Coastal Angler Magazine | February 2026 Florida Keys Edition

TRUST BR AND MARINERS

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Flounder Fishing 101

Do you want to catch more !ounder? You will need to nd an area with current, bait and structure for the !ounder to ambush its prey.

Where are they?

Flounder are very prevalent in creek mouths, jetties, sandy points, oyster bars, docks and any other underwater structures. e !ounder will take advantage of the structures to block the current, saving them energy and bringing bait right to their gluttonous mouths.

Flounder are the perfect ambush predator. ey like to bury in the sand adjacent to structures of some kind facing directly into the current. Your lure presentations always need to come from up current or you will spook them.

What do they eat?

CAPT. MIKE SMITH

and bait sh imitations.

Flounder love to eat unsuspecting shrimp and sh brought to them by the current. e best lures to catch !ounder are scented shrimp

e best colors of lures to use for !ounder are any color as long as it is white. White is by far the best color of lure to catch !ounder. Do other colors work? Yes, if you want to catch fewer !ounders, then use something other than white.

e best lures that I have found for !ounder are Gulp! Shrimp and swimming mullets on a jig head. Start small and go bigger if you notice the bait in the area is large. Having an assortment from 3 to 5 inches will usually be perfect.

A great second choice for a !ounder lure is a white bucktail jig. Add a small piece of shrimp to add odor for best results.

How do you catch a flounder?

Flounder have a very small cone of awareness. ey are very unlikely to notice and

chase a lure that is more than 3 or 4 feet away from them.

ey also have a very small strike zone. ey are very hesitant to rise more than 18 inches o$ of the bottom to eat your lures.

Let’s say you found a beautiful oyster point at the mouth of a creek with plenty of current and bait !owing around it. is scenario is perfect for catching a !ounder.

Cast up current and work the lure on the bottom very slowly in 1 to 3 feet of water. When you think you hooked an oyster, set the hook. Flounder strikes are subtle and o en feel like a hang up.

It is very hard to work your lure too slowly for a !ounder. Old timers will tell you to just drag it on the bottom. I personally like to bounce my lures o$ the bottom being careful to not li it more than 18 inches into the water column.

Pro Tip: Use braided line and !uorocarbon leaders when shing for !ounder. Flouro sinks and helps you present your lures more e$ectively on the bottom. Braid doesn’t stretch and will help you feel a !ounder’s very subtle bites.

If you want to become an o cial !ounder pounder, then follow the tips above and catch more !atties. Go get ‘em!

Capt. Mike Smith, owner of Fish Your Ass O Charters, is an inshore "shing guide who has been "shing the inshore waters, oyster bars and grass ats of Florida for more than 40 years. Reach him at (561) 339-2317, email: contact@ "shyourasso .com or visit "shyourasso .com.

Sailfish in The Florida Keys

By Astrid deGruchy

Sailfish are the true showoffs of the Florida Keys. They’re fast, flashy, and love putting on a performance the second you put a bait in the water. One moment everything’s calm and quiet, and the next your reel is screaming while a sailfish is launching itself out of the ocean like it’s trying to win an Olympic medal. It’s the kind of chaos anglers live for.

The Keys are famous for having one of the best sailfish bites anywhere, especially from November through April. Cold fronts push schools of ballyhoo and other bait along the reef, and the sailfish stay right on their heels. Spots like Islamorada, Marathon, Key Largo, and Key West all fire off during the season, with most of the action happening along

that 80 to 200 foot reef edge. Most captains here rely on live-baiting and kite fishing, two methods that make sailfish practically impossible to resist. There’s nothing like watching a kite bait get

smashed on the surface. And on those calm, clear days after a front, you might even get to sight-cast to tailing sailfish cruising right along the top. It doesn’t get much better than that.

Strong conservation efforts keep sailfish thriving in the Keys, so anglers get to keep making these memories year after year. Whether you’ve done it before or if your someone trying it for the first time, hooking a sailfish here is unforgettable. It’s fast, wild, beautiful and classic Florida Keys fishing.

Follow deGruchy’s adventures at @bean_sportfishing on Instagram and on YouTube @BeanSportfishing.

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FWC APPROVES RULE CHANGES FOR GULF LANE SNAPPER

At its November meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved rule changes for lane snapper in Florida’s Gulf state waters to be more consistent with current and pending federal regulations.

Approved modi!cations of lane snapper in Gulf state waters include increasing the commercial and recreational minimum size limit from 8 inches to 10 inches total length, and establishing a 20-!shper-person recreational bag limit. ese changes are intended to reduce the risk of over!shing, mitigate the likelihood of early closures, and increase consistency between Gulf state and federal waters. e new Gulf lane snapper recreational regulations will go into e ect on April 1, 2026.

For the full Commission Meeting Nov 5-6 agenda including links to background reports, go to MyFWC.com/About and click on “ e Commission” and “Commission Meetings.”

Florida Keys

WINTER FISHING

By: Capt. Greg Poland

Winter in the Florida Keys is hands-down one of my favorite times of year to be on the water. Cold fronts begin pushing through, the weather turns crisp and comfortable, and the fishing lights up from the Atlantic side of the islands all the way into the backcountry and Everglades National Park.

On the Atlantic side, winter means sailfish season, and sailfishing has been one of my favorite pursuits since childhood. I run a 26’ Contender bay boat, which gives me the best of both worlds. On calm days, I can fish the edge right alongside the big tower boats, and when the wind kicks up, I can slide into the Gulf or run deep into the Everglades to work the mangroves.

My go-to sailfish setup is simple and effective: a 7-foot spinning rod spooled with 20-pound mono, a 40-pound fluorocarbon leader, and a circle hook. Live bait is key, with my favorites being live ballyhoo, cigar minnows, or large pilchards. Catching bait has always been part of the game, usually involving a cast net, but over the last few seasons I’ve been using a great tool called the Ballyhoop, a foldable hoop net that’s becoming increasingly popular and makes bait-catching quick and easy. When the cold fronts arrive, the backcountry of the Florida Keys and Everglades National Park really comes alive. Redfish and snook have been chewing, and honestly, it doesn’t

need to be complicated. A 7-foot medium-action spinning rod with 15-pound braided line and a fluorocarbon leader about the length of the rod is all you need. Depending on where I’m fishing, I’ll tie on a jighead or a circle hook and hook a live shrimp through the head just in front of the black spot. Mangrove shorelines, island points, and bridges are all prime areas this time of year. If you’re looking for nonstop action, head out into the Gulf of Mexico with a well full of live shrimp or pilchards and a few blocks of chum. Spanish mackerel fishing can get absolutely wild during the winter months. Once they’re chummed up behind the boat, you can catch them on just about anything; live bait, artificials, or even a fly rod. Watching mackerel skyrocket out of the water on a popper never gets old and winter is the perfect time to introduce someone to artificial or fly fishing.

When fishing mackerel grounds, always keep a heavier spinning rod rigged and ready. It’s not uncommon for a cobia or kingfish to show up in your chum slick when you least expect it.

Winter fishing in the Florida Keys offers endless opportunities whether you want to chase sailfish offshore, work the backcountry for snook and redfish, or enjoy fast-paced mackerel action in the Gulf. I have open dates on the calendar and would love to get you out on the water and share it with you. Let’s go catch a fish together! — Visit Capt. Greg at 305.393.3327 or email gregpoland@icloud.com | Instagram: gregpoland Facebook: Fishing in the Florida Keys with Capt. Greg Poland

BUCKET LIST GOLIATH GROUPER

By: Capt. Angelia Swanson

I’m sure plenty of you passionate anglers out there have thought about catching a goliath grouper, if you haven’t already caught one. I had not caught one nor had I really even thought about it.

I’m originally from the Tampa Bay Area and I know some crazy guys who used to sit under the Skyway Bridge all night hoping to catch one. When living on the Gulf Coast of Florida I did see a few goliath grouper while scuba diving, but again, never even thought about catching one. I have a fish bucket list like most of us, but goliath grouper wasn’t even on that list. It wasn’t even on my radar. Until one day, we are out on the reef recently and we’re looking for new spots and playing around like we do. We were catching some yellowtail snapper and playing with some live pilchards for bait, and all of a sudden my partner’s rod bent over and it felt like an amberjack, not sharky! Wrestling this beast to the surface was a feat. Then we saw color. This was a grouper. But no normal grouper, this was a goliath grouper! I’m amazed because I’ve been fishing on the reef down here literally thousands of days and I’d never seen one caught before. We safely returned the fish to the water and went about our catching efforts when dang if I don’t get hit by something big. Yep. You guessed it. Another goliath grouper. Are you kidding me?

Here I am still amazed by the first one and we catch a second? Wow. What is going on? I still don’t know what’s going on, and I still don’t care, because these beasts are fun to catch and are being caught in shallow depths on our reef on a regular basis these days.

I know that fishing trends are constantly changing, but I never saw this one coming. These aren’t your eight-hundred-pound goliath grouper, but a nice fun size for any passionate angler in your family to get a thrill. Once overfished, goliath grouper are catch and release only and are protected. When did they move up onto our reef in numbers?

When did the shallow water captains start catching them without targeting them? I did my fair share of research on the topic and didn’t come up with anything definitive. We’re catching nice sized goliath grouper on the reef on accident, and I’ll take that any day! Call me and we’ll get you out there to try to catch one too. There’s nothing more thrilling than being surprised by what’s at the end of your line!

VARIETY OF OPPORTUNITIES

By: Capt. Bruce Andersen

February is a fantastic month to be fishing in the Florida Keys, offering a wide variety of opportunities no matter what style of fishing you enjoy. This time of year, we truly have it all. Offshore anglers can target pelagic species like sailfish, wahoo, tuna, and kingfish. These fast-moving fish provide some of the most exciting action that can be found anywhere, especially on lighter tackle, when blistering runs and long fights make every hookup unforgettable.

On the reef, the fishing is just as good. February brings great action for snapper and grouper, along with a variety of other reef species that keep rods bent throughout the day. Most of my charters are spent either offshore or on the reef, but during the winter months we gain a third option that can be outstanding! Fishing the Gulf side wrecks.

The Gulf of Mexico can be an excellent choice this time of year, especially when we’re dealing with east winds. On days when the wind is blowing moderately out of the east and conditions are too rough offshore, the Gulf is usually a much calmer and more comfortable option. This allows us to fish on days that might otherwise be a washout, keeping everything enjoyable for everyone aboard.

instant bites it seems like on almost every cast, and they’re perfect for anglers of all skill levels. We also catch plenty of mangrove and lane snapper, along with a wide mix of other species such as jacks and bluefish. The Gulf wrecks are also home to massive goliath grouper, which are always impressive to see and battle.

The fishing in the Gulf during February can be outstanding. The Spanish mackerel bite can be red hot, often as fast paced as you can imagine with

For me, the ultimate prize back there are cobia. Some days you’ll spot an entire school right on the surface, circling the wrecks like a wagon train.  Most of the time we catch them by casting spinning tackle, which makes for an exciting visual bite and a powerful fight. On top of that, cobia are one of the best-eating fish we catch here in the Keys. This is one of my favorite things and when it all comes together It really doesn’t get much more exciting than pulling up to a rack and seeing the entire school of big beautiful cobia up on the surface!

If you’d like to experience February fishing at its finest, I invite you to come spend a day on the water with me aboard The Captain Easy. No matter where we fish, the goal is always the same, great fishing, great memories, and a great time out on the water!

— www.captaineasycharters.com | You can reach Captain Bruce Andersen at Capt. Easy Charters, MM 85, call 305.360.2120 or email at: captbrucekey@comcast.net

Capt. Joel’s

FISHIN’ HOLES

By: Capt. Joel Brandenburg

Almost every charter, I’m asked what’s the best eating fish in your opinion and how do you cook it? Since the winter months produce the best eating fish, both quantity and quality I decided to share with you what my Marathon meet menu is in order of the best tasting fish to me by top 10 number one being the best. I’ll give you the best tip on how to catch each one. The question of how to cook it is an easy answer for me. Being a fat southern guy, I like the deep fat fry everything. I have a First Mate who cooks fish like a gourmet chef and he’s got all kinds of recipes for our clients, however, if you ask me deep fat fry it.

#1 Hog Fish- some people call it a hog snapper, but it’s actually not even a part of the snapper family and the best way to catch them is with a spear. With a hook and line, we like to use a very small hook with very light mono leader and use a Carolina rig with an egg sinker and beads near the hook to keep the piece of peeled shrimp on the hook and hovering just off the bottom.

#2 Porgy- for some reason people from the New England states think porgies are trash fish and don’t like to eat them. I don’t understand this because porgies have the most beautiful flaky white meat of all reef fish. Even John Marbella, owner of Castaway Restaurant and bar in Marathon, states he’d rather eat a porgy than any other fish in the

the same way we fish for hog fish.

of wire leader double hook Ballyhoo, and we also bump troll anchor, or Kite Fish with live bait such as goggle eyes, bonita, speedos, large pilcher etc.

#4 Mangrove snapper- also called grey snapper. In the Marathon area, we have a huge population of mangrove snapper. These snapper like most snapper love live bait, such as pilcher, pin fish, glass minnows, and any kind of dead fresh cut bait like ballyhoo, squid, and pinfish.

#5 Cobia- also called lemon fish, down south we call them brown bombers. They’ll hit just about any live bait cut bait, and they also like black, artificial eels and red and white flare hawk jigs. My record up in Tampa Bay is eight cobia in one day, and my record here in Marathon is 38 cobia in one day. I have harvested three cobia over 100 pounds. Love the taste and love the fight!

#3 Wahoo- when I list who is my third favorite fish to eat, I feel that I should list cero mackerel as tied for number three because cero mackerel taste exactly like wahoo. We catch wahoo in the Marathon area one out of three ways high speed trolling with in-line weights and Tormentors, slow speed trolling with lipped Lures, Sea witches, and No Mads with a top spread

#6 Yellow Jack- not to be mistaken for a jack crevalle which is a jack that is yellow. Yellow jacks aren’t indigenous to this area. They showed up from Central America 25 or 30 years ago. They fight like a jack crevalle, which pound for pound is the hardest fighting fish in the ocean, but they taste like a permit or a pompano with firmer sweet or meat and their sushi grade. We catch them with large live shrimp tipped on a quarter ounce yellow jig head in moving current.

#7 Swordfish- we catch swordfish in an average of 1700 foot of water between the Marathon Humps and the Bohemian Border with electric reels using 10 pound weights with blinking lights and a firm fresh squid rig secured to a large hook. Love a nice swordfish steak with my wife’s famous black beans and rice with cilantro and lemon.

#8 Mutton Snapper- taste very similar to a mangrove snapper and a little more firm and a little more white, but not quite as sweet. We catch mutton snapper anywhere between 2 foot of water and 300 foot of water. 99% of the time that we catch them it’s over a sand bottom using a long leader with live bait or butterflied cut bait.

#9 Tile Fish- Tile fish is a deep-water fish with very tasty white flaky meat. People laugh at me when I fry tile fish saying that tile fish is such a delicacy. When I taste it fried, I wonder how folks could have it any other way. We catch them in 600 to 900 feet of water using electric reels, blinking lights, multiple hooks and fresh squid for bait.

#10 Snowey Grouper: you can only keep one per day, but that one taste so good it’ll make you breakdance. Deep water, fish, white flaky meat, not fishy tasting at all. We catch them with electric reels in the same depth and areas that we catch our tile fish, but we prefer to use a live bait fish such as a pin fish rather than a squid bait.

These are my top fish to eat in order. Come out with us and catch some great eating fish. We’ll cook them up and then you tell me what you think!

— For a charter with Capt. Joel Brandenburg owner/operator of Ana Banana Fishing company in Marathon Florida Keys call or text 305–395-4212 office or 813– 267–4401. Or visit us in person at poncho’s fuel dock located at 1280 Ocean View Ave. Marathon, Florida Keys.

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SWORDFISHING

ON FIRE

By Beth Steele

If there is one word to describe swordfishing in the Florida Keys right now, it’s busy. The winter bite has been nothing short of busy with consistent action, some small ones to release but quality fish, and days that remind you why the Keys remain one of the premier daytime swordfishing destinations in the world.

Over the course of just three trips, we had an unforgettable run 12 swordfish total, steady action each day, and plenty of bent rods from sunrise to sunset. There were a few pulled hooks along the way. It happens. The bite has been dependable, with swords showing up throughout the day.

One trip in particular will be hard to top. Everything lined up perfectly the conditions, the drift, and the bite and by day’s end we had boated six swordfish, setting my new personal record for swords in a single day. In a fishery where even one swordfish can make a trip memorable, a six-fish day is something special. I was beyond excited!

Adding to the excitement were some quality bull dolphin (mahi-mahi) mixed in along the way. While swordfish were the primary target, it’s always a bonus when those neon-green fish show up. The combination of deep-drop swords and aggressive bull dolphin made for action-packed days.

The Keys continue to prove why they are a swordfishing hotspot. Whether you’re chasing your first swordfish or pushing personal bests, this season has delivered in a big way.

The bite is on, the fish are there, and now is the time to take advantage of one of the most exciting fisheries offshore. Here fishy fishy!

— Beth Steele CEO of Hooker Booker fishing@thehookerbooker.com FB/IG/TW: @hookerbookerllc

INSHORE TIPS

By Caitlyn Gatrell

It’s a new year and temperatures will be warming up soon, meaning great fishing opportunities are right around the corner. When spring fishing kicks off, lots of species are frolicking about and on the search for prey. From the backwaters, to the mangrove islands, to nearshore points. Here are a few of my tips on how to make your 2026 fishing year full of fun in the Backcountry.

Fish Populated Habitats for Incoming Fish

As we’re nearing the end of winter and spring is soon to come, popular species like snook, redfish, and even tarpon will start making their way into local waters soon. These fish are migrating, feeding aggressively, and some even getting ready to spawn, so they are fired up and ready to strike at presenting bait.

Focus on populated habitats where fishing results will be productive, such as oyster beds, mangrove lines, drop offs and deep cuts, flats, passes, estuaries, and river mouths. Zones with moving water and strong currents are exceptional spots as fish often sit there awaiting prey to flow by.

NoPavement

JustSaltandDirt

Load Up on Bait

Having the right bait can make a difference in your fishing trips. If you want to go artificial, use lures like top waters, jigs, soft plastics, flukes, and imitation baits. Live bait is often the go-to, with popular options like mullet, pilchards, crab, pinfish, and shrimp being amongst the top baits.

Ideally you want bait that looks lively, realistic, and catches the atten tion of nearby predators. Flashy, noisy, colorful bait can capture attention in murky waters while more natural looking baits are best in clearer water.

Head Out During Peak Fishing Times

Timing can make all the difference. Heading out during cooler dawn and dusk hours often provides peak fishing activity when fish are most ac tive. But fishing can still be successfully done mid-day! You’d be surprised. Sometimes fish will bite during times you wouldn’t suspect. For example, I’ve caught big fish like tarpon during hot hours mid-day!

Also, try to plan your trips around incoming tides or high low tides to ensure good water levels and current flows. Moon phases like full and new moons can affect fish behavior and feeding habits as well. Each species can have a different approach so it’s best to research more specifically if you have a targeted species.

Explore Seasonal Opportunities

As you’ve heard, spring fishing is pretty popping in the waters in the Backcountry, but summer follows after and provides even more productivi ty. Fall then brings out large redfish and yummy seatrout you can take home. And winter doesn’t put an end to the fun either. It may not be as hot, but you can definitely still hook up to some nice fish and enjoy a day on the water!

FloridaKeys

HIGHS LOWS& ON LAKE 'O'

By Don Norton

For years, underwater vegetation in Lake Okeechobee has been disappearing, but now it’s making a comeback!

Last December, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started a “recovery” schedule for Lake Okeechobee, with the goal of getting the lake below 12 feet

for 90 days or below 11.5 feet for 60 days. !e lower lake level is needed for sunlight to reach the lake bottom and new submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) to sprout.

Lake Okeechobee level was 12.08 on April 13, 2025, which was 2.82 feet lower than a year ago. By April 15th, the lake fell below 12 feet above sea level.

At the June 5 meeting of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board, scientists were hopeful the lake low would stay below 12 feet for the full 90-day target. If the water rises faster than the plants can grow, new plants could be damaged or lost.

!en, by June 22, 2025, the o cial Lake Okeechobee elevation was 10.99 feet.

Last year, on the same day, the lake was at 13.37 feet. And the year before that? A whopping 14.33! Even the historical average for that time of year (1965-2007) was 13.24 feet. !at meant we were sitting about 2.25 feet below average.

What did that mean for you, the angler? Well, lower water levels can concentrate the sh, making them easier to nd…sometimes. But even more importantly, you have to be extra careful navigating those shallower areas.

I don’t normally sh Lake Okeechobee, but thanks to Capt. Robin Clegg and his late summer YouTube videos, I ventured down to the “Big O” a couple of times and had a great time catching bass.

Launching at C. Scott Driver Park, I took Capt. Clegg’s advice and made the short trip to King’s Bar, and for the next couple of hours, caught bass a er bass on a wide variety of lures. !e key was to be there at rst light!

!e water was still pretty low, but as long as you shed the outside reeds, there was plenty of water (and bass).

Capt. Clegg, by the way, works out of Garrard’s Bait and Tackle, located at 4375 US Highway 441 in Okeechobee, just a couple of miles from the boat ramps.

As I write this article in mid-January, the water level is back up to 13.3’ thanks to all the rain we’ve received, the new plants are doing well—and the shing is still excellent!

Don Norton is Co-Publisher of Coastal Angler Magazine’s Okeechobee edition. Contact him at (863) 273-4998 or don@theanglermagazine.com.

Valued at over $90,000 MSRP, only 2500 tickets left.

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

water bites

February might not get the hype of spring break or summer tides, but pro cient coastal anglers know a secret: some of the best shing of the year happens when the crowds are gone, the water is cold, and the sh are predictable.

Winter has settled in by February. Water temperatures hover in the upper 40s to low 50s, especially a er a strong north wind. !at cold pushes bait and game sh into tighter zones, turning miles of water into a handful of high-percentage spots. If you can nd warmth, you can nd sh.

Speckled trout are the headline act this time of year. Big trout in particular prefer slow, easy meals in cold water, which is why February is prime time for trophy hunters. Deep guts, channels and drop-o s near shallow ats are key. Trout slide shallow during the a ernoon when the sun warms mud or dark grass, then fall back into deeper water when temperatures drop.

Slow presentations rule. So plastics on light jig heads, suspending twitch baits, and so jerk shads worked slowly can trigger reaction strikes. Make sure you know the gear ratio of your reel. You may think you are moving slowly, but if the reel is taking up a lot of line, you may be o target. Cold-water trout won’t chase far, but they will inhale an easy meal.

Red sh remain a dependable target throughout February. While they may not school as aggressively as in the fall, reds still prowl shorelines, back lakes, and marsh drains—especially on sunny days. Look for black mud bottoms that warm faster and concentrate bait.

Sight-casting opportunities can be outstanding on calm, clear days. Reds cruising skinny water are o en willing biters, even in cold conditions. Gold spoons, paddletails, and weedless so plastics shine here, particularly when worked steadily along shorelines.

February shing success is less about the tide chart and more about the thermometer. Midday is prime time. Early mornings can be brutally slow a er a cold night, but a few hours of sunshine can ip the switch fast. Pay attention to warming trends—two or three stable days can dramatically improve the bite.

Wind plays a major role this month as well. Strong north winds drain water out of bays and expose structure, which can help you locate sh holding in remaining deeper pockets. On calmer days, expect clearer water and more nicky sh.

February rewards patience, observation and con dence. It’s not about covering water—it’s about shing smart, shing slow, and being ready when that unmistakable thump signals a wintertime strike worth remembering.

As I write this article in January, it is near 80 degrees. With that said, if February feels like an early spring, follow your spring shing guidelines. !e sh don’t have a calendar.

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures,® and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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• 7.5’ Pull-Out Front Boarding Ramp

• Front and Rear Bow Eyes for Trailer Tie Down

Center Tube is a 32” Dropped 2” Tube with a 30”- 35” High Hp Transom Motor Mount. Outer Tubes Are 30”. Comes with an 18” Side Step Planning Surface for High Hp. Nose Cones generate super high buoyancy for extreme water conditions. Deck as it sits has a 10,000 lbs. Buoyancy Rating.

SPEND LE TIME ON TASKS More Time Fishing

It’s no fsh tale when you run with a John Deere. You can get everything done faster and easier, so you get more time on the water. Plus, our special offers make them the catch of the day.

ATLANTIC SNOOK SEASON

OPENS FEB. 1

The recreational harvest of snook in the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Northeast, Indian River Lagoon and Southeast management regions will open February 1 and remains open through May 31. During snook season, anglers may keep one snook per person per day that is not less than 28 or more than 32 inches in total length, which is measured from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed while the sh is lying on its side. Other regulations include:

• No commercial harvest or sale of snook is permitted

• Must remain in whole condition until landed ashore

• When on a for-hire trip, captain and crew may not retain a bag limit

• Allowable Gear: Hook and line only

• License Requirements: Snook permit and recreational shing license !e harvest of snook in all of Florida’s Gulf of Mexico state waters, including Everglades National Park and all of Monroe County, remains closed until March 1. Anglers may catch and release snook during the closed season, but the FWC encourages anglers to handle and release these sh carefully to help ensure their survival upon release. Proper handling methods can help ensure the species’ abundance for anglers today and generations to come. To learn more about sh handling, visit https://myfwc.com/ shing/saltwater/ outreach/ sh-handling/.

For more information, visit myfwc.com/ shing/saltwater/recreational/snook/.

Hooking Giants In Ketchikan, Alaska BUCKET

By Capt. Lukas Brickweg

If you’ve ever dreamed about catching halibut and cod in the wilderness of Alaska - rod bent, line screaming, and majestic wildlife abound – now is the time to turn that dream into reality. Every season in Ketchikan, Alaska, May marks the kicko! to world-class halibut and Paci c cod shing, and we are ready to put you on the sh of a lifetime.

May Is Extraordinary!

May is a special month in Southeast Alaska. e long daylight hours return, the ocean comes alive, and the early-season halibut move onto nearshore waters to feed. Halibut gather on the underwater ledges, humps, and sandy $ats, areas that we know like the backs of our hands, ranging from 200-400 feet.

At the same time, hungry Paci c cod patrol the same bottom structure, adding an action-packed bonus to every trip. “Alaska cod shing chaos” is the best way to describe

this seasonal bite. ere are no limits on retaining Paci c cod, allowing anglers to bring home huge hauls of cod and halibut. is means you can o en pull up a mixed bag of halibut, cod, and rock sh - making for one of the most productive and delicious shing experiences anywhere in the world.

Reeling up cod and halibut until your arms give out is a good way to summarize Alaska bottom shing in May.

May trips tend to ll quickly because the reputation for aggressive sh and minimum shing pressure. is combination equates to an anglers dream scenario. Whether you’re $ying in for our three to four day allinclusive lodging/ shing packages or on a cruise, it’s best to start planning and booking early. Ketchikan provides convenient $ights, accommodating guests from all over the US. Our all-inclusive packages provide airport transfer, lodging, meals, shing and sh processing.

The Bottom Line ere’s shing, and then there’s Alaska shing. And when it comes to halibut and

cod, May in Ketchikan is as good as it gets. So give us a call to book your spot, and come experience the thrill of hooking giants where every trip is a story worth telling.

Book your "Bucket List" trip to Alaska with Capt. Lukas Brickweg, of Ketchikan’s Finest Fishing Charters, at ketchikan shingtrips.com, call (907) 617-4717 or email ketchikan shingtrips@gmail.com.

CAPACITY: Four Adults or 800 pounds (reduce by accessories and gear) Rear sun deck with retractable ladder for boarding in deep water. Two passengers face forward and two face backward. The front passengers pedal.

BRAVING THE COLD FOR BIG WINTER STRIPERS

By CAM Sta

Whether in saltwater or freshwater, excellent striper shing awaits anglers hearty enough to brave winter conditions. So layer up, zip into that parka, and go—some of the biggest sh of the year are feeding right now.

At the southern end of their fall migration, striped bass spend the winter o! the coast of North Carolina. ey follow schools of bait up and down the shoreline from Wilmington to the Outer Banks, feeding heavily along the way. In many years, Oregon Inlet becomes the epicenter of the action, though stripers can be found in most inlets throughout the region.

e key is to follow the birds, which o en reveal bass blowing up on menhaden, glass minnows, or eels. At times the action pushes close enough to shore that surfcasters can hook stripers right from the beaches of the Outer Banks. More o en, however, the best approach is hiring a local captain armed with recent intel and a fast boat.

Farther south, Wilmington provides another winter opportunity as striped bass stack up in the Cape Fear River. ese sh hold near structure, dropo!s, and creek mouths, and can be caught on arti cials—or even on $ies. is resident population is separate from the highly migratory sh wintering o! the Outer Banks. Cape Fear stripers are strictly catch-and-release and must be returned to the water immediately, so keep an eye out for tagged sh.

Meanwhile, freshwater reservoirs across the Southern states and into the Mid-Atlantic also produce solid winter striper shing. While smaller, schoolie-sized sh can become sluggish during the coldest periods, larger stripers continue to feed. e pace may not match summertime downline action over massive schools, but the sh that do bite are o en bigger.

Tactics vary by shery, but when water temperatures stabilize—or during a multi-day warming trend—the largest sh in the lake o en push shallow, sometimes surprisingly so, as they shadow schools of small shad. Find the $ickering bait, and you’ll nd the stripers. You may even see them picking o! prey near the surface. Stealth is critical in these situations, and so plastics like Flukes frequently outproduce live bait. ey’re easier to cast and allow for a slow, controlled retrieve.

Another e!ective approach is covering water by trolling wide spreads of small live baits, pulling umbrella rigs loaded with swimbaits, or combining both methods. When shing this way, good local information is invaluable. On some lakes, stripers spend the winter near the dam; on others, they push far up into the creeks.

Winter may test an angler’s resolve, but for those willing to endure the cold, striper shing can be at its best. From coastal inlets and rivers to inland reservoirs, striped bass remain active and accessible, o en with less pressure and a better chance at trophy-sized sh. Success comes down to preparation, paying attention to bait and bird activity, and adapting tactics to changing conditions. Bundle up, do your homework, and embrace the season—the reward could be the biggest striper of your year.

OVER 100 ANGLERS TO COMPETE IN 2026 BASSMASTER ELITE SERIES

Coming o! the heels of a record-breaking 2025 season that awarded 11 century belts, saw four- rst time champions (two of which were members of the 2025 rookie class) and garnered over 183 million social media impressions, B.A.S.S. has announced the 101-angler eld for an exciting 2026 Elite Series season.

is year, anglers will be put to the test with the use of forward-facing sonar only being allowed at ve of the nine regular-season Elite events. Anglers will be competing for a $100,000 rst-place prize at each stop of the season, while also accumulating valuable Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year points in hopes of making it to the 2027 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.

“Each season, the Bassmaster Elite Series showcases the very best in professional bass shing, and 2026 will be no exception,” said B.A.S.S. Elite Series Tournament Director Lisa Talmadge. “We’re excited to welcome 101 incredibly talented anglers who represent the heart of this sport—a mix of proven champions, rising stars and hungry newcomers all ready to compete on some of the most iconic sheries in the country. It’s going to be an unforgettable season for our anglers and fans alike.”

With the exception of one angler, every 2025 Elite Series angler who quali ed is returning next year. e list of anglers includes 2025 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic champion Easton Fothergill of Grand Rapids, Minn., who won the most coveted trophy in bass shing during his freshman season on the Elites. Two-time Progressive Bassmaster Angler of the Year Chris Johnston will also join the ranks of returning anglers alongside Dakota Lithium Bassmaster Rookie of the Year Tucker Smith, who took home his rst blue trophy at the 2025 Bassmaster Elite at Lake Fork with a 127-pound, 8-ounce winning weight that also earned him a century belt.

Ten anglers from the Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Quali ers will also be joining the 2026 Elite roster, including 20-year-old Alabama phenom Fisher Anaya who claimed the 2025 Nitro Boats Bassmaster Elite Quali ers Angler of the Year title. Wisconsin’s Nick Trim clinched an Elite Series spot for himself alongside his big win at the 2025 Mercury B.A.S.S. Nation Championship at Upper Mississippi River presented by Lowrance. e 2026 Progressive Bassmaster Elite Series kicks o! on Alabama’s Lake Guntersville February 5. From there the tournament trail will wind through six states as anglers battle for cash prizes and attempt to qualify for the 2027 Bass Pro Shops Bassmaster Classic presented by Under Armour.

Each tournament will begin with the full eld of anglers on Days 1 and 2 before the eld is cut to the Top 50 on Semi nal Saturday. Only the Top 10 anglers will sh the nal day of the event, with a $100,000 rstplace prize and a blue trophy on the line. For the complete roster, and to keep up with all the action from the 2026 Elite Series season visit Bassmaster.com.

February Cold Water Offshore: Wahoo

This is the time of year to nd the wall of warmer water and get the wahoo bite going. All of the water nearshore is cold and where the 68- plusdegree water meets that cold water can be an excellent spot for targeting wahoo. is is a great time of year to target wahoo during the rst hour or two of your trip using high speed trolling. You can cover a lot of ground high speed trolling, which speci cally targets wahoo. Once the sun has been up for a few hours your chances at a wahoo bite diminish unless it’s an overcast or rainy day. Wahoo regulate the amount of sun they take in by going deeper as the sun rises, so midmorning is a good time to change tactics.

Slow dri s, kite shing and jigging the column with live baits is a great mid-morning tactic and the bigger the bait the better. ere’s no telling what you’ll raise during these colder days shing the temperature change. Never count out deep dropping near these temperature change areas either. Fishing the entire water column from the surface to the bottom turns a cold day into a cooler full of sh and some awesome dinners.

Meet the Beauty in the Beast

Discover this spectacular 6½-carat green treasure from Mount St. Helens!

For almost a hundred years it lay dormant. Silently building strength. At 10,000 feet high, it was truly a sleeping giant. Until May 18, 1980, when the beast awoke with violent force and revealed its greatest secret. Mount St. Helens erupted, sending up a 80,000-foot column of ash and smoke. From that chaos, something beautiful emerged… our spectacular Helenite Necklace

Helenite is produced from the heated volcanic rock of Mount St. Helens and the brilliant green creation has captured the eye of jewelry designers worldwide. Today you can wear this massive 6!-carat stunner for only $99!

Helenite Earrings -a $99 valuewith purchase of Helenite Necklace

Make your emeralds jealous. Our Helenite Necklace puts the green stone center stage, with a faceted pearcut set in .925 sterling silver finished in luxurious gold. The explosive origins of the stone are echoed in the flashes of light that radiate as the piece swings gracefully from its 18" luxurious gold-finished sterling silver chain. Today the volcano sits quiet, but this unique piece of American natural history continues to erupt with gorgeous green fire. Your satisfaction is guaranteed. Bring home the Helenite Necklace and see for yourself. If you are not completely blown away by the rare beauty of this exceptional stone, simply return the necklace within 30 days for a full refund of your purchase price.

JEWELRY SPECS:

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