Coastal Angler Magazine | North Central Florida Nature Coast June 2026 Edition

Remembering Ben Martin

The outdoor and shing community lost a true leader with the passing of Ben Martin, Editor in Chief of Coastal Angler Magazine and !e Angler Magazine

For years, Ben helped shape the voice of one of the most respected outdoor publications in the country. rough his leadership, passion for shing, and dedication to storytelling, he built more than just a magazine— he helped create a community. From o shore anglers and weekend surf shermen to guides, writers, photographers and advertisers, Ben had a way of bringing people together through a shared love of the outdoors.

ose who knew him understood that his passion went far beyond publishing. Ben cared deeply about the shing lifestyle, conservation, and the people behind every story. He believed in supporting local communities, giving outdoor enthusiasts a platform to share their experiences, and keeping shing alive for future generations.

His impact could be felt across every edition, every article, and every relationship he built throughout the industry. He was respected not only as a leader, but as a friend, mentor, and advocate for the outdoor world.

While his passing leaves a tremendous void, Ben’s legacy will continue to live on through the countless lives he touched and the publication he helped grow into a trusted voice for anglers everywhere.

e Coastal Angler and e Angler Magazine family mourns the loss of a remarkable man who dedicated his life to the sport, the industry, and the people he loved.

Rest easy, Ben. You will be deeply missed.

fve things you should know about boat insurance

Are you ready to embark on your next on-water adventure? Before you set sail, here are fve things to know about boat insurance.

1. Boat insurance isn’t just for accidents

With comprehensive coverage, you’ll also be protected fnancially for theft, vandalism, and unexpected events like storms if you need repairs or replacements due to damage.

2. Accidents can happen to anyone

When accidents happen, boat insurance offers liability coverage for damages or injuries you cause while boating, up to specifed limits. It can also cover lawsuit costs if you’re sued.

3. Boat insurance can cover medical payments

Boat insurance offers a range of optional medical payments coverage limits, helping to cover medical expenses if you’re in an accident or someone is hurt on your boat, regardless of fault.

4. Most lenders require boat insurance

If you fnanced your boat, you’ll likely need boat insurance since most lenders require boat insurance to protect their investment. Additionally, some marinas or municipalities require proof of insurance for docking.

5. Progressive offers specialized boat coverages

Ever worry about getting stuck on the water? Progressive’s Sign & Glide® On-Water Towing coverage** can help. It’s an additional coverage that steps in if your boat is disabled or breaks down on the water, paying for on-water towing, jump starts, soft ungroundings, and fuel delivery. Fuel cost isn’t included.

Don’t let unforeseen circumstances disrupt your voyage. Cruise with confdence thanks to Progressive Boat insurance. Because when it comes to your boat, peace of mind is the ultimate luxury.

Scan to get a quote in as little as 4 minutes.

to learn more.

MFDs 9"-24"

TZT16X | 22X | 24X

TZT10X | 13X

TZT9E | 13E

When helm space is at a premium, the 9" and 13" TZtouchE MFDs give you maximum screen area to view their eye-popping TZ MAPS charts and builtin TruEcho CHIRP™ Fish Finder with Side-Scan.

Plus, TZtouchE is fully networkable with the TZtouchXL family of 10", 13", 16", 22", & 24" MFDs and a wide range of best-in-class sensors – legendary Furuno Radars, Sonars, Fish Finders, Autopilots, and more.

Furuno... The reason to level up your helm!

Marine Electronics

REINING IN THE

By A. deGruchy

WFISHING IN THE FLORIDA KEYS

the next. Hooking one is not just shing. It is a fullbody workout.

Tarpon are notorious for their ght, and for good reason. As soon as it happens - things get crazy… line screams o the reel, the rod loads up, and then this sh launches into the air like it is trying to shake every bad decision its ever made. I’ve seen this dozens of times and it will seriously never get old.

For summer tarpon shing in the Keys, we NEED dependable gear that can handle heat, salt, and serious drag pressure. !e PENN Slammer IV paired with the PENN Carnage III rods is a strong setup for battling big sh. !e reel has the power and durability needed for long ghts, while the Carnage III rod gives you the backbone to stay connected when a tarpon starts digging deep. Savage Gear Pulse Tail Mullets can be extremely e ective (I’ve witness and can attest to the fact that Tarpon like these). !e right clothing matters too. Summer in the Keys is hot, bright, and salty, so sun protection is not optional. On top of the heat, reeling in a Tarpon will 100% have you sweating, I promise.

Note, Tarpon shing is NOT easy. !ere o%en is A LOT of downtime waiting for that bite. You might wait, cast, miss, jump one, lose one, and then nally connect with the sh you came for. However, that’s what makes it special. Every moment feels earned, every jump gets your heart going, and every release is a something you remember.

hen the summer tarpon run heats up, the Florida Keys become one of the best places to chase the Silver King. !ese sh

are built like silver freight trains. !ey roll through the channels, bridges, ats, and backcountry looking calm one second, then explode into the air

Ready to chase the Silver King in the Florida Keys? Book your tarpon trip at beansport shing.com and for more real-world shing action in the Florida Keys, follow Bean Sport shing on YouTube.

Mastry Engine Center has received the Suzuki Marine Super Service Award and has been ranked #1 in Suzuki Marine US Sales! 60 YEARS OF REPOWER EXPERIENCE!

RePower Packages designed to best ft your needs and not stretch your budget. Financing available.

Rest assured, all Mastry Suzuki RePowers are backed by Suzuki’s industry leading 5-year factory warranty.

Stationed strategically around the East Coast, all Suzuki RePower Centers have achieved the highest level of Suzuki certifcations to meet and exceed your repower needs.

When Considering A Repower, Consider These Factors:

•Every Authorized Mastry Suzuki RePower Center has decades of repower experience providing proper rigging, controls, propeller matching and in water testing

•With a Mastry Suzuki RePower, owners gain improved performance, less noise and greater reliability

•Mastry Suzuki RePower’s exclusive Owner’s Edge Program*

•Mastry Suzuki RePower Centers use authentic Suzuki OEM parts and have factory certifed technicians

WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!

Since 2014, Mastry Engine Center, has been building the premiere Suzuki Outboard repower network in Florida. Today, Authorized Mastry Suzuki Outboard Centers have been exceeding expectaions in the Southeast for over two decades. Recently Suzuki Marine requested Mastry Engine Center to expand the network throughout the Northeast. Now boat owners from Maine to Florida can be assured of the best support for their Suzuki outboard repower project. All Authorized Mastry Suzuki RePower Centers provide the best options, information and package pricing for excellent performance in repower.

When you purchase a new Suzuki outboard from an authorized Mastry RePower Center you qualify to become a member of the Mastry Suzuki Owner’s Edge. Owners receive an identifcation card that provides them with important information about their Suzuki outboard motor as well as a passport to additional benefts during ownership. Members enjoy a detailed engine maintenance schedule, Mastry Suzuki RePower Trade Program and special pricing from Mastry Suzuki Partners *Get with the Program!

THE PADDLETAIL ADVANTAGE FOR FLORIDA SNOOK

Snook !shing in Florida gets me hooked every time. ey !ght like crazy, pulling you toward every dock or root they can !nd right a er you set the hook. I’ve tried di erent methods over the years, but so plastic paddletails always pull me back in.

One thing I like about them is how they let you cover a lot of area without looking unnatural. In places like mangrove lines or around docks and passes, they just match what snook eat every day. Like mullet or those small shad, the way it swims seems right. I think that con!dence comes from knowing it mimics the bait so well.

A lot of people !sh them too quickly, ripping the lure back fast. Snook can be aggressive, sure, but I !nd better results when I slow it down. Let the thing hang in the zone longer with a twitch here and there. at steady pull with pauses beats the erratic stu most days. It feels like the !sh just need time to commit.

Current makes a big di erence, too. I always look for moving water if I can. It pushes the bait around and lines up the snook in spots like points or under bridges. ose dock corners turn into traps when the tide picks up. Positioning up current helps; let the lure dri in naturally. Snook handle that %ow easily and strike at stu coming their way.

My setup stays basic most times. Grab a three- to !ve-inch paddletail on a jig head. Lighter ones for shallow spots around mangroves, heavier for deeper passes with more pull. Colors, well, natural ones in clear water, I guess, brighter if it’s murky or dark out. Not sure why, but it seems to matter sometimes.

Early mornings along mangrove banks are my go-to. Cast long parallel

By Capt. Michael Okruhlik

to the shore, hit every little pocket or drain. Strikes o en come right near the edge, so you have to be accurate. Around the docks, I try skipping under as far as possible. Big snook hang in the shade there, especially when it’s warmer.

at thump when they hit, you’d better be set. ey dive for structure right away, trying to wrap your line. Just keep pressure steady, don’t let up. Florida snook spots are top-notch, and paddletails work well in that role. Hard to go wrong with them for inshore stu

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

BIG LURES for Summer Fishing

CAPT. MIKE SMITH

Have you ever had one of those summer days when you catch tons of !sh but they are all small? is happens to the best of us. e best way to !x this dilemma is to use bigger lures. Bigger lures are your best bet for big !sh in the hot summer months.

Best Summer Lures

1. e best topwater lures are a large walk-the-dog lure like a Zara Super Spook, Rapala Skitter Walk or a MirrOlure Top Dog. ese lures are a great choice in low light and dirty water scenarios.

When !shed in water depths of 4 feet or less, you can expect monster snook, trout and red!sh to crush this lure type.

Pro Tip: Smush the barbs down so you injure yourself and the !sh as little as possible, and always pause the lure retrieve every 8 feet or so for a second or two.

2. My second favorite big topwater/ sub-surface lure for summer !shing is a 5.5-inch jerkbait (%uke). is lure is great for water depths of 4 feet or less but is a much better choice for skipping into structure.

Large snook and red!sh love to tuck

up under mangrove limbs and docks. A 5.5-inch jerkbait is the kryptonite to catch those super !sh lurking in heavy structure. You can rig it weedless or nose hook it with a 1/0 octopus hook or circle hook.

Pro Tip: e best retrieve for this lure type is a twitch-twitch-twitchpause where the lure falls a foot or so before beginning your retrieve again.

3. My third favorite summertime lure is the 4-inch paddletail. is is probably your best lure choice if you are new to !shing because it is easy to master.

Many days the best retrieve is a steady one. Just cast it out and reel it back in. When the !sh are more !nicky, then a twitch-twitch every few feet is a good addition to the retrieval cadence.

e great thing about this lure choice is your complete control of the depth you want to !sh. If you want to get it deeper, just use a bigger jig head. It is a good idea to have 1/8, 1/4, and 3/8 ounce jig heads to cover the water column e ectively.

ere are lots of large forage species around in the summer months so you should increase the size of the lures you are pitching to better “match the hatch.” You just might catch your personal best snook, tarpon, red!sh or speckled trout with those bigger lures.

Go get ’em.

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

JACKSONVILLE YOUTH SETS NEW IGFA WORLD RECORD

On October 13, 2025, Emily Di Perna was !shing the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida, when she landed this 20-pound red drum. With this !sh, Emily has set the IGFA Junior Women’s 10-kg (20 lb) Line Class World Record for the species. She was !shing with Capt. Don Dingman when this record drum struck a blue crab.

A er recording the weight on a certi!ed scale, Emily was able to release the !sh safely.

Land one of these and Get Fishing Sooner

John Deere equipment brings the power, performance and productivity, so you get more time to land a trophy. We’ll help you land the right machine with special offers making it an even better catch. Stop in and leave tasks in your wake.

COASTAL ANGLER

North Central Florida/Nature Coast

Cary & Lynn Crutchfield

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

JUNE

Today is a hot humid day in late May. Getting almost no rain this spring, my Suwannee is very, very low. The nearest reporting station to me is currently reporting below 3 ½ feet above sea level. No flooding in our immediate future, but hurricane season starts in a few days. The annual invasion of those little black grasshoppers (who grow up to be big grasshoppers) are worse this year than I have ever seen them. They eat my wisteria, amaryllis, and a few other plants. Every evening, I walk around my yard doing the “grasshopper stomp”. Oh well, a small price to pay to live in Paradise!

See page 15 for another wonderful report from Dr. Ken Sulak, about the magnificent Suwannee River sturgeon. Right now, I can stand on my front steps and see a jump every few minutes. Some are young and have not yet mastered the “in-air shimmy”. A word of caution to fast boaters. An encounter with a mid-air sturgeon at high speed can be catastrophic.

This month’s recipe, Grouper with Lemon Garlic Sauce is so good that I make it almost every time I get grouper or sheepshead. See page 2.

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

Father’s Day is June 21st. How about a guided fishing trip for Dad? Our guides are the best in the business!

The best thing about summer on Florida’s Nature Coast (Hernando County through Taylor County) is scalloping, AKA “An Easter egg hunt under water”. Scalloping is fun for all ages (The little ones love it!) and scallops are simple to cook and delicious! How about a guided scalloping trip with one of our guides? Please thank our advertisers and the location where you picked up the world’s greatest FREE fishing magazine.

Lynn Crutchfield Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida/Nature Coast

FOR SALE

43 acres (+or-) 1100 feet (+or-) on Suwannee River in Lafayette County at US 27, across river from Branford. Heavily wooded, perfect for residence, camp ground or hunting lodge. Elec. and well. Cary A. Crutchfield Registered

GROUPER WITH LEMON GARLIC SAUCE

Thank you to The Crab Plant for the grouper. 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

Sprinkle fish with salt and pepper.

Place flour in a shallow dish. Dredge both sides of fish in flour; reserve unused flour.

COOKING DIRECTIONS

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon butter and oil to pan; swirl to coat.

Add fish to pan; cook 2 minutes on each side or until fish flakes easily when tested with a fork. (Add more butter if needed.)

Remove from pan; keep warm.

Add reserved flour and garlic to pan; cook 90 seconds or until lightly browned, stirring constantly.

Add stock, stirring with a whisk; bring to a boil. Cook 2 minutes or until slightly thickened.

INGREDIENTS

• 4 (6-ounce) Grouper fillets (or any mild fish of your choice)

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• 3 tablespoons quickmixing flour (such as Wondra)

• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 tablespoon minced garlic

• 1/3 cup unsalted chicken stock (such as Swanson)

• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

• 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

Remove pan from heat; stir in remaining 1 tablespoon butter, parsley, and lemon juice. Serve fish with sauce.

Lynn Crutchfield, Co-Publisher Coastal Angler Magazine of North Central Florida

Bees Along the Suwannee River FLORIDA WATERWAYS

By Kevin McCarthy

By Dr. Kevin M. McCarthy

When my friend Cary and I were boating the Caloosahatchee River from Lake Okeechobee to Fort Myers, we noticed a lot of bee boxes along the banks. Cary explained that northern beekeepers brought their bees down to the warmth of South Florida during the cold winter months, and the bees thrived in their temporary new surroundings. Another friend of mine, Malcolm Sanford, wrote Beekeeping Without Borders about apiculture in Italy and France. All of that got me thinking about what kinds of bees one can encounter along the Suwannee River. This is what I found.

A lot of native Florida bees, along with the non-native Western honeybee, make their home along the Suwannee, which has a multitude of wildflowers that depend on the pollination of bees to thrive. The Western honey bee is just one of over 300 species of bees, all of which add much to the beauty of the river and its surroundings, as they pollinate the many flowers one can find there. Without those countless bees working tirelessly, the river would be a much duller waterway.

North Florida is home to over 315 species of bees. The most commonly encountered types along the Suwannee River and its surrounding areas include the following. First of all, one can see the Western honey bee, a common species whose Latin name, “apis mellifera,” has the Latin word for bee (“apis”) and the Latin word for “honeybearing” (“mellifera”). The colonies of such bees have one fertile female queen, some non-reproductive females, and some fertile males.

The eastern carpenter bee (“Xylocopa virginica”) likes to nest in different types of wood and eats pollen and nectar. The sweat bee (“clade Anthophila”) includes over 4,000 species and has a name that indicates that they are attracted to sweat/perspiration. The

leafcutter bee (“Megachilidae”) is so called because it likes to use leaves for its nest. The mining bee (“Andrena”) likes to burrow in the ground for its nest. The plasterer bee (“Colletidae”) is known to smooth over (plaster) the walls of its nest cells with secretions from its mouth.

So, the next time you are boating or fishing along the Suwannee River or any other Florida river for that matter, keep your eyes out for bees, some of the hardest working creatures along our rivers. They do an amazing job

of pollinating the area’s wildflowers and therefore add to the beauty of our rivers. And in the cold of winter keep your eyes pealed to any bee boxes along the isolated part of our rivers, clues that beekeepers from the North are taking advantage of our great weather to place their hives where the bees can thrive in our temperate climate.

Kevin McCarthy, the author of “Suwannee River Guidebook” (Amazon, 2009), can be reached at ceyhankevin@ gmail.com.

June

is always a great month here on the Nature Coast! Inshore, the redfish trout and black drum have taken the scene in full force. All of the outside points and oyster bars have a ton of bait and will invite tons of the predators we love to catch very soon.

Nearshore, the cobia bite is slowing down and the tripletail bite will start to pickup hot and heavy. Focus on floating debris along with

crab buoys and channel markers. A three-inch white gulp mantis shrimp will get the job done every time! Remember to practice good sportsmanship and let the giants go to spawn for us next year. Keep those nice less than 25-inch fish. Ebb Tide Guide Service Capt. Andrew Fagan | 352.818.8927

Instagram : @capt_redfishdrew

KATIE JO’S NATURE COAST ADVENTURES

Summertime is here! Something

I always look forward to that means BBQ with friends and family, while spending Sundays on an island somewhere out in the Gulf! It also means starting a bit earlier to catch the fish before the heat of the day! Redfish have pushed almost entirely out of the creeks and heading their way offshore for the summer. Although, there are many who stay inshore and along the rocky areas of mangrove islands and long bars with oysters, where they look for their next meal. Artificial baits are a great way to keep the catfish at bay, but offer a nice meal as the fish are warm and ready to eat. Typically, the incoming tide will bring in a little cooler water temp and push the bait towards the area that is holding the fish.

Trout have moved to deeper water areas where there are lots of pinfish and smaller baitfish around. Jigging a shrimp or DOA Glow Jerk bait displays a live bait mimic where a trout can nearly resist it.

Black drum are following the blue crabs into fresh water areas, so the rivers will have the larger schools of them while they hold inside during the warmer months.

Flounder have made their way to the rocky, sandy area flats and often gulp a mud minnow or shrimp along the bottom.

A large majority of our keeper size mangrove snapper are also found in

shallower areas near rock piles and rocky points.

Hogfish will move to the outer sides of the ledges and rocks in 30 to 60 feet of water.

Always remember as we head into the summer months, we have pop up showers late in the afternoon. So be sure to get out on the water early, so that you can enjoy some great fishing before the rain and lightning rolls in.

Captain Katie Jo Davis KD OUTDOORS FiSHING CHARTERS

772-882-8932

www.fishcrystalriverflorida.com

CEDAR KEY

Heyanglers, I hope by time you read this, all this up and down weather is past us (mainly the wind). Despite having some high winds and temperatures in May, the bite has been very consistent.

With water already in the 80s the redfish have been out in full force around the keys. I've had the most success during incoming tide, using knocker rigs with cut mullet. Fresh mullet works much better than frozen. So, knock the dust off that ole cast net.

Trout have been thick on several of the southern flats. I've found that the lower the water, the better the bite. When that water gets over four feet, it seems like the bite really slows

down. Then once it hits five feet, you can almost forget about catching a good one. A popping cork and paddle tail combo is all you need to fill the cooler with trout at the right tides.

Now with us getting into June, it's time to start looking for cobia and tripletails. So, make sure while you're out there, to keep an eye out for either of those fun fish around structure.

Well y'all, until next month. Stay safe out there.

Jason Clark In The Slot Fishing Charters 352-639-3209 www.intheslotfishing.com

KEATON BEACH

Great to finally get some rain. It should help the Gulf as for clarity, as it has been too clear of late, and I think that has hurt the bite overall. A speckled trout needs some cover, and here, that is color in the water to safely move about without getting eaten. So, if you should find some murky water, stay in it and fish. Could be your best bet for a big trout near the shoreline.

Our color choices have been predictable and consistent in the clear water, and that might change if the rain has the desired effect I am hoping for. We have been catching trout and black sea bass on Panhandle Moon , Chickenon-a Chain and Pink Ghost patterns with more success on the 4-inch Sea Shads by Assassin. Normally, we are throwing more of their 5-inch shads by now, but that would be happening if we were to see more pelagic bait showing up. Houdini was working for Bert Deener on board One More Cast last week, and Bert was fooling them with his triple rig. The Triple rig is three 5 inch shad tied on three "dropper" lines and to watch it work is amazing. Each

bait has it's on path and direction as you twitch it on the retrieve.

A few cobia have shown up (We had a couple of shorts so far.) but more mature ling should be plentiful in June. Try a small blue crab or hardhead catfish if you can find a few.

Redfish have been a bit scarce and on a “here today, gone tomorrow”, basis, due to very little white bait hanging around. When you do see mullet, there is likely to be reds present, so give it a whirl. Mike Hakala's Aquadream Spoons in gold and copper are my choices to hunt for reds. The third week in June traditionally sees tarpon showing up, as they migrate through our waters. Have a 30 lb. outfit at the ready if you start to see them on "moving day"

Hey, I have plenty of dates open in June, so give me a call.

Meanwhile, Let's Go Fishing!

Pat McGriff dba One More Cast guide service for 33 years! www.onemorecast.net onemorecast@gtcom.net cell: 850.838.7541

CRYSTAL RIVER

Summer

is starting to really warm up, and so is the fishing! June is full of opportunity to go bend a rod. From inshore to offshore, the bite is on!

June tends to be the last hoo-rah of the trout bite before fall. Eight to ten feet of water with patchy grass and hard bottom is where I do the best. Bouncing a lil john across the bottom or a popping cork with a long leader and a shrimp, will get the bite you’re after.

Redfish will be everywhere, but tend to slow down their eating habits as the water temps warm up. Cut bait is my go-to when the bites slow. One-to-two-inch chunks of mullet, ladyfish or pinfish are my favorites. Shrimp on a 1/8 ounce jig head works great as well, but can be hard to keep on the hook with all the baitfish around.

Cobia will still be lingering around. I like a chum block and lots of stinky bait out when targeting them. Go to your favorite rock pile or ledge and soak big live baits once you get the water chummed up. Just be ready to deal with the sharks! Catch and release gag grouper fishing can fill in the boredom of the “sit and wait” of cobia fishing.

Tarpon are showing face well, and will be, until scallop season hits. Three-to-five-foot flats and troughs in the bars will be the best bet to find these silver kings. Forty to sixty pound leader and live blue crabs or pinfish will get the job done. Target them with heavy enough gear that you can wear down the fish

and get it boat side before it’s totally exhausted. Take good care of them upon the release!

lines

Captain Dallas King

Pirate Flag Charters and Tours

352.601.8460

www.pirateflagcharters.com

www.crystalriverfishingpros.com

HOMOSASSA

Juneis the real first month of summer to me. I know the kids get out of school in May, but June just feels like summer. I look forward to the afternoon thunderstorms of June. It’s nature’s way of cooling down the day. I love the smell of the rain on a summer afternoon, just sitting on the porch listening to the rain on the tin roof. It’s good for the soul and I think it keeps those water temps from getting out of hand. This time of the year, I like to trout fish offshore in the 8 foot range. But there’s still some good red fishing inshore on the incoming. Really, there’s still a lot of good fishing in June.

MirrOlure Lil Johns rigged on a 1/8th ounce DOA Jig heads are hard to beat. I like the watermelon red flake or glow. Establish your drift and once you catch a couple, duplicate that drift. Mackerel, sea bass, grouper, flounder, blue fish and more will be plentiful as well. I like to rig a live shrimp on a jig head and fish the rock piles while offshore. While you are on those rock piles, especially the larger rock structure, make sure to have a rig set up for cobia. Free lined pin fish will produce. Hang a chum bag and let the kids enjoy some great rod bending action!

Inshore red fishing will be good on the incoming tides on the outside points of the St. Martin

Keys to Ozello. Live pin fish or live shrimp are hard baits to beat. I like to fish free-lined baits this time of the year, over bait, under a cork. Cut mullet or lady fish, will produce bites as well. Gold spoons are great go-to artificial this time of the year to locate fish. Keep an eye out for snook as well, especially on those points with hard moving water! June is a great month for tarpon fishing the entire Gulf Coast of Florida. Crystal Bay in Crystal River has some great tarpon fishing in June. I’m a fly guide, so I Iike to fish small bait fish flies or small tarpon toads in dark colors this time of the year. If you are fishing conventional, live pin fish, thread fin or DOA bait busters are great baits to fish for the Giant Silver King!

For the third year in a row, on June 8th, the Homosassa Guides Association will be giving out $10,000 dollars in scholarships to graduating seniors in Citrus County. Congratulations to the students who were selected and good luck in the future to all who applied. For more information about our scholarship program, visit us at www. homosassaguidesassociation.org

As always stay safe,

Capt. Stump, Jonathan Hamilton 352-403-2073

www.homosassafishingcompany.com

Whole Lot of Sturgeon Jumping Going On

Fish Ecologist & North Florida Historian

Priorto 1895, there were probably about 50,000 to 100,000 Gulf Sturgeon in the Suwannee. The best account of the early 1900s, sturgeon net fishery, is the oral presentation of Luella Odlund at the 1958 Florida Folk Festival in White Springs. (Listen to Florida Memory archive recording.) Her husband Eric immigrated to Florida from Sweden in the late 1800s, specifically to fish for sturgeon. Many others got into the action. The unregulated sturgeon fishery heyday ended by 1920, with a small fishery continuing until a Florida harvest ban in 1984. By the mid-1970s, there were only about 1,500 in the river, with very few adults. Back then, it was rare to see a sturgeon jump. Protected from harvest, the Gulf Sturgeon gradually rebounded on its own, growing to a current population of about 15,000 fish, including about 40% adults. However, the Suwannee is a much different river that it was in 1900, so the present population is about maxed out, with as many sturgeon as the river, the estuarine and Gulf neashore feeding grounds can sustain.

Gulf Sturgeon are known for their spectacular high jumps and loud splashdowns. The main reason they jump, is to swallow air to maintain underwater buoyancy, but the loud splashdown is an added social benefit. Typically, jumping really does not get going full tilt until the sturgeon have spawned in March and April, then settled into certain summer resting areas in late May. This year however, everything is different, the result of an extended major drought that started in September 2025. We get such a serious drought about every ten years, the most recent previous two in 2000-2001 and 2011-2012. The current drought is about as bad as it gets, so certain springs, like Charles Spring and Telford Spring are essentially dry, and the whole Suwannee River is historically very low. Right now, you can easily cross the upper river at the normally roaring Big Shoals, by stepping from boulder to boulder.

Ecologically, the super low Suwannee has consequences for river residents, most notably the Gulf Sturgeon, as well as the manatee. Sturgeon had been fattening up all winter out in the Gulf of Mexico, returning to their home river, beginning in late January, but mainly in March and April. That is when the mature adults migrate up more than 120 miles to spawning grounds, specific areas of gravel bottom upstream of Ellaville. But this year, they have encountered a problem, rocky barriers to upstream migration. Due to the drought, several sets of major shoals have emerged along the unusually low river, creating barriers to the spawning migration. Some sturgeon have made it up to those spawning grounds, but most are now essentially trapped in isolated areas of deeper water between the shoals. At the same time, due to the lack of rain and surface runoff, the Suwannee is exceptionally clear. Sturgeon are secretive creatures who love deep dark muddy or tannic rivers. They dislike being stranded in fairly shallow, clear water. Normally, jumping is rarely observed until after the fish have spawned, then settled into summer holding areas. But, the stress of being stranded in shallow clear water appears to be stimulating a great deal of sturgeon jumping, and unusually early in the season. Right now, if you happen to be on the river, or sitting on the riverbank, anywhere upstream of Rock Bluff or Branford, you will likely see lots of jumping, as much as one to three jumps per minute. I have been working with a video crew for the past three weeks, as they filmed sturgeon jumping and also close-up underwater, in unusually clear water. There was a great deal of activity in a 3 to 10 foot deep hole, only about 500 acres in size, downstream of Double Island Shoal, and Macomb Island Shoal. That area, packed with sturgeon, is just 500 yards downstream of the Ft. Macomb boat ramp. If you want to see lots of sturgeon jumping, head over there, but you will need a canoe or small jonboat. The river is super low, but the current is swift; it is a tough paddle back up to the ramp. Aternately head to the Hardenbergh boat ramp at the end of Pecan Ave., off US 27. No need

for a boat there. Not nearly as many fish as Macomb, but in an hour, you will likely see 10 to 20 jumps, some as close as 30 feet out from the end of the ramp. That ramp is open, even though the state boat ramp guide says it is closed. Jumping sturgeon can probably be observed in other areas upstream of Branford, where they are stranded in short reaches between emerged shoals. A 6 foot sturgeon can power straight up to as much as 10 feet above the water, then twist sideways or upside down, to land with a great smackdown. Gulf

Sturgeon communicate with each other by sound, sharp tongue clicks that can readily be heard underwater, punctuated by that loud report when a jump ends at splashdown. This spring, their normal upriver spawning run has been halted by nearly impassable shoals. Stranded, crowded into isolated reaches, stressed and unable to spawn, it seems they are talking to each other a lot, expressing their mutual frustration.

Ken Sulak jumpingsturgeon@yahoo.com 352-514-9043 cell/text

SURF & PIER

Summer

is finally here! From now through August, the most productive time in the surf is the first three hours of daylight. That means, “toes in the sand” by 5:45 AM, with the first cast at 6 AM. The reason for this early start is that the bite shuts down between 9 and 10 AM.

One of my favorite things to do on calm mornings, is to throw lures for seatrout, redfish, bluefish and Spanish. Since you are casting in shallow water, my favorite lues are top water or suspending hard baits. On cloudless mornings, a really shinny bait puts off a lot of reflection. The YO-ZURI 3D Inshore with 3D prism finish is like a mirror. On overcast mornings, you need a solid color, so that it creates more of a silhouette. At this time, I am going with a YO-ZURI MAG MINNOW Super Long Cast. Because you will be casting and retrieving continuously, go light, an eight to ten foot lightweight rod paired with a 2000 size reel. Spool it up with ten pound braid,

then tip with two feet of 30 pound fluorocarbon. “Where to cast?” you ask. Trout come up into knee deep water, chasing small pompano and whiting. So on calm mornings, I start in knee deep water and cast straight down the beach. Remember to cast with the wind for more distance. My next two casts will be at 22 degrees, then at 45 degrees. Then walk 30 feet with the wind, and make three casts again. Keep a firm grip, because seatrout slam those lures!

If you want to target flounder, slooooow down your retrieve. A light jig head tipped with a Fishbites Dirty Boxer Curly Tail works really good. I keep my rod tip up high, and do four cranks and pause. Repeat until you feel that wonderful THUMP!

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

Schools

out for summer! Better get to the beach! This time of year, the pogy pods start to show up along the beaches, along with some really big fish. All kinds of predators will be showing up to give chase to those giant pods of baitfish. Locate the pogy pods from a few hundred yards off the beach, out to about 50 feet of water. Look for crashing on the surface, as there will be predatory fish in hot pursuit of the baitfish, pushing them to the surface. Sharks, cobia, bull reds, Spanish and king macs, giant jacks, bluefish, and one of my favorites the silver king, a.k.a. tarpon, will be crashing the pogy pods in an exciting free-for-all that you have to see to believe. A favorite way to fish the pods, is to rig a live pogy on a medium to large circle hook (5/0 to 10/0). Use about five feet of 60 to 80 lb. fluorocarbon leader, then add a split shot or two a few feet above the hook. This technique will keep your pogy slightly under the pod and make for an easy meal for lurking predators. Bring some heavy tackle, because you never know what may lie underneath. Just like last month inshore, some of the best redfish and trout catches will come at daybreak and at sunset. A top-water plug like the Berkley J-Walker 120 will be the lure of choice when worked around mullet schools. If the fish seem to be short striking, try to vary your retrieval rate. Sometimes they like it fast, and sometimes a little slower. If they just don't seem to want to inhale the top-water, switch to a sub-surface lure like a

Berkley Stick Shad or a soft plastic Gulp jerk bait. These lures perfectly imitate a wounded mullet or small pogy and will stay just under the surface when worked correctly. It can be just the right look for those fish who seem to be "sniffing" your top-waters. During the heat of the day, switch up your presentation. Again, locate the mullet schools and jig a little deeper with soft plastic paddle tail like a Saltwater Assassin Lil Boss, paired with a 1/8-1/4 ounce jighead. A live mud minnow or shrimp on a jighead will also be a great all-around setup for our summertime fish (trout, jacks, ladyfish, flounder, and reds, just to name a few). These will all be hiding around the schools of mullet and pogys, waiting for one of the baitfish, or better yet your presentation, to get out of line for an easy snack.

With the water getting murky and turning that summer "yoohoo" color, using baits that have some good scent, or “stink” in this case, are a good bet. I like to use a cut mullet or ladyfish for redfish around oyster bars and in creek holes. These baits give off a strong scent and make it easy for the fish to find them in murky water. Another way to attract fish in murky water is to use a gold spoon, tossed along grass edges and oyster bars during the higher tide stages. It is sure to get the attention of a few reds and flounder.

Capt. Tommy Derringer www.InshoreAdventures.net 904-377-3734

FWC’s 2026 TrophyCatch Program In Full Swing

TrophyCatch Season 14 is still going strong as Florida’s annual spawning season winds down. Multiple double-digit and Hall of Fame bass were submitted in the last quarter, including the lucky catch below. !e latest totals for the TrophyCatch program are::

• 13,349 Lunker Club (8-9.9 lbs.) bass

• 3,372 Trophy Club (10-12.9 lbs.)

• 176 Hall of Fame (13+ lbs.)

• 16,897 Total approved bass submissions to date If you’ve participated in TrophyCatch, your data is included here!

TrophyCatch Season 14 launched on October 1st, 2025 and allows anglers until September 30th, 2026 to pursue and land an 8+ lbs. bass. !is unique program unites anglers who document their bass, conservation partners who award prizes and your catch data which helps sheries managers understand where, when and how the

biggest bass are being caught in Florida. It takes all three groups collaborating for this program to be successful.

And for Putnam County anglers, there’s an exciting opportunity to win an awesome shing trip prize package when you submit and have catches approved for TrophyCatch that are from Putnam County!

!e TrophyCatch program is brought to you by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation

Commission (FWC), and their conservation partners. !e FWC mission is “Managing sh and wildlife resources for their long-term well-being and the bene t of people.” !ese programs collect valuable data through citizen-science, encourage shing and conservation and bring enjoyment to Florida anglers.

Register for TrophyCatch or view approved angler catches at TrophyCatch.com.

GUARANTEED LOWEST

Boating

SUMMER SAFETY

By Will Schmidt

There’s been a troubling trend that I’m hearing while out on my boat. The Coast Guard broadcasting an unmanned vessel alert. This potentially deadly scenario seems to be happening now on a regular basis, and a few precautions can take this from a life-or-death situation to an easily survivable event. With the summer boating season soon to be underway, now is a great time to revisit some basic safety protocols. Perhaps the two biggest safety items on a boat are often the most overlooked

and underused pieces of equipment. First, life jackets. Gone are the days of the bulky bright orange life jackets that are uncomfortable and impeding. The new self-inflating styles are both comfortable and unencumbering. These are far more user friendly and yet many resist. The truth is the self-inflating vest or hip pack versions are comfortable and don’t restrict you in any way. Should you fall overboard they can truly be life savers.

The second most underused item is your kill switch. Even though they are mandated on vessels 26 feet or less while on a plane, most people still don’t use them. The biggest complaint with these is that they tether you to the helm. However, as your boats have gotten smarter, so has the kill switch. There are products like the Fell Marine 1st Mate system which wirelessly protect the users. This genius devise uses geo fencing to define your boat’s area and activates the system should the small wearable fob cross the boundary. By allowing movement around the boat untethered there is no excuse at all for not utilizing the kill switch, even while not on plane. Should the captain fall overboard the engine(s) stop and if the system is not reset in a definable amount of time it will send messages for help. This is great for solo fishing where an errant wave can be disastrous. As a bonus it can also be set up as an anti-theft device.

Another lesser used device is your fire extinguisher. One of the most terrifying events that can happen on a boat is fire. If that should occur, every second counts. Having your fire extinguisher close at hand is a must, and finding an out-of-the-way spot to mount this gear is essential. There are many mounts available, and being prepared for this type of emergency is the smart thing to do.

Clearly there are many other required pieces of equipment as well as suggested items. From flares to first aid kits, no one wants to use them, but when they are needed, they are crucial. Before heading out, make sure everyone knows where all these items are stored. Time can be of the essence in an emergency and having the crew waste valuable time searching for safety items could make all the difference in the world.

Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about fishing from more than two decades. Follow Will on Instagram @saltynstrong.

“4EverYoung has transformed my life in ways I couldn’t have imagined. My mood has stabilized, my energy levels are consistent, and I just feel healthier overall. It’s like I’ve been given a new lease on life, and I can’t recommend it enough.” ~David R.

PROACTIVE. EASY. LIFE CHANGING.

Discover the range of health and wellness services that 4Ever Young provides to help you combat aging and showcase your best features. Whatever your concerns, 4EverYoung is ready to help you look and feel your best with an array of youth-reviving services using the latest technologies and most sophisticated techniques currently available. Whether in-office or via our telehealth services, our holistic approach ensures your path to aging with vitality is tailored to your unique needs.

BECOME A VIP MEMBER TODAY!

Our VIP membership packages provide year-round product and service discounts and VIP access to 4EverYoung events & specials.

Gabby Ryan, MA-LME Managing Director - CEO 772-510-9040•GabbyR@4EverYoungStuart.com “Come See Me at the 4EverYoung Stuart

The Angler Video Magazine is the hot, new platform from Coastal Angler and The Angler Magazines connecting fishing and boating enthusiasts with the latest industry news, gear, product reviews, tips, how-to’s and more...

CRUISE TO THE ULTIMATE ALASKAN FISHING EXCURSION

By Capt. Lukas Brickweg

Ketchikan, Alaska isn’t just another cruise ship port; it’s widely recognized as one of the top shing locations in Alaska—and for good reason. For cruise ship guests looking to experience an authentic Alaska shing in a limited window of time, the quality and diversity of shing found here is unmatched anywhere else on the Inside Cruise Passage.

Why book a shing excursion in Ketchikan? Due to the sheer productivity and diversity of nearby waters, combined with a variety of species types and trip times, this is revered as a must do cruise excursion. It o%ers a chance to

get out of the bustling downtown, reel in massive catches and have your catch shipped home. In addition, these waterways always provide areas for calm, scenic waters abundant with wildlife sightings.

Depending on the season, guests can hook into all ve types of wild paci c salmon, with each o%ering a unique ght and experience. Add to that the opportunity to drop lines for Paci c halibut, and you have a shery that delivers both action and assortment. Ketchikan’s waters are also home to an impressive range of additional species including lingcod, rock sh, and Paci c cod, giving guests a true Alaska shing experience. !is diversity keeps the day exciting, especially for rst-time anglers and families, and ensures there’s always something happening on the rod.

For cruise ship guests on a tight schedule, quality and convenience matter! Ketchikan consistently produces an opportunity to catch trophy sh! !e size and strength of the sh they hook astonishes guests. !is reputation for quality shing is why experienced anglers and rst-timers alike rank Ketchikan as the best shing port on an Alaska cruise.

At Ketchikan’s Finest Fishing Charters, we focus on putting guests in the right place at the right time. Our captains know these waters intimately and adjust techniques based on tides, seasons, and conditions to maximize success. !e result is a shing experience that consistently exceeds expectations, which is re ected in our top rated reviews and repeat guests year a er year.

Another major advantage for cruise ship excursions is the downtown cruise ship harbor location. Being located steps from where cruise ships dock means less time commuting and more time shing. Guests appreciate the simplicity; walk o% the ship, step aboard, and start shing.

If you’re cruising to Alaska and want the best possible shing excursion, Ketchikan delivers unmatched diversity, dependable action, and true trophy potential, combined with convenient harbor access and one of the highestreviewed charter operations in town. Ketchikan’s Finest Fishing Charters o%ers cruise ship guests an authentic Alaska shing experience, rich sheries, wildlife abound and unforgettable moments for the entire family. Step o% your cruise ship and straight into some of the best shing Alaska has to o%er.

To book your Alaskan shing adventure with Ketchikan’s Finest Fishing Charters, visit ketchikan shingtrips.com, call (907) 617-4717 or email ketchikan shingtrips@gmail.com.

Ayoung angler from South Florida recently reached out to the Fish and Wildlife Research Institute’s freshwater sheries team with a truly remarkable catch. While our biologists occasionally encounter very dark gar and other species in the Everglades and throughout South Florida, this sh stood out as something special. It is believed to be a rare melanistic Florida gar.

Melanism is a condition marked by an unusually dark appearance caused by excessive melanin in the skin, scales, fur, or feathers. It is relatively uncommon in wildlife and is not something biologists see very o en, making this catch especially unique.

Dive in Without Taking a Plunge

Themarket’s swimming with overpriced dive watches. We’re here to tell you those guys are all wet. At Stauer our philosophy is everyone deserves the best without having to dig deep into their pockets. We’ve been in the watch industry for decades and know more than a thing or two about getting the ultimate bang for our buck— which means we can pass the fruits of our know-how onto our clients.

Case in point: The Explorer Dive Watch. This tough-as-nails sophisticate would cost you in the thousands if you got it from a high-end retailer that’s really in the business of selling a big name more than a quality watch. We keep the big names out of the equation so we can price this top-notch timepiece for just $99 ––a price that let’s you dive in and have enough left over for an excursion or two...or three.

You’re getting a lot for your money with this watch. The Explorer is the perfect companion in any locale–– whether you’re exploring coral reefs or investigating the rum options at a beachside bar. With a case, band and crown of stainless steel, this watch is built to last, and its water resistance rating of 20 ATM means it can handle most of your aquatic adventures to a depth of 678 feet. The striking metallic blue face reflects the

deep waters it was designed to explore and it’s sporty screw-down crown can take the pressure in stride.

Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. If you are not completely convinced you got excellence for less, simply return the Explorer Dive Watch within 30 days for a refund of the item price. At Stauer, we never leave our customers high and dry. Limited Edition. Sure you could give your hard-earned money to those other guys, but why would you? We’ve got the thinking man’s timepiece right here. This watch takes six months to engineer and it’s already making waves, so we can’t guarantee it will be around for long. Call today, and experience how good it feels to get true luxury for less.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT: JAGUAR GUAPOTE

The Jaguar Guapote is a large, non-native freshwater cichlid now established in southeastern Florida’s coastal canal systems, with records as far north as the West Palm Beach area.

It has a robust, semi-elongated body with a large oblique mouth and prominent canine teeth, and is easily recognized by its broken lateral line and striking black-spot and blotch pattern along a pale body — reminiscent of a jaguar’s spots.

!is species is an aggressive predator, feeding mainly on small sh and aquatic insects, but also consuming snails, worms, and other prey.

In Florida, jaguar guapote tolerate poor water quality and warm temperatures, thriving in canals and sluggish waters. !ey spawn on hard surfaces, with both parents guarding eggs and young.

!ough valued by some anglers and considered good to eat, this nonnative predator can impact native sh communities due to its voracious feeding habits.

captains license

Lake Mary/Sanford - Jun 1

Crystal River - Jun 15

Tarpon Springs - Jun 15

New Smyrna Bch - Jul 6

Palm Bay/Melb - Jul 20

Bradenton - Aug 10

www.adamsmarine.com

To Reserve a Spot Call: 352-447-1950 Email: info@adamsmarine.com

NO LE HACE TAKES TOP PRIZE AT 6TH ANNUAL CHUB CAY INVITATIONAL

WPalm Bay/Melb - Aug 1

Bradenton - Aug 22

Call

dates on:

eather played a big factor in the 6th Annual Chub Cay Invitational Tournament that just concluded in the Bahamas. A strong low pressure system with high winds forced multiple boats to sit out, but the remaining eet didn’t let that damper spirits. By the time the frontal boundary had passed, the sh turned on and No Le Hace, a 57 Spencer led by Capt. Freddy “Potatoes” Vicens and team, had captured rst place. No Le Hace released three sail sh and one blue marlin and all were caught by Denise McMahan, who was also named Top Lady Angler for the event.

On the rst day of shing two blue marlin, one white and four sail sh were tallied. Blues successfully released count for 500 points, whites are 200 and sails score 100.

No Le Hace made its charge on the second day. Invicta, a 44-foot Contender center console run by Michael Buxton, released a blue the rst day, followed by the rst sh of Day Two, a white marlin. !at earned the team second-place honors. Sempre Dura, a 68 Ricky Scarborough with owner Chris Stavola at the helm, locked up third place with a sail sh in the morning and a blue marlin a er lunch.

!e radio and dock was buzzing with Waterline’s (Capt. Jake Gri th/58 Viking) epic ght on light tackle. Rob McCall fought a big yellow n tuna for ve hours, 20 minutes on a Tallica 25 with 40-pound main line, 60-pound leader and a 7/0 circle hook. !e sh ate a ballyhoo on the right long outrigger line and was nally boated at 5:04. !e boat made it back to the scales within the two-hour deadline, with everyone cheering on. When the sh was nally weighed, it registered 140 pounds, easily winning the heaviest meat sh for the Invitational. !at catch also was the largest game sh in Chub Cay Resort’s tournament history. Waterline also weighed a 38-pound dolphin to sweep the game sh categories.

“ !e Invitational is a members-only event following the Chub Cay Classic and Chub Cay Open, which are open to the public,” says Tournament Director Robert “Fly” Navarro. “ !e weather was a factor early, but we still had some outstanding shing overall, including Waterline’s epic catch.”

!e dates for next year’s tournaments are set. !e Chub Cay Classic kicks o% on March 11-13, 2027. !e Cub Cay Open will be held April 1-3, followed by the Chub Cay Invitational on April 15-17, 2027.

For more information about the tournaments, the resort and its amenities, visit www.chubcay.com.

NOAA ESTABLISHES LONGEST ATLANTIC RED SNAPPER SEASON IN DECADES

Anglers across the South Atlantic will enjoy a signi cantly longer red snapper season in 2026, thanks to a new management strategy approved by NOAA Fisheries. rough an Exempted Fishing Permit (EFP), individual states are taking the lead on data collection and management, resulting in a dramatic increase in shing days compared to previous federal seasons. Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina will have more than two months (62 days) for recreational Atlantic red snapper shing, while Florida will have 39 days split into several windows.

Florida’s Extended 39-Day Opportunity

Florida recreational anglers will see the most substantial change, with a season split into summer and fall windows. is expansion aims to reduce regulatory discards— sh that are caught and released but do not survive—by allowing more sh to be kept.

• Summer Window: May 22 – June 20

• Fall Window: October 2–4, 9–11, and 16–18

• Regulations: e daily bag limit is one sh per person. Notably, there is no minimum size limit for Florida under this permit, a move designed to further reduce discard mortality.

Georgia and the Carolinas

North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia are also participating in the pilot program, o ering a continuous two-month season for their residents.

• Season Dates: July 1 – August 31, 2026

• Regulations: e bag limit remains one sh per person. Size limits vary by state: South Carolina maintains a 20-inch minimum, while Georgia and North Carolina have no minimum size for this speci c season.

Mandatory Reporting Requirements e success of this pilot program hinges

on accurate data. For the 2026 Atlantic red snapper season, mandatory reporting is a core requirement.

• Florida: Recreational anglers must have a valid saltwater shing license and a (free) State Reef Fish Angler designation. All red snapper landings must be reported via the FWC EFP Reporting app or website - https://app.myfwc.com/crossdoi/ redsnapperreporting/. While passengers may keep their limit on for-hire trips, captains and crew members are prohibited from retaining red snapper on charter or headboat trips.

• Georgia and the Carolinas: Private recreational anglers must use the VESL app or website (https://blue ndata.com/projects/ red-snapper-with-yamaha) to record their red snapper harvest and discard information to participate in the 2026 red snapper season. For-hire operations who qualify must have a current federal permit and record their harvest and discard information through their appropriate reporting program. is shi toward state-led management re ects a growing e ort to balance the health of the red snapper stock with the needs of the recreational shing community. By gathering more precise catch data through these state programs, o&cials hope to create more sustainable and predictable seasons in the years to come.

Red snapper are highly sought a er by anglers because they’re one of the best-tasting sh in the ocean. ese aggressive sh tend to concentrate around reefs, wrecks, and other deep-water structures, which makes for some fun and fast-paced catching when you can nd them.

2026 GULF RED SNAPPER SEASON

e 2026 Gulf red snapper recreational shing season features a record-breaking 140day harvest period in Florida state and federal waters. e season spans both summer and fall periods, extending all the way into January, with exact limits and dates varying depending on your location and shing permit.

Florida Private Recreational Gulf Season

Florida anglers enjoy the longest season in state history with a 140-day allowance. Bag limit is 2 sh per person, per day, and you must sign up for a no-cost State Reef Fish Survey.

• Summer Season: Open daily from May 22 through July 31.

• Fall Season: Open daily from September 1 through October 4.

• Weekend Openings: Select weekends continue through the rest of the year:

» ree-day weekends in October (Oct. 9-11, 16-18, 23-25, 30-Nov. 1)

» Two-day weekends in November (Nov. 7-8, 14-15, 21-22)

» anksgiving weekend (Nov. 26-29)

» Two-day weekends in December (Dec. 5-6, 12-13, 19-20).

» Christmas weekend (Dec. 25-27) and New Year’s (Jan. 1-4).

Federal For-Hire Gulf Season

For federally-permitted charter/for-hire vessels, the federal waters season in the Gulf of America runs for 147 days and is open June 1 through October 26. Limit of 2 sh per person, per day.

Other Gulf States Regulations and dates vary outside of Florida:

• Louisiana: e season opened on May 1 for private anglers and for-hire charters (state waters), open 7 days a week until quotas are met. e bag limit is 4 sh.

• Alabama: e season opened on May 22, running 7 days a week until the quota is reached.

• Texas: State waters are open year-round.

Always check with your state’s shing and wildlife agency for the most up-to-date rules and regulations.

TA FISHING FATHERS’ CATCH A FISHING FATHERS’ CATCH

the sh bite, and sometimes they don’t. Learning to accept both outcomes gracefully is a lesson many adults still struggle to master.

ey also teach resilience. Every angler loses sh. Hooks snag. Weather changes. Boats break down. Yet shermen keep going. Children who grow up shing learn early that frustration is temporary and persistence o en pays o

By Chatwick G. Peterson III

here’s something timeless about a father teaching a child to sh. Long before the rst cast is made or the rst sh is landed, something deeper is already taking place on the shoreline, in the boat, or along the quiet bend of a creek. Fishing becomes more than a hobby—it becomes a bridge between generations.

For many fathers, shing is one of the rst ways they learn to teach patience, con dence, and respect for the outdoors. It starts with simple things: showing a child how to hold a rod, how to bait a hook, or why you move quietly near the water. ose lessons may seem small in the moment, but they o en become memories that last a lifetime.

A child rarely remembers every sh they catch. What they remember is who was standing beside them. ey remember early mornings wrapped in hoodies while the world was still waking up. ey remember snacks in the tackle box, tangled lines that somehow got xed, and the excitement in their father’s voice when a bobber nally disappeared beneath the surface. ey remember the encouragement a er losing a sh and the celebration a er catching even the smallest bluegill.

Fishing fathers teach far more than technique. ey teach patience in a world that moves too fast. Fishing forces children to slow down, observe, and appreciate the moment. ere are no instant rewards on the water. Sometimes

WHY BUY NEW WHEN YOU CAN RENEW?!?

Perhaps most importantly, fathers who sh with their children create space for conversation. Some of the best talks happen when there’s no pressure to talk at all. Sitting side by side in a boat or along a bank has a way of opening doors. Kids ask questions. Fathers share stories. Life slows down enough for real connection to happen naturally.

In today’s world, where screens compete for nearly every waking moment, teaching a child to sh may be more important than ever. Fishing pulls kids outdoors and reconnects them with nature. ey learn where food comes from, how ecosystems work, and why conservation matters. ey begin to understand that lakes, rivers, and oceans are not just places for recreation, but resources that deserve protection.

A father teaching a child to release a sh carefully may also be teaching stewardship without ever using the word.

Not every shing father is perfect. Some are patient teachers while others struggle to untangle knots without frustration. Some own expensive boats while others sh from muddy banks with secondhand rods. But none of that truly matters to a child. What matters is presence. Time is the real gi

Years later, long a er tackle boxes rust and rods are replaced, many sons and daughters discover that shing was never really about the sh at all. It was about learning who their father was. It was about shared silence, laughter, stories, and traditions passed down one cast at a time.

And eventually, something remarkable happens: the child grows up and begins teaching another child how to sh. e knot may be tied di erently. e tackle may change. e old family hotspots may even disappear. But the tradition continues. One generation passes something meaningful to the next—not just a skill, but a way of life.

Fishing fathers help shape patient, observant, and connected children. ey teach kids to appreciate nature, value time, and understand that some of life’s greatest moments happen far away from crowds and noti cations.

In the end, the greatest catch a father ever makes may not be the sh on the line, but the bond built beside the water.

Summertime Fishing Patterns

TIM BAREFOOT

June will begin the widespread warm water, instead of just pockets like in spring. Starting now you can catch tuna, wahoo and dolphin anywhere in that 70+ degree water. From now through October, I would put an emphasis on securing big, hardy live baits for the light line. If nothing else, jig up some small snappers wherever you are bottom shing and keep one underneath a oat or under the kite, along with one without a oat that can get some depth. Of course, I like to nd bait to sh around, not just bait on the surface. Don’t hesitate to get these light line baits deeper in the water column. at 75- to 100-foot depth is notorious for wahoo, as well as yellow n tuna during the middle of the day when the sun is high.

I would suggest spending some time posted up on top of a big stack of bait and dedicating at least one person to jigging up dozens of live cigs and sardines. is is the ultimate bait for either the light line or on the bottom. If you put a lot of cigar minnows or sardines on the decoy jig, its life expectancy is under ve seconds on the bottom, but just getting it to the bottom sometimes can be a challenge. We never leave the dock without a couple boxes of frozen cigar minnows and live pin sh this time of year, but nothing, in my humble opinion, is any better than a live cigar or sardine on the jig.

later.

e summer solstice will be June 20—the longest day of the year. It will be daylight right a er 5 a.m. and sh are just like us. ey like to eat breakfast and dinner, so go early. Be there for the daylight bite or stay late and, if you feel froggy, spend the night. ere is nothing like that night bite under the lights. It is a “National Geographic moment” at night under the lights. You see everything. Be sure to dip up some squid for the daylight bite or put them back down at night. Squid will de nitely come to the lights and are easy to catch, but beware—they will bite you and spew very black ink. is is a great time of year to take the kids. You could have big, high-pressure cells that will keep the seas at for days and they will be amazed to see all the life under the lights at night. But dress your kids properly and teach him how to harvest sh and take care of the sh you want to release. Take plenty of videos because they will never want to forget these trips.

Calm seas and tight lines, Ben Martin. We’ll sh together again someday...

Visit barefootcatsandtackle.com for more tips and techniques.

GOING DEEP WITH COPPER STATE TACKLE PRO JOEY BLOOM

When the water starts warming and o shore schools of bass begin grouping up on ledges, hard spots, and deep structure, few techniques can trigger giant bites like a deep-diving crankbait. For Joey Bloom, deep cranking is one of the best ways to locate aggressive sh and force reaction strikes from bass that might ignore slower presentations.

“Deep cranking is all about triggering sh,” Bloom explained. “You’re covering water fast, crashing the bait into structure or bottom, and forcing those big bass to react.”

One reason the technique is so productive is the amount of water it covers. Deep-diving crankbaits allow anglers to e&ciently sh o shore structure in the 10- to 25-foot range while maintaining constant bottom contact. Bass o en position around underwater points, shell beds, creek channel bends, submerged roadbeds, rock piles, and ledges where bait sh collect. By making long casts and grinding a crankbait through those highpercentage areas, anglers can quickly locate active schools.

According to Bloom, some of the best locations to target are hardbottom transitions where so bottom changes to hard, rock changes to clay or gravel, o shore humps near creek channels, and isolated structure that sits away from heavy shing pressure.

“Anytime you nd current, bait, and hard structure together, you’ve got the ingredients for giant bass,” Bloom said. “ e biggest thing is making repeated casts from di erent angles until you contact the sweet spot.”

A deep crankbait becomes even more e ective when it continuously de ects o cover. e sudden change in direction mimics injured bait sh and o en causes bass to strike out of instinct. Many anglers believe those violent reaction bites are what separates deep cranking from nesse shing.

Having the proper gear is critical for shing oversized crankbaits all day. Bloom prefers a longer rod in the 7-foot-6 to 7-foot-9 range with a moderate action. e so er parabolic bend helps absorb the surge of big bass while keeping treble hooks pinned during long ghts. Longer rods also increase casting distance, which helps the bait reach maximum depth and stay in the strike zone longer.

When it comes to reels, Bloom relies on slower gear ratios in the 5:1 or 6:3:1 range. Deep-diving crankbaits create tremendous resistance in the water, and lower gear ratio reels provide the torque needed to grind those baits e&ciently without exhausting the angler.

Pairing that setup with 10- to 12-pound uorocarbon line helps maximize diving depth while maintaining sensitivity. Bloom believes the combination of the right rod, reel, and line can be the di erence between occasionally catching sh and consistently landing giant o shore bass.

“When that crankbait starts digging and bouncing o the bottom, you know it’s any moment that a giant bass is going to eat it,” Bloom said. “ at next cast could be the biggest bass of your life.”

You can !nd all your tackle needs at Copper State Tackle and use BLOOM10 for your checkout discount!

www.copperstatetackle.com

SUZUKI MARINE PARTNERS WITH FUEL 1, PAVING THE WAY TO MAKING ETHANOL-FREE MARINE FUEL AVAILABLE THROUGH SUZUKI MARINE DEALERS

Suzuki Marine has partnered with Fuel 1 to provide an opportunity for its dealer network to o er certi ed Sustainable Marine Fuels to its customers right from their facilities. By teaming up with Fuel 1 — a national retailer of advanced fuel delivery and portable fueling systems — Suzuki Marine is helping its dealers better serve their communities by meeting an important consumer need, maximizing the performance and reliability of their customer’s boats, and supporting sustainability goals important to Suzuki Marine and the entire recreational boating industry.

Working with Fuel 1 provides Suzuki Marine dealers with important advantages, such as the ability to deploy a fully supported fueling ecosystem with zero capital investment. Fuel 1 will provide free Micro-Station Deployment; fully branded portable fueling stations installed at participating dealer locations. In addition to direct fueling solutions, portable distribution systems including 20-gallon exchange pods and tote programs make it easy for customers to fuel their boats with PurFuels’ 93-octane, ethanol-free fuel that has been developed speci cally for marine operating conditions.

“Making sustainable marine fuels more accessible in di erent areas of the country is a great win for our dealers and customers alike,” said Brandon Cerka, Suzuki Marine Vice President Sales & Marketing. “ is partnership is also a major step in Suzuki Marine’s ongoing e ort to reduce the environmental footprint of boating. We have long supported the industry’s e orts to educate the boating public about these cleaner burning, more sustainable fuels. Now, we are stepping up to the plate to help get this fuel to more boaters, using their trusted Suzuki Marine dealers as the source,” added Cerka.

e program also makes strong business sense for dealers. A revenue sharing model will provide dealers with solid pro ts and recurring income. Fuel 1 will manage all compliance, liability, inventory, refueling and pointof-sale systems, making it easy for dealers to provide this valuable service to both loyal and new customers. Fuel 1 provides unmatched business and marketing support, including national marketing campaigns to drive customers to the dealership, dealer spotlighting across Fuel 1 Direct and partner platforms, invitations to participate in Fuel 1’s national sponsorships and marine events, and customer aggregation tools to help position dealerships as a preferred destination for premium marine fuel.

“We have used these fuels exclusively at our Suzuki Marine U.S. Technical Center during engine testing, durability trials, and performance benchmarking. Over years of testing, we have proven that these fuels help Suzuki Marine’s products run at peak performance, e&ciency, and durability in real-world conditions. We have every con dence in these fuels and are pleased to be o ering them to our customers,” added Cerka.

To learn more about the key bene!ts of PurFuels sustainable marine fuel, visit www.fuel1direct.com

Here’s a memorable beach moment: You’re basking in the warm sun, toes in the sand, letting the gentle turn of the foam-capped waves lull you into a state of complete relaxation. As your eyes scan the endless horizon of blue on blue, you’re rewarded with the site of a school of dolphins making their way across the sea. There’s no denying their signature shape as they leap from the water. If you don’t see anything else extraordinary the rest of the day, you can take solace knowing you’ve witnessed some of nature’s most playful and intelligent creatures in their natural habitat.

Why not recreate that special toes-in-the-sand moment with our DiamondAura® Dolphin Pendant? The beloved sea mammal has been captured mid-jump in a rhodium-finished setting. And tucked into its fins are a full two carats of shimmering blue DiamondAura.

Nothing captures the shimmering color of the ocean in the midday sun like blue DiamondAura. With its sparkling clear blue color and high refractive index, DiamondAura is one of our top sellers. And with our special price, you have quite the catch. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Enjoy the DiamondAura Dolphin Pendant for 30 days. If it doesn’t pass the test swimmingly, send it back for a full refund of the item price.

Limited Reserves. A full 2 2/5 total carats of DiamondAura in a rhodium finished setting for this price is as rare as a dolphin sighting. We cannot guarantee availability for long. Call today!

Limited to the first 1900