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Fishing a Fairytale in
By Nick Carter
Bristol Bay, Alaska A
rguably the best salmonid fishing in the world exists in the system of waterways that feeds the Bering Sea on Alaska’s southwest coast. The region is a vast, sparsely populated web of streams and rivers, lakes and wetlands that weave through open tundra to Bristol Bay. The wildlife is astounding. To be there is like stepping into a documentary film, with bears, moose and bald eagles going about their business unconcerned by human visitors. On a July afternoon, I watched in terror as a brown bear crashed from the brush, bluff charged my wife and stole the sockeye salmon from the end of her line. It’s that kind of place. From fancy lodges or tiny riverside fishing villages, human anglers are nothing special. They are just one of many species taking advantage of the great salmon migrations that drive the ecosystem. All five species of Pacific salmon spawn in the Bristol Bay watershed. Coho, chum and pink salmon all make runs up the rivers that feed the bay. But king and sockeye salmon are the reason anglers should book passage to the area. The Nushagak River boasts what might be Alaska’s best king, or Chinook, salmon run. Back bouncing egg sacks on heavy casting tackle, anglers regularly do battle with big kings in the 20to 40-pound range. Just a short puddle-jump down the coast, the Kvichak River hosts the largest sockeye salmon run on the planet. Sockeye pile into the river by the millions and push up into the headwaters to spawn and then die. For thousands of years, this transmission of nutrients from the sea inland has fueled the region’s wildlife, tundra and forests of alder and spruce. An angler with a fly rod can stand on the bank and cast streamers to huge pods of sockeye as they run past. Hooking one is no problem; it’s like collecting meat. The fight, however, is that of a creature determined to achieve its sole remaining purpose on earth.
These massive salmon runs feed all of the wildlife in the Bristol Bay region, and that includes rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, arctic grayling and others. Some area rivers are places where mouse patterns streaking across the surface draw aggressive strikes from rainbows 30-inches and longer. I can’t count the number of 25-plus-inch rainbows and Dollys we caught in a single day swinging big streamers. During and after the salmon runs, fish key in on salmon eggs and chunks of dead salmon adrift in the rivers. This is when egg patterns and flesh flies lead to unbelievable numbers of big fish. It’s the kind of fishing that only occurs where humans have yet to make a pronounced impact on systems designed by nature.
And that’s where the Bristol Bay fairytale is in danger of ending. In 2005, gold, molybdenum and copper deposits were discovered underground near the headwaters of the Nushagak and Kvichak rivers, just a few miles from the banks of Alaska’s largest lake, Lake Iliamna. Ever since, conservation groups, sporting groups and locals have been waging a legal battle against greed to save this pristine landscape and fishery. As proposed, the Pebble Mine would be an enormous scar on the landscape. According to The Wild Salmon Center, it would destroy an estimated 10,000 acres of wetlands and more than 330 miles of streams at the head of the most productive salmon fishery in the world. Annually, an estimated 10.6 billion gallons of mine-polluted wastewater would be sent downstream toward Bristol Bay. For anyone who has ever fished or hopes to fish in a place as unspoiled as the Bristol Bay drainage, it’s unconscionable such a project is even being considered.
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NOVEMBER 2020
PHOTO BY TRAVIS WISE NATIONAL 7
Permit
By CAM Staff
The Ultimate Challenge on Flats of the Keys
I
f it’s farther away, it must be better. While there’s truth to this concept that sends anglers around the globe seeking out remote and spectacular fisheries, there are also flaws to this way of thinking. It’s like the bank fisherman who strives to chuck baits as far offshore as possible only to cross lines with the boater casting tight to shoreline structure. While you’re at home dreaming of Indo-Pacific atolls, there’s an angler on the other side of the world flipping through magazine images of the Florida Keys. It’d be a shame to forget that geography gifted North Americans with some of the most productive and gorgeous flats habitat on the planet. Nobody knows this better than Capt. Luke Kelly of Key Flat Charters. Kelly has spent his life fishing the Keys. He operates year-round backcountry and flats charters out of Sugarloaf Key Marina. It’s about 20 minutes north of Key West on A1A, slap in the middle of the mangrove islands and vast crystal-clear flats of the Lower Keys. This is a place where anglers watch from the casting deck of a small flats boat as tarpon, bonefish, permit and other species cruise and hunt in knee-deep water. A flats slam of all three species is possible any day of the year, and while the power and aerobatics of a big tarpon might be the ultimate thrill in angling, permit are the ultimate challenge… especially with fly tackle. “Permit are highly sensitive and can sense the slightest vibration. It’s the challenge of this hunt that makes it all worthwhile,” said Capt. Luke. “With little room for error, anglers must be precise and stealthy during their first attempt, as second chances rarely exist when targeting permit on fly. Considered by many as
the ultimate catch during a fly-fishing career, permit demand the best from anglers and guides.” Kelly said convincing a permit to take the hook is the most difficult aspect of the pursuit. They are abundant in the Lower Keys, especially during the late February through April prespawn, when 10- to 40-pounders invade the flats. The easiest way to hook one is to accurately present a live crab with light spinning tackle. Permit feed aggressively when they feel comfortable, Kelly said, but they spook easily. “Once alerted by boat or angler, that’s it, the jig is up,” he said, “and the permit never gives second chances.” The odds of a hook-up reduce dramatically for anglers who take up the challenge with an 8- to 10-weight fly rod. A good double-haul is required to achieve the long accurate casts necessary to put a shrimp or crab fly in front of a permit. From there, it’s up to the angler to give life to the fly during a short time-window of opportunity. “Proper technique found successful in hooking permit on fly varies greatly with any given situation,” Kelly said. “Permit eat a variety of different things, all of which act differently in the wild. Anglers must be willing to think outside the box at times when trying to fool this ultimate gamefish into eating something artificial… It boils down to a challenge, and should be viewed in no other way.” Contact Capt. Luke Kelly and Key Flat Charters for light tackle and fly fishing trips for tarpon, bonefish, permit and more. www. lowerkeysflatsfishing.com / (305) 304-3152 / keyflat@icloud.com.
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ast year, Hurricane Dorian devastated Grand Bahama and Abaco. The most destructive hurricane to ever hit The Bahamas, it destroyed homes and businesses and displaced thousands of people. After the dust settled, I got a lot of questions about how the marine environment and the fishery fared after such a powerful storm. As Bahamas initiative manager for Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT), I keep an eye on such things. After several surveys, getting out fishing and hearing reports from other anglers, it appears the inshore and offshore fisheries weathered the storm well. There are plenty of big bonefish and permit on the flats, the reefs are full of snapper, hogfish and grouper, and the offshore tuna and mahi bite is great. The northern Bahamas remains one of the world’s foremost destinations for anglers. With lodging and charters recovering from the storm and Covid-19 restrictions beginning to ease, now is a good time to plan a trip. Fishing pressure is down, and the islands could certainly use an economic injection from anglers. One of the great things about these islands is there’s no need to travel far or break the bank for incredible fishing. The main islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama sit on the Little Bahama Bank and give access to more than 5,700 square miles of reefs and flats with an easy run to productive offshore waters. For a quick weekend or family trip, you can’t beat access by air or sea. Commercial flights are 45 minutes from Miami or Fort Lauderdale, and a boat ride is just two to four hours, depending on your destination. Fishing the northern Bahamas offers some of the greatest variety of sportfish anywhere in the world. In the same day, you can catch bonefish on the flats, spearfish the reefs for hogfish and lobster, and then head offshore after dolphin and tuna. SEASONS: Right now, the winter bite is on. High-speed trolling the dropoff is producing big wahoo. Spearfishing is also good for hogfish and lobster. Come spring, late-season wahoo will be around, and the dolphin and yellowfin bite really picks up. Blue and white marlin are also popular spring targets around Abaco, and bonefish and permit can be phenomenal on the flats. Summer is time for multi-day trips targeting tuna, hogfish, grouper, snappers, bonefish and permit. Deep dropping and spearfishing are particularly good in summer. MANGROVES: While the fishing remains stellar, mangroves were heavily impacted by Dorian. Mangrove habitat is an important nursery for many fish species, and it is vital to protect the coast from erosion and storms. BTT found that 70 percent of the mangroves on Grand Bahama and 40 percent on Abaco were lost to the storm. BTT is collaborating with Bahamas National Trust, Friends of the Environment and MANG to restore mangroves on Abaco and Grand Bahama. Check out www.bonefishtarpontrust.org for info on this project. Before making a trip to The Bahamas, visit www.bahamas.com for current information on access and checking in with customs. Fishing regulations are available at www.myoutislands.com.
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Coastal_Angler_Nov2020.indd 1
NOVEMBER 2020
NATIONAL 11
10/14/20 10:40 AM
FOLLOW BAIT AND WATER TEMPERATURE Tim Barefoot
N
ow is truly a transition time for a number of things including the number of daylight hours, water temps and the mass migration of baitfish. The number of daylight hours is a major signal to all species of fish from mullet to marlin and everything in between. Daylight hours decline by a minute or so a day until Dec. 20. Fish and bait understand this. They react accordingly by putting the feedbag on. Another important piece of the puzzle is dropping water temperatures. Every species in the ocean, from nearshore and offshore waters to the shallow marshes, reacts by working temperature breaks. Areas with dramatic thermal change will concentrate fish. When the cooler north/northwest winds start howling, distinct water temperature breaks will become more defined. Pelagics, bottom fish and the bait they pursue will all be affected. Bait like cigar minnows and sardines will gather in large schools. Everything we fish for looks forward to this buffet. Some of the best grouper bites I’ve ever encountered were on or near structure where huge stacks of baitfish were consolidated. But the bait is the most important part of the equation. As a matter of fact, I’ve been on some crazy good bites that were on slick flat sand bottom that held big stacks of bait. It’s pretty simple… find the bait; find the fish. Once gags, reds and scamps start their true spawning rituals, the bait becomes less important, but for right now, I’d focus on the food rather than simply the structure. It’s a given that the big spawning gags will key in on the best bottom, as long as it holds bait. However, grouper certainly follow these huge schools of bait around wherever they go. This is especially true for red grouper. They will follow the bait and almost disregard the ledges and structure.
Granted, a live cigar minnow is one of the most desirable baits of all time for grouper and big snapper, but a big live sardine is absolutely irresistible! It must be the oil content or the taste, but I’ll take a large live sardine on a Crab Decoy Jig over anything out there. I’m not discounting a live vermillion snapper (beeliner), though. Speaking of a live beeliner, don’t ever hesitate to put out a live beeliner on the light line for a smoking hot wahoo bite when anchored up bottom fishing. Bottom fishing and light lining or kite fishing is almost at the apex of the year, with December and the first few weeks of January being the best. Get out there and get after it!
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CHARLESTON EDITION
Coastal Angler Magazine Charleston is a Family Business published by SABJAR Media, LLC. We’re in our 3rd year of publishing CAMC We’re based in Summerville, SC. Comments: send us an email to Charleston@coastalanglermagazine.com. Follow and like us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube & Twitter.
Inside this month..
- Capt. Mark Phelps - Charleston Fishing Forecast - Chris Pounder - Mt. Pleasant Pier Fishing Report - James Strange - Chasing Monster Sharks from the Beach - David Fladd - Artificial Intelligence Hero or Zero - Mandy Henderson - Fishy Nurse Adventures - Jiggin Jerry - Targeting a Super Slam - Capt. John Ward - The SouthSide Report - Mike Kohler - Lowcountry Kayak Fishing - Capt. Will Adams - Targeting Black Sea Bass - Cheff Kyle Kryske - Minute Ponzu Wahoo - Joey Crawford - Folly Pier Farewell Forecast
November 2020
Advertising: Call for all the details to reach 25K monthly readers today. 843-607-8807 or send an email: Charleston@coastalanglermagazine.com Send us a letter to: CAM CHARLESTON Edition 717 Old Trolley Rd Ste. 6-154 Summerville, SC 29485 Visit us online: Coastalanglermag.com/Charleston Send your editorial contributions or info about distribution to: Sam@sabjarmedia.com
Picture Credit CAMC Staff - Folly Beach Pier.
Duncan’s Boats is your local Tidewater and Trophy Boats dealer. Get out on the water for the beautiful fall boating season or custom order your boat just in time for spring.
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NOVEMBER 2020
CHARLESTON 1
Charleston’s
November Forecast By Captain Mark Phelps
WHERE THE LOWCOUNTRY
GETS HITCHED.
C
harleston is a great place to go fishing in November. Weather is cool, there is low humidity, and fishing is great. November will see cool mornings and mild days. This time of the year we focus on trout and redfish. November will bring the first frost and the fish will go crazy. They will be hungry but there will be less bait in the water. That means redfish and trout will be very willing to eat artificial lures and flies with little hesitation. Fishing for trout can be all or nothing this time of the year. The cooler weather and lack of bait will have trout schooled up and moving to find warm water and food. This means you might hit a few of your favorite trout spots and get nothing. However, if you get to a spot where the trout are, they will be hungry and in large numbers. On a good day you might catch 30-50 fish in an hour or so. Try floating a DOA shrimp under a cork or try a jig and grub on the bottom in your favorite color. It is important to know that as the water cools off you will need to fish slower! Red fishing will be at its best in November. Redfish can tolerate the colder water better than the trout and all the bait fish. They will take advantage of the sluggish bait and clear water to hunt down anything they see. Redfish will be in large schools around low tide. Sight casting to them should be fantastic as it will not be uncommon to see 100+ fish in a school! Work the schools slowly and be quiet. With 200 eyes and lot of ears they can hear and see very well and spook easily. However, if you get close enough to the school to cast a light artificial or fly they will often eat anything you put in front of them. There is nothing more exciting than seeing a school of 100 redfish in the 5-15 lb range coming down the bank!
4534 Durant Ave - North Charleston 843-747-3400
A great way to spend the day on the water is to book one of the area’s great guides. Having fished in Charleston for twenty five years, I am extremely knowledgeable and experienced in this area. As owner and operator of Shore Thang Charters, I would love to share my expertise with you on the water. Please email me at: ShoreThangCharter@hotmail.com, check out my web page: www. ShoreThangCharters.com or call: 843-475-1274. 2 CHARLESTON
NOVEMBER 2020
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The Southside
Mt. Pleasant Pier
Kiawah to Edisto Islands
By Chris Pounder
November Forecast
November Forecast
By Captain John Ward
N
N
ovember is probably my 2nd most favorite month to fish in the low country of South Carolina. The shorter days and cooler weather has got the bait and fish fired up! There is life everywhere you look on the water, with large schools of bait funneling through our waters and the fish are gorging trying to pack on weight to make it through the winter. Usually the crowds are starting to thin out on the water due to everything else going on during the Fall, so get out and enjoy the great bite and less crowded waters. Inshore the trout , bluefish and ladyfish bite has been good around high incoming water using popping corks with live baits under an 18-30’’ leader fishing around marsh lines and creek points, The bite has been better with the cleaner water on the incoming tide and lighter wind days. Mud minnows and mullet have been out producing live shrimp primarily due to the bait thieves . Low tide we are still working structure like docks and blow downs with a Carolina rig with live or fresh cut bait, mostly targeting : redfish, black drum, sheepshead and flounder. During the slack tides we have been hitting the inlets targeting bull redfish using live and cut baits on float and Carolina rigs. The surf fishing has been really good with with plenty of redfish, black drum and whiting on the edge of the breakers. The nearshore waters and reefs are producing good numbers of Spanish mackerels, false albicore , and bluefish on the surface tossing spoons and jigs on the surface. Bottom fishing has been good for: weakfish, reds, sheepshead , and flounder using live bait near the bottom, also plenty of kingfish and Spanish mackerel near the surface ready to attack a slow trolled menhaden, mullet and or spoon Get outside and enjoy the comfortable temperatures and hungry fish while the fabulous weather and bite last. Stay safe and share nature with someone, take a kid fishing to promote our sport for the future. Captain John Ward /Affinity Charters www.affinitycharters.com / 843-693-2460
ovember may be last call for some species at the pier for a few months so don’t miss out on the action. It’s one of my favorite months to fish as the weather is cooling and the fish are actively gorging themselves in preparation for winter. It’s a month when you can still target a “Lowcountry Inshore Slam” consisting of redfish, flounder, and spotted sea trout. The large flat to the north of the pier should continue to be productive for both redfish and trout. That spot is growing in popularity so plan to space Manny with 22in flounder yourselves appropriately and share the area. Live finger mullet or fresh cut bait fished on a basic Carolina rig is a great way to target trophy size reds. Live shrimp or artificials like Vudu and Zman fished under a cork is an effective method for trout. Depending on the tide you can catch trout in a variety of other locations along the pier. Towards the end of the pier is a popular spot during low tide as the water first starts to come back in. If fishing the very tip, you will want to keep your bait off the bottom to avoid getting snagged on a large collection of old bridge debris. November can also be one of the best months of the year for flounder fishing and possibly the last opportunity for a doormat till the waters warm back up in the spring. Previous years it’s the month we’ve seen some as large as 4 – 6 pounds come over the rail. Live mud minnows or finger mullet are the baits of choice for most anglers. Using a basic Carolina rig you can sit idle and enjoy the view fishing or be more active and walk your bait down the pier to cover more area. Finally, if you like the challenge of catching the ninja-like, bait stealing sheepshead, this is the time of year the big boys start to show up. While sheepshead can Angelina Becerra with nice Redfish be caught year-round at the pier, the biggest catches are typically recorded between November and February using fiddler crabs or fresh mussels as bait. We are bringing back the Winter Sheepshead Challenge from November 1, 2020 – February 28, 2021. This year’s contest will be a photo entry one for bragging rights. There is no cost to enter other than paying the daily fishing fee. Catch any legal sheepshead during regular pier hours and submit 2 photos of your catch. One with you holding it and another on a clearly marked fish ruler showing the length. Stop by the shop to show off your pics and learn where to submit the photos. The top 3 catches will be posted in the shop and featured in our monthly articles here in Coastal Angler Magazine Charleston. For any additional information about the pier or what’s biting this week feel free to call the River Watch Café & Gift Shop on the pier at 843-762-9946. Chris Pounder, CPRP Manager | Mount Pleasant Pier
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CHARLESTON 3
Fishy Nurse Adventures November’s Cool Bite
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older and shorter days are upon us, but that doesn’t mean the fishing needs to stop! Time to bundle up and get on the fall bite! With the water temperatures cooling off the bite picks up inshore and I can’t wait to put my hands on some of those slimmy
trout! They’re so much fun to catch. The fish school up in the cooler temperatures and become way easier to catch with artificial bait! Throw anywhere near a grass line at high tide and you can usually find at least a couple of trout. The creek reds will be hungry around a low tide but those arrivals will work on them as well! This is when I enjoy catching a larger quantity of reds. If you have kids and can get them all bundled up make sure to bring them because they won’t get bored, there’s a lot of live action. Top water action is also great this time of year and a whole lotta fun on the high tides! The days are shorter, this is the only part that I don’t like about November in the Lowcountry, but hey, at least you can pick a few clusters of oysters to take home with you to steam! Make sure to bring a towel to help keep those hands warm and dry and to get that trout slime off! Tight lines and enjoy the change November brings! - Mandy
- Mandy Henderson is a night cardiac nurse in Charleston, on her days off she loves to fish as often as she can! You can visit her on Instagram @onefishynurse
Charleston • Folly Beach - CHARTER FISHING Offshore Bottom Fishing Offshore Trolling Fishing Nearshore Fishing Shark/Megladon Teeth Hunt Dolphin Watch a Harbor Cruise
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Hammer Time
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Chasing Monster Sharks from the Beach
rag peeling, toes dug in the sand, sweat pouring, heart pounding, back muscles screaming. You’ll never feel more alive than when you’re connected to an animal five times your body weight that has no problem letting you know how angry it is about the 20/0 circle hook in its jaw. This is a common experience for the men of Apex, a small band of land-based shark fishermen based out of Charleston. The 2020 season has been our best and most adrenaline-filled one yet, with seven land-based hammerheads and four tiger sharks caught on Charleston beaches. With the privilege of catching such incredible animals comes the responsibility of returning them to the wild, not only for future enjoyment by other anglers but also to allow big sharks to continue functioning as apex predators, a role crucial for maintaining the diverse coastal ecosystem. The CPR (catch-photographrelease) practice is a staple of land-based shark fishing. Although some degree of post-release mortality is unfortunately inevitable in any catch and release fishery, the angler can employ certain handling and release practices to improve the overall likelihood of survival. Targeting the biggest and baddest sharks in our waters requires highly
specialized fishing, handling, and release practices to ensure safety for both the fishermen and the sharks themselves. A standard presentation involves a 20/0 size non-stainless inline circle hook baited with a hefty piece of fish or stingray. Nonstainless hooks will eventually rust out if left embedded in the animal’s jaw in case they are too deep to remove in a safe or timely manner and require cutting the rig or the hook itself with bolt cutters. Inline (non-offset) hooks are specifically used to minimize gut hooking. A small section of vinyl coated 400lb cable is crimped to the hook for bite protection and connected to the mainline with 10 to 15 feet of 700lb mono to prevent the fish from wrapping its tail in the rig and cutting the line from the back-and-forth movement of its sandpaperlike skin. Baits are taken upwards of 400 yards off the beach using a sea kayak and anchored to the sandy ocean floor with a 16oz spider weight, no small feat when less than ideal wind and tide conditions complicate the matter with nasty current and a tricky surf break. The overall length of the fight time is ultimately one of the most important factors in determining whether or not the shark will survive upon release. .... Continued reading on page 13
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CHARLESTON 5
Seafood Corner By Chef Kyle Kryske Minute Ponzu Wahoo Method of Preparation: 1. Get your Wahoo and slice thin on a plate. Tuna works well for this as well if you didn’t happen to catch a wahoo. I like to cut out the sinew section from the fish before I slice it but that’s a personal preference. 2. Slice Jalapeno thin and put on each piece of fish. If you like wasabi this will also jazz it up 3. Cut your lime in half and squeeze over the fish. Follow the lime with the soy sauce and just do it where it slightly pools around the fish but not over the slices. 4. Sprinkle a little kosher salt or sea salt on top. 5. Prepare this dish last minute hence the name for the ponzu, which is soy and citrus combined. Do not make this dish ahead of time. It comes together fast and is amazing.
VETERAN OWNED
This is a very versatile dish so feel free to add other herbs or ingredients to it. I like to serve it over rice as well. Enjoy!
Ingredients: Wahoo- sliced thin 1 Jalapeno Sliced paper thin 1 lime Soy Sauce of your liking Kosher Salt
– Chef Kyle Kryske is a native of Pascagoula, MS. He is a graduate of Johnson & Wales University & has resided in Charleston for 17 years. He has been cooking in restaurants for more then 20 years. working in MS, AK, NC, and SC. and is Chef de Cuisine at The Royal Tern Restaurant on Johns Island.
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Charleston Offshore Fishing Targeting Big Black Bass - By Captain Will Adams
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B
lack bass is one of my favorite fish to eat and catch. A lot of people would say we don’t have large black bass but through my years of fishing I can say that isn’t true. When I go offshore to target them, I like to fish from 70 to 90 ft. My go to rig is 60 to 80lb floro carbon. I will maybe use a chicken rig and usually use 6oz 70’ and 8oz 90’. Black bass have a very large mouth and an appetite to match. Large bait brings large fish, I have found that using the back half
of a cut mullet (tail) always catches them and the bigger the tail the bigger the black bass. My chicken rigs usually consists of 4 circle hooks (in line) but I also use jigs and buck tails tipped with squid or small pieces of cut fish. Never the less, a 3oz jig head with a Z-man or Bubbly Gulp will do the trick. I usually stay away from most artificial reefs and fish live bottom. I have found that the quality is much better. A chum bag is a must it will keep them around your area plus many of the species. Just remember to pull it in the boat before you leave or you will lose it. Winter is the best for large amounts of seabass. Sometimes you have to catch all the small bass before catching bigger bass. Small black bass are more aggressive and get to the bait much faster, be patient they will come. Remember if you are not seeing fish on your fish finder, move! You have to position yourself almost perfect to catch quality fish. - Capt. Will Adams, Write off the Rip Charters 843-270-0909 or email: writeoftheripcharters@gmail.com
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NOVEMBER 2020
CHARLESTON 7
Focus
T
On Fishing
Targeting a Super Slam By Jiggin’ Jerry
hrough the majority of a year, inshore anglers here in the Lowcountry usually concentrate on targeting the inshore slam. I have discussed this in some of my past articles, but one month out of the year becomes the prime time to target what I refer to as the super slam and that is November. For those who are not familiar with what fish are in the inshore slam, they are the Red Drum, Spotted Seatrout and Flounder. Why do anglers refer to it as the slam? It is a contest between yourself and the fish. The goal is to catch one of each during a day of fishing. So what is a super slam? A super slam consists of five fish— Sheepshead, Black Drum, Flounder, Red Drum and Spotted Seatrout. The goal? Catch all five species during one day of fishing. So break out the arsenal. Stock up on all your bait and lures and get ready for the ultimate contest between you and the fish. During the month of November, the water temperatures become cooler, allowing all of these species to become quite active. Each one of them trying to gorge themselves and fatten up for the winter months. You will need an assortment of live and frozen bait to target all of these species during the same day. Targeting Sheepshead. To target Sheepshead, you will need either Fiddler Crabs, Clam out of the shell, small Mussels in the shell or Oysters out of the shell. There are three ways you could rig these baits to catch Sheepshead. One is to place them on a Carolina rig, a drop shot rig or tossing small jig heads with the bait attached. While using these baits, it is possible to attract and hook Red Drum and Black Drum. Targeting Black Drum. Black Drum love live Shrimp, but you can catch them off of defrosted frozen Shrimp, but just remember using live Shrimp could land you every one of the species mentioned above. You could use Fiddler Crabs or Clam to target Black Drum, but I definitely recommend the Shrimp. Targeting Flounder. The Summer Flounder will be feeding pretty heavy during the month of November. They will be one species definitely trying to fatten themselves up before winter, gorging themselves on Mud Minnows, Mullet and Shrimp. This is because they will be headed out to sea for the winter soon, but the Southern Flounder usually stay year round. This time of year you can enjoy targeting these Flounder with artificials like bucktail jigs, artificial Shrimp dragged along the bottom and paddle tail grubs, but you will find most inshore fishermen this time of year using live Shrimp, Mud Minnows or Finger Mullet. Targeting Red Drum. Red Drum this time of year can still be found off of the beaches, in the harbor and up a lot of our rivers. Our Intracoastal Waterway becomes a destination for a lot of our boaters who are out to find themselves a great day of fishing. You can target Red Drum in our local estuaries with artificials this time of year. A little top water action using an artificial Mullet will entice an exciting strike or throwing some paddle tail grubs and artificial Shrimp can usually generate some success. If you are going to set up some sleeper rods or surf rods for some of these big boys, I still recommend either fresh cut Pin Fish, live or cut Mullet, fresh Croaker and Spot can work quite well. Just remember, when targeting these large fish off the surf, piers or docks, to make sure you have your drag loosened. I have seen quite a few rods take off 8 CHARLESTON
NOVEMBER 2020
skiing across the top of the water after one of these reds decide to commit to the bite. Targeting Spotted Seatrout. Spotted Seatrout is one of my favorite inshore species of fish all year round, but November seems to make it extra special. With the cooler water temperatures, you can find these fish schooling up in great numbers, and if located, can make for a fantastic hour or two of just catching. This is when you get to try all kinds of lures in your arsenal. You find yourself throwing artificial Shrimp at them for a short time. After 12 or 13 fish, you can find yourself changing up and tossing a paddle tail to see how it does. Then you find yourself throwing some hard baits and testing them out. Some fast sinking. Some top water. Some are just old twitch baits. Whatever Trout lures that you bring that you have piled up in your tackle box become fair game. But Spotted Seatrout this time of year is not just about finding the big schools of 16-inch Trout or smaller. It’s time to become the stealthy hunter, to slow down and look at your structure. Look for eddies created off of jetties or structure, either in the surf or in the local rivers, some pockets that have been washed out alongside Oyster beds during an outgoing or incoming tide. You’ll find yourself setting up your best rod for the task. You are either about to throw in a live Shrimp on a light Carolina rig or hanging one under a pop and cork. Maybe a live Mud Minnow sitting on the bottom in that hole you have spotted or you have some of your best artificials waiting and ready to toss right up against the grass and bring it over the Oyster bed, then slowly dropping it into the drop off just alongside of it. You find yourself leaning forward slightly, staring at your fishing line and at the tip of your rod as you give it three slow twitches. What are we looking for? We are looking for that big yellow mouth with either one or two long front fangs, that 23-inch or 25-inch gator, the female Spotted Seatrout. They do not school up in giant groups. These girls run solo, and even though fishing in a big school of Trout can be a fantastic day of fun, I would trade it all, to fish and catch one of those big females. So grab your gear, fill your tackle box and stock up on your bait. Start your own contest between you and the fish and see if you can become one of the inshore fishermen this year to catch the super slam in a day. I hope this gives all interested a goal to shoot for this November. I hope this helps everyone with their next fishing adventure. Like I always say, good luck out there and have fun fishing! To view some fishing adventures, go to my YouTube Channel Fishing With Jiggin Jerry.
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Folly Beach Pier Farewell Forecast By Joey Crawford
Judy with a nice 4lb 2oz Pompano
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ctober was the last month with our beloved fishing pier on Folly Beach. The current one has loyally served millions of residents and tourists for over a quarter century since it opened July 4th,
1995. It’s survived countless hurricanes and nor’easters; however, wood-boring mollusks have taken their toll on the pilings and it’s finally time to replace it completely. Construction is expected to last for about two years with a re-open date in 2023. The new pier will be in the exact foot print of the current one, extending 1045’ into the ocean with a diamond shape at the end. There will be many improvements including bigger sun shelters, easier pedestrian accesses, and a 360° unobstructed view down at the end of the
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farewell. In Folly character, this last summer strangely ended up being one of the times we needed it most. What better way to cure cabin fever than to relax and enjoy the outdoors. Thank you Folly Pier for being that cure. A big farewell to the Edwin S. Taylor Folly Beach Fishing Pier. Folly is going
Joey Crawford (center) with staff on the final day of Fishing at Folly Pier.
to miss you but will always remember you… For the latest updates and info: CharlestonCountyParks.com. -Joey Crawford | jcrawford@ccprc.com
ou find e tip of
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Folly has transformed tremendously from when the pier first opened, but the memories go on forever. From catching fish to catching waves, marriage proposals to bachelorette parties, sunrise walks to moonlit strolls, sipping a beer at the bar to dinner with a view, the Folly Pier has provided us all with great times. Much thanks to Edwin S. Taylor and Charleston County Parks for making the pier possible. It truly is a Charleston icon that will be missed, but now it’s time to say
diamond. In addition, the pilings will be concrete with a life expectancy of sixty years. However, the pier deck and railings will still be built of wood to keep that “Folly feel” to it. Good news is after this winter the pier giftshop and restaurant, Pier 101, will re-open in Spring 2021 with a newly remodeled deck. You’ll be able to come out, grab a bite to eat, and watch the new pier actively being built. We expect it to be quite the spectacle. For all those that were able to get one last line in the water this summer, we had great weather and even better fishing. The Atlantic Ocean proved abundant once again and we saw every type of species make the leaderboard. King and Spanish mackerel, tarpon, Jacks, drum, sea trout, sheepshead, spadefish, flounder, blues, ladyfish, whiting, you name it and it’s been hooked on the pier. To top things off this final year, a pier record pompano was caught in the last few days we were open. Pier celebrity Judy Moody reeled in the beast at just over 4lbs. 2oz. What a fish story to end an era! COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
NOVEMBER 2020
CHARLESTON 9
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Kiawah to Edisto Islands
Inshore Flats Fishing ICW • Nearshore Reefs 25 Years Fishing in Charleston Captain John Ward
(843)-693-2460 Recommended
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Flats Fly Fishing • Light Tackle Inshore • Nearshore • Offshore 24 Years Fishing in Charleston Captain Mark Phelps
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NOVEMBER 2020 TIDE CHART
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CHARLESTON 11
Lowcountry Kayak Fishing ______________________________________________________________ Release) tournament is the Speckled Sea Trout and we have some really great prizes this year for the top three finishers. From Big Bear Rods (www. bigbearrods.com), a $175 gift certificate towards a custom rod. From Time Out Sports and Ski (www.timeoutsports. net) a pair of Smith Optics polarized fishing glasses (valued at over $150) and lastly an Eyestrike tackle package (valued at $100). Registration for this event will began on the 26th of November and closes on the 9th of December. The tournament itself begins on the 10th of December and concludes at midnight on the 10th of January. Toys can be donated for entry at Time Out Sports in Mount Pleasant (for those that chose to donate a toy over a cash donation). For those wishing to enter through donation, please feel screenshot or forward your receipt to lowcountrykayakanglersaoy@gmail.com. A virtual captains meeting will be held prior to the tournament. All tournament rules and more information can be found on the Lowcountry Kayak Anglers facebook page.
Trout for Tots 2020
J
ust a year or two after World War II, in the fall of 1947, Diane Hendricks, wife of Marine Corps Reservist Major Bill Hendricks handcrafted a Raggedy Ann Doll and asked Bill to deliver it to an organization that would give it to a needy child at Christmas time. After an extensive search Bill discovered that no such organization existed so, with the encouragement of his wife, Bill started Toys for Tots. The first year Major Hendricks collected over 5000 presents in the Los Angeles area. The drive was so successful that the following year, the Marine Corps adopted Bill’s toy drive and expanded it nationwide, officially launching Toys for Tots. Each Christmas season, Low Country Kayak Anglers holds a virtual charity fishing tournament, Trout for Tots. Unlike most tournaments which have a cash entry fee requirement, this tournament’s entry fee is a new unwrapped toy or a suggested $20 online donation at Toys for Tots.org. The target species for this CPR (Catch Photo
Good Luck and Tight Lines Mike Kohler LKA Tournament Director
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3/13/20 2:07 PM
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... Continued from page 5 - Chasing Monster Sharks From The Beach A shorter fight time equates to less energy exerted and higher probability of post-release survival. Because sharks are obligate ram ventilators, they must actively swim in a forward direction in order to force oxygen-rich water over their gills in the correct direction. Longer fight times have the tendency to drain a shark’s energy to the point where it can no longer move water through its gills on its own. Therefore, shorter fight times allow a fish to be released with enough energy to recover. As a result, the standard reel used to target large sharks is an 80-wide conventional, which not only offers enough line capacity to get a bait far enough off the beach while leaving enough on the spool to fight the fish but is also capable of exerting sufficient drag pressure to put the brakes on a large shark. Heavier drag settings allow the angler to slow, turn, and beach the shark in a shorter amount of time, increasing the shark’s chances of survival. Proper handling practices are also paramount to ensuring a shark’s survival. When beaching a large shark, the bare minimum equipment includes a dehooking tool, bolt cutters, wire cutters, and measuring tape.
From the moment the fin breaks the surface, all team members must know exactly what their roles are in beaching and releasing the shark. Tasks usually include leadering the fish into shallow water, removing the hook from the shark’s jaws (or crunching the hook with bolt cutters if removing the hook is deemed too dangerous for the shark or too time consuming), measuring the shark, snapping a quick picture, and releasing the fish as quickly as possible. The absence of assigned roles only leads to confusion and longer release times. Care must also be taken to ensure that the shark is not pulled into water that is took shallow. Big sharks are incredibly heavy and without enough water to support their bodies their internal anatomy can be seriously injured by their own weight. When done correctly and with the safety of both the shark and the angler firmly in mind, landbased sharking can be one of the most rewarding fishing experiences South Carolina has to offer. The sport is both physically and mentally arduous, even unforgiving at times, but when you finally get the chance to watch a shark twice your size kick off into the darkness and feel small in and ocean full of monsters, you know you’ve accomplished something. Stay safe, stay bent! James Strange - College of Charleston ’20 Marine Biology Instagram: @james_strange97 @apexsharkfishing
Bohicket Marina•Seabrook Island
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Fishing Boat Review ______________________________________________________________________
BLACKFIN 242 DC
Versatile Dual-Console
storage area and you’re good to go. One of the benefits of a dual console layout is when the weather is chilly or wet in the fall or spring months, simply close the bow access door, snap in the optional front curtain and you have serious protection from the elements. On sunny days, the beam-to-beam hardtop offers plenty of shade for the cockpit seating, and a bow and aft shade are optional features. Blackfin uses a solid construction carbon fiber-reinforced hull. The hull design coupled with top-ofthe-line stainless steel hardware and materials leads to durability, safety and quality.
The family boat componant of the center console is a big selling feature, Blackfin has brought that to this dual console boat and has also delivered a fishing battle wagon on an 8ft, 10-inch beam platform. This versatile dual-console boat is the ultimate vessel for reaching your favorite fishing grounds, cruising the open waterways or just gathering with friends for a day on the water. The dual console design of the 242DC allows you and your passenger’s ease of access to the bow and stern of the boat, while also providing a multitude of seating options for the family. Standard features include an insulated baitwell, a fiberglass hardtop with rod holders, gunnel-mounted rod holders, transom-mounted rod holders, and in-floor fish boxes with macerated pump-outs. A wet bar with sink, pull out sprayer, and 35 qt. yeti tundra cooler, dedicated storage
When you have a smooth riding boat, the rest of the family is happy. Blackfin, like many other boatbuilders, realizes that today’s boat owner is not going to use the boat exclusively for fishing. options, head compartment, and spacious seating accommodations help to complete the Only about 30% of the time will the boat most likely be used for fishing. package allowing you to enjoy your recreational time on the water to the fullest. Blackfin’s 242DC offers a stainless ski pylon for watersports towing. The optional SeaDek swim platform inlay adds to the interior design and area’s where the boat can be used for lots of family fun and lasting memories, that is what its all about. By CAMC Staff
QUICK Facts
Most anglers like a walkaround boat, the aft fishing area on the 242DC is quite large, And for those who need some separation while fishing, the forward bow — accessed through the tempered glass windshield walk-through — offers up a casting platform complete with your own insulated in-deck storage with overboard drains. Just move the seat cushions to a 14 CHARLESTON
NOVEMBER 2020
LOA – 24’6” Max HP – 450 Beam – 8’10” Area Dealer Displacement – 5800 lbs. HANCKEL MARINE Draft (hull) – 20” 2445 Savannah Hwy Transom Deadrise – 22 degrees Charleston, SC Fuel Capacity – 140 gal (843) 556-2550 One Instock 2020 Blackfin 242DC Specially Priced at $129,900
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to go. a dual weather spring e bow optional serious nts. On o-beam ade for ow and s. ruction ll. The top-ofare and y, safety
Artificial Intelligence Hero or Zero
F
or this month’s article I’d like to start with a recap of the best trout
fishing day I’ve ever had, and probably ever will. This particular day was two years ago in November. My guest was Scott - one of my oldest friends who has become a skilled artificial lure angler. We eased into a small bend in a creek and I suggested to him where to cast – a spot just up-current of a fallen down bush where I’d caught some nice fish in prior trips. Before I could get a cast off he comes tight to a 23” trout which is a true “gator” trout, especially in Charleston. Easily his best trout ever, we took a few pics and released her. Rather than run the trolling motor, I pulled my classic Boston Whaler up to the marsh and tied off to a clump of spartina to hold our position. What happened next is not an exaggeration and if someone told me I would probably not believe them either! We caught trout on almost every cast for the entire 6 hours of outgoing tide without moving. The average size was solid, maybe 16-17” with a few 18-19” thrown in. This was probably a oncein-a-lifetime trip, but it should give you an idea of the promise that November holds for the artificial lure angler. So, what makes November so great? I’d say that on a high level here in Charleston we have two major patterns and several more minor patterns. The major patterns are Summer and Winter. During these times things remain stable for 2 or 3 months. The months in between are transition months and these contain the minor patterns that change more frequently. The beginning of November is usually the end of the Fall transition (upper 60’s water temps) and by Thanksgiving we’re starting the Winter pattern (lower 60’s and below). If you know me, you know that I am an engineer by trade, and you wouldn’t be surprised to know that I do geeky things like make plots of water temperature by month. My charts tell me that by the beginning of November our water temperatures typically reach the 60’s. By the time the water has reached these temps, most baitfish have migrated south, and forage becomes pretty scarce. Speckled trout, who generally prefer salty water, start to move up the rivers and creeks seeking what food is available, typically smaller shrimp and glass minnows. Because conditions change during the month, I’ll break down things to think about as we move through November. Early in the month, it’s still a great idea to throw topwater lures. In my experience, they still work well until the water gets down into the low 60’s toward the end of the month. Maybe try some smaller topwater profiles and work them a little more slowly. You could have luck fishing topwater pretty much any time during the day. It’s always a great idea to simply observe. Once in November I was fishing a bank and heard a splash in the center of the creek I was in. It was maybe 15 feet deep there but when I saw it happen a second time, I noticed some shrimp scattering. I quickly tied on a Z-Man EZ ShrimpZ and immediately started catching trout. If you see a school of minnows get crashed, pull out a topwater plug of your choice, cast in there and hold on. For this reason, I always have a topwater plug rigged and ready in November at all times of the day. As the month progresses and the weather gets colder, I’m in no hurry to get out at daybreak. I’ve had many trips where I’ve gotten out early only to cast my arm off till 10 am when everything starts warming up a bit and the bite turns on. Now, I make some waffles or eggs and have a couple cups of coffee before heading out. I’m still catching the same amount of fish, but with a lot more rest. This month, the soft plastic and jig head are king. Find the trout, and they bite like their life depends on it. However, remember that trout tend to school up as the water cools so you can either be a hero or zero depending on how you approach them. If you find the fish it can be every cast. If you don’t find them, you can get skunked. Sometimes, you can be 50 feet away from the fish and never know it. If we’re trying to find the fish, we start up current and use our trolling motor to slow our drift and position the boat, and cast at any and all structure working all parts of the water column, but favoring the bottom portion. By
using jigs and lures we have confidence in, we feel like we will find the fish if they are there. Once you get a bite, hit spot-lock and fan cast the area. Often this will result in a bunch of fish caught in a frenzy and then suddenly it turns off. Not to worry, the school simply moved. Just keep moving until you find them again. A good tactic that also works is to move away for 5 or 10 minutes and let the fish settle down, then go back and often it will be on again. Another way to locate fish is to troll. Set up a couple rods with jigs, put them in rod holders on either side of the boat, and cast far back. Move the boat as slowly as you can, at idle speed, and make sure the jigs are bouncing bottom. Keep running the banks until you hook up. It’s as simple as that. You will get hung up periodically but that’s part of the game. Ralph likes to tell this story at his seminars. He was watching an old timer troll down the bank and hook a trout. He’d unhook it and keep going. Then he’d turn around and come back and hook up a trout again at the same point, and so on… Ralph idled by and the old timer says “Every time I pass this point, I get a trout!” Ralph says “Well, why don’t you stop there and keep fishing?!” Trolling is a lot of fun in a kayak. When I used to have a vacation home on a tidal creek my son was young enough to be able to sit facing backwards on our kayak while I paddled. I’d put two rods out trolling while he watched the rods. When a rod tip would start bobbing, he’d reel it in. Great times for father and son! We had a portion of the creek we named “Snaggle-Tooth Stretch” because it was such a productive trout spot. Anyway, I digress… Here are a couple tackle suggestions. In this month, the colder water has killed off most of the algae and our waters clear up quite a bit. It’s a good time to use a 20 lb fluorocarbon leader about 24 to 36” long, and of course you want to “match the hatch” by downsizing your lures. If you stop me in the creek and check my line, I’ll probably have the Z-Man StreakZ 3.75” or a 3” Slim SwimZ in either Pearl (white) or Ralph’s Shad (named for my business Partner). We like to pair these with our Trout Eye Finesse or Texas Eye Finess jigheads which have a short shank, wide gap 1/0 hook. In summary, get on the water in November. If you want to learn how to use artificial lures, this month is an excellent time to gain confidence. As I’ve advised in part articles, remember to manage your line and fish slower. Most of all, have fun and bring a friend or family member and enjoy the best month of fishing of the year. See you on the water! - David Fladd Partner, Eye Strike Fishing dfladd@eyestrikefishing.com • eyestrikefishing.com
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Samantha shows off a nice October redfish while out fishing with carolinatopwater.com
Michael Caught this 36” redfish on finger mullet at the Grillage.
16 CHARLESTON
NOVEMBER 2020
Megan caught this 38” Redfish off the South Jetties using mullet.
Gino caught this nice 18” Black Drum at Price Inlet - It was a struggle to pull him in, but he did it all by himself!!
Patrick caught a 13” Redfish—his first— he caught it in the Wando River.
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Charles caught this 10lb Spadefish with unique smiley face marking on it!
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14 NATIONAL
NOVEMBER 2020
It’s Sailfish Season! S
PHOTO COURTESY OF WEST PALM BEACH FISHING CLUB
W FOR YOUR O N E V R E RES CAPE!!! WINTER ES
ailfish are a target year-round off the Atlantic Coast of Florida, but the best action should kick off this month and improve progressively with each passing cold front as more migratory fish arrive to spend winter off the coast of central and south Florida. November is the traditional start to the season, when sailfish from the north follow migrating baitfish into Florida waters to join the resident population. By December and January, it is estimated that more than a million sailfish arrive to overwinter, and that’s when top sailfish boats report dozens of releases in a single day. It sparks a mini tourism boom when anglers—rather than beachgoers— descend upon central and south Florida. Charter boats book up in a hurry this time of year. If you haven’t already planned your trip, it might be too late. Booking a jam-up sailfish trip is made more difficult by the specialized conditions it takes to bring out the best action. Everyone is looking for tailing conditions after the passage of a cold front. Sailfish move high in the water column and feed aggressively when a north wind clashes with the prevailing current to kick up swells in the Gulf Stream. Some say that the rougher the conditions are, the better the fishing is. It’s a good time of year to have a big boat, but even smaller vessels can get in on the action where the Gulf Stream swings closest to shore. Carefully watching the weather and timing a trip to get out as soon as conditions begin to subside strikes that fine balance between safety and catching sailfish. Tactics differ depending on conditions and location. Some troll a spread of teasers and dead ballyhoo. Slow-trolled or drifted live baits can also be remarkably productive in some situations. The preferred method for many is kite fishing with live baits, because it is effective and exciting. A kite is deployed trailing live baits, typically bridled goggle-eyes, threadfin herring or other hearty baitfish. The kite keeps baits near the surface, and most of the leaders and tackle are suspended above the water. On approach, anglers might see the fin or bill circle the bait. On the take, everything goes into overdrive with the legendary speed and aerobatics of a hooked sailfish. This time of year, it is a scene that takes place multiple times a day, and sometimes with multiple fish at the same time. Rough weather is a good time to be on the water when the sailfish descend on the Florida coast.
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PHOTO COURTESY OF WEST PALM BEACH FISHING CLUB
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NOVEMBER 2020
NATIONAL 15
It’s Tuna Time In Tuna Town V
enice Marina is the jumping-off point to some of the best fishing in the world. Known as “Tuna Town,” this southern Louisiana meeting place of the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico features endless branches of bayou waterways that give way to a Gulf peppered with oil rigs and other world-famous offshore structure. It is an incredible ecosystem for fish to thrive in. There are also very few marinas with easy access to this fishery, which means a phenomenal array of fish species are plentiful, oversized and underfished. It is truly like going back in time. This time of year, Tuna Town is aptly nicknamed. Autumn is shrimp-boat season in Venice, and it is arguably one of the best times to fish for tuna. In the summer, you might run many miles offshore in search of yellowfin tuna, bouncing from rig to rig or finding prime schools breaching under frigate birds in open water. With a 24-mile run down the Mississippi River just to reach Gulf waters, the summertime gas-bill can definitely take a bite out of your wallet. In fall, when these yellow-sickled beasts school behind shrimp boats, you will find yourself in a “Nat Geo” type situation within 300 feet of water, which out of Venice is only a few miles from the shore. At the shrimp boats, you must convince the shrimpers to give you bycatch. Trade is king in this situation, but not all the crews are after the same thing. Bringing a case of cheap beer is standard practice, but sometimes they request something different like soda, energy drinks or even hooks and monofilament. Sometimes, you will get lucky and the shrimpers will toss bags of stinky gold onto your boat. But more times than not, your mate will have to board them. The captain will pull up right behind their
16 NATIONAL
NOVEMBER 2020
By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
vessel, and the deckhand has to leap from the bow and grab the tires that hang off the back of the shrimp boat and scurry aboard to avoid being pinned between the boats. Once the deckhand has filled a few sacks of bycatch, they make the leap back onto your boat. I have personally done this many times, and all I have to say is, please don’t forget to tip your mates! The idea is to pull up next to a shrimp boat and chum so hard that you pull up a school of fish as you drift back. As you continuously throw chum in the water, you will see yellowfin tuna rolling out from underneath your boat to devour each piece. Your lines will be out of the water as you hand-feed the tuna and take inventory of fish collected under the boat. When you see the one you want cycle through the feeding pattern, that’s when you toss out bait with a hook in it. It sounds easy enough, but tuna aren’t the only fish that school behind shrimp boats. Buckle-up, because you’ll have to land that fish in the midst of a sharknado. The sharks can be so thick, that as the crew we’ve had to ask clients if they wanted to fight fish or eat fish and had to land a few tuna for them. This type of fishing is incredible to witness for anyone, but is truly better suited to a more seasoned anglers. Shrimp-boat season is completely worth the trip to Venice, but the weather can get a little nasty in the fall. You are likely to encounter a few days in a row that are unfishable offshore this time of year, so allow yourself a few extra days of availability. You can always check out the equally epic inshore fishery if you have to wait it out. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon now fishes out of St. Petersburg, Fla. with Reel Lucky Fishing Charters. Their charters are available for offshore, nearshore, inshore and customizable from anything in between. Call or text the owner, Capt. Joseph Dephillips, at (727) 557-7829.
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NATIONAL 17
J.O. SPICE COMPANY CELEBRATES 75 YEARS AND 4 GENERATIONS
S
teamed blue crabs seasoned with J.O. No.2 or a custom blend that J.O. manufactures is the flavor people experience at crab establishments all over. Most people credit this crab house seasoning to another product but J.O. has been the crab houses’ seasoning of choice since 1945. J.O. Spice, started by J.O. (James Ozzle) Strigle and his wife Dot in Baltimore City in 1945, is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. A native of Tangier Island, Va., J.O. Strigle brought the seafood spice blend he created in his kitchen on the island to Maryland. Jane McPhaul, J.O.’s daughter took over operations of the family business in the late eighties while her son, Don Ports, was serving in the Marine Corps. In 1990 Don joined his mother in the family business with a vision to expand. In the summer of 1991 Don met his spice girl, Ginger, with the pick up line, “you’re destined to be mine; you’re named for a spice,” said J.O. Spice Company president Don Ports to wife Ginger Ports the moment they met. Twenty eight years later, Don and Ginger- alongside their children Brittany, Tyler and Bethany, are continuing the family traditions of quality seasonings, spices, and more at reasonable prices at their Halethorpe based J.O. Spice Company. “We can provide crab houses everything they need for the crab eating experience, minus the crabs”, Don says. The company added crab boxes, crab paper, bushel baskets, crab knives, crab mallets and a variety of other items to their offerings. “We purchased our first laser engraver and that opened the door to the retail gift world and personalized options,” Don says. J.O. specializes in custom blended seasonings for pizza companies, pit beef stands, butchers, potato chip companies and more. We are more than seafood seasonings. “My children, the fourth generation, and our amazing team work side-by-side to make all of this happen,” Ginger says. “At J.O., we are all family who enjoy working with so many other family businesses. We are blessed.” Please visit us at jospices.com.
18 NATIONAL
NOVEMBER 2020
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FISH BEWARE! CHawk 23
Idaho Producing Monster Yellowstone Cutthroats
Models Available 18-29 Feet
Y
ellowstone cutthroat trout longer than 30 inches are exceedingly rare, but that hasn’t stopped Idaho anglers from besting that mark twice in the last few months. On Sept. 8, Nate Burr, a fly fishing guide from Rexburg, Idaho, caught a 31-inch Yellowstone cutthroat that beat the 30.5-inch state length record set in August. Both fish came from the Snake River. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game reported that Burr and a buddy had been fly fishing the Snake River for three days, looking for big trout without much success. As evening set in on the third day of slow fishing, their luck changed as a huge trout smashed Burr’s fly. “It was one of those brutally slow days,” Burr said. “Hunting big trout on streamers means a day on the water can go from zero to 100 in a split second. That was exactly the case with this fish.” After chasing the hooked trout for nearly half a mile downstream in a driftboat, the pair managed to finally scoop the fish with a landing net. After taking a quick photo and reviving the fish, Burr released the huge trout back into the Snake River, securing his name in the record books.
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NOVEMBER 2020
NATIONAL 19
G
FORCE ISC™ 10K B2
BIG BASS AT CLEAR LAKE, CALIFORNIA
B
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISCHILDERSBASSGUIDE.COM
ass anglers looking for a destination fishery worth travelling to would be hard-pressed to find a better one than California’s Clear Lake. With all the historic bass fishing powerhouses in the South and the rise of awesome Northern smallmouth fisheries like the St. Lawrence River, it’s worth asking why anyone would travel to the West Coast to go bass fishing. The answer is simple: Clear Lake is home to an abundance of large bass, and its location in California’s gorgeous wine country makes it worth a visit even if the fishing wasn’t so great. And the fishing is great. According to California studies, Clear Lake has more fish per acre than any other lake in the country. Couple that with tournament data from B.A.S.S., and the fishery looks even more attractive. Tournament statistics show the average Clear Lake fish weighed 5 pounds in competition sacks last year. With high catch rates and average fish that weigh 5 pounds, competent anglers can expect to target lots of large fish. A 16-plus-pounder was the highlight of 2019. The lake record is 17 ½ pounds. Clear Lake is a 43,000-acre natural lake about two hours north of Sacramento. Stockings of Florida strain largemouth along with northern largemouth has created a fishery renowned for quality and quantity. About 100 miles of shoreline are littered with docks, piers, pilings and other manmade structure. Humps, boulders, brush piles and an abundance of aquatic vegetation provide plenty of natural cover and structure. For information, go to www.californiasgreatestlakes.com.
20 NATIONAL
NOVEMBER 2020
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AR IA
GULF SNAPPER Three Times More Abundant Than Previously Thought
Y
ou can bet there are a bunch of Gulf charter captains out there right now bellowing an emphatic, “I told you so!” In early October, preliminary findings of the Great Red Snapper Count were presented to Congress with results that indicate up to three times as many red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico than was previously thought. This unprecedented study was led by the Harte Research Institute and provides an independent and robust assessment of Gulf of Mexico red snapper stock abundance. It shines an additional spotlight on how inadequate data was used to all but shut down one of the most popular recreational fisheries in the world. The state-of-the-art study was funded through a $10 million Congressional appropriation, championed by Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) in 2016 and awarded by Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant. The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) was an early proponent of this study. Over a two-year period, 21 scientists used a comprehensive suite of methods on high relief areas, like natural and artificial structures, and low relief areas, such as sand or mud bottom, to arrive at the absolute abundance estimate. Approximately two-thirds of the Gulf red snapper population was found to inhabit these low relief areas, which have not been historically sampled. “The Great Red Snapper Count results validate what the recreational fishing community has long said – that there are a lot more red snapper in the Gulf than have been reflected in recent stock assessments,” said Kellie Ralston, ASA’s Southeast Fisheries Policy director. “We are grateful for the excellent scientific work by the Harte Research Institute and its partners, as well as Senator Shelby for recognizing the need to fund such a ground-breaking study.” With an interim analysis of stock abundance expected for the Gulf in early 2021, NOAA has indicated it will incorporate the Great Red Snapper Count’s findings into its interim stock assessment. Hopefully that will lead to off-the-charts snapper fishing next summer!
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NOVEMBER 2020
NATIONAL 21
DESTINATIONS FOR WINTER TROUT
Karl Eckberg with a delayed harvest trout from South Carolina’s Chauga River.
By Nick Carter
F
or trout anglers, the next few months offer some of the best catch-andrelease fishing of the year. Delayed harvest (DH) waters are regulated by the states to carry us through to spring with heavy stockings and catchand-release, artificial-only fishing geared toward fly fishers. Here’s a look at a couple good DH options.
About an hour and a half west of Greenville, the Chauga flows a ridge east of the well-known Chattooga River. That’s part of what makes the Chauga such a great option during South Carolina’s Nov. 1-May 14 DH season. The Chattooga draws most of the fishing pressure, allowing the Chauga to fly under the radar. The Chauga fishes just like the Chattooga, only a little smaller, said Karl Eckberg of Chattooga River Fly Shop. The river’s ledges, drop-offs, deep river-bend holes and an abundance of riffle water hold rainbows, browns and brookies. There are only two access points to the DH stretch. Despite a good trail, Ekberg said the middle portion of the specially regulated water hardly gets touched. Early in the season, freshly stocked trout are suckers for the “big flashy and rubbery stuff,” said Ekberg. Load your box with Mop Flies, Y2Ks, Squirmy Worms and Gummy Worms. Micro streamers become more important as the season progresses, but fall and winter also offer hatches of midges, bluewinged olives and little black stoneflies.
NANTAHALA RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA
The upper Nantahala River’s 4-mile DH section is like a high-elevation trout stream without the hike. About 20 minutes southeast of Bryson City, Wayah Road hugs the upper Nantahala, giving no-hassle access to miles of riffles and pocket water, big bridge holes, gorges and deep plunge pools. The drawback to this situation is fishing pressure. Roadside pullouts fill up when the weather is nice during the October into June DH season. Stocked trout learn to spot a fake pretty quickly, so the fishing can be challenging. There are good numbers of standard hatchery-sized rainbows, browns and brook trout. Big fish are known to stake claim to the best holding water. For a few days after a stocking, the usual flashy “junk food” flies are effective, but Nantahala fish switch to more natural behaviors in a hurry. Fall and winter bring out winter stoneflies, blue-winged olives, midges and maybe even a few small caddis. Spring ushers in a riot of bug life and excellent dry fly fishing.
The Return of a
CHAUGA RIVER, SOUTH CAROLINA
The Chauga River is one of several good backcountry streams in Upstate South Carolina. It features some 20 miles of remote, lightly pressured water known for brown trout. This time of year, the Chauga’s 3-mile-long DH stretch is where it’s at.
Nick Carter is the author of “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” It is available on Amazon.com, and autographed copies are available by emailing the author at nsc8957@gmail.com.
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99
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97
449
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(3686)
4
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2000w Super Quiet Inverter Generator
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1 SELLING JACKS IN AMERICA
(6246)
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199
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99
Side tray sold separately.
23999 $
630
ITEM 64030, 64722, 64031, 64721, 64061, 64720, 56429
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7
$ 99 $ 99 10
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85
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4
$ 99 $ 49 5 Compare to Valeo 25521 $10.64 ITEM 62434, 62426, 62433, 62432, 62429, 64179, 62428, 64178 shown
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Compare to Shelter Logic 76377 $305.29 ITEM 62859 63055/62860 shown
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24%
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1,100+ Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com *Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 12/18/20.
hft_coastalangler_1120_M-REG171041.indd 1
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130
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Mechanics Gloves
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Rapid Pump® 3 Ton Steel Heavy Duty Low Profile Floor Jack
18" x 12", 1000 lb. Capacity Hardwood Mover's Dolly
33999
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Pricing, promotions, and availability may vary by location and at www.harborfreight.com and are subject to change without notice. We reserve the right to limit quantities. “Compare to” advertised price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. Although we make every effort to assure that our prices and products are advertised as accurately as possible, we are only human and in the event an error is made, we reserve the right to correct it.
10/8/20 12:17 PM
Flip Flip Hooray! A perfect symbol of fun in the sun for only $79
H
ere’s a memorable beach moment: You’re basking in the warm sun, toes in the sand, letting the gentle turn of the foam-capped waves lull you into a state of complete relaxation. As your eyes scan the endless horizon of blue on blue, you’re rewarded with a school of dolphins making their way across the sea. There’s no denying their signature shape as they leap from the water. If you don’t see anything else extraordinary the rest of day, you can take solace knowing you’ve witnessed one of nature’s most playful and intelligent creatures in their natural habitat. Why not recreate that special toes-in-the-sand moment with our Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant? The beloved sea mammal has been captured mid-jump in sterling silver. And, tucked into its fins is a full two carats of shimmering blue topaz. Nothing captures the shimmering color of the ocean in the midday sun like blue topaz. With its sparkling clear blue color and high refractive index, blue topaz is one of the top-selling blue gemstones. And with our special price, you have quite the catch. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Enjoy the Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant for 30 days. If it doesn’t pass the test swimmingly, send it back for a full refund of the item price.
A full two carats of shimmering blue topaz set in sterling silver
Limited Reserves. A full two carats of genuine blue topaz set in sterling silver for this price is as rare as a dolphin sighting. We cannot guarantee availability for long. Call today!
Limited to the first 1900 responders to this ad only! To show exquisite details, pendant shown is not exact size. Chain sold separately.
“Enormously popular, significantly intelligent and scientifically sophisticated, dolphins are amidst the most beloved animals among people.” — Dolphins-World
Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant non-offer code price $395 † Offer Code Price Only $79 + S&P Save $316!
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You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.
“This sterling silver dolphin is absolutely beautiful and the blue topaz is like the color of the ocean”
— Vivian, Cabool, MO
† Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code.
Stauer
1-800-333-2045
Your Insider Offer Code: DPP292-01 Please use this code when you order to receive your discount.
® 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. DPP292-01, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337
www.stauer.com
Rating of A+
• 2 ctw blue topaz; ½ ctw Ultimate Diamond Alternative®, DiamondAura® • .925 sterling silver setting • Sterling silver chain sold separately
Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®
Bad to the Bone Full tang stainless steel blade with natural bone handle —now ONLY $79!
T
he very best hunting knives possess a perfect balance of form and function. They’re carefully constructed from fine materials, but also have that little something extra to connect the owner with nature. If you’re on the hunt for a knife that combines impeccable craftsmanship with a sense of wonder, the $79 Huntsman Blade is the trophy you’re looking for. The blade is full tang, meaning it doesn’t stop at the handle but extends to the length of the grip for the ultimate in strength. The blade is made from 420 surgical steel, famed for its sharpness and its resistance to corrosion. The handle is made from genuine natural bone, and features decorative wood spacers and a hand-carved motif of two overlapping feathers— a reminder for you to respect and connect with the natural world. This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers. But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99 8x21 power compact binoculars and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Huntsman Blade. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price. Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Huntsman Blades for this ad only. Don’t let this BONUS! Call today and beauty slip through your fingers. Call today! you’ll also receive this
Huntsman Blade $249*
genuine leather sheath!
EXCLUSIVE
FREE
Stauer® 8x21 Compact Binoculars -a $99 valuewith purchase of Huntsman Blade
What Stauer Clients Are Saying About Our Knives
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“This knife is beautiful!” — J., La Crescent, MN
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“The feel of this knife is unbelievable...this is an incredibly fine instrument.” — H., Arvada, CO
Offer Code Price Only $79 + S&P Save $170
1-800-333-2045
Your Insider Offer Code: HUK322-01 You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.
Stauer
®
Rating of A+
14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. HUK322-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com
shown *Discount is only for customers who useNot the offer code versus the actual size. listed original Stauer.com price.
California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product. • 12" overall length; 6 ¹⁄2" stainless steel full tang blade • Genuine bone handle with brass hand guard & bolsters • Includes genuine leather sheath
Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®