Coastal Angler Magazine | Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Area 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

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1. Boat insurance isn’t just for accidents

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Marine Industry Community Celebrates Philanthropy and Leadership at 44th Annual Palm Beach International Boat Show

The Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County (MIAPBC) and Informa Markets commemorated 44 years of the Palm Beach International Boat Show (PBIBS). From Wednesday, March 25 to Sunday, March 29, members of the marine industry community attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony, a VIP kickoff party, and a business leadership luncheon in downtown West Palm Beach.

On Wednesday, March 25, the 2026 PBIBS officially kicked off during a ribbon-cutting ceremony to debut the new Gives Back Zone at the show’s Clematis Street entrance. The Gives Back Zone featured eight nonprofit recipients of the boat show’s grant program, Palm Beach International Boat Show Gives Back. The ceremony was attended by prominent community members, including Discover The Palm Beaches CEO, Milton Segarra, along with grant program panelists such as West Palm Beach City Commissioner Shalonda Warren and Teneka James-Feaman of the West Palm Beach Downtown Development Authority. On Wednesday evening, members of the MIAPBC and Informa gathered for a VIP kickoff party at the boat show’s Windward VIP Lounge, where they enjoyed cocktails and light bites.

On Friday, March 27, nearly 200 guests attended the PBIBS’s “Charting the Course” Business Leadership Luncheon at The Ben, Autograph Collection, featuring an interview of John Staluppi by Rena Blades. A famous yacht

enthusiast, entrepreneur, and philanthropist, Staluppi spoke about building custom, highperformance luxury yachts and innovation in design by partnering with important boat builders internationally. A majority of Staluppi’s vessels have been named after James Bond films, including Octopussy, Moonraker, Casino Royale, Diamonds Are Forever, Skyfall, Spectre, and The World Is Not Enough – the fastest superyacht in the world. Guests enjoyed the conversation with Staluppi along with a Q&A session. Proceeds from the luncheon benefited the Palm Beach International Boat Show Gives Back grant program, which underwrites environmental and marine education programs for kids.

About the Palm Beach International Boat Show (PBIBS)

The Palm Beach International Boat Show is owned by the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, Inc., and produced by Informa Markets. Since 1982, the boat show has grown to occupy a dominant position in South Florida as both a leader in the boating and marine industry, and as an economic engine to the Palm Beach community and the tricounty area. An analysis of the boat show from 2022 showed that the event has an estimated total statewide economic impact of over $1.05 billion. With more than 55,000 visitors attending the show last year, this contributed to over $725 million in total sales from the event. For more information, visit pbboatshow.com.

SOUTH COUNTY INSHORE

& FRESHWATER

Fishing Forecast with

CAPT. PATRICK SMITH

June along the Palm Beach County stretch from Singer Island down through Delray Beach is in full-on summer mode, and that means opportunity across every zone. Inshore, the ICW, inlets, and bridges are loaded with life as water temps climb, and bait gets thick. Snook are a primary target this time of year staging around inlets, seawalls, and beaches for their spawn. They’re aggressive on live bait and well-presented artificials. Tarpon are also a major player, with fish pushing both inside the inlets and along the beaches, especially early mornings on moving water. Expect plenty of jacks, mangrove snapper, and other species to be around and hungry.

Nearshore, June is one of the most exciting months of the year. Beaches and reefs just off Singer Island, Boynton, and Delray will have tarpon migrating in good numbers, often shadowing bait schools right along the sand. Kingfish, Spanish mackerel, and big jack crevalle provide high-speed action around bait pods, while cobia cruise structure, rays, and even freeswimming along the beach. Calm mornings open the door to sight fishing opportunities that are hard to beat, especially when schools of fish are visible in clear summer water.

As you slide a little deeper to the reef edge and just beyond, June is prime

Monster jacks will test your muscles and tackle.

time for pelagics. Dolphin (mahi mahi) start to show up in better numbers, especially around weed lines and current edges. Blackfin tuna can also be found early and late in the day. King mackerel are consistent along the reef line, and there’s always a shot at wahoo or even sailfish in the right conditions. Bottom fishing remains solid as well, with snapper and grouper holding tight to structure thanks to the proximity of the Gulf Stream pushing close to Palm Beach County.

Overall, June rewards anglers who time conditions of early mornings, tide changes, and calm wind windows that truly are everything. Whether you’re working dock lights at first light or chasing bait schools along the beach, the variety this month is hard to beat. It’s one of those rare times of year where you can realistically target tarpon at sunrise, slide offshore for mahi by midday, and still bend rods on reef species before heading in.

On the freshwater side, June brings consistent action throughout canals, lakes, and spillways in central Palm Beach County. Largemouth bass feed aggressively early and late in the day around vegetation edges and shaded structure, while peacock bass are not really a reliable target, there are plenty of other species such as snakeheads and clown knifefish willing to play, especially with live shiners or small artificials. With rising temperatures, moving water becomes key of spillways and culverts that create current that will hold the most active fish. Expect steady action, but plan around heat and afternoon storms, focusing your efforts on low-light periods for the best results. Good luck out there!

www.USHarbors.com

1

5

2.3 2:53 2.1 8:57 0.3 9:12 0.3 6:26 8:11

8 Mon 3:13 2.3 3:51 2.2 9:46 0.2 10:09 0.4 6:26 8:11

9 Tue 4:04 2.3 4:53 2.3 10:37 0.1 11:10 0.4 6:26 8:12

10 Wed 4:59 2.2 5:56 2.4 11:31 0.0 6:26 8:12

11 Thu 5:57 2.2 6:57 2.5 12:13 0.4 12:29 -0.1 6:27 8:13

12 Fri 6:56 2.2 7:56 2.6 1:17 0.4 1:28 -0.1 6:27 8:13

13 Sat 7:53 2.2 8:53 2.7 2:20 0.4 2:27 -0.2 6:27 8:13 14 Sun 8:50 2.3 9:49 2.7 3:19 0.3 3:25 -0.3 6:27 8:14

15 Mon 9:46 2.3 10:43 2.7 4:16 0.3 4:22 -0.3 6:27 8:14 16 Tue 10:43 2.3 11:36 2.7 5:10 0.2 5:17 -0.2 6:27 8:14 17 Wed 11:40 2.3 6:02 0.2 6:11 -0.1 6:27 8:15

18 Thu 12:27 2.6 12:37 2.3 6:55 0.2 7:05 0.0 6:27 8:15

19

21 Sun 2:56 2.3 3:35 2.2 9:29 0.1 9:48 0.4 6:28 8:15

22 Mon 3:45 2.2 4:34 2.3 10:19 0.1 10:43 0.5 6:28 8:16

23 Tue 4:36 2.1 5:31 2.3 11:08 0.1 11:38 0.5 6:28 8:16

24 Wed 5:28 2.1 6:25 2.4 11:58 0.1 6:29 8:16

25

26

8:16

27 Sat 7:58 2.0 8:48 2.5 2:17 0.5 2:24 0.1 6:30 8:16

28 Sun 8:43 2.0 9:29 2.5 3:04 0.5 3:08 0.1 6:30 8:17 29

Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, FL - Jun 2026

Run and gun fishing is one of the most exciting and productive ways to target offshore species like mahi, tuna, and other migrating pelagics.

Yes, it burns a bit more fuel, but in my opinion, the payoff is worth it.

The strategy is simple: head offshore with your eyes on the sky and the sea, actively scanning for birds, slicks, color changes, and weed lines. Rather than slowly trolling and counting the hours away, you’re constantly hunting for the next bite, finding fish faster, and filling your box more efficiently. Bonus points if your radar has a bird mode. We switch on our Simrad Halo 3000 in Bird Mode once we hit around 200 feet. It’s a fantastic tool for locating life offshore quickly and gives you a serious edge.

As for speed, you don’t need to be blasting across the water at 30 knots. Around 18 knots is plenty to cover ground and find fish without beating

The ART

of the

Inshore

RUN & GUN

up your crew or emptying your wallet.

When we locate something worth fishing, say a weed line, we keep our spread tight and simple: just two or three lures or rigged ballyhoo behind the boat. We troll the area for no more than 20 minutes. No bites? We’re back to running. Bites? We stay put and work the area until the action dies. Then rinse and repeat.

It’s fast, it’s active, and honestly, it’s just a lot of fun.

June is one of the better times of year in South Florida. Snook, tarpon, and jacks will be looking for mullet pattern baits like Super Spooks, large swimbaits, and jerk baits. If you are finding mullet in the area you are fishing, whip out a Spook or large swim bait. If you are finding glass minnows, use a D.O.A. Jerk Bait or Shad Tail. Mangroves, docks, and seawalls with current nearby will be the places to target. Launching the kayak at places like Johnathan D. MacArthur State Park and Snook Islands will give you access to some great areas to target snook, tarpon, and jacks. You should also still be able to find some tripletail in the rivers and lagoon. Focus your attention around floating objects and channel markers.

Offshore

June is one of my favorite times of the year. All fish are around and ready to eat. Blackfin tuna are a favorite target as these fish can be taken on live bait as well as trolling plugs and dropping vertical jigs. During this time, mahi will also be in larger numbers and closer to shore. Large kingfish will be making their way to their spring/ summer areas off of our coast. Trolling live goggle eyes, pilchards, and blue runners will put fish in the fish bag. Don’t be afraid to fish shallow during this time of year with your range in the 60-200 feet of water.

Freshwater

Warmer weather means the clown knifefish will be more cooperative. Use shiners or shad along weed edges near deeper water. Peacock and largemouth bass will be heading towards their beds to spawn if they have not already. Look to sight fish the bass along the banks and docks. Throwing a small jig or D.O.A. Shrimp in their bed to annoy them will get them to bite.

•

FORTY POUNDS OF FURY

By Mark Ambert

Forty-five minutes on light tackle, an epic battle and a 40lb. bull mahi. The holy grail of fishing. Not what I expected when heading out, but this is what keeps us in the hunt. The endless possibility for the catch of a lifetime! The day started off iffy. My first mate and avid angler, Stephen Leo realized we had left the frozen bait at the dock. The delay going back had me nervous. The local bait guys had been selling out. I don’t like hitting the water without a variety of fresh live and dead baits. As luck would have it, this altered my plans a bit as to what direction to take when clearing the inlet. Due to the delay, I decided to head straight out and not travel farther south. The gulf stream had been relatively close to Jupiter — roughly 6 miles out. I made the decision — deeper water was the play. We found a defined current and temperature break at 550’ which had a distinct line of small patch weeds. This and some flying fish jumping on the cooler side of the break decided things.

Setting out a spread of a live goggle out long and a rigged dead squid on the flat lines closer to the boat got us in the game. A steady stream of chum was deployed and 20 minutes in, the line with the gogg went off. Within seconds, an angry bull mahi cleared the horizon. “That’s a big, big fish” I said quietly, and the battle was on! This fish was savvy, so I guessed sometime during his brief life it had been hooked and won itself another day. Greyhounding across the surface set my 8000 sized Daiwa Freeswimmer screaming. “Gonna have to chase this one Stephen” and soon lines were cleared, and we were backing down on this monster fish. Twenty minutes into a seesaw battle I was no closer to tiring the big bull out. We had settled into a slow give and take with the fish going deep and bouncing that big head up and down while laying sideways — conserving energy and working the leader. Smart! I put as much pressure as I dared, trying to convince him otherwise and slowly he came to the surface.

One look at the boat and he took off jumping then sounded and headed towards the stern. He streaked across the full length of the boat in seconds. Towards the motors! My heart sank and I knew I was facing my first real challenge. Somehow, he got right between the motors and my heart sank again. But it was game time, and I was in it to win. “Raise the motors – quickly Stephen and all the way out of the water”. I had the rod shoved down deep between the twin Mercs as he ran line off the reel. I was able to clear the port side motor just in time for another acrobatic jump. He was tiring now – I could feel it. Time to ready the gaff. Three times he came to the boat only to bury that big head deep when he saw the gaff and slid inches underneath. It was agonizing to watch. The fourth time was the charmer and with a few heavy shakes at the rail, he was safely on deck beating that heavy drum beat only a big fish makes. High fives, wide smiles, and a personal best — finally breaking into the 40’s. The kind of fight that solidifies fishing friendships and keeps you chasing. I had finally boated my fish of a lifetime.

Mark Ambert, IG @marksgonefishing_™

ECO TOURISM

with Chris Thalmann

It’s hard to believe we’re already at the halfway point of 2026! With cooler days behind us and a long hot stretch ahead, there are still plenty of opportunities to get outdoors this summer, especially if you can be on or in the water!

With kids out of school, June often includes lots of family travel plans and summer camps. June also happens to be National Great Outdoors Month and National Rivers Month.

I’m not personally a big fan of jumping into Florida’s freshwater lakes, canals, and ponds in the middle of summer, but there are plenty of other water bodies to choose from. Central and North Florida have an abundance of cool water springs and streams, which share similar features but are also each their own unique ecosystem.

Closer to home here in the Palm Beaches and South Florida, we’re blessed with lots of salt and brackish water environments, as well as plenty of sandbars and shorelines to explore.

If you’re on the water this month, I encourage you to take some time and really explore a

mangrove shoreline. There are some great examples of well established mangroves in South Broward, at Lake Wyman in Boca, and throughout Lake Worth Lagoon, the ICW and the Loxahatchee River in Palm Beach County.

Mangroves provide an essential habitat in brackish water environments. They help stabilize soils against erosion and also provide shelter to innumerable creatures that are too young, too small, and too fragile to survive in more active open water environments.

While it’s common to see people cast netting and fishing along mangrove shorelines, the reason the baitfish and gamefish are even there is because mangroves support such a wide variety of marine life. If you can slow down and really get up close to mangroves, you’ll likely notice crabs, shrimp, and other crustaceans like barnacles, as well as mollusks like oysters, snails, limpets, and mussels. Sea stars, seahorses,

sea cucumbers, wading birds, and birds of prey like osprey and hawks are also commonly seen. At low tide, you may find small mammals foraging, and at high tide you may even spot a manatee eating mangrove leaves!

Long thought of as junk plants with no value, people once aggressively removed mangroves because they did not have a neat, sculpted appearance, and their roots trapped marine debris and decaying vegetation. Especially at low tide, mangrove shorelines can be smelly, muddy places, with a rich, rotten egg smell that some folks just cannot stand.

But if you can set those aspects aside and see mangroves for what they truly are - an important base in the marine food chain - you’ll gain a new appreciation for these unique plant communities and the biodiversity that they support.

Hope to see you outside and exploring!

PALM BEACH IN & OFFSHORE

Fishing Forecast with

CAPT. WESTON RUSSELL

Capt. Weston Russell

Welcome to the June fishing report for Palm Beach, Singer Island, and Jupiter. Fishing will be awesome this month with many different opportunities to land good fish. You will start to see more bonita invading our area on their migration trek. They offer great action, but most anglers try to stay away from them due to their poor table fare. At Reel Intense Fishing Charters, we see them as a gift. We understand that when the bonita are around, so are the monsters that feed on them. One option is to catch a bonehead and live rig him on a 50lb. class reel and slow troll them behind the boat. If you ever wanted to land a wahoo over 50lbs. or maybe a blue marlin, this is your time. Step it up and troll two live bones rigged through the eyes with a strong hook, don’t forget the wire leader, and game on!

For the bottom anglers, the snapper fishing will be heating up. Yellowtail, mutton, and mangrove snapper will all be available on the reef. Long and light leader will do the trick, where the best bait would be a live sardine with the tail cut off. Make sure to check the FWC regulations for snapper because they are ever changing.

For the deep-water angler, swordfishing will be on the docket. South Florida is one of the best places to catch a mighty broad bill. These fish get up to 500 pounds and will give you the fight of a lifetime, also they taste

JUPITER INLET INSHORE

Fishing Forecast

SLook at the size of these snappers, especially the one on the left that was taken by the tax collector!

great! Swordfishing is not hard, you can check out our YouTube video @ reelintensefishing. There is plenty of information and it will get you going on the fast track. There are a few things you need to know before you head out. Definitely check the weather, you don’t want to be out 20 miles when a huge thunderstorm is building over the beaches. And, another thing, don’t forget your HMS permit.

Well, that’s it for this month. Good luck and tight lines!

ummertime! June offers fantastic fishing near inlets, beaches, the Intracoastal, and spillways. These areas will offer a plethora of species to target. The inlets and beaches are great areas to target snook as they begin to spawn. Local inlets will offer plenty of snook and tarpon to target. Live baits, Rapala X- Raps, and D.O.A. C.A.L. 4” Jerk Baits are all excellent choices for snook. A D.O.A. Bait Busters is a great bait for targeting snook along drop-offs and channels. Be sure to check the tides and locate good current for best areas to hook up with snook.  Anglers targeting tarpon can expect fantastic action along the beaches and inside the inlets. Tarpon can be seen rolling on the surface early in the morning as the sun is rising. D.O.A. Bait Busters and D.O.A. Terror-Eyz worked near the bottom will get the silver kings chewing. Be sure to work in front of tarpon pods leading the fish, this helps not to spook the pod of tarpon. Do this and you will get your drag screaming.

The docks, seawalls, and drop-offs will also hold plenty of fish for anglers. Snook, tarpon, jacks, drum, and tripletail can all be targeted with

this approach. For those fly anglers this offers steady action as live chumming helps bring the predators boat side. Fly fishing is a blast and can be taught to novice anglers, whether it’s a 1-pound jack to a 20-pound tarpon, anglers can experience the thrill of fly fishing.

Well, that is the fishing report, hope you all enjoyed. Remember, you can’t catch them from the couch, so get out there and get hooked up. Tight lines!

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2.3 3:34 2.3 9:20 0.2 9:45 0.4 6:26 8:12

9 Tue 3:48 2.3 4:36 2.4 10:16 0.1 10:47 0.4 6:26 8:12

10 Wed 4:43 2.3 5:38 2.5 11:13 -0.1 11:47 0.3 6:26 8:13

11 Thu 5:41 2.4 6:40 2.7 12:10 -0.3 6:26 8:13 12 Fri 6:41 2.5 7:38 2.8 12:45 0.2 1:05 -0.5 6:26 8:14

Sat 7:40 2.6 8:35 3.0 1:40 0.1 2:00 -0.6 6:26 8:14

Fishing Forecast with Freshwater

CAPT. JOHNNY STABILE

South Florida Fishing Charters • (954) 440-5200 • sflfishingcharters.com

Summer is here, and for many people that means the start of a three-month vacation. Growing up, it was the time of year I waited for most because I knew it meant endless days of fishing and being on the water, assuming the report card looked decent enough.

June is one of my favorite times to get out on the water. Typically, we get calm weather patterns and consistent fishing, especially in freshwater, where you can have an incredible morning bite and still be back home by noon. Personally, I love fishing those overcast, rainy summer days, and even more so a calm, clear night when everything seems to come alive.

Summer is also some of the best fishing of the year for exotic species in South Florida, mostly because of the stable, warm temperatures. It’s no secret that exotic fish thrive in the heat. Some of my best days on the water have come when the afternoon water temperature was pushing 96 degrees. While that sounds extreme to some anglers, species like peacock bass absolutely love it and stay active throughout the hottest parts of the day.

Let’s talk about the Everglades. Right now, the water level is still low enough to produce some banner fishing days. When the water drops to its lower stages, fish are forced out of the flats and into the canal systems, concentrating huge numbers of both peacock bass and largemouth bass.

During this time of year, I usually recommend launching at Holiday Park and covering water until you find active fish. Some days the better bite will be closer to Alligator Alley, while other days it pays to make the run toward Tamiami Trail.

www.USHarbors.com Pompano Beach (Hillsboro Inlet), FL - Jun 2026

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8 Mon 2:16 2.3 2:53 2.3 8:40 0.3 9:05 0.4 6:27 8:11

9 Tue 3:07 2.3 3:55 2.4 9:36 0.1 10:07 0.4 6:27 8:12

10 Wed 4:02 2.4 4:57 2.6 10:33 -0.1 11:07 0.3 6:27 8:12

11 Thu 5:00 2.4 5:59 2.7 11:30 -0.3 6:27 8:12

12 Fri 6:00 2.5 6:57 2.9 12:05 0.2 12:25 -0.5 6:27 8:13

13 Sat 6:59 2.7 7:54 3.0 1:00 0.1 1:20 -0.7 6:27 8:13

Sun 7:57 2.8 8:48 3.1 1:55 0.0 2:15 -0.8 6:27 8:13

Mon 8:53 2.9 9:41 3.1 2:49 -0.1 3:10 -0.8 6:27 8:14 16 Tue 9:49 2.9 10:33 3.1 3:43 -0.1 4:04 -0.8 6:27 8:14 17 Wed 10:44 2.9 11:23 3.1 4:37 -0.1 4:59 -0.6 6:27 8:14

18 Thu 11:39 2.8 5:33 -0.2 5:55 -0.4 6:27 8:15

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21 Sun 1:55 2.7 2:30 2.5 8:25 -0.1 8:50 0.2 6:28 8:15

22 Mon 2:46 2.5 3:29 2.5 9:20 0.0 9:48 0.4 6:28 8:16

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One of the best parts about the Everglades is its size and variety; every trip can fish completely differently depending on water movement, weather, and bait activity.

The biggest key to success out there is having multiple bait profiles rigged and ready to go at all times. Conditions can change fast and being able to switch presentations immediately can make a huge difference. My go-to summer Everglades baits are hard and soft jerkbaits, hollow-body frogs, and topwater spooks. Those lures consistently produce a mix of aggressive peacock bass and quality largemouth bass throughout the summer months.

Even beyond the fishing, summer in the Everglades is hard to beat. Early sunrises, afternoon storms building in the distance, and miles of canals make it a memorable and unique fishery in Florida.

Everglades City, FL - Jun 2026

www.USHarbors.com

Fishing conditions have been heating up lately, and it’s shaping up to be an excellent time to get out on the water. The offshore sportfishing has been especially productive, with anglers reporting strong action from sailfish, mahi mahi, amberjacks, and blackfin tuna. These species have been showing up in great numbers, providing exciting opportunities for both seasoned anglers and those looking to experience the thrill of big game fishing for the first time.

Closer to shore, our drift fishing trips have also been delivering fantastic results. We’ve been seeing a wide variety of snapper species coming over the rails, along with steady catches of porgies and grunts. In addition, kingfish and cero mackerel have been making frequent appearances, adding even more excitement to the mix. With such a diverse range of fish biting, there’s never a dull moment out there.

The consistent action and variety make this a perfect time to plan a trip, whether you’re aiming to fill the cooler or just enjoy a fun day on the water. Drift fishing is a great option for kids, families, and groups of friends, offering a relaxed and engaging experience where everyone has a chance to reel something in.

Overall, the fishing has been outstanding, and conditions are lining up for even more great days ahead. Don’t miss out as now is the time to take advantage of the bite. Give us a call and come get in on the action!

BRAGBOARD

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.

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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

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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.”

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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

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