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The Workingman’s Drum By CAM Staff

Young angler Hayes Grinnell did battle with this big black drum while fishing the Texas coast with Slinging Mullet Guide Service and Get Em Guide Service.

n some circles, black drum don’t get the respect they deserve. Maybe it’s their appearance? With weird chin barbells and a humped head, they hug the bottom, looking like the hunchbacked cousins of the sleeker redfish inshore anglers adore. Or maybe it’s their reluctance to take a lure? Black drum feed primarily by scent, and while you might catch one slinging a spoon, targeting them requires bait, which is more effort than plug and paddletail aficionados are willing to put forth. However, for anglers who aren’t too prissy to get their hands dirty, black drum have a whole lot to offer. They are the workingman’s drum, found nearshore and inshore throughout the Gulf of Mexico and up the Atlantic seaboard to New England. Black drum pull hard, with powerful bulldogging runs regardless of size. And they grow quite large, reaching weights well over 100 pounds. On top of that, they provide consistent action in a wide range of areas where they can be caught. Shore-bound anglers can target them from docks, bridges, jetties and piers, where drum hunt crustaceans around structure. Surf anglers often connect with them on quartered blue crabs cast outside the breakers. From a boat, passes and inlets are prime feeding grounds as is nearshore structure. Shallow-water anglers find younger specimens way up in the estuaries tailing like redfish for fiddler crabs in tidal creeks.

Their movements are seasonal, but as long as you’ve got bait, you can pursue black drum pretty much anywhere you choose. Like most fish, they bite best on a moving tide, when your bait’s scent disperses over a wide area. They’ll eat halved blue crabs, whole fiddler crabs or mud crabs with backs cracked to let a little scent out, and also live or dead shrimp or fresh cut bait. On the northern end of their range, anglers add clams, mussels and blood worms to the array of baits a drum will eat. As long as your bait is on the bottom and smelling like food, it’s likely to draw the attention of a drum. Rigging and gear are pretty simple. A classic Carolina rig with just enough weight to keep the bait on bottom will get the job done in most situations. Up in the creeks, where you’ll be doing more casting and maybe even sight fishing, baits can be fished on a jighead or even a simple hook with a split shot. Tackle in the 20-pound class is a good starting point, and it’s wise to beef up to pull big drum off structure. They do get big. The IGFA world record, caught in 1975 off Delaware, weighed 113 pounds, 1 ounce. Fish in the 40- to 50-pound range are regular catches across the drum’s range. Those big fish aren’t good to eat, though. The meat is often full of worms by the time fish reach weights heavier than about 15 pounds. Smaller drum are excellent table fare. For more information, go to coastalanglermag.com.

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IT’S GROUPER TIME AGAIN! By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

ay is finally here, opening grouper season for fishermen on the Atlantic Coast. For the past several months of the season closure, charter captains in the Florida Keys have been boasting incredible throw-back grouper catches. The reopening of this species enriches each fishing trip with an extra opportunity for a great fighting fish, which is also excellent tablefare. Grouper fishing can easily be peppered into a day of fishing by dropping a bottom rig down while yellowtail fishing, trolling lures or stopping offshore to deep-drop for snowy grouper while on the mahi hunt. While the fishery in the Keys may not be famous for its bottom fishing, there is no reason it shouldn’t be. Red, black and gag grouper are plentiful and close to land. Snowy grouper aren’t too far either, and can be reasonably reliable to target. Snowy grouper are found within 1,000 feet, and can be targeted with electric or hand-crank set ups. Electric reels are advisable when mahi season is in full swing, as to make quick work of the one-per-boat limit of snowy grouper. The trek offshore for a single fish might seem like a waste of time, but there is a little more to it. Snowy grouper can get quite large and yield impressively sized, excellent tasting fillets. There

are also the welcomed bycatches of rosies, barrelfish and tilefish while deep dropping in these areas. Furthermore, there should be ample opportunities for mahi fishing on the way to and from the spot. Another reason the electric reel is preferable is an 8-pound weight should be used to keep your bait on the bottom in the heavy current. Keep your weight as close to the bottom as you can and utilize a chicken rig, with multiple hooks along the leader, baited with just about anything. Continuously recheck the bottom to make sure it hasn’t gotten away from you, and bring a spare weight or two, as it isn’t overly difficult to lose one while fishing this way. Targeting red, black and gag grouper on the reef can be a little different than typical grouper fishing on the west coast of Florida. Heavy weights can easily get snagged on the rocky bottom in the heavy current, potentially making inexperience quite expensive in terms of lost tackle. There are also plenty of smaller reef fish waiting to pick apart your bait. Over-baiting can be a good tactic, but the most reliable way to bypass these conditions, is to simply freeline a live bait on a jighead. After breaking client’s hearts by releasing trophy grouper throughout the closed season, we are thrilled to be able to add these tasty critters to the icebox yet again. Right now is an excellent time to visit the Florida Keys and enjoy our full fishery. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Blue Magic Charters out of Marathon, Fla.

LURES

CASTING FAR: THE DYNAMICS OF LONG DISTANCE LURES

PATRICK SEBILE

’ve enjoyed fishing from the shore since I was a teen angler, and one thing that became obvious to me very quickly was there are numerous situations when casts are a tad bit short to reach targeted fish in specific situations. This is a constant truism when fishing from the bank, the beach, a pier or jetty, but it also applies to boat anglers. Quick, long casts are often required for fastmoving fish like tuna. Long casts are also useful when it’s necessary to keep the boat away from reefs, boulders and breakers for safety or to avoid spooking fish. Long ago, I began making sure to always have lures in my possession that

were especially efficient for reaching out long distances. These lures sometimes trade realistic swimming action for distance, yet there are also a few that find a balance between great range and great action. When you read the packaging of a saltwater lure, and especially a surffishing lure, it often mentions how good the lure is for longdistance casts— or how good it is supposed to be. The problem is, there is no scale. There is no quantifiable reference for comparing lures that honestly presents the real numbers of yards any given lure will deliver. Marketing promises do not

always translate into real performance. To make things more complex, there is theoretical and real distance. A lure that casts great on a parking lot with no breeze can turn into a disaster when casting into an onshore breeze at night, which are conditions many serious fishermen face in the surf. There’s no magic, and what makes some lures reach farther distances than others is a mix between their concept, their balance and, to a certain extent, the gear used to throw them when the goal is to reach a little bit farther than other anglers. This conversation is all about the physics that translates to longer casting distance for better fishing results. The key points that will help you pick the proper lures to do the job are shape, buoyancy, the position of weight on the lure, the total weight and sometimes extra appendages, such as side wings that really help a lure fly as far as possible. These elements are just a primer to a discussion on lures designed for distance. Next month, I plan to go in-depth on ways you can select lures that will truly help you cast super-long distances to reach fish other lures cannot. Arming yourself with a longcasting arsenal gives you an edge in catching fish, simply because you’ll be able put a lure in front of them.

Legendary angler Patrick Sebile is a world record holder and an award-winning designer of innovative lures and fishing gear. Check out his creations at abandofanglers.com.

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Shiner Fishing for Giant Florida

LARGEMOUTHS

ass tournament anglers get excited about 20-pound five-fish limits, and a 30-pound tournament sack is a lifetime achievement for most. It takes a little bit more to impress hawg hunter Sean Rush. Rush makes a living guiding clients to trophy largemouth bass, mostly on Rodman Reservoir in north Florida. The best five fish haul his boat has seen weighed 61 pounds, 9 ounces. Think about that. That’s a more than 12-pound average. Rush said it was the best fishing day he’s ever witnessed, with two fish well over 13 pounds and the smallest of the five weighing a measly 11 pounds, 1 ounce. Most bass anglers across the country spend a lifetime seeking out a single 10-pound-plus largemouth. Rush’s anglers did five lifetime’s worth of trophy catching in a single day on April 26 of 2021. “And we probably lost between three and six fish that were that big or bigger,” Rush added after rattling off the astounding statistics. “Those guys were from New Jersey. They had never done any Florida shiner fishing before. I told them it was all downhill from there.” The downhill slide, however, is not too steep. Even a decent day using Rush’s techniques on Rodman produces results that would impress just about anyone. When it comes to catching big largemouths, he’s got several advantages over your average angler. Location is a big factor. Rodman is a 9,500acre giant bass factory. It is a 15-mile long stump field with a deep river channel running down the middle of it and the matted vegetation Florida

By Nick Carter

fisheries are known for. In more than three decades guiding, Rush said his clients have boated close to 1,000 bass better than 10 pounds. He landed 73 10-plus-pounders last year alone and has overseen the landing of eight fish on FWC’s TrophyCatch Hall of Fame list, which is for fish heavier than 13 pounds. He does 95 percent of his trips on Rodman. “If fishing is good, we commonly catch 30 to 60 fish a day,” he said. “The average size at Rodman is pretty solid. Usually we’ll have fish in the 8- to 10-pound class on the top end of that range.” Tactics are everything when it comes to catching fish like that. Live bait provides a huge advantage over the lures tournament anglers must fish. Rush fishes exclusively with live, wildcaught shiners, which he keeps lively in a huge bait tank on his custom-built, 22-foot Prodigy Razor. The tournament guys can keep their fiberglass glitter rockets. Rush’s sturdy aluminum boat is rigged out for the style of fishing he does, and it’s powered by a 150 hp Mercury with a power-assisted hand tiller. The tackle is also sturdy. Rush pairs heavy duty Daiwa 300 Lexa baitcasting reels with super heavy 7 ½- and 8-foot rods he said are essentially musky rods. He fishes straight 20-pound Berkley Big Game in green, which is thin enough for low visibility and strong enough to get the job done. He hooks his shiners through the tail above the anal fin with 3/0, 4/0 or 5/0 Eagle Claw 84s, which

are standard J hooks with a slight offset. In a typical spread, his anglers will work shiners under bobbers set 3 to 5 feet deep, and he’ll throw out one or two shiners on freelines to swim up under the vegetation. For big fish, he prefers shiners 7 to 9 inches long. Rush’s big-fish reputation has gotten around, so he stays booked 300-plus days a year. His favorite time of year is fall, before the December through February spawn. “It’s prespawn, the fishing pressure is lower and the fish are feeding up that time of year,” he said. “The fish are also big then. They look like gorillas.” Late spring and summer are also good, once fish settle back into normal patterns after the spawn. Most of the year he targets them around floating mats of vegetation and deep river bends. The exception is during the spawn, when bass push up on the flats. Rush does not bed fish, though. He’ll set up on mats near known spawning flats and try to catch big females staging. One more thing: don’t call Rush if you want to eat bass or have a trophy mounted. Rodman is managed under regular Florida regulations— which allow five fish, with one fish longer than 16 inches—but Rush’s trips are catch-and-release. “I’m up front and honest about it on the phone,” he said. “If they even talk like they want to keep one, I just won’t take them.” Contact Capt. Sean Rush and Trophy Bass Expeditions of Central Florida through the website at www.floridatrophybass.com.

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Monster Blue Cat Smashes Mississippi Record By CAM Staff

he Mississippi River near Natchez, Miss. has a history of producing giant blue cats. The most recent monster catfish, caught on April 7, weighed 131 pounds and absolutely crushed the existing state rod-and-reel state record. Eugene Cronley, of Brandon, Mississippi, had just set up in a 90-foot-deep hole downstream of Natchez. About five minutes after making his first cast, the big fish took the cut skipjack he was using as bait, according to a report in the Mississippi Clarion Ledger. “He hit the rod and started pulling drag,”

Cronley told the Clarion Ledger. “We had to untie the boat and float down the river. “I couldn’t move him. I’d pull on him and take in a foot of line and he’d pull and take 10 feet. I just sat there like I was hung up.” After a 40-minute fight on 30-pound line, the angler’s exhaustion made hauling the fish into the boat a chore. Cronley has caught 50-pound fish from the area before, and he didn’t

realize exactly how big this fish was until he put eyes on it. Then, it was time to start looking for a certified scale with the capacity to weigh such an enormous fish. Cronley’s fish waited on ice for three days before he was able to get a certified weight. Fish lose weight when they are out of the water. The Clarion Ledger reported that the fish had an initial weight of 138 pounds on uncertified scales. Even out of the water for three days, Cronley’s blue cat shattered the previous rod-and-reel state record of 95 pounds, caught from the Mississippi near Natchez in 2009. In 1997, a 101-pound Mississippi trophy record blue catfish was caught in the same stretch of river. The IGFA all-tackle world record for blue catfish is 143 pounds. It was caught from Kerr Lake, Buggs Island, Virginia in 2011. Cronley’s catch, if certified by IGFA, would possibly be a new 30-pound line class record. The 30-pound line class record stands at 111 pounds. It was caught in 1996 from Wheeler Reservoir in Alabama. For more Mississippi fishing records, visit mdwfp.com.

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Permit Monitoring Funded for Western Dry Rocks

PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVE POWELL

ast year, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), initiated an annual total fishing closure from April through July at a popular fishing location off Key West known as Western Dry Rocks. Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) recently announced a $600,000 investment to monitor the effectiveness of the closure in protecting spawning permit. Western Dry Rocks is an area of reef and rock about 10 miles southwest of Key West that hosts large spawning aggregations of permit and various snapper and grouper species each year. Its proximity to Key West and the dependable nature of the fishery make it a popular spot for bountiful half-day trips. The intent of the closure, which bans fishing in a 1 square-mile area from April through July for seven years, is to protect populations of several species

by allowing them to spawn unmolested by anglers. Permit, yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper and gray snapper are all known to aggregate at Western Dry Rocks from April through July. These spawning aggregations, along with the swirling currents that sweep past Western Dry Rocks are thought to play a role in the distribution of fish eggs and larvae throughout the Florida Keys and up the Atlantic coast of southern Florida. BTT’s investment will fund a monitoring program for three years. “We can’t overstate the importance of this analysis for fisheries management and how appreciative we are to our partners at Bonefish & Tarpon Trust,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. “Working together on this important research initiative helps to ensure Florida’s status as the Fishing Capital of the World.” FWC is requiring updates on regulation effectiveness at three, five and seven years, with a sunset clause at seven years if the closure is not meeting expectations. BTT scientists expect the spawning-season closure will have positive impacts on the behavior of permit at Western Dry Rocks, resulting in more relaxed schooling behaviors and enabling spawning fish to remain at the site longer. BTT will work with collaborators from previous permit research projects to test these predictions by comparing data collected at Western Dry Rocks (WDR) with data from other known permit spawning locations where fishing is allowed. “The monitoring will build on datasets that measured depredation, spawning permit aggregation characteristics, and permit spawning migrations at key spawning sites prior to the closure,” said Dr. Ross Boucek, BTT Florida Keys Initiative Manager. “By studying permit at WDR and comparing the WDR data to information gathered at other permit spawning sites that aren’t protected, we’ll be able to assess the effectiveness of a spawning season closure at WDR as a management tool.” The monitoring program will utilize acoustic telemetry, sonar technology and laser-mount underwater cameras to monitor permit spawning behaviors, estimate permit abundance and estimate permit size. The program will also employ methods previously used at WDR to determine rates of depredation at spawning locations that are still fished. For more information, visit myFWC.com.

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here’s a whole lot of gift-card money out there for the lucky anglers who catch one of 10 pink-tagged largemouth bass that were distributed around Florida waters this spring. To celebrate the tenth season of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) TrophyCatch program, biologists stocked 10 trophysized largemouth bass with bright pink tags into 10 different freshwater fisheries. Each angler who catches and documents a pink-tagged bass will score a $5,000 gift card to Bass Pro Shops, $1,000 to shop at AFTCO, and secure a chance to win an additional $10,000. “Our freshwater biologists tagged 10 huge bass across the state – just about everyone is within a day-trip’s distance to fish for one of these tagged bass from a boat, kayak or even the bank. Now comes the fun part for anglers!” said TrophyCatch Director KP Clements. “Get out there and catch one! Tag, you’re it!” FWC’s TrophyCatch program is a valuable tool for freshwater fisheries research and management. It provides reward incentives to encourage anglers to catch, release and report trophy-sized (weighing 8 pounds or more) largemouth bass in Florida. The program develops public-private partnerships to protect trophy bass, promote fishing and support fisheries conservation programs. TrophyCatch anglers with approved bass receive rewards from program partners while FWC biologists learn more about producing and sustaining the best trophy bass fishery in the world. Here’s a list of the waters where pink-tagged bass are swimming: • Newnans Lake, Alachua County • Lake George, Putnam/Volusia counties • Lake Talquin, Gadsden/Leon counties • Lake Walk-in-Water, Polk County • Tenoroc Fish Management Area, Polk County • Lake Trafford, Collier County • Lake Istokpoga, Highlands County • Lake Griffin, Lake/Orange counties • Lake Rousseau, Levy/Citrus counties • Johns Lake, Orange County For more information, visit www.trophycatchflorida.com.

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ecently, federal fisheries managers approved cuts to cobia harvest in federal waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. At the May 4 meeting of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, FWC staff will recommend regulations for state waters that are consistent with the new federal regulations. The proposed rule would: • Increase the minimum size limit from 33 to 36 inches fork length in all state waters. • Reduce the commercial bag limit from two to one fish per harvester, per day for Atlantic state waters. • Reduce the recreational and commercial vessel limit from six to two fish per vessel, per day for Atlantic State waters. These regulations changes were spurred by a recent stock assessment that shows cobia are undergoing overfishing. According to the proposal, a substantial portion of Florida’s cobia harvest comes from state waters. Staff is recommending the commission adopt these new regulations without further hearing. For more information, go to MyFWC.com.

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Summer-Long Statewide Fishing Competition Launches May 28 F or the first time in the history of Florida STAR, CCA Florida, will launch the annual STAR competition presented by Yamaha with a Title sponsor. CCA Florida STAR is proud to announce West Marine as the Title sponsor of the 2022 competition. West Marine began its support of the STAR competition in 2016 and each year has stepped up to a greater level of sponsorship. For 2022, West Marine has chosen to title the competition in order to increase awareness of the company’s commitment to the conservation of our fisheries resources for future viability which is so important to the future of its business. The West Marine CCA Florida STAR competition kicks off on May 28, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend. The 101-day, summerlong event invites anglers and non-anglers to participate and win their share of prizes valued at almost $500,000, including boats, motors, scholarships and more. Launched in 2015, STAR focuses on conservation with its technology-based, catch-photo-release format. STAR’s dedicated smartphone app promotes the proper handling of species and allows participants to upload competition photos, eliminating the requirement to harvest or capture and transport fish. CCA Florida also uses data collected from the app to educate the public on the importance of protecting Florida’s marine resources. This

10 FLORIDA

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important data is also available to other conservation organizations and universities for use in their studies on conservation, habitat and stock assessments. “In the past seven years, it’s been amazing to see STAR participants support conservation by embracing the catch-photo format and picking up garbage during the annual competition” CCA Florida STAR Director Leiza Fitzgerald said. “Even more exciting is the participation of over 7,000 registrants annually and awarding more than $2.1 million in prizes, with $700,000 specifically awarded in youth scholarships.” The 2022 STAR competition is comprised of 17 divisions targeting 12 inshore and offshore species plus the cleanup of trash. STAR’s signature Tagged Redfish Division offers winners the choice of a Contender Boats 22 Sport, Pathfinder Boats 2200 TRS or Spyder Boats FX19 Vapor, all powered by Yamaha Outboards. For the first two youth anglers who win this division, prizes include two tiller boats powered with Yamaha Outboards, trailers, Minn Kota trolling motors and Humminbird electronics. The best opportunity to catch this year’s tagged redfish will be in Brevard, Citrus and Charlotte counties, STAR’s 2022 Destination Counties which each have eight tagged redfish in their coastal waters. There will be on average four STAR tagged redfish in every other coastal county of Florida for a total of nearly 170 released

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tagged fish. There is one tagged fish that is worth $50,000 cash. This special tag is sponsored by Alta Equipment Company. For offshore anglers, the Tigress Outriggers and Gear Tagged Dolphin Division offers one winner a $10,000 cash prize. The first STAR registrant and CCA Florida member who catches one of the tagged dolphin will win. These dolphin will be tagged and released in the coastal waters of Florida for STAR by the Dolphin Research program implemented by the Beyond Our Shores foundation. STAR is a family-friendly competition, and CCA Florida youth members (ages 6 to 17) can participate for free. Kids are encouraged to submit entries in the Youth Scholarship Division presented by Realtree Fishing for an opportunity to win one of 12 scholarships totaling $100,000. Other divisions include ladies, kayak, conservation, guides and many more. Since most division winners are determined by a random drawing, it is not about catching the biggest fish. Any size fish can win. Registration is open throughout the competition, but anglers who register before May 28 will be entered in the Engel Early Bird Drawings for weekly prizes. To register for STAR 2022 or receive additional information on divisions, prizes and more, visit ccaflstar.com or Facebook.

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Baits of the Water By: Capt. Dave Stephens

along with what species of fish you are targeting. By far the most popular are scaled sardines, AKA (pilchards or white bait). Sardines can be found from spring till fall on most flats. The preferred method of catching these little guys is to anchor up and chum them to the boat and cast net them. Once you have located some bait on the flats you want to position yourself, so the tide takes the chum to the bait. I highly recommend this method even though some people try to run up on the schools and throw their nets. They get a few, but only break up the schools and make it more difficult for them. If you have made any trips across the harbor, I’m sure you have noticed the big schools of bait. These are most likely threadfin herring, and look very similar to sardines however, they will not come to chum. Pinfish is also a very popular bait during the summer months, also during the hotter months some will use cut bait such as ladyfish, mullet and sardines. This type of fishing is commonly called dead sticking and requires a more patient approach. Cast nets come in many lengths, weights and mesh sizes. On the flats I would recommend 8–10foot net with a mesh size of 3/8 or 1/4 inch depending on the size of bait. Out in the deeper water you need a here are many different types of natural baits that are popular among the anglers and many opinions on what is the best. The heavy net with a slight larger mesh size that will sink faster. Any of the choices range from live sardines to cut bait. I am going to try to local tackle shops can fit you with the net that will best fit your needs. help you with the what, when, and where of natural bait fishing. Water Back Bay Xtremes |Backbayextremes.com temperature and times of the year play a huge part in bait selection

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FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | MAY 2022 | FORT MYERS 1

Back in the Day By: Capt. Bart Marx

he offshore fishing should be great as there are nice red grouper, lanes, and mangrove snapper in the 70-to-100-foot range. Some guys like to drift fish for the red grouper, back in the day that is how we caught red grouper. We never marked any spots, it was mostly Loran as our boat only had a depth finder. We built our own marking jug, using a yellow antifreeze bottle with some dive weights and 70 feet of line and fished in 65 ft. of water. While drifting to catch grouper if two of us hooked up at the same time we would throw the jug, reel in our catch and pull back in front of the buoy and anchor over the spot and fish till they quit biting. Back in the day! With all the fancy electronics today, it is a challenge to find some good spots that shallow. Also closer to shore in the 30 to 60 ft. range permit on the artificial reefs and cudas. They eat small fish that may eat corals that make them toxic when they get big. I believe it is call ciguatera. When I lived in St. Croix the locals would lay the cuda on an ant pile and if the ants did not eat it, they did not ether! In our own back yard, the end of May is when the large schools of tarpon come to the local passes and Boca

Grande is billed as the Tarpon Capitol of the World. May, June, and July are typically the most productive months of the year. The ones that migrate here are feeding to go spawn in the Gulf after they fatten up. Boca is like a feeding funnel and is a mile wide and most of the water in Charlotte Harbor flows through it. The harbor is a nursery to many species, and they get pushed and pulled by the tides through the pass such as crabs, shrimp, pin fish, sand perch/squirrel fish just to name a few. Some of the Good Old Boys from Boca only live bait fish and they have some baits that some would not think of using. Snook should start their transition out to saltier water where they can spawn. While I was teaching the Don Ball School of Fishing, I got to meet the local snook scientist and he explained how this works. The snook that live in the rivers must migrate where the salinity is high enough for them to spawn successfully. And the ones from the Harbor migrate to the beaches. Snook that usually around the barrier islands go out to the reefs. Until FWC opens snook season, it is catch and release. Check the FWC fish rules app. for the most current information. Sharks show up when their favorite food comes to town, tarpon. Get your big rigs out and tune them up for a battle.

Alpha Omega Charters | alphaomegacharters.com captbart@alphaomegacharters.com | 941-979-6517 2 FORT MYERS | MAY 2022 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

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This is the Month By: Capt. Mike Manis

ithout a doubt, this is one of the best times of year to be on the water. As always, it’ll go way too fast. Bait, scaled sardines and threadfin herring move in and are scattered throughout the harbor and surrounding bays and sounds. The water temperature is warming up, isn’t too hot yet, and everything is on the feed. Furthermore, no matter what kind of vessel you fish, access is good. There’s opportunity from the upper harbor to the beaches and all the flats in between. For me, it’s an opportunity to get in some snook and tarpon fishing. Right now, snook are cruising up and down shorelines on both sides of the harbor, all our bays and sounds, and the beaches. My favorite spots are areas that have some deeper water just off the shoreline. Redfish will also take advantage of the bait influx and will be scattered throughout the flats. They’ll be mixed in with the snook as well as feeding on the flats in areas with healthy turtle grass. 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. The spotted sea trout bite has been consistent all winter and should remain strong through the month. Any flat in two to four feet with healthy turtle grass should fish well. In addition, keep an eye out on all the bar systems on the harbor’s perimeter for schools of jacks or a cruising cobia. As for flies, we’re now in a summer pattern and tying baitfish patterns to resemble the scaled sardines or pilchards that have moved back inshore. We’ll keep a good collection of clousers, seaducers, and bend backs as these are always great all-around patterns. All this being said, it’s still hard to not spend the entire month hunting tarpon. Early in the month, resident fish coming out of the rivers group up in the deeper holes of the upper harbor. In fact, at first light, they can be seen rolling anywhere from the U.S. 41 Bridge to the holes off Pirate Harbor. Furthermore, by midmonth we should be seeing the migratory schools making their way up from the keys and everglades. At this point, I like spending my time off the beaches. Typically, I’ll stake off with an anchor set up with an attached buoy for quick deployment. This allows me to free myself from the anchor if a fish starts pulling so much line that we have to give chase. For fly selection here, I typically like light colored baitfish patterns. A good example is the #3/0 4.5” EP Boca Grande fly in light green or yellow. If I’m not throwing a fly, I like to fish small live crabs on a spinning rod. Until next month, good tides.

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FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | MAY 2022 | FORT MYERS 3

Boca Grande Tarpon By: Capt. Terry Fisher

he months of May and June bring take us to the north to the most spectacular, natural displays of fish migration to SW Florida, especially in Boca Grande Pass (‘Pass’). The ‘World’s Biggest Tarpon Migration’, in all of its splendor in the Gulf! The ‘Pass’ becomes home to the best Tarpon fishing on planet Earth. Whether a fisherman or not, the natural display of this ‘wildlife beauty’, at its finest, is worth a boat ride to the ‘Pass’ to witness. In May, thousands of these pre-historic fish make their appearance to mate, replenish, grow and survive. This is the ‘Promise’ Land for big game hunters looking for the ‘Holy Grail’ or a ‘fish of a lifetime’. It is an experience of a lifetime to hook and land a huge Tarpon. However, landing a Tarpon is different from ‘hooking’ one. Nonetheless, one will have a sense of gratitude once they experience the magnitude of the most ‘fighting fish on the planet’, if only for a short period of time! Many anglers try year after year with no success. The reason for failure is that it requires years of experience and knowledge to hook and land a ‘Silver King’ in the ‘Pass’. To do so requires one to re-learn to fish a totally new technique with nuances vastly different from all other presentations utilized for other inshore and offshore species. These huge fish are here to spawn and even though huge, have a gentle approach when it comes to eating a presentation. Understanding them makes all the difference in the world to be able to hook one up, let alone, land it. I have spent the last 15 years learning the basics to take clients to Boca Grande Pass, to experience this awesome event. Over the years, I have hired and fished with the best tarpon fishermen that I know to gain knowledge to provide the ultimate experience to those wanting to catch a huge tarpon. Fishing Boca Grande Pass is an experience within itself, it is not for the ‘faint of heart’ or for those with physical disabilities. Nonetheless, the title of my article is just what it means! There are lots of opportunity for those that do not want to fish the ‘Pass’, but still want an opportunity to catch a ‘Tarpon of a Lifetime’! These fish will inhabit our estuaries from early April through June. The breeders are migrating for the Florida Straits up the Gulf of Mexico and will be anywhere from 200 yards off the beaches of the outer islands of Sanibel, Captiva, North Captiva, Cayo Costa as well as throughout Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor. In contrast to fishing the intimidating Boca Grande Pass, other great options remain just offshore as well as in Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor. During the northern Tarpon Migration, there are literally thousands of Tarpon pods infiltrating our waters allowing a more relaxing experience utilizing different techniques. ‘Tarpon Hunters’ can avoid the crowed pass of Boca Grande and have an opportunity to enjoy and catch this superior fish species. Guides like myself fish both types of venues on a regular basis so as to accommodate both demanding and less demanding anglers. This being said, everyone can have a chance to catch their ‘Tarpon of a Lifetime’! Simply pick your pleasure and hire a guide with the qualifications to fulfill your requests. During May, Tarpon are not the only predominate species that one may consider targeting. Even though Snook season is closed in our

area they can still be fished, caught and released. This is the second most sought after fish to Tarpon. They are plentiful and are everywhere. I prefer to free-line live Sardines, Herring or Pinfish using light tackle with circle hooks off the beaches, under docks along the passes of Boca Grande, N. Captiva and Sanibel. Seatrout are back and here in good numbers and sizes as well. They are also available for harvest. Be sure and check the FWC Guidelines to comply with the law. Light tackle will give anglers plenty of satisfaction catching lots of these in 4 to 5 feet of water on shrimp under corks over the grass flats. Spanish mackerel and pompano may provide optional enjoyment in the passes, just off the beaches as well as in the grass flats while fishing for seatrouts. Offshore, the waters are warming up and one may find lane snapper and mangrove in 55 or less foot of water over rubble and man-made reefs. However, to get to the bigger snappers and groupers, expect to fish waters with depths of 85-100 feet for keeper(s). The water will continue to warm and the warmer it gets the deeper one needs to target reef species. This is Captain Terry Fisher with Fish Face Charters. In addition to my boat, I am also available as ‘Captain for Hire’ on your vessel (by the hour) to teach safety, navigation, fishing techniques and locations to catch fish both inshore or offshore. Check out my website at www. fishfacecharters.com. Email me at fishfacecharters@yahoo.com or call me direct at 239-357-6829 to book a charter on your vessel or mine.

4 FORT MYERS | MAY 2022 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

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-6829 FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | MAY 2022 | FORT MYERS 5

Big Fish Like Potato Chips By: Joe Sheaffer

“You just can’t eat one”, the old saying that was used by one of the many potato chip companies over the years. Whether at a family get together, picnic, holiday party or just watching TV, we love our snacks. Chips, nuts, candy, popcorn and so many others all fit the bill when we are in that mood. Small delicious morsels of goodness, can really hit the spot when we need a fix between meals or we get the munchies. If we

think about it, a small tasty piece of food is easy to eat and can make us feel so content. No effort or preparation, just grab and eat. These types of thoughts can wander through my brain after a fishing adventure or experience. Recently I was fishing with a good friend in Charlotte Harbor along a line of Mangroves in shallow water. We caught a few fun sized Snook (20-24 inches), enjoying a solid day of fishing. Because the water was shallow with little current, I was using a ⅛ oz jig with a 2.5 inch paddle tail. A small presentation but the fish were definitely keyed in on that lure. We caught a couple more decent Snook and Trout and my friend hooked into a nice Slot size Snook. He was using a slightly larger lure, causing me to think, maybe I should tie on something larger. Luckily I didn’t make the change. A few moments later I made a cast into a sandy area along the Mangroves and hooked into a very nice over Slot Snook. After a lengthy battle and a few anxious moments I was able to land a beautiful heavy Snook. What a blessing it was to hook, fight and land that fish. Then it popped into my mind, why would that giant fish eat that very small lure. The next thought was potato chips. I love potato chips and Big fish like their snacks too. I have hooked and landed plenty of large fish, Snook, Reds, Trout, Tarpon to name a few on Small lure presentations. These big fish like easy meals and rarely pass on a quick fix. There are definitely times when big baits are the deal but don’t be surprised if you hook up on a quality fish using a smaller lure presentation. Just keep casting, you never know.

By: Ca

6 FORT MYERS | MAY 2022 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

Waters are Warming

By: Capt. Blane Garrett

ish are getting hungry and here is a story about the one that should have got away. My fiancé and I got on the water at first light. I wanted to focus on covering as much ground as I could with artificial. Scouting around to see where the fish were congregating, I trolled around mangrove islands for hours with not much action. I was about to call it a day when I saw a nice mangrove shoreline on a small island with very good water movement flowing by. My first cast near the mangroves got an immediate strike that had some power to it. The hook pulled. The very next cast with my Wyze Guyz Tackle paddle tail and it instantly got hammered. My reel began to scream that sweet music we all love, but my line was headed straight for the mangroves! I began to tighten my drag and keep my rod tip in the water to try and prevent the line from getting caught in the mangrove roots. This fish just kept going and I felt helpless. I knew I had hooked a giant fish that I could not stop with my light tackle. My line became wrapped up deep in the mangroves. I flipped open my bail and trolled over to the

island. I wasn’t about to give up so easily. Looks like it’s time to go for a swim! I got out of the boat and luckily the water was only about 3ft deep. I began unraveling my line from the mangrove roots. Having to dunk the entire rod and reel under water to get under branches. I noticed while I was doing this the line was still coming off my spool. This fish continued to move down the shoreline. My fiancé helped me on the other side of branches to help pull the rod through. About a half hour in, I thought I was getting nowhere as I was exhausted and wasn’t sure this fish was even still on the other end. I untangled one last branch and noticed my line begin to head outwards from the island. I flipped my bail closed, reeled in the slack, and suddenly this huge head emerged out of the water thrashing. This was a beast of a snook! I gave it everything I had while I was stuck in the mud. This fish was mine! My fiancé trolled the boat over to me and netted up the fish. I screamed with so much joy. My personal best snook, 46 inches! I may never catch a bigger snook in my life and that is perfectly fine by me.

FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | MAY 2022 | FORT MYERS 7

3771 Palm Beach Blvd., Ft. Myers, FL 33916 239.694.2185

MATLACHA

www.USHarbors.com

May/2022 • 26°38’N 82°4’W

Matlacha Pass, FL - May 2022 High

Date

fishfacecharters@ yahoo.com 239.357.6829

FORT MYERS

www.USHarbors.com

May/2022 • 26°39’N 81°52’W

Fort Myers, FL - May 2022

Low

High

Date

Rise

Set

Moon

9:40

0.8

11:22

-0.2

6:49

8:05

11:58

-0.3

6:48

8:06

6:47

8:06

6:47

Low

Sun

5:16

0.7

4:33

1.4

10:15

0.3

Rise

Set

6:48

8:01

Mon

6:05

0.7

4:54

1.5

12:34

0.0

10:33A

Tue

6:59

0.6

5:18

1.5

1:19

-0.1

10:54A

0.3

6:47

8:01

0.4

6:46