Coastal Angler Magazine | Naples / Marco Island / Everglades / Bonita Springs April 2026 Edition

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Accidents can happen to anyone

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3. Boat insurance can cover medical payments

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4. Most lenders require boat insurance

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By A. deGruchy

Mahi season is one of those drop everything and go times of year, and when we begin to slide from spring into summer, you can usually count on schools showing up o!shore. e warmer the water, the better it gets, especially when you nd clean blue water, good current edges, weed lines, oating debris, or any kind of structure holding bait in that 75- to 82-degree range. Fishing with Bean Sport shing in the Florida Keys and other parts of the state, over the past few years we’ve de nitely seen more smaller sh and fewer big cows and bulls, but that doesn’t mean they’re gone. When conditions line up, there’s always a chance a quality mahi-mahi is mixed in with the schoolies.

Mahi love anything moving, so live bait is tough to beat, and when they’re really red up, you can even catch them on y. Tackle-wise, we like running a 6500 size setup because you never know when a better sh shows up. e Penn Slammer IV 6500 paired with a Carnage III rod is a go-to for us, and the Penn Spin sher VII 6500 spinning combo is another solid option. We’ve had great success using the Mustad 7766D 6/0 hook, and for bait we’ll typically sh whitebait or troll Islamorada Flyers depending on the day.

When it comes to the table, blackened or fried mahi is hard to beat, and we only keep what we’re going to eat that day. Even though mahi are one of the fastest-growing sh in the ocean, conservation still matters, and being mindful about what you harvest goes a long way.

Bean Sport shing can run this type of trip, but it’s highly weather dependent o!shore. If you’re looking to book a dedicated o!shore charter in e Keys, I highly recommend LegaSea Charters. Capt. Joey can be reached at legaseacharters.com.

If you’re planning on visiting Islamorada, book at the fabulous ree Waters Resort and reach out to us about a special captain’s discount.

Follow deGruchy’s adventures on Instagram @bean_sport shing and on YouTube @BeanSport shing. To book a charter, visit beansport shing.com.

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SPRING FISHING

A t ypical spring fishing day for me usually starts with an early morning or later afternoon run out to the islands in search for lively bait. That first, or straight to the mangrove lines, oyster beds, or shore points with a fresh artificial lure on. The water is often calm, bait is beginning to show up more, and the fish are starting to transition into their more active patterns. Not to mention the wildlife life is out and about and the views are just spectacular.

By: Caitlyn Gatrell

Spring is definitely one of my favorite times of the year to fish my local areas of Southwest Florida. The weather starts to settle into a nice rhythm, with the heat increasing, the water warming up, and the fish becoming noticeably more active. After the on and off cold fronts and windy days, spring finally brings comfortable weather, calmer conditions, and longer days on the water. I look forward to the spring season transition because it brings the return of Daylight Savings, aka later mornings and later evenings! The later sunsets make a big difference for fishing, especially for those like myself who aren’t always eager to wake up extremely early. With the time switch, you can still get out early to catch that productive morning bite without waking up in the wee hours of the morning.

As the season progresses, trophy species like snook and tarpon become much more common in our area. Snook begin staging along shorelines, backwaters, mangrove mazes, and passes, feeding aggressively as the water temperatures rise. Spring is a great time to target them because they’re active in preparation for spawning, but not yet in the peak pressure of summer. A well-targeted cast along some mangrove branches can quickly turn into an exciting hookup. Tarpon also start showing up more frequently throughout our area, with bigger ones being seen and schools passing through. More are soon to come as the season progresses and summer comes around, but spring offers the first consistent chances at seeing them roll or hooking into one. Trust me, there’s nothing like spotting a tarpon roll close by, getting a bait or lure in front of it, and watching or feeling them strike on it.

One of my favorite things about spring fishing is the flexibility that the longer evenings provide. Instead of feeling rushed to get everything together before sunset, oftentimes almost impossible if you're getting out there after work hours, there’s more time. Time to launch and get out to your spots, gather bait, set up gear, and plan where you want to target the evening bite.

Some of the best action happens right as the sun starts dropping, so it's best to be ready for that moment. A lot of species, including tarpon, begin feeding more aggressively in the fading light. The feeding frenzy at sunset is quite insane!

Favorite Bait

By: Capt. Roanz

Welcome to April Fishing in Southwest Florida, what should we talk about this month since everything from salt to fresh is available. First, Rich and I are going to talk about our all-

time favorite baits for everything. This swim bait is called the Micro and the Macro Minnow. Micro Minnows are 2 inches, and 1/8 ounce and Macro minnows are 3 inches and ¼ ounce. They come in White, Chartreuse, Arkansas Shiner, Glass Minnow, Pimp Daddy, and in the Macro Magic Mullet. These baits are crazy good for all species but particularly great for snook and peacock bass. For Snook it is hard to beat the Glass Minnow in the Micro and Magic Mullet in the Macro jig, but every color works on well hell everything eats these. For Peacocks and Cichlids, the Pimp Daddy rules. The best part is that they come two baits per pack.

L et’s talk about my favorite fisheries this time of the year in the Everglades and ponds and all canals and just about all freshwater in South Florida. Peacock Bass and all cichlids inhabit almost all our freshwater areas these days. Of course, there are still largemouth among other critters like shellcracker, bluegill, specks, but the cichlids have really taken over. They are catchable most of the year, but April is one of the prime months with water warming and usually low water levels in the canals which really concentrate the fish in turn make the voracious eaters. This is where the Micro and Macro minnows really do well. Especially the Micro’s due to their size and castability you can really catch a lot of fish on them. Jig them reel them slow roll them it all works, and if and when the paddle tail gets bit off and it will from the cichlid’s teeth keep fishing it bounce it they work just as good. If you are so inclined to eat some of these fish, I really enjoy a mess of Mayan cichlids. Just fry them up, crispy, super yummy and easy to catch and clean just like a bluegill on steroids. Hope you get out in April just about any body of water whether it be a roadside pond or canal there are probably cichlids in it. Have fun try the baits and catch some great fighting fish.

R ich and Roan would like to invite you to check them out at one of the local Bait and Tackle stores like Mikes Bait House, Marco Island Bait and Tackle, Estero River Outfitters, Kraken Tackle of Ft Myers and The Bait Shop of Lake Placid or check them out online at www.reelnautical.net or drop us an email: reelnautical239@gmail.com

Invasive Species: What They Are and How You Can Help

By Michael Sipos, Florida Sea Grant Agent, UF/IFAS Extension Collier County

If you have seen an orange-headed agama lizard running through a parking lot or a dense stand of red- berried Brazilian pepper bordering a canal, you have already encountered invasive species. Many are so prevalent in our environment that most folks don’t know that they are nonnative, and passing one becomes an everyday occurrence. These plants and animals can often be spotted in residential areas, where they may have been introduced, and native flora and fauna have been displaced, allowing them to fill an empty ecological niche. An invasive species is a nonnative organism introduced by humans that causes harm to the environment, human health or the economy. In Florida, invasive species represent a significant environmental and financial challenge. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission annually spends approximately $45 million annually on invasive plant management statewide, affecting more than 1.5 million acres. Beyond economics, invasive species are considered one of the leading drivers of global biodiversity loss. While large animals such as Burmese pythons often capture headlines, nonnative plants can quietly reshape ecosystems effecting how they function and the animals within.

Prevention and education remain the most effective tools in invasive species management, followed by early detection and rapid response. One-way Southwest Florida residents can directly contribute to invasive species management is by participating in the Southwest Florida Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (SWFL CISMA) Invasive Freshwater Fish Roundup. This annual event combines community engagement, citizen science, and conservation action. Anglers remove invasive freshwater fish while supporting research efforts that would not be possible without public

participation. During the 2025 roundup—the most impactful to date—144 anglers removed 16,736 invasive fish weighing a combined 4,939 pounds, representing 16 different invasive species. The largest fish brought to the weigh-in was a 5.4-pound blue tilapia, a commonly spotted retention pond resident.

The roundup has provided important data that has supported a variety of applied research projects, including mercury contamination studies and composting trials. These efforts help scientists better understand the spread of these invaders, public perception studies, contaminant data and potential alternative uses for invasive species.

The next SWFL CISMA Invasive Freshwater Fish Roundup will take place April 24-26. The tournament begins virtually on Friday and concludes with a free, public weigh-in at Bass Pro Shops on Sunday. The weigh-in event features educational exhibits, activities for families, and the opportunity to see a wide variety of invasive fish species up close. Registration is available at bit.ly/2026ROUNDUP, and additional photos, data, and research summaries from previous events can be found on the SWFL CISMA Facebook page.

Warming Up

by Capt. Billy Norris

Last month was a wild one! It felt like we went through three different seasons with all the crazy weather we’ve had. We saw plenty of 80-degree days, mixed in with cold snaps in the 40s, and even a few mornings that dipped below freezing. One day, we actually had to chip ice off the windshield before heading out! Despite the rollercoaster conditions, the fishing has been solid across the board.

Offshore action has been all over the place. Before the big temperature drops, we were hammering the gag grouper. Even though the season is closed and they have to be released, the fish have been impressive with lots of keeper-sized gags and quite a few topping the 30-inch mark. Big sharks have also been putting on a show, with tigers, bulls, lemons, and sandbars all making appearances boat-side. The snapper bite has stayed steady, too. Mangrove snapper have been the main attraction, along with a few quality lane snapper mixed in. A few years back, we were catching big lanes every trip, but the 2024 red tide really hurt their numbers. Seeing them return is a great sign their population is bouncing back. After the cold fronts in late January, the big sheepshead moved onto the nearshore wrecks and reefs and have been eagerly eating shrimp and crabs.

The backwaters have held their own as well. Winter isn’t always prime time for inshore fishing, but we’ve still been putting together productive trips. Sheepshead, black drum, snook, and redfish have been the steady performers. We were worried that the freezing temps might lead to a major snook kill, but thankfully we haven’t seen any signs of that here. Unfortunately, some areas just north of us weren’t as lucky as the cold hit hard and wiped out thousands of snook. It’ll take time for those fisheries to recover, but we dodged the worst of it in our area.

All in all, fishing has been great, the weather is finally shaping up, and there’s no better time to get out on the water. If you’re ready to make some memories and reel in some Florida fun, give us a call, we’ll get you out there!

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The Pescadora Experience

By: Jessica Hendrie

Irecently had the chance to travel to Costa Rica and fish in the Pescadora Billfish Championship, and it was one of those trips that reminds you why you love fishing so much in the first place. The tournament took place out of Quepos, a small fishing town on the Pacific coast that is known around the world for its incredible offshore fishing. The area has a laid back vibe, but once the tournament begins the energy around the docks really picks up. The Pescadora tournament is special because it is an all women’s billfish tournament. Teams travel from different parts of the world to compete, but it is not just about competition. The event is also about bringing women together in sportfishing and celebrating the passion we all share for being offshore. It was inspiring to be surrounded by so many talented anglers who love billfishing as much as I do. Our mornings started early each day. Boats left the dock just after sunrise while the sky was still glowing over the mountains and the Pacific Ocean. Once we got offshore, the crew put the teasers and baits in the water and everyone on the boat kept a close eye on the spread. Costa Rica is famous for its sailfish fishing, and it did not take long before the first fish showed up. Watching a sailfish appear behind the boat never gets old. They light

up with bright blues and purples and charge the teasers with incredible speed. When that happens everything moves fast. The crew starts shouting directions, the angler gets ready, and suddenly the line comes tight. One of my favorite parts of the tournament was the teamwork on the boat. Offshore fishing is truly a team effort. From the captain and mate to the anglers, everyone works together when a fish shows up. When a sailfish is hooked, the energy on the boat changes instantly and everyone jumps into action to make sure the fish is successfully caught and released. Beyond the fishing, Costa Rica itself was an amazing place to visit. The scenery is beautiful with lush green mountains, palm trees, and warm ocean water everywhere you look. The people were welcoming, the food was great, and the whole experience felt like an adventure from start to finish. Fishing the Pescadora Billfish Championship in Quepos was an experience I will never forget. It brought together great fishing, great people, and one of the most beautiful places in the world. Trips like this remind me that fishing is about more than just the catch. It is about the memories, the friendships, and the thrill of being out on the water.

FISHING BLOWOUTS

By: Joe Sheaffer

L

ate spring into early summer is a great time to fish our Southwest Florida beaches. The weather and the water are warming and the surf is alive with life and activity. Definitely one of my favorite times to fish along the surf. I usually will walk along the beach looking for various structures or natural features that may hold fish. Points, sandbars along the surf, rocks, manmade structures in the water, rips or as I call them BLOWOUTS to name a few. Anyone of these can be a key in attracting bait and predators. When the surf is churning, I like to focus on blowouts. These rips along the surf are creases or channels in between sandbars that water gushes in and out of. It can be a challenge sometimes spotting these features but you will get the hang of it the more you fish the beaches. Many times, fish will use these channels to trap bait and feed. No two blowouts are the same and it may take a while to zero in on one holding fish. Probing each side of the blowout or right in the middle can produce a bite. Once you get a bite around one of these rips it may hold quite a few fish, keep fishing it for a while. I love using a jig and paddle tail in these areas, a slow retrieve can be very productive. Live bait rig. can be productive as well. You never know what species you might find in these areas, snook, seatrout, black drum, flounder and pelagic species as well. A couple of years ago, I was blessed to hook up with a decent tarpon on the backside of a blowout. I highly encourage you to make a few trips to the beach this time of year. It may be well worth the effort. Good luck and keep casting!

NWarmer Waters

ow that it is April in Southwest Florida, temperatures are warming up as the waters get up to the seventies and the fish will become more active. The king mackerel will be on the move to the north following the seventy-two plus degree water temperature, and spanish mackerel will be right there following them. Trolling is a great way to cover lots of ground and looking for the birds and the fish being attacked on the surface. Troll around the big schools with a planer and a spoon close to the size of the baits in the school as this a very productive way to find and harvest them. Specifically for the spanish, I have learned to use a buck tail jig and a spoon tandem rig. This technique allows when I find the fish I could land two at a time. Mangrove snapper and lanes are around from forty-five to eighty feet maybe some porgies too. Snook, reds and trout should get more active as the waters warm up in the inland shallows. With the warmer water the white baits should be coming back into the inshore waters, and throwing the net makes the catching these much easier. Traveling around the inshore waters, start looking along the outside edges of the bars for cobia and pompano. Pompano will jump out of your boat wake, and I will turn around and cast a shrimp or a jig to find them. April is a great month in our area to catch a lot of different species of fish and if you would like to come along with Capt. Bart you will learn how to catch some of these species.

I offer training sessions to accompany you on your boat if you are new to the area. I will show you how to use your tackle and where you can take your boat safely in the local waters from Englewood South to Pine Island. Call or e-mail. Capt. Bart Marx 941-979-6517 or e-mail captbart@alphaomegacharters.com.

Topwater Lures for Big Spring Snook and Trout

CAPT. MIKE SMITH

Are you tired of catching tons of 13 inch speckled trout and 16 inch snook?

It’s time for you to switch to a big top water lure to catch big springtime sh. A walk-the-dog type of lure is an excellent choice. I like Zara Super Spooks, Mirrolure Top Dogs and Rapala Skitterwalks the best. Make sure to choose a lure that is at least four inches long. Hungry springtime sh are ready to eat a big meal as the water temperatures rise.

A larger lure has many advantages over smaller baits. e larger pro le and length creates more vibrations to attract monster sh from long distances. A larger lure allows you to cover more water because you can make longer casts. A larger lure also discourages most of the smaller sh from biting. You will catch fewer sh but they will be of much better quality.

e best topwater lure colors for speckled trout and snook are silver and white. Choose lures with silver or white sides

Pro Tip #1: Do yourself and the sh a favor and smush down the barbs on your treble hooks. You won’t lose any sh as long as you keep the line tight. e hooks will also come out of the sh and your hand much more easily.

and bellies. e back color doesn’t really matter because the sh will hit from under and behind the lures. e best retrieves for a walk-the-dog lure includes a pause every ten feet or so. Quite o en you will get a vicious reaction bite right a er the pause.

Pro Tip #2: e best leader material for walk-the-dog lures is mono lament. Mono lament line oats versus uorocarbon line that will sink and negatively a ect your topwater lure’s action. A short heavy leader, 12 to 15 inches is a great choice. Long leaders will o en negatively a ect your lure presentation. Many shermen believe that you can’t use topwater lures in the middle of the day. But they are wrong. You can use a topwater lure all day and catch huge speckled trout and snook. Topwater lures do work the best in low light scenarios. It can be sunrise or sunset but cloudy or stormy days are also great times to use big topwater lures. If you nd a school of mullet, cast your topwater lure just outside of the school. You want to make it easy for the snook and trout to distinguish your lure from the rest of the school.

Spring is a great time to catch huge snook and speckled trout with big topwater lures. ese sh need to fatten up again a er fasting through much of the winter. ey would rather eat one large calorie meal than have to chase a bunch of small sh around for the same caloric input.

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.

= approximately 8”

(10) year

L O S CLUB

First

APRIL ON THE FLATS: WHEN SPRING HITS ITS STRIDE

If March is the warmup, April is go time.

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

Longer days, greener water, and steady warming trends ip the inshore switch from “transition” to “feed.” e bait is thicker, the tides feel stronger, and the sh are no longer just staging — they’re hunting. April is when things start getting fun in a hurry. e key word this month is movement. By April, speckled trout are pushing onto reefs, sandbars, and grass edges with more consistency. Red sh are cruising shorelines, ooded grass, and marsh drains with purpose. Flounder settle into ambush points along drop-o s and current seams. Water temperature swings aren’t as drastic as early spring, but bait movement tied to tides becomes critical. Instead of asking where the warmest water is, start asking: Where is the cleanest moving water? Where is bait being pushed? Where is current creating ambush points? Points, drains, and wind-blown shorelines shine in April. If water is moving and bait is present, predators won’t be far away.

Unlike the slower mid-a ernoon bites of late winter, April o en rewards early risers. at rst light window can be electric — especially on calm mornings with bait dimpling the surface. is is when topwaters re-enter the rotation in a serious way. ere’s nothing subtle about an April blowup. But don’t force it. If sh are swiping and missing, switch to a so plastic or suspending bait and clean up the followers.

April sh are more aggressive, but they’re still opportunistic. Paddle tails, shrimp imitations, and swimbaits all shine, especially when worked with a con dent, steady retrieve. Water clarity should dictate your approach. In cleaner water natural colors and subtle action are key. In stained water, vibration and contrast matter more. If sh are chasing, cover water. If they’re following but not committing, slow down and add pauses. Let the sh tell you what they want.

April breezes can stack bait against shorelines and points. Wind creates feeding lanes. Instead of hiding from it, position yourself to use it. Dri with it. Fish into it. Work the edges it creates. Wind plus tide plus bait equals opportunity.

Next trip, challenge yourself by starting on a wind-blown shoreline and working it thoroughly. en move to a protected drain and compare activity. Pay attention. Which has more bait? Which has more strikes? Fishing in April is less about luck and more about reading conditions in real time.

April feels alive. e marsh hums. Birds dive. Mullet scatter. e sun carries warmth instead of warning. It’s the month where con dence returns, patterns stabilize, and sh feed longer and harder. Somewhere between the rst cast and the last dri , you’ll remember why spring inshore shing is hard to beat. e water’s warming and the sh are moving. Are you taking a kid shing?

Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor and owner of Knockin Tail Lures® — https://knockintaillures.com.

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Hello Spring!

TIM BAREFOOT

It’s o!cial…say hello to spring. Anglers can now look forward to targeting a wide variety of species, including black n tuna, wahoo, African pompano, and many other sought-a er sh. With these species actively feeding during their migration north, the opportunities for successful catches are abundant. Whether you prefer trolling, dri ing, or bottom shing, the spring months bring a wealth of options to ll your cooler with quality sh.

e troll bite will probably die as soon as the sun gets up around the nine or ten o’clock timeframe. is is when you need to change tactics. Stop trolling. Put the trolling motor over and start making strategic dri s with the light line out while bottom shing. I would also suggest putting a couple baits out under the kite, as this is the most e ective presentation with very little to no leader in the water. Have at least one person dedicated to the kite baits, if you’re shing a kite. is is one of the best times of the year to spend the night, especially here in North Carolina, as the night bite could be crazy good. Put the bright lights out and you will draw the squid, cigar minnows, sardines, and all the predators to you like moths to a porch light. If you have the ability to spend the night, April could be the month you see the ultimate results. Everything including ying sh are very susceptible to a Sibiki rig. Fill the live well with live baits and start shing on the daylight bite. Fish are like us; they like to eat breakfast and dinner, so be there early and late.

Be sure to keep an eye on the recorder while on the dri for the mid water marks. In addition to shing for the snappers, have rods at the ready for sh that show on the recorder way o the bottom. ese may very well be the African pompano, so have a rod ready with a jig that you can re down and erratically jig upwards 25 to 50 feet o the bottom and then let ascend back to the bottom. Repeat over and over as this will get bites! It’s not just African pompano that frequent these deeper waters. During the middle of the day, wahoo can be found surprisingly deep, and tuna also inhabit these depths. It only takes a few wahoo, black n or pompano to make a great box of sh to take home. is is also a good time to target the smaller snapper with smaller baits on “chicken rigs” with small circle hooks. When you’re on a good bite (using small circle hooks) I would strongly recommend feeling the bite, winding tight to it and stopping. is is when another snapper will jump on the second bait. You will load up quickly with delicious groceries when you’re catching two at a time.

Bring the heat… It’s on!

Learn more tips and techniques at barefootcatsandtackle.com and on Barefoot’s YouTube channel: @timbarefoot5698.

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CRAPPIEFISHINGONKENTUCKYLAKE

By Julie Graham- ExploreTRV

Spring

As the last bite of winter gives way to the gentle stirrings of spring, Kentucky Lake comes alive. Located along the western edge of the Bluegrass State, this sprawling body of water—technically a reservoir—has long been a mecca for anglers, especially those in search of springtime crappie.

Kentucky Lake stretches a remarkable 184 miles from the Tennessee state line to the northernmost point at the Kentucky Dam making it the largest reservoir in the state and one of the largest in the U.S. e lake was formed in 1944 with the completion of the Kentucky Dam, a key project by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). Today, the lake covers over 160,000 acres, with an average depth of 8-10 feet, though some areas reach even deeper. Its shoreline stretches over 2,000 miles, o ering countless coves, islands, and inlets that make it a paradise for anglers. Fishing enthusiasts quickly discovered the lake’s potential as a world-class destination for crappie, bass, and cat sh, earning it a reputation that has only grown over the decades. Feeding Kentucky Lake are several major tributaries (Blood River, Jonathan Creek, Big Sandy River) that become shing hotspots in early spring, especially where submerged timber

WHY BUY NEW WHEN YOU CAN RENEW?!?

and man-made structures provide cover. Every seasoned angler in this region knows spring is crappie season. As water temperatures creep into the low 60s, crappie begin their migration from deep winter haunts to shallow spawning grounds— brush piles, stumps, and submerged structures along the shoreline. Preferred bait and techniques vary by angler, but some classics stand the test of time. Live minnows, o en rigged under a slip oat, are a go-to for many, especially during the pre-spawn. Jig shing is equally e ective, with popular choices like 1/16 or 1/32 oz. so plastics in chartreuse, white, and monkey milk colors. When the bite gets tough, tipping jigs with a small minnow or switching to hand-tied hair jigs can coax hesitant sh. Long-line trolling and spider rigging also dominate certain sections of the lake, especially in the deeper channels near creek mouths.

Mornings on the lake feel almost sacred this time of year. Fishermen, some in sleek bass boats, others in aluminum ski s passed down through generations, fan out across coves and creek arms, quietly working the banks. e goal is the same: feel the tap of a crappie on the line, set the hook, and haul in what many call the “gold of the lake.” For many, the draw of spring crappie shing isn’t just the thrill of the bite. It’s also the chance to connect with the natural rhythm of the season while sitting in a quiet cove as the dogwoods bloom, passing along stories, rods, and values to the next generation. At its core, Kentucky Lake is more than a reservoir. It’s a living, breathing legacy—a place where history, sport, and stewardship come together on every cast.

For more information on shing licenses and regulations, visit the Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources website - fw.ky.gov - or the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency website - www.tn.gov/twra.html.

“I never expected it to be so beautiful that it takes your breath away.”

— Kaya C., on Stauer Opals

In a quaint village, nestled between rolling hills, lived a young woman with a deep appreciation for gemstones. Her grandmother gifted her a delicate cross pendant adorned with opals. "e opals shimmered with a mesmerizing play of colors, reflecting hues of blues, greens, and fiery oranges. Her grandmother shared the legend of the opals, believed to bring hope, purity, and luck to those who wore them.

Using this story as inspiration, Stauer brings you the Opal Spirit Cross Pendant. With over 2 total carats of Kyocera lab-created opals set in .925 sterling silver encased in yellow gold, this pendant is a radiant celebration of beauty and craftsmanship. Each opal captivates with a kaleidoscopic dance of fiery oranges blending into oceanic blues, streaked with flashes of vibrant green that seem to come alive with every movement. "e shimmering opals are skillfully arranged to create an enchanting, otherworldly glow, embodying the spirit of hope and harmony.

"is breathtaking combination of color and craftsmanship is available as a limited availability of

only 930 pieces, making it a rare and treasured addition to your jewelry collection. Plus, when you order today, you’ll receive the gold-!nished sterling silver chain—a $69 value—absolutely free!

Don’t miss your chance to own this exclusive tribute to timeless elegance and meaningful symbolism.

Necklace Speci!cations:

• 2 ½ ctw. Kyocera lab opals and DiamondAura® accents

• Yellow gold-finished .925 sterling silver setting

• 18" gold-clad .925 sterling silver chain Opal