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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 7/01/17 and 9/30/17 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 7/01/17 and 9/30/17. 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 7/01/17 and 9/30/17. “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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EDITOR IN CHIEF : Ben Martin • camads@coastalanglermagazine.com VICE PRESIDENT : Tracy Patterson • tracy@coastalanglermagazine.com ART DIRECTOR : Rebecca Snowden • graphics@coastalanglermagazine.com EDITORIAL COORDINATOR : Nick Carter • editorial@coastalanglermagazine.com WEBMASTER : Dmitriy Pislyagin • webmaster@coastalanglermagazine.com ADVERTISING INQUIRIES: Corporate Headquarters info@coastalanglermagazine.com • 888-800-9794
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BIG BEND : Mike McNamara • (850) 510-7919 • captmike@coastalanglermagazine.com BREVARD : David String • (321) 684-5888 • dstring@coastalanglermagazine.com DAYTONA/NEW SMYRNA BEACH : Don Meadows • (321) 436-5895 • donm@coastalanglermagazine.com FLORIDA KEYS : Cliff Lumpkin • (305) 849-9093 • cliff@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT LAUDERDALE : Gene Dyer • (954) 680-3900 • gene@coastalanglermagazine.com FORT MYERS : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER MIAMI : Scott Deal • (561) 945-6999 • scott@coastalanglermagazine.com Monica Isaza-Deal • (561) 945-8899 • monica@coastalanglermagazine.com GREATER ORLANDO : Phillip & Giselle Wolf • (407) 790-9515 • phillip@coastalanglermagazine.com LAKELAND & SUMTER : Mary Brasher • (352) 598-4219 • maryf@coastalanglermagazine.com NAPLES : Nadeen Welch • (239) 595-8265 • nwelch@coastalanglermagazine.com NC FLORIDA/NATURE COAST : Cary & Lynn Crutchfield • (352) 372-4237 • crutch@coastalanglermagazine.com NE FLORIDA : Danny Patrick • (904) 742-4696 • danny@coastalanglermagazine.com PANAMA CITY/FORGOTTEN COAST : Randy Cnota • (229) 834-7880 • randyc@coastalanglermagazine.com PALM BEACH COUNTY : Barbara Ryan • (561) 373-8040 • barbara@coastalanglermagazine.com SARASOTA : Phil Prevoir • (239) 257-4684 • pprevoir@coastalanglermagazine.com TAMPA BAY : Chuck Atkins • (239) 464-5153 • chuck@coastalanglermagazine.com TREASURE COAST : Misti & Gary Guertin • (772) 285-6850 • treasurecoast@coastalanglermagazine.com flahama@coastalanglermagazine.com
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Best Of By CAM Staff
Overall Best of Show - Bote Rover
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ach year, the fishing industry and anglers eagerly await ICAST, the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, to see what new rods, reels, lures, apparel and gadgets companies will roll out in the show’s New Product Showcase. For the gear-heads out there, it never disappoints. This year, 1,263 products, accessories and apparel were entered by 280 companies to compete for Best of Category awards in 26 different categories. The products were viewed and voted on at ICAST in Orlando on July 13. This year’s big winner was the Bote Rover, which took home Overall Best of Show. It also took top honors in the Boats and Watercraft category. It is a truly innovative little SUP/Skiff hybrid, powered by a small outboard to get you where you’re going. Once you get there, it gives you all the skinny-water and stealth capabilities of an SUP. The following is a list of all the other cool and innovative products that earned top honors in their categories. Boating Accessories: Yeti Coolers LoadOut Bucket With the LoadOut Bucket, Yeti has done for the lowly 5-gallon bucket what it did for the cooler. This injection-molded workhorse is Yeti tough and designed to exceed any need from the boat to the backyard. Eyewear: Costa Sunrise Mirror Lens Sunrise Mirror lenses are designed for low-light conditions. They let in 30 percent of the available light while maintaining 97 percent polarization for optimal performance and eye protection at dawn, dusk or on cloudy days.
Huk Attack
Footwear: Huk Performance Fishing Attack The Huk Attack is the most engineered, purpose-built fishing shoe ever created. It brings performance features for the serious fisherman with unique traction, bullet-proof durability and all-day comfort and support. Giftware: The Catch and Release Print Shop Actual Size An alternative to taxidermy, these fish prints are created to the exact length of your catch and stamped with your name and information about your catch. Lifestyle Apparel: Frogg Toggs Prym1 Series Pilot II Jacket and Bibs The Frogg Toggs Prym1 Series Pilot II Jacket and Bibs is the company’s camouflage style of its bombproof Pilot II. It is available in shoreline blue, silver mist and blackout options. Technical Apparel: Frogg Toggs Sierran Transition Wader A zippered, flip-out chest pocket, large multi-function pocket and exterior fly storage area allow these waders to fill double-duty as a chest pack for storage of fly fishing gear. Electronics: Humminbird Solix 15 Chirp Mega SI GPS Humminbird has achieved improved detail and target separation with Chirp Digital Sonar. With touch screen or keypad interface, the screen can be customized and viewed with up to four panels. Fishing Accessory: Yeti Coolers Panga Duffel The Panga Duffel is a hardcore drybag designed to withstand brutal treatment and be completely watertight. It is fully submersible, and Yeti called it a gear fortress. Fly Fishing Accessory: Simms G3 Guide Stockingfoot Wader Simms has built its most breathable and durable wader yet in its new G3 Guide, with four-layers of Gore-Tex fabric in the legs and three layers above the waist. They also feature a chest pocket, handwarmer pockets and built in utility tabs.
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Fishing Line: Berkley Fireline Ultra 8 With four times the abrasion resistance of its original Fireline, Berkley’s thermally fused Ultra 8 comes in a range from 4 pound test up to 30 pound test. FishSmart: Eagle Claw 2017 Flounder Sample Pack Eagle Claw jumps in for the conservation of summer flounder and catch and release with its 2017 Flouder Sample Pack. Kids’ Tackle: 13 Fishing Ambition Combo Designed specifically with the smaller size of a child in mind, but packed with some features required by serious anglers, these salt and freshwater combos are perfect for the little angler who is really into fishing. Tackle Management: Daiwa Tactical Backpack This tackle backpack is perfect for hiking into a stream, walking the banks of a pond, hauling down to the surf or for use as a quickgrab on your buddy’s boat. It is custom designed to hold all the gear an angler needs.
Saltwater Soft Lure: LIVETARGET Hollow Body Mullet The Hollow Body Mullet is sure to find a place in nearshore and inshore boxes and be deadly for sea trout, redfish, snook, flounder and striped bass. It is an incredibly detailed and lifelike walking bait with great action. Fly Reel: Pflueger Supreme QRS Fly Reel With its innovative Quick Release Spool, the Supreme QRS offers an interchangeable large-arbor cassette spool system. The polycarbonate cassettes are secured in the spool carrier by an advanced locking system enclosed by a full stainless steel and alloy construction. Freshwater Reel: Shimano Curado K Baitcasting Reel As if the Curado weren’t legendary enough, Shimano has improved on its venerable reel with the latest in Shimano technology, such as smooth, efficient, durable MicroModule gearing. It is available gear ratios up to 8.5:1. Saltwater Reel: Shimano Sustain Reels C4000/5000 Shimano’s Sustain Reels are a saltwater line of spinning reels that fits into the higher end of Shimano’s line. Featuring Shimano’s advanced Hagane technology, they are smooth, powerful and durable for anglers seeking to do battle with midsized saltwater species.
Terminal Tackle: Trapper Round Bend Treble With an innovative “trap,” the standard version of this odd-looking hook has proven itself by holding baits in place and keeping fish on the hook. The treble-hook version of the trapper is revolutionary. Freshwater Hard Lure: Savage Gear 3D Topwater Bat This crazy-looking bait plays on the nature of predatory species to strike on reaction. It is a hard, surface-walking bait 3D scanned to mimic a bat struggling in the water.
3D Topwater Bat
Saltwater Hard Lure: Rapala X-Rap Magnum 40 Did somebody say wahoo? The new X-Rap Magnum 40 dives consistently to 40 feet with aggressive swimming action. It can be trolled as fast as 13 knots without rolling or kicking out.
Rapala X-Rap Magnum 40
Freshwater Soft Lure: Lunkerhunt LP Prop Series The Lunkerhunt Prop Series combines the design of hollow-body soft plastics with modern prop technology previously found only on hard-body lures. The Prop Series features three body styles: The Prop Frog, The Prop Fish Sunfish and The Prop Fish Shad.
Rod & Reel Combo: Lew’s Mach Crush Speed Spool Combo This baitcast combo features Lew’s exclusive SLP Super Low Profile compact design in a premium 10-bearing Speed Spool reel with MSB Multi-Setting Brake dual cast control system. The combo’s onepiece IM8 graphite rod sports a Winn Dri-Tac splitgrip handle. Fly Fishing Rod: G. Loomis IMX-Pro Fly Rod G. Loomis’ IMX-Pro series was designed for professional guides. IMX-PRO MATRIX is a material that allows Loomis to use fewer wraps of graphite and build fast, responsive rods that are lighter and more sensitive without sacrificing power or durability. Freshwater Rod: 13 Fishing Fate Black With crisp action, incredible sensitivity and superb balance, the Fate Black offers the benefits of a Japanese 30T HTC blank, an innovative seamless reel seat, tanglefree guides with zirconia inserts, hybrid comfort grips and handles made of hand-selected Portuguese cork. Saltwater Rod: St. Croix Legend T o u r n a m e n t Inshore Legend Tournament Inshore rods are the blending of the sensitivity, power and durability found in St Croix’s existing Legend Tournament Bass and Walleye series with components and technology reserved for saltwater environments.
Lunkerhunt Prop series
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A boater’s paradise, Bay Point Marina is gently tucked away along the Grand Lagoon in Panama City Beach, Florida, yet conveniently located just five minutes from the beautiful Gulf of Mexico and 15 minutes from the Intracoastal Waterway. Fortunately for patrons and guests, Bay Point Marina is also just minutes by boat from Shell Island, which offers excellent snorkeling, superb fishing and some of the most secluded beaches available in North Florida. This quiet, full-service marina offers worldclass facilities and services including 180 protected slips, housing for boats up to 125 feet and luxury pontoon boat rentals at a relaxing price.
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Alaska’s Can’t Miss
Freshwater Fishing Adventures
By Christopher Batin
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laska sportfishing offers wilderness realized rather than imagined and quickens the pulse in all types of anglers, from panfishermen to veteran world anglers. When an angler returns from Alaska and shares an evening on the flats or at the catfish hole with friends, talk quickly turns from big catfish stories to Alaska fishing adventures. The reason is obvious. If you are searching for action, the roostertails of spray generated by a 50-pound chinook salmon on a five-jump run through shallow water will satisfy your need. If the sight of huge shad migrations have you tying on a lure in finger-fumbling fashion, wait until you view pristine rivers teeming with five species of Pacific salmon that are counted not by the thousands, but by the millions. Valdez anglers see the return of as many as 11 million pink salmon to intertidal waters. Choosing the right Alaska adventure is complex, with its various runs, timing and weather. Knowing when to go, where to go and with whom is key. I’ve fished and covered Alaska’s fishing for more than 42 years, and I’ve helped countless anglers find the trip best suited for them. Each angler has separate needs. In the freshwater realm, here are some of the top considerations for can’t miss adventure, fish-hooking action and personal service worthy of the Alaska experience. Interior Alaska
If you’re looking for a quiet place to fish, with scenery, comfortable cabins and located far from the crowds, drive down to Denali National Park and visit Kirk Martakis at Fish Denali. He offers several lakes on private property that offer about 3,000 wild rainbow trout to 31 inches and trophy-sized grayling. They cruise the lake like sharks, and the clear water makes sight casting to them with single-hook jigs, nymphs or topwater lures too much fun. It’s some of the best lake rainbow fishing I’ve experienced. Cozy, fully equipped cabins located at lakeside offer everything you’ll need for a multi-day stay, including Wi-Fi and multiple bedrooms. It’s a good choice for large families, fishing buddies or couples who want a quiet, laid-back trip with some of Alaska’s best scenery (www.Fishdenali.com). Float fishing offers a change of scenery around each turn in the river as well as great fishing opportunities. Alaska River Tours offers remote float trips along the road system, with neither the crowds nor the expense. Depending on the season, owner Reinhard “Reini” Neuhauser chooses the best rivers for grayling, trout, sheefish, pike, salmon and char. On overnight excursions, he provides tents, camping gear and boats. You arrive ready to fish. I recommend the overnight float, which makes the most of Alaska’s 19-plus hours of daylight. Fish when it’s light, and float during the remaining five hours from midnight to the 4 a.m. during the twilight period, when it’s still light enough to read. It’s a heady trip that is only surpassed by his camps and food served (www.akrivertours.com). The Kenai Peninsula For a quick day of fishing, the Kenai River offers big king salmon to 70plus pounds that sizzle drags. Guide Joe Connors was my instructor back in 10
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my college days, and he’s still as tough on catching fish as he was on me learning public speaking. He’s a long-time Kenai veteran, and his guides at Big Sky Charter and Fish Camp have a long-time, sterling reputation for helping anglers of all skill levels catch silver and sockeye salmon, char and rainbow trout in the 25- to 34-inch range. He offers comfortable riverside cabins, evening barbecues and a quiet place to enjoy the river (www.kenaiguide.com). Bristol Bay Bristol Bay lodges offer the crème de le crème of Alaska sportfishing in these western Alaska waters, where tens of millions of salmon move into various watersheds each year. A couple hundred lodges and camps offer a variety of services, from bare-basic outfitted trips to spectacular lodges with fly-out fishing, shore lunches, and gourmet meals. Mike Gorton runs Goodnews River Lodge, the only lodge located on the 400-milelong river that offers some of the best boat-accessible river fishing for silver salmon, rainbow trout and char you’ll find in the region. It is a mixed-bag fishery, where no matter the weather, you can fish. There wasn’t a stretch of the Goodnews when friend Mark Wade and I fished that didn’t have silver salmon hammering our flies and big rainbow trout swarming in numbers like piranhas. The guides have great people skills and are skilled in their knowledge of the river (www.goodnewsriverlodge. com). Southeast Alaska In southeast Alaska, Marlin Benedict, of Fish Wrangell, offers freshwater fishing for salmon, cutthroat trout and char in the remote, beautiful jungle streams of the Tongass National Forest. You don’t walk long distances here, as most of the good fishing is within a half mile or so of saltwater, which also guarantees fish as fresh as they come. The most fun in fishing these shallow waters is watching salmon attacking your fly or lure. Personal service is topnotch. (www.fishwrangell.com). Chris Batin is editor of The Alaska Angler and author of nine award-winning books and Alaska fishing DVDs. He is featured as an Alaska legend in a new book, “Alaska’s Greatest Outdoor Legends,” published by the University of Alaska Press. For over 40 years, he has run The Alaska Angler Information Service. Discover more at www.AlaskaAngler.com.
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
HAMMERHEAD TUFF GRAB AMARRA
Hammerhead Tuff Grab spearfishing gloves are the toughest warmwater spearfishing gloves available. Tuff Grabs were designed in Hawaii for use in asspetto spearfishing, which involves the diver descending to the bottom and scratching up substrate to attract inquisitive fish. In this style of ambush diving, normal diving gloves only last weeks. Tuff Grabs last months, saving the diver money in the long run. A full 5-finger, 2mm neoprene glove with reinforced flexible amarra (synthetic suede) palm and double-stitched gripped reinforcements offer exceptional durability without sacrificing dexterity. Anti-Slip rubberized grips are sewn into each fingertip and palm, leaving the knuckles open for flexibility. Large batting-glove style Velcro enclosures keep the glove tight. Tuff Grabs are available in both Deep Reef and Pelagic Shatter camouflage to help make you the ultimate predator.
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MAVERICK DARIAN YOKOOJI HYBRID SPEARGUNS Darian Yokooji made his first speargun back in 1993 because he didn’t have money to buy one. Since then, his Hawaiian-made, handcrafted guns have become highly sought after by spearfishers around the world. All of Yokooji’s guns are handcrafted in small batches to ensure quality workmanship, and he uses only the finest materials to construct beautiful, durable spearguns that perform to the highest level. His best-selling guns are his Hybrid Signature line. Originally designed in 1996, this line offers the stability of wood with the maneuverability of a pipe gun. The latest rendition of this classic gun has been retooled through collaboration with Maverick America’s Mark Laboccetta to improve on the original body design, add a carbon fiber barrel and redesign the Delrin muzzle. It is an exceptional, versatile speargun available in lengths of 53, 55, 57 and 60 inches. Check out all the specs online.
WWW.MAVERICK-AMERICA.COM
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High Performance Eyewear
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Center sp Are Log Homes Practical? Why Buy a Log Home?
Log Cabin process. Each log is perfectly engineered in our state of the art, climate-controlled facility prior to construction. This precise engineering of the logs prior to construction also ensures a superior thermal mass. Prior to the Blue Ridge Log Cabin process, thermal mass was affected by less than airtight construction. Ensuring exact fitting and high thermal mass has enabled our log homes to be very competitively priced with traditional construction and traditional building thermal efficiency, making our log homes View time-lapsed video at www.blueridgelogcabins.net an exceptional value, both now and into the future. bviously the number one attribute for log home owners tends Ben Martin: You’ve mentioned the “manufacturing process.” to be the aesthetics. Log homes and the feel of real wood tend to create an ambiance that tends to suit the outdoor enthu- How is it that log homes would have a manufacturing process? Chip Smith: Blue Ridge Log Cabins is an innovator in the log siast more than the traditional American home. But what about the cost to build and maintain a log home? Is it practical? That’s the ques- home industry. We were recently voted on as one of “America’s Favorite Log Homes” by Log Cabin Hub. Our unique process of comtion that we asked Chip Smith, Owner of Blue Ridge Log Cabins. Ben Martin: Chip, some people would suggest that the cost of pletely engineering each log in our facility has enabled us to provide a consistency previously unavailable in the log home industry. This a log home is more than that of a traditional home. Is that correct? Chip Smith: There was a time when that would have been true has also enabled us to produce a more energy efficient log home. Eliminating the inconsistencies normally associated with log but today with our improved efficiencies in development and construction of a Blue Ridge Log Cabin the answer is no, they are not home construction has allowed us to create a better value for our more costly than a traditional home. This innovation in the actual customers and a more efficient building process. Beautiful log homes manufacturing of the logs themselves is at the core of the Blue Ridge do not have to cost more than traditional homes.
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7.5078 W x 3.2985 H
Visit our website: www.BlueRidgeLogCabins.net or Call: (888) 340-9782 625 East Frontage Road, Campobello, SC 29322 14
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SOUTHEAST
Mad Fish
By Capt. Chester Reese
W
e sometimes think fish are just mindless members of the environment with little tiny brains. Though it is true that brain size in fish is diminutive, they’ve had 450 million years to work out their game plan. In the wild, fish need to be both aggressive and wary to survive. The eye of a fish is well adapted to light conditions and motion; this gives them a unique ability to feed and fight. I’ve been a diver for many years and witnessed some wild antics of fish of all sizes. Once, there was a 3-inch damselfish in the Keys that attacked my dive glove and
fought like a bulldog because it thought I was intruding on its territory. Here in Franklin County, Florida, we have some of the best gag grouper grounds in the state. During the warmer months, gags are somewhat dispersed, and the tried and true method of fishing for them is to troll large-lipped lures. This allows the fisherman to cover a lot of ground, plus it’s a nice way to cruise and fish at the same time. Some of the lures that are the most effective do not look like any fish in the sea but catch fish on a regular basis. What does a grouper think a big plastic bright green shaking lure racing along the reef is? For a long time, whenever I bought a lure it had to look fishy, but maybe that’s not what is the most effective. Many times when we get a hookup on these lures, the fish is caught on the side of the head or in some other part away from the mouth. I have talked to a lot of grouper fisherman, and we have come up with a crazy idea; maybe these lone groupers are simply defending their spot on the reef. One old captain told me he wasn’t catching feeding fish, they were just mad. This make sense to me, because I’ve seen largemouth bass defend their breeding beds in freshwater and they can be very aggressive. And don’t forget about the damselfish incident. Color, size and movement are very important to successful lure action. Many colors appear different at depth than at the surface. Red is the first to go and looks black at 30 feet, while chartreuse green holds its color the best in low-light conditions, and you can’t go wrong with white. So, when considering what lure or fly you want to fish with, think like a fish. What is going to stimulate a bite under certain conditions and in certain areas? It is important to realize that fish may not only be feeding, they might just be “Mad Fish.” Be Safe Out There and Good Luck Capt. Chester Reese Natural World Charters out of Carabelle, Franklin County, Florida. Check out his website at www.naturalworldcharters.com.
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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NORTH CAROLINA
A Decorum Manifesto:
SHOULD I PICK THIS UP?
By Dustin Stanberry
Summer Strategies for Shoreline Bass Anglers By Patrick Morrow
S A
t some point in our fishing excursions, we all have encountered litter on the stream. We want to believe the extra work we put into getting to that special spot will pay off with a pristine piece of water. It’s only after we arrive and fish a few yards that we quickly realize we aren’t pioneers, and we’re just following footsteps. Traces of human presence can often be found in the form of trash in or around the water. Something we can control, as anglers, is what we do when we see this debris. I’m not suggesting everyone carry a trash bag with them while fishing just to pick up after others. But how much could we clean up if everyone picked up one more piece of garbage than they carried in? Recently, while guiding, I retrieved a soda can, wine bottle and chip bag on the way back to the vehicle for lunch. My clients were curious as to why someone would pick up another’s trash. We ate lunch, and I placed the refuse in the trash bag along with our trash. After witnessing how easily the trash was disposed of, my clients were on the lookout for trash the rest of the evening. The point of this story is simple. Setting an example is not only rewarding, sometimes it can change the behavior of others. Something all anglers are faced with is the scraps and snippets of leader, tippet or fishing line. Every time a lure or fly is changed, we generally need to trim the tag ends of our knot. Ideally we want to pack all of our line out. Realistically, we drop small amounts of line for various reasons. Perhaps it’s windy and your fingers are cold and wet, or maybe you are in the middle of feeding fish and trying to make a quick fly change. I make a point to stow my trimmings. I just push them into the chest pocket on my waders and throw the line away when I get home. Cutting the line up into small pieces before placing it in the garbage will help ensure it will not be a problem later on. It doesn’t take much effort, and I know the fish and wildlife will appreciate it. Along the same lines, I am constantly on the lookout for abandoned line while I fish. You won’t have to look hard to find line on trees and snagged in the rocks. Abandoned line is tough on fish and other wildlife, so take a moment to gather what you can and pack it out. It might save the life of a critter or the fish we try so hard to protect. If you find yourself asking the question, “Should I pick this up?” then it’s probably the right thing to do. In the quest for good decorum on the water, picking up after each other, and ourselves, is one of the most important. Preserving the resource we cherish is one of the most challenging goals we face as anglers.
ummer is a trying time of year for most anglers, but it is especially challenging for those fishing from the bank. Stranded far from deep water, shoreline anglers must overcome even greater obstacles than their boat-fishing counterparts to elicit bites. But you can still catch plenty of bass in the summer, you just have to adjust your techniques and do a few things to maximize your opportunities. Seek Out Shade Largemouth bass are most comfortable hunting in low-light conditions, and they tend to hangout in areas with some type of shade. Therefore, you’ll want to concentrate your efforts on deep weed beds, boat docks and tree-lined coves to get your lure in front of more bass. It is often helpful to master the art of skipping a lure, so you can get it back under overhanging vegetation or low-lying docks. Reach Deeper Depths Bass often move away from the shore following the post-spawn period until fall temperatures arrive and they return. This means that bank-bound anglers will need to do everything they can to maximize casting distance. One of the easiest ways to do this is through the use of heavier weights and lures. You may also want to downsize your line choice as much as possible, to further increase your reach. Slow Down Your Presentation Summer bass often become quite lethargic, and food is often very plentiful during the Dog Days. Accordingly, fish are far less aggressive during this time of year than the spring or fall. To help tempt them into biting your lure, you’ll want to make it as irresistible looking as possible. One of the best ways to do this is by simply slowing down your presentation; you can even let your lure stop completely at several points during the retrieve. Fish Early or Late The intense heat of summer often causes bass and other fish to alter their activity patterns. Specifically, it causes them to adopt a crepuscular daily cycle – meaning that they become most active at dawn and dusk. This doesn’t mean that you can achieve success while the sun’s high in the sky, but you’ll have a better chance to catch more fish while the light levels are low and the temperature relatively cool. Look for Cold Water Some of the most productive areas for bank fishers to target are the mouths of tree-lined—and therefore cool—creeks and streams. Many of the fish that populate stream-fed lakes and ponds will hang out in these areas – including both baitfish and bass. Bass often stage on either side of points in these areas, so work crankbaits, spinnerbaits and Carolina rigs in all directions until you hit upon an effective trajectory. The truth is, you probably won’t catch quite as many fish during the hottest part of the summer as you will during the comparatively cooler months of the calendar. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have enough success to enjoy yourself, no matter how high the mercury climbs. Just embrace the five strategies detailed above, and don’t be afraid to experiment until you enjoy success.
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Restore Our Battleship!
What is a Cofferdam? • • • •
A cofferdam is a watertight structure built to allow the enclosed area to be pumped out, creating a dry work environment. The Battleship cofferdam will enable workers to repair and restore the ship’s corroded hull, which is paper-thin in places. The Battleship’s last major dry docking and repair work was done in 1953. The cofferdam will be constructed over 18 months by Orion Marine Group of Norfolk, VA.
The SECU Memorial Walkway • • •
•
Under construction simultaneously, the SECU Memorial Walkway will be a half mile long, 10-foot wide timber walkway surrounding the Battleship. The walkway will be above the waterline but below the main deck of the Battleship. It will allow visitors to see the ship’s entire hull for the first time. The walkway will include five bump-out areas to honor each of the five branches of the military – Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard. The Merchant Marines will be honored by flying their flag on the quarterdeck. The walkway will be open to the public and free of charge.
All Hands on Deck! • •
To view construction updates, visit www.battleshipnc.com. For more information on the Generations Campaign, contact Marty Feurer, Development Director, at marty.feurer@ ncdcr.gov.
Text “Battleship” to 41444
HUGE Online Store To Receive Our 98-Page Spearfishing Equipment Catalog, email info@maverick-america.com AM 11/8/16 9:55
(910)679-4513 • 1316 S. 5th Street, Wilmington, NC, 28480
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Wilmington/Morehead City edition
Wrightsville Beach August fishing around Wrightsville, it’s the hot of the summer but fishing can be pretty good. I prefer to go earlier or later to beat the heat and the crowds. Here are a few of my favorite August “go-to” species. Flounder are a great hot weather fish because it really does not seem to matter how hot it gets, they still bite! Live bait is the key for catching higher numbers of flounder, but if you want to catch bigger flounder try artificial bait. Mud minnows and small finger mullet will be the best live baits for flounder in August. Rigging the live bait on Carolina rigs with Eagle Claw L42 1/0 or 2/0 hooks is a good choice for flounder. If you prefer to use artificial baits, scented and unscented grubs, as well as spinner baits, will do the job in shallow waters. Berkley Gulp Jerkshad in five- and six-inch sizes in New Penny, Pearl White and Chart Pepper Neon are all good. Also try Berkley’s Havoc Grass Pig lure in Chartreuse, Pearl White Silver and Swamp Gas. I rig these lures on red, gray or white jig heads in 1/4- to 1/2-ounce weights. Inshore, look for the bigger flounder around deeper water docks with good current, baitfish and lots of structure. The inlets, offshore reefs and ledges are all good places to find hot weather flounder. What all these places have in common...deeper water, current and structure. One fish that is always on my hot weather list is the sheepshead. The sheepshead is a good challenge to catch and they fight hard, but they are also good to eat! Another great thing about sheepshead fishing when it’s hot outside is that you can hide under a bridge out of the sun to catch them. Just think, fishing somewhere out of the sun and you’re catching great eating fish! All you need is some fiddler crabs or sand fleas for bait. A medium/heavy action spinning or casting rod with 20- or 30-pound Spiderwire braid for line will help you bring in that big sheepshead in. Tie on a short Carolina rig with a 40- or 50-pound fluorocarbon leader and a small live bait J hook (sharp/strong)! Drop that fiddler crab down beside a piling on the Carolina
rig and when you feel that little bump, set the hook and hold on! They are great eating in the two- to six-pound range! North Carolina is not really known for tarpon fishing, but I do see them pushing just off Masonboro inlet and the lower Cape Fear River from time to time. If you want a good challenge, give Carolina tarpon fishing a try this August. The best times are very early morning or late afternoon and into the night. I fish for tarpon on the bottom or free lining, using live and fresh dead baits like spots, mullet and menhaden. I rig these baits on fish-finder rigs, with three to five feet of 80- to 100-pound fluorocarbon leader. Circle hooks are the best bet for good hook-ups and landings for tarpon in hook sizes 7/0 to 9/0, depending what hook series you like. I prefer TroKar AP TK5 9/0 circle hooks, because they’re super sharp and super strong! It not easy to catch a NC tarpon, but I promise if you do, or even just jump one off, it’s still really cool to see! I also enjoy shark fishing later in the summer (late July to early September.) Sharks on light tackle are always a good pull, and boy, the kids love to catch ‘em! I drift live and fresh dead bluefish, Spanish mackerel, mullet or menhaden in 30 to 45 feet of water offshore. I rig these baits with a 7/0 to 9/0 TroKar circle hook with one foot of 90-pound wire and six to eight feet of 80-pound mono leader. You can free-line the bait and /or put a small egg sinker on to keep the bait close to the bottom. You’ll know when you get a bite! Most sharks will be in the 10- to 100-pound range. Tackle run down: PENN Battle II & Slammer III reels in 2500, 3000, 3500 sizes on PENN Battalion 6’6” & 7’ medium and med/heavy rod for the sheepshead and flounder. For the tarpon/sharks, PENN Slammer III 6500 & 7500 and PENN 20 Fathom LW casting reels on PENN Rampage Jigging series rods. Line Spiderwire Ultra-Cast in 10- and 15-pound test for the smaler guys and Berkley Pro Spec Chrome mono in 30- and 40-pound test for the tarpon/sharks. Have a good August, stay cool and thanks for reading Coastal Angler Magazine!
Forecast by: Capt. Jot Owens Penn Tackle Elite Staff •Ranger Boats Pro Staff www.captainjot.com • 910-233-4139
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above: A tarpon caught on a live greenie shad just off Masonboro Inlet by Capt. Jot Owens.
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Swansboro/ emerald Isle August has arrived and school is in! That’s right, NC’s youth will be hitting the books and hopefully preparing to enter the real world. But, our youngsters aren’t the only ones “schooling up.” Redfish, one of NC’s most popular recreationally targeted species, will be coming together in large schools in the Fall and will feed with a vengeance. August is a great month to fish along the Crystal Coast because various baitfish (mullet, glass minnows, shrimp, and menhaden) become so prevalent throughout the marshes, creeks, and lower rivers that it draws the attention of all of our inshore and nearshore popular fish species. The inshore waters will produce plenty of redfish, flounder, speckled trout, black drum, sheephead, ladyfish, bluefish, spots, croaker, and more. While, the nearshore waters will be alive with Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, amberjack, cobia, flounder, grey trout and plenty of other bottom fish. Knowing the best baits, tides, conditions, and locations to target each species is crucial to having a successful day of fishing.
above: Martina Cook from Elizabeth City, caught this 12-pound redfish near Browns Inlet on a Berkley Gulp Shrimp while fishing with her son-inlaw, Capt. Jeff Cronk, this July.
ICW and the rivers are often overlooked, but to a fish these structures are a bait haven and provide good current breaks. Try fishing the down current side of docks, casting either an artificial bait or a Inshore Fishing Some of the most popular inshore species that anglers look for this Carolina-rigged live bait under the dock and working out slowly for a month are redfish, flounder, black drum, and speckled trout. Anglers good chance at redfish and flounder. Nearshore Fishing can expect to find these species scattered throughout much of our backwaters this month. When working the shallow marsh bays behind Anglers who want to venture outside one of the Crystal Coast’s our beaches or the oyster beds in the lower river for reds and flounder, many inlets this month will have a multitude of options available, I prefer to cast an 1/8-ounce jighead or a 1/4-ounce spinner bait tipped as every species that roam our nearshore waters can be caught this with a three- or four-inch Berkley Gulp Alive bait. If you suspect there during the early fall months. Our tidelines, artificial reefs, and nearmight be some black drum in these same areas, a popping cork rigged shore hard/live bottoms will b alive with Spanish and king mackerel, with a live shrimp on a small circle hook is an excellent bait and it will amberjack, cobia, barracuda, bull red drum, flounder, and plenty of catch the other species as well. If the tide is high, try working a top other bottomfish. Without a doubt, slow trolling live menhaden or water bait along the flooded grass for some incredible blowups from jigbait will produce the best action on the surface for Spanish, kings, redfish. If speckled trout are what’s peaking your interest this August, amberjack, and barracuda. If targeting big Spanish use four- to fivemove out of the shallow bays and target the edges of the secondary inch menhaden rigged with #4 to #6 gold trebles rigged with 20- to channels that snake their way throughout the marsh systems or tar- 30-pound wire, and target tidelines and artificial reefs or hard bottoms within two miles of the beach. When focusing specifically on get the deeper kings use larger live baits with #2 to #4 trebles rigged with 40-pound drop offs around or heavier wire. Amberjack fishing is in a class of its own. If you oyster beds in want to double down with one of these “reef donkeys” you’ll want to the lower rivstep it up to a heavier rod/reel. I prefer PENN’s Rampage jigging rod ers. Some of the paired with a PENN 750 Spinnfisher V or Slammer Spinning Reel and best trout baits loaded down with 60- to 80-pound Spiderwire Ultracast Invisibraid. include: Berkley A six- to 8-inch live menhaden pulled on a 5/0 or 6/0 hook using 60Gulp Shrimp, to 80-pound fluorocarbon will draw their attention and keep them Bett’s Halo hooked up during one of the strongest nearshore battles you’ll ever Shrimp, the Vooexperience. If flounder and sea bass are what you’re wanting to put Doo Shrimp, and onto the dinner plate, nothing will be more productive than Bett’s a variety of Mirtwo-ounce Flounder Fanatic Bucktail rigged with a four-inch BerkrOlures. Anglers ley Gulp Alive Shrimp. This bait combo is absolutely amazing! My should look for clients and I jig these baits each summer along our nearshore live botcurrent breaks toms landing deck loads of flounder and seabass each trip and never pushing off the have to waste time to catch bait before our trip. Regardless of what shores along species you’re targeting this month, chances are you’ll stretch a string deep channel and have plenty of action. Have a great time along the Crystal Coast walls. Anchor this Fall and enjoy our beautiful marine resource.lons, oyster beds and offshore of these rock jetties. locations and toss across the FORECAST BY: Capt. Jeff Cronk current breaks, Fish’n4life Charters working the baits www.nccharterfishing.com Ranger/Yamaha/PENN/Berkley Pro-Staff back very slowly Cell 336-558-5697 • Home 910-325-8194 • jcronk@ec.rr.com with an occasional twitch of the bait. Boat above: Phillip Michaels from Indiana, enjoyed his docks along the time in Swansboro, sightcasting to redfish aboard Fish’n4life Charters with Capt. Jeff Cronk.
2 wilmington/Morehead city
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lower Neuse river August brings all kinds of excitement to the Neuse River/Pamlico Sound region of North Carolina. The big drum will be storming the area to eat and spawn. They provide a great opportunity for anglers to catch a very exceptional fish; ranging up to possibly 60 inches but most 38-50 inches. Catches can range up to double digit numbers if you can stand it. These fish can be target in couple of ways: either by soaking fresh mullet on the bottom along shoals and drops or by locating bait areas and casting DOA Popping Cork rigs to entice the strike. When I say strike - I mean it - better hang on. Kayaks work for a real thrill if you can get access to areas.
Your gear for casting will need to consist of rods in the MH range 7 feet long and fitted with a 3500 to 4000 series reel with a good drag system. You need spool capacity to hold 150 yards of 30-pound braid. I have proven the Daiwa Lexa, Exceler, and this year the new BG as worthy of dealing with these beasts and holding up. I have been using Daiwa Exceler and the new Harrier rods in MH 7-foot range with great success. My braid of choice for years is Fins Windtamer in 30-pound test...it has never failed me on these fish and there are minimal knotting issues. I tend to release these fish in the water to ease the stress on them and can still get pictures and measure in the water with my floating Drum Stix. Bait soaking requires a bit heavier gear, with rods in the heavy range and 7500 series reels. Line capacity also increases as you cast your baits out and they hit, run and burn off more line. If you fish at night, you need to flatten barbs on your circle hooks; also from 7pm -7am fresh mullet is the bait of choice and can be tough to get at times, so plan ahead. The trout, slot drum and flounder will still be available around lower regions of the Neuse even though most anglers just drop everything else and chase the big drum. Big drum will be here for you until the end of September with a possible few later. If you wanna book a trip, you need to do it early, as schedules fill up fast
above: Image this fight! Chris Lane of Fort Barnwell with a big drum landedon a kayak trip with Capt. Dave Stewart. He landed three of the big ones in just a short time.
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Tips for Your Office (Boat, Trailer & Truck)
I have to start off by saying that you should be proactive instead of reactive in taking care of your boat, trailer and your hauling vehicle. Too many times I have seen boaters on the side of the road, broken down. I always wonder is there something they should have done to prevent this from happening! Let’s start with your boat trailer...after all this is what is getting your boat to the water and back. Tires: Be sure to check your tire pressure while they are cold and fill them to your tire specs. This will be located on the side of your tires. Check for wear or if the tire tread is low and wearing out. If so, take your trailer to a tire specialist and make sure you get a trailer tire that is right for the weight of your boat! Bearings: Your boat will either have grease bearings or oil hubs. Grease bearings are the most common. I always change my grease annually and check the races and bearings for wear and tear to see if they needed to be replaced or not. You will also have a bearing bra which fits right over your bearings to keep dirt out. It is a good ideal to service your bearings before the boating season starts, while your marine tech is not as busy. Then you’ll know you are ready for the trip to your favorite body of water. My Bass Cat trailer wheels are equipped with oil-filled hubs which are better for boat trailers that are used for longer distance. The one advantage over greased bearings is that the interval between changes is a lot longer. The oil hubs have a clear plastic cap so that you can see the condition of your oil or if it needs replacing. Trailer: Every time I hook up my boat to my Chevy Silverado I check to ensure that it is seated on the ball of the receiver and locked down. I always put a lock on my trailer and also a lock on my receiver on my truck as well. I put a little bit of wheel bearing grease on the receiver ball, just to help the trailer turning and not being metal to metal. Plus, it keeps it from getting rusty. Check your wiring to ensure that all your lights are working. Believe me, when I have someone riding inches away from my Mercury 250 hanging off my Bass Cat I want to let that driver know when I am turning, or better yet, when I am stopping! Always check your straps on the back of your boat to ensure that your boat is properly strapped down for traveling. I always make sure that I have a safety strap to the front eye of my boat and to the trailer eye bolt. If your winch strap were to break, at least you would have your safety strap and the rear straps to help keep your boat down until you can pull over safely to fix it. You should have a spare tire hooked up to your trailer. Don’t neglect it by not checking your tire pressure when you check your other tires. I have found out the hard way that I had a low spare tire! Trailer fenders can take a beating from boats loading up and bouncing off of them. You can usually notice this when you see a boat going down the road and a fender is flapping in the wind. I would 6 wilmington/Morehead city
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rather replace a few bolts than a fender! Remember, when you towing your boat, you should cross your chains so that your boat doesn’t fall through and hitting the highway. The chains will help to catch it. Boat: Every boat owner should keep a tool kit on the boat. Here are some items that you should think about having on your boat: spray lubricant to help with any corroded latches or parts. Be sure to keep an eye on your flashlight batteries in case they start to corrode or go bad. Duct tape, because it fixes everything that a hammer can’t! Tools like pliers, screwdrivers, hacksaw blades, wrenches and allen wrenches. Know what fuses are on your boat and have an assortment in a bag. Clamps. Keep a small bag of nuts, screws and bolts. These are just a few suggestions to make you think about what you might need to get your tool kit ready for your next outing. A tow rope is a big necessity to have, maybe not for you but you might need to help someone else who needs help. Keep an extra bottle of motor oil in case you see that your oil is low or that dreaded horn goes off. A great gadget that has come out recently is the portable power pack. I have a Weego brand that I keep in my boat. It is so much smaller than the big jump-start pack. In fact you can compare it to the size of a cell phone! When you have four batteries like I do, it is a great feeling to have a backup on the water. I hope this has helped you to think about looking over these few things that might just help you from having a bad day on the water. Save that for the other office, nobody has time for that! See you on the water! Hal Abshire Tournament Angler
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offshore/Pelagics It’s Been Hot, But the Fishing Is Hot Too!
Hot water, with a side of hot water, but at least the weather is HOT – that is what you can expect in August. The fish are still here and you can still get out there and make a good day out of it as long as you are prepared to take whatever the ocean provides for you. The water heated up fast this year and has stayed hot, very hot! When this happens the fish will spread out and you will end up finding fish in places you don’t normally see them. This is the time of year when someone catches a mahi or a sailfish right near the beach, or you see a really large wahoo caught by some guys out king mackeral fishing on some of the nearshore wrecks and reefs. Point being, these fish all have tails and all have a mind of their own so you should not be as focused on going to a certain spot – actually you should head out with an area in mind but be willing to stop and adjust depending on where you find “fishy conditions”. The Gulf Stream current has been fairly heavy and has been pushed quite a ways inshore for much of the summer so far; there has been a very hard green/ blue water change to be found on many days. We have fished those type of edges with good success rather than forcing our way on out to the Big Rock or Swansboro Hole or whatever other popular areas you may pick out from a chart. Point is we found the area that looked right and fished it, regardless of where it was, and it has produced for the fleet. August fishing was almost always small mahi and some blackfin tuna and then you went looking for a sailfish or a marlin. The last few years the pattern has changed a bit and we have started seeing fewer schools of bailer size mahi but then there have been a lot more wahoo around. The blackfin
offshore/bottom August: Hot Water and Hot Fishing!
bite has been good as well. I normally start out this time of year with plans to look for the mahi and maybe bail a few if need be, then we go in search of other things. That said I would not hesitate to drag the planer rod across some good wahoo spots, especially if you are marking some good bait in the area. It’s always fun to toss a nice mixed bag or tuna, mahi and wahoo on the dock. Like I always say, there is no huge secret rig – properly rigged ballyhoo on the lure of your choice will work fine. I personally prefer smaller baits this time of year and I always have at least one naked bait in the spread (now is a great time to get some circle hook practice in!). If you find the bailers you can usually catch all you want with a dolphin weenie or a monk lure, or you can stop and bail them. I also start out with at least one blackfin rig in the water, usually a mini green machine on a long rigger. Once you find them you can add another rig or two to your spread, put the boat into a circle and go to work on them. Always keep an eye out for that sneaky sail or white marlin, they tend to pop up behind a teaser at the most inconvenient times! My best advice is to keep it simple and just do not overrun them! Remember that nobody really needs 50 or 60 small mahi and also that it is a huge pain to clean them when you get back – there is no excuse to waste the fish! Catch and release is a simple statement and the operative idea is that you still get to catch, you just don’t have to kill them all! It’s hot out there and the wind and sun can get to you very quickly, please be sure to take plenty of water and have a lot of ice for this time of year. Plan ahead, be prepared and have fun! FORECAST BY: Capt. Troy Pate 252-917-0445 • capttroypate@aol.com over the horizon, it’s like the switch is moved to the “OFF” position. The same thing holds true for the beeliner bite. I’ve seen many nights when the beeliners were chewing and had them worked up to within 40 feet deep, but as soon as the edge of the sun peaked across the horizon, there were not so much as another bite, even on the bottom. The same thing is true with king mackerel at night. We’ve “burnt them a brand new one” all night long on a full moon, but as soon as it started turning daylight, the bite shut off completely. This bite was on frozen cigar minnows during the night, but we couldn’t get a bite after daylight, even on live cigs. It just proves that the moon and the sun have direct impacts on fish biting... we just have to pay attention. If you notice something time after time, chances are good “there’s a pattern developing here!” A full moon night with a good weather pattern is a good time to do an overnighter. Turn on the flood lights over a pretty piece of bottom, and enjoy the “National Geographic show” right below you with squid cigs and sardines. Use the sabiki to load up the livewell for fishing on the bottom and top. Fish all night and the first few hours of daylight on the bottom, then head on towards the hill….it’s over. Rest up and clean fish at a relaxed pace and enjoy a good fresh fish dinner. All the best fishing, and please take the kids.
This is the time of year is when the inshore and offshore waters are subject to almost anything happening. Wahoo and yellowfin can be as close as 20 miles in the vast schools of cigar minnows and sardines, so keep a light line out, loaded with the biggest and fattest live cigar minnow or sardines in the live well. Keep one or more out on a kite if possible, but one out under a float and one out “free lined” will do the job just fine There is no telling what will attack the light line this time of year, including the ever present dolphin and king mackerel, but also blackfin tuna will be mixed in, along with an occasional cobia and sailfish. Everything is available during the month of August on the light line, but also on the bottom. This is when you catch some of the largest American red, hog, mutton and occasional cuberra snapper. This is when the hottest water of the year will bring the most tropical of all the snappers north to us, and they are ALL suckers for a live sardine on a Decoy Jig! Sure, a frozen cigar minnows and frozen sardines have caught more snapper and grouper than all the other baits combined over the years, but that was then, and this is now…a live one will certainly outfish a frozen one, especially when it comes to the big snappers. The deep water bite for scamps and red grouper can be red hot as well. Where the edge starts to drop from 145 down to 225 feet (depending on what part of the break you are on) can be really interesting this time of year with all the snappers listed above, plus some big red, gag and scamp grouper. Be careful of the limits regarding grouper with greysby and speckled hinds count towards that limit. These smaller groupers will pound any bait they can get in their mouths around and can quickly put you over the limit. Depending on the current, fishing as deep as possible will result in the bigger and more tropical snapper during August. I would avoid the full moon if possible, as this will reduce the number of bites on the light line. The full moon bite on the light line is from late afternoon through the night and right up until daylight bite begins. As soon as the sun peaks 8 wilmington/Morehead city
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FORECAST BY: Capt. Tim Barefoot, Barefoot Fishing www.circlehookjig.com • www.barefootfishing.net
above: Brad Mullay of Cary, NC with a nice gag that ate a live cigar minnow on an 11-ounce Squid Decoy Jig.
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southport-ocean isle Like the temperatures outside, fishing in August in southeastern North Carolina is Hot, Hot, Hot and anglers can find themselves enjoying excursions to target nearly any species that intrigues them! Flounder and king mackerel may be the two most sought-after fish during the month of August, and as we near September and October, the catching of these two species should just get better and better. As for the backwaters of Southport, red drum, speckled trout, black drum, and flounder can all be found holding on drop-offs and near structure. The mullet minnows are big enough by this time of year to be able to cast net, and a baitwell of these minnows and a set-up of Carolina rigs are sure to put some nice fish in your boat. With the warm waters, sheepshead are also in full force and with patience and some one-arm bandits rigged up with a modified Carolina Rig, these hard hitters make for some amazing table fare!
above: Kevin, Deborah, Adam, Angel, Alesha, and Amber Williams from Lawndale, NC spent the morning of July 4th catching plenty of Spanish mackerel aboard the YEAH RIGHT II.
above: Having to stay close to the beach with a stiff SW wind didn’t deter the YEAH RIGHT II charter of Chris Turek of Hoover, AL, Richard Turek of Southport, and Mike Turek and his son, Jack of Germantown, TN from catching plenty of good eating Spanish mackerel.
Nearshore, the Spanish mackerel are biting and a spread of Clarkspoons trolled behind #1 and #2 Sea Striker planers should do the 10 wilmington/Morehead city
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trick; make sure to use 20to 30-foot leaders when trolling this way. On those tough to catch days the longer leaders can make all the difference. While targeting the Spanish mackerel, you will often find that a bluefish or two will also find the spoon attractive. These fish follow the schools of glass minnows and most times, if you “find the birds, you’ll find the fish!” Another way to target larger Spanish is to slow troll a spread of live pogies –cast netted right off the beach—on king mackerel rigs on the nearshore artificial reefs; you might above: The big black sea bass have reeven latch on to a nice king ally been biting. Ben Miers of Southport mackerel or two while trollholds up two that he caught on one line ing this way. recently with Yeah Right Charters. A little further offshore in the 65-foot depth range, the king mackerel bite in August should be strong and should also just get better and better as the month progresses. Trolling dead cigar minnows on a Pirate Plug setup from South Chatham Tackle often saves much time and energy targeting live bait in the morning. Be sure to run a bait or two down deep on a downrigger to really increase your catch at the end of the day. In the 100- to 140-foot depth range, the grouper bite is on fire in August. Stop on your way offshore around some of the buoys or around the Frying Pan Tower and use a sabiki rig to jig up a livewell tank full of live cigar minnows and sardines. With “liveys” and the right ledge or rock, several limits of scamps, gags, and other groupers normally come with ease. As for the black sea bass, triggerfish, grey and silver snappers, a setup of dou- above: Randy Sydnor caught and ble-hook bottom rigs with released this 12- pound American red circle hooks and squid will snapper while fishing offshore aboard quickly fill the cooler this the YEAH RIGHT II with Capts. Butch and time of year. Chris Foster. Gulf Stream fishing in August is very sporadic with the occasional wahoo bite. With the waters being so hot, Bbillfishermen might have better luck in the Gulf Stream in August than the other months of the year. Laceration Lures has an amazing line-up of Gulf Stream lures and there are several that are sure to get a marlin’s attention! It’s definitely hot in August, but you have to remember there is usually a nice breeze on the waters this time of year and any day of fishing is much better than a day at work! So get out there and lets all put some fish in the box! We look forward to seeing you on the water! FORECAST BY: Capt. Chris Foster Yeah Right Charters www.yeahrightcharters.com boat: 336-239-5429 • office: 910-845-2004
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Flying Around With Captain Lee
Where has the summer gone? Another month has flown by and here we are looking at what August will bring. Even though we have had lots of wind and rain the bite remained steady with an eight-fish morning average in July for me. I am sure that we will find more red drum on the flats with flounder mixed in. Croakers and pigfish are going on the chew and ladyfish are found in the lights at night. For red drum, topwater will work all day if you look in water depth of about two feet.Gold spoons and paddle or thump tail grubs rigged on a worm hook will work great. Retrieving it at a steady pace will surely get you strikes. With the live bait, I prefer popping corks drifted over the oyster rocks and grass flats, this will also get you flounder almost every trip. When using slip rigs, use the smallest weight you can get away with. I like using 1/4 to 3/4 ounce weights. Here lately, I have been finding some nice speckled trout on the grass flats that are eating mullet. Also, fish for them under and around the bridges. Live shrimp is the best bait for them. Also in the early morning, fish the middle of the bays with topwaters. For croakers and pigfish, bait is king but there are many baits that work well. Shrimp, my favorite, squid, and Fishbites are all great for them. A simple two-hook bottom rig with 1/0 hook is fine. Again, use the lightest weight you can get away with. Look for them around the end of oyster bars and channel mouths with shell bottom. Deep holes will also hold them. Ladyfish are one of the most fun to catch inshore fish I know to chase after. They make great runs, jump and fight until they give out. Ladyfish have very large eyes and can see very well, so stealth is key. Topwater, for me, is the most fun way to chase after them and I prefer the clear Zara Spook. Another great bait is a clear DOA shrimp or grub. For bait, live shrimp is king. Fish it with no weight and a very small treble hook, say a #8 or #10. During the day, you will sometimes find them feeding on glass minnows...when you spot that, a 19MR MirrOlure is key to getting them to bite, try a Sliver Luminescence Clear color or a Sliver Luminescence Black back. Most of the time, that will work. As always, be safe on the water and watch out for the other guys as they will most likely not be watching out for you! 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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kayak Fishing
Summer Bounty
Here we are in the middle of summer and kayak fishing has been great. Sometimes this time of year it can be hard to from a kayak for me. There are so many options this time of year to get out on the water and catch fish. Taking a step back before you head out on the water can put you on a good day of fishing. Waking up in Wilmington on a morning I’m able to go fishing can be hard (yeah right)...what I mean is choosing between the ICW, the Cape Fear River or any number of creeks in the area that can produce this time of year. Well, the other day I did not have much time to fish so I decided to go with a friend of mine on some proven waters to see what would happen in the small window I had open. We decided to fish on the creek that runs behind his house. Now this little gem we discovered as our fall trout spot, but we would always pick up a red or two while fishing for trout. So, this summer we have been working the area with some good numbers of fish coming out of it. We are not doing anything special this time of year. We are kind of in our summer mode. We are fishing soft plastics on jig heads. Throwing topwater early mornings and fishing live bait on the bottom or under a cork. I believe the success we have had this summer is due to going back to the basics. Fish where you are comfortable and know the waters and the tide for the best bite...just don’t overthink it! I have done this many times before! Read a fishing report, talk to a few people and completely throw my plan out the window...only to hear, “you should have been here yesterday. We killed them.” This time of year with so many options to fish, I really don’t try and target one species. I like to get out on the water and start fishing and, depending on what I start catching, I adjust my tactics from there to have the best day on the water catching in my kayak. Now with that said it’s summer and we all get a little time off to enjoy ourselves, so just don’t always hit your usual spots. Get out and have a little adventure. Go fish a location you may not have thought about or take a short road trip with the family or some friends and get out on the water. Enjoy these summer days of fishing while they are here. But like the other day when time is not on your side, keep it simple... take a friend and hit the spots you already know like I did, and have a good couple of hours on the water. You never know what kind of adventure you are going to have or what might end up on your plate for dinner that night. 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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Wrightsville Beach Tides Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina 34.2133° N, 77.7867° W
Day
Tue 01 Wed 02 Thu 03 Fri 04 Sat 05 Sun 06 Mon 07 Tue 08 Wed 09 Thu 10 Fri 11 Sat 12 Sun 13 Mon 14 Tue 15 Wed 16 Thu 17 Fri 18 Sat 19 Sun 20 Mon 21 Tue 22 Wed 23 Thu 24 Fri 25 Sat 26 Sun 27 Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed 30 Thu 31
High
2:48 AM 3:45 AM 4:45 AM 5:39 AM
Low
9:19 AM 10:05 AM 10:50 AM 11:35 AM 12:21 AM 1:07 AM 1:51 AM 2:32 AM 3:10 AM 3:47 AM 4:26 AM 5:07 AM 5:55 AM 12:38 AM 6:52 AM 1:30 AM 7:54 AM 2:27 AM 8:56 AM 3:33 AM 9:56 AM 4:43 AM 10:54 AM 5:45 AM 11:51 AM 12:44 AM 1:37 AM 2:25 AM 3:10 AM 3:51 AM 4:30 AM 5:10 AM 5:55 AM 12:38 AM 6:46 AM 1:23 AM 7:42 AM 2:10 AM 8:38 AM 3:05 AM 9:30 AM
High
Low
High
August 2017
Sunrise Sunset
3:33 PM 10:03 PM 6:22 AM 8:12 PM 4:31 PM 10:50 PM 6:23 AM 8:11 PM 5:24 PM 11:35 PM 6:23 AM 8:10 PM 6:11 PM 6:24 AM 8:09 PM 6:25 AM 12:22 PM 6:53 PM 6:25 AM 8:08 PM 7:07 AM 1:08 PM 7:33 PM 6:26 AM 8:07 PM 7:48 AM 1:52 PM 8:12 PM 6:26 AM 8:06 PM 8:27 AM 2:35 PM 8:51 PM 6:27 AM 8:05 PM 9:09 AM 3:16 PM 9:31 PM 6:28 AM 8:04 PM 9:52 AM 3:56 PM 10:15 PM 6:28 AM 8:03 PM 10:39 AM 4:40 PM 11:00 PM 6:29 AM 8:02 PM 11:28 AM 5:31 PM 11:48 PM 6:30 AM 8:01 PM 12:18 PM 6:34 PM 6:31 AM 8:00 PM 1:10 PM 7:44 PM 6:31 AM 7:59 PM 2:05 PM 8:52 PM 6:32 AM 7:57 PM 3:07 PM 9:54 PM 6:33 AM 7:56 PM 4:15 PM 10:53 PM 6:34 AM 7:55 PM 5:19 PM 11:49 PM 6:34 AM 7:54 PM 6:15 PM 6:35 AM 7:53 PM 6:39 AM 12:47 PM 7:06 PM 6:36 AM 7:51 PM 7:30 AM 1:42 PM 7:55 PM 6:36 AM 7:50 PM 8:19 AM 2:33 PM 8:42 PM 6:37 AM 7:49 PM 9:08 AM 3:20 PM 9:30 PM 6:38 AM 7:48 PM 9:57 AM 4:04 PM 10:17 PM 6:39 AM 7:47 PM 10:47 AM 4:48 PM 11:05 PM 6:39 AM 7:45 PM 11:36 AM 5:36 PM 11:52 PM 6:40 AM 7:44 PM 12:23 PM 6:30 PM 6:41 AM 7:43 PM 1:10 PM 7:31 PM 6:41 AM 7:42 PM 1:58 PM 8:31 PM 6:42 AM 7:40 PM 2:50 PM 9:25 PM 6:43 AM 7:39 PM 3:49 PM 10:14 PM 6:44 AM 7:38 PM Tide Tables provided by SaltwaterCentral.Com
Morehead City Tides Morehead City, North Carolina 34.7200° N, 76.7283° W
Day
Tue 01 Wed 02 Thu 03 Fri 04 Sat 05 Sun 06 Mon 07 Tue 08 Wed 09 Thu 10 Fri 11 Sat 12 Sun 13 Mon 14 Tue 15 Wed 16 Thu 17 Fri 18 Sat 19 Sun 20 Mon 21 Tue 22 Wed 23 Thu 24 Fri 25 Sat 26 Sun 27 Mon 28 Tue 29 Wed 30 Thu 31
High
3:40 AM 4:36 AM 5:29 AM
Low
9:49 AM 10:39 AM 11:27 AM 12:39 AM 1:21 AM 2:00 AM 2:37 AM 3:12 AM 3:48 AM 4:23 AM 5:01 AM 5:40 AM 12:06 AM 6:24 AM 12:57 AM 7:13 AM 1:53 AM 8:08 AM 2:57 AM 9:09 AM 4:04 AM 10:13 AM 5:11 AM 11:16 AM 12:25 AM 1:19 AM 2:09 AM 2:57 AM 3:42 AM 4:25 AM 5:08 AM 5:50 AM 12:21 AM 6:33 AM 1:08 AM 7:18 AM 2:00 AM 8:07 AM 2:57 AM 9:02 AM 3:57 AM 9:58 AM
High
Low
August 2017
High
Sunrise Sunset
4:29 PM 10:58 PM 6:17 AM 8:08 PM 5:21 PM 11:51 PM 6:17 AM 8:07 PM 6:07 PM 6:18 AM 8:07 PM 6:17 AM 12:14 PM 6:51 PM 6:19 AM 8:06 PM 7:01 AM 12:57 PM 7:31 PM 6:20 AM 8:05 PM 7:43 AM 1:39 PM 8:09 PM 6:20 AM 8:04 PM 8:23 AM 2:19 PM 8:46 PM 6:21 AM 8:03 PM 9:02 AM 2:59 PM 9:23 PM 6:22 AM 8:02 PM 9:41 AM 3:41 PM 10:00 PM 6:23 AM 8:01 PM 10:22 AM 4:24 PM 10:39 PM 6:23 AM 8:00 PM 11:05 AM 5:10 PM 11:21 PM 6:24 AM 7:58 PM 11:52 AM 6:01 PM 6:25 AM 7:57 PM 12:44 PM 6:58 PM 6:26 AM 7:56 PM 1:41 PM 8:01 PM 6:26 AM 7:55 PM 2:43 PM 9:09 PM 6:27 AM 7:54 PM 3:49 PM 10:19 PM 6:28 AM 7:53 PM 4:54 PM 11:25 PM 6:29 AM 7:52 PM 5:54 PM 6:29 AM 7:50 PM 6:13 AM 12:17 PM 6:51 PM 6:30 AM 7:49 PM 7:10 AM 1:15 PM 7:44 PM 6:31 AM 7:48 PM 8:04 AM 2:09 PM 8:34 PM 6:32 AM 7:47 PM 8:55 AM 3:01 PM 9:21 PM 6:32 AM 7:45 PM 9:43 AM 3:51 PM 10:07 PM 6:33 AM 7:44 PM 10:31 AM 4:40 PM 10:51 PM 6:34 AM 7:43 PM 11:18 AM 5:30 PM 11:35 PM 6:34 AM 7:42 PM 12:06 PM 6:21 PM 6:35 AM 7:40 PM 12:56 PM 7:14 PM 6:36 AM 7:39 PM 1:49 PM 8:13 PM 6:37 AM 7:38 PM 2:45 PM 9:15 PM 6:37 AM 7:37 PM 3:43 PM 10:17 PM 6:38 AM 7:35 PM 4:39 PM 6:39 AM 7:34 PM Tide Tables provided by SaltwaterCentral.Com
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7/17/17 4:33 PM
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By Capt. Charlie Slattery
t started as just an idea for a family vacation, and it turned into a new passion for the sport of spearfishing and freedive, as well as a new relationship with some great friends. Being a professional guide organizing and hosting worldwide spearfishing adventures, I’ve had the luxury of meeting some incredible people, but this trip was special. It started with
a phone call from a Texas number and a man on the line interested in the sport. He had been following some fishing and spearing social media pages, and I struck his interest after he noticed I live in Treasure Island, Fla. It was one of those small-world scenarios. He had previously done a fishing charter with a friend of mine. The man on the phone, Mike Fry, said he liked my style based on what he saw on my social media pages. I always strongly stress the importance of freedive safety, while on the other hand pushing the wild side to send everyone home with a new adrenaline rush that will leave them starving for more. 5 NORTH CAROLINA
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Mike had nothing, not even a clue. He was open for anything as long as it got him a big fish. We started with weeks of emails and texts, getting him set up with the best gear on the market for him and his son Tanner. They needed everything: wetsuits, fins, masks, snorkels, weights and belts, gloves, freedive watches, float lines, buoys and spearguns. We started at Maverick America, my favorite one-stop shop for the best gear available. Luca, the shop manager, took care of Mike with five-star service. Then it was time for his gun. Mike wanted something versatile, something he could use to hunt the blue water as well as oil rigs and reefs. I hooked him up with a local gun builder and friend Travis Emory, of Flatline Custom Spearguns. Using only salvaged repurposed wood, Travis makes some of the most beautiful guns out there. Every gun holds a small piece of history with that salvaged wood, and Travis’ craft gives it the ability to live on and make more history. Mike was set. It was time for his family’s adventure. Mike, Tabby, Tanner and Shelby Fry, a small-town family from Texas, flew to Costa Rica to spearfish. Upon arrival in San Jose, I awaited them with my van driver. Joining them on the trip were Megan Romine, a realtor looking to get away, and a surprise friend of hers, Anthony Colettii. Both were not so fresh as the Fry family, but they were definitely beginners. We packed up all the luggage, and the journey began to Nosara, a village renowned for sportfishing on northern Costa Rica’s Pacific Coast. There was much to see on the way. The scenery is breathtaking with coastline, waterfalls, river bridges, with hundred of giant crocs underneath, and endless mountains. There was plenty of time to talk in the van and over a nice waterfront lunch. When we made it to the re-
CAMSPEARFISHING.COM sort, we settled in with a few mixed drinks, and we were already like a small family. The next day was a relaxing training day in the pool. Blackout safety training is more important than anything in freedive spearfishing. After hours in the pool with the divers, we were all very confident and feeling safe about our dive partners who would be in the water to protect us in the event of a blackout. After a few freedive tips consisting of breath-ups, dive techniques and gear safety, we were ready to spear some fish. Much to my surprise with a group of newbies, the first day was madness. The entire group was diving like pros. Mike, Megan and Anthony made drops of nearly 90 feet to shoot some monster snappers! I could not believe it; I was so stoked. Even Tanner, diving with only one fin because of a broken ankle, was able to dive 60 feet. I was so proud of everyone. Megan let nothing stop her; she had never before been able to dive deeper than 30 feet. Geared up with her brand new C4 carbon fiber fins and a C4 carbon fiber speargun, she did it, making it all the way to the bottom into an unbelievably big school of pargo. She got her big fish. Breaching the surface with a huge smile, she said, “That’s what fishin’ is all about.” Anthony and Mike made it look easy, dive after dive filling the fish box. Needless to say, the spearfishing adventure was a success. Every night we shared our fresh catch with the family back at the lodge, inviting my local longtime friends over every night, the Brandon Richardson family. Not one piece of the fish went to waste. Catering to the non-divers on the trip, and giving our bodies a rest, we ziplined the longest line in the entire world, took surf lessons, and were dragged through all the local shops with the ladies. Parting from this group was hard, but I knew it wasn’t over. We were all lifelong friends now, and that’s what it’s all about— making memories, meeting new people and enjoying an incredible life experience. It’s all about a good time! Spearing a trophy fish is always a bonus.
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7/18/17 12:11 PM
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7/18/17 12:11 PM
LER DES
TIPS FROM A PRO
DOG DAYS BASS FISHING BRANDON LESTER
T
he “dog days” of summer can make for some of the toughest conditions a bass fisherman faces. Combine hot air and water temperatures with an abundance of recreational traffic on the lake, and sometimes it seems there aren’t any bass left to catch. The big schools out on the ledges have already seen every bait known to man, and many fish have already been caught. With all this being said, don’t let it stop you from fishing, because bass can certainly still be caught if you keep an open mind. The old saying “the early bird gets the worm” has never been more true than during the dog days. Bass feed a lot more at night this time of year, and that bite carries over into the first couple hours of daylight. A good place to start looking for early morning bass is shallow rocky banks. Rocks cool down at night, and that slight temperature change attracts shad, bluegill, crawfish and everything else bass like to eat. Shallow boat ramps are also really good for the same reasons. My favorite baits for early in the morning are a topwater walking bait and a popper. My personal favorites are a Heddon Super Spook Jr. and a Booyah Boss Pop. The key is to start early and cover as much water as you can before the sun gets up. The bites will be pretty scattered, so you don’t want to waste too much time in one place. My topwater setup consists of an MHX-EPS86MF rod that I build from Mud Hole Custom Tackle. It’s 7’2” in length, which allows for long, accurate casts. I use a high-speed reel, usually 7:1:1 gear ratio spooled with 30-pound Vicious No-Fade
braid. I also use a 6-foot leader of 17-pound Vicious mono. Sharp hooks are key, so I change out factory hooks with #4 Mustad round bend trebles and put a feathered treble on the back for added flash. Once the sun gets high, it gets tougher. The best way to keep up with the fish is to watch for shade lines. That’s where the bass will be. Shade could be boat docks, laydowns, overhanging trees,
By Chris Beardsley
W
anything in or over the water that creates shade. Shade attracts bluegills, which are up around the banks this time of year to spawn, and that is what attracts bass. One of my favorite ways to catch bass later in the day is with a wacky worm. It is easy for me to skip this rig into hard-to-reach places. The key is to cover water and put the bait in the deepest, darkest shade you can find. My wacky worm setup is a 6’9” MHX-EPS-81MXF. This rod is medium-power so it has plenty of backbone to get them out of cover, especially when you spool it with 10-pound Vicious Hi-Vis yellow braid with a 10-pound Vicious fluorocarbon leader. The wacky worm I throw is called a True Center Stick from X-Zone Lures, and my favorite color this time of year is green pumpkin/ purple flake to resemble a bluegill.
Get more tips from Lester at
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Redfish From The Beach
AUGUST 2017
hen targeting redfish, the beach isn’t the first place most people think to look. It’s easy to imagine casting topwater plugs, spoons, paddletails or a popping cork with a DOA to tailing reds in a grassy flat or hijacking a big bull on the edge of an oyster bar or jetty, but what about the beach? Redfish or red drum are a highly sought after gamefish that can be found all along the Gulf Coast and up the Atlantic Coast as far north as Massachusetts. No matter where you fish for them, fishing from the beach requires different tactics. The good news is that redfish will eat anything that won’t eat them, and big redfish love cut bait. A 3-inch piece of ladyfish is a good start, but others prefer live baits such as menhaden. Of course cut bait is a magnet for stingrays and catfish, but more importantly sharks. You’ll want to be prepared with at least a 30-pound mono leader or better yet, an 8- to 10-inch steel leader. Whether you choose live bait or cut, the typical fish finder or Carolina rig with a 2/0 or 3/0 circle hook is all you need. Big drum pull especially hard in the surf. Typical hardware consists of an 8- to 10-foot medium-heavy rod and 5000 series reel. This combination provides plenty of backbone for chunking big baits but also provides enough cranking power for all but the largest fish. I have found that the rolling waves can work to your advantage, as the surf will often push the fish onto the beach. On the other hand, the undertow can work against you just as easily. Just be sure that whichever reel you choose has a smooth, powerful drag. Depending on your location, the tide will affect conditions on the beach differently. In most cases, it won’t have as much influence when fishing the surf as it might in shallower water around oyster bars or grass flats. My best success has been at high tide, which is contrary to most flats fishing, where low tide is preferred for spotting tailing fish. Look for deeper holes away from the beach or breaks in the sandbar. Deeper water is often preferred by bigger fish, and I like to cast to the far edge of the sandbar; the trough, or gut, just isn’t as productive. This takes a little effort, and might require some wading to reach, but you’ll greatly increase your chances of catching fish. Later in the afternoon or early evening is preferred regardless of tide conditions. Of course, there are other, more willing fish out for dinner at this time too. This makes fishing for reds on the beach that much more fun, because like someone once said, “The surf is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get.” At least that’s how I remember it. Chris is a freelance writer from Wisconsin with an obsession for all things saltwater. He does most of his fishing on Florida’s Forgotten Coast.
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7/18/17 12:11 PM
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FRESHWATER
Rockin’ Bass In The Adirondacks By Rich Ortiz
Rich Ortiz, the “Fishin’ Musician,” shows off a nice Adirondacks largemouth. Check out Rich’s music and outdoor adventures at richortiz.com. Photo by Louis Torres Photography.
B
y the time I was 12 years old, I knew and fished at least two dozen bass waters, most of them from a canoe with my Pop. Usually there were no boat ramps, no houses and seldom another fisherman. That’s the beauty of the Adirondack region of Upstate New York. There’s tons of water and lots of fish. Often when the Adirondacks (ADKs) are mentioned in fishing circles, pristine secluded trout rivers or brook trout ponds come to mind. Our secret is that the ADKs have countless bass fishing options, as well, with any kind of water you could think of. Three renowned waters within my 30-minute fishing radius are perfect examples of the great bass fishing in our area. Lake George, Lake Champlain and Saratoga Lake provide varied and endless opportunities for both largemouth and smallmouth action, with a spectrum of habitats that could keep any bass enthusiast occupied for a lifetime. Additionally, if it’s a secluded canoe/kayak adventure you’re after, I dare say the ADKs have more backwoods bass waters on public land than any state I can think of. These woods are the same natural forests they were in 1885, when they were deemed untouchable thanks to Teddy Roosevelt. Imagine fishing secluded, crystal-clear waters with green mountains as a backdrop, moderate temperatures and a relaxing breeze. Since the founding of our country, these waters have provided sanctuary from the heat and congestion of the growing East Coast industrial cities. Summer retreats to the ADKs to fish and hunt were the norm, and coupling
these outdoor activities with attractions like Saratoga horse racing or a Lake George steamboat ride created traditions of the American summer vacation. Today, if you are serious about bass fishing, yet want to include family on the vacation, the Saratoga/Lake George area is the spot. I feel qualified to endorse the attractions, since when I am not fishing or hunting, I’m performing music at many of the area’s top resorts and restaurants. Though my profession as a traveling musician has allowed me to fish all over North America, my heart is still at home fishing the 6-million-acre Adirondack Park. Let’s start with Lake George, which is a large deep-water lake that is the ultimate finesse bass water. This beautiful 32-mile-long glacially carved lake has rock shorelines and is speckled with islands that provide endless bass structure. Lake George has AAA reservoir water quality and is crystal clear. Light 6- to 8-pound fluorocarbon line is a must while drop-shotting 30- to 50-foot rocky bottoms for big numbers of smallmouth and some nice 4-pound-plus fish. When drop-shotting I prefer natural presentation baits like the Berkley’s Gulp! Nemesis in the Smelt color. The lake temperature remains cool all year, and shaky-head worm presentations or small bass jigs will score a mix of largemouth and smallmouth in ultra-clear 20- to 40-foot depths. This is a great training ground for teaching your family or friends to fish. Shore fishing is a bonus, and many others and I make trophy catches all year from shore. I rely on my Costa sunglasses on this lake as much as my Lowrance Sonar. It’s so clear that I can watch strikes in 20 feet of water. I keep three pairs of Costas on board. I prefer yellow lenses for sunrise, low light and cloudy days. These lenses work wonders sighting fish and contrasting bottom structure. I use blue mirror on bright days and amber green mirror lenses for most other situations on the lake. Just to the north of Lake George, Lake Champlain offers everything a fisherman can imagine. Many experts rank Champlain among the top fisheries in the country for largemouth and smallmouth bass. You can fish just about any presentation in this vast lake, which combines natural and man-made structure like sunken ships, submerged train tracks and dock cribbings. My fishing concentrates on the southern end of the lake, where the water is usually very stained. Vast water chestnut beds yield many 5-pound-plus largemouth bass. Heavy abrasion-resistant line is a must; I prefer fluorocarbon or braid, depending on presentation. I normally punch the weeds with 1- or 2-ounce tungsten and big 10-inch Power Bait or Yum worms. Dark colors work best. Topwater and flipping are also go-to tactics, with countless backwaters providing breathtaking views and heart-pounding hook sets. To the south, Saratoga Lake is much smaller than George or Champlain. It is slightly stained and can be highly pressured but still provides large numbers of largemouth in the 3- to 5-pound range. Dense concentrations of cabbage and mixed milfoil create great opportunities for tossing plastics and jigs on the edges of long weed lines. Saratoga Lake’s close proximity to the City of Saratoga Springs makes it an ideal morning or evening getaway for those visiting during track season, which lasts through Labor Day. While the tourist season winds down, the fish really turn on, which make for some magical days in fall. The big lakes are great, but to me the gems of this area are the smaller lakes and ponds I learned to fish on. The unique chance to toss a lure to unpressured fish on public waters is a reality. The Adirondack Park features countless opportunities perfect for canoe and kayak fishing. With today’s lightweight watercraft, you can be alone with 2- to 5-pound bass after just a half-mile hike to numerous ponds and lakes. Many canoe and kayak waters are also roadside or within a state park. New York does a wonderful job providing trailhead access and parking areas for anglers with car-top boats. Research access at www.dec.ny.gov. The amount of good bass water in the Saratoga/Lake George is staggering. With its proximity to so many metropolitan centers, a short drive up I-87 can have you setting hooks on some beastly bass in no time.
For an overview map of the area, go to
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innesota’s Mille Lacs Lake has long been known for exceptional walleye fishing and ice fishing, but the smallmouth bass fishing on this more than 130,000-acre lake north of Minneapolis is what catapulted it to the top of Bassmaster Magazine’s 100 Best Bass Lakes rankings. According to B.A.S.S. research, 20-pound five-fish limits of smallmouth bass are a regular occurrence, 30-pound sacks show up in some events, and two 36-pound limits were weighed in during events last fall. Those numbers are almost unbelievable on a smallmouth lake, considering a 36-pound limit would average out to more than 7 pounds per bass. Here’s the rundown of Bassmaster’s top-12 bass lakes in the nation: 1. Mille Lacs Lake, Minnesota 2. Sam Rayburn Reservoir, Texas 3. Clear Lake, California 4. Shearon Harris Lake, North Carolina 5. Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, California 6. Lake Berryessa, California 7. Lake Erie, New York 8. Santee Cooper Lakes, South Carolina 9. Lake St. Clair, Michigan 10. Falcon Lake, Texas 11. Thousand Islands area St. Lawrence River, New York 12. Chickamauga Lake, Tennessee
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big question on all the Internet message boards lately is, “Where are the midrange trout in the heat of summer?” One of the indicators of either fishing too shallow or fishing in the wrong part of the bay for the season is catching mostly undersized trout. So, if you’re catching nothing but “dink” trout in August, fish deep structure with current. I don’t like catching dinks, so I’ll focus on upper-slot redfish and sight casting to the big shallow trout I see while I’m fishing for reds. The summer heat finally forces redfish to go in search of food in the marsh and grass flats. Shrimp are now mostly gone, except large white shrimp, so while there are main-bay, open-water redfish chasing those fish-big shrimp, some reds will now begin to work over juvenile white shrimp and shad in the marsh and grass flats. They’ll also be eating mullet and crabs when the opportunity presents itself. Redfish are simple. They use current to feed, and the faster you learn about where the niche is, the more consistent you’ll be catching redfish in shallow waters. Follow a current from a marsh cut to the bank of a marsh pond it’s flowing too, and you’ll find redfish. Also look for eddies behind structure and where the current edge crosses structure, and that’s good as well. Big trout are similar in the summer in shallow areas. They are there for the big mullet and to eat little trout but are in small niche areas of their own. Tobin created the TroutSupport.com weedless, snagless, long casting, walk the dog soft plastic for fishing shallow grass, shallow oysters, rocks, and mangrove where reds and snook live. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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MAKO SHARK ON THE FLY
I
f you’re looking for some spectacular fly fishing for toothy critters, mako sharks are tough to beat as a game fish. They can be found pretty much worldwide, but right now is the time of year to visit southern California, where shortfin mako sharks show up off the coast every year within easy range for fly rodders with a small skiff. The mako shark is one of saltwater fly fishing’s outstanding but unappreciated game fish. Found on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, a smaller mako in the 20- to 30-pound range can be the perfect-sized fish for the beginning saltwater fly fisherman. Of course, fishing for sharks is a tad different than fishing for bluegills in your Uncle Ned’s farm pond, and the equipment also differs. First, you’ll need a boat, preferably a boat over 18-feet that can handle fairly choppy seas. Most center-consoles will do; however, a skiff with a beam of 8 feet or wider and a not-too-deep V will settle in the water better and will reduce pitch and roll to a minimum, offering a much more stable casting platform. A good chum line is the most effective way of attracting makos to within casting distance of your boat. Chumming attracts the larger makos and will place you in the position of being able to sight-cast to them. Into a chum bag, place the belly sections or fresh carcasses of tuna, bluefish or bonito, then place the bag into a milk crate or 5-gallon bucket and lower this mess over the side. Then sit back and listen for the musical score from the movie “Jaws” to begin. You won’t have long to wait once that chum slick begins to spread. Ideally, you should use fresh carcasses, but store-bought chum will suffice. One bit of important advice: Less is more when chumming; you don’t need much; no matter how small the slick, a shark can smell it from
miles away. Now that you have the boat and chum, the next thing to do is find a mako. On the West Coast, we are fortunate to have the continental shelf only a few miles offshore. On the east coast, you’ll have to venture a bit farther offshore. Keep your eyes peeled for working birds and surface-busting bait; constantly check the water temperature looking for readings between 66 and 70 degrees. But, be patient when chumming. I will wait at least an hour or an hour and a half before moving to another spot, but there have been occasions when the sharks made their appearance within a few minutes of 1 ½ hours. Once in the slick, makos will stick around for most of the fishing day. Drifting allows you to cover more water and in the process, attract more makos to your boat. By choosing the right season, having the right chum and chumming the right areas, you can count on hooking and releasing a good number of makos during the course of a single day on the water.
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SCALLOP SEASON IS OPEN! DAVID MANEY, FOWLER’S SUNGLASSES
Value Versus Ego In Sunglasses
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t Fowler’s, we know sunglasses. We sold more than 25,000 pairs last year, and we represent more than 30 companies, all clamoring for attention in the marketplace. This gives me intimate knowledge of most of what’s offered, and I have some insight to share on what makes a pair of sunglasses the right pair for you. There are two types of
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Realize that frames represent very little in the cost of production for a pair of sunglasses. What you are paying for--or should be paying for-in an expensive pair of glasses is lens technology. A better set of lenses is going to cost more and last longer. Those inexpensive glasses with sprayon lens protection will serve you almost as well as the expensive ones off the shelf, but they might
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sunglasses shoppers. One views sunglasses as fashion accessories, to be matched to an outfit or activity. This is all well and good. Good-looking glasses do help you look cool. The second type of shopper, which is a group I have found many anglers fall into, is more interested in sunglasses as an essential tool. All-day comfort and performance are considerations that come before style or brand for people in this second group. If performance is more important to you than ego, do not lock yourself into one particular brand of glasses. They can range from $5 to $500, and all manufacturers promote their own bells and whistles. Sometimes you get what you pay for, other times you are paying for a brand logo on the side of the frame.
only maintain that performance for a year. The single most important consideration with frames is they are essential to fit and the resulting comfort for the wearer. This is why you should not be locked into a certain brand. Everyone’s face is different, and so are everyone’s sunglasses needs. Do not be a branded person, choose a pair of sunglasses that fits your face and your needs.
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1,000-Pound Tournament Hammerhead Shatters Texas Record Photo courtesy of Texas City La Marque Jaycees/Facebook nglers hauled some big sharks out of the Gulf of Mexico during this year’s Texas City Jaycees Tackle Time Fishing Tournament. Chief among those sharks was a 1,033-pound great hammerhead that shattered a 37-year-old Texas state record. Tim McClellan obviously took first place for the giant shark he entered in the annual fundraising tournament for the Texas City La Marque Jaycees. The tournament awards the top three fish in multiple inshore, offshore and youth divisions. This year, it ran June 30 – July 9, and 964-pound and 817-pound tiger sharks rounded out the top three in the shark division. McClellan’s fish beat out the 871-pound Texas state record great hammerhead, which was caught by Mark Johnson in July of 1980. The current IGFA world record great hammerhead weighed 1,280 pounds. It was caught from the other side of the Gulf by Bucky Dennis fishing out of Boca Grande, Fla. in May 2006. Texas City is on Galveston Bay, just southeast of Houston, and offers easy access to the open Gulf of Mexico through the pass between Galveston and Goat islands.
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