek, and freediving instructors John Dornellas and Cameron Kirkconnell, wrote the textbook for the course, called FII Spearfishing. The first course was taught by Martin and John at Florida Freedivers, Jonathan and Kelsey Dickinson’s dive shop in North Palm Beach, Fla. just days before The Blue Wild. Jonathan became a FII Spearfishing Instructor in September and taught the course to most of his staff and several customers since. The classroom section of the course runs a half day and is packed with great content including spearfishing ethics, freediving safety, location safety about dive planning, site obstructions, currents, marine animals, divers and boats. Information about spearfishing gear, it’s handling and use is covered thoroughly along with underwater hunting skills and techniques. The second half of the day is the pool training, where speargun handling and float line training is hands-on. The provided spearguns are unique in that they can be loaded in the water with total safety, because their shafts are completely stationary, as they are permanently bolted to the muzzles and mechanisms. Otherwise, the spearguns are fully functional and allow the best practice for pool or confined water training. Hunting styles and tricks are also taught and practiced in the pool around a portable artificial reef at the pool bottom where students will stalk a foam fish. Certification is completed with the classroom and pool session, along with a written test. A day of real ocean spearfishing is an option and may vary from location to location, but in the Palm Beaches, Jonathan says they plan for a day of spearfishing in moderate depths where water entries with gear can be polished, and also float lines can be used in currents. Reefs with low structure are available for stalking with, aspetto and agguatto techniques. The photo is Jonathan Dickinson with a recent 70-pound amberjack!
Check out www.floridafreedivers.com and www.freedivinginstructors.com for more information about the course and spearfishing and freediving equipment. Capt. Chad Carney runs diving and spearfishing charters in southeast Florida and can be reached at 727-4237775 or chad.carney@yahoo.com.
To learn more about Florida Free Divers, go to
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FISH & FISHING
THE LIGHT WAND MARK SOSIN
L
earning to fish a fly in saltwater adds a new and extremely challenging dimension to the sport. Light-wand enthusiasts on the marine scene don’t have to trip over tradition that sometimes limits the thinking and performance of their brethren who focus attention solely on trout and salmon. There are differences. When you work over fish in a stream, you often have ample time to contemplate the situation, change flies if the first one doesn’t work, and even try several approaches. Even a shoreline largemouth bass lays claim to a stationary feeding station near a log or under the lip of a lily pad. Saltwater critters remain on the move, probing and prowling continuously or they hold on a seat in the restaurant until the water level rises or falls a certain amount. Then, they change position. If you happen to spot your quarry, you only have seconds to get a fly in front of it. The first cast has to count. Simple hesitation can cause you to miss the opportunity. When you are blind casting, it’s important to read the water and recognize another set of signals. Predators frequently follow a feeding rhythm tied directly to the stage of the tide. Since they are not restricted to a few deep pools or the tail end of a run, finding them and presenting a fly with accuracy requires detailed knowledge of their habits and habitat. Casting in saltwater demands a bit more distance than it does in many freshwater settings. False casting becomes a handicap when you’re trying to drop a fly in the path of a cruising gamefish. You won’t have time to admire the tight loops or match the distance to the target precisely before dropping the fly gently on the skin of the water. The repeated surges of a powerful marine denizen tethered to flyline, leader and backing, or the task of driving a fly into the wind and in front of a cruising fish have no parallels in other forms of angling. Once experienced, these challenges trigger an insatiable appetite that demands more.
For smaller species of fish, a 9-weight fly rod that is 9-feet long would be my first choice. The reel should be single action, hold adequate backing, and left or right hand retrieve. You should turn the handle with your primary hand rather than what many fly fishermen do today. With a 9-weight rod, the reel should hold at least 200 yards of 20-pound dacron or braid. The second outfit for larger fish starts with a 12-weight or 13-weight rod and a reel that holds at least 275 yards of backing. Again, if you are right handed, choose a right hand retrieve. If you’re new to fly fishing, the time to break out the fly rod is when fishing is very good and your chances of success are boosted. It pays to keep it rigged and handy all the time. Let me warn you that catching fish on a fly rod becomes addictive. Once you start hooking fish on the light wand you will also be hooked.
For more Mark Sosin visit
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UR-Cut
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A slippery knife can make filleting fish a difficult chore. Dexter UR-Cut Fillet knives were designed to eliminate this problem, while providing comfort and control by custom molding the grip to a user’s hand. Coastal Angler put Dexter’s design to the test at the docks with a cooler full of sheepshead, which are known to be difficult to clean. The customization involves boiling the handle before dipping it in cold water and gripping it tightly so the owner’s grip is impressed on the handle. With attention to thumb position during the process, we were able to customize the grip to the exact position our fillet men prefer. It took just a few minutes, and the result was a well-balanced tool that felt secure and comfortable in the hand. Then we took our blades to the cutting table. Dexters are known for maintaining a super-sharp edge, and having just the right amount of flexibility. Past experience has taught us they are also easy to sharpen. We were not surprised to find the blade on our new UR-Cut knives performed flawlessly working along spines and ribcages. Our hands and the table were coated in slime, and this is where the URCut showed why it is more than just a good knife. We intentionally created a slippery situation by not washing down, and the non-slip properties of the custom handles performed as advertised. For more information, visit...
UR-Cut features the same legendary DEXSTEEL, super-sharp edge, and just-right flexibility that you are used to with Dexter... 1.Dip handle in boiling water for 2 minutes. 2. Dip in cold water for 1 second. 3. Grip and form handle for 10 seconds. 4. Put back in cold water for 10 seconds and your done.
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O/B MOTOR BRACKET Mounts to your existing swim platform
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ADD SOME KICK WITH PANTHER’S ALL-NEW SWIM PLATFORM O/B MOTOR BRACKET Transform your boat into a fishing machine and make trolling for your favorite species more efficient and productive. www.MarineTechProducts.com
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PANTHER SWIM PLATFORM OUTBOARD MOTOR BRACKET Now, with the new Panther Swim Platform Outboard Motor Bracket you can transform the family boat or even the work boat into a fishing machine. The convenience of having a kicker motor makes slow trolling for your favorite species much more efficient and productive. The new bracket easily mounts to most swim platforms and features three levels of convenient height adjustment to accommodate most platform heights and motor shaft lengths, for optimal prop depth and performance. • Rated for two- and four-stroke motors up to 20 hp with max motor weight of 195 pounds • Constructed of black powder coat aluminum • Comes complete with transom support bar for weight support torque resistance For more information, contact MarineTech Products at 1 651-486-2010 or visit
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ost anglers would probably enjoy a shopping spree in the fishing section of the local Walmart. An Ohio man allegedly helped himself to not one, but two free-ofcharge shopping sprees last October, and has now been charged with stealing an estimated $3,800 worth of fishing gear, according to NBC affiliate WLWT. Warren County, Ohio prosecutor David Fornshell told reporters that Derrick Marcum, “pretty much cleared out the aisle.” According to the WLWT report, Marcum was arrested last October when he attempted to carry two backpacks stuffed with fishing gear out of an Ohio Walmart. He was arrested that same day for the theft of $1,300 worth of gear. But it wasn’t until recently that investigators connected that incident with another theft that occurred the previous day at another Ohio Walmart. Marcum allegedly filled five plastic bins with tackle and then proceeded to the self-checkout, where he paid only for the bins. Investigators valued that heist at about $2,500. A grand jury indicted Marcum, and he waits in jail for his arraignment, according to reports. Jail time seems a pretty steep price, even for thousands of dollars worth of fishing gear.
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ITEM 95659 shown 61634/61952
– Truckin' Magazine
• 580 lb. capacity
Customer Rating
SUPER COUPON
$7999
$
Compare
ANY SINGLE ITEM
9499
Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, compressors, floor jacks, saw mills, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, trenchers, welders, Admiral, Bauer, CoverPro, Daytona, Earthquake, Hercules, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, StormCat, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan. Not valid on prior purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 8/1/17.
$269.99
• Weighs 73 lbs.
SUPER COUPON
20"
Customer Rating
SAVE $269 LIMIT 3 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.
$
SUPER COUPON
$99
ITEM 69780 41005 shown
SUPER COUPON
14999 $369.32
Compare
$1799 $
24
ITEM 60626 shown 69474/62861
SUPER COUPON
$
LIMIT 6 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.
45 WATT SOLAR PANEL 10 PIECE KIT ITEM 62443 68751 shown
SAVE $83
Compare
Customer Rating
Customer Rating
$
149
99
Compare
$203.73
SUPER COUPON
SAVE $94
Blade sold separately.
ITEM 61971/61972 98199 shown Customer Rating
SUPER COUPON
$84
99
$
99 119$179
Compare
LIMIT 4 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.
hft_coastalangler_0417_M-REG100631.indd 1 NAT_0417.indd 41
VALUE LIMIT 1 - Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or prior purchase. Coupon good at our stores, HarborFreight.com or by calling 800-423-2567. Offer good while supplies last. Shipping & Handling charges may apply if not picked up in-store. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 8/1/17. Limit one FREE GIFT coupon per customer per day.
SUPER COUPON
Voted Best 2500 LB. ELECTRIC WINCH Winches in WITH WIRELESS Quality & Price
REMOTE CONTROL
$
99
179
Compare
$49
99
$446.61
LIMIT 5 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.
$
SUPER COUPON
$699
1199 $34.95
Compare
$5
8$17.97
Compare
Customer Rating
LIMIT 7 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.
SUPER COUPON
SUPER COUPON POWDER-FREE NITRILE GLOVES • 5 mil thickness PACK OF 100
ITEM 68287 shown 69652/62872/62869 Customer Rating Includes one 18V NiCd battery and charger.
SAVE 74% $2499 Compare $79
SUPER COUPON
$19
99
LIMIT 6 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.
Item 68498 shown
SAVE 62%
SIZE MED LG X-LG
Customer Rating
YOUR CHOICE
$5
99
Compare
$119.99
SUPER COUPON
SAVE 85%
LIMIT 6 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.
18 VOLT CORDLESS 3/8" DRILL/DRIVER AND FLASHLIGHT KIT
6999
AUTOMATIC BATTERY FLOAT CHARGER
$ 99
99
$
LIMIT 4 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.
SAVE 66%
SUPER COUPON
Customer Rating
SUPER COUPON
4 PIECE 1" x 15 FT. 72" x 80" MOVING BLANKET
SAVE 80%
SAVE $70
SUPER COUPON
99
RATCHETING TIE DOWNS ITEM 69505/62418 ITEM 63056/63057/60405/63094 66537 shown 63150/61524/62322/90984 shown
LIMIT 3 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.
10" SLIDING COMPOUND MITER SAW
6
$ 99
• Includes keychain remote • Weighs 14.3 lbs. • 11-1/4" W x 4-1/8" H
SUPER COUPON
SUPER COUPON
$1 1999
$149
3999 $62.27
LIMIT 3 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.
SUPER COUPON
ITEM 69030 69031 shown
ITEM 63476/61840/61297/68146/61258 shown
SUPER COUPON
$2999
Compare 99 $39 .94
1" x 25 FT. TAPE MEASURE
• Air delivery: 5.8 CFM @ 40 PSI, 4.7 CFM @ 90 PSI
7" VARIABLE SPEED POLISHER/SANDER
Customer Rating
ANY PURCHASE
WITH
SAVE $296
SUPER COUPON
SAVE 51%
FREE
Customer Rating
LIMIT 4 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.
Customer Rating
SAVE 54%
ITEM 69091/61454 61693/62803 67847 shown
99
SUPER COUPON
1000 LB. CAPACITY SWING-BACK TRAILER JACK
2.5 HP, 21 GALLON, 125 PSI VERTICAL OIL-LUBE AIR COMPRESSOR
SUPER COUPON
ITEM 68496/61363 68497/61360 68498/61359
$499
8
LIMIT 9 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.
SUPER COUPON
AMERICA'S BEST GENERATOR
SUPER QUIET
4000 PEAK/3200 RUNNING WATTS 6.5 HP (212 CC) GAS GENERATORS
Customer Rating
ITEM 69676/69729/63080/63079 shown ITEM 69675/69728/63090/63089 CALIFORNIA ONLY
SAVE $149
7 $15.99
LIMIT 8 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17.
SUPER COUPON
$ 99 Compare $34.99
Customer Rating
$ 99
Compare
ITEM 69594/69955 42292 shown
$
339
Wheel kit sold separately.
SUPER COUPON
99 9 8 $2 99 Compare
$439
LIMIT 3 - Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 8/1/17. At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare” or “comp at” price means that the same item or a similar functioning item was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare” or “comp at” price by another retailer in the U.S. within the past 180 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare” or "comp at" should be implied. For more information, go toHarborFreight.com or see store associate.
Use Coupons:COASTALANGLERMAG.COM In-Store, HarborFreight.com or 800-423-2567 • THEANGLERMAG.COM APRIL 2017
NATIONAL
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3/8/17 12:34 PM 3/20/17 3:41 PM
suzuki spring savings Three Limited Time Offers Make A Good Deal Even Better Suzuki Gives You All Three So You Don’t Have To Choose One Or The Other
Buy a new Suzuki outboard from 25 to 300 horsepower and take advantage of not just one, but ALL THREE Suzuki Spring promotional offers.
Add cash rebates on select models and you can get up to $800 cash back. Plus our Repower Financing is available at attractive interest rates (on approved credit.*)
Just say, “Gimme Six!” and you’ll get six years of product protection. That’s right, you’ll get Suzuki’s three-year limited warranty and Suzuki’s 3-Year Extended Protection Plan at no extra charge.
See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer today and find out how you can get the ultimate deal on the Ultimate 4-Stroke Outboard.
Six Years of Protection at no extra charge on all new outboards 25 to 300 HP.
Cash Rebates on select models. See your dealer for details.
REPOWER FINANCE
Rates as low as 5.99% on new Suzuki outboards (OAC).*
For details and the name of your nearest participating Suzuki Marine dealer, visit www.suzukimarine.com
Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 300 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 4/01/17 and 6/30/17 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Cash Rebates apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 4/01/17 and 6/30/17. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Customer and participating Dealer must fill out the appropriate rebate form at time of sale. Customer will have the choice to either apply the cash rebate against the original dealer invoice (Suzuki will credit Dealer parts account) or have a check sent directly to the customer. There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 4/01/17 and 6/30/17. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2017 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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NATIONAL
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APRIL 2017
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
3/20/17 3:41 PM
PENNFISHING.COM
LET THE BATTLE BEGIN The Slammer is back! Featuring a full metal body and rotor, IPX6 sealed gear box and spool design, a full Brass CNC Gear system,
COMMON CVRS_0417.indd 3
and a smooth yet powerful Dura Drag System. The Slammer is not only back…. it’s better than ever before.
3/19/17 2:26 PM
COMMON CVRS_0417.indd 4
3/19/17 2:26 PM