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O P P O R T U N I T I E S

A V A I L A B L E

MAY 2020

W O R L D W I D E

4/20/20 10:24 PM

Time to get to your local Suzuki Marine Dealer for the Ultimate Outboard Motors. Buy Time our to get to your local Suzuki Dealer3-Year for theLimited Ultimate Outboardplus Motors. Buy during Spring Sales Event andMarine get Suzuki’s Warranty 3 years of Time to our get to yourSales local Suzuki Marine Dealer the Ultimate Outboard Motors. during Spring Event get Suzuki’s 3-Year Limited Warranty plus 3models, yearsBuy ofand Extended Protection at no extraand charge. There for are Instant Savings on select during our Spring Sales Event andcharge. get Suzuki’s Limited Warranty plus 3models, years of Extended Protection noavailable. extra There3-Year are Instant Savings on select and Low-Rate Financing is at also Extended Protection no extra charge. There are Instant Savings on select models, and Low-Rate Financing at isSuzuki also available. See your participating Marine Low-Rate Financing is also available. See your participating Suzuki Marine dealer for all the details. See yourfor participating Suzuki Marine dealer all the details. dealer for all the details.

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Gimme Six Extended Protection promotion applies to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20 in accordance with the Gimme promotion a Participating Authorized the continental and customer who and resides in thetocontinental US or04/01/20 Alaska. The SixinPromotion is available Six by Extended Protection promotionSuzuki appliesMarine to newdealer SuzukiinOutboard Motors US from 25Alaska to 350 to HPa inpurchasing inventory which are sold delivered buyer between andGimme 06/30/20 accordance with for pleasure use only, is not redeemable cash. Instant Savings applies to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motorsinmade between 04/01/20 andThe 06/30/20. list of designated models, the promotion by a and Participating Authorized for Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides the continental US or Alaska. Gimme For Six Promotion is available Gimme Six Extended Protection promotion applies to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20 in accordance with seefor participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings musttobe applied purchases against the price of the outboard motor and reflected in theFor billlist of of sale. There are no model pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings applies qualifying of agreed-upon select Suzuki selling Outboard Motors made between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20. designated models, the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. The Gimme Six Promotion is available substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. There are no model for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings applies to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20. For list of designated models, Synchrony Retail benefit Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 Suzuki monthsreserves on newthe andright unregistered Outboard Motors. Subject credit approval. buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and substitutions, substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. to changeSuzuki or cancel these promotions at anytotime without noticeNot or all obligation. * Financing offers available through see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine.com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. There are no model terms provided, are Finance. based onAscreditworthiness. $19.99/month permonths $1,000on financed 60 monthsSuzuki is based on 5.99% APR.Subject Hypothetical figures usedNot in all calculation; actual monthly may Synchrony Retail low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 new andfor unregistered Outboard Motors. to credit approval. buyers willyour qualify. Approval, andpayment any rates anddiffer substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through based on provided, financing are terms, credit tier qualification,$19.99/month accessories orper other factors such for as down payment and fees. OfferAPR. effective on new,figures unregistered Outboard purchased from may a participating terms based on creditworthiness. $1,000 financed 60 months is based on 5.99% Hypothetical used inSuzuki calculation; your Motors actual monthly payment differ Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and authorized dealer between and 06/30/20. “Gimme Six”,factors the Suzuki “S”down and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drinkSuzuki and drive. Always wearpurchased a USCG-approved life jacket and based onSuzuki financing terms, credit04/01/20 tier qualification, accessories or other such as payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Outboard Motors from a participating terms provided, are based on creditworthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ readauthorized your owner’s manual. 2020 Suzuki Motor America,“Gimme Inc. Suzuki dealer© between 04/01/20 andof06/30/20. Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating read your owner’s manual. © 2020 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. authorized Suzuki dealer between 04/01/20 and 06/30/20. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2020 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.

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Catch

BIG BASS

From The Bank

f you grew up fishing, you might remember riding your bicycle to a local pond giddy with anticipation of what the day might bring. With a spinning rod held across the handlebars and a pocket full of plastic worms, the tactics were simple but the potential was huge. Would today be the day a monster largemouth tested the strength of your 8-pound line? For most of us, the joy and simplicity of bass fishing from the bank has

been lost to glitter boats and sophisticated electronics. But the truth is, all you need to catch bass—and some good ones—is a pocket full of tackle and a willingness to explore. Here are a few tips that’ll take you back to the good ol’ days. • Find a Pond: Bigger waters do not always hold bigger fish. Find a farm pond or a subdivision drainage lake with the right forage and habitat, and there’s a good chance it holds some bass pushing double digits. The key is access, so look respectful and be polite when asking, and always leave the place looking better than you found it. Google Maps is a great way to seek out small waters, and state or municipal public fishing areas can also be very good. • Keep it Simple: Only take what you’ll need. A small backpack or tackle pack should hold necessities like an extra spool of line, some needle-nose pliers and a small selection of your confidence lures. A few packs of plastic worms in proven colors and styles allow you to probe all depths depending on the rig. Spinnerbaits, bladed jigs and lipless crankbaits allow long casts to cover open water. Take just one rod. A 7-foot, medium-light action spooled with light line will handle most lures and allow for long casts you might need to reach fish. • Fish The Structure: Fish obvious visible cover like fallen trees and docks, but don’t forget the bottom contours. Depth changes attract ambush predators, and in smaller waters even a drop of couple feet will hold fish. Most ponds are deepest at the dam, and there is usually a wide shallow flat with a channel where a creek comes in. Spillways where water runs from a pipe are hotspots, and so are sunken boulders you can find by searching with a Texas rig or jig. Study the banks. Underwater topography often reflects what is visible above the waterline. Features like steep banks and ditches typically continue into a pond. One of the main considerations when prospecting small waters is that familiarity breeds success just like it does on large rivers and reservoirs. The same cover and structure will hold fish consistently. Also, a willingness to explore areas others won’t leads to unpressured fish. Wear long pants and boots, scramble through the high grass, woods and muck. Wade into the water where bank brush doesn’t allow for a cast. Remember, the world record largemouth bass was caught in 1932 from a small and swampy oxbow lake in south Georgia. Big fish live in small waters. That should be enough to make you giddy on the way to your next bank fishing excursion… even if you’re not riding a bike.

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he tuna fishing is on fire,” said Capt. Blake Rigby. “This year has been absolutely phenomenal.”

That was the April report from a Venice, Louisiana charter captain who was sitting at home in the midst of a global pandemic. Meanwhile, some of the best yellowfin action in decades was occurring in the Gulf of Mexico. The fish are out there, but no one is travelling to catch them. Charter captains are suffering, despite the fact that fisheries are still open for business. “It sucks,” Rigby said. “I fished 20-something days in March. I haven’t fished any this month.” In March, near the end of what Rigby called “lump season,” the numbers and size of yellowfin tuna being caught at the famous salt domes about 30 miles out of Venice Marina were astounding. Even in decent years, it’s one of the best winter and early spring tuna fisheries in the world. Plankton-rich currents from deep in the Gulf swirl around vertical domes that top out at 200 to 300 feet deep. It consolidates baitfish and the big fish that eat them. “It’s the best I’ve ever seen in my life,” said the young captain. At 26, he’s been running charters for six years, and said the old timers are

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expressing the same enthusiasm. “I think it’s safe to say it’s the best anyone has seen in 20 years.” The silver lining to the situation is there aren’t many people messing with the fish. When the coronavirus frenzy dies down, Rigby predicts the action will continue right through the summer, as the bite transitions to the massive floating oil and gas rigs of the Mississippi Canyon. More than 70 miles long and 5 miles wide, the Mississippi Canyon is a huge cut in the edge of the continental shelf. The rigs, called “floaters,” sit over depths from 2,000 to 7,000 feet. Every living thing gravitates to these floaters. Yellowfin might be the primary target, but blackfin tuna, mahi-mahi, wahoo, the occasional blue marlin and others are in the mix. Rigby said a good summer trip might include five or six tuna, weighing from 35 to more than 100 pounds. The bigger fish, those heavier than 200 pounds,

Photos courtesy of Blake Rigby/ Tripletail Charters. 8 NATIONAL

MAY 2020

By Nick Carter

typically show up in the cooler months. “I don’t want to raise expectations too high, because every day is different. Sometimes you can really get them, sometimes you can’t,” Rigby said. “But typically, when you find them, you’re really going to be in them.” Out of Venice, the floaters are spread 30 to 70 miles out. There’s an hour and a half run aboard Rigby’s 38-foot Empire Boatworks before it’s time put out the trolling spread. Once fish are located, Rigby slows to drift live or cut baits. Night fishing is a great option in the heat of summer. Usually, night trips depart after lunch and return when anglers have caught their fill. “Sometimes the fishing is so good, I come back that night,” Rigby said. “Sometimes we’ll stay through the next morning’s bite.” For more information, visit www.tripletailcharters.com, email Rigby at blake@tripletailcharters.com or call (409) 651-7639.

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he way fish react to live bait is interesting. Predatory fish view struggling or dying prey as an easy meal, right? So why does a half-dead shrimp on the end of the line get ignored? It would seem to represent an easy meal hanging there limp and twitching. Meanwhile, the bait pulling your popping cork across the marsh is going to get absolutely hammered. This runs counter to the theory that fish innately weigh the expenditure versus reward of chasing down prey. Seatrout are always looking for something lively. But what about redfish or any of the other inshore species that are as likely to eat a piece of dead bait as they are a live one? They’ll happily pick up a piece of frozen squid off the bottom, so why would they refuse a sluggish mud minnow on a freeline? It stands to reason that fish, when they are feeding by sight, sound and vibration—rather than smell—don’t even notice a live bait hanging out in the water doing next to nothing. Or maybe it looks unnatural, as if a shrimp that bad off should be bumping along the bottom instead of hanging in the current? Meanwhile, the bait that’s frantically trying to escape the hook it’s impaled on is drawing attention to itself. Active live bait plays on the predatory instincts of fish just like artificial lures. It works for the same reason your dog would rather you throw a tennis ball than hand it to him. The lesson here is to keep your live bait alive. Baitwells that circulate and aerate by pumping water from outside the boat are the best way to keep live bait happy. The water you’re keeping your bait in is the same water you’re fishing. This is important because sudden changes in temperature or water conditions stuns baits. With a baitwell, when you impale and cast that pinfish, it lands in the same water conditions it just came from. It’s likely to freak out when the world suddenly grows a lot bigger and full of predators, and that’s exactly what you want. If you don’t have a baitwell, a bait tank that circulates and aerates water is almost as good. You’ll have to watch the temperature, though. Cooler water makes for livelier bait in the tank, but be careful how much ice you dump in. You don’t want your finger mullet going into shock when it hits the bay. Finally, smaller coolers or 5-gallon buckets benefit from the addition of a bubbler to add oxygen to the water. These systems are very portable and perfect for kayaks and shore anglers. Remember to change the water every few hours, and don’t overload them with bait to begin with. With any of these systems, the idea is to keep the bait fresh long enough to fish it. Because if your shrimp are lethargic, you’re better off peeling and fishing chunks of them on the bottom than you are presenting them to fish as live baits.

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CA Florida STAR presented by Yamaha will have anglers across the state in hot pursuit of valuable orange tags! The new launch date for the 2020 STAR competition is Wednesday, July 1, when anglers of all ages and skill levels will chase tagged fish and also catch and log non-tagged species in 17 inshore and offshore divisions for a shot at their share of $500,000 in prizes and scholarships. Winning anglers have a choice in the signature Tagged Redfish Division of Yamaha-powered boat packages including a Contender Boats 22 Sport, Pathfinder Boats 2200TRS, Hewes Redfisher 16 and Carolina Skiffs 21 LS. “The last five years of competition are proof that tagged fish can be caught, and you would get to pick from the prizes available,” said STAR Director Leiza Fitzgerald. “But remember, any fish you catch can be entered to win something, you just need to be a member and registered for STAR when you go fishing.” Both the east and west coast of Florida have had their share of STAR-tagged redfish recaptured during the competition by unregistered anglers. Since 2015, 102 tagged redfish have been recaptured, but only six of them by CCA members registered for STAR competition. Three of those winners took home new GMC trucks. The others opted for Pathfinder or Contender boat, motor and trailer packages, each powered by Yamaha. To date there have been more than a million dollars in prizes awarded, with $500,000 in college scholarships. On average, four STAR-tagged redfish are released per Florida’s coastal counties with Brevard, Charlotte and Citrus counties being destination counties with each having a total of eight tagged fish released in their waters. In 2019, two of the winning fish were from Charlotte County. In 2017, Citrus County had a winner. Tagged redfish have been caught in Brevard County each year, but the anglers were not registered. You might want to plan your next 8 FLORIDA

MAY 2020

fishing weekend in one of the three destination counties. There are plenty of opportunities for anglers to catch a winning fish, but they better be STAR-registered CCA members, or it will just be another very sad fish tale. STAR has other great opportunities for anglers who catch non-tagged fish, too. Terrific prizes are lined up for those who catch any non-tagged redfish, snook, trout, tarpon, kingfish, dolphin or grouper. Just submit a photo of your legal catch in the Open, Ladies, Kayak or Fly divisions. Even better, any fish can be entered in the Power Pole Conservation Division for a shot at some really cool Power Pole equipment. If fishing is not your thing, the Costa Kick Plastic Trash Division presented by Papa’s Pilar encourages people to collect plastic and trash from coastal waters and shorelines. Submit a photo of every full 5-gallon bucket collected and include The 2020 Official STAR Measuring Device in the photo for a shot at a three-day trip to Key West to visit the Hemingway Rum Distillery or $500 cash from Thrash Can Bucket toppers or gift certificates from AFTCO or West Marine. Kids can also enter their catches. Youth anglers (ages 6-17) can register for free with their current ($10) CCA Florida New Tide membership and are eligible for prizes in the tagged fish divisions as well as the Youth Scholarship Division, Conservation Division and the Trash Division. Prizes for the first two youth anglers in the STAR tagged redfish division include a Yamaha-powered Salt Marsh Skiff, sporting Humminbird electronics and a Minn Kota trolling motor all sitting on a trailer. The registered youth angler who catches the first STAR-tagged dolphin is eligible to win a $10,000 scholarship. The Youth Scholarship Division presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors offers $100,000 in scholarships, two $25,000 scholarships from Realtree Fishing and Academy Sports + Outdoors and ten $5,000 scholarships from Bealls Department Stores, Southeast Environmental Solutions, Talk of

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the Town Restaurant Group, Florida’s Sports Coast, Flagler Sportfishing Club, Plantation Inn Crystal River, Tailin Toads and Carolina Skiff. Other scholarship donors are Barnes & Thornburg LLP, Jacksonville Offshore Sportfishing Club and Ryals Offshore Productions. Unlike traditional fishing tournaments, STAR is a competition that focuses on conservation. Recognized as a ‘catch, photo and release’ competition, STAR’s smart phone app promotes the proper handling of all species and eliminates the requirement for anglers to harvest or capture and transport fish. “Our state’s fisheries are here for everyone’s enjoyment, and CCA Florida is constantly trying to improve them while promoting conservation. We understand that smart fishing will preserve these resources for the future,” said Brian Gorski, CCA Florida Executive Director. There are 17 divisions and 12 species included in the event, and most winners are determined by a random drawing of catch entries made. Registration is $40 for current CCA Florida members or $75 for non-members, which includes CCA Florida membership. With the start of the competition being July 1, plus incentives offered by Engel Coolers to register early and so many amazing prizes, now is the time to get registered and make your fishing more rewarding. For information visit www.ccaflstar.com or call (844) 387-7827.

FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | MAY 2020 | FORT MYERS 1

Capt. Terry Fisher

2020 Boca Grande Tarpon

n spite of the recent Pandemic (Corona Virus) ‘Outbreak’, the tarpon are everywhere. Prayerfully and hopefully by the time this article is published the concerns and issues of the ‘Outbreak’ have passed and all is well. Regardless, hats off to Mayor Joe Coviello, the Council men and women of Cape Coral together in conjunction with Sheriff Carmine Marceno, of Lee County for having the foresight and savvy to leave open boat ramps for fishing and recreational activities throughout most, if not all, of the uncertainties surrounding the Corona Virus. The months of May and June bring to Boca Grande Pass (‘Pass’) one of the most spectacular, natural displays of God’s gift to man, ‘The World’s Biggest Tarpon Migration’, in all of its splendor. Only a few short weeks each season Boca Grande Pass becomes home to the best big game tarpon fishing and tarpon concentration on the planet. Whether a fisher-person or not, this natural display of wildlife beauty, observing the smaller males bid for the right of the larger female’s attention, is worth a boat ride to the ‘Pass’ to witness. Definitely a ‘bucket-list’ endeavor for wildlife enthusiasts. While there are many qualified guides for hire, other than myself, I recommend Captain Dave Markett of Odessa, Florida. Like me, we have both spent years fishing. Captain Dave has been a professional guide for 49 years running, that include 29 years of fishing the Pass for hire. Dave may be reached at dmarkett@aol. com or by calling him at 813-455-3056. Fishing the Pass is not for the ‘faint of heart’. At times it is crowded and intense. It also requires a different mindset and angling expertise. It requires a ‘reel’ art just to hook up, not to mention landing the fish. These are big fish and for the most part must be fought and landed in a very crowded theater. I compare catching tarpon to that of hunting, observing, or shooting wild turkey. Wild turkey can spot the blink of a hunter’s eye 75 yards away. Big tarpon are similar in as much as they are shy, suspecting and reluctant to bite when the habitat or area they are in is compromised in any way. They are persnickety feeders. One must pick or have available the type of food (bait) they are eating at a particular time. This is called ‘matching the hatch’.

2 FORT MYERS | MAY 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

Unfortunately, at times fishing the Pass can be compromised due to strong currents and wind. This is where other locations come into play to catch a big tarpon. Remember, these tarpon are all migrating from the Caribbean Sea and beyond. They must swim northward along Marco, Naples, Ft. Myers and the beaches of Sanibel, Captiva and Cayo Costa or via Pine Island Sound to get to Boca Grande. Most guides prefer to fish these various locations, as they are not as crowded as the Pass and not as much pressure on the fish. I have three suggestions for those wanting to learn to catch a tarpon: 1) Hire a Tarpon Guide to take you (preferably me). 2) Join a Tarpon Hunters Club. 3) Go out with someone that has targeted them and actually caught a few. Locations other than the Pass require different setups. These fish can be found anywhere from 1000 yards off the beaches to 30 miles offshore. The technique is to identify a corridor that the fish are swimming and set the boat in a position ahead of them to receive them. A variety of baits are available and can vary depending on what the fish are looking for. The baits include both live and dead presentations and should be placed in the path of the oncoming school of tarpon. Dead baits include; mullet, ladyfish, Spanish mackerel and catfish fillets weighted and fished on the bottom of the seabed. Live baits include; pinfish, pilchards, crab, threadfins, mullet, ladyfish. Although they can be ‘freelined or weighted, I prefer to suspend live baits under a cork on a 5’-6’ leader. Recommended equipment for these sizes of fish range dramatically. I use spinning reels in the 6000-8000 series on 8ft. rods with 30-40lb butt strength ratings. 65lb. test line with 60-80lb fluorocarbon leaders and 7/0-9/0 circle hooks. Heavier equipment can be used, but is not necessary. Every day will not be ‘Tarpon Day’. Tarpon do not bite nonstop or all day. I like to offer my clients the best of both worlds. When the tarpon are cooperating (biting) go strictly for them. If and when the become finicky and not cooperative (by ignoring all and any presentations) change up the plan and fish for snook, redfish, tripletail and other species that are willing and eager to eat. May fishing both inshore and offshore will be good. Certain times of the month the tides will be strong and high offering opportunity to inshore ‘back country’ locations. Offshore will offer plenty of opportunities for reef fishing as well as kingfish, permit, snapper and grouper. I am available as ‘Captain for Hire’ on your vessel by the hour for safety, navigation, fishing techniques and locations for tarpon and all other species.

Fish Face Charters @ 239-357-6829 FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | MAY 2020 | FORT MYERS 3

4 FORT MYERS | MAY 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

May

Capt. Mike Manis anchor with a quick release system that allows me to free my

is the Month!

anchor if needed upon hookup. The anchor’s attached to a float for retrieval. Here, it’s important to work with other anchored skiffs and courtesy is key. Take a few minutes to survey where everyone is posted up and find a spot where you won’t cut someone off. The fish are typically heading north toward Boca Grande Pass. Even in the back of the line, you’ll get your shots. Here, the skiffs ahead of you will even let you know when a group is headed your way and on a calm clear day you can see them coming from a long way off. Until next month, good tides.

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fter what we’ve been through the last two months, hopefully we can all feel comfortable getting back out because without a doubt, this is one of the best months to be on the water. Bait, scaled sardines and threadfin herring, will be scattered throughout the area, water temperatures will be right, and all kinds of game fish species will be active. Tarpon, redfish, snook, sharks, cobia, jack crevalle, spotted sea trout, and Spanish mackerel are all possible. Look for tarpon on the beaches and around all Gulf Island passes. Shark fishing should be good in the harbor near artificial reefs like the one off Cape Haze Point. Cobia should be on outside bar systems like the east and west walls. Due to warming water temperatures, look for the best spotted sea trout bite to be in a bit deeper water, 3’–4’, just off the intracoastal waterway. Spanish mackerel should be in the vicinity off all harbor markers as well as artificial reef systems. Redfish could be roaming just about any flat or shoreline. Mullet schools are a good indicator when hunting redfish. They like sticking close as the mullet kick up all kinds of free scraps from the bottom. Most likely, I’ll spend my time working backcountry shorelines for snook or setting up off the beach waiting on strings of tarpon. This is a great time to sight fish big snook as they’re on the move in full spring transition. By on the move, I’m referring to actively cruising shorelines looking for food. After the slim pickings of winter, they need to fatten up as the summer spawn approaches.

After looking inside for tarpon last month, I’ll slip outside to the beach now. For throwing fly, I like coming out Captiva Pass and working my way north to Murdock Point outside Cayo Costa. I like to set up in 5’-10’ adjacent to sand for better visibility. I’ll FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | MAY 2020 | FORT MYERS 5

Build Family T ies Through F ishing

hen asked what they want most for their children, most parents reply that they just want them to be happy, but happiness comes from building a strong family foundation. Psychologists note that of the five most important aspects of a healthy family, communication is one. Simply put, strong families pay attention to each other, and there aren’t many ways the cultivate an atmosphere that generates this type of communication and attention than a family fishing trip. Whether you’re simply looking to enjoy an outdoor activity or want to help bring your family closer by engaging in a hobby that allows you to learn and grow together, fishing has many perks for family members of any age. While fishing is great in that it allows your whole family to enjoy screenfree time in nature and reap the health benefits of fresh air and a bit of exercise, it’s really the atmosphere that allows you to cultivate deep family bonds. Outside activities have shown to foster social, emotional, and cognitive competencies in kids, including strengthening the language and communication interactions. This means that the time and space you have on a boat or shoreline, as a whole family, is a great way to allow them to cultivate communication skills while also helping to teach them important life lessons. Fishing also improves balance and coordination, and the more a child can develop these skills early on, the more physical and general confidence they will have later in life, which directly

CAM Staff

translates into healthy familial relationships. Teach them how to bait a hook and cast a spinning rod and watch them build their confidence and physical strength. Not only will you be helping them build confidence as they set goals and reel in big fish, but you will also be teaching them important life lessons of patience, perseverance, and even focus. Fishing, by nature, requires you to sit back and enjoy the stillness while waiting for a large bass, grouper or tarpon to come along and reel in. This lesson is by far the greatest lesson for children and a great way to bond as a family as they will understand the importance of focus and perseverance while by your side doing something they enjoy. In a world that is largely dominated by technology, fishing is also a great way to reel their focus in and help them learn how to live in the moment while also enjoying time spent with their family members and friends. There’s no doubt that getting outside and enjoying nature is beneficial to adults and kids alike. Taking advantage of the time outdoors and spent together as a family is a great way to cultivate deep, healthy bonds among all of your family members. Teach your children how to fish and watch them grow into confident, focused little explorers that will love to be a part of the strong family you have built. You might also be able to enjoy the great catches they reel in as well.

6 FORT MYERS | MAY 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

Angler M

by Capt. Dave Stephens set up a drift in front of the fish, don’t be that guy! Baits such as

Options

ay is the month that everything in the harbor is in full swing. The options an angler has are at its peak. We still have some pelagic fish that are still in the area. Snook fishing during this month should be a hot topic. For the most part, these guys have made their way onto the flats from the deeper waters. The barrier islands adjacent to flats will be holding good numbers of fish. On the lower tides look for fish to move to potholes on these flats. Other areas such as oyster bars and points around creek mouths are great places to locate fish. Live bait such as pilchards and herring will get the best results. If you prefer artificial, try weed-less soft plastics and twitch baits. Probably the most looked for fish this month will be tarpon. Schools of these large fish will be making their way into our area. Locating these guys can be a little tricky. During the early part of the season calm wind conditions can help a lot. Keep your eyes open for fish rolling on the surface. The holes in the harbor are great places to look for these guys. Just remember to be courteous to other anglers, if you have a trolling motor use it. If not try to

large herring and small crabs will normally get their attention, however slow rolled swim baits will also get the job done. For the angler that wants to just go out have a few beers bend the rods, and don’t care what you catch. This is a great month for that. We still have some mackerel in the harbor, and these guys are not normally picky. One way to locate fish is looking for birds balled up in area. This is a sure sign of a feeding frenzy. Spanish Mackerel are often over looked as great game fish. For a 2-3-pound fish they put up a great fight, and are not bad on the grill. The key is to prepare these guys fresh. Mackerel are a little bit more oily than other fish so they don’t freeze well. However, if prepared fresh are excellent table fare. Another nice relaxing way is to troll. Get you a couple spoons, toss them out the back, and kick the boat in gear. May is a great month to be on the water. The fishing is good, and hopefully the boat traffic will begin to drop off. So, if you haven’t been out in a while, get out and give it a try. Give us a call or send an email. All of our charters are private and customized to fit you and your party’s needs.

Back Bay Xtremes @ 941-916-5769

FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | MAY 2020 | FORT MYERS 7

Firsts

Marissa Williams Hindsight being 20/20, I would

hat brings you back to the water? Where did your passion start? My dad tells this story of when I was camping as a kid and was begging to join him trout fishing. “Please,” I’d insist, only to hear a quick, “No, you’d complain that you’re cold”. To get around this I did what any kid would do; I promised not to complain that I was cold. And I did exactly that. My dad set out to fish for trout and I followed a short distance behind. At some point into our adventure my father turned around to see me shivering and blue, but silent. “What happened?!” He exclaimed. “I promised I wouldn’t say I was cold,” I responded. And that is the beginning of my love/hate relationship with fishing.

advise people to start working on their cast from shore instead of atop a precarious paddle board that is designed to challenge your balance rather than support it. My lures spent more time in the mangroves than they did in the water. I’d finish my days with zero fish caught, six mangroves hooked, and all lures retrieved. A depressing stat, but one that can certainly be improved. Now that I’m no longer catching mangroves, I’ve graduated to small redfish. These are by far my favorite. The bright rose gold with the sapphire blue tails are colors that can only be found here. Plus, these are also the only fish I can manage to catch. Then one typical morning something new happens. Just as I’m getting ready to turn a corner, my line takes off screaming. This isn’t a small red, they don’t run like this. What could this fish possibly be and what am I going to do about crashing into these rapidly approaching mangroves? As I continue to reel in this mystery fish, I abandon my board and paddle in the shallows and know they will still be floating when I go to find them later. Then it happens - I get my first glimpse. A flash of silver with a long black line. “A snook!” I scream out to absolutely no one. Continue on Pg. 9...

8 FORT MYERS | MAY 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

The thought of catching my first snook races through my mind as I attempt to keep her away from mangrove roots and adjust the play in the line. After several minutes of battle, she tires out and I’m able to see what has brought me crashing to shore. A perfect beauty, over 30” in length, with not a single scale misplaced. Then I realize it. I don’t know how to hold a snook. The only thing I’ve heard about this fish is they are thumb suckers, but I’m unaware of any spines or barbs, so I opt to hold the fish at the mouth and the tail. I take a few quick photos of this impressive fighter before removing the hook and returning her to the water. This is it; I think, this is the ultimate morning! But this is just where things are getting started. A few days after my first snook, I find myself in my same quarantine routine. Floating along the flats I see a redfish tailing. In the back of my mind I know that every attempt I’ve made to sight cast has scared off every living creature in a 50-mile radius, but I’m still going to attempt it. The board is lined up just right and I take my shot. The lure lands gently in the water, just past

the red, as I start slowly reeling in. It’s happening, the red sees my bait and starts to take aim when BAM! The red is now on the end of my line pulling me out into the San Carlos Bay. I start to wonder what I’m going to do, but I’m too excited to care. The red pulls my board farther out and I reel back in, fighting to stay upright. I keep the line tight and wait until she tires out. Ten minutes later and yards from where I started, she starts to weaken. I sit down on my board and realize this is not one of those small reds I’m used to. I’m fairly sure that if I attempt to pick her up out of the water the counterweight will be all I need to flip me and my board. But what’s the harm in trying? I reach into the water and with a one-two heave-ho attempt, all 33” are on the board. This is too proud of a moment not to share, after all, what’s a story without pictures? I remove the hook and place her back in the water. I look at the blue in the tail as I’m waiting for her to regain strength and just like that, she’s gone. I’m starting to think that maybe I’m more than lucky, maybe I’m actually getting good at this fishing thing. So, the best way to keep my ego in check would obviously be to swap out my spinning reel for a fly. Back to looking like a kid taking a whack at a piñata.

FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | MAY 2020 | FORT MYERS 9

Dan Carns

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f you have been reading my articles for a while you’ll note that I write specifically about kayak fishing related topics, but not fishing forecasts. Anyone who fishes as much as I do could write forecasts, but there is a slew of qualified writers in this magazine that cover the month to month happenings expected here in SWFL. There are some general rules to follow; redfish in October, trout in the winter, snook in the spring and tarpon in the summer; but the truth is you can catch them all year round. This requires some serious tactical changes on your part but the beauty of fishing is that while you may love to follow a routine, adapting to new environments or switching to lures that are unfamiliar, can only make you a better angler and will lead to more fish more often! I, like you, have my favorite launches and locations that I return to time and time, again knowing full well where I’m going to catch specific fish depending on the time of year. So when I recently moved, I found myself in unfamiliar territory and went in search of some advice from a friend. Mike assured me that my new neighborhood had an abundance of the usual species and maybe larger fish than I’d grown accustomed to. So, when my move was completed I picked a flat calm morning and launched my kayak into the upper Caloosahatchee full of promise and hope. Mind you that we are kayakers and can only cover so much ground at one time, but I felt as though I had enough time and distance to find some fish. Boy was I wrong, not only did I not see any fish (except rolling tarpon) I managed to catch 1 ladyfish in 4 hours and wasted two of them throwing the kitchen sink at said tarpon, all the while using what I consider to be standard setups. On my next outing I switched everything around, bright colors instead of natural, larger presentations instead of small, swimbaits instead of paddle tails and then I started looking around for drop-offs, ambush points and deeper access points where the fish could make runs onto shallow flats, but still have quick exits to deep water. I next focused on active bait pods and sure enough hit pay dirt! The next 3 hours were a clinic in changing tactics, environments, and making a mental map of the underwater structure so that my return trips will again be successful and worthwhile. Kayakers are in a unique position to better understand an area as we tend to return to the same spots over and over due to distance restriction, as we cannot just fly off to the next spot and must take advantage of every little chance to find fish. I encourage you to expand your range and find new places to fish, but be forewarned it may take a few trips and some adjustments to dial it in! Its A Wild World-Get Out There! Fishman Dan

Dan Carns @ 239-283-1125 10 FORT MYERS | MAY 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

P-B

and

Joe Sheaffer to find and explore the

Pier-Beach and Jetty

any of us are lucky enough to have some type of fishing vessel and there are many advantages of being able to fish from a boat or kayak. Many anglers, for one reason or another, must find other ways and places to enjoy their passion. I for one, love exploring different fishing opportunities and to be honest, surf fishing is my favorite. Living on the peninsula of Florida gives us many opportunities to fish without using a boat. I regularly fish many of SW Florida’s Piers, Beaches and Jetties. I’m lucky enough to live within a short distance from each of these areas and it is nice to fish them when I only have short windows of time. Some of the largest fish I have ever caught have been from these types of areas, not to mention the variety of species. It isn’t difficult

many opportunities in your area. Starting with county park directories, online maps and search engines, local fishing reports, regional fishing papers and magazines; all can be helpful in locating fishable areas. It isn’t necessary to take a ton of equipment, especially if fishing shorter time windows. I usually take a 7’6 spinning rod, 2500-3000 series spinning reel, 15-20 lb. braid, and several choices of leader (15-40lb Fluoro), and a small backpack with terminal tackle and lures. Obviously, if you intend on keeping a few fish for table fare, along with water and snacks, you would carry a small cooler. Having equipment and a system that allows you to adjust to the way you fish, what you’re fishing for and the different fishing conditions will help in your success. I have caught many different species and sizes of fish with this type of equipment, including snook, redfish, trout, flounder, pompano, sheepshead, and black drum to name a few. I highly recommend fishing and exploring many of these areas. PB and J can be great places for fishing adventures and memories. Good luck and keep casting.

FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | MAY 2020 | FORT MYERS 11

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Prospecting

Capt. Neil Eisner call it, prospecting.

It all starts the night before. I use Google Earth and look over an area I want to fish, looking for deeper spots or water that flows deep through the mangroves. Sometimes I’ll find creeks that are no longer visible because they have been covered up by mangrove branches. You can bet there’s fish there! The next day I’ll go out on the low, incoming tide. I can see where there’s no water and how the water comes in and what direction it moves. I’ll fish the new spots a few times to determine if it’s an outbound or inbound spot or no good at all. Remember what’s good today just might die out in a few months. So, check back and fish it a few times a year. It will come back, it might take a year or two. It held

fish once before, but something changed below the water causing the fish to move on. An old-time fishing guide, Captain Mac, once told me, “Put ten dollars away from every charter and fish one new spot ooking for new spots is a must if you want to become a good on every trip”. Man, was he right. angler. That’s why when it comes to tournaments, the pros go Want to learn more, email or call me. out a few days early and pre-fish, just looking for the fish. The same holds true where you fish. Things are always changing in the bays and back country. Everybody wants to go fishing, but Fishing the Flats FC @ 239-860-4242 you need to take some time and look for new spots, or as I like to

14 FORT MYERS | MAY 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

Offshore

Capt. Bart Marx add some mono line, about 6’, then more wire and a king spoon.

in SWFL

21” red grouper, yellowtails, 24” - 22”.

his time of year, the waters have become full of teams of bait balls scattered along the coast. As these huge balls of bait travel north, the predators are literally on their tails. We have pelagic species like king mackerel, mahi-mahi, AJ’s just to name a few. These are the ones that we usually troll for; kings I have harvested both ways. While you are anchored up bottom fishing, (I will talk on that shortly) you can put a bonus rod/line out behind the boat about 10-20 yards, with a live bait or frozen Spanish sardine. You can also troll with a planer and a spoon, to do the same. The planer is a large shiny object- they will attack it. To keep your planer I suggest you put some wire in front and behind. I buy pre-maid leaders for this that just clip on, then

Doing this will preserve your shiny objects so you can catch a few with the same rig. Personally, I don’t like terminal tackle, but a snap-swivel is handy here to change your king spoon colors & size. Harvesting; put them on ice as soon as you finish taking your pics for the scrapbook. Kings are good table fare! I steak my kings about an inch thick. I like to marinade them in teriyaki sauce overnight. Next step, fire up the grill. Get the grill hot and cook it like a normal steak. Depending on the temperature at the time of grilling, meaning room or fridge temperature, about seven minutes per side. I have found it has a “MORE-ISH” flavor, tastes like “more”. If you have eaten lots of fish you know it is best if it has never been frozen. When asked what is my favorite fish, I reply “fresh, it truly is the best”. Most fish can be kept on ice or in the fridge for a few days, draining the moisture off. Okay, back to bottom fishing. Grouper and snapper are also good table fare. I like to fish natural bottom ledges. When you anchor up and chum they will come from all around the area to feed. I start this with frozen baits like squid, sardines, and shrimp. This gets things started and you find what is the best bait for the moment; it also creates a chum slick under water. When you reel the fish to the surface, they purge their stomach trying to spit the hook. At that time, it becomes suspended creating a chum line under the surface. This is why the kings come around or maybe a blackfin tuna. Snapper is a great eating species- all of them! I am offering a six-hour evening trips. At night we target snapper and it is a great experience if you have never tried it. Give me a call and always remember singing drags and tight lines make me smile. <*(((((>{

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FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | MAY 2020 | FORT MYERS 15

One Person

Marissa Williams “well, I’ll try to get it, it’s the least I can

grew up having the best of both worlds. My mother living in south Florida and my father living in North Carolina. I grew fond of trout-stocked ponds and streams and frustrated with hours in the Atlantic with only a fish to show for it, but the water in Jupiter was much more than fishing. It was crystal clear Caribbean blue teaming with turtles and manatees. It was warm and welcoming most of the year and more importantly smelled exactly like home. College came and went, but the ocean was still there when I returned. And what better way to spend time on the water exploring than on a paddle board? I moved back to Florida from Pittsburgh and settled on Sanibel Island. Each day I’d head out and find new shoreline to explore and each day I noticed a growing trend. I wasn’t the only one exploring these coastlines. I started seeing monofilament and hooks hanging down from the mangrove branches and thought,

do while I’m out”. And I haven’t stopped, since I picked up that first piece of line over 5 years ago. Each time out on the water would return handfuls of fishing gear. I was curious about how much I was finding, so I started counting hooks. On average, I’d find 40-70 hooks a day with a record setting day of over 140! Imagine that, cleaning the same 100yard stretch of coastline and finding that much every time you go out. At this point I started saving salvageable lures. I had no idea what to do with them, but most were new and I couldn’t justify simply throwing them out. This is how Salt Collins Lure Co started. Most mornings I would set out to my usual spots; either Tarpon Bay or Blind Pass. People would always ask what I was doing, when I can only imagine what they were thinking when seeing a mess of blonde hair wrestling with mangroves. I wouldn’t be surprised if one day I needed someone to cut me out from all that line. When I started, my goal was to simply pick up the debris from the mangroves. Make our coastlines trash free and pretty. But there’s more to be had than just beautifying the coastlines. I’d find birds of all sorts ensnared in line and trapped in trees. I’ve found redfish still hooked on lures with the other end of the line wrapped around a mangrove root. Continue on Pg. 17...

16 FORT MYERS | MAY 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

fall in the water. Surprisingly in 5 years I have never fallen from my board. I have, however, had several rusty hooks catapulted down from high branches and land firmly in my hands. Hooray for tetanus shots! Like Disney’s “Little Mermaid,” my collection was growing, but not moving anywhere. 600 lures quickly grew to more and although I had given some to friends and local artists, I still had many that I wanted to give purpose. I started replacing the split rings and hooks and put them up for sale. What gives these lures purpose though, isn’t just the fish they can catch, but what they support. One person on a paddle board can make a pretty significant difference, but nothing compared to organizations like Loggerhead Marine Life Center or SCCF. So 50% of the profits from lure sales go to local wildlife and conservation efforts. Thousands of hooks and thousands of yards of mono later I found myself in quarantine. The places I cleaned once or twice a week were now staying free of stray casts and debris, so what do I’ve carefully freed stone crabs from so much braid you would I do with my time on the water? My cast is comparable to a small have thought your grandmother was knitting them a sweater. kid taking a whack at a piñata, so naturally that seems like a good Hooks and line don’t nearly have the visual impact of picking place to start. up discarded bottles and potato chip bags. In fact, 200 hooks barely covers the bottom of a bucket. But instead of visualizing 200 hooks, imagine 200 dead birds. Each time I pick up a hook I think, “that’s one less out there”; it’s one less dead bird, one less piece of debris, one less ensnared animal. With over 2,000 hooks and over 600 lures collected in my first year, it was time to take this show on the road. I started bringing my board down to the keys, over to Jupiter, and just about anywhere I could in Florida, each place having its own set of challenges. Where do I launch from? How long will it take me to paddle to the destination? Can I really reach that piece of mono? Will that lure sling shot into my face? I often think people watching me from the beach have a betting pool of when I will

FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | MAY 2020 | FORT MYERS 17

Tarpon

Capt. Billy Norris

Fishing

arpon are one of the most sought-after gamefish in the world. Drag screaming runs, combined with aerial acrobatics make them a challenging fight for even the most skilled anglers. Whether it’s stalking them on shallow grass flats, chasing schools down the white sugar sand beaches, or targeting fish in currentswept passes, tarpon fishing is one of the most addictive types of fishing Florida has to offer. I will go over a few tips and tricks to help you improve your abilities when attempting to best the Silver King. Tarpon can be found in nearly every coastal aquatic environment in Florida. They inhabit reefs and wrecks, beaches, grassflats, estuaries and can even be found in freshwater lakes and ponds. Due to their wide-ranging habitats, your fishing style will change depending on where you’re fishing. Firstly, your gear and tackle have to be topnotch. Tarpon are one fish that will absolutely put your equipment to the test. If you have junk reels, frays in your line, cheap leader, or discount hooks, you will get whipped by these bruiser fish. Go over your setups from top to bottom and make sure everything you are using is up to par. I prefer to use reels in the 60-80 range. Personally, I use Quantum Cabo 60s or Penn Slammer 7500 reels. The beefier reels are able to put the screws to the fish and the larger spools allow you to carry a lot more line. A medium-heavy rod is also a big help when fighting tarpon. I use 7-foot medium action Star Rods. Nowadays, it would be a challenge to find a professional captain who does not use braided line when tarpon fishing. I spool my reels up with 50-pound braid, but you can also up it to 80 if you’re targeting bigger fish. Tarpon can be extremely picky when it comes to both baits and rigs. Fluorocarbon is an absolute must when it comes to your leaders. Depending on the water quality, you may have to switch pound test if the fish are leader shy. 7 foot of 80-pound Yo-Zuri pink fluorocarbon is where I typically start, but will bump down to 50-pound if the water is very clear. Everyone has their own preference of hooks and mine are either 8/0 Owner SSW Circles or 6/0 Mustad UltraPoint Demon Circle hooks. Believe it or not, tarpon will pretty much eat anything that

18 FORT MYERS | MAY 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

lives in the ocean. I have caught them on cutbait, threadfins, crabs, pilchards, pinfish, discarded fish carcasses…literally almost everything. However, this does not mean that you can just use anything. Although they will consume a variety of baits, they are extremely picky and are notorious for getting dialed in on one specific type of prey. For example, when fishing for tarpon in Marathon, I target two passes, Bahia Honda and the 7-Mile Bridge. Both passes are right next to each other, but at Bahia Honda the fish will only eat crabs and at 7-Mile they want mullet. It doesn’t seem to make any sense why two different schools so close to one another won’t eat the same things, but it is reality. Even the size of crabs that the fish will eat changes daily. Some days they will want small crabs, and other days larger ones. Crabs can be caught, but if you are purchasing them the cost can add up quickly. On average they retail for about $4-5 apiece and on a day long tarpon trip I like to have at least 40 crabs of varying sizes. A good rule of thumb is you want crabs that are approximately the same width (across the carapace) as three of your fingers. Whether I’m using crabs, mullet, threadfins, etc., I will almost always freeline the bait, with the exception of sometimes using a cork to suspend the bait if needed. Being successful at hooking up tarpon comes from time put in on the water daily to figure out what they are eating at that particular time. Now your gear and equipment are ready, you’re livewell is loaded with bait, and it’s time to get hooked up! The most crucial part of landing tarpon is understanding how to fight them. They are notorious for throwing the hook when they make their worldfamous jumps. You will consistently hear guides refer to “flying” x amount of tarpon. For example, when talking about the day of fishing you will hear me say something like “flew 5 landed 2”. This means that we hooked up with five fish and got two boat side. Only landing a small percentage of hooked fish is not uncommon, but the more practice you get the more you will land. Finally, you have to bow. Everyone who has even a slight bit of familiarity with tarpon has heard the old expression “bow to the king”. That means when the fish jumps, drop your rod tip. I actually tell my customers to stab the tip of the rod quickly into the water when they first see the fish rise to jump. This action puts slack in the line and will reduce breakoffs or the hook being pulled. Tarpon fishing is without a doubt one of the most challenging and addictive type of fishing in the world. Hopefully this article helped to answer some of your questions surrounding the silver king and help you to get out on the water and start landing some tarpon! Captain Billy Norris is owner and operator of Pale Horse Fishing Charters in Bonita Springs, Florida. He guides the Southwest Florida area, and also operates tarpon charters out of Marathon in the Florida Keys during the month of May. You can contact him at (239)285-7710, or visit his website at www.PaleHorseFishingCharters.com.

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Underwater Hull Cleaning in SWFL

o keep your vessel’s hull smooth and clear of any fouling, regular scheduled cleaning is required in Florida’s Southwest tropical waters. Leaving your vessel in the water will allow many different types of foreign objects to attach to your hull. For a variety of reasons including fuel economy, it’s important to maintain a clean hull. Hull cleaning involves the cleaning from the waterline of the yacht or boat down to the bottom of the keel. Allowing your boat to accumulate debris will cause a roughness in your ride over the waters. Algae, seaweed, slime and barnacles that build-up on your hull will cut down on the performance of your engine. Your engine will lose a few miles per hour of performance depending on the amount of build-up you have on your hull. All this extra strain will cut into the longevity of your engine and wear down parts faster. Cleaning your yacht or boat monthly will save you on fuel and maintenance costs, as well as time required to get to your destination. Having your vessel cleaned each month will help save on fuel and your vessel will look sharper and will maneuver better. Underwater Solutions divers are trained to handle the difficult task of underwater cleaning of hulls, while making sure not to damage the hull. You can have the peace of mind that comes from relying on a trusted company experience working in Punta Gorda and Southwest Florida areas. Our time tested proven techniques will ensure a job well done and that your boat is protected. Why is it important to have our professional divers handle the job? Many yachts and larger boats are difficult to clean underwater because of murky water and sharp debris that is attached to the hull of the vessel. In addition, the low visibility can also make it very difficult for most nonprofessionals. Using, brushes, scrapping tools, and a variety of tools to get the job done right the first time is something an experienced diver specializing in hull cleaning will know how to do. Our professional divers can handle any clean-up of the hull of your vessel. Your yacht or boat will be cleaned right at your marina or dock by our expert divers who are experienced and fully trained. Underwater Solutions is dedicated to making sure you will experience all the benefits of a clean hull such as fuel efficiency, no vibrations, better handling, and a powerful smooth ride from their vessel.

20 FORT MYERS | MAY 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

Brag Board The Best Angler Photos From Southwest Florida!

A nice red grouper caught out with Just Kickin’ Back FC. Trace caught this lunker in his front yard in NFM! Dr. Courtney Gorman & wife Cindy of Marion, IN caught this beautiful dolphin on their way home from St. Thomas!

Lots of variety now, w/ Fish Face Charters.

George Peters caught this nice Pompano in Estero Bay on doa shrimp.

Big beautiful smile and snook w/ Reel Tight FC.

Gabe, Katie, Ben, Kathy, Wyatt caught their dinner on Passtime in the Boca Pass.

Darcy from Manitoba w/ a 10# black drum, Estero Bay, Capt. Fred Gowdy.

David Walls caught this “corona snook” in Sarasota Bay!

Photos submitted Courtesy of Coastal Angler Readers and Contributing Writers

Submit pics to: camswfl@gmail.com or text to 239.595.8265 FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | MAY 2020 | FORT MYERS 21

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David Delph caught this red grouper off Key West.

Reel in the memories. Sitting on the most biodiverse estuary in the Northern Hemisphere, Martin County is a fisherman’s paradise. Ocean, lake and river ecosystems are home to more than 800 species of fish, from the ever-popular sailfish and snook to largemouth bass and perch. Forget your gear? Visit one of Martin’s many bait and tackle shops or outdoor retailers. Inshore, offshore, saltwater or fresh, head out for an adventure and reel in the memories.

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MAY 2020

By CAM Staff

ith grouper seasons opening in federal waters and Gulf red snapper fishing not too far away, now is a good time to start tinkering with a jigging technique that’s created a bit of a buzz in the charter industry. Slow pitch jigging has been around for well over a decade, but its effectiveness in U.S. waters is only now being realized. As more captains adopt and adapt the technique to different species and conditions, it has gained traction as a proven fish-catcher. In the Gulf of Mexico as well as in the Atlantic from South Florida, through the Carolinas and up into the Northeast, it’s being used to catch anything that eats crippled baitfish. Groupers and snappers, amberjack, mackerel and tuna, they’ll all take jigs slow pitched over hard bottom, and so will rockfish and cod. The technique evolved in Japan and was popularized in a series of Japanese-language videos by Norihiro Sato. Sato promoted it as a way to catch fish even when they’re not actively feeding. With conventional jigging techniques, the idea is to rip a lure off the bottom and let it flutter down, enticing reaction strikes from aggressive gamefish. Slow pitch is slower, more seductive, a finesse tactic to present what looks like an easy meal. Anyone who has ever fished a jig knows the bite almost always comes on the fall. The idea behind slow pitch is to maximize the time a jig spends in freefall. With specialized gear and a cadenced technique, the jig remains in the strike zone and presents both vertical and horizontal action. A slow pitch jig is supposed to dance like an injured baitfish struggling to stay off the bottom. The technique requires a specialized rod. Slow pitch rods look like buggy whips when compared to conventional short and beefy jigging rods. They are 6 to 7 feet long with a slow action. With a quarter or half turn of the reel, the weight of the jig loads the rod, and as the rod straightens the jig accelerates smoothly upward before hesitating and kicking to the side. The angler then begins the process again, with a rhythm that keeps the jig moving. By varying rod action and cadence, the angler can impart varied presentations. All of them are physically easier than the grueling labor of conventional deep jigging with heavy tackle. The drawback to the technique—which might be attractive to folks who love shopping for new gear— is you’ll need a whole new arsenal. The rods are thin and designed to bend evenly from handle to tip. The reels are small but geared-up to take the brunt of the fight off that bendy rod. The jigs are specially shaped and weighted to impart the right action. You’ll even need new spools of braid and new terminal tackle. Like any new technique, slow pitch jigging requires some research and practice to execute effectively. Take some time to figure it out, and you’ll be showing wary fish something they’ve likely never seen before.

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Some Thoughts On

Crappie

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By Dan Saknini

he comfort zone for crappie is generally 35 feet or shallower. The depth fish are found is directly related to water temperature. Baitfish location is the best indicator of crappie habitat. Where I do most of my fishing, crappie generally feed on threadfins and blueback herring. The average lifespan of a crappie is five years. An average female will lay 5,500 eggs per season. Less than 5 percent of the eggs will hatch, and only a small number of hatchlings survive predators. That sounds bad, but it is Mother Nature at work. There are two species of crappie, black crappie and white crappie. It’s pretty rare where I fish most, on Georgia’s Lake Lanier, but there is also a group called blacknose crappie. These are black crappie with a naturally occurring genetic variance that gives them unique markings. They look like you took a black Sharpie and drew a line from the tip of the mouth to the dorsal fin. I caught two this year. Black crappie have variations in color. In the winter, when they go deeper to escape the colder surface temps, they become much more pale. However, once you put them in your livewell, they quickly regain much of their color. The same thing happens if you catch them in shallow, muddy water. In spring, when surface temps reach the upper 50s to mid-60s, female crappie begin to spawn. This does not happen all at once, but over about a month, with some spawning earlier than others. Females hit spawning grounds in the backs of the creeks, lay their eggs and pull out. Males fertilize and guard the eggs. That’s when you see fishermen catching dark black-purple crappie on the banks. There’s an old Southern myth that “when the dogwoods bloom, it’s time to go crappie fishing.” I actually have my best luck when the daffodils are blooming, which can precede dogwoods by a month. But like any other species, fish have to eat. If you know where to look, you can catch them all year long. If you’ve ever been to Bass Pro and seen the fish tank, you’ll notice most of the species roam the tank, with the exception of the crappie, which are almost always in the corner hiding by a log. That is the perfect example of how crappie relate to structure. They roam in pursuit of food, but always come back to the brushpile they call home. Many homeowners live on lakes because they enjoy fishing, and many sink Christmas trees under or near their docks. It is important to find those submerged trees or brushpiles that have bait nearby. That is where you will find crappie. In winter, some crappie move from docks to seek shelter in standalone brushpiles. Electronics play a key role in locating those brushpiles. Many fishermen prefer live bait, which is very effective in spring, but I prefer jigs. Bobby Garland soft-body grubs and Jiffy Jig hair jigs are my “go-to” baits. If you are fishing stained water, always go to darker jigs.

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ow’s this for the proverbial bad apple? In a time when lawabiding anglers are saddled with strict regulations in attempts to bolster flagging Atlantic striped bass populations, a pair of yahoos were recently caught in New Jersey with 66 undersized rockfish. The two men face a variety of charges after being caught by New Jersey conservation officers when they returned to a private Atlantic City dock on March 30. They had been night fishing, and drew attention to themselves by “running their vessel at high rates of speed from various fishing locations under the cover of darkness and fog without any navigation lights,” according to a press release. The harvest allowance at the time was one fish with a 28- to 43-inch slot limit and one fish longer than 43 inches per person. On the boat, the officers found 66 stripers between 13- and 24-inches. The men face a penalty of $100 per fish, or potentially $12,800 for each angler. They were also charged with unsafe operation of a vessel, operating a power vessel without valid registration and failing to have appropriate vessel safety gear. Authorities seized the anglers’ fishing gear for evidence and will seek forfeiture due to the severity of the violations, the release said. The seized fish were given to the Atlantic City Recuse Mission. The current recreational limit is one fish per day, within the 28- to 38inch slot.

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IT’S DRY FLY TIME On North Carolina’s

TUCKASEGEE

By Nick Carter

he delayed harvest sections of the Tuckasegee River, at Sylva and Bryson City, N.C., are some of the most famous trout fisheries in the Southeast. With regular stockings and catch-and-release regulations through the cool months, the Tuck holds incredible numbers of healthy rainbow, brown and brook trout. Because it fishes so well, it sees a ton of fishing pressure, but Shannon Messer, of Tuckaseegee Fly Shop, has noticed an interesting pattern from the anglers. “In April and May, almost every day from about 5 p.m. until dark, fish are rising all over the river. Most people miss the best part of it because they’re off getting a burger and a beer,” he said. “For people who want to experience dry fly fishing and casting to rising fish, that’s the place to be and

the time to be there.” The Tuckasegee is a tailwater, wide and flat, with bedrock ledges and shoals that channel water into obvious holding water. The caddis hatches can be huge, and trout line up in lanes to feed on the surface. Casting to individual rising fish is a challenge dry fly anglers relish on the Tuck. Early spring brings on enormous black caddis hatches, which give way to tan and then olive caddis as the season progresses. Messer likes a beefy Corn Fed Caddis or a simple Elk Hair Caddis in sizes 12 to 16 to match what he sees on the river. There will also be mayflies and midges mixed in, so a double dry fly rig is a good idea. Try trailing a Blue Dun, size 14 or 16, or a size 18 Griffith’s Gnat behind the caddis. One thing about having so many bugs on

the water is fish become finicky. The trick is to make them choose your fly over all the real ones. Good presentation is paramount, and Messer recommends long 9- to 12-foot leaders to cut down on micro drag that leads to refusals. Another trick if you notice your caddis being snubbed is to trim the hackle so it floats lower in the water. For information, see Tuckaseegee Fly Shop’s website at www.tuckflyshop.com, call (828) 4883333 or e-mail info@tuckflyshop.com. For maps, GPS coordinates and tactics for the Tuckasegee and all of the area’s best trout waters, get a copy of Nick Carter’s book “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” It’s available on Amazon, and autographed copies are available by emailing the author at nsc8957@gmail.com.

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everal weeks ago, my 6-year-old son asked me to take him fishing. To say I was excited was an understatement, since he typically doesn’t ask to go. Now the pressure was on for me to make sure this was more of a catching trip than a fishing one. His request piqued my curiosity as to why he had the sudden interest, so I ask him. His response: “I want to catch a redfish and have my picture in a magazine!” Ok, now the pressure just went off the chart! Not only do I need to make this a great catching day, but we have a specific fish and a great photo to capture. The day began at 3 a.m., and we made the three and half-hour drive to one of my favorite redfish spots. We were on the backside of a full moon, so I knew I had my work cut out for me. We made two quick stops to pick up some fresh dead shrimp and some donuts, and then launched the kayak. My son was extremely excited and full of questions, which I was pleased to answer. The 30-minute kayak ride felt like hours for my little man, and he wanted to cast a line. When we finally arrived, the tide was higher than I had anticipated. This area doesn’t generally produce well under these conditions, but we were already there and needed to figure it out. The plan was to bait him up for pan fish, while I get my fish fix with lures. As soon as his cork settled, he was hooked up! He had nonstop action on a variety of fish, but no reds. My rod stayed in the holder because I was busy being the happiest deckhand around. He had his heart set on catching a big red and started to ask where they were. We drifted to a shallow bar where the reds typically hang out. We switched to a larger hook and shrimp while we drifted. We fished the bar from different angles, moved to an area with wind-driven current between two small patches of land, and to the area where his older brother smoked the reds on our previous trip. Nothing! At this point, I was contemplating heading home. However, he was determined to stay until he caught a red, so we fished on! We started to fish our way back to the truck and the wind drifted us to an island that I’ve wanted to try but just never have. Since we already used all of the shrimp, I decided to make long cast with a soft plastic rattling tail swimbait and then hand my reel to my son to work the lure back on a steady retrieve. BAM! Redfish on! The look on his face when that red hit was priceless! He ended up catching two reds before we headed home. Mission accomplished! Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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*Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 7/3/20.

Compare to Milwaukee 33700 $19.97

99 $1599

Item 38970/92486 39757/60496 62398/61897 shown

4" x 36" Belt/ 6" Disc Sander

647977

1/2" Anvil

Item 62835

Save $94

Compare to Briggs & Stratton 20600 $174.44

Save

99 50%

1/2" Composite Pro Air Impact Wrenches

799999 $

Item 69623 66983 shown

(4,810)

1750 PSI Electric Pressure Washer

399959

Compare to Highland 1394500 $79.99

COUPON GOOD Customer THRURating JULY 3

7/3/20*

Compare to Mibro 426920 $64.99

(4,764)

4 Piece, 1" x 15 ft. Ratcheting Tie Downs

* 52935542* 52935542

7/3/20*

10 ft. x 20 ft. Portable Car Canope

Save 69%

Item 64045/64046 63770 shown

(1,129)

3/8" x 14 ft., Grade 43 Towing Chain

COUPON GOOD THRU JULY 3 Customer Rating

(502)

12,000 lb. Truck/SUV Winch with Remote Control and Auto Brake

Compare to Porter-Cable PCFP02003 $98.62

* 52931099* 52931099

COUPON GOODCustomer THRU JULY 3 Rating

7/3/20*

ve %

3999

Pancake

* 52922541* 52922541

Compare to Warn 96820 $720.99

COUPON GOOD THRU JULY 3 Customer Rating

(1,125)

Save 59%

LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 7/3/20*

5499

Save 74%

Use Online & In-Store

* 52919714* 52919714

62)

900 starting watts and 700 running watts

COUPON GOOD THRU JULY 3 Customer Rating

YOUR CHOICE

63cc air-cooled 2 cycle gas engine

Item 63024/63025 shown

(3,650)

$ 99 $1299

Item 64550 63518 shown

Compare to Powersmart PS50 $126.10

COUPON GOOD THRU JULY 3 Customer Rating

(1,189)

Ultra-Light, Crush-Proof, Weather-Resistant Lockable Case

120v grounded receptacle

Save $11

Save 12% Use Online & In-Store

Item 69508 66044 shown

COUPON GOOD THRU JULY 3 Customer Rating

Compare to Pelican 1150 $39.95

11499

Save 49%

1799

5 hour run time

(1111)

72" x 80" Camouflage Utility Cover

Personal Portable Security Safe

COUPON GOOD THRU JULY 3 Customer Rating

(319)

Save $84 Save 39% Use Online & In-Store

* 52965945* 52965945 LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 7/3/20*

Compare to Ryobi BD4601G $149

Item 5154 64778/97181 shown

Use Online & In-Store

* 54050673* 54050673

LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 7/3/20*

At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.

4/15/20 5:49 PM

1782-20C Coastal Angler.indd 1

4/2/20 11:10 AM

Flip Flip Hooray! A perfect symbol of fun in the sun for only $79

ere’s a memorable beach moment: You’re basking in the warm sun, toes in the sand, letting the gentle turn of the foam-capped waves lull you into a state of complete relaxation. As your eyes scan the endless horizon of blue on blue, you’re rewarded with a school of dolphins making their way across the sea. There’s no denying their signature shape as they leap from the water. If you don’t see anything else extraordinary the rest of day, you can take solace knowing you’ve witnessed one of nature’s most playful and intelligent creatures in their natural habitat. Why not recreate that special toes-in-the-sand moment with our Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant? The beloved sea mammal has been captured mid-jump in sterling silver. And, tucked into its fins is a full two carats of shimmering blue topaz. Nothing captures the shimmering color of the ocean in the midday sun like blue topaz. With its sparkling clear blue color and high refractive index, blue topaz is one of the top-selling blue gemstones. And with our special price, you have quite the catch. Satisfaction guaranteed or your money back. Enjoy the Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant for 30 days. If it doesn’t pass the test swimmingly, send it back for a full refund of the item price.

A full two carats of shimmering blue topaz set in sterling silver

Limited Reserves. A full two carats of genuine blue topaz set in sterling silver for this price is as rare as a dolphin sighting. We cannot guarantee availability for long. Call today!

Limited to the first 1900 responders to this ad only! To show exquisite details, pendant shown is not exact size. Chain sold separately.

“Enormously popular, significantly intelligent and scientifically sophisticated, dolphins are amidst the most beloved animals among people.” — Dolphins-World

Blue Topaz Dolphin Pendant non-offer code price $395 † Offer Code Price Only $79 + S&P Save $316!

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You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.

“This sterling silver dolphin is absolutely beautiful and the blue topaz is like the color of the ocean”

— Vivian, Cabool, MO

† Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code.

Stauer

1-800-333-2045

Your Insider Offer Code: DPP279-01 Please use this code when you order to receive your discount.

® 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. DPP279-01, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337

www.stauer.com

Rating of A+

• 2 ctw blue topaz; ½ ctw Ultimate Diamond Alternative®, DiamondAura® • .925 sterling silver setting • Sterling silver chain sold separately

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®

You didn’t see it coming. Neither did the fish. Discover the unique FISH PRO™. The world’s first personal watercraft designed for fishing will bring you closer to the action for an experience like never before.

Discover yours at Sea-Doo.com

© 2020 Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP). All rights reserved. , TM and the BRP logo are trademarks of BRP or its affiliates. In the U.S.A., products are distributed by BRP US Inc. Carefully read the operator’s guide and safety instructions. Observe applicable laws and regulations. Always wear appropriate protective clothing, including a personal flotation device and wetsuit bottoms.

PS17434A-SEA-MY20-Ad-Fish-Pro-CoastalAngler-Print-FP-ENUS-03.indd 1

3/25/20 8:32 AM