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NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST EDITION

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WRANGLING

THE REEF DONKEY

AFTER DARK OFFSHORE ACTION

LOCAL REPORTS & CATCH PHOTOS

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHELSEA MANN FB: @CHELS.ANA.4321 / IG: @CHELS_CHELS28 VOLUME 31 • ISSUE 377

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tina Georg e

ishing for greater amberjack— By CAM Staff a!ectionately known as “reef donkeys” or “AJs”—is one of saltwater angling’s most grueling and rewarding challenges. These hard-fighting predators are famous for their sheer strength, blistering runs, and ability to test both angler and tackle to the absolute limit. Greater amberjack are structure-oriented predators that primarily inhabit o!shore waters. They congregate around deep wrecks, artificial reefs, oil rigs, and steep rocky ledges. Adult amberjacks can exceed 60 pounds, though common catches range from 20 to 40 pounds. Because they are competitive and aggressive, they often hunt in packs, making them highly receptive to fast-paced fishing tactics. Due to the amberjack’s habit of diving straight into sharp structure when hooked, you cannot use light tackle. Anglers typically rely on heavy-action conventional or spinning gear. Use a heavy 6-foot (or shorter) rod paired with a high-capacity reel. The shorter length gives you better leverage to turn the fish’s head away from the reef. Spool up with a minimum of 50 to 80 lb. braided line, connected to a heavy 80- to 100-lb. monofilament or fluorocarbon leader. Whether you are drifting over the deep wrecks of the Gulf of Mexico or fishing o! the Atlantic coast, the two most e!ective methods are live baiting and vertical jigging. Live bait is often the most productive method for targeting the largest amberjacks. Prized baits include blue runners, hardtails, pinfish

EDIT: Chris

TIPS FOR CATCHING GREATER AMBERJACK

PHOTO CR

Taming Reef Donkeys

and cigar minnows. Rig your bait using a heavy circle hook (7/0 to 10/0 depending on the bait size) and drop it down into the lower third of the water column just above the submerged structure. Pro anglers often clip the tail of a lively baitfish so it doesn’t swim away too quickly, making it an easy target. If you prefer an active fishing style, heavy metal jigs (4 to 10 ounces) are incredibly e!ective. Butterfly jigs and traditional diamond jigs mimic the frantic movement of injured baitfish. Drop the lure to the bottom and rapidly reel it upward using a jerking, pumping motion. Amberjacks react intensely to speed and competition, so a fast, erratic retrieve often triggers a violent reaction strike. Hooking an amberjack is only half the battle; bringing it to the surface is the real test! When hooked, the “reef donkey” will immediately bolt straight down toward the safety of the wreck or reef. If they reach the structure, your line will be sliced on sharp metal or rocks. You must apply heavy drag and use a “lift and reel” technique, steadily pumping the rod and winding quickly to force the fish upward. To protect greater amberjack from overfishing, they are strictly regulated. These rules depend entirely on whether you are fishing o! the Gulf Coast or the Atlantic Coast. The Gulf population is heavily managed due to low stock numbers. For 2026, recreational harvest in the Gulf opens for 43 days, running from September 1 through October 14, 2026. Fish must be a minimum of 34” fork length (measured from the tip of the jaw to the center fork of the tail). Anglers are strictly limited to 1 fish per person, per day. Captain and crew on charter boats have a bag limit of zero. The Atlantic coast o!ers longer open windows but a di!erent sizing scale. Harvest is open most of the year but features a mandatory spawning closure from April 1 through April 30.The minimum size drops to 28” fork length. The limit mirrors the Gulf at 1 fish per person, per day. Before heading out, check your state’s licensing requirements and rules for specific reef-fishing gear to improve fish survival rates after release such as non-stainless steel circle hooks, dehooking device and a rigged, readyto-use venting tool or descending device to safely handle fish experiencing barotrauma.

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AUGUST CUBERA FISHING

hen the August full moon rolls around in the Florida Keys, it is prime time to target one of the hardest-pulling, meanest !sh on the reef: the Cubera snapper, aka “El Diablo.” These !sh are big, powerful, and known for absolutely wrecking tackle if you are not ready. In Key West, Captain Kody Michael is one of the guys to know when it comes to getting a#er them. His company, Reel Guides, helps connect anglers with solid, trusted captains throughout the Keys, making it easier to !nd the right guide for the trip you want to take. Whether someone is looking for a serious reef trip, a trophy !sh, or simply wants to !sh with a captain who knows the area, Reel Guides helps point anglers in the right direction. Cubera !shing is not your average snapper trip. One of the go-to baits is live lobster, which makes it some of the most expensive bait !shing you can do. But when a giant Cubera eats, it is worth every dollar. Around the full moon, these !sh get !red up, and the bite can be violent. This is not dropping down and hoping for a nibble. This is waiting for a freight train to eat a live lobster and try to take everything with it. •

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MILES, MEMORIES

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

y son and I tried something new this summer—we took a twoweek road trip, !shing our way through Louisiana and both coasts of Florida. We even squeezed in a World Cup game along the way. Louisiana kicked things off with sightcasting red!sh and catching trout on deep structure. It was Ethan’s !rst time seeing !sh before they were caught, and watching him learn the difference between a mullet wake and a cruising red!sh was pretty special. From there, we headed to St. Pete, where the scenery and crystal-clear water were a complete change. We !shed points and channels around the mangrove islands and, between everyone in the boat, landed a Florida Slam—red!sh, trout, #ounder and snook. Ethan’s favorite moment wasn’t even a !sh. A huge nurse shark swam up to inspect the trolling motor while he was !shing from the bow in just a few feet of clear water! Next came three days in the Everglades chasing giant snook. We found them too. Some made it to the boat, plenty didn’t, and every hookup was a battle. $e real challenge was landing them before the sharks found them. Unfortunately, the sharks won at least three times. One thing that stood out at every stop was that all of our !sh were caught on softplastic paddletails. I know many Florida anglers prefer live bait, but don’t overlook arti!cials—they’ll catch plenty of !sh when given the opportunity. Our next stop was the New Smyrna area on Florida’s Atlantic Coast. $is time, my buddy wanted to !sh with live bait. We worked docks, bridges and jetties for some of the biggest snook and red!sh I’ve ever seen. $e !sh de!nitely knew where to hide, and with all that structure, we probably lost as many as we landed. $e !nal stop was kayak !shing, Ethan’s !rst time !shing from his own kayak. When he was younger, we shared a tandem kayak while he learned boat control and how to land !sh from a rocking platform. About an hour into the trip, my buddy Will found some trout and waved us over. Ethan stopped short, made a cast off a grassy point, and I heard, “Dad, I have one.” As I paddled toward him, I could tell by the splash it was a good !sh. $en he yelled, “It’s big!” By the time I reached him, he already had it in the net. $e trout measured 28& inches and weighed 7.5 pounds. I couldn’t have been prouder, and seeing one of our Knockin Tail Lures in her mouth was the icing on the cake. On this trip, Ethan caught his biggest snook, red!sh, and speckled trout. $at’s a !shing trip we’ll never forget. A big thank you to all my friends who helped make this adventure one to remember.

R E T S N O M FISH AND

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES®

4 FLORIDA

AUGUST 2026

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IGFA Names Recipients of Inaugural Master Angler Award

he International Game Fish Association (IGFA), proudly announced Dr. Martin “Marty” Arostegui and Roberta G. Arostegui as the !rst recipients of the IGFA Master Angler Award, the highest distinction available within the newly launched IGFA Master Angler Program. $e IGFA Master Angler Award is reserved for anglers who achieve Gold Tier status in !ve or more of the program’s seven categories, spanning IGFA World Records, Slams, and Trophy Fish Clubs. Marty and Roberta have each met that standard independently, earning the award on the strength of their individual lifetime angling achievement across the full breadth of IGFA angler recognition programs. As a couple, the two are bound by a shared passion for the sport that has driven decades of individual pursuit on the water. “Marty and Roberta Arostegui represent exactly the kind of anglers the Master Angler Program was built to recognize,” said IGFA President Jason Schratwieser. “$ey have not excelled in one corner of this sport; they have excelled across all of it, year after year, for decades. To be able to name them as the !rst recipients of this award, and to do it together, is an amazing event.” Both Marty and Roberta are inducted members of the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame—Marty in 2018, Roberta in 2023—and each has accumulated IGFA World Records, Slams, or Trophy Fish Clubs spanning more than four decades. Marty achieved Gold Tier status across !ve categories: All-Tackle World Records, All-Tackle Length World Records, Line Class World Records, Tippet Class World Records, and Trophy Fish Clubs. Over his career, he has set 438 IGFA World Records and completed nine IGFA Trophy Fish Clubs. Roberta achieved Gold Tier status across !ve categories: All-Tackle Length World Records, Line Class World Records, Tippet Class World Records, Trophy Fish Clubs, and Royal Slams. Over her career, she has set

297 IGFA World Records, completed nine IGFA Trophy Fish Clubs, and nine IGFA Royal Slams. Formal recognition of the Arosteguis as the !rst anglers recognized with the IGFA Master Angler Award recipients will take place at the 43rd IGFA International Auction on January 23, 2027 at the Ritz Carlton, Fort Lauderdale. $e IGFA Master Angler Program, launched in May 2026, introduces a tiered recognition framework spanning seven categories: All-Tackle World Records, Line Class World Records, Tippet Class World Records, All-Tackle Length World Records, Grand Slams, Royal Slams, and Trophy Fish Clubs with Bronze, Silver, and Gold tiers within each. All prior eligible achievements count toward program standing. Additional Master Angler Award recipients will be announced in the coming months as qualifying anglers are con!rmed. For more information about the IGFA Master Angler Program, including full tier requirements and category details, visit: https://igfa.org/igfa-master-angler-program/.

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Summer Bass Patterns By Bait Cave Customs Pro Angler Joey Bloom

s summer settles in and water temperatures rise across the country, bass anglers are faced with a changing !shery. $e shallowwater feeding frenzies of spring begin to fade, and largemouth bass transition into more predictable summer patterns. Understanding where bass position during the hottest months and selecting the right presentations can make all the difference between a slow day and a memorable one. I believe one of the biggest mistakes anglers make during the summer is failing to adjust to bass movement. As the water warms, bass become more structure-oriented. $ey’re in search for comfort, oxygen, and easy feeding opportunities. During the summer months, bass often position around offshore ledges, creek channel swings, brush piles, submerged vegetation, docks, and deeper points. Early in the morning and late in the evening, !sh may move shallow to feed, but as the sun climbs higher, many bass seek deeper water or heavy cover to escape the heat. One of my favorite ways to target these summertime bass is with Bait Cave Customs Cave Club #oating worms. $eir buoyant design creates a natural presentation that continues to attract strikes even when !sh become less aggressive. $e drop shot rig is one of the most productive techniques during summer. By rigging a Bait Cave Customs 4” Flat Worm above a weight, anglers can keep the bait suspended just off the bottom where

bass can easily see it. $is presentation excels around deep brush piles, offshore structure, and schools of !sh hiding in grass clumps. $e subtle action of this #oating bait often triggers bites from bass that ignore more aggressive presentations. When targeting deeper structure, I frequently reach for a Carolina rig. A Cave Hog #oating plastic trails behind the weight, gliding naturally above the bottom while covering large amounts of water. $is technique is especially effective on offshore points, shell beds, and channel edges where bass congregate during the heat of summer. For anglers !shing grass lines, docks, or scattered cover, a Texas-rigged remains a staple. $e weedless design allows !shermen to work through heavy cover while the bait’s buoyancy creates a more lifelike posture when paused. Many summertime bites occur when the bait is sitting still, making the #oating action a major advantage. Flipping and pitching heavy cover is another key summer pattern. Bass often bury themselves in thick vegetation, boat docks, and shaded cover to escape direct sunlight. I rely on a Cave Cricket when punching through mats or #ipping isolated targets because the bait maintains an enticing action even after reaching the bottom. Summer bass can get conditioned to seeing the same presentations day after day. $e #oating plastics from Bait Cave Customs give !sh a different look and allow the bait to stay in the strike zone

L longer. $at’s often the difference between getting a bite and getting ignored. By focusing on deeper structure, shaded cover, and offshore feeding areas while utilizing versatile #oating plastics through techniques like drop-shotting, Carolina rigging, Texas rigging, and #ipping, anglers can consistently catch more bass throughout the summer months. When the temperatures rise, understanding bass behavior and matching it with the right presentation is the formula for success. Follow Joey Bloom on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube at Joey Bloom Fishing.

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COASTAL ANGLER North Central Florida/Nature Coast

AUGUST 2026 EDITION

Find Your Outdoors Here!

Cary & Lynn Crutchfield

North Central Florida Nature Coast Staff

ALACHUA, CITRUS, COLUMBIA, DIXIE, GILCHRIST, LEVY, MARION, SUWANNEE

Cary Crutchfield

AUGUST

t is August on the Gulf. Have you gotten your SCALLOPING on? We haven’t, but definitely will try to get out there this month. I love scalloping, but only on sunny days, when the rays of the sun go deep into the water, and I can clearly see the beautiful world below the waves. If you want to experience scalloping, but have no boat or are clueless about what, where or when, contact one of our guides. Just bring your snorkel, mask and fins, and even your little ones will love it. It’s an underwater Easter Egg Hunt! Hope for a sunny day (Don’t forget sunblock!) and you will have a great experience and “dinner” for later. Stay safe, leave the alcohol at home and remember, there are children on those boats. The Suwannee has risen a little, but still very, very low. No flood in the foreseeable future. New advertising partner, Hog Island Boat Works in Lecanto. Do you want a new boat accessorized to your specifications? Call them. See page 2. Page 3, FLORIDA WATERWAYS, written by Dr. McCarthy is always good, and I found it particularly interesting this month. When I die, I want to be cremated, and I want my ashes thrown into my beloved Suwannee. (I also want fireworks!) This month’s recipe, Shrimp and Artichoke Stuffed Mushrooms is really, really good. It is a bit more involved than what I usually cook for you, but well worth the little extra effort, and would be very impressive for guests. See page 2. Thank you to Stevenson’s Septic Tank Services for the fabulous 4th of July fireworks in Dixie County last month. As always, please thank our advertising partners and the folks at our distribution sites. If not for them, you would not be reading the World’s Greatest FREE Fishing Magazine. Stay smart, stay well and stay alive! Lynn Crutchfield Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida/Nature Coast

SALES

EDITING & PRODUCTION Lynn Crutchfield

GRAPHIC ARTS & DESIGN Kathleen Stemley

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Dr. Kevin McCarthy Noel Kuhn Capt. Jason Clark Capt. Katie Jo Davis Capt. Tommy Derringer Capt. Andrew Fagan Capt. Jonathan Hamilton Capt. Dallas King Capt. Pat McGriff Capt. Brent Woodward

CONTACT INFORMATION

Crutch@CoastalAnglerNCF.com 352-542-0356

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Local Fishing Forecasts Monthly Recipe

Photo by: Suwannee River Water Management District

SHRIMP AND ARTICHOKE STUFFED MUSHROOMS (FOR FOUR)

Thank you to The Crab Plant for the shrimp. Visit their Fresh Seafood Market or enjoy Cooked Seafood to go. You are welcome to sit at their table and view beautiful Kings Bay while you enjoy your delicious, freshly prepared meal, watching manatees, dolphins, pelicans and boats. Or, you can carry it home; your choice. Open Tues-Thurs 10:00-5:30, FriSat 10:00-8:00. 201 NW 5th St. Crystal River 352-795-4700.

DIRECTIONS

INGREDIENTS

Carefully wash mushrooms. • 1 Tbsp Olive Oil Remove stems (set them aside). • 4 Large Portabella Scrape out and discard the gills. Cut Mushrooms off and discard the very end and any • 2 fresh artichoke hearts or “woody” part of the stems. Finely frozen, minced mince the remaining soft part of the COOKING DIRECTIONS • 1 Small Onion finely stems. chopped In a large skillet, combine oil, • 3 Garlic Cloves minced minced stems, minced artichoke • Handful of Parsley Leaves hearts, onion and parsley. Cook over • 12 Jumbo Extra-Large medium heat, stirring frequently, Shrimp shelled, deveined until onions are translucent and and butterflied moisture in pan has cooked off. Add • 4 Ounces Soft Cream garlic and cook for a couple minutes, Cheese stirring constantly. • 1 cup Shredded Parmesan Stir in cream cheese and about Cheese half of the Parmesan. Stir until well • Salt and Pepper combined. Add a little milk or cream • Milk or Cream if too thick. • 1 cup Panko Crumbs Heat oven to 350 degrees. Line a • 4 tbsp. melted butter baking sheet with foil or parchment paper. Arrange mushrooms on baking sheet and place three butterflied shrimp on each mushroom. Sprinkle shrimp with salt and pepper. Spoon cream cheese mixture over shrimp. In small bowl, combine Panko, remaining Parmesan and melted butter and spoon over the cream cheese mixture. Bake 15 to 20 minutes, until cheese is melty, and tops are golden. If you like, garnish with more minced parsley, and serve immediately. I used fresh artichoke hearts. I cooked the artichokes, and we “ate” the leaves the night before. The heart is the little gray rubbery part left when you pull off all the leaves. If mushrooms aren’t your thing, you can substitute a boneless, skinless chicken breast, pounded thin. You can also substitute your recently caught bay scallops for the shrimp. Lynn Crutchfield, Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida 2 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST

AUGUST 2026

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FLORIDA WATERWAYS Suwannee River as a Funeral Site for Hindus By Kevin McCarthy

he Suwannee River means many things to many people: an important eastwest highway, an inspiration for at least one song, a By Dr. Kevin M. McCarthy peaceful hideaway for contemplation, and even a place for scattering the ashes of loved ones. The latter refers to the Hindu practice of using the river as a substitute for the sacred Ganges River in India for funeral rites. The Suwannee is a convenient river for those who cannot travel to India to perform century-old rituals of scattering ashes. In some ways such devotees believe that the river may be connected to the Ganges to help liberate the souls of the departed. Devout Hindus will place the cremated remains of loved ones in the Ganges to help the soul achieve moksha, or liberation from the cycle of rebirth. For those in this country/ state who cannot make the long trip to India, using a local river like the Suwannee is a good substitute for this ritual. An article on National Public Radio (NPR) last December, first made me aware of this practice, that some Hindus believe the Suwannee “is infused with the sacrality of the Ganges.” They believe that the Ganges/Suwannee can purify sins and guide the soul of the departed to Heaven. Hindu tradition permits local rivers to have the same sacredness as the Ganges, if the journey to India is not possible. In one instance, a woman named Doshi began calling the Suwannee River "her Ganges," and families from over 100 miles away travelled to her home for the ceremony. Scattering the ashes of my late twin brother in the Atlantic Ocean, where we had spent many summers, was an important ritual for my relatives and me to say “goodbye” to my brother. So don’t be surprised if you see families performing sacred rituals along the Suwannee, rituals that may include the scattering of ashes

Cremation

or the floating of paper boats, festooned with flowers that symbolize the soul’s journey after death. Some families will immerse bodies or at least the ashes of the deceased into such rivers. During these ceremonies, families may scatter ashes into the water, something that is not yet regulated by Florida law. Others may put lighted lamps in paper boats with flower petals to symbolize the soul's journey. A word to the families of those who spread the ashes of loved ones into our rivers: pay attention to the direction of the wind. I had one state ranger describe to me the sight of the strewn ashes blowing back into the faces of those families on boats in the Suwannee, families who had not checked the direction of the wind and suffered the embarrassment of having the ashes cover the faces and bodies of the mourners on the boat. The pictures included here are not of

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AUGUST 2026

the Suwannee rituals, but of the Ganges in India. Also included in these pictures from Wikipedia, is one of cremation, which will produce ashes. Kevin McCarthy, the author of “Suwannee River Guidebook” (Amazon, 2009), can be reached at ceyhankevin@gmail.com. NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 3

INGLIS/YANKEETOWN

SEAFOOD AT ITS BEST!

he dog days of summer are here to stay! The heat has been a killer this year, and seems like one of the hottest I’ve felt in quite some time, but that is not the only thing that’s hot. The inshore bite has been nothing short of special this summer! Redfish have schooled up nicely along the outer points and islands, and are happy to see a chunk of fresh cut mullet or a big live shrimp. The trout bite has remained consistent in the 7 to 12-foot range of water, where the water stays just a touch cooler. A mirrolure “lil John” in the kitchen sink color or root beer gold is hard to beat when jigged near the bottom, and for the lazy fisherman, a big live shrimp under a popping cork. Remember to adjust the depth until you begin to have success. Nearshore, the tripletail bite has kicked off good as well and the tarpon bite has been nearly fantastic. The tarpon have been happy to see a big live mullet, or a nice hand sized pinfish under a small float. Stay cool and tight lines guys!

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NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 5

u su as kids school for ma Florid beginn The fu of scho as they summ points these l Shrim are all fish. T produ time o The out in and br of wat a shrim agitate Typica strong it seem the be of the The strong of the bigger grow e 2-year Alth is upo provid trip, an strong

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AUGUST 2026

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KATIE JO’S NATURE COAST ADVENTURES

ugust is here, and that means summer is nearing the end, as kids get ready to head back to school and vacations are concluding for many families, but fishing along Florida’s Nature Coast means the beginning of the bull redfish run. The full moon starts the initial cycle of schooled up, hungry redfish, as they head inshore from their summer spawn. Western rocky points are great areas to target these large schools of fired up fish. Shrimp, pinfish and mud minnows are all great live baits to use for these fish. Typically, the incoming tide produces the best bite during this time of the year. The sea trout are still holding out in the deeper areas along rocks and broken bottom in 5 to 8 feet of water. A popping cork with a shrimp on a longer leader will agitate these fish enough to eat. Typically, I fish for them on the stronger moving tide of the day, and it seems like cloudy days have been the best bite, as it cools the surface of the water a bit. The scalloping is remaining strong as we approach the middle of the season, and the size will be bigger than in the beginning, as they grow extremely fast during the 1-to2-year life cycle. Although the heat of the summer is upon us, early mornings will provide a sense of coolness to your trip, and will have the bite a bit stronger before the heat of the day. Captain Katie Jo Davis KD OUTDOORS FiSHING CHARTERS 772-882-8932 www.fishcrystalriverflorida.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

AUGUST 2026

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ey anglers, I hope you have been able to enjoy some of this amazing summer on the water. The bite has been absolutely incredible! Redfish have been very consistent around the keys, especially on the

first bit of outgoing tide. Cut mullet has really been the ticket for the past several weeks, and you can even manage to score a snook right now as well. The flats have been loaded with trout, especially the bombing range and cresknot. For those fun fish just a popping cork and a swim bait will do the trick. Try to target them around the middle of either tide swing.

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NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 11

HORSESHOE BEACH

KEATON BEACH

Riley Shea’s first ever red, 23 inches.

ell of course it's HOT ...it's August. Yes, the water is also hot hovering around 90 degrees, but the trout and reds must eat anyhow and where and when, are your variables. If you are out there on the better tides with plenty of water movement (around the moons) then you will have some shallow fish willing to feed. If not, or if you find no breeze, you had best get out of the shallow water and try 6 to 10 feet and be willing to move often to find the right depth for your conditions that day. Some folks I talked to this week, had success in 7 feet, while another boat caught their trout in ten feet of water. They were bouncing plastic and were fishing an

Grandpa (Peter Shea) with his overslot 29 inch red

Rilye holding Patrick's 26 inch red his first-ever

ello guys and gals. I hope everybody is staying nice and cool. We have definitely had some scorcher days. The fishing has been amazing for 93° water temperatures. If you know how to put some time in and look for the right things, you can get it done before lunch. Trout have been tricky, but pretty much just like last month, when the wind allows it, we can get out there and get to them, but oddly enough, I have days when I catch them in 2 1/2 to 3 feet, and days where I catch them in 8 to 9 feet. Obviously, my tactics changed greatly with either one of those. Redfish have been scarce, but

we are still catching them. It is just a matter of running the shore lines, finding the right water and pounding the outside points and bars. Starting to see a fair amount of triple tail and tarpon as well, so if you want your chance at one of those, give us a call. I’ve always been a firm believer that there is nothing better than watching a tarpon slap a mullet out of the water. Also, scallops are very, very plentiful, so give us a call to get out on the water. Until next time, Keep it Reel Native!! Capt. Brent Woodward ReelNativeFishing.com 352-284-5514

incoming tide. On my last charter, we caught all our trout and reds in 2.5 to 3.5 feet of water, and the water temperature was 90+ degrees. We brought back 6 trout and 3 reds to 26 inches. We threw back 9 reds, including a 29-inch red for our best fish. We fished with live pinfish under floats which will be my choice for reds in August as well. Look for some stain near creeks and hope to see a mullet jump occasionally. Cut bait may also produce a few reds and unfortunately, a few catfish, but the w-i-n-d is the difference in a good day in shallow, and a catfish day in there. Meanwhile, Let's Go Fishing! Pat McGriff dba One More Cast

12 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST

AUGUST 2026

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NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 13

HOMOSASSA

CRYSTAL RIVER

ishing has been very consistent this week, with plenty of opportunities for anglers targeting both inshore and nearshore species. The redfish bite has been the highlight. We've been finding our best success by fishing cut bait in moving water off rocky points, where the current is funneling bait and the reds are staging to feed. The stronger the moving water, the better the action has been. During higher water and throughout the warmer parts of the day, we're also finding quality fish tucked well back under the shaded mangroves. A lively bait pitched deep into the shade, has been the key to getting those fish to commit. Taking the time to make accurate casts into the darker pockets has definitely been paying off. The spotted seatrout have settled into deeper water and are consistently holding in 7 to 8 feet. They've been feeding well, but they're requiring a slightly different approach than they were just a few weeks ago. The most productive setup has been a long-leader popping cork, rigged with a live shrimp, allowing the bait to reach the depth where the trout are holding, while still creating enough commotion to draw their attention. Fishing over deeper grass flats and areas with scattered potholes has produced the best results, especially during the morning hours and around moving tides. For anglers looking to make a nearshore run, the rocks continue to hold a great variety of fish. There are plenty of gag grouper around the structure, and while they remain catch and release only, they provide some exciting action and powerful fights. Alongside the gags, we're catching good numbers of mangrove snapper, with some quality fish mixed in, as well as big grunts that are providing steady action and making great table fare where regulations allow. Overall, fishing has been productive across the board. Paying attention

to moving water, fishing structure thoroughly, and matching your presentation to the conditions has been the key to putting together a successful day on the water. We expect these patterns to continue as long as the warm weather and steady tides stick around. God bless, Tight lines, and we'll see you on the water God bless and tight lines Captain Dallas King Pirate Flag Charters and Tours 352.601.8460 www.pirateflagcharters.com www.crystalriverfishingpros.com

14 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST

AUGUST 2026

ugust is a great time to start looking for the migrating redfish. My thoughts are that bigger schools of mature redfish are making a northern migration and like to stop in for a short stay in Homosassa. They could be moving on the moons a lot like our migrating tarpon do. We have good red fishing year-round for sure, however it’s really cool to fish big schools of red fish in the months of August, September and October. However, just like tarpon, there are no guarantees that these migrators make the stop here. Lots of things can change their course and they just keep swimming, but when they do make the stop, it can make for memorable fishing! I like to fish the tides this time of the year. So, I would plan on fishing the last two hours of the incoming for redfish. Bigger redfish schools are going to float in with the tide to your outside western points on St Martin Keys. They will stage outside of the keys in a safer depth of water until the tide is flowing in, and then they will come in to feed. Live bait, dead bait, artificial, flys: you can throw it all! A lot of guys like throwing cut mullet or cut lady fish. They will eat shrimp on a jig head or live pin fish. Gold spoons are my favorite. Look for big standing water, and big V wakes. If you have good lights, you will see big masses of red! Just like last year, it seems that the shark pressure is as bad as it has ever been. I’m not in the business of feeding sharks, tarpon or redfish, so if sharks come in my school I will pack up and go look for other fish. Nearshore rock hopping can be productive, and I say rock hopping, because it can be hot out there and the only a/c you got is to crank up and hit

the next spot! Load up on some shrimp and 1/4 oz DOA jig heads, and take the kids out for some rod bending action. Sea bass, grunts, mangroves, sea trout, and maybe a grouper will keep the rods bent. Low tides, look for scallops in 3-to5-foot ranges. Scallop numbers have been great to start the season. August, I think will be a little bit better due to them getting a little bigger. I feel like scalloping isn’t really about the limits but more about the experience. Also, with that being said, there are some scallop measuring devices out there now. There is not a size requirement on scallops, but it’s a great idea to maybe have more of a conservation mindset on the future of our scallops… I always have a side note about boater safety this time of the year. Keep safety as your number one priority all times of the year, but especially this time of the year. Whether it’s the weather, fellow boaters, swimmers. Is it really worth it? Stay safe out there and make long lasting great memories. As always stay safe. Capt. Stump, Jonathan Hamilton 352-403-2073 www.homosassafishingcompany.com

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AUGUST 2026

NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST 15

ST. AUGUSTINE

SURF & PIER

S T

he mullet are coming! The mullet are coming! Late August and September are the most exciting times to surf fish on Florida’s east coast. Why you ask? Millions of mullet will be pouring out, into the surf from our rivers. They do this every year because of one thing, Love! When they pour out of the inlets they all hook a right and head for south Florida. That is where they reproduce. Then their fertilized eggs get caught in the Gulf Steam waters and flow back to the north to start the whole circle of life over again. What does that all mean for us? Action, lots of action from hungry predators! Here is a list of what you can expect to hook up with during the mullet run. Tarpon, sea-trout, ladyfish, bluefish, flounder, Jack Cravalle, Spanish mackerel, redfish and several species of sharks. All of these will eagerly strike a small mullet. If you want to target tarpon, the bigger the mullet the better. As far as rigging goes, let’s start with the big boy, tarpon. The most productive way is free lining a big live mullet. I use 80 lb. fluorocarbon leader and a 7/0 circle hook. Hook the mullet just behind the anal fin and gently toss him back out into the surf. This method requires that you to be mobile. You will need to follow the mullet in the direction he

goes. The next rigging would be a fish finder rig with a heavy weight, keeping it where you cast it. Here, you would fish a big fresh chunk or a livey with the hook in through the mouth, and out through the top of the head. Now let’s lighten things up when fishing smaller finger size mullet. A fish finder rig with 30 mono leader and a 2/0 circle hook is perfect. Hook the mullet through the mouth and out through the top of the head. All the species will attack this rig, and I prefer it when targeting sea-trout and flounder. The easiest way to fish mullet is a double dropper rig. I tie mine out of 50 lb. mono with 5/0 Owner MUTU Light hooks. You can use either chunks or two small livies. I have had all the forementioned species crash this set up. So be sure to set your drag light. If you want to beat the heat, try fishing the full moon this month. All the mullet smashers come right up against the sand to feed on the hapless prey. Go now and go often! Don’t forget your cast net! Noel Kuhn 43 years of surf fishing experience, surf fishing guide and long distance casting coach. Founding member of Florida Surf Casters club. 904-945-0660 www.TheSurfAngler.com

16 NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA/NATURE COAST

AUGUST 2026

ome really exciting fishing happens over the next couple of months here in Northeast Florida. From sight fishing for tailing redfish in the grass, to jumping huge tarpon behind the shrimp boats… Let the excitement begin! One very important ingredient for catching fish this time of year is to look for the bait. Whether it's finger mullet, shrimp, or pogies, if you find the bait, you'll find the fish. The bait can be easily located by looking for nervous water (small disruptions on the surface, similar to a very small boat wake). You can be sure that redfish, trout, and flounder will be hanging around the schools of bait, looking for an easy meal. Don't overlook the banks along the ICW on the lower tide stages this month. A lot of the baitfish will come out of the creeks and hang along those ICW banks, especially the ones that have oysters scattered on them. With the hot water temps were experiencing this year, those redfish love to hang on those ICW banks, especially the ones scattered with bait. Something unique happens this time of year in our region, and it makes for some of the coolest visuals in fishing. Flood tides will occur around the full and new moons, allowing redfish, drum, and sheepshead to access areas of the marsh that they usually can’t get to. Theses areas are lush with fiddler crabs and the fish know it. They will be crawling on their bellies and tailing like crazy in the grass looking to fatten up on those crabs. There really isn’t any secret to finding the areas that will hold tailing fish. You just need to go out there on the highest tides and look for yourself. Bring an old pair of sneakers or better yet some wading boots. Probably the most effective way to catch the tailers is to park the boat at

the edge of the flat and get out and wade after them. You don’t need a super skinny water skiff to get in on the action. I like to toss a soft plastic rigged on a Slayer Inc. Penetrator weedless hook. That hook will work with any soft plastic and help keep the grass off your lure. Lead the fish by as much as possible and let the lure drop right in front of the fish. Sometimes they are really into feeding on the bottom and it’s hard to get them to look up. When that’s the case, I’ll insert a small glass rattle into the soft plastic, and sometimes that will do the trick. This month is also a great time to bust out the fly rod. Some of the best takes I’ve ever seen have come on the long rod, using a crab fly in the flooded grass. The late summer beach fishing should be going strong, and the tarpon will be behind the shrimp boats and on the pogy pods. The shrimpers have been at it all summer, but this time of year can be really good for the tarpon behind the boats. Wait for the shrimpers to dump their by-catch, and just keep an eye out for the tarpon that will come up. The sharks will usually be on the feed first, but stick around a bit and see if a tarpon or two will show up. When you see the fish, you want to get a live or dead bait out in front of him and hold on. The tarpon that are on the bait pods will be feeding early in the AM and then again after the afternoon thunderstorms. Net a few pogys and freeline them around the pods. You can also add a little weight and try to fish under the pod. No matter how we’re fishing for them, I like to use the same rig. I prefer a 7/0 to10/0 circle hook with a 60 to 80 lb. leader connected to a 40 lb. mainline. Just remember to bow to the king! Capt. Tommy Derringer www.InshoreAdventures.net 904-377-3734

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ote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium is continuing to advance its fisheries enhancement efforts in 2026 through a series of juvenile snook releases taking place throughout the summer across strategic estuarine habitats in Southwest Florida. This year, Mote scientists will release approximately 22,000 juvenile snook as part of Mote’s long-standing, researchdriven marine stock enhancement program. “These releases reflect the continued growth and refinement of Mote’s fisheries enhancement capabilities,” said Dr. Ryan Schloesser, Manager of Mote’s Fisheries Ecology & Enhancement Program. “Our focus remains on producing healthy fish, releasing them strategically, and collecting the scientific data needed to better understand how stock enhancement can support resilient wild populations.” Release locations are strategically selected based on environmental conditions and habitat characteristics that provide favorable environmental conditions and complex structure essential for juvenile snook survival and growth. Examples of favorable release habitats include tidal creeks, mangrovelined shorelines, and sheltered coves that provide abundant food resources, protection, and complex habitat structure. Mote’s stock enhancement program is guided by research objectives that examine post-release survival, movement patterns, habitat use, and the overall contribution of stocked fish to wild populations. Findings from these studies help inform adaptive release strategies, including optimal release timing, fish size, site selection, rearing conditions, and release methods. Prior to release, the fish undergo comprehensive health assessments to ensure they are wellsuited for release. Snook remain one of Florida’s most sought-after recreational sportfish and contribute significantly to Florida’s coastal economy. However, the species remains vulnerable to environmental stressors, including severe cold events, habitat degradation, and harmful algal blooms. These advancements in genetic tagging and long-term monitoring provide valuable tools for evaluating the success of enhancement efforts and understanding the role hatchery-reared fish play in supporting wild populations. In addition to ongoing enhancement efforts, Mote is expanding its response capacity throughout neighboring coastal regions. Following significant coldstun-related fish mortality observed across portions of Southwest Florida during recent winter events, Mote scientists are increasing their presence and strengthening partnerships in adjacent counties and waterways. Expanding this regional reach will help researchers better understand how to respond when environmental stressors affect fish populations across a broader geographic area and improve preparedness for future cold events or red tide blooms that impact snook. Mote aims to develop a more comprehensive understanding of how adaptive management strategies can help fish populations respond to extreme environmental conditions. This expanded effort will enhance Mote’s ability to rapidly assess impacts, coordinate response activities, and inform future fisheries management and recovery strategies throughout the region.

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Fleur de Lis Wins 2026 Florida Panhandle Billfish Series

n a tight contest, Fleur de Lis came out on top to win the 3rd annual Florida Panhandle Bill!sh Series. #e Hatteras 63 GT, based in nearby Orange Beach, Alabama, !shed all three events of the Emerald Coast series, developed to highlight the big-game !shing opportunities off Florida’s Panhandle. #e competition includes three prestigious tournaments which started with the 55th Annual Pensacola International Bill!sh Tournament; the 24th Annual Emerald Coast Blue Marlin Classic (ECBC) at Sandestin was the second leg, and the series concluded with the 4th Annual Bay Point Bill!sh Open in Panama City Beach. Fleur de Lis released a blue marlin in Pensacola, followed by a slam in the ECBC (blue and white marlin, plus sail!sh). #e series trophy was secured with another blue, two whites and one sail!sh released in the Bay Point Open. Contestants earn extra points for slams (three or more bill!sh species released during the event) and for competing in all three tournaments. Owned by Jim Painter, Fleur de Lis team members included Conner Pellerin, Nate Dennis, Matt Cosci, Payton Berry, Grey Smith and Parker Smith, with Capt. Jacob Provo and mates Landen Tindal, Griffen Slaughter, Nick Knoep$ein and Burke Day. “Due to the unique scoring system for the Series, Fleur de Lis was able to maximize points

and achieve the win,” says FPBS Executive Director Bert Merritt. “#ey had the right !sh at the right time and put in the extra effort to !sh all three events. Promoting all three tournaments and encouraging participation is the main goal of the series and that difference put Fleur de Lis over the top.” #e team won a perpetual custom trophy, a $10,000 cash award and Miller Lite Beer for a year for its efforts. It Just Takes Time owner Nick Pratt and his family team were a close second overall. #e boat skipped the Pensacola International but tallied seven blue marlin, three whites and one sail!sh at the ECBC, good for second-place release team overall. #e next week at the Bay Point Open, the team took top release honors by scoring six blue marlin, two whites and sails apiece. Capt. Myles Colley runs the 74 Viking, also based in Orange Beach. Briar Patch was third overall in the series standings. #e team won the Bay Point Open with a weighed 582.5-pound blue marlin (angler Brantley Adams) and also recorded three blue marlin and one white releases to augment three blues released during the ECBC. #e Destin-based 74 Viking is run by Capt. Corey Hurst. To learn more about the Florida Panhandle Billfish Series, visit www.fishfpbs.com.

FWC LAUNCHES RED SNAPPER www.VisitDixie.com TAGGING STUDY IN PENSACOLA BAY Where the

nglers !shing for red snapper in Pensacola Bay are asked to be on the lookout for dart-tagged !sh. FWC biologists have initiated a pilot study to observe movement patterns for red snapper that are captured within Pensacola Bay. Biologists are interested in determining if these !sh remain inshore or are actively migrating between inshore and nearshore habitats. Fish have been tagged with an external dart tag as well as an acoustic transmitter surgically implanted into the red snapper’s abdomen. Acoustic transmitters are a small, sound-emitting device that acts like an underwater beacon, transmitting unique acoustic signals for up to six years. Acoustic receivers (or listening stations) have been placed underwater throughout the bay and near the pass to track movements of tagged !sh. If you catch a !sh with a dart tag: • Take a photo of the !sh and a closeup&photo of the tag so the unique tag&number can be read. • Return the !sh to the water. • Call 850-564-2430 or 800-367-4461& to report the tag number, where you&caught the !sh (e.g. inside the bay or&offshore), and receive instructions on&how to submit your photos. If you choose to harvest the !sh, please call the number on the tag to return the acoustic transmitter to the biologists.&

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AUGUST 2026

FLORIDA 15

PRO FISHING TECHNIQUES

Sheepshead Fishing 101

heepshead are one of those !sh that seem like they are everywhere in Florida. #at is because they actually are everywhere in Florida. You can catch them 30 miles offshore in the Gulf of Mexico when they are spawning. You can catch them in the grass $ats; around mangrove roots; around oyster bars; around dock and bridge pilings; off the beach; around inlets and seawalls; and even in freshwater rivers that empty into saltwater. Sheepsheads were the !sh that got me hooked on saltwater !shing when I was 5 years old. My father would take me to the mangrove mud $ats to catch !ddler crabs. Once we had a bucket of crabs we would use our cane poles to catch a stringer full of sheepshead around the mangrove roots and oyster clumps. #e point of this story is that anyone can catch a sheepshead, even a 5-year old. PRO TIP: #eir favorite food is a !ddler crab, but !ddlers are not readily available to most people. Get some if you can. If you don’t hace access to !ddlers, the easiest way to catch sheepshead is to target them wherever they are with a #2 sized J hook and a small piece of shrimp. You will want to use an extremely light 8 to 10 pound $uorocarbon leader because they have excellent vision and can be spooky. Why do we use such a small hook for a big sheepshead? #e reason to use such a small hook is because they are the best bait stealers

never feel them stealing your bait. I like to reel the line in very slowly to make them commit to a more aggressive bite. Make sure to set the hook hard. CAPT. MIKE SMITH Why do we like to catch sheepshead? in the sea. #ey use their We like to catch sheepshead because they are human-like teeth to nip little excellent !ghters and have a very light and nonbites of your bait until only !shy tasting meat. a bare hook is left. A small hook will increase A sheepshead is very difficult to clean your hook up ratio. because they are extremely bony. But it is worth You also have to keep a tight line or you will the extra work because of their delicious meat. #ey are an excellent candidate to !llet and release into the grease. Where is the best place to find sheepshead? #e best place to look for sheepshead is dock and bridge pilings. #ey are always around those pilings using their super hard teeth to crush barnacles, oysters and mussels that are living on the pilings. All in all, sheepshead are a fun !sh for the whole family to catch. You only need some frozen shrimp and a cane pole to have a blast and !ll a stringer full of delicious !sh. Florida allows a generous 8 !sh per person limit at the time of this article. Make sure to check your regulations in your area to stay out of trouble. Go get ‘em. Capt. Mike Smith, owner of Fish Your Ass Off Charters, is an inshore fishing guide who has been fishing the inshore waters, oyster bars and grass flats of Florida for more than 40 years. Reach him at (561) 339-2317, email: contact fishyourassoff.com or visit fishyourassoff.com.

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eah, I’ve tried that before.” If we had a dollar for every time we heard that phrase at ICAST or during the countless phone calls we’ve !elded, we’d be wealthy. But here’s the thing—in the nicest possible way— unless you’re one of our carefully selected pool of testers or based at a couple of research stations or universities, no, you actually haven’t tried SharkGuard. What makes SharkGuard different from anything you’ve tried before? Our patented electronic pulse technology works by targeting sharks’ highly sensitive electroreceptors—the ampullae of Lorenzini. #ese specialized organs allow sharks to detect electrical !elds in the water, and our precisely calibrated pulses create a deterrent effect that keeps them away without harming the sharks or affecting your target !sh. #is isn’t guesswork or wishful thinking. It’s science-backed innovation that’s been re!ned through rigorous testing and real-world application. #e results back it up. But, honestly, the proof isn’t in our marketing materials or our test results—it’s in your cooler at the end of the day. It’s in the smile on your client’s face when they land the !sh they’ve been !ghting for. It’s in !nally bringing home the catch you worked so hard for, instead of watching it disappear into a shark’s mouth. Whether you’re a frustrated angler tired of paying the dreaded “shark tax”—losing your hard-earned catch to opportunistic sharks—or a charter captain who wants to guarantee your clients actually land their !sh, SharkGuard is the solution you’ve been waiting for. Coastal Angler readers can grab SharkGuard on Amazon at an exclusive discount—now just $199 USD (down from $275)— using code COASTAL199 at checkout.

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STAY ON TOP By Britt Stoudenmire

FOR SUMMERTIME

RIVER SMALLIES

he late-summer months are an overlooked window to catch big smallmouth bass that have been lazily lying in the middle of the river a!er a long spawning season. The insect hatches and emergences that occur throughout the day including mayflies, damsel flies and my favorite, the cicada, spur feeding frenzies and create an excellent opportunity to throw topwater lures and flies. One of my favorite lures to target topwater smallies during this period

is the Pop-R. I make long casts with a 6-foot to 6-foot, 6-inch G.Loomis medium-action rod with a Shimano Stradic 2500 C4+ reel spooled with 20/6 Power Pro braided line. On entry into the water, I let the bait dead dri! for about five seconds before working it erratically back to the boat. I target current seams, eddies, corner pockets and any type of structure or current break in the middle of fast water. It is important to continue working the bait with the same cadence, even if a fish is crashing behind it. Once you feel the rod load, reel into the fish and swing the rod back. Once hooked up, keep the rod—and fish—down in the water. Many big fish are lost while trying to pull the fish up to get a look at it. Another one of my favorite topwater presentations is the buzzbait. I will target the same areas as above using a slightly stouter medium-heavy setup to drive the hook home. The key to the buzzbait is to get the bait up on the surface as soon as it hits the water. I favor a straight, steady retrieve, reeling just fast enough to keep the bait on the surface. When a fish eats it, allow him to load the rod before setting into him with a hard hook set. I favor longer sha!ed buzzbaits for better hook-ups, as I don’t use trailer hooks because of the damage they can do to smallies. If you have a blow up on your buzzbait and do not touch him with the hook, a quick follow up with a so! plastic will o!en garner an immediate bite from the same fish. If you like to fly fish, summer’s slower, less-busy water o!en presents the perfect scenario to fly fish for big smallmouth. My favorite presentation for smallies on the fly is dead-dri!ing cicada bugs. Big smallies are addicted to these “dog days” dying cicada bugs and the easy meal they present, and we sight cast to these fish that o!en eclipse 20” or more. This technique has produced some of my clients’ and my personal best fly-rod fish. When dead dri!ing cicada bugs aren’t working, several other presentations can produce explosive strikes. Any popper in the size 4 to 6 range can attract smallies. When they strike, remember to strip up the slack line and into them before raising the rod tip hard to drive home the hook. If fish aren’t responding to the popper, another option is a slider-style fly. When stripped, the fly will dive slightly beneath the surface giving a darting and diving action. The Sneaky Pete is a good example, and this type of presentation can be deadly. Britt Stoudenmire owns and operates New River Outdoor Co. who guides on the New River in Southwest Virginia. www.newriveroutdoorco.com.

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RHINO SPINNING COMBO WINS ICAST 2026 BEST OF SHOW

n an industry increasingly dominated by high-tech fish finders, forwardfacing sonar, and motorized watercra!, the biggest story of ICAST 2026 came down to a refreshing return to roots. Rather Outdoors and its iconic Zebco brand shocked the fishing world at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla., by winning the overall Best of Show award for the newly engineered Rhino 30 6’6’’ 2-piece Medium Spinning Combo. The victory marks a monumental comeback for the legacy Rhino name, a brand built entirely on bulletproof reliability for the everyday angler. “Zebco has been the first chapter in so many people’s fishing stories, and the Rhino relaunch is helping make sure that first experience is one that lasts,” said Chris Littau, Vice President of Zebco, following the historic win. Before capturing the industry’s ultimate prize, the Rhino setup first secured its foothold by winning the competitive Rod & Reel Combo category in the ICAST 2026 New Product Showcase, where industry heavyweights and innovative newcomers competed for 39 different Best of Category awards, selected by credentialed buyers and media who voted during the trade show.

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remember the dog days of August as almost unbearable for myself and clients during the daylight hours. Some days on commercial trips we would put the fan on us and rest during the heat of the day and fish in the late a!ernoon and at night for a number of fish, including snappers and mackerel. The yellowfin and wahoo bite could sometimes be a pleasant surprise while king mackerel fishing under the lights. The first wahoo I ever caught from an anchored up boat was at night. It literally swam right to the boat and I was able to almost hand feed him. That was a game-changing experience for me. This is where I learned how to catch live squid in numbers under the lights with a long-handled dip net and on the Sabiki. Cigar minnows and sardines would gather in huge swarms under the lights and, therefore, it would attract all the predators, not to mention the bite on the bottom and in the mid depth of the water column. The full moon of August is traditionally the best beeliner fishing of the year. A lot of the snappers spawn during the full moon of July and August; the mackerel too. A lot of the snappers and triggers are not on the bottom, but will suspend in the water column, so I would recommend a level wind reel when fishing the water column to locate the depth of the largest snappers. Descend your baits, slowly letting your thumb off the spool to release more line, one rod-length strip at a time. I like to use a double tackle with small pieces of squid and small circle hooks for this style of fishing. When you feel the first bite, click the reel in gear and barely come tight to it...sometimes you’ll have two at a time. This is the perfect time to put a small snapper on the bottom, a snapper Packed out... 2-4 lb. beeliners during large enough to eliminate first half of the night on the full moon. all the trash bites and attract only the largest grouper. The largest gag I ever caught was in August (at night) on a small pink snapper. Gutted it weighed 51 pounds and we estimated that it was probably 54 pounds. August has a lot of opportunities. We just have to change tactics to take advantage of it, and the night shi! is a great way to avoid the searing daytime temperatures and fill the box with organic groceries. This is also a good time to keep at least one person on the Sabiki, catching cigar minnows and sardines for future trips. Considering the cost of a five-pound box of frozen cigars, it makes it worthwhile to jig up 15 or 20 pounds of cigs, sardines, squid and/or tinker macs. Keep them all in the live well until you’re ready to leave in the morning and chill the remainder of the livewell all at one time for the ride home. Fish through the night and during the first couple of hours of daylight on the productive bottom and come home with a box full of fish! This is how to get the most out of an August trip. Load the box with plenty of ice when you get home, go inside, take a good nap and get up in the a!ernoon to clean and freeze the catch. Learn more from Tim Barefoot at barefootcatsandtackle.com and on his YouTube channel: @timbarefoot5698.

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Coastal Angler Magazine | North Central Florida, Nature Coast | August 2026 Edition