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By Capt. Ryan Palmer
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ahoo are some of the fastest fish in the ocean. Built for speed with large tails and torpedo shaped bodies, they can accelerate rapidly and turn on a dime. Wahoo can be solitary fish or found in large schools, depending on conditions, time of year and moon phases. Known for their excellent table fare and awesome fighting ability, anglers travel to South Florida and The Bahamas from all over the world to target them. They have razor sharp teeth and their jaws are hinged like scissors, so landing one on mono is always an exhilarating feat. They can be caught year round, but during the winter months they are found in far better numbers and sizes, especially around the new and full moons. There are several ways to catch them, including high-speed trolling, planer fishing, vertical jigging and live bait. High-speed trolling for wahoo could well be the most exciting method to catch them. There’s nothing like hearing the clicker of an 80 wide reel scream while you’re doing 17 knots. In some cases, you will have multiple hook ups with multiple drags going off. Talk about heart racing! I’ll go over my normal high-speed spread, but keep in mind everyone has their favorite way of doing things. I run a three-line spread. I fish two electric reels and a 50W Shimano Talica. My first electric is set at 80 feet from the boat with a 48-ounce cable-rigged cigar lead. To that I have 25 feet of 400-pound mono shock leader, which is then connected to my lure. The next electric is set at 150 feet from the boat with a 32-ounce cigar lead and the same shock leader. Last is my shotgun Talica with a 24-ounce cigar lead and the same shock leader. I have about 25 different lures from different manufacturers in many colors, shapes and sizes. All of my lures are rigged on 480-pound cable with either single or double hook sets. I start my spread with an assortment of colors. If I get more than one bite on a particular color, I will change the others to that or similar colors. High speed trolling is done in both South Florida and the Bahamas. I used to think that it
was pointless in South Florida, but over the last few years I have been more successful catching them, and the fish I’ve been catching are better sized fish than the wahoo I’ve caught while planer fishing. On a trip just after a winter full moon, we caught a double header off Pompano Beach. Each fish was in the 40-pound range. When high speed trolling, the optimum speed is between 15 and 20 knots, and we fish a zigzag pattern between 120 and 300 feet of water. There are a couple reasons for the zigzag. One is to mimic baitfish coming in or going out during tidal changes, and the other is that during your turns your baits will slow down and fall slightly before accelerating again. This is when you get most of your bites. Keeping an eye on your chart plotter is key, because you can generally mark the schools in the upper portion of the water column. High speed trolling is great if you want to specifically target wahoo, as there are only a few species that eat at that kind of speed. Planer fishing is just as fun and doesn’t burn nearly as much fuel. I like to run two planers consisting of a #4 and a #8 planer with either a drone spoon or a bonita strip behind a Sea Witch. Colors, sizes and shapes all vary, but once I find what color they like I switch them over. The drone spoon is a time-tested and proven method. The flash and vibration of the spoon cutting through the water gets their attention. I prefer 3.5-inch blue drone spoon behind a #8 Old Salty planer. I run about 60 to 100 feet of 60-pound mono between my planer and bait. While pulling planers down deep, I also pull a couple surface baits. Anything from a bonita strip behind a chugger-style lure to a rigged ballyhoo on wire behind an Islander will work. If you have outriggers, you can spread two baits wide and run a shotgun with a cigar-weighted rigged ballyhoo. I
planer fish the same areas as I high speed, but my speeds will be much slower at 6 to 11 knots. Lots of wahoo tournaments have been won fishing at slower trolling speeds, so don’t rule out a jumbo just because you’re not highspeeding. Live baiting wahoo is less common because you are either bump trolling or drifting goggle eyes or other live baits. You are not covering as much ground. Live baits rigged on light wire or titanium are my first choice, with fluorocarbon being second, due only to a wahoo’s super sharp teeth. I’ve caught several wahoo on vertical jigs. About 90 percent of those have come way offshore under some type of flotsam. I prefer a simple 2-ounce diamond Jig. All the wahoo I’ve caught on vertical jigs have been less than 10 pounds. Wahoo as table fare is in my top five, maybe even top three. I’ve often said that if you have cooked it, it’s already burnt. Do yourself a favor and try some wahoo sashimi! Capt. Ryan Palmer Family Jewell Fishing Charters 954-882-2631
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Friends&Fishing By Jim Parks
T
here are a multitude of pleasures and benefits to fishing. The beauty of the environment, the challenge, the relaxation, the simple joy of being outside, the fish caught and the big ones that got away are all among the reasons we fish. Intertwined are the relationships created during outings. Like many others, there are times when I would rather be on the water alone. One particular period of my life, I was working full time while going to night school working on my master’s degree. I had no time. Recognizing this, my wife all but demanded I go fishing. Entering the creek that morning, I was mentally exhausted. I perhaps fished 30 minutes before I wound up lying on a rock with the sun in my face. The sound of the creek and my feet in the cool water washed away a lot of stress. At other times, I’ve found the solitude allows me to commune amidst the creation with its creator. After all, even Jesus knew the merits of hanging out with fishermen. To quote Norman MacLean in A River Runs Through It, “And we were left to assume, as my younger brother Paul and I did… that all firstclass fishermen on the Sea of Galilee were flyfishermen... and that John, the favorite, was a dry fly-fisherman.” Over the decades, I’ve been blessed to meet hundreds of like-minded sportsmen. Some, I’d rather forget! However, looking back over fourplus decades, I cannot help but reminisce over what fishing friendships have meant. If you were fortunate to begin fishing young, you had at least one mentor. If you had a father or grandfather who took you on early fishing trips, hopefully you realize how blessed you were 6 NATIONAL
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and will joyfully pass that blessing to the next generation. Having no fishermen in my family tree, I adapted. Like-minded friends of my own age, aka the “Three Amigos,” myself, Keith and Steve, as well as their fathers and grandfathers, helped me along the way. Though my father didn’t fish, he worked in a textile mill alongside more than a few fishermen with whom I came into contact. Among them were the late Don Kirk, author of several books on fly fishing, and the late, great fly tyer Kirk Jenkins. To this day, the memory is burned in my mind of my father’s co-worker Charlie Murrell tying flies with me while camped on Forney Creek in the Smoky Mountains. I was 14 years old. Along the way, they and others taught me wading, casting and reading water, always instilling an interest and knowledge of the history of and respect for the locations where I trod as a young fisherman. Growing older meant adulthood; college, career and marriage entered the scene. Still, at least one of the Three Amigos besides myself has kept fishing, and we still get together when life permits. As we grow older and hopefully better in our pursuit, we’re sometimes blessed to invest in the future of our sport by sharing with the next generation. We instill in them an appreciation for the beauty and opportunity of wading in the crystal clear streams while sharing the history passed down to us. Those opportunities make us better fishermen. In teaching, we are forced to consider the intricate, basic skills of the sport, which over time can become blurred by repetition. As my mentors did with me, I am careful to not “over-coach.” This allows the student to make and learn from their
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mistakes. How awesome to be part of their first catch and to share in that accomplishment. If we’re lucky, at some point we are blessed to come into contact with equally experienced fishermen with whom we just click. The best fishing buddies possess a similar interest in locales and styles, but are different enough that we still learn from one another. The best fishing buddies become those who can finish your sentence, agree on the best places to fish, offer insight we didn’t consider and share learned tidbits, making both that much better. An additional bonus are those friends who are willing to take those crazy adventures such as night trips, remote bushwhacking treks and just downright crazy ideas for which they’ll catch it from their spouse when they eventually return home, well past curfew. I remember as kids how we were competitive. We even had the unofficial “Virgil Ward Award” for whoever landed the largest fish that day. Over time, a point is reached when you get just as much joy in watching a friend ply a hole for that big ol’ brown. Sometimes it’s a tag-team approach, with a spotter directing casts to a trophy fish. We realize as much excitement in our friend’s success as if it were our own, if not more! Lately, I’ve been stepping back… just a little… to give my buddy the first crack at a good run. Watching an artist at work, regardless of the canvas, is a joy. When that person is using all the combined skills of a stealthy approach, with the fly you both agree is best, making that cast in just the right spot and setting that hook, it’s like watching yourself from a distance. In that moment, you are just as elated to share and witness the moment. That moment is when you realize having a fishing buddy is priceless.
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he Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is looking at slashing the recreational dolphin limit in half, from 60 to 30 fish per vessel and from 10 to 5 fish per person in Florida state waters, citing a decrease in number and size of fish caught in recent years off South Florida and the Florida Keys. At its meeting in December, FWC reviewed a draft proposal that would amend the regulations in state waters. The call for action reportedly came from southeast Florida and Keys charter captains, and it follows pending regulations changes approved by the federal South Atlantic Fishery Management Council (SAFMC) in June. The SAFMC ruling reduced the dolphin recreational limit from 60 to 54 fish per vessel for Atlantic federal waters along the entire east coast of the United States. The ruling is pending approval by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce. FWC strongly advocated for larger reductions in federal waters as a precautionary measure. That push was blocked by North Carolina representatives, who would only support the smaller reduction. Part of FWC’s interest for proactive management is increased international engagement concerning the highly migratory species. Dolphin off the east coast of the U.S. are part of the Atlantic-Caribbean stock, which extends from New England to the
4 FLORIDA
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Caribbean coast of South America. The status of the stock is currently unknown, according to FWC’s draft proposal, and a traditional stock assessment is unlikely due to unknowns within the fishery, which include international harvest and the absence of fishery-independent monitoring. Warming surface temperatures in the Atlantic are also of concern to FWC because of a welldocumented preference of the species for a temperature range between 66 and 84 degrees. Catch-rate data indicates a tight link to water temperature, and those rates peak at 75 degrees. “Because of this temperature preference, warming ocean waters and other environmental changes could contribute to shifts in dolphin distribution and influence migration routes,” reads the proposal. “Reports of more frequent encounters with dolphin in the northeastern U.S. and a growing directed recreational fishery there illustrate the northward distribution shift for this species. “Similarly, fewer encounters with dolphin in SE Florida and the Keys could be linked to warming sea surface temperatures. Anecdotal reports from SE Florida and the Keys also indicate a change in timing of arrival of large dolphin, which may indicate changes in movement patterns as water temperature increases.”
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Dolphin harvest off the east coast of Florida has fallen precipitously since 2015, according to FWC’s data. In that same data, approximately 90 percent of the harvest in the last 10 years came from federal waters. A final public hearing for the proposed rule would be held at FWC’s March 2022 meeting. For more information, see myfwc.com.
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DreamCatching By Zach Harvey
the
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FINER POINTS of FISHING AFAR
s we head into winter fishing show season, many start shopping for good charters to fish in the coming season. The following points should save you some headaches.
Know Thyself The best thing to ensure a successful trip is to take a hard look at yourself and your crew—your experience, ages, skill levels and general disposition. Rough out your group’s hopes for the trip: Is the gear type of utmost import? Are you five old college friends for whom the trip’s fish tally comes after talking and laughing? Are you hoping to take home a load of fillets? There’s a possibility a port’s highliner—the guy who mohawks the fish every trip— could be the worst guy in town given your group’s criteria for success.
Know Your Quarry, Ask Questions Understand the logistical realities, timing issues, and if there’s a viable
fishery underway. One of the biggest problems fishermen encounter in destination fishing is pride prevents us from asking what we view as “googan” questions. We end up trying to convince our would-be hosts that we know what we’re doing and forget to ask the questions that might make that so. Ask the stupid question. If you’ve been hoping to land X species of X size your entire life, flush out as much detail as possible about the fishery: Are there certain windows of timing for the best fishing? Is tide stage a major factor? Every species and every region is full of caveats and idiosyncrasies. Full-time chartermen must fish as many days as they can book. You can’t expect to get straight answers to all your timing questions. You can, however, zero in on an area’s better tackle shops to fill in blanks. The quest for reliable intel is something you’ll have to patchwork together.
Policies and Parting Advice As you zero in on a decision, there are other considerations. Do not base boat choice on price first and foremost. Charter fishing is not cheap, but a well-executed trip with a top captain can make your dream trip a reality. Be sure, however, to get a clear breakdown on the boat’s weather cancellation, deposit, rescheduling and trip-downgrade policies to be sure all in your crew have clear expectations. Ask detailed questions about the boat’s policies on fishing gear and whether you may target more than one species during a trip. Wherever you fish, whoever takes you and whatever you target, consider: Any seasoned crew will know, inside five minutes, the real extent of your experience. Everything works better if you check your ego at the dock.
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JANUARY 2022
FLORIDA 7
IGFA APPROVES NEW WORLD RECORDS T Carmody’s Southern Bluefin Tuna
he International Game Fish Association (IGFA), headquartered in Dania Beach, Fla., is the worldwide authority on record fish. The organization maintains a massive database of catches for almost any species you can think of and in numerous different categories. Every few months, IGFA releases a handful of recently approved new records. Here are some of the most impressive fish approved by IGFA this fall:
On July 1, 2021, Carl Carmody was fishing out of Hick’s Bay, New Zealand, when he landed the fish of a lifetime. This 355-pound, 6-ounce southern bluefin tuna is the second largest ever caught, weighing just 14 pounds shy of the current IGFA All-Tackle World Record. Carl was fishing aboard the Doctors Orders captained by Blake Sheridan when this fish struck a trolled lure. The impressive tuna earned Carl the IGFA Men’s 130-lb. Line Class World Record for the species.
Triana’s Sockeye Salmon Dennis Triana returned from an August trip to Alaska with a handful of records, including this 66-centimeter sockeye salmon that he landed on Aug. 14, 2021 to set the IGFA All-Tackle Length Record for the species. Dennis was fishing unguided on the Russian River in Alaska when the salmon struck a jig.
Sherbovich’s Arctic Char
Williams’ Chinook Salmon Bailey Williams was fishing with her husband on the Salmon River in Pulaski, New York on Sept. 12, 2021, when she landed this 12-pound, 12-ounce Chinook salmon. With this fish Bailey set the IGFA Women’s 2-kg (4-lb) Tippet Class World Record for the species. This beautiful salmon took an egg pattern on an 8-weight and was landed after a brief fight.
8 FLORIDA
JANUARY 2022
On July 28, 2021, Ilya Sherbovich landed this beautiful 25-pound, 11-ounce Arctic char to set the IGFA Men’s 20-lb. Tippet Class World Record. Ilya was fishing the remote Taymyr Peninsula in northern Russia when he landed this amazing fish. The Taymyr Peninsula is located north of the Arctic circle, and is only accessible via helicopter. Ilya netted this colorful char after a seven-minute fight and released the fish after recording the proper documentation.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Welcome Back! By: Capt. Dave Stephens
H
appy New Year to all the fine folk's that have come back to South West Florida. I hope you had an outstanding summer fishing your home waters. So far, we have had some fronts that have pushed down on us. We normally don't experience water temps that drop below 70 degrees until January and this year we have had some cooler than normal weather. I myself do not find this to be a bad thing. It just means that us as anglers need to adjust our technique. We need to adjust the species that we target, and how we fish for them. If our waters drop below 70, and stay on that decline. That means that our snook fishery is done until things begin to warm up. However, a fishery that thrives during our cooler weather is sea trout. When mother nature decides to throw us a curve ball, we move to deeper waters. Fortunately for us we have probably more man-made canals, other than Miami than any other place in Florida. We also are fortunate to have rivers all around us. These areas are estuaries that our fish move to during cooler weather. What is another big species of fish that benefits from South West Florida having a colder than normal winter? If you guessed sheep head, well you got it correct. These striped bait thieves are often confused with a freshwater drum that is caught up north. Well the sheep heads
that we target during the winter months are actually in the porgy family. They are a family of fish that feed heavily on crustaceans and hang around areas with heavy structure. Areas like old docks, seawalls with old rock riff raff are prime areas to locate these guys. During the winter months is the spawning season for these guys, so finding large schools can be easy, if you know where to look. The biggest advice I can give is don't be afraid to move. If you’re not getting bites move on to the next location. Baits such as shrimp, and fiddler crabs work the best. I also recommend using a small hook on light line, with just enough weight to keep contact with the bottom. These guys didn't get painted with black and white stripes for nothing, make sure you bring plenty bait. Winter time can be a great time to fish, you just need to adjust your approach. You also may need to slow down a bit. As our water cools down, our fish tend to slow down also. If you would like to enjoy some of South West Florida's finest fishing? Give us a call or send an email. All of our charters are private and customized to fit your and your party's needs.
Back Bay Xtremes |Backbayextremes.com 941-916-5769
FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | JANUARY 2022 | FORT MYERS 1
Ready For a Charter? By: Capt. Bart Marx
H
ello fellow anglers, looking back at the fishing we had to rebound from the red tide and its aftereffects. Fish and Wildlife (FWC) changed some rules and reversed others. The state adjusted the length and bag limit in our area for speckled sea trout in SW Florida with a length / slot now being 15" to 19" and the bag limit is 3 per person or 6 per boat total. They still will let us have what I call a trophy one per person over the 19" length. You have a nice 24" fish and 2 between 15" and 19" that is your limit of 3 fish per person. And this month is a great time to target trout. There are several ways that you can target trout. They like to hang around grass flats and the edges of a sandbar and I like to drift over the grass along the areas that have patchy grass and sand holes. Trout like to lay along the edges of the grass as they blend in very well, this is where they like to ambush unsuspecting baits. You can use suspending lures like the Mirro Lure, mirrodine or catch 2000 both work well. Then there is the good old popping cork. You can find wooden ones, foam ones with wire or beads in them. I use a simple cigar bobber, buy the ones with the slot in it . This way you just keep a couple of them in your boat when you need it, pull the pins and slide it onto your line and adjust the depth you want your bait from the bobber put the pins back you are in business. No cutting and retying add a live shrimp on or even a Gulp shrimp. Drifting over the area you have scoped out, cast and pop the cigar bobber on the surface. So my theory is if you pop the cork it sounds like a fish feeding on the surface, this gets the attention of the trout and all they see is a shrimp drifting down, or a gulp. This is food for them they will grab it and it is game on. Trout have a tender mouth if you pull them in too fast they will break off. Just use a little finesse, hold your rod tip up and reel enough to keep some bend in the pole and tension in the line. If you handle them, always wet your hands to hold them. Do not use a rag. It takes most of the slime off the fish and there is a good chance it will get bacteria and not survive. I use the danco de-hooker made for baits on a Sabiki rig as it fits in your pocket and used properly there is minimal impact to the fish. When you bring the fish up to the boat, have the line in one hand with the fish on it and using your other hand with the de-hooker, the curved part of the tool slides down the line to the curved part of the hook. This is when you hold the fish between your hands hanging, pull the line tight so it makes a straight line and tight. Flip the fish over into the water as the tool is still kept tight and straight. If it is of size use a tool to hold the fish to measure it and be as gentle as you can with these as they are our future stock. After you catch a few you will be able to tell if they are of size or not. Trout are good eating fish. To me they are great fried in butter with salt and pepper, maybe a little garlic too.
Alpha Omega Charters | alphaomegacharters.com captbart@alphaomegacharters.com | 941-979-6517 2 FORT MYERS | JANUARY 2022 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/
s.com -6517
This Winter’s Midlife By: Capt. Mike Manis
T
he conditions or elements we face won’t differ all that much from last month. That being wind and low tides. However, we can take advantage of these tides by getting set up when they’re low and then working the incoming. More specifically, the beginning of the incoming. In fact, this time of year between the improved visibility at this point and the aggressive nature of a hungry fish the sight fishing possibilities are unique. For the most part, because they’re tolerant to cold conditions I’ll concentrate on redfish. In many cases, there’s a good chance they’ll be on the small side, rat sized redfish. This is due in part because I’ll most likely find myself as far back in creek systems as I can get looking for dead end coves covered with sand bottom. That being said, I’ve seen more big redfish back in these systems lately than in years past. I’m hoping that’s a result of the closed seasons and a sign of things to come. After a couple cool months, this is a natural transition area for many of our game fish as they’ll move up into these areas to warm up as the sun heats the shallow sandy bottom. This includes sheepshead, spotted sea trout, and snook. Multiple months of cool weather is also why I also like the early incoming tide. Bait has been scarce for long enough that redfish will begin looking with some urgency. They feel the tide instantly and begin working up the creek or flat rushing to get a shot at what was unobtainable on low water. The low tide has left the bottom terrain dry. Crabs and other crustaceans come out of hiding to feed. The fish know their chances are best early before the prey has a chance to vanish. Moreover, they’re confident and more vulnerable competing for food as they move in with the incoming. Out on the grass flats, spotted sea trout will be abundant. In two to four feet off the intracoastal from Lemon Bay to Pine Island Sound should fish well. They’ll eat a fly as well as any soft plastic and of course, live shrimp rigged with a popping cork. In the harbor, pompano can be found on the hard bottom just off Cape Haze Point. Also, keep an eye on your boat wake as you’re running outside the bar along the west wall. A ¼ ounce Nylure Bomber pompano jig is all you need. Sheepshead are everywhere and can be fished from land as well as the boat. The Placida trestle can be fished from both land and boat and the Boca Grande trestle is a popular spot by boat. Every dock, pier, underwater structure, and artificial reef will hold sheepshead. A fiddler crab or piece of shrimp is your best bet. Until next month, good tides.
Punta Gorda Fly Charters | puntagordaflycharters.com 941-628-7895
SCHUMAN INSURANCE
"Nothing Like A Day On The Water!"
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Why insure yours with anyone else! I'm Capt. David Schuman a second generation insurance agent. Our family has been serving Lee County for 42 years.
Boat Auto Home Motorcycle Life Business Capt. David Schuman 1329 Hibiscus Dr., Cape Coral, FL 33909 239-242-8072 Davidschuman3@allstate.com 2801 Del Prado Blvd S., Cape Coral, FL 33904 239-945-8888
3114 Lee Blvd Suite 4, Lehigh Acres, FL 33971 239-369-1313
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4 FORT MYERS | JANUARY 2022 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/
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Trout Tough
By: Joe Sheaffer
W
inter in SWFL is known for beautiful weather conditions. Sure, it is a bit cooler and dry but compared to the rest of the country it can be ridiculously awesome. Beautiful conditions during this time of year can be amazing but fishing can be a challenge. High skies, cooler water temperatures, clearer water and lower tides can make for tough fishing conditions. The cold fronts seem to pass through on a regular basis causing many of our inshore species to shut down normal feeding behavior. Tough conditions call for a different mindset, thinking outside the box and figuring out different strategies. During these challenging conditions, Spotted Sea Trout can save a day on the water. I’m sure they aren’t crazy about the conditions but they can be agreeable when other species are having a hard time adjusting or we can’t get to backwater areas because of the lower tide conditions. Searching deeper edges
along grass flats, channels or passes usually will yield those speckled gems. Usually figuring out the depth is the challenge, sometimes they are feeding towards the surface but many times they are hanging around deeper potholes. Another positive, Trout usually are willing to bite quite a few presentations. I usually have a couple, fishing rods rigged with different sizes jigs and paddle tails. An ⅛ oz jig, a 3/16 oz jig and depending on the current or tide a ¼ oz jig. Natural colored paddle tails work great, whites, watermelon, root beer to name a few. Just the other day, I was fishing with a good friend. We fished different areas, mangroves, points and funnel areas without a bite. We moved out to a deeper flat and focused on deeper holes. We caught plenty of Trout and had a great day. When conditions are tough, Trout tough days can make for a great day on the water. Good luck and keep casting.
By: Ca
6 FORT MYERS | JANUARY 2022 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/
Spearfishing with No Strings Attached!
By: Capt. Chad Carney
M
ost divers shoot spearguns with tethered shafts, but some have been shooting Hawaiian Slings, with bare spears, for decades. In 1948, Art Pinder stoned a 7 ft & 56 # Atlantic Sailfish, with his sling and the press printed the photo nationwide. A few years later the slinging Pinder brothers won team and individual US Nationals Championships and made the cover of Sports Illustrated, a feat never repeated. I started spearfishing in 1972, with marginal success with line shafting. After seeing Jim Zumwalt, another US National Champion, freeshafting his Seahornet speargun. I too shed my line, and by the way Jim and Gary Zumwalt are the only father and son spearos to both win the Athlete of the Year Award. I found that like slings, freeshaft spearguns greatly increase accuracy and can double a gun’s range and a faster shot with a single strong band. Freeshafting is very simple and because of that my well-aged Seahornet speargun can compete with today’s newer guns. Reloading can be as fast as 5 seconds and allow a killshot on wounded fish. Line guns take 10 or 20 times more, to reload. I designed shaft holders to
carry up to 3 shafts on my gun and a thin bright light. A freeshaft can be pulled through a fish instantly after stringing it. Entangled shooting lines can be very dangerous, but not freeshafts. Changing a bent lineshaft and tether is a tedious boat task. Lineshafts typically use 2 to 3 bands or more, expensive double barb tips, with some detachable. A freeshaft is a sharpened spear with a single lockout barb. My largest fish and my buddies have all fallen to freeshafts, mostly bottom dwellers like grouper, snappers and hogfish which rock up when shot. But many pelagic fish like AJs and cobia have been freeshafted near bottom. Most all my Bahamas fish fell to freeshaft slings. Some new slings now have lines and reels but they do slow your shot. Lineshafts have their place when it’s bottomless and for Bluewater fish like tuna, wahoo, african pompano etc. I recommend practice freeshaft shooting on flattened aluminum cans. You’re going to love it!
chad.carney@yahoo.com https://www.facebook.com/floridaskindiver/ https://www.deeperblue.com/beginners-guide-spearfishing/ 727-423-7775
FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | JANUARY 2022 | FORT MYERS 7
3771 Palm Beach Blvd., Ft. Myers, FL 33916 239.694.2185
MATLACHA
www.USHarbors.com
January/2022 • 26°38’N 82°4’W
Matlacha Pass, FL - Jan 2022 High
Date 1
AM
ft
ft
Sat
AM
ft
8:50
PM
ft
www.USHarbors.com
January/2022 • 26°39’N 81°52’W
Fort Myers, FL - Jan 2022
Low PM
fishfacecharters@ yahoo.com 239.357.6829
FORT MYERS
High
Date
Rise
Set
Moon
-0.9
7:20
5:48
1
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Sat
1:06
1.4
4:18
0.4
10:12
-0.5
7:19
0.3
7:14
5:47
2
Sun
12:31
2.1
9:42
-0.9
7:20
5:48
2
Sun
1:54
1.4
5:08
0.4
11:02
-0.5
8:24
0.3
7:15
5:48
3
Mon
1:22
2.2
10:32
-0.9
7:20
5:49
3
Mon
2:45
1.4
5:48
0.5
11:47
-0.5
9:33
0.3
7:15
5:48
4
Tue
2:15
2.1
11:20
-0.8
7:20
5:50
4
Tue
3:39
1.3
6:24
0.5
12:28P
-0.5
10:40
0.2
7:15
5:49
5
Wed
3:09
2.0
6:42
0.9
12:04P
-0.6
10:18
0.8
7:20
5:51
5
Wed
4:34
1.2
6:59
0.5
1:04P
-0.4
11:44
0.1
7:15
5:50
6
Thu
4:04
1.8
7:03
1.0
12:44P
-0.4
11:42
0.7
7:21
5:51
6
Thu
5:31
1.0
7:35
0.5
1:38
-0.3
7:15
5:51
7
Fri
5:04
1.5
7:26
1.1
1:22
-0.2
7:21
5:52
7
Fri
6:31
0.8
8:14
0.6
12:47
0.0
2:08
-0.3
7:15
5:51
8
Sat
6:14
1.2
7:53
1.2
1:13
0.6
1:57
0.0
7:21
5:53
8
Sat
7:35
0.6
8:55
0.6
1:53
0.0
2:38
-0.2
7:16
5:52
9
Sun
7:42
1.0
8:24
1.3
2:46
0.4
2:30
0.3
7:21
5:54
9
Sun
8:49
0.4
9:38
0.7
3:05
-0.1
3:08
-0.2
7:16
5:53
10
Mon
9:33
0.8
8:57
1.4
4:13
0.2
3:04
0.5
7:21
5:54
10
Mon
10:14
0.3
10:21
0.7
4:29
-0.2
3:39
-0.1
7:16
5:54
11
Tue
11:31
0.8
9:32
1.5
5:26
0.0
3:39
0.7
7:21
5:55
11
Tue
11:43
0.2
11:02
0.8
6:07
-0.3
4:12
0.0
7:16
5:54
12
Wed
1:14P
0.8
10:11
1.6
6:25
-0.2
4:17
0.8
7:21
5:56
12
Wed
1:10P
0.2
11:39
0.9
7:31
-0.4
4:48
0.0
7:16
5:55
13
Thu
10:51
1.6
7:16
-0.4
7:21
5:57
13
Thu
2:28
0.2
8:32
-0.5
5:31
0.1
7:16
5:56
14
Fri
11:33
1.7
8:01
-0.5
7:21
5:57
14
Fri
12:15
0.9
3:32
0.3
9:19
-0.6
6:21
0.2
7:16
5:57
15
Sat
8:42
-0.6
7:21
5:58
15
Sat
12:50
1.0
4:19
0.3
10:00
-0.6
7:17
0.3
7:16
5:57
16
Sun
12:15
1.7
9:20
-0.6
7:21
5:59
16
Sun
1:28
1.0
4:53
0.4
10:35
-0.6
8:15
0.3
7:15
5:58
17
Mon
12:56
1.8
4:50
0.9
9:54
-0.6
7:50
0.9
7:20
6:00
17
Mon
2:09
1.0
5:19
0.4
11:06
-0.5
9:10
0.2
7:15
5:59
18
Tue
1:36
1.8
5:00
0.9
10:27
-0.6
8:35
0.8
7:20
6:01
18
Tue
2:53
1.0
5:41
0.4
11:33
-0.5
10:00
0.2
7:15
6:00
19
Wed
2:17
1.8
5:09
0.9
10:57
-0.6
9:25
0.7
7:20
6:01
19
Wed
3:39
1.0
6:01
0.4
11:57
-0.5
10:46
0.1
7:15
6:00
20
Thu
2:59
1.8
5:23
0.9
11:27
-0.5
10:18
0.6
7:20
6:02
20
Thu
4:27
1.0
6:22
0.4
12:22P
-0.4
11:32
0.0
7:15
6:01
21
Fri
3:43
1.7
5:42
1.0
11:58
-0.4
11:17
0.5
7:20
6:03
21
Fri
5:15
0.9
6:44
0.5
12:48
-0.4
7:15
6:02
22
Sat
4:33
1.5
6:06
1.1
12:29
-0.2
7:19
6:04
22
Sat
6:05
0.8
7:10
0.5
12:20
-0.1
1:15
-0.3
7:14
6:03
23
Sun
5:31
1.3
6:34
1.3
12:23
0.4
1:00
0.0
7:19
6:05
23
Sun
7:00
0.6
7:40
0.6
1:13
-0.1
1:43
-0.3
7:14
6:04
24
Mon
6:43
1.1
7:07
1.4
1:37
0.3
1:32
0.2
7:19
6:06
24
Mon
8:06
0.5
8:17
0.7
2:18
-0.2
2:12
-0.2
7:14
6:04
25
Tue
8:22
0.8
7:45
1.5
2:58
0.1
2:02
0.5
7:18
6:06
25
Tue
9:35
0.3
9:01
0.8
3:40
-0.2
2:42
-0.1
7:13
6:05
26
Wed
10:47
0.7
8:31
1.6
4:24
-0.1
2:27
0.7
7:18
6:07
26
Wed
11:20
0.2
9:52
0.9
5:25
-0.3
3:14
0.0
7:13
6:06
27
Thu
9:26
1.8
5:46
-0.4
7:18
6:08
27
Thu
1:05P
0.1
10:49
1.0
7:12
-0.4
3:51
0.1
7:13
6:07
28
Fri
10:29
1.9
6:56
-0.6
7:17
6:09
28
Fri
2:36P
0.2
11:50
1.1
8:26
-0.5
4:48
0.2
7:12
6:08
29
Sat
11:34
1.9
7:58
-0.8
7:17
6:10
29
Sat
3:34
0.3
9:21
-0.6
6:11
0.2
7:12
6:08
30
Sun
8:51
-0.9
7:16
6:10
30
Sun
12:52
1.1
4:10
0.3
10:07
-0.6
7:34
0.2
7:12
6:09
31
Mon
9:38
-0.9
7:16
6:11
31
Mon
1:54
1.2
4:40
0.4
10:47
-0.6
8:46
0.2
7:11
6:10
12:37
2.0
4:33
0.9
7:39
0.8
8 FORT MYERS | JANUARY 2022 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/
Moon
10871 Kelly Rd Ft Myers, FL 33908 239.267.6857
SANIBEL/ CAPTIVA
www.USHarbors.com
January/2022 • 26°29’N 82°11’W
Captiva Island (outside), FL - Jan 2022 High
Date
AM
ft
ft
AM
ft
Sat
9:28
2.9
4:54
2
Sun
10:19
2.9
3
Mon
11:12
2.9
4
Tue
5
Wed
12:06
2.7
3:39
6
Thu
1:01
2.4
7
Fri
2:01
8
Sat
9
PM
ft
www.USHarbors.com
January/2022 • 26°56’N 82°4’W
Punta Gorda, Charlotte Harbor, FL - Jan 2022
Low PM
15881 Chief Ct., Ft. Myers, FL 33912 239.489.0884
PUNTA GORDA/ CHARLOTTE HABOR
High
Date
Rise
Set
Moon
-1.2
7:20
5:48
1
5:46
-1.3
7:20
5:48
6:36
-1.2
7:20
5:49
7:24
-1.1
7:20
1.2
8:08
-0.9
6:22
1.1
4:00
1.3
8:48
-0.6
7:46
2.1
4:23
1.4
9:26
-0.3
3:11
1.7
4:50
1.6
10:01
0.0
Sun
4:39
1.3
5:21
1.8
10:34
0.3
10
Mon
6:30
1.1
5:54
1.9
12:17
0.3
11:08A
11
Tue
8:28
1.1
6:29
2.1
1:30
0.0
12
Wed
10:11
1.2
7:08
2.2
2:29
-0.3
13
Thu
7:48
2.2
3:20
14
Fri
8:30
2.3
15
Sat
9:12
16
Sun
17
Mon
1:47P
18
Tue
19
Wed
20
Thu
21
Fri
12:40
22
Sat
23
Low AM
ft
Rise
Set
8:49
-0.9
7:16
5:47
2.1
9:41
-0.9
7:16
5:48
2.2
10:31
-0.9
7:16
5:49
0.9
11:19
-0.8
8:58
0.9
7:16
5:49
7:05
0.9
12:03P
-0.6
10:17
0.8
7:16
5:50
1.8
7:26
1.0
12:43P
-0.4
11:41
0.7
7:17
5:51
5:27
1.5
7:49
1.1
1:21
-0.2
7:17
5:51
Sat
6:37
1.2
8:16
1.2
1:12
0.6
1:56
0.0
7:17
5:52
9
Sun
8:05
1.0
8:47
1.3
2:45
0.4
2:29
0.3
7:17
5:53
5:54
10
Mon
9:56
0.8
9:20
1.4
4:12
0.2
3:03
0.5
7:17
5:54
7:21
5:55
11
Tue
11:54
0.8
9:55
1.5
5:25
0.0
3:38
0.7
7:17
5:54
7:21
5:56
12
Wed
1:37P
0.8
10:34
1.6
6:24
-0.2
4:16
0.8
7:17
5:55
-0.5
7:21
5:57
13
Thu
2:57P
0.9
11:14
1.6
7:15
-0.4
4:57
0.9
7:17
5:56
4:05
-0.7
7:21
5:57
14
Fri
11:56
1.7
8:00
-0.5
7:17
5:57
2.4
4:46
-0.8
7:21
5:58
15
Sat
8:41
-0.6
7:17
5:58
9:53
2.4
5:24
-0.8
7:21
5:59
16
Sun
12:38
1.7
4:57
0.9
9:19
-0.6
7:06
0.9
7:17
5:58
1.2
10:33
2.5
5:58
-0.9
3:54
1.2
7:20
6:00
17
Mon
1:19
1.8
5:13
0.9
9:53
-0.6
7:49
0.9
7:17
5:59
1:57P
1.2
11:14
2.5
6:31
-0.8
4:39
1.1
7:20
6:01
18
Tue
1:59
1.8
5:23
0.9
10:26
-0.6
8:34
0.8
7:17
6:00
2:06P
1.2
11:56
2.4
7:01
-0.8
5:29
1.0
7:20
6:01
19
Wed
2:40
1.8
5:32
0.9
10:56
-0.6
9:24
0.7
7:16
6:01
2:20
1.3
7:31
-0.7
6:22
0.8
7:20
6:02
20
Thu
3:22
1.8
5:46
0.9
11:26
-0.5
10:17
0.6
7:16
6:02
2.3
2:39
1.4
8:02
-0.5
7:21
0.7
7:20
6:03
21
Fri
4:06
1.7
6:05
1.0
11:57
-0.4
11:16
0.5
7:16
6:02
1:30
2.1
3:03
1.5
8:33
-0.3
8:27
0.5
7:19
6:04
22
Sat
4:56
1.5
6:29
1.1
12:28
-0.2
7:16
6:03
Sun
2:28
1.8
3:31
1.7
9:04
0.0
9:41
0.3
7:19
6:05
23
Sun
5:54
1.3
6:57
1.3
12:22
0.4
12:59
0.0
7:15
6:04
24
Mon
3:40
1.4
4:04
1.9
9:36
0.3
11:02
0.1
7:19
6:06
24
Mon
7:06
1.1
7:30
1.4
1:36
0.3
1:31
0.2
7:15
6:05
25
Tue
5:19
1.2
4:42
2.1
10:06
0.6
7:18
6:06
25
Tue
8:45
0.8
8:08
1.5
2:57
0.1
2:01
0.5
7:15
6:06
26
Wed
7:44
1.0
5:28
2.2
12:28
-0.2
7:18
6:07
26
Wed
11:10
0.7
8:54
1.6
4:23
-0.1
2:26
0.7
7:14
6:06
27
Thu
6:23
2.4
1:50
-0.5
7:18
6:08
27
Thu
9:49
1.8
5:45
-0.4
7:14
6:07
28
Fri
7:26
2.5
3:00
-0.8
7:17
6:09
28
Fri
10:52
1.9
6:55
-0.6
7:14
6:08
29
Sat
8:31
2.6
4:02
-1.1
7:17
6:10
29
Sat
11:57
1.9
7:57
-0.8
7:13
6:09
30
Sun
9:34
2.7
4:55
-1.2
7:16
6:10
30
Sun
8:50
-0.9
7:13
6:09
31
Mon
10:31
2.7
5:42
-1.2
7:16
6:11
31
Mon
9:37
-0.9
7:12
6:10
1
1:30P
1.2
AM
ft
Sat
12:05
2.0
2
Sun
12:54
3
Mon
1:45
5:50
4
Tue
2:38
2.1
6:46
7:20
5:51
5
Wed
3:32
2.0
1.0
7:21
5:51
6
Thu
4:27
9:17
0.8
7:21
5:52
7
Fri
10:50
0.6
7:21
5:53
8
7:21
5:54
0.6
7:21
11:43A
0.9
12:21
1.1
10:31A
3:43
0.9
1.2
1:00
2.0
PM
4:56
ft
0.9
PM
7:38
ft
0.8
Moon
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T
HOOKS By: Dan Carns
here are a host of specific things you can do to become better angler but there is one thing that many people overlook and it’s the quality of the hooks we use. Modern fishing gear can be really expensive; fancy rods and reels, super high-tech braided lines and a host of other products to increase our chance of putting fish in the boat but the irony is that the only connection you have between you and the fish is the hook! Hooks can be pricy and I think we all balk a little at the price but over time better hooks catch more fish. When you’re standing in front of the terminal tackle section of your favorite bait shop the choices are now endless but certain styles of fishing and
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specific species of fish require particular hooks. Over time and usually with a little advice you begin to find the right hook for the job. As a kayak fishing instructor and guide, I’ve spent countless hours watching people catch fish and all too often the hook can be the one deciding factor in a successful trip. Many anglers are using hooks that are way too big. If you’re just starting out fishing in saltwater here in S.W. Florida you may correctly assume that the fish are going to be bigger than your use to but using a larger hook is going to limit the number of species and size of fish. When your bait fishing try using a smaller sized quality hook and I think you’ll find that it holds up under pressure. I’m a circle hook fanatic. Circle hooks are designed to be completely swallowed giving the fish plenty of time to get all the bait, as you feel your line move you basically start to pull back which triggers the fish to turn away and the hook slides out of the stomach and throat and catches the edge of the fish’s mouth. It will take time to learn this technique as most of us have been trained to jerk back as hard as we can instantly yanking this style hook right out of the fish’s mouth. Of course, there are fish species that require a different hook like the classic J hook and the bait holder hook. By now you probably think this applies only to bait hooks but the truth is even artificial rubber baits that are the rage now require really good hooks especially because we’re try to convince the fish that the rubber is real and specific hooks help with the design. There is an even greater variety of hooks for artificial baits so ask your local bait and tackle shop which is best. Two companies top my list, Owner brand is my go to for rubber baits especially the weighted twist lock style. For bait fishing nothing tops a Gamakatsu hook and yes, they are expensive but in the words of my buddy Jimmy, “these hooks catch fish all by themselves”!
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Paddling With Pups By: Mike Hammond
W
hile hanging out by the pool with my one of our dogs, my wife asked why I don’t write an article about paddling with pets. As much as I enjoy our dogs and paddling, I almost never combine the two. However, if I were to do so, there are several factors to consider when deciding where to go that I thought I’d share in this article. It is always a good idea to research whether the launches and paddle destinations you’d like to visit are pet friendly. On a few occasions, members of my former paddle club would show up with a furry paddling partner and then find out their pet was not allowed on the beach or in the park at all. It wasn’t much fun for them or their dog. Fortunately, we have many launches and parks that allow pets. Some outfitters even have special pet-friendly tours to Dog Beach in south Lee County. Another element to take into consideration is alligators. Under normal circumstances, a gator’s natural instinct is to avoid people. Our four-legged friends are not as lucky. They resemble prey. Personally, if there is freshwater, I always assume there are alligators present.
It may not be true, but it is safer to assume so. If it is brackish water, there is still a fair chance a gator or two may be around. The interior of Lover’s Key State Park, Cayo Costa State Park and the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge all have brackish water and are frequented by gators. For the safety of my pet, myself, those I paddle with and the alligators, I choose not to paddle with my dogs in these environments. Alligators aren’t the only wildlife I worry about. I’m concerned about shorebirds. No, a plover won’t ambush and eat my golden-doodle. Without a doubt, my dog would be the one doing the chasing. And since we’re fortunate enough to be on the Atlantic Flyway migration path, birds on our beaches and flats may be packing on calories and storing energy for an open flight to South America. Being chased by pets -- or even children -- forces them to waste valuable energy needed for the long crossing. Between the possibility of being eaten and / or attempting to eat a protected species, I almost always choose to leave the dogs at home. On Sanibel where leashed dogs are allowed, we have had beach days and let the pups hop on a board. We soon realized they did not enjoy the experience. They seemed much more content to bury themselves in the sand under the beach chairs. Maybe your dog is a much better paddling companion than ours and it won’t chase birds and enjoys the ride. I’m not trying to discourage you. I just ask that before choosing a paddling location with your pet, you consider all the wildlife you may encounter on the water, big and small.
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s n o i t a d n e m m o c Re
Year-Round
By: Capt. Terry Fisher
T
he question that I am most asked at seminars is: What is the best time of the year to fish SW Florida? The answer is every month! Virtually every species of fish that we have in our estuaries and offshore are here year-a-round. However, during seasonal changes, some species become less in number and smaller in size, while others become greater in numbers and larger in sizes, based on spawning and migratory patterns. Below is a twelve (12) month outline of what anglers may expect to catch, by targeting species that are more accessible during specific months and time of the year. During the winter months of January- March, sheepshead migrate from the gulf to infiltrate the inshore docks and backwaters.. They take up temporary residency in the shallower waters around the piles and rock structures. These fish are spawning and will eat shrimps and fiddler crabs. Sheepshead are a great table food and provide good action on light tackle. Spanish Mackerel are migrating south to Mexico and will be greater in number and sizes compared to summer and fall seasons as they pass through our waters. They are a blast to catch on light tackle and good eating fare. Look for them where birds are diving on small bait fishes most everywhere in the Gulf. Seatrout catches will be good in regards to both number and sizes in the grass flats of 4-5foot of water. ‘By-catches’ will of course include pompano, spanish mackerel, ladyfish and jack crevalle. Springtime (April-June) brings the warmer water which is the precursor and continuation of the Tarpon Migration and spawning snook, just off the beaches and in the passes of the outer islands. Redfish become more active as they prepare for spawning with the males during the summer months. They are smaller in size this time of year but are plentiful. Triple tail and cobia begin to appear throughout
our waters. Jacks, mangrove snappers, ladyfish will make up the balance of the action. Regardless of the species, the fish are very aggressive this time of year before the water temperatures become unbearable. Summertime (June-September); expect smaller seatrouts on the grass flats, bigger Redfish action as well as a continued snook bite. Snook will continue to be good off just off the beaches, around mangrove islands, river and creek mouths. Jack crevalle (Jack’s) will be in good numbers chasing glass minnows in the canals and all over. The ‘Jacks’ will hit most any presentation during a feeding frenzy. Fall months (October-December) represent good opportunity for everything but big Tarpon. Fall fishing is subject only to cold fronts of November and December out of the North and Northeast. Winds become very deliberate and keep the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico (‘Gulf’) from coming in to our estuaries and up the rivers. October could be the most productive month of all for big (‘Bull’) redfish as they are in our estuaries from their deeper, ‘Gulf’ haunts to breed. Get them while you can as they will be gone when the water levels reduce, due to lower, winter tides that come in November and lasts through February (3months). Nonetheless, air and water temperatures are pleasant and seem to satisfy every species of fish that inhabit our fishery. Redfish and snook become the targeted game fish of many anglers in and around the passes and under the docks of the outer islands. Shrimp and baitfish (pilchards, threadfin and pinfish) will be available to cast net throughout the year but will fluctuate if size and numbers depending on the seasons (winter, spring, summer and fall). Bait selections, including types or artificial presentations, will determine one’s success, although I suggest that the tide movement will be the predominate factor. Always fish on and incoming or outgoing tide and not slack tides. Every month in SW Florida has good to great fishing opportunities both inshore and offshore. Offshore fishing requires low winds and extra attention to type of vessel that is being used, if for nothing else but safety concerns.
Fish Face Charters | fishfacecharters.com | 239-357-6829
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Ron owner r e ! b m r down ne Lu Shoreli ut the hamme p Paluck
Brandon, 12, from Wesminister, CO having fun in the Cape Coral canals.
Kevin Horecky w/ a Red caught on a gold spoon in the Jug Creek backcountry. John Russo caught this 20” Tripletail 4 miles out of Venice Inlet.
ght ano cau p m o p ice . . w/ a n entures Lester Z stero Bay Adv w/ E
George Peters of Bonita Springs got this Snook in Estero Bay from shore.
Sydney 9, wa by her s not to be ou brother t Brando done n!
Angie Michaels celebrated her birthday w/ a 22 lb. permit, while out w/ Captain Nathan Wider in Captiva.
Mike O w caught ens w/ a black off A fin tu w/ Cap nna Maria Isla na t. David n White. d
Photos submitted Courtesy of Coastal Angler Readers and Contributing Writers Submit pics to: camswfl@gmail.com or text to 239.595.8265
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By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
I
CATCH THE
FISH
n early December, I set out in search for large trout in an area known to hold these magnificent fish from December through early April. Under typical conditions, they can be found warming themselves by hovering over the mud/grass bottom in knee-deep water, which is also where I prefer to target them. However, on this particular day the temperature was at a near record high of 80 degrees! The trout had no reason to hang out in the hot mud, so I had to read the signs to catch the fish. Before launching my kayak, I stood high on the bluff and scanned the area. This shore runs north to south, and there was a slight south to southeast breeze. I didn’t see any slicks to alert me to feeding fish, nor did I see busting bait. I didn’t even see any lazily flipping mullet. What I did see were several pelicans drifting on the water several hundred yards out and two kayakers to the north. There were three separate groups of pelicans, and they were not near each other.
I launched the kayak and headed east, or straight out. I made a few cast in the shallow water, but the vegetation was too abundant to properly work my lure, and I didn’t see any bait. With the bowmount trolling motor, I was able to stand and look for visible signs of life while slowly moving forward. The water in this area was crystal clear, and if fish were present, they would be easy to locate. When I reached water with a little less grass, I decided to make short drifts and try my luck. Once a drift didn’t produce, I would head east again until I reached new water with a little more depth, and drift again. The wind would push me to the northwest and somewhat back toward the shore. I also noticed the other kayakers were moving around a lot. With that observation and the fact that I hadn’t had a bite, I concluded they were not catching either, and the fish were not shallow.
My next move was to head deeper toward the pelicans. As I mentioned earlier, there were three groups of them, and the one thing they had in common was their distance from the shore. I headed straight east until I was inline with them, but up-wind. Once I reached this area, I noticed baitfish in the water. They were not being chased, but they were present. The water was still very clear, and it was about 3 to 4 feet deep with a mix of grass and potholes. I began launching my 4-inch paddletail toward the potholes. Utilizing a steady retrieve and keeping my lure about midway in the water column, I received a vicious strike. After some tail-walking, I landed a nice 5-pound speckled trout. Not bad for the first fish of the day! I had to depart from my pregame plan and follow the signs to the fish. By following that pattern, I was fortunate enough to play catch and release with specks and reds the remainder of the day. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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PROVIDING FRESH FISH TO THE HUNGRY
H
ere’s a feel good story about anglers using a passion for fishing to do good in the world. Harrison Konsker and Maccabee Harman were avid anglers and high school students back in 2014 when they recognized the potential their angling success had to serve their South Florida community. On the water every weekend, they regularly filled bag limits, and decided the best use for all their fresh fish was to offer it those in need. They began reaching out to local food banks before taking the next step to form Fillet for Friends (FFF), a 501 (c) (3) non-profit whose mission is to reduce hunger and empower marginalized communities by working with local fishing and hunting communities and provide fish, wild game, education and community resources for the under-served. Since its inception, FFF has been feeding South Florida through a variety of methods. FFF regularly attends fishing tournaments across Florida to collect surplus fresh fish. A majority of their donations come from this process to help reduce waste and fill the plates of the hungry. They have developed a network of volunteers comprised of high school students with several chapters across Florida, and are in the process of expanding nationally. Aside from tournament donations, FFF makes it effortless for individual anglers across Florida to donate fish. Fishermen are able to contact FFF through a variety
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of outlets: Instagram Direct Messaging, email, texts and through their website. The fish are then picked up, filleted, packaged and delivered to food banks. All contributions are tax-deductible. The young philanthropists, who are now university students, have taken their organization to the next level. The team at Fillet for Friends has grown to 10 individuals, including Captain Bill Kelly, executive director of the Florida Keys Commercial Fishermen’s Association. Last month, FFF was awarded a grant from Feeding South Florida to augment their efforts, which have provided thousands of pounds of fish to thousands of Florida families. For more information, check out www.filletforfriends.org and follow @filletforfriends on social media.
Gulf Descending Devices Requirement Begins in January
O
n Jan. 13, the federal requirement will go into effect for anglers fishing for reef fish species to have a descending device or venting tool rigged and ready to use in Gulf of Mexico federal waters. This requirement was part of the DESCEND Act of 2020, which was signed into law last January. It applies to commercial, for-hire and private recreational vessels. The intent is to reduce mortality caused by barotrauma on reef species, like red snapper. Barotrauma is an increase in internal gas pressure caused by the sudden changes in pressure that fish undergo when being reeled up from depths generally greater than 90 feet, though it can occur in shallower waters of 33 feet or more. Fish experiencing barotrauma have difficulty quickly swimming back to catch depth, often floating on the surface where they are vulnerable to attack by dolphins, sharks and birds. Descending devices are a weighted hook, lip clamp or box that will hold a fish as it is lowered to a sufficient depth to allow for recovery from barotrauma. A venting tool is a sharpened, hollow instrument that can penetrate a fish’s abdomen to release excess gas acquired as it was brought to the surface.
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Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show is Back for 2022
T
he Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show is gearing up for 2022 and the largest boat and yacht event in the world. The show returns to the Miami Beach Convention Center and four additional locations from Wednesday, Feb. 16 through Sunday, Feb. 20 over Presidents Day weekend for the premier boating extravaganza in South Florida. Produced by Informa Markets and owned by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show will be the first production of South Florida’s preeminent winter boat shows after joining forces earlier this year and combining the Miami Yacht Show, SuperYacht Miami and the Miami International Boat Show. The 2022 Miami event is the first boat show to be integrated with the Discover Boating brand, which is the North American lifestyle brand for boating aimed at attracting the next generation of boaters and engaging current boaters. “We are looking forward to delivering an unparalleled experience at the 2022 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show,” said Andrew Doole, President of U.S. Boat Shows with Informa Markets, who produces the Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show. “With our return to the Miami Beach Convention Center and alongside our partners at the National Marine Manufacturers Association, the 2022 boat show will be unlike any other winter boat show.” Historically, the Miami International Boat Show, the Miami Yacht Show and SuperYacht Miami have attracted more than 100,000 visitors from 35 countries to South Florida while generating an estimated $1.34 billion for the state. Bringing the events together offers numerous benefits for exhibitors, visitors and the greater boating community. The on-land portion of the event will take place at the newly reimagined Miami Beach Convention Center, while the featured in-water activities will be offered at One Herald Plaza, Sea Isle Marina, Museum Park Marina, and IGY Yacht Haven Grande at Island Gardens. The boat show will feature new elements such as the Boat Show Experience, which will be the ultimate boater’s destination, located outside the Miami Beach Convention Center. Guests will have access to the AquaZone presented by Nautical Ventures in addition to a collection of experiential boating lifestyle activations, live music entertainment and a marine accessory pavilion. Don’t miss the 2022 show! For more information about the 2022 Discover Boating Miami International Boat Show, visit www.miamiboatshow.com.
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Agencies Respond to Manatee Mortality Event
T
he U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in cooperation with Florida Power & Light Company (FPL), are enhancing ongoing efforts to address the unusual manatee mortality event along Florida’s Atlantic coast. After thorough science, policy and legal reviews, and substantial coordination, the USFWS and FWC leadership recently approved the Unified Command establishing a Temporary Field Response Station at FPL’s Cape Canaveral Clean Energy Center in Brevard County. The Response Station will support several response operations already underway in the central Indian River Lagoon, such as manatee rescues, carcass recovery and limited field health assessments. In approving the Response Station, USFWS and FWC leadership also approved staff to conduct a short-term feeding trial, referred to by many as supplemental feeding. The goals of this limited, small-scale feeding trial are two-fold: 1) to reduce manatee mortality and 2) to reduce the number of animals in need of rescue, allowing the limited space in permitted critical care facilities to remain open for animals needing rehabilitation for other reasons. “We understand the importance of a timely response. Our agencies and Unified Command partners carefully considered all aspects of a short-term feeding trial,” said Shannon Estenoz, Department of the Interior Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks. “It is critical we help manatees in the short term with actions that are compatible with their long-term wellbeing and resilience.” The Response Station is not a location for mobile veterinary care or rehabilitation. The Manatee Rescue and Rehabilitation Partnership will continue to care for rescued animals at their federally permitted rehabilitation facilities. Unified Command partners still anticipate relatively high mortality along Florida’s Atlantic Coast during the winter of 2021-22 due to chronic effects of starvation from the loss of seagrass associated with poor water
quality within the Indian River Lagoon. Because this trial effort is a management action that has not been tried before, it is unknown how many manatees will visit the site or how much vegetation individual manatees will consume. The goal of this action is to reduce manatee mortality. It will not eliminate it. Beyond on-site support, FPL is substantially contributing to other manatee response operations by working with the Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida to obtain an additional FWC rescue truck and provide on the ground assistance. “Environmental stewardship is a critical aspect of FPL’s continued efforts to deliver clean, reliable and affordable energy to its customers,” said Kate MacGregor, FPL vice president of environmental services. “For over 30 years, we have worked closely with state and federal agencies to ensure manatees are protected and we stand ready to support FWC and USFWS in their ongoing conservation efforts for this important species.” Report injured, distressed, or dead manatees to the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.
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JANUARY 2022
FLORIDA 15
WORKING THE NIGHT SHIFT
Tim Barefoot
Y
ears ago, before I had access to a boat slip at the marina, I frequently pulled the boat to work completely ready to drop in the water and go fish by 5 or 5:30 p.m. This time of year, when it gets dark at 5:30 in the afternoon, this was the only time I had to fish, but it wound up being the best time of the day/season to fish. My favorite nights are the full moons of winter. This is the time of year to catch some gator trout. With all the fishing pressure trout endure, some of the big girls may go completely nocturnal. I would be putting the boat in the water when everyone was taking out, and my constant question was, “Did you catch ’em today?” On quite a few occasions, I would get the answer, “We didn’t catch sheet.” That was the answer I was looking for. That meant they were going to eat after dark. You see, when a lot of boats are buzzing around and on top of them, it can put them in the “lockjaw” mode. Let it turn dark, when all the “day-timers” go home, and that’s when the numbers of bites and some of the big girls eat. NOTE: I can only talk so much smack… The biggest speck I’ve ever caught at night was 7.75 pounds, but I have caught some pretty impressive numbers. For example, one night we had 42 good ones. That was before there
16 FLORIDA
JANUARY 2022
was a limit, so my “limit” was when I had a cooler full. Back then I was selling them, so I didn’t have a problem keeping big numbers. One of the standout colors was chartreuse at night. This produced more bites than anything else, and that was what I was looking for. The more I fished the old faithful chartreuse MirrOlure, the more I loved it. But then we discovered the Rattle Trap. This was a complete game changer. Not only could you keep in touch with it, due to the resistance and vibration on the plug, but you could also cast it into the wind and a long distance. Now I have come full circle back to fishing what they really eat best of all… a shrimp. A soft plastic (DOA) shrimp on a jig head, the 3/8oz. Barefoot Jig. Primarily, I have been talking about speckled trout up to this point, but redfish and snook are especially good candidates for a night bite. All three of these species are programmed to eat a shrimp in the current. So, make the best out of the shortened daylight hours. Get in the boat after work and go fish the night shift. For more info on this jig head and D.O.A. shrimp combo, visit these websites: Barefootcatsandtackle.com or Rigandjig.com.
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Bassmaster Classic Returns to Hartwell T
he world’s most prestigious professional bass tournament is returning to the site of some of the best moments in the sport’s famed history. The 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk will be held at Lake Hartwell March 4-6. It is the fourth time the crowds and pageantry of the Classic have descended on Upstate South Carolina. Takeoffs will be conducted from Green Pond Landing & Event Center, while daily weigh-ins will be held at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The annual Bassmaster Classic Outdoors Expo will take place at the Greenville Convention Center, both of which are in nearby Greenville. B.A.S.S. CEO Bruce Akin said the organization is excited to once again visit a venue that has become the gold standard for professional bass fishing events. “Everything about Lake Hartwell and the city of Greenville make them the perfect setting for the Super Bowl of Professional Bass Fishing,” Akin said. “The Bassmaster Classic is not only a chance for the best anglers in the world to showcase their abilities, it’s an annual celebration of the sport itself. “Lake Hartwell provides the perfect site for amazing competition, and the city of Greenville provides the hotels, restaurants and other facilities you need for an event the size of the Classic.” Hartwell is a 56,000-acre man-made reservoir situated between Georgia and South Carolina and encompassing portions of the Savannah, Tugaloo and Seneca rivers. It features a vast array of habitat and a good population of both largemouth and spotted bass that are likely to be in the prespawn phase when the Classic competitors arrive.
“We are very excited for the opportunity to host the Bassmaster Classic once again on Lake Hartwell,” said Neil Paul, Executive Director of Visit Anderson. “The leadership of Anderson County has made a significant commitment to Green Pond Landing and the marketing efforts of Lake Hartwell, and we expect another record-breaking event with our teammates from Greenville. “Hosting our fourth Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell is significant to our community because no other fishery will have hosted more Bassmaster Classic events. Having hosted this great event in the past, we can speak first hand to the significant economic impact it will have on the upstate of South Carolina and the impact of residual tourism that will be felt in Anderson County for years to come.” The 2022 Classic will feature 55 qualifiers with berths earned through the Elite Series, the Opens, the TNT Fireworks B.A.S.S. Nation circuit, the Carhartt Bassmaster College Series presented by Bass Pro Shops and the Bassmaster Team Championship, plus the defending Bassmaster Classic champion and winner of the final Elite Series event of the 2021 season. They will compete in the no-entry-fee event for their share of a whopping $1 million purse, with the champion earning $300,000. For more information, go to www.bassmaster.com.
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JANUARY 2022
NATIONAL 11
THINKING ABOUT QUITTING BOATING? P erhaps your vessel needs a major repair. Maybe you sold your house and are moving away from the seashore. Maybe you are too busy to sell your boat, or you tried and found a lot of people didn’t have the resources to buy it, much less to move it. There are a lot of reasons people have for getting rid of an older boat, working or not. We want to let you know that you can trust Boat Angel Outreach Center. We here at Coastal Angler have seen them help thousands get rid of their unwanted boats and receive generous IRS1098 tax receipts for doing so. Did you know older, larger working boats can be donated for their fair market value? Did you know Boat Angel will walk you through the whole process, and most of the time even a boat that has been unused on your dock or in your backyard will be gone in less than 15 days? I’ve known the people at Boat Angel Outreach for more than a decade, and I can personally vouch that this charity is both caring and focused on helping kids. 100 percent of their funding is from the sale of donated boats. They currently fund projects on four continents and ceaselessly work to make this world a better place, especially for children. They have a courteous and diligent staff. They are experienced in solving logistical problems and multi-state title issues, all while achieving their goals of getting the donated vessels moved away quickly. So, if you’ve got a vessel that’s no longer
working, or you have decided to move on from boating, I strongly recommend you give this great organization a call or contact them through their website. When your donation is completed, just forward your receipt to your tax preparer. Who knows how much money your donation will put back in your pocket? We all know that an unused or nonworking boat is a drain on anyone’s finances. Fuel, maintenance bills, registration, insurance and slip fees are year-round expenses. Maybe it is finally
Donate A Boat or Car Today!
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time to move on. A friend of mine once asked, “What is better than being a boat owner?” “I don’t know, what?” I said. “A friend with a boat,” he replied, smiling. We all have friends with boats. Why not put the money saved into their gas tank and take a small fishing trip? Boat Angel Outreach Center; www.boatangel.org; EIN 42-1619552; 800-700-2628.
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KEEP IT GENUINE PRECISION PROTECTION
Whether you take your boat out to the lake or the ocean, your 4-stroke outboard needs ECSTAR Suzuki Semi-Synthetic Engine Oil so it can run long and strong. ECSTAR features special additives that protect the engine in harsh salt and fresh water environments, advanced detergents that keep engine parts clean, and viscosity index improvements that help the engine start in cold conditions. No matter where your next boat ride takes you, go confidently with ECSTAR.
RUN LONG. RUN CLEAN. RUN STRONG.
Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-Approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. Suzuki, the Suzuki “S” ECSTAR and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC.
SZ Q3 ECSTAR HALF HORIZONTAL CSTL ANGLR 7-16-21.indd 1
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JANUARY 2022
7/16/2021 9:56:33 AM NATIONAL
13
Angler Lands Record Red Hind
A
North Carolina angler boated a new state record red hind off Cape Lookout in October, and it’s a record that’s likely to stand for a while. The fish weighed 7 pounds, 1.6 ounces and measured 21.5 inches in length with a 17.5-inch girth. The new state record holder, Matthew Parr, of Wilmington, N.C., was fishing with Capt. Charles Stewart Merritt of Salt Air Ventures. They were dropping cut bait on 80-poundtest line, probably looking for big grouper. The record breaker Parr hauled from the depths was less than 2-pounds off the IGFA all tackle world record, which stands at 9 pounds even and was caught by Eddie Vanmeter out of St. Marys, Ga. in July of 2019. Previously, North Carolina did not list a state record red hind but created the category after Parr applied for the state record. The Division of Marine Fisheries creates new state record categories for fish that are exceptionally large for North Carolina. Parr’s was exceptionally large for anywhere. Although red hind are known to grow up to 23 inches and exceed 10 pounds in weight, anglers rarely encounter them that large. The typical specimen brought over the rail measures about 16 inches. Red hind is a quality table fish that is important in Caribbean commercial fisheries. In the South Atlantic it is regulated within the three grouper aggregate recreational bag limit. It is also listed in the ShallowWater Grouper Complex, which means there is a closure for the species from January through April.
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Meet the Beauty in the Beast Discover this spectacular 6½-carat green treasure from Mount St. Helens!
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or almost a hundred years it lay dormant. Silently building strength. At 10,000 feet high, it was truly a sleeping giant. Until May 18, 1980, when the beast awoke with violent force and revealed its greatest secret. Mount St. Helens erupted, sending up a 80,000-foot column of ash and smoke. From that chaos, something beautiful emerged… our spectacular Helenite Necklace.
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Helenite is produced from the heated volcanic rock of Mount St. Helens and the brilliant green creation has captured the eye of jewelry designers worldwide. Today you can wear this massive 6½-carat stunner for only $149! Make your emeralds jealous. Our Helenite Necklace puts the green stone center stage, with a faceted pear-cut set in .925 sterling silver finished in luxurious gold. The explosive origins of the stone are echoed in the flashes of light that radiate as the piece swings gracefully from its 18" luxurious gold-finished sterling silver chain. Today the volcano sits quiet, but this unique piece of American natural history continues to erupt with gorgeous green fire.
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HOOKED ON™ A CLEAN OCEAN
CLEANING OUR OCEANS FOR A BETTER
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SUZUKI’S CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT If you’re going to claim to be “The Ultimate Outboard Motor,” you’d better do more than just build great engines. This is why, for the past 10 years, Suzuki has been committed to cleaning up the marine environment through voluntary “Clean Up The World” activities around the globe. Through the recently launched CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT, Suzuki Marine is committed to reducing the use of plastics in packaging materials to its consumers which has led to eliminating 2.3 tons of plastic waste annually. Suzuki is continually finding ways to reduce plastic waste while educating and informing the boating industry about this critical issue. This is only the beginning and Suzuki is pledging itself to the important cause of protecting our planet’s waters, coastal environments, and marine ecosystems for future generations to enjoy.
YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC. All rights reserved.
FOR REEL
GOOD FISHING Visit Upcountry South Carolina Stop by the South Carolina Lakes booth at the Bassmaster Classic Expo, March 4-6, 2022 at the Greenville Convention Center.
Perfectly Seasoned FishUpcountrySC.com
864-233-2690
Lake Hartwell, host of the 2008, 2015, 2018, and 2022 Academy Sports & Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk