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SEPTEMBER 2021
W O R L D W I D E
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4 NATIONAL
SEPTEMBER 2021
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NATIONAL 5
IN THIS BATTLE, YOU NOW HAVE THE ADVANTAGE OF SHOCK AND AWE.
The next generation of our workhorse spinning reel, the new PENN ® Battle ® III now features our proprietary CNC Gear ™ Technology for ultimate durability, and the proven HT-100 ™ Carbon Fiber Drag System for ultimate control during the fight. Available in nine different sizes, from 1000 to the new 10,000, and in select high speed models, it can handle any situation. The new Battle® III. Fish won’t know what hit them. PENN. LET THE BATTLE BEGIN.
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CAST 2021 marked a return to normalcy for the fishing industry. In the 64th exhibition of the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, the halls of the Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center bustled with activity July 21-23. As usual, the event kicked off with the ICAST Cup bass tournament at nearby Lake Toho, and the renowned big-bass factory did not disappoint. In a short four-hour tournament, the winning team weighed a tournament-record 25-pound, 7-ounce five-fish limit. But most of the action went on indoors. The annual ICAST New Product Showcase is an event the fishing world eagerly awaits every year. It is the venue where industry heavyweights and innovative newcomers roll out their best new gear for the year to come. This year, 686 new products were entered by 218 companies to compete for Best of Category awards in 30 different categories. From rods, reels and lures to apparel, electronics, gadgets and accessories, the New Product Showcase is gear-head heaven. The Angler Video Mag team was on-hand at ICAST 2021 to cover the show and give you a first-hand look at some of the cool and innovative products that will make you a better angler this year.
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Follow Us @DefenderMarine SEPTEMBER 2021
NATIONAL 7
Live Bait Snook on South Florida Beaches
H
ere on Florida’s East Coast, we have access to some of the most exciting shore-based fishing there is. From spring, through summer and into fall, big snook run the beaches of South Florida, and they can be caught from the sand with lures and even sight fished with flies. I am a lure fisherman, and everyone knows it, but fishing with artificials can be difficult during the doldrums of late summer and fall. The Atlantic Ocean is flatter and big snook become wary. The fish are still here; what are we to do? Here’s a pretty simple technique that will catch snook when the fishing gets tough. The hottest bait this time of year is live croakers. Croakers are catching so many snook right now that the local bait shops here in the Stuart, Fla. area sell out as soon as they get a shipment. With the artificial bite kind of drying up, my friend and occasional fishing buddy, Mike Vars, showed me how to catch big snook on live bait. Mike buys a dozen croakers when he can get them. All you need to keep them alive for a couple days is a round bucket with an aerator. Good baitsized croakers are 5 to 8 inches, anything larger might catch a big snook, but they are harder to fish. Mike uses a 3 or 4 size circle hook and hooks his croakers through the nostrils so they can
8 NATIONAL
SEPTEMBER 2021
By Richard L. Matteson
swim freely. Some anglers prefer to hook them through the tail. Since the tactic involves free-lining, with no weight, casts should be just past the trough on a high tide, which is about 20 feet here. Then open the spool and let that croaker run. On low tide, it might be necessary to wade past the trough and cast farther out. Mike uses a 60-lb. leader and 20-lb. braid on a spinning reel. Before the snook takes the bait, the croaker will often wiggle excitedly—this is a signal you are about to get bit. When the line suddenly starts moving fast, it means a snook has your croaker. Let her have the bait for a few seconds, and then begin reeling steadily so the circle hook lodges in the corner of her mouth. Mike Vars with a nice beach snook Mike averages three or four big female snook caught on live bait. each trip with this method. He has caught several over-slot snook, with the biggest measuring about 40 inches. Florida’s Atlantic Coast. You’re allowed one per day If you want to catch your own bait, use a between 28 and 32 inches. sabiki rig and tip hooks with a small piece of Richard Matteson writes for the Stuart Rod & shrimp. Or fish the trough with light tackle and a Reel Club and he is a long-time contributor small piece of shrimp. to Coastal Angler Magazine. Sept. 1 marks open season for snook on
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M
CHARLESTON EDITION
September 2021
Back To School for BIG Reds.
Thanks for picking up a copy of Coastal Angler Magazine Charleston!
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Inside this month..
The Fly’s of Late Summer -Scotty Davis
- Capt. Mark Phelps - Charleston’s Best Fishing Forecast - Chris Pounder - Mt. Pleasant Pier Fishing Report - Boat Review - Sportsman Open 322 - David Fladd - Artificial Intelligence - Mandy Henderson - Fishy Nurse Adventures - Scotty Davis - Carolina Flyfisher - Capt. John Ward - The SouthSide Report - Folly to Edisto - Chris Tweedy - Lowcountry Kayak Fishing - Jeremy Evans - South Carolina Surf Fishing - Cameron Rhodes - South Carolina Billfishing Report - Chad Pennell - Freshwater Fishing Report
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Call for all the details to reach over 25K monthly print and digital readers today. 843-607-8629 send an email: Jane@sabjarmedia.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
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SEPTEMBER 2021
CHARLESTON 1
Charleston’s
September Forecast By Captain Mark Phelps
WHERE THE LOWCOUNTRY
S
eptember is a month of transition in Charleston. The very hot and humid days of summer will continue. However, by the end of the month, cooler mornings and shorter days start to replace the 90 degree days. Because of this, fishing will undergo several changes. This will be the last month to target all the summer migrating species of fish that come north in the summer and move south for the winter. As the first cool fronts of the year occur, the water will begin to cool. Warm water fish like Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, jacks, tarpon and sharks will be preparing to head south for the winter. This might seem early but fishermen must remember that these fish don’t like water temperatures much below 80 degrees. One thing is for sure, they need to eat a lot to store up energy for the long journey down the coast. These fish may be found near the inlets and right off the beach all up and down our coast line. When we get an approaching front, the fish will be very aggressive in feeding, often on the surface. You might see birds working above a school of Spanish mackerel as they move out of the harbor or down the beach. If the larger mullet are moving south you could see tarpon or sharks sky rocketing out of the water chasing after them. This will be the last, and often the best chance of the summer, to catch one of these migrating species. The best fishing of the year will begin this month for the inshore species. The resident fish like redfish, sea trout and flounder are also responding to this seasonal transition. The inshore water temperature will begin dropping with the shorter days and cooler 2 CHARLESTON
mornings. The summer months will have provided mature shrimp and mullet which are the perfect size for a hardy meal. Since some of the bait will not be around much longer, local fish will be feeding more often and for longer stretches of the day. The early morning top water bite will be in full swing. Working with favorite bait along the grassy edges or current rips early in the morning will provide some explosive strikes. Because there are so many shrimp in the water, both fish and fishermen will be able to take advantage of their cravings for shrimp. A DOA shrimp under a cork is hard to beat this time of the year. By allowing the cork to drift along the grass or over oyster bars, fishermen will be able to catch almost any of the inshore species. The redfish will still be feeding on crabs in the grass this month, providing us an opportunity to catch them. A DOA shrimp, crab imitation, or fly may be used in order to take advantage of these tailing tides to catch trophy reds in the grass. The middle and end of the month offer some excellent tailing tides in the morning time. These are some of the best tailing tides of the year. 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.
GETS HITCHED.
4534 Durant Ave - North Charleston 843-747-3400
Please email me at ShoreThangCharter@ hotmail.com, check out my web page: www.ShoreThangCharters.com or call: 843-475-1274.
Captain Mark Phelps Shore Thang Charters
SEPTEMBER 2021
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The Southside
September Forecast Folly Beach, Kiawah to Edisto Islands By Captain John Ward
VETERAN OWNED
S
horter days cooler temperatures hopefully the start of college football and kids going back to school, begins
the start of fall and the best fishing season in the low country. Tons of bait everywhere and the water is alive, the bite inshore and nearshore has really picked up in the last couple of weeks. Inshore on the cleaner water days have been producing great numbers of larger trout, ladyfish, jacks, blues and redfish on the higher tides using live bait under
popping corks. At low tide we are still battling the bait thieves, but getting some nice red drum, flounder and black drum fishing live and cut bait around structure. With great numbers of bait funneling through the inlets there have been tons of: sharks, tarpon, and jacks exploding on schools of bait. Nearshore waters and the reefs have been active , with bottom fishing producing: ladyfish, reds, black drum, cobia, grunts, and snapper, with: spanish mackerel, bluefish, spadefish, king mackerel, and triple tail active on the surface. Fishing should only progressively getting better as we move into Fall, so get out on the water and take advantage of this amazing bite. Tight Lines, Captain John Ward Affinity Charters www.affinitycharters.com 843-693-2460
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SEPTEMBER 2021
CHARLESTON 3
Mt.Pleasant Pier September Forecast By Chris Pounder
F
George with 17” Seatrout
all fishing can be some of the best fishing all year from the Mount Pleasant Pier. The water is warm, the bait is running, so you can target a variety of things or give crabbing a try. Fishing is also a great way to meet new people and grow your framily. Despite spell check wanting me to change that word the spelling was intentional. We’ve got some great people on the pier on any given day who will go out of their way to help others, especially youth anglers.
Col Steve & George18” flounder
Allow me to take a minute and share a little about Colonel Steve and his new fishing buddy George before I get to some September tips. Col. Steve is a great guy that’s always looked out for others on the pier. He regularly shares bait, his favorite spots, and has even been known to regift prizes won at tournaments to youth anglers nearby. Recently Col. Steve has taken 3-year-old George under his wing and has George excited to come fishing and see what the day holds. Last week Col. Steve arrived 2 hours before George and his family did one day just to catch finger mullet for bait. His efforts were rewarded when the rod went off and George fought hard to land a 19-inch flounder with a little help. In the past week or two this duo has added some other impressive trout and flounder to their list of catches. George proudly 4 CHARLESTON
wears his lucky Mount Pleasant Pier fishing hat with a hat hook whenever he comes fishing and is always excited to share the day’s news when I stop by. Watching these new fishing buddies reminded me that fishing is framily and it’s been great to see. We have fishermen of all skill levels at the pier so be kind to those that may not know as much as you and want to learn. We all learned from someone along the way and you just may end up with a new fishing buddy. A few tips for September: Bottom rigs are very common and can be productive; however, if the crabs are thick or the nuisance fish are schooled up you can go through a lot of bait in a very short period of time without much success. One option to consider is to use live shrimp, minnows, or mullet under a poppin’ cork. It’s an effective way to catch sea trout, red drum, and even flounder. Large red drum specimens can be caught with regularity throughout September and into October. The best bet to land one is to target the edge of the marsh grass during high tide. Large “bull” reds may prefer mullet, live or cut, but an overlooked bait that works great is using a quarter of a blue crab. So, when you’re bottom fishing and the crabs are thick it might be time to grab an inexpensive crab net from the River Watch Café and Gift Shop on the pier and get even. September 11 the Cast-Off Fishing Tournament is back at the pier. The tournament runs from 7am – 2pm and prizes will be awarded for the 3 biggest fish by weight along with a category for youth anglers (12 and under) and aggregate weight of 5 fish. Entry is just $5 plus the daily fishing fee and is available on site beginning at 7am. Good luck out there!
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
SEPTEMBER 2021
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Surf Fishing South Carolina Becoming an “Elite” Surf Fishing Angler By Jeremy Evans
S
urf Fishing is anyone’s game. Anyone can grab some bait, rods, basic tackle and head to the beach. Surf fishing can be very rewarding or very humbling and that is where anyone & “elite” anglers have their differences. There will be good days and bad but you always have to keep learning and improving. Ultimately, you get out what you put in. Begin by learning to read the beach, and specifics about bottom structure. Don’t always fish in the same spot. Think about more than just the time of year, bait and what tide other people have caught fish on. Everyone has different tips, tricks and tactics but make your own. Figure out your strengths and weaknesses and what works best for you. Setup your gear and rigging based on the species of fish you want to catch. Keep track of patterns when you have the highest success rate, such as time of day, wind direction, tide, weather and bait for each location that you fish. Don’t guess, always use this knowledge that you have gained to be the most successful. Just as you have to put in effort to be successful you also have to know when to not waste time. So, also track the patterns
when you’re least successful. Then you can narrow down the best times to fish, and the off-time can be used to study different approaches/tactics, scout new spots and gather your thoughts for the next trip. There are no guarantees in fishing but with hard work, an open mind and confidence
anyone can become an “elite” surf fishing angler. - Jeremy Evans The Longest Cast Surf Fishing Charleston, SC email: thelongestcastsurffishing@gmail.com www.thelongestcastsurffishing.com
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CHARLESTON 5
Fishy Nurse Adventures
September Sunsets..
By Mandy Henderson
O
h September! One of the best months for sunsets in my opinion and getting back into the swing of the rountines of regular life. I enjoy having less boat traffic during the work week this time of year! It’s also the kick off to shrimping season! So glad I’m not allergic to them. It’s always fun to see the bait changes and September is the perfect month for the mullet running and the shrimp coming in thick! I try and stock the cooler during this time because frozen shrimp
are great baits come winter time! Gotta get prepared for the cooler months and then you don’t have to throw the net when it’s cold! Definitely gonna get a good workout in with the net throwing and it’s always an adventure to take kiddos to as well! Also ready for Bull red fishing! September is great for catching some of the big boys! Make sure to get the camera ready early and get those guys back in the water as fast as possible and revive them! They’re a blast to catch but they get worn out too and need a little extra time to revive! My good friend Martin and I got into a school of them last year and managed to catch 8 of them in one day! Mullet is usually their bait of choice this time of year! Tight lines and good times! - 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
6 CHARLESTON
SEPTEMBER 2021
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SEPTEMBER 2021
CHARLESTON 7
Freshwater Report - September By Chad Pennell
F
all is upon us! Fishing can be tough this time of year with fish being spread out – Some shallow, some deep, and all depths in between. This time of year, I encourage people to fish their strengths. Fish techniques that you enjoy the most and have the most confidence in. As mentioned, the Largemouth bass seemed to spread out, with fewer schools to locate. The best advice for catching bass right now is to pick an area and put your head down and just go fishing. Keeping your bait wet gives you the best opportunity to get a bite. During the fall transition you may catch one on topwater (frogs, spooks, poppers, or buzzbaits), some around trees, stumps, and grass (senkos, wacky worms, or shaky heads), and then catch a few bass deep on big worms, spinnerbaits, or crankbaits. Most of the larger bream seem to have transitioned to deeper depths and brush piles. Light Jig heads tipped with crickets
and drop-offs is key. Drifting slow with drift-rigs seems to be the most popular way to catch them. Live bait has been preferred, but cut bait is working as well. We encourage you enjoy your time on the water and when given the opportunity – take a kid fishing. There’s nothing
more fulfilling than watching a child reel in a fish. Teach them how to protect our natural resources and provide them with viable lessons that will impact them forever! Safe fishing and Tight Lines!
- Chad Pennell
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2673 S. Live Oak Dr. Moncks Corner, SC 29461 www.phantomoutdoors.com (843) 870-4370
and longer float lines suspended above and around the brush have been a popular way to fill the cooler. We’ve been getting reports that the majority of the catfish have transitioned to deeper depths. Locating the deep holes 8 CHARLESTON
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South Carolina Billfishing & Offshore Report By Cameron Rhodes
I
t’s hard to believe that the Gov Cup’s tournaments have wrapped up for the year. It was a whirlwind summer, even with only three tournaments in the Series. The final leg, the Edisto Invitational Billfish Tournament hosted at the Marina at Edisto Beach in late July, was an absolute blast. As always, the folks in Edisto know how to put on a party. Live music each night made for a great atmosphere. That said, nothing could compete with the excitement on the docks – most notably the midnight arrival of Glazed and their boated blue marlin.
Communication had been relatively scarce between Glazed and tournament staff at the end of the day. Folks back at the dock knew that Glazed had been hooked up for a while and that the crew had confirmed they were fighting a big fish.
Miles Herring, the owner and captain of Glazed, provided updates when he could, but had to remain focused at the helm while angler Wilson Springs fought the fish into the evening. After an arduous fight that lasted roughly 6 hours, one in which leader was in hand numerous times, the crew boated the fish and made their way for the scales. Around midnight, the crowd filled every
available space surrounding the weigh station. Little kids clung to their parents’ hands as they watched Glazed and her tired but ecstatic crew come into view. A rumble of loud cheers and applause erupted from participants and
spectators when the boat finally backed into the slip near the scale. Staff with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources first measured the fish and officially qualified it for the tournament. Afterward, Miles Herring and his crew of family and friends stood by as the blue marlin was hoisted and weighed. Anticipation built as the weigh master waited for the scale to settle. The announcer eventually called out across the dimly lit marina that the 117-inch blue marlin officially weighed in at 505 lbs and cheers erupted from the crowd again. This is the heaviest of two blue marlin to be weighed in the Series this year. That evening, biologists sampled the fish, analyzing gut contents and determining sex. The head was also kept so that staff could later extract otoliths, or ear bones, to determine the fish’s age. Once all samples had been collected, the crew processed the fish for consumption, cutting large chunks of meat that will be used to make smoked fish dip. It was after 3 AM when the crew and tournament staff finally hit their bunks.
Although their landed blue marlin didn’t earn Glazed the overall win of the tournament, the fish did bring in a fat check of nearly $90,000. The team certainly had much to celebrate! Home Run, owned by Steve Mungo and captained by Grant Bentley, went on to win the entire event with 2 blue marlin releases and 2 sailfish releases. This win is special for the Home Run team – they’ve come very close to
top spots in numerous Gov Cup tournaments in the past – but have fallen short based on time. This year, they won the event with 600 more points than the next highest scoring boat. The overall Series winners are still unofficial at this point. They have yet to be approved by the Gov Cup’s Advisory Board of Directors. Once those results become official, we’ll be sure to share the news here. To learn more about all of the winners during the Edisto Invitational Billfish Tournament, visit: govcup.dnr.sc.gov.
Until next time, tight lines! – Cameron Over the last several years, Cameron Rhodes has served as the official photographer and social media manager for the South Carolina Governor’s Cup Billfishing Series. Utilizing her Bachelor’s degrees in Marine Science and Biology from the University of Miami, Cameron also works in federal fisheries management as an outreach and communication specialist. While she is very proud of all of this work, Cameron is not the expert here, but will instead be sharing news and information from those who know these waters best. *All Photo’s for this article unless noted are courtesy of Cameron Rhodes/SC Governor’s Cup
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Carolina Flyfisher The Fly’s of Late Summer - By Scotty Davis
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ll across the South, things are looking up. Gardens are in full bloom, Covid is slowly getting under control, and the fish are hammering topwater! Whether you prefer Largemouth Bass murdering poppers or the saltwater misfits dissecting gurglers, your time is here my friend. Let’s start with the current bass fishing: its hot. Fish early and late. The fish will find deeper cooler water in the heat of the day. In the low light however, they creep into their cafeteria, and you need to be there…with poppers. Certain times of the year, I’m very subtle with topwater bass flies, pausing between tiny “twitches.” Not now. When it is this hot and the world is on fire, prey is generally the most active it is all year. Imagine you’re a bass and a baby bird falls out of a tree. That bird is not going to casually duck paddle to shore, is it? No, it’s going to go into complete panic mode and get to shore as fast as possible. As always, vary your retrieve until you find what works best. Sometimes a well-timed pause among the retrieve will trigger the chaos. Loud poppers such as the Double Barrel Poppers from Flymen Fishing Co. create quite the ruckus. Frog patterns with aggressive lips or legs to create wakes will be destroyed. Tie/buy several. If the bass in your area are feeding primarily on baitfish,
orange or blue would be my first choice. Frogs? Yellow, green or white would get tied on 1st. I generally do best fishing flies parallel to shore or swimming towards it since that’s how topwater prey would behave. Warning: I’d check with your doctor first; the takes can be heart stopping. Topwater Freshwater Box -Size 6 and 2 Double Barrel Poppers -Topwater Frog Flies with weedguards / thick vegetation -Heavy baitfish & buggy patterns for deep water -Crease flies in baitfish colors: Shad, bluegill, herring Topwater Saltwater Box -Foam backed gurglers in “Shrimpy colors” -Small white and black poppers, #4 - #2 -Crease Flies in mullet and black/purple -Howitzer Poppers
Want a little saltier action? Gurglers and the Lowcountry saltwater fishery are as common a pair as shrimp and grits. Head into your favorite low tide haunt and watch the shrimp skyrocket towards a false freedom as Mr. Redfish is waiting just below the melee. Seagulls will often hover just over the action, making very good indicators. So, the “where to cast” should be fairly straight forward. Here, you don’t want a huge “Pop.” Just get their attention, let them see it, and try and contrl your nerves. Gurglers in shrimpy colors combined with small erratic jerks generally (almost always) get the job done. Small poppers can be equally effective, just don’t get too aggressive on the retrieve. In Summary: this is why we flyfish: Jaw dropping top water bites on flimsy rods. Grab a few topwater poppers and a kid or two and watch something magical about the South. Take advantage of the intel from your local fly shop, they know the trends and latest hot flies.
- Scotty Davis
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Fishing Boat Review
Sportsman Open 322
FAMILY TIMES & SERIOUS OFFSHORE FISHING
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T
he Open 322 is right between the Open 302 and the Open 352, like the bookends to this boat it is built using a hybrid vacuum infusion process and features a very impressive 360-degree fiberglass stringer grid (instead of bonding to the hull bottom with “fingers”, it is fully bonded all the way around) There is an awesome factory option for a Second Station/ Half Tower. (shown above)
On either side of the leaning post, you will find a pair of 225-quart insulated and macerated in-deck fish boxes.
Front lounge area ready to accomodate family fishing outings in style with a retractable table and lounge seating.
During our ride on the boat on the boat around Charleston harbor we noticed the comfortable running and cruising
Opening the large center in-floor lid, reveals the total access compartment. This bilge access is a Sportsman signature feature and they took it to the next level with this designed-in larger opening, that will also fit an optional Seakeeper in a pre-designed space.
The dual side entry doors are a versatile feature that will quickly become one of your favorites and you’ll love the ability to board from either side.
that was available on our test boat, it provided amazing stability while we were out on a windy day at the Charleston Jetties. (we actually show it in action on our video review) The ride is very balanced in terms of weight distribution (something that has to be experienced in person). The Twin 400 Mercury’s we were using are a great match and plenty of power for the 322. We really appreciated the high freeboard (a battleship ready to tackle the waters, just in a much more streamlined package). The Open 322 is truely a versatile, well built, fishing boat that competes very well with some of the other exceptional center consoles out there, if you are in the market for this size of boat we strongly encourage you to take a close look at this total package fishing machine. We had lots of fun on the Charleston harbor with this boat, we encourage you to go to our Youtube Channel Coastal Angler Magazine Charleston and watch our on water review of this fantastic offerring from Sportman Boats! By CAMC Staff
QUICK Facts Deep twin aquarium 30-gallon insulated pressurized livewells with glass that allows you to keep an eye on your bait. It can also double as a cooler for drinks and food.
positions, these are possible because of how much time Sportsman devotes to ergonomic testing while simulating 3D models of the boat. We also loved the Seakeeper option
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Lowcountry Kayak Fishing ____________________________________________________________
Back to School for Big Reds
I
By Chris Tweedy
t’s typically the month of October that gets all the attention as the mature redfish begin the annual winter transition to deeper water. However, kayak anglers flanking the Charleston coast can begin their hunt for big reds in September. Bigger resident fish moving offshore begin the process much sooner than it becomes obvious from the fishing reports and social media posts. Your success is dictated by a few factors that we’ll break down this month that should help you get an early start to big redfish season. We’ll focus our attention here on search and in this month’s video, we’ll break down a few of the rigs/leader setup you’ll want to employ, especially when considering the rod holders on most kayaks are much closer to the water than on your average bay boat.
Back on point, let’s consider a few basic premises to keep in mind over the next few months as you look for and attempt to stay with fish throughout the fall: ✓ If you’re not finding the big fish you’re looking for, you need to determine if you are ahead of or behind their movement and adjust. Ask questions, scout on Facebook, look for reports. ✓ The later into fall it gets, the more the bigger fish will be leaving the bays, harbors, and rivers and be found along the front beaches and inlets. Not all fish are triggered to move offshore at the same time. It’s more of a gradual, continuous process over several weeks as waves of baitfish leave the inshore waters. ✓Be careful with large redfish, take them out of the water as briefly as possible, wet your hands, and hold them horizontally and support their belly weight with your arm or hand. ✓ For targeting bigger redfish, my bait of choice is fresh cut bait and which type is determined by a few things such as current, proximity to the ocean, and what I’m catching 12 CHARLESTON
SEPTEMBER 2021
in the cast net. Mullet and menhaden are my go-to 90% of the time. Both are big, stinky baits that are like candy to bull reds and reasonably easy to keep fresh. Keeping these ever in mind, now we dive in on where to look. Much of making your search work is going to come down to your own ability to determine if there are fish around. A few areas are going to stand out in terms of where to begin and end your search, but it’s what happens in between those points that can make the early fall bite amazing. Given that the fish will start up in the marsh and tidal rivers at points you likely found them on and off all summer, your game plan needs t start determining what their likely path to the ocean is. For the rivers surrounding Charleston, there’s little option but for fish to travel downstream into the harbor. Way up these rivers, mullet are going to be the dominant forage and finding bait on the move is going to be the best way to hone in on some feeding fish. In a system like this, you’re likely to find the fish shallow, chasing schools of bait and shrimp in shallow water like we’ve talked about most of the summer. If you’re up the creeks and rivers successfully netting finger size and larger mullet and then it’s suddenly gone from the area, it’s essential to realize the bait is gone, taking the last few waves of fish closer to the ocean. At this point your effort is better spent trying to figure out where to take your next shot. If you’re on a river, move to the next closest landings to downtown and see what your cast net tells you. Beyond Charleston Harbor, in the marshes
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and back bays that dot the coast, the fish will follow the same pattern, however other forage may mix in such as shrimp in the tidal creeks and menhaden in the deeper and bigger water. Unlike the river system, these fish have a much shorter distance to travel to the ocean, so they may be among the first fish to hit the front beaches. Your target areas for marshes and back bays is going to be likely funnel points as well as places fish can gather/rest. The backside barrier islands (inhabited or not) especially the ends, large main creeks with access to deep water, and bridges. Some of these locations hold huge fish but come with some dangers in the form of strong currents and long distances and are not necessarily a trip for novice saltwater kayakers. In situations like these, I’m looking for signs of birds diving on bait, sighting big schools of feeding fish (not only redfish, but sharks, mullet, tarpon) and usually wanting to throw menhaden. Eventually, the bait will head for the beach and slowly move beyond our reach until next year. However, by following these tips, you should be able to wear yourself out chasing redfish until they follow the bait. If you do find yourself struggling, reach out and lets see if a little more help can get you going. We’re heading fast into the best weather and bites of the year, let’s get on it! Thanks for reading and tight lines, Chris Tweedy, Owner/Operator Topwater Kayak Charters
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SEPTEMBER 2021 TIDE CHART
Carolina Snook!
Z
ach Markow was fishing for bass in waters around Charleston, SC back in May of 2019 when he hooked into this 32” Snook, he managed to land the record breaking fish with only a 20lb leader; needless to say he knew he had caught something special. Snook this size are unheard of in South Carolina, mainly because they have a hard time surviving our cooler winters. He measured it, took a few pictures and helped the big girl get a healthy release. He sent the details off to the SCDNR. They informed him that it would be a South Carolina record, but since he did not harvest the fish it would be unofficial, SCDNR
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sent Zach a certificate which he has on his bookshelf for his accomplishment. Zach is an accomplished Flyfisher and Fly tier; he’s been hooked since sixth grade. Over the years he started a fly tying business, Southern Style Flies and has placed at the top in many flyfishing tournaments, this past year he placed 2nd out of 120 anglers in the Fin to Feather/Flood Tide Co. Tailers Cup here in Charleston. He’s also completed guide school and is set to become a fishing guide in the Beaufort area. Check him out on Instagram @southern_style_ flies.
- By CAMC Staff
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Artificial Intelligence Respect Where It’s Due By David Fladd
I
ts funny how differently species of fish are perceived, based on their abundance or food value or lack thereof. One example is Crevalle Jacks, which, because of their lack of food value and high abundance in Florida, are often considered a nuisance species. But here in Charleston, big Crevalle Jacks have made a reappearance in the last 5 years after mysteriously disappearing from our waters for the prior 10 or 15 years. They have become a sought-after target for recreational anglers and guides alike due to their affinity for an obnoxious presentation of a topwater plug and tackle busting strength after the hookup. No one can deny that if you’re looking for a worthy adversary to catch and release it doesn’t come much better than a Crevalle Jack. Myself, I’m
zero for five on landing to hookup ratio on them which make them even more desirable. People want what they can’t get. In the heat of summer, there is not a lot of action inshore outside of our awesome bull redfish run in Charleston harbor. The creeks are hot. As I write, water temps in the creeks are over 85 degrees, and have very low dissolved oxygen. Catching fish in those conditions is borderline irresponsible if you’re releasing them, as I recently discovered. I was on a surprisingly good redfish bite upriver and had one of my tagged fish found dead the day after release. Knowing the fish were stressed, I put most of them in my aerated live well for a few minutes to recover before release, and still had this happen. It’s impossible to know which fish didn’t make it, but it’s a reminder that catch and release is not always perfect even under the best circumstances, but especially when the water is hot. So, what’s an angler with cabin fever to do? How about thinking outside the box and targeting another species that doesn’t get much respect and has a reputation for ruining tackle and tangling nets? I’ve been following the Lowcountry Kayak Anglers club for several years, and they recently had an event known as the Jurassic Classic. In this tournament, the target is Bowfin, a.k.a. Mudfish, a species that
most anglers shun as a nuisance. The winner of was most effective. this year’s Classic won with a 32” giant. Most The first thing you notice upon launching the anglers caught double digits of fish, and in boat are big splashes caused by Bowfin gulping general raved about how fun it was. air and returning to the bottom. The fish are I contacted Chris Tweedy, President of the club large and literally everywhere. They are not to learn more about the event. He told me the necessarily relating to structure. Some of the club started targeting Bowfin while fishing an splashes were clearly by very large fish and event called the Kayak Wars, a catch-photo- honestly its very distracting! It’s important to release online tournament that included Bowfin realize that these are not feeding fish, so it’s not as one of several targeted species. This motivated productive to toss a topwater plug at the splashes participants to seek them out. Anglers quickly and expect results, for example. However, the discovered how much fun it was to catch them surface activity surely reveals their presence. which led Chris to start an invite-only catch We did find a few patterns and profiles to be and release tournament in 2018. It was a huge particularly effective and I will leave that to the success, so it became a club event the following reader’s imagination and personal experience. year. The event is now held annually in the first We did have results on many presentations and weekend of August and this year’s event attracted lures, but on this day the bite was very, very subtle. Ralph remembered catching Bowfin over 40 participants. Bowfin is a species whose ancestors have been when he was a child on the Pee Dee River and on earth for over 30 million years. One of the successfully applied that knowledge toward a attributes they have evolved to allow them couple 30” plus giants. to survive is the ability to breathe air. While The funny thing about these fish is that you can most fish are at a disadvantage with low oxygen use standard trout rods to catch them, but like levels in the water, the Bowfin simply rises up a “green” cobia, the real fight begins as soon as and gulps air to survive. While bowfin can be you touch it with a net, lip gripper (or gaff, in the found almost anywhere in the low country, a case of cobia). Many fish are lost at this point, great place to target them is somewhat nearby at and a big net is a good idea. Many times we had a couple Oxbow lakes near the Santee River in to cut the lure off the line in order to untangle Jamestown. These lakes were once bends in the it from the webbing if that gives you an idea of Santee that were eventually closed off when the how they fight. Chris is on a mission to promote these fish, river naturally changes its course over time. not kill them indiscriminately and hopefully Two of these lakes, Wee Tee and Dawhoo, are try and grow out a whole new midsummer publicly accessible. The lakes have very different fishing experience. If you’re interested in characteristics, with Wee Tee being shallower but getting a shortcut to learning these fish and having a wider variety of species, and Dawhoo how to catch them, Chris offers guided fishing being deeper with better visibility water. trips for them. Look him up at Topwater Kayak After seeing the results of this year’s Classic and Charters (carolinatopwater.com) and consider hearing about how much fun it was, Ralph and I participating in next year’s Jurassic Classic. decided to bring his Jon-boat out there to give it a If I told you that you could catch double digits of try. We didn’t really know what to expect or how 7 plus pound fish that put up a great fight, will hit best to target them with artificial lures. Would artificial lures, and are a challenge to hook and they want a fast and aggressive presentation, or land, would you consider it a nuisance? I didn’t slow and subtle? What part of the water column would they prefer? Would the strike be subtle think so. If you decide to give them a try, please handle them with care and release them so this or strong? To us, trying to figure out a new body of water fishery remains special for future generations. and species is about as much fun as we can have. - David Fladd At the end of the day, the boat was littered with Partner, Eye Strike Fishing Z-Man Elaztech lure bodies as we switched out dfladd@eyestrikefishing.com profiles and colors on Texas Eye jigs to see what eyestrikefishing.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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Harold Clark with a solid birthday bowfin on his day out with Topwater Kayak Charters.
Paris Rizzo caught this 20” Spade fish off the coast of Beaufort, SC
Estimated 50lbs measured 60” King Mackerel caught from the beach by Chelsi Evans w/ TheLongestCastSurfFishing
Moses Oliver Caught his personal best Goliath Grouper 350 + pounds. Bucket list filled off of Stuart FL.
TJ Cummings caught this nice Red in the Ashepoo River with a ZMan Minnowz. Hit like a brick right next to the kayak.
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“A
iyeeeeee, yeeee, yeeee, yeee!” The shout sounded Cajun, or perhaps like the intro to a mariachi tune. Either way, it amplified the chaos on deck. Three rods were bent. Two anglers scrambled to uncross lines screaming off reels. A third angler dove to wrap an arm around the 10-year-old who held a death grip on rod number three. It was a tossup as to whether the kid would lose the rod or be yanked overboard into a very active chum slick. The whole scene unraveled when a 10-foot tiger shark rose to the surface. It smashed the boy’s cobia straight through the surface, blowing up close enough to drench us, maybe 15 feet off the stern. There was stunned silence, then... “Ayeeee, yeeee, yeeee, yeeee!” our captain hollered. “I love chaos!” Man, what a trip. It was a lot more than my two brothers and I expected upon reconnecting with a childhood friend in Bluffton, South Carolina. Our captain, Keene Reese, is a successful real estate agent with Ussery Group, Charter One Realty in the Lowcountry. He is also a very fishy dude. In mid-June, he invited us—along with my 10-year-old son— on a 20-mile ride offshore, where cobia were thick on a well-known wreck. With a beautiful chum slick snaking off the stern of Reese’s 25’ Regulator “Copacetic,” it didn’t take 10 minutes for “brownies” to start showing on the surface. There was no need for down-lines that day. All the action was on top, visible and simple. Pitch a live menhaden on a freeline, and a cobia would take it before you reached the rod holder. Over the course of a few hours, we boated well over a dozen cobia,
although the action came in such crazy spurts that no one could keep count. The thing is, we only landed four fish longer than the 36-inch minimum. That’s good news, according to Mel Bell, the director of Fisheries Management with South Carolina DNR. For decades, South Carolina was famous for its inshore cobia runs. May is the peak of a spawning run that once saw scads of cobia pushing into Port Royal Sound, Calibogue Sound, St. Helena Sound and the Broad River. Bell said boats lined up to target big eggbearing females before they could reproduce. The fishery collapsed. “We were in a bad place in 2016,” Bell said. “The numbers were scary. Even the anglers were telling us we had to do something.” While overall Atlantic cobia stocks are in good shape, according to the latest assessment, Bell said sound-spawners in South Carolina are a distinct “sub-population.” The Southern Cobia Management Zone was formed in 2016 to protect these inshore-spawning fish. The zone stretches from Jeremy Inlet on Edisto Island, S.C. south to the Georgia border. It extends three miles offshore, and within this zone there is a one fish per person, three per boat daily limit—except in May, when cobia harvest is closed. The limit in federal waters is one per person, six per boat. The minimum length is 36 inches, which brings us back to all the short fish. Bell said South Carolina DNR isn’t ready to release hard data. However, he’s heard fishermen reporting lots of smaller fish, which are likely the age classes protected since 2016. If anecdotes translate into survey data, it would mean the restrictions are working. Bell said next year might be time to take a close look and see just how well cobia are returning to the sounds. PHOTO BY GILBERT CARTER
By Nick Carter
For more information, go to www.dnr.sc.gov.
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MASTER YOUR GAME
SZ Q3 ECSTAR HALF HORIZONTAL CSTL ANGLR 7-16-21.indd 1
7/16/2021 9:56:33 AM
ALL SEASON LONG! T
he approach of autumn doesn’t mean you should fall back on the game! The seasons are changing, but the action isn’t. Fall is nothing more than a second spring. So, spring into action with the Contender series raglan long sleeve shirt. The raglan sleeve construction allows for increased movement, which you will need since the fair weather will liberate you from the sweltering summer heat. Even though the sun is less intense in the fall months, you still need sun protection, and the raglan long sleeve shirt delivers by blocking UVA and UVB rays for all-day protection. In fall, there’s no better time to be out on the water. With fall breezes blowing in, you’ll need to check out our men’s tournament anorak. Featuring a full storm hood and a center placket that provides critical coverage to protect you, you can count on the jacket to comfortably protect you, rain or shine. As the days get shorter, you will need something sturdy like the men’s pro series storm fleece. Designed with spacer-fabric and engineered with air pockets embedded in the fabric that provides insulation and temperature control to keep the piece lightweight, it is the perfect accessory to make your fall epic. No matter the season, GILLZ has you covered. Check out the website: gillz-gear.com
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
SEPTEMBER 2021
NATIONAL 11
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PARKIT360° TRAILER PARKING SOLUTION
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ave the parking headaches—oneshot your boat into position every time with one of Parkit360’s Electric Trailer Dollies. The Force and Transformer models are compatible with almost every trailer thanks to ball-mounted Stablelock technology. Just connect to the hitch and steer your trailer into place. With weight capacities ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 pounds, these portable powerhouses handle the most difficult parking challenges with ease. The user faces the trailer, allowing complete visibility and control while parking. Park in ways that are impossible with a truck, with the flexibility to move around the trailer to check its position. The dolly’s compact design also allows the user to park hitch-end forward as a theft deterrent. All models include Intelligent Speed Control to move through open areas quickly and more precisely in tight spaces. Have a unique trailer hitch? Easily move any ball-mounted, fifth-wheel or gooseneck trailer with standard adapters, or try the Telescopic Hitch Adapter. It’s a non-invasive, alternative connection point that bolts around your existing trailer frame. Built strong and secure to safely move on firm grass, packed gravel, and 4- to 6-percent inclines. Move your trailer with ease, and get PARKIT360.CA in and out of storage faster than ever!
12 NATIONAL
SEPTEMBER 2021
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
THREE WAYS TO TARGET
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BIG CATS
f you like the feel of really big fish on the end of a line, catfish are a good option. There are several different types, but trophy hunters set their sights on blue and flathead catfish. Both species grow large and can weigh in excess of 100 pounds. For bait, catfish have been caught on just about everything you can think of. But generally, big flatheads are predators and like whole, live, hand-sized bream. Blues like large cut bait like bream, skipjack or carp. Once you’ve got your bait, here are some ideas for how to fish it. Fish a Fan: My favorite technique is to anchor up in a good spot near rocky bottom or structure such as a ledge, river channel or creek bed. I have 14 Driftmaster 255 H Pro Duo rod holders, which I use to put out a fan of baits on Penn Fathom reels and medium to heavy rods. These are spooled with 80-pound PowerPro braid. The terminal end is a weight slide on the main line then a swivel and a 3- to 5-foot leader, with a Gamakatsu 8/0 circle hook on the end. These are the rigs I use to fish Cabela’s King Kat tournaments. They are heavy duty because you never know when a 100-pound monster will show up. Back-Trolling: On big rivers, back-trolling can be very effective. Use your trolling motor in reverse to slow
the boat’s drift in the current and present baits to catfish holding on the bottom. Bottom bouncing is Bill Dance’s preferred method on the Mississippi River. It’s also very popular on the Tennessee River. It allows you to keep your bait about a foot off the bottom and bounce it to fish facing upstream. Tie a three-way swivel to a mainline of 40- to 80-lb. braid. On the bottom eye of the swivel, tie in 12 inches of 20-lb. mono drop line and attach a bank sinker. The drop line should be lighter than your main line so you can save the rest of the rig when your sinker gets caught. On the third eye, use a 2- to 3-foot piece of the same line as your main line and attach a 6/0 to 12/0 circle hook, depending on the size of your bait. Drift Fishing: Drift fishing is very popular on big lakes like Santee Cooper in South Carolina. On windy days, set all your rods on one side of the boat with weights that will slide along the bottom. Pencil, Lindy and slinky sinkers all work well for this. If the wind pushes the boat too fast, deploy driftsocks to slow the boat. If you don’t have driftsocks, 5-gallon buckets work in a pinch. Gary Turner is a long-time contributor to The Angler and Coastal Angler Magazine. Contact him at gary@purgeright.com.
MASTER YOUR GAME TECHNICAL FISHING APPAREL _BUILT FOR ANGLERS _DESIGNED IN FLORIDA _TESTED ON THE WATER
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The highest level of innovation. Unparalleled ventilation. Extremely versatile. Your practical solution to a life lived less ordinary. GILLZ technical fishing apparel is there when you need it most. GILLZ keeps you cool and comfortable, so you can always master your game.
SHOP THE ALL NEW FALL 21 PRODUCTS VISIT GILLZ-GEAR.COM
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
SEPTEMBER 2021
NATIONAL 13
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INSETTA BOATWORKS:
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A LOOK AT THE NEW 35IFC AND ITS ‘RELATIVELY NEW STYLE DRUM WINDLASS’
nsetta Boatworks has always aimed to “continuously challenge the standards of an average catamaran” by setting the bar high for performance, stability and safety. Insetta’s IFC system (Internal Foil Catamaran) not only increases cruising speed and handling and stability, it also provides the boat with better acceleration and better fuel efficiency by 20 to 40 percent, meaning “20 to 40 percent farther cruise range.” Last spring, their commitment to being “the best-performing center console sportfish boat in its class by way of the hull design, cruise speed and best miles per gallon” expanded to the anchoring system on the new 35’ Internal Foil Catamaran. They installed an E-Z Anchor Puller Patriot EZ-3 drum anchor winch. The Georgia-based, fiberglass original equipment manufacturer excitedly announced in an April 23 Facebook post that they were “extremely impressed with the performance and reliability” of the installation, posting the maiden voyage of their demo boat on social media as well as writing about it on their official blog. “We kept it simple on Hull #2 with the Patriot by E-Z Anchor Puller Mfg. Co. and have really enjoyed using it,” they wrote. In another Facebook post from July, they wrote: “[It] takes up [approximately] 3 cubic feet and holds 560’ of chain, rope and dyneema.” Utilizing the Patriot series, Insetta’s boats are equipped with a complete 316 stainless steel unit, much like their commitment to use this corrosionresistant, marine-grade metal wherever applicable during the construction of their own vessels. Insetta has instilled a standard of transparency in their day-to-day processes as well, encouraging factory visits and taking a sales-
team approach to the buying process by giving customers a single point of contact for each buying experience. “The highest quality materials and best workmanship possible are paired to produce the finest boats on the market. From the first drawing to final installation, the Insetta design and construction teams ensure the final boat can withstand the rigors and stripes in adverse conditions.” - Insetta Boats, insetta.com
About the Patriot Series The Patriot series is the perfect shallow coastal saltwater anchoring solution for center consoles and sportfishing boats. With three sizes, the Patriot spools rope capacities from 1/2” nylon down to 1/4” dyneema. Completely 316 stainless steel components make the Patriot the ultimate saltwater anchoring solution. Engineered to evenly spool anchor rope, these units deploy and retrieve at an average 100-feet-per-minute. Call 1.800.800.1640 or visit ezanchorpuller.com for more information.
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COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
SEPTEMBER 2021
NATIONAL 15
16 NATIONAL
SEPTEMBER 2021
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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*REPOWER FINANCE is available through Synchrony Retail Finance, as low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new, unregistered Suzuki outboard motors, subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on creditworthiness. $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 from July 1, 2021 through September 1, 2021. †5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. 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. © 2021 Suzuki Marine, USA, LLC.
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