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A V A I L A B L E

FEBRUARY 2021

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Why Are Dealers Hoarding These 100-Year-Old U.S. Silver Dollars?

hen it comes to collecting, few coins are as coveted as the first and last of a series. And when big anniversaries for those “firsts” and “lasts” come around, these coins become even more coveted. Take, for example, the 1921 Morgan Silver Dollars. These 90% pure silver coins were the last of their kind, a special one-year-only resurrection of the classic Wild West Silver Dollar. Three years prior, the Pittman Act authorized the melting of more than 270 million Morgan Silver Dollars so their silver could be sold to our allies in the United Kingdom. Facing our own Silver Dollar shortage, the world’s favorite vintage U.S. Silver Dollar was brought back for one year only while the U.S. Mint worked on its successor, the Peace Silver Dollar.

Dealers Begin Stockpiling Last-Year Morgans

Knowing what we’ve told you about special anniversaries, dealers around the country are preparing for a surge in demand. 2021 will mark the 100th anniversary of the 1921 Morgan Silver Dollar—the last-yearof-issue for the most popular vintage U.S. Silver Dollar ever minted. But slow-moving collectors may be disappointed in what they find when they seek out these coins. Since the days of the Pittman Act, millions more U.S. Silver Dollars have been melted or worn down in commerce. It’s been estimated that as few as 15% of all the Morgan Dollars ever minted have survived to the present day. That number grows smaller each year, with private hoards now accounting for virtually all the surviving Morgan Silver Dollars. And that was before silver values started to rise...

Interest in Silver Is on the Rise

19 19 19 19 19 19 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 20 LY G T T V C N B R R Y E LY G JU AU SEP OC NO DE JA FE MA AP MA JUN JU AU

As you can see from the chart on the left, in 2020, we’ve seen daily silver prices close as low as $12.01 per ounce and as high as $28.33 per ounce. That rise in value has led to a sharp increase in buyers’ interest in silver. We’re already seeing a surge of interest from collectors wanting to add vintage Morgan Silver Dollars to their collections. But at what price?

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PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES

o all flounder migrate offshore during the winter? I can’t be certain, but I have caught them in every month of the year. Those latewinter catches may have been flounder that never left, or they might be some that returned early. But one thing is for sure, during cold weather is when I have caught my largest flounder. Let it be known that I am a lure fisherman at heart, but if you want to consistently target the largest flounder this time of year, live and dead bait rule supreme. A large mullet or shad in the 6-inch range is ideal. Any type of fishfinder rig will suffice with the appropriate weight for the depth of water and strength of current you are fishing. You just need enough weight to keep your bait in contact with the bottom, where flounder live. The method I use for flounder catching is to keep the bait in constant contact with the bottom. Pointing the rod tip toward the water and utilizing a sweeping motion, I twitch my rod, kicking up mud and sand to create a trail of dust that attracts fish. This way I can cover some water in search of a hungry doormat. Once I feel the first tap from the flounder, I pause. I wait patiently for the second and usually a quick third tap. Then I give it a solid hook-set! Flounder will hold on to a bait longer than most inshore species, and they don’t always engulf it all at once. I feel they want to injure their meal before swallowing it, which is why it pays to be patient and wait until they’ve got the hook in their mouth before driving the point home. The best area to target the largest of the species is near structure, specifically bulkheads. Flounder like to bed down next to seawalls, where baitfish have fewer angles of escape. Other structure like rock jetties are also great areas to try. On an outgoing tide, I target drain openings where high tide flows out of the marshes. These drains can be small, 1 to 2 feet of width is all it takes. As long as the marsh behind the drain has enough water to hold bait, it’s perfect. Flounder will stage at the opening of a large drain as well, but no drain is too small, and I feel the smaller ones can easily be dismissed and easily missed. One final note is on tide direction and strength. During a strong outgoing tide, flounder use the tide as easy transportation to open water and focus more on swimming than feeding. I tend to avoid the strong outgoing tide when targeting migrating flounder. Be safe, stay warm, and get out there to catch the largest flounder of your life.

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KAYAKING FOR

A DAY OF DOUBLES By Brian Nelli

n offshore kayak fishing, many of the milestones we pursue come in the form of knocking off “bucket list” fish. Sailfish is at the top of that list for a lot of anglers in South Florida. The sailfish is a great achievement, but there is one fish that many either write off as improbable or just a dream. That fish is the wahoo. One of the fastest fish in the ocean, it bounces around in kayak anglers’ heads with the question of could today be the day. I’ve been a South Florida kayak fishing guide since 2010. Here, where the currents of the Gulf Stream swing so close to coast, it is possible to launch a kayak from the beach in pursuit of offshore species. I have been fortunate to assist clients in catching multiple wahoo over the years. To give an idea of how special this is, my best year for wahoo saw just six of these speedy fish landed in 150 offshore kayak trips. Now what do you think the chances are of catching two in one trip? How about two at the same time? That is where our story begins. Two days after the December new moon phase, winds were light and the ocean was flat calm. My two clients and I were running live goggle eyes on 60-pound wire stinger rigs tied to 40-pound Yozuri Hybrid Line. We were geared with Shimano Spheros 10k reels paired with Crowder Rods E-Namic 6’6” 15- to 40-pound rods. At dawn, we headed roughly a mile from shore and started slow trolling. All hell broke loose within the first hour. It was a double hook-up on sailfish! The fish pulled my two clients in opposite directions. After screaming directions and running back and forth to each angler, we managed to secure both fish for a great photo before release. That sailfish double already made it a great day, but there was more to come.

8 NATIONAL

FEBRUARY 2021

We regrouped and got baits back out in search of another bite. At about 11 a.m., we approached a slight rip line near 150 feet of water. There was very little current and next to no surface action for most of the day, so we slowed down to stick in the rip area. Ten minutes in, I noticed one rod bounce hard and then take off. It was a good high-speed run and then line went slack. I screamed to keep reeling no matter what, as this is typical for a wahoo strike. Sure enough, the fish came tight again for another run to the bottom. As I yelled to one angler, the other client’s rod started bouncing. He reeled down, and there was head thrashing on surface. The fish circled the yak twice, and I

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gaffed the 29-pound wahoo within minutes. Once we got that one, I knew by its behavior the first fish was going to be a wahoo, as well. I was excited and shaking. I’ve been hunting a double wahoo for a decade or more. Ten minutes later, with that first fish safely in-hand, I let out a scream heard round the world, “We did it! DOUBLE WAHOO!” Brian Nelli operates Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters offering inshore and offshore kayak fishing trips out of South Florida. Contact him at Brian@tckayakfishing.com and check out his website at www.tckayakfishing.com.

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earlier, the biggest trout caught during February and March will eat crappie-sized jigs… so, there goes that theory. For the most part, though, I like bigger shrimp to eliminate as many of the dink trout bites as possible, but even the dinks will give the biggest shrimp you throw a whack. When you miss a bite, I always say, “don’t Tim Barefoot worry about it, it’s a dink.” Trout always eat a shrimp from behind, so they can fold the shrimp up and swallow it with the horn going forward. his is the time of year when the inshore bite can slow down or get hot as a firecracker, especially for speckled trout. Always. A missed bite usually means the fish didn’t have a mouth large Right now, bait size can make all the difference between enough to “inhale” your shrimp backwards. Another key ingredient stacking ’em up and getting to getting bites in cold water skunked. Live baits are is the speed of the retrieve. really the best bet when This is a perfect situation to things get tough, but for use a sliding cork or a fixedhard-headed anglers—like depth cork. For example: If me—who prefer artificials, you’re in water 6 feet deep it’s important to use smaller and you want to slow the profile baits and slow down bait way down, set the stop the retrieve considerably. at 5 feet and just let the As a matter of fact, I cork stand up and drift the know a guy who scales same speed as the current, down to crappie-size or if there is no current, jigs through the coldest just barely slow-take a stretches of February and wind on the reel to keep March. the bait moving forward. I prefer a smaller Don’t twitch the bait, just version of the same shrimp barely move it forward, and I always use. I normally always use a shrimp scent throw the 4-inch shrimp on like Pro Cure Shrimp. a jig head, but when it gets cold, I like the 3-inch size. There is not a time of the year when fish won’t eat a shrimp; there’s only a Videos for this style fishing will soon be available at: few weeks of the year when they won’t eat the 4-inch version. The reason I normally throw the bigger shrimp is that the old saying, BAREFOOTCATSANDTACKLE.COM “bigger bait, bigger fish” kind of holds true for seatrout. But like I said

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n May 18, 1980, the once-slumbering Mount St. Helens erupted in the Pacific Northwest. It was the most impressive display of nature’s power in North America’s recorded history. But even more impressive is what emerged from the chaos... a spectacular new creation born of ancient minerals named Helenite. Its lush, vivid color and amazing story instantly captured the attention of jewelry connoisseurs worldwide. You can now have four carats of the world’s newest stone for an absolutely unbelievable price. Known as America’s emerald, Helenite makes it possible to give her a stone that’s brighter and has more fire than any emerald without paying the exorbitant price. In fact, this many carats of an emerald that looks this perfect and glows this green would cost you upwards of $80,000. Your more beautiful and much more affordable option features a perfect teardrop of Helenite set in gold-covered sterling silver suspended from a chain accented with even more verdant Helenite. Limited Reserves. As one of the largest EXCLUSIVE gemstone dealers in the world, we buy more carats of Helenite than anyone, which lets us give you a great price. However, this much gorgeous green Helenite Earrings for this price won’t last long. Don’t miss out. Helenite is only found in -a one section of Washington State, so with purchase of call today! Helenite Necklace Romance guaranteed or your money back. Experience the scintillating beauty of the Helenite Teardrop Necklace for 30 days and if she isn’t completely in love with it send it back for a full refund of the item price. You can even keep the stud earrings as our thank you for giving us a try.

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Winter Surf Fishing Forecast

ith beach erosion from the fall hurricanes, some areas of the Treasure Coast have developed a sandbar. To get to the best water, surf casters need to think about getting their baits farther out past the sandbar. You’ll need to go across the sandbar with longer casts by using heavy spoons or jigs or wade across the trough and fish from the sandbar. On low tide, you absolutely need to fish from the sandbar to get good results. Surf cast with 3/8-ounce chartreuse jig with a 4-inch plastic bait in pearl white. One- or 2-ounce silver crocodile spoons are another good choice, and you can cast them a mile. Bait schools have been sporadic recently, so look for birds to locate feeding fish. No birds, no fish. Schools of jacks, mackerel and bluefish are cruising the beach. They are in the trough early in the morning on medium to high tides. It’s best to fish the trough at around 7 a.m., when the sun rises. If cold weather has kept you out of the surf or from getting out to the sandbar, consider using neoprene waders. Waders are also great for fishing the Indian River Lagoon. There are a lot of jacks in the lagoon right now, with larger ones hanging around the bridges and deeper water. Pompano are being caught on sand fleas and fish bites on the incoming tide from Fort Pierce Inlet to the St. Lucie Inlet. Some are nice sized, but the numbers aren’t great. Whiting and croaker are being caught on shrimp, sand fleas and cut bait. I’ve caught some on small jigs and spoons at high tide around the trough. There are a lot of beach accesses from Fort Pierce Inlet to Bathtub Beach and St. Lucie Inlet. Although Bathtub Beach is closed, the St. Lucie inlet is within walking distance from other beach accesses. Stop and look for bird or bait activity before you decide to fish. Although the feeders are in the trough early in the morning, you’ll need to find baitfish to have success during the day. I use a medium-action, 7-foot spinning rod and 10- to 20-pound braid. I like white line, for its visibility, and I use a 30- or 40-pound fluorocarbon leader in the winter months. Make sure you retie your lure after catching a few mackerel, ladyfish or bluefish so you don’t lose the big one because of frayed line.

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THE PERFECT GRIP By John Saporito

handle is much more than just the part by which you hold the rod. It is the conduit that transmits strikes to your hands and the trusted grip that ensures a hold on the fish of your dreams. But not all handles are created equal, and each material has strengths and weaknesses. Whether buying a factory rod, building your own or having a custom rod built for you, it pays to know which handle style is the best choice for the job. This primer will give you a “grip” on which one is right for you. EVA Foam: Foam handles are common across all types of fishing rods. They are inexpensive and durable, making them a go-to option for anglers. However, foam is neither the most comfortable choice nor the best in terms of grip. It can become slippery when wet or after handling fish. It also lacks true sensitivity, muffling what is transmitted from hook to hand rather than delivering it directly. Cork: A fan favorite, cork is as comfortable as it is elegant. However, it is less durable and more expensive than foam. A lightweight material, cork offers good sensitivity and a solid grip—even when wet. Split Grip: A split grip is simply a handle that is partly covered with foam, cork or another material, and partly left bare. The narrow diameter of the naked rod won’t tire out a hand over long periods

of use and allows for maximum sensitivity, translating whatever is happening on the end of the line to the hand as efficiently as possible. Lacking coverage of their entire length, split grips are also very lightweight. The gripping potential depends on the material. The main concern of split grips is durability, as the unprotected portion is damaged more easily than a fully covered handle. Cork Tape: A favorite of surf fishermen, cork tape offers an incredibly reliable grip under all conditions. Its “sandpaper” texture may scare some anglers off, but it is actually quite comfortable. Cork tape is durable, although it may need replacing after seasons of use—much like the grip on a golf club. It promotes good sensitivity due to the thin and firm nature of the material. It is perhaps the most underutilized handle type of all. Heat-Shrink Vinyl: A cork-tape lookalike, vinyl permits excellent sensitivity, is comfortable, and provides good gripping grip materials are available for the rods that meet ability. It is both durable and inexpensive. Many anglers turn to heat-shrink vinyl as an easy your needs. Then, the decision will practically make itself. replacement for worn handles on well-used rods. In the end, selecting a handle doesn’t need to be a confusing affair. Evaluate which qualities you Lifelong fisherman and student of predatory fish, seek in a rod, how the rod will be used, and which visit John Saporito online at guerillaangling.com.

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Capt. Mike Manis

Pick & Choose T

ypically, even though we do get some cold snaps in March, this should be our last cool month and our last shot at extreme low tides. I’ll spend most of my time targeting redfish and spotted sea trout. Both of these species adapt well to cooler conditions and spotted sea trout out on the grass flats are easier to work in the wind. Mangrove shorelines don’t always set up putting the wind at your back and if you’re throwing fly the wind is always the elephant in the closet. Small fly patterns work well this time of year due to the limited available prey species. The scaled sardine or pilchard that is so prevalent most of the year have moved to deeper water looking for more stable water temperatures. As a result, our predator species are forced to rely on local prey species like killifish, crabs, and shrimp. For example, I like a #1 or 1/0 clouser or kwan pattern. If possible, I like to work the low water out on the open flats first thing in the morning looking for trout as the fish have no choice but to group up in the deeper depressions or holes. As the tide begins to come in, I’ll make my way into the backcountry and begin looking for redfish along the shorelines. It’s important to get back there before the water gets too high as they’re easier to sight fish. When the tide gets up, they move tighter to the mangroves and blend in well. However, keep in mind, they do tend to lay up out in the open this time of year and many times I’ve caught myself looking towards the shoreline only to find the fish set up outside the skiff. I’ll spend some time along the harbor’s east side but plan to work mostly in Pine Island Sound. Towards the backcountry the water has been clean and the fish appear to be healthy. First thing in the morning on low water, access is difficult so the boat traffic and pressure is minimal. That changes in the afternoon. Also, if it does warm up towards the end of the month, just off the shallow grass flats is a good area to spot early season tarpon. Pompano are here and it’s not unusual to see them skipping boat wakes. Outside the bar along the lower end of the West Wall is a good place to look as well as the hard bottom off Cape Haze Point. Here, it’s hard to beat a 1/4-ounce Nylure jig. Sheepshead are everywhere around structure. Trestle and dock systems are good choices. A piece of shrimp or fiddler crabs are the bait of choice. Just like last month, if you need to get out and the wind is relentless canal systems are an option. They hold lots of fish. Keep in mind, you’re fishing in someone’s backyard so be respectful while skipping up under those docks. Until next month, good tides. Punta Gorda Fly Charters | puntagordaflycharters.com 941-628-7895

2 FORT MYERS | FEBRUARY 2021 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

Capt. Dave Stephens

Water Temperatures

SCHUMAN INSURANCE

"Nothing Like A Day On The Water!"

ell it seems this winter is going to be one of those crazy ones; warm for several days, followed up by a cold front. This can be some of the toughest fishing that we can deal with. It’s not that our winter fishery is tough. The problem is that our fishery doesn’t know if it should go into winter mode or stay shallow. Well folks welcome to fishing on the border of the tropics. Catching fish this time of year can be a little difficult if you allow it to be. Let me fill you in on the biggest trick us guides follow this time of year; it’s water temp. The difference in where I fish, how deep I fish and the area I fish, depends on water temp. The crazy thing is this can change from day to day. I get asked often what the magic number is for our water temp. Well my response is, “What are you targeting?” For the most part, our fishery has a water temp of 80° on an average. Most of the fish that we target are warm water fish. However, we have plenty of fish that cooler water does not effect. Actually, we have fish that cooler water increases the bite and schools these guys up. One of the most prolific of the winter fish is the sheepshead. This is the time of year when these guys school up to spawn (often confused with their freshwater counterpart). The saltwater version is very good to eat, but hard to catch. These fish, black and white striped, are some of the best bait thieves. Crustaceans are the preferred food for these guys. I also recommend fishing with a small hook. Local docks, piers and areas with rocks will hold lots of fish. Like I said crustaceans are the preferred meal, so bring plenty of shrimp. Another fish that I think of during the cooler months, sea trout. This is the time of year for some of the best trout fishing. When a major front passes and our water temps drop, these guys school in the deeper holes; areas such as creek mouths, potholes on the flats and residential canals. Like most fish during the cooler months, shrimp is the best bite. Most people, when they think about trout, they think popping corks. Well this time of year, fishing a shrimp directly on the bottom is not a bad idea. Fish can often be found in deeper holes hanging close to the bottom. Fishing a shrimp on a jig head on the bottom is a great way to locate fish. Often a bite will happen very quickly, so keep moving until you locate a school of fish. Back Bay Xtremes |Backbayextremes.com 941-916-5769

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Right Spot Right Time FWC

Knowing which habitats and food sources fish prefer is also key. Some species are more commonly found in the high action wave zones of beaches, while areas that offer reliable food sources and shelter such as mangroves or salt marshes are popular with other species. Seagrass, oyster bars, and other structures such as rock piles and docks can also provide good fish habitat.

o matter how good your tackle is, if youâ€™re not in the right spot at the right time, then you still might strike out. This means considering moon phases, tides, time of day, water temperatures, and more (TIP: colder water temperatures can lead to more lethargic fish, try slowing your jigging during the colder months). Keeping detailed notes of successful fishing days is essential to knowing where each species of fish will tend to gather.

4 FORT MYERS | FEBRUARY 2021 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

Capt. Neil Eisner

Keep it Fun S

o, the grandkids are coming down for their school break and you want to take them fishing. Remember to make it fun and you will create an angler for life. Keep your fishing trip to about two to three hours. Don’t overdo it, kids get bored easily. Target ladyfish, you and the kids will have a blast. The fish jump like tarpon, that’s how they got the nickname, the poor man’s tarpon. Ladyfish are easy to find and catch. You can find them around the passes and in deep holes when you’re fishing the back country. They are also off the grass flat edges. Just look for the drop offs. Use a number 2/0 circle hook. Place a split shot about a foot up on the leader. Over the years I find a smaller shrimp works best for bait. If your kids are old enough to cast, have them cast and use a slow retrieve. If they’re too young to cast, just drift over the deep hole or cut. Try using a popping cork when you are drifting. When you’re back over shallow water, bring the boat back around and start the drift again. I like using a lead head jig 1/4 oz tipped with a shrimp. I cast out as I can and change my speed of the retrieve. This will change the depth of the jig, so I work all depths of the water column. I also use this set up and method when I trout fish. Ladyfish school up so when the action starts, look out. Who knows, you might land a trout or two, since they hang around the same spots. Want to learn more, email or call me. Fishing the Flats FC | Captneileisner@gmail.com 239-860-4242

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SWFL Freshwater Scene

Capt. Roan zumFelde around to some good fishing. Hopefully the water has come

Sto gie

ere comes February, not one of the best fishing months in Southwest Florida. Coming off of a terrible start to January with red tide in our salt waters high water in the Everglades canals and Okeechobee, lots of people trying to fish just about everywhere, what can we say but “Rots of ruck, Shaggy”. Not sure where to start other than I would expect to have some water levels in Okeechobee coming down I hope; fishing there has been a little hit and miss due to very high water. Try and find scattered grass in The Monkey Box area and look for hard shell bottom for the bedding fish. The fishing on Lake Trafford should still be productive for crappie and bass should be bedding around any cover you can find. The Everglades canals should be picking up steam and coming

-_W ate rm elo n

_C an dy

way down and the fish are more concentrated. If we have had a mild winter with no freezes (insert prayer), the fishing for the different cichlid species should be good and getting better coming into March and the bass should be on fire. Most of the fish are still going to react better to slower presented baits and the bass should hit well on Senko type baits. I would expect the cichlids to hit smaller grub type jigs and Ned rigs, bass too, especially Ned jigs. We carry a full line of Wyze Guys Ned Jigs at the shop. I like to rig the Senko’s with a single hook or wacky style and it seems the 4 inch and 5 inch work the best in Green Red flake. For flies this month you are going to do well on poppers for the bass and sinking or weighted patterns for everything else. Last month’s fly of the month should be a killa on both bass and cichlids! Good luck and g o o d fishing and I hope everyone is able to get vaccinated. Come visit Mike and me at Mike’s Bait House and Indian Pass Outfitters on Danford Street, next to Bayview Park in Naples and we can talk fishing. We carry a full line of tackle including: fly fishing needs and both saltwater and freshwater gear, food, drink, and bait. Thanks and good fishing. Roan z Mike’s Bait House | Mikesbaithouse.com Indianpassoutfitters.com | 239-775-2248 | C- 239-269-4426

6 FORT MYERS | FEBRUARY 2021 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

A Great F

Capt. Bart Marx

Time!

ebruary in SW Florida, with the chill in the water and the air, it is a great time to go and do some fishing! Targeting sheepshead and f lounder this month with the cool waters, they should be feeding. The sheepshead should be around the docks closest to the Gulf, also on the close reefs and small ledges. The f lounder will be alongside docks and piers that have sand and moving water, they too can be found in the sand around the near shore reefs in the sand. A few years back we were fishing an artificial reef catching sheepshead on one side of the boat next to the structure and on the other side in the sand f lounder. Along the coast the pompano can be jigged up where there is swift moving water with pompano jigs tipped with just a bit of shrimp to sweeten it up. Some like to fish from the beach in the passes and others like to drift in the boat to

target pompano. In 30â€™ to 50â€™ range the white grunt and lane snapper bite should be good too bottom fishing. Also, we have a lot of visitors from the North, better known as snowbirds. There are some that have boats and need some instruction as to where and how to fish our area to shorten the learning curve. I call these training trips; I will go with you on your boat (Captainfor-Hire) with you and your best fishing buddy. This way I can give you plenty of attention. I have time to show you different things with your GPS and depth finder that will help you find fish. Also, different ways to rig your poles with most of the tackle you have already, to target different species. So, if you did not get what you wanted for Christmas you could ask friends or family to get you a gift certificate for a trip with Capt. Bart Marx with Alpha Omega Charters to go with him on his boat or he could come on your boat to learn some new skills to target certain species. Always remember singing drags and tight lines make me smile. <*(((((>{

Tom on our annual Young Life Trip with a nice trout!!

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FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | FEBRUARY 2021 | FORT MYERS 7

The Struggle Is Reel

Capt. Will Hubbard

ne of my favorite fish to both catch and eat is sheepshead, and as you may or may not know, the struggle to get good sheepshead bait during the winter is real. Two weeks ago I took my family out and we went scouting for fiddler crabs. We found an alright place to get them here at a local public park. We spent about 1 hour and only managed to get about 1 dozen. No Good.......

Another morning last week my son and I went out to catch some sand fleas. The struggle with them is they are not something you want to wait to catch the morning of your charter and if you catch them the day before you have to freeze them. Since I prefer fresh live bait and I believe the sheepshead do too, I prefer to use fiddler crabs which can keep for 2-3 days in a bucket. The problem with fiddler crabs is they are found in mud flats which are few and far between around here, the bait stores sell out the second they get a shipment and to hunt them yourself it is difficult as they burrow deep in their hole when the temps drop and don't come back out till the temperatures rise to about 71° for at least 3 days. With that said our options are minimal. Another charter captain buddy of mine and I were kicking around ideas as we are determined to get some good sheepshead bait for our clients. The winters here in Placida have low-low tides and the oyster bars are exposed a lot of the time, so my buddy suggested we go out to the oyster bars and see if we could catch MUD CRABS....and we DID! JackPot!!! I got my teenage son geared up for the oyster bars and we went out crabbing. To catch mud crabs you drive up as close to an oyster bar as you can and anchor your boat. Make sure you have some really good rubber boots that the oysters won't cut through. Climb out of the boat and bring your gloves, hand held garden rake and bucket and wade over to the oyster bar. With your gloves on, take your rake and start flipping over oysters and you will find the mother load of mud crabs (and a ton of other little creatures too)! When you’re oyster flipping, you will find all different size mud crabs. There will be tons of little ones that scatter like ants, really huge ones the size of the palm of your hand and then the best ones - the Money Crab - the medium sized ones!! These are the perfect size to use to catch good size sheepshead. They are even better than fiddler crabs and in my opinion easier to catch if you don't mind paying a visit to the oyster bar. On this particular day we spent about 2 hours and got about 60 crabs. Our charter the next day paid off with several 19”+ sheepshead! If you are interested in experiencing fishing with us in Gasparilla Sound, give me a call or text.....we might even throw in a bonus mud crabbing hunt. ;) Family Traditions Charter Co. facebook.com/FamilyTraditionsCharterCo | 678-630-1536

8 FORT MYERS | FEBRUARY 2021 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

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Tidal

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Photo by Carol Cassels

Flow

Dan Carns

’ve written about tides here before, but feel compelled to revisit this topic as there is a lot of speculation about when to go fishing. If you’re following a fishing app and it suggests that staying home is better than fishing, I suggest you rethink this strategy especially if you’re a kayak angler. First of all, here is the crux of why tides matter in fishing. During low and high tides there is a period called slack tide when the water is neither moving up nor down, in or out and the bait has the opportunity to go just about anywhere it wants, so typically they aren’t as balled up making it harder for predator fish to attack. When the tide turns and begins to flow the bait schools begin to bunch up and are forced to move with the tide essentially becoming a bigger target at the mercy of the flowing water. Predator fish like snook, redfish and spotted seatrout, our most sought-after species, don’t want to spend more energy chasing bait around than is necessary. They understand that as the tide flows past their location it brings the bait to them, as they simply need to wait in ambush points to feed. That being said, most boats are dependent on deep enough water to operate in, which restricts them, but kayakers can be so deep into a mangrove forest that the tide forecast is delayed by possibly two and three hours. Therefore, if a slack tide is predicted during your fishing plan, you may still be in flowing water while everyone else is snacking on lunch waiting for the tide to turn! Conversely you can go a relatively short distance to access moving water around and through the many island passes and flats that surround them. The Gulf Coast also has this unusual tidal flow that may rise or fall just a few inches instead of feet and may also take all day to move from high to low or vice versa. The following scenario shows the mistake of following the advice of websites, fish apps, or fishermen who suggest that you should stay home and mow the lawn instead of launching. Recently the owner of Gulf Coast Kayak and I launched at daybreak on a day that one of those apps said the fishing would be “off” only to find ourselves in schools of feeding fish on what became a memorable day of fishing. The very next weekend I launched with some friends in the same location on another of those so called “bad fishing days” where the tide was almost nonexistent and we boated a half dozen trophy-sized redfish, multiple snook and large seatrout! While it may be important for you to know what the tide is doing, Do NOT STAY HOME on anybody’s advice as you might miss the best day of fishing you’ve ever had! It’s A Wild WorldGet Out There! Fishman Dan Gulf Coast Kayak | gulfcoastkayak.com | 239-283-1125

10 FORT MYERS | FEBRUARY 2021 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

West is Best for Big Carbo Spearfishing

oceangrafix.com for NOAA Chart #11006.) Up to 40-nm apart, the lines depict scattered limestone coral & sponge encrusted ledges. A few with 30-ft relief, but most only 1 to 5-ft. Like the numerous crumbling wrecks & pot holes, also in this huge W FL area, big carbos love the tight holes & cracks!! Shooting a big carbo is on top of all spearos 2021 lists. They’re smart, get over 100#s, photogenic, taste great & often Capt. Chad Carney win tournaments! In my home town, the St Pete Open, is a huge tourney & the best aggregate stringer won’t cut it. The top carbo wins it! (They’re always deep west FL fish!) The 87# silhouetted carbo photo was shot in 175-ft offshore of Anna Maria Island by Steve Bryan along the 30-fathom line. The grouper rocked up leaving a bad shot & a silt-out to follow. Low on time & gas he had to ascend empty handed. Back drops are often needed, & after 3 deep dives, I was the loner left with maybe enough gas. Following his directions, I spotted the hole with some smoke puffing out & a huge hogfish looking in at it. “So, do I shoot the hog & maybe silt-out the hole again, losing the black?” Bang! Stoned the hogfish & shot the black & yanked it out! Steve’s spear wasn’t coming out & exertion is not wise, so you see it in the photo. Bonus, the 23# hogfish became my new personal best! (My backdrop save was 1 of 5 I’ve made on buddie’s carbos.) Spearing Tips: Get a long-range free shaft speargun & mount 2 more spears & a narrow spot light. Line shafts are slow & can be entangling, occasionally drowning a big fish shooter. I know Chad’s personal best, 23# hogfish. guys missing fingers. A stiletto knife, a hoop stringer, Dyneema or Kevlar gloves. Long freedive fins & a low volume opaque skirt ar more big Black Groupers are found offshore of Florida’s mask. All spearos get a good buddy & training. Be prepared for W coast, between the 20 & 30-fathom lines, than anywhere many drops. Technical Spearfishing & Tech Dive Training is else in the state. These old coast lines parallel the FL coast, recommended deeper than 132-ft. 35 to 90-nautical miles (nm) offshore & run from N of the Middle Florida Skin Diver | floridaskindiver.com | 727-423-7775 Grounds, S past Tampa Bay & SWFL, to the Tortugas Bank. (See

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Capt. Armando Alejo was up first, from the casting platform, I directed her attention

A Champagne Toast

to what we call “puffs of mud” a tell-tell sign that redfish are there. And indeed, they were. In seconds Lyn hooked into her personal best redfish, fought it like a true angler and brought it boat side, and to the landing net. Paul was next on deck and he was stocked! By then, we’d lost the school but we quickly got right back on them. I asked Paul to cast 50’ away from the school and work his bait back toward the school. He made a super precise cast, “bounced the bait off the bottom” and hooked up almost instantly! Paul also, fought his fish like a champ and, it too was brought to the landing net. With what remained of an outgoing tide that morning, we worked and brought many other species including Goliath grouper, speckled trout and others. On this trip I treated Paul and Lyn to a champagne toast! They toasted to their recent engagement of course and also both of their personal best redfish. Give me a call to fish with a FIVESTAR rated service and guide! www.A2charters.com | A2charters@outlook.com 305-778-5342

e are now enjoying our best weather here in the South Florida Everglades. With the season upon us, we are pleased to fish with most of our returning clients. On a recent trip I had Paul and Lyn aboard to celebrate their recent engagement. They’d been aboard before and wanted to highlight this milestone in their life with us (I was truly humbled). We ventured out to the Everglades on a beautiful winter morning, with a chill in the air, live well full of shrimp and many hopes of landing some celebratory Redfish. And that we did! With the recent addition (a new Pathfinder 2300, bay boat) I guided Paul and Lyn to a school of tailing redfish in about a foot of water. Lyn FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINEFTMYERS/ | FEBRUARY 2021 | FORT MYERS 15

Blind Pass A

of the wind if you choose to launch from here. Paddlers can Mike Hammond out tuck into Dinkin Bayou or hide behind Albright and Runyan

good friend who paddles and travels throughout North and Central America proclaims Blind Pass as his favorite place to paddle and fish. He explains, “It is the convergence of the islands and bodies of water that make it so special.” I agree. Blind Pass separates Sanibel Island from Captiva Island and allows water to exchange from the Gulf of Mexico and Pine Island Sound. Not to mention Roosevelt Channel, Wulfert Channel and Dinkin Bayou all meet in this small area. A lot of water flushes though here creating some amazing angling and wildlife observation opportunities. Two parking lots straddle Blind Pass. One is the Blind Pass Beach parking lot on Sanibel and the other is the Turner Beach Parking lot on Captiva. Both offer public access to the water. Depending on the weight of your rig and the tides, these may be a challenging option though. You may also have to negotiate waves and the lines of anglers fishing from the bridge. My favorite option when it is available is launching from the privately-owned Castaways Marina. You can back up to the ramp and launch into protected water. It is easy to stay

Keys. If the wind and tides cooperate, you may want to paddle out to Buck Key, the Wulfert Keys or the many oyster bars in the area. Parking can be limited at Castaways Marina though and launch fees vary based on availability. I strongly advise calling ahead and using Tarpon Bay on Sanibel as a backup plan. Many of the small islands in the area are protected by the nearby J.N. “Ding” Darling Wildlife Management Area. These islands are a haven for wading birds. Between the variety of birds actively hunting and the resident dolphin I see almost every time, this is a fun paddle for wildlife enthusiasts and kids. (Be sure to stay a good distance away from the islands so as not to disturb the birds.) There are also shallow flats where a variety of conchs and other sea creatures can be discovered. After your paddle, there are a lot of nearby options for food and beverages with friends. If I’m with my family, a stop at Santivas General Store for post-paddle ice cream is almost a must. While Sanibel and Captiva may have some of the best beaches in Florida, right behind them are amazing angling and paddling opportunities with Blind Pass connecting them all.

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Capt. Terry Fisher

SW Florida’s ‘Wonderful World of Fishing’

he wonderful thing about living or vacationing in SWFL is the year-round fishing opportunities due to our beautiful location and warm winter season. Each year thousands of visitors grace our shorelines to enjoy fishing for a variety of species, while enjoying time on the water with families and friends. Even the locals can’t seem to get enough of the boating and fishing activities that exist here while most of North America is covered with the chills of frost and snow. My advice to all fishermen and women is to always fish the top half of an incoming or outgoing tide, which will provide more areas in which to fish. For the most part, our tide movements are 6 hours long for each incoming tide and/or outgoing tide. Moving water is the key to active feeding and plenty of bites. The fish are always around, keep moving until you locate them. All tide movement is effective for both inshore and offshore species. Just plan your day around the tide predictions for the areas in which one is wanting to fish. Monthly Tide Predictions are located in this Coastal Angler Magazine for each and every ‘Tide Station’ in our area. If you do not understand them, feel free to call me. During the month of February, I recommend targeting a variety of species, but the prominent fish to target for inshore will be the sheepshead. These fish will be found around the ‘piles’, mangroves docks, rocks and seawalls. They are a fun, strong fish to catch for light tackle anglers and will offer up a tasty fish dinner. Rumor has it that these fish are ‘hard to catch’, but that is not true, as any fish is ‘hard to catch’ if they are not in an aggressive ‘eating’ mode. Large sheepshead seem to prefer stronger currents offering a good supply of bait flowing past their ‘holding’ locations, in the areas mentioned above. When smaller fish are biting there is a slim chance of catching the bigger ones. When the big ones are biting, load your cooler as the bite will revert to the smaller fish at some point. My suggestion is to move around until you find the larger ‘bite’. Shrimp or fiddler crabs are the basic baits for these fish. Seatrout will offer a fun and fine day of fishing the grass flats in around 4’-7’ of water. Artificial baits such as plastic paddle tails, spoons and top waters will all work well for anglers, however, I find that nothing beats a shrimp on a weighted jig head under a popping cork. Everything that swims will consider this

presentation. Work the grass flats until the school is located, then enjoy the catching. This species is plentiful and while fishing for them (same techniques), more likely than not, several by-catches of Spanish mackerel, Jack Crevalle, ladyfish and a pompano or two will round out the day. Spanish mackerel will be migrating with the bait offshore and in the passes as well. Watch for diving birds. Consider using wire leader with a ‘stinger’ hook or beef up the monofilament to around a 30-50lb. test when targeting these guys. I prefer to slowly troll ¾ to 1oz silver spoons. Snook will be found in the canals, under docks and around structure. Points of islands and bars are a good bet for these. Artificial presentations such as ‘twitch’ baits’, top water plugs and soft plastics are effective, but one needs a boat with a trolling motor to properly cover a number of fresh locations. Remember Captain Terry’s rule: Three artificial presentations in the same area and you’re OUT! Live bait such as shrimp and pinfish will work, but for me, live pilchards are the ‘go to’ baits. Redfish in February can be difficult due to lower tides that restrict boat access to areas holding the fish. The best bet to get on some will be to try the docks around the passes, unless one has a skiff that can conquer shallow bars and get to the deeper holes that hold the fish. Redfish will hold from Naples to Sarasota in all areas, but access to the holes is the key. Black Drum is a great fish to challenge in February. They will be under and around the docks of the passes, such as N. Captiva, Boca Grande and Matlacha Bridge. Fish for them with live or cut pinfish and shrimps. Offshore, look for grouper, snappers and porgy’s to be in on the closer reefs along with other migratory species. The enemy to offshore trips in the winter month of February is the wind. Pick a day or two after windy conditions to go. Give the water energy from the winds time to settle down. Good Fishing! This is Captain Terry Fisher of Fish Face Charters, LLC wishing everyone tight lines. Contact me for Captain for Hire (by the hour) on your vessel with navigation instructions, fishing locations and techniques that insure your every adventure is a success. Fish Face Charters | fishfacecharters.com | 239-357-6829

18 FORT MYERS | FEBRUARY 2021 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

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Get My Drift

Joe Sheaffer

the bite will happen during the fall but there are times when the fish will bite on the bottom. Donâ€™t be afraid to adjust the weight of your jigs based on how the fish are biting, lighter if they are striking close to the surface and deeper if they are relating to the bottom. Trout will more than likely be the species of choice but donâ€™t be surprised catching others like Jacks, Ladyfish, Bluefish, an occasional Redfish and others. Using your electronics to mark bites and catches, using those marks you can continue to run the same drift over your day on the water to increase your success. This strategy worked great with my daughters on Christmas Eve 2020, we had a blast. Get your DRIFT on when conditions are tough, good luck and keep casting.

s winter takes hold and conditions become a challenge, as anglers we need to think about different presentations that can help us be successful. This time of year, colder water temps and very low water make it very difficult to fish in shallow areas unless you own a shallow running boat. After cold fronts fish tend to be less active and it can be very difficult to get a bite. One strategy I go to during tough fishing days, finding large grass flats, positioning my boat in 3-5 foot of water drifting with the wind and aided by my trolling motor. I like drifting with the wind, which allows me to make longer casts and allows me to cover more water. I usually use a jig and paddle tail combination and I like to let the fish dictate my presentation. Many times, 20 FORT MYERS | FEBRUARY 2021 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/FORT-MYERS/

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redfish is first ande. h t h g u rrill ca oca Gr Brothers Corey & Kyle Zumstein Troy Fe rf fishing in B u s fishing the Marco Bridge. e il h w

Chad Green with a nice 34â€? snook.

Charlotte Wess caught a nice red with Redfish Robâ€™s Charters.

lmost aught a ! c s a h ocky there 11 yo R y species out r e v e

Diana F or nice Bo espring with a keellia sheeps couple head.

Jason & Sam Rundorff sharing a couple Everglades largemouth caught with JoGene Holaway.

Jacob w largem ith a nice outh ba ss.

Photos submitted Courtesy of Coastal Angler Readers and Contributing Writers Submit pics to: camswfl@gmail.com or text to 239.595.8265

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Vincent Canabal got this shot of a lemon shark swimming gracefully over a shallow reef.

SHARK

AWARENESS W

By John Lidington

intertime is shark time off south Florida’s Atlantic coast! Yearround populations of lemon, bull and reef sharks swell as thousands of migrating blacktip sharks move through. The concentration of hammerheads, which feed on blacktips, also goes up. If you poll dive tourists on what marine animals they most want to see, you’ll find sharks at the top of the list. In Palm Beach County, Pura Vida Divers focuses on February as “Shark Month.” This “sharky” time maximizes the probability divers will encounter sharks in the wild. But for those who want more than a passing encounter, February is a great time to take the PADI AWARE Shark Conservation Specialty course. Anyone diving in the ocean will have some thought of sharks lurking

in the back of their mind. But whether of curiosity, anxiety or excitement, these thoughts generally center on shark behavior. When they think of sharks, few divers relate those thoughts to a need for conservation. The shark conservation course aims to change that. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) maintains the “red list” of species threatened with extinction. Of the 1,000 or so shark and ray species, over 30 percent are on that red list. Unfortunately, it’s a downhill trend. In 2019, the IUCN increased the threat level of both the great hammerhead and scalloped hammerhead from “Endangered” to “Critically Endangered” (their highest threat classification) and jumped the oceanic whitetip two levels to “Critically Endangered” from its 2015 ranking of “Vulnerable.” The shark conservation course includes a morning classroom session, followed by a two-tank charter dive in the afternoon. “The course revolves around creating diver awareness of sharks, the threats they face, and the conservation initiatives that strive to protect them,” said Jillian, Pura Vida Divers’ Director of Training. “Students will learn about these themes during the classroom session, along with details about local shark species. Once students have a baseline understanding of sharks as a whole, they’ll learn more about why shark populations are declining and what they can do to make a difference.” After the classroom session, students will head out on two dives. The dives are planned to maximize the chance of shark encounters in a natural setting. “The course is tailored to local shark species, which divers will aim to see and study during the specialty dives,” Jillian said. “Typically, these dives take place at deeper sites—the 70- to 90-foot wrecks and reefs—since that’s where we tend to see more sharks. Since winter is prime shark season, we’re usually lucky enough to see sharks on most dives. As we drift along the reefs or wrecks, students will find and identify different shark species, observe their natural behavior, and identify potential threats.” Nitrox is recommended, though not required, for these dives. If you aren’t enriched-air certified yet, ask about that, too. Contact Pura Vida Divers at (561) 840-8750 and see their website at www.puravidadivers.com.

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Gyotaku G yotaku is a Japanese art form that replicates a catch with a print made from the actual fish. Gyotaku artists can produce a beautiful representation of your catch at a fraction of the cost of traditional taxidermy, and the final product might also compliment your home better than a giant 3D mount. Even better, you can attempt this art for yourself. While providing the satisfaction of catching and memorializing the fish yourself, if you’re quick enough with the process, you can still enjoy eating it. You will need: • A fish • Acrylic paint and paintbrushes • Paper towel • Rice paper or cloth After a long day on the water, the last thing you’ll want to do is start painting a fish. The sooner you get to a print, the better the final product will be. However, it is fine to leave your catch on ice overnight or even freeze it. If you freeze it, make sure it’s as flat as possible and its fins aren’t squished. Fins damage easily when shoved up against the back of the freezer. When you’re ready to start, the first step is to dry the fish. Open all the fins and dry out all the crevices. The drier the fish is, the more readily it will receive paint and transfer it back to your canvas. Next, use rolls of paper towels to prop open and extend the dorsal, pelvic and anal fins and tail. Use bits of paper towel shoved into the gills to give them depth in the final product, as well as propping up the pectoral fin for the same reason. Consider colors of the fish for your paints as well as for which color

16 FLORIDA

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By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

paper or cloth you want to use for the background. Then cut a manageable sized piece. Typically, white or black backgrounds produce the best outcome. Apply paint directly to the fish while standing above it. Keep in mind that you want to achieve a two-dimensional image. If you paint too far over the top of its head or too far under its belly, your final image will look obese. This is especially important to keep in mind with rounder fish, like tuna. Have fun with all the details, and don’t forget the eyeball and even small amounts of paint on the teeth. Next, lay the cloth or paper over the painted fish and rub your fingers over it, starting from the center and working to the edges. Be delicate and thorough, touching every ridge on every fin, every contour, every scale and every tooth you painted. Slowly peel off the paper or cloth, let it dry, and then touch up the details. Any fish works for this process, but ones with more pronounced scales, like a snapper, produce a much more detailed print. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon guides with Reel Lucky Fishing Charters out of St. Petersburg, Fla. Contact them at (504) 920-6342.

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Impressive IGFA

By CAM Staff

2020 World Records R

ecords are made to be broken, and with so many species and line-class records out there for anglers to chase, the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) is constantly updating its records. Here’s a quick look at some of the most impressive IGFA records caught and confirmed in 2020.

JUDY LANGENHOVEN Giant African threadfin inhabit waters of the Atlantic coast of Africa and grow quite large. The IGFA all-tackle world record weighed more than 122 pounds. Last July, Judy Langenhoven used a McCarthy paddletail and 30-lb. test to land a 93-pound,11-ounce behemoth from Angola’s Kwanza River. It took her more than an hour to subdue the beast, which set a new Women’s 30-lb. line class record.

JULIETH CASTRO SANCHEZ

RAY YAMAO A big brown trout from Japan might be the most impressive salmonid record from 2020. Angler Ray Yamoa caught the monster 26-lb., 10-oz. brown on Aug. 8, while trolling an Ora Minnow plug on Japan’s Lake Shikotsu. Averaging 870 feet deep, Shikotsu is a 30-squaremile caldera lake that maintains stable temperatures year-round thanks to volcanic influence. It is most famous among anglers for salmon, but it obviously grows big trout, too. Yamoa’s giant brown trout set a new 30-lb. line class world record.

EMILY ROSE HANZLIK

How’d you like to haul up something like this on your next bottom-fishing trip? Julieth Castro Sanchez was jigging a Williamson jig out of Esterillos Oeste, Costa Rica when a giant Pacific cubera snapper yanked on her line. The big snapper weighed in at 70 pounds, 8 ounces, which was good enough for a new Women’s 50-pound line class record. The all-tackle world record, caught off Costa Rica in 1988, weighed 78 pounds, 12 ounces.

Hanzlik is a 15-year-old fishing fanatic with 29 IGFA world records to her name. In 2020, she tallied two records that have already been accepted by IGFA, and her third of the year was still pending at presstime. Last June was good to Hanzlik. On June 12, she set a new women’s 20-lb. line class record with a 22-lb., 6-oz. grass carp from the canals of West Palm Beach, Fla. Then, on June 23, she set the junior class record for jack crevalle at 32 lbs., 10 oz. The jack crevalle Hanzlik is holding in this photo is a pending record. If accepted by IGFA, this 35-lb., 6-oz. jack will be a new women’s 50-lb. line class world record. Hanzlik caught it fishing from the shore in West Palm Beach. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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The Deal With

WESTERN DRY ROCKS

bout 10 miles southwest of Key West, Western Dry Rocks is an area of reef and rocks known for large spawning aggregations of permit and various snapper and grouper species. Its proximity to Key West as well as the dependable nature of the fishery make it a popular fishing spot, especially for charter captains and private anglers in search of

bountiful half-day trips. Over the past few months, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission (FWC) has been mulling a seasonal closure at Western Dry Rocks to allow some of these spawning aggregations to go unmolested by angling pressure. Most recently, FWC held workshops and gathered public input on a proposal to close fishing at a 1-square-mile area at Western Dry Rocks from May through June for the next five years. This time period is the heart of the season when several species congregate to spawn in a relatively small area, which leads to the kind of spectacular fishing that can do damage to overall populations. Western Dry Rocks is a unique environment where it is thought these aggregations play a role in supporting fish populations throughout the Florida Keys and up into nearshore waters of South Florida. Swirling ocean currents collect fish eggs and larvae and carry them northeast up the coast, where they are deposited. Also, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) has conducted tagging studies, which show permit from throughout the Lower Keys travel up to 50 miles to the annual aggregation at Western Dry Rocks. FWC data shows angler effort absolutely centers around known aggregation areas, which makes sense. Numerous Keys fishing guides are understandably unhappy about the prospect of a closure. Permit, yellowtail snapper, mutton snapper and gray snapper are all known to aggregate at Western Dry Rocks from April through July. Other species, such as black, Nassau and gag groupers, aggregate at Western Dry Rocks during the cooler months, and they are already protected by seasonal bag limits. BTT has called out for an even longer, four-month closure from April to July at Western Dry Rocks, to encompass the entire spawning season for permit. Permit harvest is already closed throughout the Keys from April through July; however, BTT studies show up to 39 percent of hooked permit at Western Dry Rocks were eaten by sharks before they made it to the boat. “When spawning aggregations are protected, the predictable outcomes are more abundant fish populations with a greater abundance of larger fish in the surrounding area,” reads the BTT press release. At presstime, FWC was collecting public input prior to taking action on the proposal for a seasonal closure at Western Dry Rocks.

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lounder regulations on Florida’s Atlantic coast will be tightened as part of a package designed to restore flounder numbers. Both increased size limits and reduced bag numbers were approved at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s December meeting. The regulations changes become effective on March 1, 2021. A stock status update suggested the flounder fishery statewide has been in a general declining trend in recent years and is likely overfished and undergoing overfishing on the Atlantic coast of Florida. Other south Atlantic and Gulf states have also reported declines in flounder populations and have been making their own regulation changes. Changes include: • Extend all FWC flounder regulations into federal waters. • Increase the minimum size limit from 12 inches to 14 inches total length. • Reduce recreational daily bag limit from 10 to five fish per person. • Establish an Oct. 15 – Nov. 30 recreational closed season. • For commercial harvesters using allowable gear: Establish a commercial trip and vessel limit of 150 fish from Dec. 1 – Oct. 14, and 50 fish from Oct. 15 – Nov. 30. • Modify incidental bycatch limit for commercial harvesters using non-allowable gear from 50 pounds to 50 fish per trip. • Create a federal waters trawl bycatch limit of 150 flounder per trip from Dec. 1 – Oct. 14, and 50 fish per trip from Oct. 15 – Nov. 30. Learn more about flounder regulations at MyFWC.com/Marine.

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elebrate the fight against invasive lionfish at the seventh-annual Lionfish Removal and Awareness Festival May 15-16 at AJ’s Seafood and Oyster Bar in Harbor Walk Village, Destin. Activities will include fillet demonstrations; family-friendly games and activities; art, diving and conservation booths; and the world’s largest lionfish spearfishing tournament, the Emerald Coast Open. Satisfy your taste buds by visiting any of the participating locations of Lionfish Restaurant Week May 10-14 to try this delicious invasive. The event is currently seeking vendors for the festival and divers for the tournament. Booth space is being implemented to abide by COVID-19 guidelines and allow for social distancing. Learn more by visiting FWCReefRangers.com. Divers interested in competing in the Emerald Coast Open lionfish tournament should register at EmeraldCoastOpen.com. The tournament is currently seeking sponsors and volunteers. The state’s 2021 Lionfish Challenge removal incentive program will begin May 21 and continue through Labor Day, Sept. 6. More details on how to get rewarded for your harvest is coming soon to FWCReefRangers.com.

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Catch A Florida Memory Closed On Banner Year

ast year was record setting for the state’s Catch a Florida Memory program. The FWC angler-recognition program sent out a thank you to nearly 1,400 program participants who have sent in more than 15,000 submissions for recognition of about 2,800 achievements over the years. One headline-making fish in 2020 was a monster catch coming out of the 2020 Pelagic Shamrock Shootout in Palm Beach in March. The first fish to hit the scales in the tournament was a 194.8-pound big eye tuna caught by Team HYJENX. The species didn’t qualify for the tournament, but it did qualify Anthony Beau Kelly and his fishing buddies for a Florida state record. The monster tuna measured 71 inches in length. Catch a Florida Memory also recognized three new additions to their Grand Slam Tier 1 list. Grand Slams require anglers to catch three specified species in a 24-hour period. There are nine different Grand Slams anglers can pursue for different habitats and styles of fishing. Those appearing on the Grand Slam Tier 1 list must achieve three Grand Slams. Richard Brundage, John Dobbins and George Saridakis landed on the Tier 1 list in 2020. Dobbins qualified with several Family Grand Slams, a Bay and Estuary Grand Slam and multiple Inshore Grand Slams, while Saridakis got on the list with a Reefs and Rubble Grand Slam, an Inshore Grand Slam and a Family Grand Slam. Brundage made the list, with an Inshore Grand Slam, Family Grand Slam and Shoreline Grand Slam. Adam Ball and JD Malone became the second and third anglers to ever reach the Saltwater Fish Life List 50-Fish Club, which is quite an achievement. The two anglers have landed some special catches like Malone’s bull red drum earlier this year and Ball’s yellowfin tuna from back in 1986. It was a

24 FLORIDA

FEBRUARY 2021

This 194.8-pound state-record big eye tuna was caught during the 2020 Pelagic Shamrock Shootout.

spectacular adventure for both anglers to reach this milestone. Lastly, Catch a Florida Memory saw countless anglers reach the Life List 10-Fish Club in 2020. This is exciting because it shows new anglers catching a diverse array of saltwater species, not just the same few. In fact, the over 5,200 fish that were submitted in 2020 by nearly 700 different anglers reached close to 1,000 achievements. Find out how to participate by visiting CatchaFloridaMemory.com. Follow the action at the Catch a Florida Memory Facebook page.

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ulf of Mexico anglers have a couple new reasons to be excited as we head into the spring and summer fishing seasons. NOAA is looking at loosening regulations for both Gulf red snapper and gray triggerfish. That should help fill some coolers for bottom-fishers who’ve found it’s sometimes tough these days to catch anything other than snapper and triggerfish. New catch level recommendations for red snapper are expected in time for

the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s April 2021 meeting, which should provide time for adjustments prior to the traditional summer peak in recreational snapper fishing. This good news is the result of a massive study called “The Great Red Snapper Count,” a $10-million, congressionally funded, independent stock assessment initiated in 2016 and conducted by 21 scientists and 12 institutions across the Gulf. The Great Red Snapper Count showed red snapper are far more abundant than previously estimated using the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review stock assessment process that has been used to all but shut down snapper seasons over the last decade. The Great Red Snapper Count estimates that for 2-year-old-plus red snapper there are 23 million off Texas, 29 million off Louisiana, 10 million off Mississippi and Alabama, and 48 million off Florida. It also showed that large fish are comparatively more abundant in the western Gulf than the eastern Gulf. NOAA’s plan is to integrate the Great Red Snapper Count’s findings into its interim analysis for Gulf red snapper. It is worth noting that even though anglers and researchers are seeing more and larger red snapper, the spawning potential of the population is still below the original target of NOAA’s rebuilding plan. Adjustments to the state-specific catch limits are being considered to account for the harvest monitoring programs used by each state. Loosened restrictions on gray triggerfish are being considered following an interim analysis, using video surveys to estimate abundance, that showed the stock size has been increasing, especially in the eastern Gulf, and that catch limits can be increased. The Gulf Council’s Scientific and Statistical Committee recommended increasing the gray triggerfish acceptable biological catch limit to 456,900 pounds whole weight, which allows an increase in the gray triggerfish annual catch limit. Action is expected prior to the end of the 2021 recreational fishing season. The Council is also considering modifications to the gray triggerfish recreational fixed closed seasons and will consider that action in a separate framework action that will also address changes to the vermilion snapper recreational bag limit.

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FEBRUARY 2021

NATIONAL 13

TIPS FOR DIALING ’EM IN

By Nick Carter

here’s no mistaking it when a monster striped bass blows up on the surface. At a slow troll just after first light, you can almost feel it’s going to happen. Behind a planer board, the stinger-hooked gizzard shad begins to struggle. Anticipation goes through the roof as the bait flees for its life. “When you see that big shad get exploded on, it’s like a bowling ball dropped out of the sky,” said Shane Goebel, of Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service. “The planer board streaks across the water, and it’s on! There’s really nothing else like it.” Goebel has watched this scene take place hundreds of times while guiding the mountain lakes that straddle the Georgia/North Carolina border. He knows what it takes to boat striped bass in the 30- to 40-plus-pound range. Here are Goebel’s tips for dialing in the big-fish bite: 1) Fish Trophy Striper Season: Giants are caught year-round, but fate favors the uncomfortable angler. When the water is cold, baitfish and big stripers are forced into the shallows in search of warmer water. They push out of the main lake and into the backs of creeks and rivers, where big fish are more predictable than when they’ve got the whole lake to roam. 2) Offer Them Everything: By putting out a large spread of different baits, you’re more likely to troll a preferred meal past that big girl’s nose. Goebel fishes as many baits as the confines of a 14 NATIONAL

FEBRUARY 2021

creek allow. He might run a couple planer boards out each side of the boat, a couple freelines off the stern and a couple of balloon baits way in back. He staggers distance and depth to cover water both horizontally and vertically. Goebel fishes a mix of baits, too. Big gizzard shad and rainbow trout are big striper baits, but when blueback herring are the predominant forage, he’ll fish all three at the same time. You never know which bait will get hit. 3) Stay With the Baitfish: You’re probably sick of hearing this, but… “find the bait, and you’ll find the fish.”

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BIG OL’ FISH GUIDING SERVICE

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Goebel starts cold mornings in the backs of the creeks looking for baitfish. When he sees what he likes, he deploys his spread and works from the shallows out to the creek mouth as the day advances to follow the movement of baitfish and stripers. On some lakes, diving birds are a dead giveaway. Keep binoculars on the console to scout for gulls. Also, especially on warmer days, don’t be afraid to drop downlines if you mark bait deep in a creek mouth. 4) Keep a Pitch Rod Ready: Goebel keeps lightweight spinning rods rigged and ready with Flukes and Redfins. Those casting rods come in handy when feeding breaks loose on the surface. It’s quicker and easier to cast lures to visible fish than it is to steer a trolling spread over them. And nothing beats fighting a big striper on light tackle. Check out Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service at bigolfish.com.

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ome days you battle the fish. Some days you battle the elements. Some days you battle both. You know the kind of day. The one that’s chilly, windy and choppy, with spray everywhere. But you’re determined to stay out until you get a few hits. These are the times GILLZ gear was made for. Innovative gear, with performance in every stitch, is designed with a single goal: for you to be able to fish better, longer and harder— in total comfort! Take the Pro Series Full Zip Storm Fleece. Engineered with air pockets embedded in the fabric, it provides insulation and temperature regulation while keeping the hoodie lightweight. This soft, warm hoodie can handle light rain, boat spray and features four-way stretch comfort, three zippered front pockets, a rear key pocket, and is fully lined. The Waterman Pant is ideal on cooler days. Extensively field-tested on the ocean, these pants are made with heavy-duty polyester, yet are amazingly lightweight and durable. Add a quick-dry, stretch fabric for maximum comfort, UV 50+ sun protection, water-repellant coating, security zipper pockets, and these may become your favorite fishing pant. Whatever the conditions, GILLZ has www.gillz-gear.com the gear.

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NATIONAL 17

TACTICS FOR TOUGH DELAYED HARVEST TROUT E By CAM Staff

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ven in the depths of winter, there is trout action to be found on delayed harvest (DH) streams where state agencies stock trout heavily under catch-and-release regulations. DH stretches offer high densities of trout that grow progressively wilder through winter into spring. And while stocked trout are renowned for their gullibility, they can also be difficult at times. Bill Stranahan, a veteran guide with Southeastern Anglers has a few tricks up his sleeve for catching DH trout. Bugger Time: “Wooly Buggers are so important this time of year,” Stranahan said. “You’re looking for that reaction strike. Swing and strip. Keep it moving.” Olive and black are perennial favorite colors whenever and wherever, and for winter fishing he prefers smaller Buggers in sizes 6 to 10. The primary DH stretches he fishes are Tennessee’s Hiwassee tailrace and the Tellico River, which is a freestone. They are very different fisheries, yet swinging and stripping Buggers is pretty much universally productive. Get Down On It: If catching numbers of fish is the goal, nymphing is normally the best tactic. When the trout are less active—especially when they’re holed up in deeper, slower runs during a cold snap—it might be the only way to catch fish. The key to catching fish in these conditions is depth. Trout won’t move far to feed when they’re hunkered down, so getting your nymphs down to them is imperative. Stranahan likes a weighted Pat’s Rubber Legs, or a similar heavy stonefly nymph in sizes 6 to 10. It’s a big buggy-looking mouthful, and it’s also a great anchor fly to fish in tandem with other nymphs. Depending on what the fish want, the Pat’s could be fished below “junk food” like a Squirmy Worm, a mop or egg pattern, or flashy attractor nymphs like a Rainbow Warrior or Lightning Bug. Or, if trout want something more natural, the Pat’s could anchor a small black stonefly nymph, a Hare’s Ear or a Prince. Again, depth is the key, so Stranahan likes a good sliding indicator that’s easy to adjust. Judge the depth of each hole, and try to get your anchor fly to drift just off the bottom. Headhunting: “Depending on how froggy you feel as an angler on a given day, you can go out running and gunning with big streamers,” Stranahan said. On a large tailwater or in deep holes on a smaller stream, big streamers have a way of turning the biggest fish. A big Zonker, a Swimmin’ Jimmy, a Zoo Cougar or one of Kelly Galloup’s other articulated patterns make a commotion when fished on sinking line. You’re trying to get their attention. If you don’t get chased in one hole, switch something up and move until you find what’s working. Sticking to the plan is important, though. You’re hunting a few fish large and aggressive enough to eat a raucous fly. Check out Southeastern Anglers at www.southeasternanglers.com.

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E-Z ANCHORING Applies to Pontoons

PART II

ebuting the Hinged Pontoon Anchoring Solution and Retractable Tritoon Anchoring Solution at Pennsylvania’s Lake Youghiogheny, E-Z Anchor Puller president Aaron Knopp and system installer Don Snyder spoke about and demonstrated the ease-of-use of these two permanent solutions. Underneath the crossmembers of a 24-foot Playbouy pontoon, a Hero EX-1 drum anchor winch was paired with the Hinged Solution, while the Retractable Solution was retrofitted to the 24-foot SouthBay tritoon sporting the Hero EX-2. Read on to discover the similarities and differences between these two innovative solutions that anyone can install! Aesthetics: The difference between the two is a matter of visibility; the Hinged protrudes ever-so-slightly underneath the deck in order to lift and drop the river anchor out of the water, whereas the Retractable remains completely invisible until it slides out from underneath the boat to release anchor, rode and chain in one sweeping motion. While some prefer to see the river or mushroom anchor lifted and held by the Hinged, a waterproof, wifi camera is also available so the operator can watch their Hero EX-1, EX-2 or Patriot EZ-1 deploy the rode from their smartphone. Mechanics: Each system’s operational differences lie within hollow-tube raceways. While the Hinged system has a folding bow roller that lifts when the anchor makes contact, the Retractable system has an internal spring that compresses with deployment and retrieval. Installation: For the Hinged solution, place the bow roller head so it protrudes slightly from under the deck. Keep trailering in mind, and plot where the best-suited location is in tangent when trafficking your boat to and from the water. The sleeve of the hollow raceway, which is immediately connected to the hinged bow roller’s head, is placed directly on the edge of the bullnose/front of the decking bracket that secures the square hollow raceway

Scan the QR code with your smartphone to watch the full review of the Hinged and Retractable solutions’ performance, installation, drum winch stats and more.

to the vessel’s crossmembers. For the Retractable, install the raceway 10 to 12 inches from the front of the boat. Both solutions have four drilled holes at the opposite end of the solution (the drum winch end) to allow for further flexibility when mounting to the crossmembers of the boat. Hardware: Both solution kits come with a universal underside mounting plate with pre-drilled holes for the winch selected. Elongated slots are designed to fit any crossmember, no matter how close or far apart they may be. Additional mounting hardware includes required mounting brackets, hex bolts, lock nuts and flat washers. Both solution raceways have several predrilled holes to correctly locate the included mounting tabs and brackets to the crossmembers, and both can be powered by the Hero EX-1, EX-2 or Patriot EZ-1. The drum anchor winch of choice is sold separately.

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ake parking your boat or RV trailer easier than ever with Parkit360’s new Transformer 15K Trailer Dolly. Optimized for today’s rigorous moving standards, the allnew low-profile design easily fits underneath any ball-mounted, fifth wheel or gooseneck trailer. The Transformer 15K is built strong and secure to safely move up to 15,000 pounds on firm grass, packed gravel, and 4 to 6 percent inclines. Controlled by an all-new rechargeable wireless remote, the Transformer 15K now includes Intelligent Speed Control (ISC), a mainstay feature on the Force ISC 5K and 10K dollies. Switch between high and low speed anytime, anywhere at the press of a button! With a gradual start and stop to every movement, get your trailer into position without putting strain on your hitch or cargo. Mount the remote on the dolly’s handle, or control it from a distance! This lightweight controller fits in the palm of your hand or in your pocket when you’re on the go. Micro-adjust your trailer’s position at the source of those trouble areas like tight door frames, corners and trees within a range of 50 feet or more! Every Transformer package includes two 12V U1 Interstate Batteries and an internal battery charger for self-contained power that’s always ready to work. Plug your trailer’s electric or surge brakes into the dolly for added safety and control. Move your trailer with ease and get in PARKIT360.CA and out of storage faster than ever!

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NATIONAL 23

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*56291813 * LIMIT 4 - Exp. 3/3/21* 56291813

ITEM 69645/60625 shown

ITEM 56621/56622/56623/56624 shown

Use Online & In-Store

*56293492 * LIMIT 1 - Exp. 3/3/21* 56293492

115

Compare to ShelterLogic 76377 $290.75

199Use Online & In-Store 99 ITEM 62859/63055/62860 shown

99 *56312091* LIMIT 1 - Exp. 3/3/21*

ITEM 61277/63881

3/8" Drive 1/2" Drive

ITEM 62431/63882 shown

Compare to Husky H2DTWA $89.97

*56323345* 56323345

LIMIT 4 - Exp. 3/3/21*

*Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 3/3/21.

hft_coastalangler_0221_M-REG176349.indd 1

Compare to Neocraft 60635 $51.45

Use Online & In-Store

*56282372 * LIMIT 3 - Exp. 3/3/21* 56282372

ITEM 62515/66911 shown

SUPER COUPON (4094)

230

ITEM 60363/69730 shown

Use Online & In-Store

*56299466 * LIMIT 3 - Exp. 3/3/21* 56299466

Compare to Honda GX200UT2QX2 $329.99

ITEM 68121/69727 CALIFORNIA ONLY

Save Compare to Ironton 54123 $84.99

29%

Use Online & In-Store

*56301321 * LIMIT 2 - Exp. 3/3/21* 56301321

SUPER COUPON (2300)

5999

$ 99

Use Online & In-Store

1,100+ Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com

2500 lb. Capacity Electric Winch with Wireless Remote Control

YOUR CHOICE

1999

ITEM 68998/63248 64080/64263 shown

88%

1999 27

(2580)

Save

ITEM 61276/63880

18" Working Platform Step Stool

Save

Compare to Anvil A137HOS $75.88

1/4" Drive

(5547 )

SUPER COUPON

Click-Type Torque Wrenches

SUPER COUPON

$ 99 $ 12499

60%

56252177

6.5 HP (212 CC) OHV Horizontal Shaft Gas Engine

3999

(4271)

Save

56312091

56277684

2999

SUPER COUPON

10 ft. x 17 ft. Portable Garage

174

*56277684 * LIMIT 1 - Exp. 3/3/21*

Save

(2259)

Use Online & In-Store

ITEM 64031, 64722, 64030, 64721, 64061, 64720, 56429

10499

SUPER COUPON

Compare to Snap-on Blue-Point KRBC10TBPES $830

Compare to Powerbuilt 647593 $135.27

Use Online & In-Store

*56252177 * LIMIT 3 - Exp. 3/3/21*

ITEM 63750/56810/63181 shown

61%

130 Piece Tool Kit with Case

Save

Compare to Game Winner FSGWHE1030 $24.99

(4522)

Rapid Pump® 3 Ton Steel Heavy Duty Floor Jack

1499

Save

(1116) 1 SELLING JACKS IN AMERICA

(2535)

1199

SUPER COUPON

YOUR CHOICE OF 7 COLORS

630

SUPER COUPON

(7151)

$ 99 $ 99 13

Side tray sold separately.

Save

ITEM 69269/97080 shown

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19999

23999

LIMIT 1 - Exp. 3/3/21*

(1878)

Hot Dog

Compare to Porter-Cable PCFP02003 $98.62

*56231627 * LIMIT 1 - Exp. 3/3/21*

1899

ITEM 60637 61615 shown

59%

Use Online & In-Store

30", 5 Drawer Mechanic's Cart

56208312

SUPER COUPON 0.50 cal. Metal Ammo Can

SUPER COUPON

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*56208312*

ITEM 64008/64011 shown

52%

(5605)

29 Piece Titanium Drill Bit Set

Contents not included.

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56231627

SUPER COUPON

3 Gallon, 100 PSI Oil-Free Air Compressors

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ITEM 64520

(4565)

5499

158

Compare to Stack-On SS-16-MB-E $438.70

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ITEM 56862

56214959

Case contents and locks not included.

Tan

Use Online & In-Store

*56209438 * *56214959 * LIMIT 4 - Exp. 3/3/21* LIMIT 4 - Exp. 3/3/21* 56209438

(828)

YOUR CHOICE OF COLOR

73%

Compare to Go Green Power GG-113-30LPOP $14.99

Exp. 3/3/21*

Model 9800

Save

$ 99

56203480

Waterproof Protective Rifle Cases

$ 99

3999

*56203480*

SUPER COUPON

250 Lumen Pop-Up Lantern

CA DOJ Compliant

LIMIT 3 ITEM 61319/64073/64145/63958 shown

Use Online & In-Store

(4480)

$ 99

60%

$ 89

Compare to Energizer HDB32EH $15.98

*56338012*

SUPER COUPON

40" x 72" Moving Blanket

Save

89 ¢

Wheel kit and battery sold separately.

Compare to Honda EM6500SXK2AT $2,929

34999 $

2,279

ITEM 63969/63968 CALIFORNIA ONLY

27999

Save

(5636)

Save

SUPER COUPON

Compare to Pratt Retail Specialties HDMOVBLAN $9.98

64999 699 $

WHILE SUPPLIES LAST

66%

10 Gun Electronic Security Safe

(972)

Less Than 30¢ per Mask

$ 99

Swivel Lens Headlamp

(373)

9000w Max. Starting Extra Long Life Gas Powered Generator

YOUR CHOICE OF COLOR

$ 99

(4614)

SUPER COUPON

SAVE 94%

4 AMP High Frequency Battery Charger/Maintainer

$ 99 $ 3999 Save $

ITEM 61297/63476/61840 shown

Use Online & In-Store

*56328352* 56328352

LIMIT 1 - Exp. 3/3/21*

Compare to Snap-on EEBM500A $111

ITEM 63350

Use Online & In-Store

*56329809* 56329809

LIMIT 3 - Exp. 3/3/21*

Pricing, promotions, and availability may vary by location and at www.harborfreight.com and are subject to change without notice. We reserve the right to limit quantities. “Compare to” advertised 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. Although we make every effort to assure that our prices and products are advertised as accurately as possible, we are only human and in the event an error is made, we reserve the right to correct it.

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