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LAKELAND & SUMTER EDITION

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Winter's

Best Bites

Switch It Up Offshore

PHOTO COURTESY OF DARYN ANDREW WHITE VOLUME 25 â€¢ ISSUE 298

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

A V A I L A B L E

JANUARY 2020

W O R L D W I D E

12/11/19 4:17 PM

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Photo courtesy of Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service, bigolfish.com

hether saltwater or fresh, good striper fishing awaits those hearty enough to brave winter on the water. So layer-up, zip into that parka and go. Some of the biggest fish of the year are feeding right now. On the southern end of their fall migration, striped bass are holed up for the winter off North Carolina. They’ll be chowing down and following schools of bait up and down the coast from Wilmington to the Outer Banks. Many years, Oregon Inlet sets up as the epicenter for the bite, but striped bass can be found in most area inlets. The key is to follow the birds and find bass blowing up on menhaden, glass minnows or eels. The action can sometimes come in close enough that surf casters can catch stripers from the beaches of the Outer Banks, but the best bet is to hire a local captain with recent intel and a fast boat. A little farther south, Wilmington offers another option, as stripers pile into the Cape Fear River, where they hold around structure, drop-offs and creekmouths and can be caught on artificials or even flies. These resident fish are a separate group from the highly migratory fish that winter off the Outer Banks. Cape Fear stripers are catch-and-release only, and must be returned to the water immediately. Keep an eye out for tagged stripers swimming these waters. Finally, on freshwater reservoirs across the Southern states and up through the Mid-Atlantic, fisheries stocked with striped bass produce pretty well for anglers this time of year. While smaller schoolie-sized stripers tend to get tough during the coldest temperatures of the year, the larger fish will still feed. The action won’t be as fast as dropping downlines to massive summertime schools, but the fish that do eat tend to be larger. Tactics will vary depending on the fishery, but when water temperatures stabilize or during a warming trend of a few days, the biggest fish in the lake tend to move up shallow—sometimes very shallow— behind schools of small shad. Find the flickering shad, and you’ll find the stripers. Sometimes you’ll see them plucking bait near the surface. Stealth is imperative in catching them, and a soft plastic such as a Fluke will usually out-produce live baits in such situations. It’s easier to cast and slowly retrieve an artificial. Another popular tactic is to cover a lot of water trolling wide spreads of small live baits or pulling an umbrella rig loaded with swimbaits, or both. When prospecting like this, it’s wise to seek out good information on where the stripers are holding. On many lakes they spend winters down by the dam. On others, you might find them way up in the creeks.

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12/10/19 9:01 AM

It’s boat show time! And the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), which produces 18 boat and sportshows across the country, is investing in more experiences and education than ever to meet the desires of attendees and inspire the next generation of the boating workforce. Attendee favorites will return, too, from fishing ponds to Super Thursdays. Here are some 2020 show season highlights. • With a need for skilled workers in the marine industry (more than 31K open jobs), NMMA boat shows are expanding Boating Career Days, offering the chance for students and job seekers to learn more about opportunities in the boating industry, get career advice from marine professionals and check out job openings. Last year the program attracted more than 550 students across eight shows. In 2020, the program is expanding to 14 markets: New York, Baltimore, St. Louis, Kansas City, Nashville, Louisville, Atlanta, New England, Atlantic City, Minneapolis, Northwest, Miami, Norwalk and Tampa. • New for 2020, NMMA is introducing The Discover Boating Experience (DBX), the “Hub for Boaters,” an educational marketplace that provides space to mingle, enjoy expert seminars, explore new products, learn boat care, discover new technologies, learn to navigate a boat show and more. DBX offers a place to relax and have a drink while enjoying a variety of topics, inspirational stories and live music. • The Progressive Boat House features an Occulus Rift Virtual Reality boat race game, the Annapolis School of Seamanship’s expert seminars and a docking pool with a remote-control boat and helm station to master docking skills. • Returning favorites include free fishing for kids and special deals, like $5 tickets after 5 p.m. and Super Thursday, offering deeper discounts, exclusive pricing and incentives. • Ongoing education for boaters and anglers of all skill levels is a hallmark of NMMA boat shows with free daily seminars.

The Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show, Presented by West Marine cruises into the docks at Miami Marine Stadium Feb. 13-17. Great deals and hands-on experience with hundreds of boats and the associated gear are the big annual draw. Highlights of the 2020 boat show include:

• Costa Conservation Village will showcase the work of some of Florida’s leading environmental organizations, such as The Nature Conservancy, Captains for Clean Water, and Costa’s Kick Plastic program.

• Presentations on sustainable seafood from esteemed Chef Allen Susser and an opportunity to get a signed copy of his new cookbook, “Green Fig and Lionfish: Sustainable Caribbean Cooking.”

• Junior Captains Program, where kids ages 13-17 can learn to operate a boat with Annapolis School of Seamanship.

• Boat US on-water training with Intro To Boating, Women on the Water and Precision Docking.

• The Progressive Boathouse, offering boating seminars, a remote-control docking pond and an Oculus Rift Virtual Reality boat race game.

• Wining and dining at three full-service, sit down restaurants at

the Show including: Latin Café, V&E Restaurant Group Showcasing menu items from Havana 1957 & La Cerveceria De Barrio and SuViche featuring select menu items from Novecento.

• For more information, visit www.MiamiBoatShow.com.

For more information and the schedule of 2020 NMMA boat shows, visit to www.boatshows.com. 4

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The easiest way to find bait when you’re ready to go fishing is by using the new Baitfinder App, available for free download on both Apple and Android devices. Bait shops are the best possible resource for local information on what’s biting, and on what bait, to ensure you have the right equipment and knowledge before you head out to target a specific species of fish. Everything about Baitfinder is designed for anglers, by anglers, allowing all bait shops in your area to advertise their bait availability in real-time. There’s no more last-minute anxiety about locating bait or driving all over to locate the bait you’re looking for. Anglers can reserve their bait of choice prior to getting to their favorite bait shop to pick it up, and it’s all easily done on the app! Let your friends know of this free app, and encourage all your local bait shops to enroll at: WWW.BAITFINDER.COM

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By Nick Carter

otivating yourself can be tough when daytime temperatures fall into the low 20s and ice forms on the edges of Southern tailwater trout fisheries. Even on these dam-fed systems, where water temperatures remain relatively consistent, trout become difficult when tiny midges are the primary food source. But there’s a phenomenon that occurs on some tailwaters that makes fishing the cold snaps worth sucking ice out of your guides. It’s called a shad kill. When it happens every fish in the river takes part in the feast. Shad kills are caused by extended cold weather. When air temperatures drop into the teens or lower for several days in a row, baitfish in reservoirs that feed our tailwaters suffer from plummeting water

temps. Either stunned and dying or just diving deep to find more comfortable conditions, shad and blueback herring get sucked into dam turbines. What’s washed out into the tailwater is a mix of chopped up, whole dead, and quivering stunned baitfish. “All of a sudden, they get flushed out into the tailrace. It’s like chumming the river in that upper mile or so below the dam,” said Bill Stranahan, who guides with Southeastern Anglers on Tennessee’s Hiwassee River. “Good browns and rainbows will key in on it. The ones you catch are so stuffed they look like they’re about to pop.” Fed by high-mountain winters on Appalachia Lake, the Hiwassee shad kill is a good one. In the Arkansas Ozarks, the White River sees shad kills almost every year. The Cumberland River in Kentucky and Georgia’s Chattahoochee River below Lake Lanier are two other tailwaters where trout put on the feedbag for these events. But shad kills are not like a hatch you can follow by calendar. It takes rapidly cooling water temps to disorient the numbers of baitfish necessary to be noticeable in the tailrace. During the winter’s hardest freeze, intrepid anglers should hit the water near the dam and watch for activity. “You’ll see them floating down the river stunned or dead,” said Stranahan. “Sometimes you’ll see fish coming up to the surface to swipe at them.” White and flashy are the keys to catching fish during a shad kill. White Zonkers or other bunny flies, white Woolly Buggers, anything that looks like a dead or dying baitfish will work. Stranahan said to match the size of the baitfish you see in the water and to experiment with depth and presentation. Sometimes a jerky retrieve is preferred, while other times a dead drift is the ticket. At times trout will feed on the surface, and some days call for a sinking line to get the fly down. Shad kills can be ephemeral or they can last a couple weeks when conditions are perfect. It’s the kind of thing you have to be on the water to encounter, and when it happens it brings out the biggest fish in the river.

Contact Southeastern Anglers through their website at www.southeasternanglers.com.

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after wrestling it from between the pilings, it turned toward open water. As I felt the battle shift in my favor, the line parted, likely from earlier contact with the pilings. “That can happen when you’re fishing up tight like this,” said our skipper, “but some days you have to dig in to get the big ones. Other times we’ll find them in more open water around oyster bars or in the surf.” Captiva Island, on Florida’s southwest coast, is prime territory for snook, redfish, sea trout, tarpon and a variety of other inshore species. “Our waters produce so well because we have a ton of bait, structure and opportunity here,” said Fischer, proprietor of Tarpon Fischer Charters (http:// www.tarponfischercharters.com). “Pine Island Sound, on the backside of the island, for example, has several passes that allow water and bait to flow in and out. The Peace, Myakka and Caloosahatchee rivers also empty into here. I run a lot of my charters out of South Seas Island Resorts (https://www.southseas. com) at the north end of Captiva, and from there you can be fishing in the sound or the open Gulf in a matter of minutes.” Snook and redfish top 40 inches, tarpon range from chickens to 200 pounds and sea trout are abundant. Those species are resident, noted Fischer, but come December and January, offshore action also kicks in with snapper, sheepshead, grouper, kingfish and cobia, among others. For anglers, these waters call for medium-light spinning tackle. Rig a size 3/0 J-hook or a light jighead on a 2 1/2-foot leader of 30-pound mono to freeline live baits around structure, mangroves or the surf edge. Add a 1/2-ounce splitshot two feet above the hook to get down in deeper water or stronger currents, or add a float two feet above this rig to fish the flats. If you prefer to throw lures, toss a 4-inch paddletail, Rapala Skitter Walk or Zara Spook. Fischer favors a 7 1/2-foot, 8- to 17-pound class Bull Bay rod and Shimano 4000 spinning reels for his inshore fishing. Keep in mind this area occasionally suffers from red tide blooms. “It can be here one week and gone the next.” Fischer said. “If it occurs during your visit, simply head for the cleanest water you can find.”

By Tom Schlichter

A s

apt. Nick Fischer nodded at a boat dock ahead. “There should be a Launching is available at South Seas Resorts (if you are staying there) or good one under there,” he said. “We had a couple there this morning from the Sanibel Island Public Boat Ramp ($5/hr. parking fee: 239-472-6397; but saw a real solid fish just before we left.” 888 Sextant Dr., Sanibel.) Nearby, the ‘Tween Waters Inn is another good spot It didn’t take long to confirm a nice snook was home. I hooked it and, to spend the night. More info at www.fortMyers-Sanibel.com.

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t’s prime time for wahoo in the sparsely populated southeastern Bahamas, where a fleet of boats shows up each winter specifically to target some of the biggest wahoo in the world. Just off San Salvador and Cat Island, precipitous ledge drops within a 15- or 20-minute boat ride from shore are a magnet for wintering wahoo. The prime wahoo season runs from November to about April, when fish are densely congregated. Triple-digit weights are not uncommon, and the average wahoo will tip the scales between 50 and 60 pounds this time of year. High-speed trolling is the name of the game. Pulling lures at 14 knots and zig-zagging along the ledge over depths from 400 to 600 feet is the kind of fishing that produces world records. Five current IGFA line-class record wahoo came from the waters off San Salvador and Cat Island. Two of those weighed more than 150 pounds. When that reel goes off, screaming from the pull of a big fish moving at 60 mph, it’s important to crank down on the drag and power it to the boat as quickly as possible. Oceanic whitetips are thick in the area, and they’re known to show up and rip a trophy fish to shreds.

For information on lodging and charters in the southern Bahamas, go to www.bahamas.com.

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Winter can be brutal, but to the saltwater fly fisherman it can be the greatest time of year to catch some quality fish on the fly. The beaches, flats and bays are practically deserted, the “sunshine” fishermen having retreated to their firesides at the appearance of the first raindrop or snowflake. It’s time for the serious fly flingers to put on thermals, grab a fly rod, and head for the water. Two of my favorite wintertime saltwater fish are the speckled trout (or spotted seatrout) and the redfish, two game fish that thrive in cooler water and make for some great fly rod action even “when the frost is on the pumpkin.” The speckled trout is a coastal fish found on the shallow mud flats and sand flats from North Carolina to Texas. A fish generally traveling in large schools, the “speck” is capable of providing fast action on the fly whether you’re wading or fishing from a skiff, kayak or boat.

A proven way to locate the “speck” is to look for depressions, channels, holes or cuts on or along these areas. Once located, cast into them with a floating or intermediate line, a 9-foot leader and a baitfish pattern. A weedless fly like a Bent Back works well. The key to catching speckled trout in cold water is to retrieve the fly sl-o-o-o-wly using short, jerky strips. The strike is often as light as an aunt’s peck on the cheek, so keep close eye contact with your fly. Another worthy wintertime adversary is the redfish, a fish found in the same areas as the speckled trout. Redfish (red drum), can tip the scales from 5-pounds to a heavyweight of 40 pounds. These members of the croaker family take up residence near breakwaters, pier pilings, channels, estuaries and marshes. They are a great match for the fly rod. Redfish can be finicky eaters and sometimes the fly needs to be placed close to their noses, especially in colder water. An accurate cast is essential in fishing for these rascals. Come prepared with a 9- or 10-weight rod, a floating line (weight forward), a 9-foot leader and a pocket full of crab patterns, as reds favor crustaceans. Don’t hang up your fly gear at the first signs of the winter solstice. Winterize yourself and go fly fishing; it beats sitting in a chair and dreaming of warmer weather.

For more Bowman, go to

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By CAM Staff

veryone seems to gets excited about those spring runs, when cobia push north in their migration and can be targeted by sight while cruising the beaches. With the run-and-gun nature of these tactics, it’s arguably the most exciting way to catch them. But it’s not the most efficient. Die-hard cobia fans know that wintertime, before the big move, provides some of the best fishing of the year. Consolidated is a good way to describe cobia populations during the winter. On the Atlantic coast as well as in the Gulf of Mexico, fish have moved southward and offshore in search of comfortable water conditions.

At no other time are cobia populations so dense around the Florida Keys, but they can also be found grouped up on deeper wrecks and reefs along both Florida coasts. In the warmer waters of the Keys, deep jigging the ocean-side reefs with butterfly jigs or 1-ounce bucktails will haul up a mixed bag, which will likely include cobia, and chumming them up to the surface is also tried-and-true tactic. Out on the reef line, anchor up and drop a chum bag of chopped-up frozen baitfish and wait for the action to come to you. Cobia will show up with sharks, as well as various mackerel and snapper species. Whether it’s pinfish or shrimp, present your bait weightless, and you might want to add a wire leader for the toothy critters in the melee. Farther north on both coasts, resident cobia are schooled up and easier to locate than they are at any other time of year. Find a good winter day, with warm sunshine and calm seas, and make the run to offshore wrecks or reefs. The key to this is water temperature, so look for temperature bands with surface temps around 70 degrees, and find some good structure with bait present on the sonar. Again, chumming can bring cobia right up to the surface, which leads to fast action on live baits, but jigging is a tactic that is both fun and effective for targeting fish you actually spot on the screen more than 100 feet down. It’s quicker, cleaner and more efficient than live bait. The key to this technique is finding the magic depth where the cobia are schooled up. Drop a 2- to 6-ounce jig, depending on the current and depth, vertically to the depth you’re marking fish. Experiment with the action until they eat. Some pump a jig up with fast, short jerks, others prefer to swing it up high and let it flutter back down. Both techniques will work, and the jig should be sweetened with either a 7-inch soft-plastic trailer or a natural bait like cuttlefish. Some of the biggest cobia of the year come off wrecks and reefs in winter. So head down to the Keys or make the run offshore and catch them before they scatter with the spring run.

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JANUARY 2020

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By CAM Staﬀ

ahamian waters did not disappoint for the more than 70 anglers competing Nov. 7-10 in Bimini’s Wahoo Smackdown IX. Hosted by the historic Bimini Big Game Club Resort and Marina, more than 1,500 pounds of fish were landed during the event. A fleet of 14 boats fished, with 11 teams making it to the leaderboard. Over the two days, 108 fish were caught, the largest weighing

52.7 pounds. Team Blitzsea, out of Pompano Beach, Fla., took top team honors with their six largest of 16 fish weighing a total of 251.4 pounds. It earned them $8,200 in cash winnings. Second place Team Remain Calm, also out of Pompano Beach, Fla., earned $4,500 in cash winnings with 13 fish for a total catch weight of 238.3 pounds for their six largest. Another Pompano Beach team, Team Mi Novia, finished third, taking home $2,500 in cash winnings for a total catch of 13 fish and a total catch weight of 190.7 pounds for their six largest. Team 4 Play caught the largest fish of the tournament, at 52.7 pounds. Outstanding catch went to Indecisive for a 23.5-pound king mackerel. Top Lady Angler went to Lisa aboard Blitzsea. Top Junior Angler went to Luke Pinder aboard Bad Habit. Tournament coordinator Beth Watson said the weekend “went flawlessly,” despite some rough seas and rain with squalls up to 40 knots on Day 2. “The teams that did attend were amongst the most competitive we have seen in all of our years of hosting fishing tournaments,” she said. Tournament festivities included live local entertainment nightly, a cocktail reception for the Captains’ Meeting, a barbeque at Sharkies Bar & Grill on day one of the tournament, and a closing awards party in the Hemmingway lounge, featuring a buffet, live entertainment and a full open bar. Sponsors included David Dunleavy Performance Fishing Apparel, Juno Bait, Carey Chen Marine Artist, Morita Custom Gaffs, CS Custom Lures, Starbright, Paul Cuffaro Brand, Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill, Mermaid Vodka, Tropic Ocean Airways and Piper’s Angels. With more than 50 record-setting catches in the waters around the island, Bimini has often been referred to as the Sport Fishing Capital of the World. Plans are already underway to make Wahoo Smackdown 2020 the biggest best one yet!

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he following fees will be applied to boats staying in The Bahamas for up to 3 months: • Boats up to 34 feet: $150 (no change) • Boats 35-99 feet: $300 (no change) • Boats 100-149 feet: $500 • Boats 150-200 feet: $800 • Boats over 200 feet: $1,000 The fees cover both a cruising permit and fishing permit, as well as the departure tax for up to three people. Each additional person will be charged a $20 departure tax. The fee is good for a second re-entry within a 90-day period. For stays longer than 3 months: • Boats up to 34 feet: $300 annually • Boats 35-99 feet: $600 annually • Boats 100-149 feet: $1,000 annually • Boats over 150 feet: $2,000 annually For a stay longer than 12 months, special arrangements must be made with Bahamas Customs and Immigration. Concurrent to the fee structure announcement, the government plans to launch an on-line entry portal (Click2Clear) this spring to streamline the process for boating entry permits and fishing licences. Attendance Fees, Fishing Permit, Transportation and Overtime fees are all included in the price of the cruising permit. The only additional fees would be for additional departure tax if there are more than three people at a cost of $20 per additional person. It is illegal to tip government employees. Boaters are asked to report if they are ever asked for these types of payments to the local marina manger or dockmaster.

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By Tonya Wiley, Havenworth Coastal Conservation

awfish are shark-like rays named for their saw-shaped snouts. Smalltooth sawfish were once found in coastal waters from Texas to North Carolina; however, fishing mortality and habitat loss led to dramatic reductions in both their numbers and range. Now they are regularly found only in southwest Florida, especially around Everglades National Park. NOAA Fisheries listed the smalltooth sawfish as “Endangered” under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in 2003. Because of the protections afforded by the ESA, it is illegal to target, harm, harass or handle sawfish in any way. While it is technically illegal to catch a sawfish except with a research permit or in a fishery where incidental take has been authorized, captures do occur while fishing for other species. Mortality from incidental captures in both commercial and recreational fisheries is an ongoing threat to this endangered species. It’s the responsibility of all fishers to follow guidance to quickly and safely release, without harm, all sawfish caught while fishing. Sawfish are powerful animals that can whip their saws very quickly, which can cause serious injury to the angler and the sawfish. The number one rule to remember when releasing a sawfish is to leave it in the water at all times. Because of the ESA protections, it is illegal to possess a sawfish. Removing it from the water is considered possession and is a clear violation of the law. Do not lift a sawfish out of the water onto your boat or a pier, and do not drag it onto shore. Simply cut the line as close to the hook as is safely possible. Never remove the snout, called a rostrum, as sawfish use it for detecting and catching food. In addition to being illegal, removal of the rostrum severely limits the ability of the sawfish to find enough food to survive, and could result in death from starvation. Mishandling and

By Will Schmidt

magine slowly stripping a shrimp fly, with prey in pursuit, when your guide says, “Quick… pick it up before the bonefish gets it.” It seems nonsensical, but it happens more than you think while casting at permit in Ascension Bay, Mexico. Known to many fly fishermen as one of the most permit populated places on earth, the waters of the southern Yucatan hold much more than world class permit.

the purposeful injury or killing of captured sawfish is both illegal and detrimental to the recovery of the population. These guidelines ensure the safety of both the sawfish and the angler. If you catch or see a sawfish, take a quick photograph of it, estimate its size, note your location, and share the details with scientists. The details of your sightings or catches of sawfish help to monitor the population and track the recovery progress. Share your information by calling 844-4-SAWFISH (844-472-9347) or visiting www.SawfishRecovery.org. For more information about sawfish research, conservation, and management in the United States visit www.SawfishRecovery.org.

The journey starts with an easy flight to Cancun. From there, a two-hour van ride to Tulum might still have you wondering how to get away from all the tourists. However, once you board your panga and start the hour ride through the pristine waters of the lagoon system of Ascension Bay, you will realize you are truly on the path less traveled. Once back on land at the Grand Slam Lodge just north of Punta Allen, you’ll be greeted with margaritas and shown to first class accommodations in your beachfront villa. You will also notice there is nothing else around, and you are actually at the end of the road in the middle of nowhere. This fishery is nothing short of amazing. Home to a lobstering community, there is no other commercial fishing. All the recreational fishing is catch and release. These waters hold more permit than anywhere else I know, but be forewarned they are still permit and not easily fooled. Additionally, the number of bonefish here is staggering, and although not typically as large as the fish you’ll encounter in the Bahamas, they average a respectable 3 to 4 pounds in quantities that are astounding. There are also large numbers of tarpon, snook (which the guides seem to get particularly giddy about), jacks and barracudas to keep you busy all day. One of the other unique aspects of fishing here is each boat has two guides, the head guide and a junior guide. The second guide is extremely helpful to the angler as an extra set of eyes as well as for quickly changing outfits for the variety of species encountered and to help manage tangle-prone fly line. If you want to be spoiled, two guides does it. Ascension Bay is one of the greatest fisheries I have experienced. This is a renowned destination for fly fishermen seeking permit and a wonderful intro for anglers new to saltwater fly fishing. To see the quantity and quality of fish here, you would expect to travel much farther and stay in far more rustic accommodations. I recently returned from a trip in the “off season,” which is in reference to the number of tourists not fish. In three days of fishing, I never saw another angler while fishing. It provided us with abundant, pressure-free, happy fish to target. Will Schmidt is an experienced tournament angler who has been writing about fishing for more than two decades. For more information, check out grandslamfishinglodge.com.

LAKE PANASOFFKEE • BUSHNELL • WILDWOOD • SUMTERVILLE • WEBSTER • THE VILLAGES OXFORD • COLEMAN • MULBERRY • BARTOW • LAKELAND • POLK CITY • AUBURNDALE EAGLE LAKE • WINTER HAVEN • LAKE ALFRED • HAINES CITY • DAVENPORT • LAKE HAMILTON DUNDEE • LAKE WALES • HILLCREST HEIGHTS • FROSTPROOF • FORT MEADE

Owner: CAPT. MARY BRASHER

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If you have a suggestion for a distribution location for Coastal Angler Magazine, please let me know. You can view all 35 magazines in the U.S., including The Bahamas, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico/Virgin Islands at www.CoastalAnglerMagazine.com Please feel free to send me any fishing photos and comments about the magazine-I would love to hear from you!

E dition Highlights & Business Spotlight

Page 2-3 Sumter County Map

Page 6 Photo Of The Month Page 8 Clays2Raise

Page 13 5th Annual John Lietz Tournament Page 14-15 Polk County Map Page 16 Find Us Here

Page 10 Fly Fishing 101

Welcome

Sweet Ella’s Produce Gillz

Polk & Sumter Edition Staff: Sales, Editing & Production- Mary Brasher Graphic Arts & Design - PPP Graphic Design Distribution - Mary & Larry Brasher, Joyce & Capt Dave Ochs Media Mgr - Patrick Powers Contributing Writers - Jim Veal Jr, Capt Dave Ochs, Capt. Scott Taylor, Capt Rick Burns, Chris O’Byrne, Capt Bobby Woodard, Hunter Towery

Facebook -CoastalAnglerMagazineLakelandVicinity • Twitter - @camlakeland • Instagram- camlakeland • Youtube- CAM Sumpter Lakeland Each month I will bring you the latest and best knowledge for you to put to good use. I also invite you to share my passion for this area and if you would like to become a contributing writer contact us. You can read our magazine online anytime or sign up for a free digital subscription. Just visit our website and never miss an issue! CoastalAnglerMag.com.

Best Fishing Days 1/9- MORNING 1/10- EVENING

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Homosassa Area 1-Capt. Rick Burns 352-201-6111 8975 W. Halls River Rd • Homosassa, FL 34448 www.RealBurns.com

11. Papaw’s Country Store 352-793-1080 8271 W C-48 • Bushnell, Fl 33513 Deli, Groceries, Beer, Live Bait, Tackle, LP Gas Follow us on Facebook

Oxford Area 2- Oxford Mower & Repair 352-748-7485 • 352-748-7490 3185 E CR 466 • Oxford FL 34484 Landscaping Repair Service/ Outdoor Power Equipment Store

Webster Area 12. Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway, Inc. 352-267-8801 P.O. Box 6 Webster Fl, 33597 www.sumterbyway.com/ sumterbyway@gmail.com

Lake Panasoffkee 3- Pana Vista Lodge 352-793-2061 3417 Co Rd 421• Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 www.panavistalodge.com 4- Villages Golf Cart Man LLC 352-674-9400 Office • 813-508-4360 Cell 3028 N. County Rd 470 • Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 Tony Colangelo, Jr General Mgr www.VillagesGolfCartMan.com 5- The Inside Out Grill & Catering 352-569-4275 1789 Co Rd 424, Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 6- Catfish Johnnys 863-793-2083 2396 N County Rd 470 • Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 www.CatfishJohnnyRestaurant.com Bushnell Area 7- Sumter Realty 352-793-3202 239 N Main St • Bushnell FL 33513 Agent Evan Merritt 8- Canada Meds 352-569-1484 512 N Main St • Bushnell, FL 33513-5112 9. Devine Family Jewelry and Pawn 352-444-2058 8271 W C-48 • Bushnell, Fl 33513 10- ParGas 352-793-1982 1452 W C 48, Bushnell, FL 33513 www.pargas.com

Sumterville Area 13. Blackjack Sporting Clays 352-569-9469 3372 County Road 526 • Sumterville FL 33585 blackjackclays.com info@blackjackdays.com Dale Walker Owner/Operator The Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway Organization began as a Community Action Group in March 2009 in partnership with the Sumter County Chamber of Commerce with the express purpose of improving the southern entrance to Sumter County, therefore enhancing the visitor experience to the National Cemetary. The Veteran’s Memorial Hwy was designated soon afterwards, and pursuit of a Florida Scenic Hwy designation began. A Corridor Advocacy Group (CAG) began meeting with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District Five Scenic Highways Coordinator in order to pursue the “scenic” classification for a series of roads within Sumter County that encompass the communities of Webster, Bushnell, Sumterville, Lake Panasoffkee, Carlson, Rutland and the surrounding areas. The roads that comprise the 62-mile Byway traverse rural communities, pastoral farmlands, cattle ranches, parklands, lush hardwood hammock, and floodplain forests within the Withlacoochee River Watershed. The corridor highlights the scenic view and rich heritage of Sumter County through byway travel. Attractions along the Byway include the General James Van Fleet Trail State Park, Richloam Wildlife Management Area (WMA), Dade Battlefield Historic State Park, Florida National Cemetary, Lake Panasoffkee, Withlacoochee River and the Half Moon Wildlife Management Area. The Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway Organization is a grass roots organization committed to altering their vision for the byway based on a multi-year work plan. The SSHBO consists of volunteers who are passionate about the heritage, traditions, recreational and scenic resources fo their community. They work with their partners to showcase these resources, educate the community and advocate for communitybased decision making that protects and enhances these resources. Find out how to partner, be a sponsor, or donate at www.sumterbyway.com.

PANA VISTA LODGE FISHING REPORT

All of us at Pana Vista Lodge are hoping that everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. December ended up being a pretty good Bass month and a few of my locals did fairly well on Specs. I am expecting January to be a good Bass month. Shiners will probably be the bait of choice for some anglers. The Bass will start there spawning cycle so get ready for some bigger fish!!! The Spec fishing should pick up as well. Kalin triple threat jigs will be the artificial bait of choice and Missouri Minnows for live bait. There is plenty of open areas to drift Minnows this year and the water is at a good level for fishing. We are looking forward to seeing y’all out on the water this year. Submitted By: Jim Veal Jr. Pana Vista Lodge • Lake Panasoffkee, Fl. • 352-793-2061

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FISHING DE BAITS AND DEBATES In January you could be forced to utilize sometimes different tactics for angling with the abnormal or cold conditions. Let’s cover some info on live and dead baits this month and their use in the angling world. We’ll go over and cover some of the debates on debaits. First off, I’ve said many times before at bait speaking engagements if there is one thing I’ve learned in guiding, it’s that sometimes you have to revert to live, or dead bait to bend the rod. (catch fish). Two very such conditions could be the dog days of Summer, or the middle of Winter. At both of these times, fish can go lethargic. Only Folks, meet MR. Brian from wanting to burn energy on something they south Florida. know they have seen, tasted, or smelled be- Now to give ya a perspective. fore. I’m 6’0”, 190 lbs. We sure How many times have you been out fish- could’ve used this boy on the ing in the Spring or Fall, when the fish are offensive line of the gators energetic and reeeel active, and could do last season. Sho ain’t no little man here! Besides me, he even no wrong. Everything you threw at em, they makes the decent 24” snook would seem to bite. That’s because condi- that he hooked up with small. tions for their environment are precise. Water and air temperatures are fair. Not too cold, not too hot. When the opposite occurs, and because fish are cold-blooded creatures, they’re metabolism slows down and their bodies are the same temperatures as their surroundings. They don’t have to eat as much, because they don’t burn as much energy. That’s the bad news. The good news is what? Yep, they’ve still got to eat. And at these abnormal conditions, or less than perfect situations, live or dead bait can be the answer. Now, don’t get me wrong. For the most part, I’m an artificial lure person. There’s nothing I like more than to fool wary fish with lures, plugs, jigs, plastics, spoons, etc. Working the lures and fooling em to bite an artificial is the fun challenge. But remember, this is a less than ideal circumstance. So, let’s take a few species and throw a few live and dead bait offerings. REDFISH AND TROUT: Live pinfish, or live shrimp. They love live pinfish and shrimp this time of year. Especially In conjunction with a “Cajun Thunder Popping Cork.” If you’re going after reds or trout with bait, make it live shrimp, pinfish, pigfish, or mud minnows. I could go into more specifics, but space don’t allow. Besides, pinfish are more available, stay on the hook longer, live longer, and are a main staple of the trout. For cut bait, it never hurts to have and throw at them, a fresh cut piece of mullet, ladyfish, or lizardfish. Mullet are in the backcountry! And reds love em! Fiddler, and blue crabs are another staple of reds, but harder to get and fool up with. (Catching, keeping, hooking). I’ve cleaned many a red though, with crab shells in their bellies. But that’s probably after they already digested the cut mullet, or pinfish, or shrimp. Hmm. BASS: Pinfish! Pinfish! Pinfish! No, just kidding. Shiners here! Whether they’re live, wild, tame, river, golden, whatever, just as long as they’re frisky shiners. It’s no secret, more and bigger wall hanging bass have been caught with live shiners, than anything else. Freelined, or under a balloon or cork. Yea, you’ll pick up an occasional ole mudfish (bowfin), or gar. Sometimes just goes with the territory. But if the bass are there, they’re not going to refuse em. They are a main staple diet of the bucket mouths. I have seen plenty of times when bass have taken bream, bluegills, and shad, even minnows. But if you had a choice, would you rather try and swallow a spinney bluegill, or crappie? Or a nice smooth soft shiner. That’s the good news. The bad is, did I mention golden? At the price per dozen nowadays, you’d think they were plated with it. That’s one reason I learned and like to throw the cast net. (Shiners, pinfish, shrimp, pilchards, whitebait, mullet.) And also, why I love the challenge of the artificial. But cast nets, and bait catching techniques may be another article. I touched on some of the most popular, but certainly not all the species that live and dead baits can apply to. Sometimes it can be a de-bate on de bait whether to use them or not. But if you’re out there and aren’t catching anything on artificial, and maybe happen to foul hook a pinfish or mullet on your favorite jig or plug. Take it off, re-hook the Pin, cast him out, and see what happens. Submitted By: Capt. Rick Burns Reel Burns Charters • 352-201-6111 Homosassafishingguide.com • www.reelburns.com

Unproductive Puttering “I’d go fishing, but…” By: Chris O’Byrne Editor’s note: see the November 2019 Column Productive Puttering

While there are many real and even important tasks that interrupt our fishing, there is also a list (sadly long and exponentially growing) of less important “To Dos.” All too often, we anglers accept these timewasters and list checkoffs as reasons to stay home and not fish. But if we identify these time sucks then plan to work around them, like serious writers, or hard-core fitness fanatics, or teenagers, we might get to the water more often. For more by O’Byrne Here are a few of those devilish unproductive putwww.FeatherWater.com tering activities to be aware of: ~ Sleeping. ~ Changing the stickers on our water bottles. ~ Complaining about the weather. ~ Showing pictures of sunrises to people who are showing us pictures of fish they caught. ~ Explaining to someone how we can’t get off work because we are (insert dramatic superlative here.) ~ Telling someone who can’t walk away how we met (insert famous fly-fishing person here) before they were famous. ~ Complaining about the water levels. ~ Posting on social media that we’ve created yet another perfect leader formula, but not gone fishing. ~ Complaining about the low quality of our home waters, and/or the fish swimming in them. ~ Sitting on a long-expired fishing license. ~ Updating the contacts on our smart phones with pictures of fish they caught while we were at home. ~ Experimenting to find out how much coffee makes it impossible for us to tie knots. ~ Shopping. ~ Nibbling beef sticks while watching aquarium fish. ~ Going to fly shops and asking where the free coffee is. ~ “Enhancing” our grip and grin photos with expensive software purchased with money that might have bought a fishing trip. ~ Video games. ~ Golf. ~ Going to that event. ~ Hitting the snooze bar. ~ Watching fishing shows to figure out “how they do it.” ~ Work. ~ Going to a bait shop. Let’s go fishing.

4 POLK & SUMTER | JANUARY 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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CENTRAL FLORIDA REGION FORECAST First off I’d like to say Happy New Year from our family to yours. Paula and I had a “different” Christmas in our new remodel project old home that we are putting every extra blood, sweat, tear, and penny into in between every fishing trip, but we escaped to the beach for a couple days at New Year’s. Gotta keep Mama happy This young lady from California having a or else ain’t nobody happy! great day on the water. I’m really hoping that the world-class bass fishing we have here in Central Florida keeps rolling like it did for the majority of December despite the crazy cold fronts we kept having earlier in the month. January is supposed to be warmer and a bit more stable (but always watch that 3rd week when Ma Nature likes to slap us around) which should bode well for our days on the water. With all that let’s go for a ride out of Guy Harvey Outpost’s Camp Mack on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. This is the time of year I really like being on the big lakes because there are so many options for styles of fishing. I always love fishing the shallow flats around points and creek channels with topwaters but every once and a while we might go into some back corners and bays and just push thru the jungle with Gambler EZ Swimmers and frogs. There’s a huge rush when Big Mama launches out of the pads or grass with your bait while you are staring into the freshly cresting sunrise over the trees and you do your very best to wait to feel the weight of the fish before you set the hook. I expect to be able to keep it simple with baits: besides the afore mentioned baits I’ll be rigged with a topwater “walker” or stickbait, a rattle trap or shallow crankbait, swimjigs & chatterbaits, senkos & a ribbontail worm, and a creature/craw jig for flipping.

Moving back west to Winter Haven it’s going to be a great time to be on the water. These are lakes I really like for family trips because we can typically get the kids into the game as soon as the trolling motor drops down. I have a lot of repeat clients that want to fish in “Olde World Florida” out of Camp Mack for a day or two but they will always make sure to book a date in Winter Haven. The deeper spring-fed lakes with vegetation that can work out to 20+ feet of water make these lakes unique in their own ways. At first glance people are like “You caught that big bass on a deep diving crankbait in Florida?!” and I smile and say “Yes sir (or ma’am).” Always have an assortment of swimbaits, swimjigs, flukes, and senkos available also and you’ll have a good time. Submitted By: Capt. Scotty Taylor TMC Guide Services, llc • 855-354-8433 Scott@TMCGuideService.com • TMCGuideService.com Capt. Scott is the official guide for VisitCentralFlorida.org & Guy Harvey Camp Mack Lodge, Marina & RV Resort

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CENTRAL FLORIDA FRESHWATER FLY FISHING REPORT Surface Water Temp: 61 Average Water Visibility: 26 inches Water Condition: Slightly Stained Above Average Yearly Levels Slowly Dropping Water Levels Best Time: Mid Morning, Evening Guide Tips: Our water is cooling off so expect fish to remain sluggish early in the day and respond best to a slightly slower fly presentation. The topwater bite has stayed fairly active through the fronts, small white topwaters fished throughout the day near warmer, shallow water will produce nice fish. Sandy or less grassy areas in the lake are a good bet to begin fishing early, the switching to the shadier areas during those bluebird sky afternoons. Looking for small pods of baitfish has proved to be key when the fish aren’t as active as they have been. Look for small pockets of nervous water and fish all around it. The fish have been sitting off pretty close to the bait, near cover. Heavily weighted streamers allow you to fish around trees and submerged cover, a common hiding spot for bass. Darker colors have worked best with the stained water, focus on black or purple streamers. They will still school on shad so keep your eyes peeled in open water areas. One of the most sporting freshwater fish, locally referred to as Specs (crappie) have stayed more active with the cooler water temps, pushing into shallower water. Something closely resembling a bonefish baitfish pattern in size has been the ticket in yellow or white for the Spec. Fish these heavier flies in 5-7 ft of water. The panfish will be found in shallow water, grouped tight to heavy cover. Small poppers have worked well on top, especially after the sun comes out mid-morning and warms the water. White or electric blue have worked best on the panfish, these colors are a local staple and are a great choice to start fishing with. Whenever the surface action slows down, subsurface dragonfly nymphs or Wooly Buggers in olive or brown have helped prolong the action. Some anglers prefer using a strike indicator several feet above the fly to keep them above the submerged grass. The panfish can be heard slurping grass shrimp and nymphs in the lily pads, stop and cast around the edge of the pads with small nymphs. Drainage outflows are still dumping water into some of our lakes and represent a great place to catch all species of fish with shad pattern streamers or heavy worm flies. Local Water Conditions: Take advantage of the higher water levels and fish the new lake cover. Look out for the pea green water and also for excess spray that blew into the lake. The fish have been hanging out in the cleaner water.At the time of this report: the Peace River is above average and falling. Econ River is below average and falling. Myakka River is below average and falling. Hillsborough is above average and falling. Withlacoochee is above average and stable. Kissimmee River near Frostproof is below average and stable. The rivers provide a good refuge on those really windy days. Submitted by: Hunter Towery Sweetwater Guide Service • 863-837-7028

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KISSIMMEE CHAIN FISHING FORECAST The new year is here once again and unlike in year’s past, this year it really is “Out With The Old & In With The New”. After running the Bait & Tackle Store at Water’s Edge Fish Camp for 12 years, Joyce and I have decided not to return in 2020. To all of our faithful customer’s, we are extremely grateful for your loyalty and friendship during those 12 years. You will always be remem5lb bass caught on bered and missed. As for the new, we are looking a Senko on Lake Kissimmee. forward to sleeping in a few days during the week and spend more time fishing and having holidays off. As for the fishing and the forecast for the Kissimmee Chain in 2020, if nothing else, it will be interesting and I think very unpredictable. The bright spots will be: Bass fishing on Lake Kissimmee should be really good in 4’-5’ of water in the scattered pads. These are also good areas for trolling shiners. The Kissimmee River below the first and second locks should be one hot ticket for Bass fishing this Winter. Crappie fishing should be really strong this year on Lake Hatchineha and Lake Rosalie in the deep waters. Bluegill and Shellcracker fishing should be very strong this year especially on Lake Kissimmee on the North end of the lake. Stay tuned for a more detailed forecast next month. Happy Holidays & Good Fishing! Submitted By: Capt Dave Ochs Kissimmee Chain Fishing 10730 Camp Mack Rd • Lake Wales, Fl 863-589-6295

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Boat/Personal Watercraft/Canoe/Kayak/SUP Dealers Manufacturers/ New & Consignment Sales/Golf Carts Hillman Motors Inc. 2701 Havendale Blvd. NW Winter Haven FL 33881 863-967-4628 • www.hillmanmotors.net M-F 9-7, Sat 9-5 Closed Sunday

Millers Fiberglass Repair 1505 S. Lake Shipp Dr. Winter Haven, FL 33880 863-551-1551 bobby.mfr@gmail.com We Now Have A Certified Marine Technician Offering Service Repair On Outboard Motors. Your ONE STOP-SHOP For All Your Fiberglass Needs! . Family Run & Operated Since 2003 . Our Team is Certified In Gelcoat & Polyflake Repairs. No Job Is Too Big Or Too Small.

Our Family Serving Yours Since 1989 Central Florida’s Official Stingray Boats Dealer Factory Authorized Suzuki Marine Dealer Financing Available Gary’s Boating Center 15520 Hwy 27 • Lake Wales, FL 33859 863-638-0537 • 863-638-0527 Fax www.GarysBoating.com Carolina Skiff Mercury & Yamaha Outboards Bennington Boats Hewitt Boat Lifts & Dock Systems

Central Florida Trolling Motor Sales & Repairs

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Marine Supply of Winter Haven 717 6th Street SW • 1491 3rd SW (Sales) Winter Haven, FL 33880 863-293-1156 www.MarineSupplyBoats.com Fully Certified Yamaha, Mercury & Evinrude Technicians. Boat Acc. & Engine Parts - High & Dry Storage - Boat Detailing - Gasoline At Our Docks. Full Line of Yeti Products, Pontoon Rentals

Devine Jewelry & Pawn 115 West Belt Avenue • Bushnell, FL 33513 Christy, Dano & Steve 352-444-2058 www.DevineFamilyJewelryandpawn.com DevineFamilyPawn@gmail.com

Find everything from that one of a kind jewelry piece to the tool you need to finish your project to the firearm you have been searching for and everything in between! Sweet Ella’s Produce 326 State Road 60 E • Lake Wales Florida 863-223-8775

A unique, family owned indoor produce store which offers a LARGE VARIETY OF LOCAL fresh fruits, vegetables and Amish products. NOW Carrying: Gemma’s Jams!

The Inside Out Grill & Catering 1789 CR 424 Lake Panasoffkee, Fl 33538

Chef Troy & Rachel 352-569-4275 OPEN NOV - FEB SUN 12-5 • MON CLOSED TUES - FRI 11-2 & 4-7 • SAT 12-2 & 4-7

3780 Hwy 92 East • Lakeland, FL 33801 863-666-2248 • Fax 863-667-0213 cftm3780@yahoo.com www.CentralFloridaTrollingMotor.com Check out our weekly specials on facebook! Factory Warranty Service for Minn-Kota Cannon Downriggers- Motor Guide

Erwine’s Marine 250 S. Scenic Hwy • Frostproof, FL 33843 863-635-4492 www.ErwinesMarine.com Come in to check out our new line of Lowe's Jon Boats

Yamaha - Evinrude - Mercury - MerCruiser Volvo Penta - Avalon - Magic Tilt - Exide Technologies Power-Pole - Teleflex Marine Starcraft Marine - Engel Coolers & Tumblers

Pana Vista Lodge 3417 Co Rd 421 • Lake Panasoffkee, FL 33538 352-793-2061 www.panavistalodge.com Cottages - Rv Camp Ground Hook-Ups - Camping - Boat Sales & Service. JohnsonEvinrude Motors Sales & Service. Boat Rentals Pontoon Rentals - Licenses - Bait - Ice - Gas Ramp

Action Watersports 402 Progress Rd • Auburndale, FL 33823 Ph: 863-967-4148 The brands we offer: Hobie • Jackson • RTM Perception • Feel Free • Wilderness Systems Ocean Kayak • Old Town • Hurricane • Kiwi • Solo Skiff • Evoke • Pau Hana • Amundsen are all leaders in the Kayak, Fishing, and Stand Up Paddle Board industries. Our accessories are sure to make your water experience more fun and safe. Alligators Unlimited Airboat Nature Tours Captain John Wathey 863-696-0313 14400 Reese Dr. • Lake Wales, Fl 33898 airboatnaturetours.com

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Bait & Tackle Shops/Outfitters/Apparel Stretch Outdoors Discount Outfitters 848 W Daughtery Rd. • Lakeland, FL 33389 863-608-1513

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Capt. Scott Taylor USCG Licensed Captian The Official Guide for VisitCentralFlorida.Org & Guy Harvey Camp Mack Lodge, Marina & RV Resort Scott@TMCGuideService.com 855-354-8433 Bridgemasters 2131 Highway 60 E • Lake Wales, FL 33898 Phone: 863-676-1009 • Fax: 863-679-1638

Come check out our new Lew’s and Abu Garcia fishing reels. Great selection of Gambler and Bitter’s baits. Guy Harvey Camp Mack Lodge, Marina & RV Resort 14900 Camp Mack Rd • Lake Wales, Fl 33898

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Ron’s Tackle Box The Old Angler’s Antique Gallery 380 S. Lake Shore Way • Lake Alfred, FL 33850 863-956-4990 • Fax 863-956-2525 imareellady2@aol.com

Phillips Bait & Tackle 3780 Hwy. 92E • Lakeland, FL 33801 863-666-2248 www.PhillipsTackle.com cftm3780@yahoo.com

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Stones Bait & Tackle 2049 E Edgewood Drive • Lakeland, Fl 33803 863-940-4898 Instagram: Stones Outhouse Follow us on Facebook & Instagram

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A Variety of Freshwater Rods & Reels Avaiable: NEW Abu Garcia Revo X Spinning Rods & Shimano SLX Rods . Large Selection of Strike King, Zoom & Gambler Baits. HUGE Apparel Sale- Save BIG!! Now Available- Stone’s Bulk Senko’s 25Ct/50CT/100CT

Big Fish Bait & Tackle 6908 US Hwy 98 North • Lakeland Fl 33809 863-815-9492 wwww.CentralFloridaAngling.com Bob Woodard-Owner Live Bait- Rod & Reel Repairs

Overdue Adventures FL. “Cracker” Fishing Style Family Fishing, Shore Lunches, Waterside Dining Snorkeling Trips, Scalloping Trips, Egmont Key Day Trips Capt. Daryl Brown First Mate: Joy Brown 518 Main Street • Auburndale, FL 33823 863-559-4480

Scalloping Charter Capt. Rick Burns Reel Burns Charters Homosassafishingguide.com 352-201-6111 Manatee Charter

12 POLK & SUMTER | JANUARY 2020 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

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Fly’Em High Charters Capt. Bobby Woodard www.Captain-Bobby.com 863-224-1418 USCG. Licensed Tarpon, Snook, Grouper Redfish, Trout, Scallop Trips

12/15/2019 12:00:53 PM

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Lakeland Area 1- Big Fish Bait & Tackle 863-815-9492 6908 US Hwy 98 North • Lakeland FL 33809 wwww.CentralFloridaAngling.com

16- Polk Tractor 863-967-0651 3450 Havendale Blvd NW • Winter Haven, FL 33881 www.PolkTractorco.com

2-Champs Sports Grill 863-647-5900 6645 S. Florida Ave • Lakeland, FL 33813 www.ChampsToGo.com

17-RKY Seafood 863-294-2300 175 Ave A NW • Winter Haven, FL 33880

3. Honey Baked Ham 863-648-0708 3615 Florida Ave S Suite 950 • Lakeland, FL 33803

18-Sweetwater Guide Service 863-837-7028 336 Magnolia Ave • Winter Haven, FL 33880

4- LineX Of Lakeland 863-581-9173 3000 State Road 37 S. • Mulberry, FL 33860 www.linexoflakeland.com

Lake Alfred Area 19-Ron’s Tackle Box,LLC 863-956-4990 380 S. Lake Shore Way • Lake Alfred, FL 33850 www.ronstacklebox.com

5- Old Salt Marine 863-802-0543 1916 Us Hwy 98 •North Lakeland, FL 33805 www.OldSaltMarine.com

Haines City Area 20- Hoppy’s Marine 863-439-7616 31499 Highway 27 • Haines City, FL 33844 www.HoppysMarine.com

6-Phillips Bait & Tackle 863-666-2248 3780 US-92 • Lakeland, FL 33801 www.CentralFloridaTrollingMotor.com 7-Stone’s Bait & Tackle 863-940-4898 2049 E Edgewood Drive • Lakeland, FL 33803 8- Stretch Outdoors Discount Outfitters 863-608-1513 848 W Daughtery Road • Lakeland, FL 33389 Auburndale Area 9- Action Watersports 863-967-4148 402 Progress Rd • Auburndale, FL 33823 www.ActionWatersports.net

Bartow Area 21- Spurlows 863-635-0240 1264 N Broadway Ave • Bartow, FL 33830 SpurlowsOutdoorOutfitters.com Lake Wales Area 22. Sweet Ella’s Produce 863-223-8775 326 FL-60, Lake Wales, FL 33853 23- Bridgemasters 863-676-1009 2131 FL-60 • Lake Wales, FL 33898 www.Bridge-Masters.com

10-Overdue Adventures 863-559-4480 Auburndale, FL 33823

24- Capt Dave Ochs Waters Edge Fish Camp 863-589-6295 10730 Camp Mack Rd • Lake Wales, Fl 33538

Winter Haven Area 11. Caribbean Bait & Tackle 863-292-9755 1004 N Lake Howard Dr, Winter Haven, FL 33880

25- Gary’s Boating Center 863-638-0537 15520 Highway 27 • Lake Wales, FL 33859 www.GarysBoating.com

12-Capt. Scott Taylor 855-354-8433 Official Guide for VisitCentralFlorida.org & Camp Mack’s River Resort Scott@TMCGuideService.com

26-Guy Harvey Camp Mack Lodge, Marina & RV Resort 863-696-1108 14900 Camp Mack Rd • Lake Wales, FL 33898 www.GuyHarveyCampMack.com

13-Hillman Motors Inc. 863-967-4628 2701 Havendale Blvd. NW • Winter Haven FL 33881 www.hillmanmotors.net 14- Marine Supply of Winter Haven 863-297-7003 1700 3rd St SW • Winter Haven, FL 33880 www.MarineSupplyBoats.com 15- Millers Fiberglass 863-551-1551 1505 Lake Shipp Dr, Winter Haven, FL 33880 www.facebook.com/Millers-Fiberglass-Repair-157407427716301

CHARLOTTE HARBOR FISHING FORECAST The inshore bite for the main players has remained strong despite the cooling water temps. Snook have been more active in the shallower back bays with muddy bottoms and residential canals with sea walls that radiate the suns rays. Redfish have been consistent in and around potholes, oyster bars and mullet schools. Trout have been very active on the grass flats in the 4-6 foot range. The first big push of Cobia have arrived with the last couple fronts. As the water temps continue to drop look for more Cobia to show up around the power plants and deeper structures of the bay. I prefer to sight fish them on shallow flats with a black Hogy eel but they will also rarely turn down a live pinfish. Another available species around the warner water of the power plants is Pompano. A live shrimp or docs jig are are my favorites for targeting Popmpano. The inshore Grouper bite will remain strong in the cooler water as well but pay attention to the seasonal clo-

Frostproof Area 27- Erwine’s Marine 863-635-4492 250 S. Scenic Hwy • Frostproof, FL 33843 www.ErwinesMarine.com Placida Area 28-Fly Em High Charters 863-224-1418 Capt Bobby Woodard 6499 Gasparilla Rd • Placida, FL 33946 www.Captain-Bobby.com

sures in your area. One of my main targets in the Winteris Sheepshead. I prefer to fish for them on structure like docks, rock piles and bridges. My favorite baits are shrimp, mud crabs, and clam strips. Looking ahead I am almost fully booked for the 2020 Boca Grande Tarpon Season and only have 6 openings left for prime hill tide dates. Call or email now if you’d like to get on the books for a trip of a lifetime. Capt. Bobby Woodard www.Captain-Bobby.com • 863-224-1418

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Support Your Local Polk County Businesses!

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Baymont Big Fish Bait & Tackle Paid Supporters of the Magazine Brewlands Bar & Grill Broadway Food & Gas Hoppy’s Marine Auburndale Bubbaques Pilot Action Watersports Bull Bay Tackle Company Quick Mart Auburndale Library Ridgewood Lake Golf Club Central Fl Trolling Best Western Inn & Suites Champs Sports Grill Walmart Fields Equip. Ciao Bella Hamptons Clubhouse Crowder Ace Hardware Lake Alfred Hungry Howies Curtis Design Gary’s Oyster Bar & Grill Marathon Executive Cleaners Harvest Meat Market Pizza Connection Extended Stay Highway RV Pro Nails Fish City Grill Ron’s Tackle Box Sal’s Pizza The Lake Alfred Chamber of Fun Bike Center The Twisted Crab Gino’s Barber Commerce Townsend Motors Inc. Grill Smith Traders Pawn Hampton Inn Lake Wales Walmart Harley Davidson Anchor Down Winn Dixie Harvey’s All Star Grill Hibbett Sports Alligator’s Unlimited Winter Haven Honey Baked Ham Co Brandi’s Barber & Beauty Andy Thornals Hooters Bridgemaster Ard’s Awning, Inc. Huntington Hills Golf & Camp Lester B&W Exhaust Pro Country Club Caribbean Bay Bait/Tackle/ Cherry Pocket Restaurant Jenkins Nissan Crazy Fish Bar & Grill Rest. Jin Jin Chinese Dyer Chevy Cypresswood Golf Club Just Move Florida’s Natural Visitor Dairy Queen King’s Wok Center Hampton Inn LaQuinta Inn Gary’s Boats Harry’s Old Place Larry Jackson Library Grape Hammock Hillman Motors Laundry Guy Harvey Camp Mack Howard Johnson Hotel Lodge, Marina & RV Resort LineX of Lakeland Jeep MoJo’s Restaurant Kelley Winter Haven 3rd St Harvest Meat Market New Moon Japanese Rest Leadfeather Guns & Archery Jay Bee’s Rest Off The Wall Adventures & Jennings Fish Camp Marine Supply Outfitters Juniors Fish Market McKibben Powersport Old Salt Marine Kirks Country Store Honda Outcast Watersports Korky Store Miller’s Fiberglass Repair Overdue Adventures Lake Haven Bait Mobil Gas 1200 3rd St SW Phillips Bait & Tackle Lake Market Old Man Franks Pinch A Penny Lake Wales Country Club Oyster Bar Red Top Pit Stop Paddleboard Winter Haven Liars Lair Saloon Regal Automotive McKibben Powersports Polk Tractor Russell’s Western Wear Honda RKY Seafood Market Sandpiper Golf Club San Diego’s Mexican Grill & Oakley Trucking Shoot Straight Pizzanos Pizza Sports Bar Shooter’s Rural King Schacks BBQ Sky Powersports Shiner’s Unlimited Scores Family Sports Cafe Stones Bait & Tackle State Park Somewhere Sports Bar & Stretch Outdoors Sunoco Grill Tint Masters Sweet Ella’s Produce Tanner’s Lakeside Topatio’s Mexicano Rest. The Port Rest The Little New Orleans Tropical Smoothie Cafe Vinny’s Smoke-n-Grill Kitchen & Oyser Bar Tubes’n’Hoses of Lakeland Walmart The Twisted Prop Water’s Edge Country Store Uncle Nick’s Walmart Walmart 98N Waters Edge Fish Camp Walmart S. Fl. Ave Weikert Ford Davenport Wedgewood Golf Club Davenport’s Ale House Winners Circle Frostproof Dicks Sporting Goods Posner XYZ Liquor Bagwell’s Center Chamber of Commerce Grand China Buffet Mulberry Crowder Ace Hardware Mannino’s Pizza LineXof Lakeland Erwines Marine Polk Outpost 27 Posner Park Chrysler/Jeep/ Hideaway Restaurant Highlands JJ Motel Dodge Bamboo Wok US 98 Little Dixie Mart Ramada Gator’s Dockside Rickert Properties Lakeland Way Out West Bushnell 716 Burgers & Brew American Adventure RV Ace Hardware Haines City Adventure Archery Lakeland Anglers Tackle Shack Chamber of Commerce Beef O Brady’s Ariana Barber Shop China Park

Blueberry Hill RV Breezy Oaks Good Sam Park Bronson’s Camp Outlaw at Indian Bow Bushnell Medical Clinic Bushnell Pharmacy Byrd Insurance Agency Canada Meds of Sumter County Devine Jewelry & Pawn Love’s Travel Stop Papaw’s Country Store ParGas Premier Medical Associates Red Oak RV Sumter County Realty The Wood Shed Tractor Supply Twin Oaks Pizzeria Walmart Panasoffkee AA Discount Beverage Big Cypress Fish Camp Catfish Johnny’s Countryside RV Harbor Lites Restaurant Idylwild Fish Camp Inside Out Grill Jimbo’s RV Resort & Rest Kal’s Food Lake Pan’s Produce Lake Panasoffkee Realty Lake Panasoffkee RV Village Mo’s Rest. CR Pan Hardware Pana Vista Lodge Shell Spirit Truck Stop Sumter Co. Chamber of Com. The Dam Pub The Inside Out Grill Thousand Palms RV Resort Tom & Jerry’s Swamp Boat Tours Tracy Pt Fish Camp Villages Golf Cart Man, LLC Your Corner Market Connorville Bait & Tackle Spurlow’s

Traditions Antique Mall Wildwood Antique Mall Wildwood RV Village The Villages Barbershop Beef O’ Brady’s SouthernTrace Plaza Dickey’s BBQ Pit (Traverse Trail) China Wok (Traverse Trail) Custom Apparel & Gifts Dental Care Grand Traverse Plaza EZ Go Golf Carts Hampton Inn Lighthouse Seafood Shell Softballs R Game Streetrod Productions The Villages Fishing Club Walmart Winn Dixie (Burnsed Blvd) Oxford Oxford Mower & Repair River Ranch Westgate River Ranch Webster City Hall Country Village Power Equipment Diddley Squat Books/Frog In The Window Antiques Dough J’s Scenic Sumter Heritage Byway, Inc The Webster Westside Flea Market Webster Farm Supply & Hardware Dundee

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orey Kitzmann, of Davenport, Iowa, knows what it’s like to catch a freshwater monster. The 57 ¼-inch muskellunge he caught back in August was recently certified as a new Minnesota catch-and-release state record. The nearly 5-foot-long muskie measured 25 ½ inches in girth and had an estimated weight of 47 pounds. Kitzmann was fishing alone at Lake Vermilion, a more than 40,000-acre Canadian Shield lake west of Lake Superior. He was working a bucktail on 80-pound line when the toothy critter ate. “When I set the hook, I knew immediately that I had a nice fish on,” he said. “It wasn’t until the fish made its way to the side of the boat that I realized I had a true giant.” But getting the fish to the boat wasn’t the end of the fight. Kitzmann was able to net the fish solo, but he had to wave down a nearby boater to help haul it out of the water for photos before a successful release. Minnesota’s certified-weight state record for Muskie is 54 pounds. That 56-inch fish was caught way back in 1957 at Lake Winnibigoshish. The IGFA all-tackle world record for muskie has stood since 1949. It weighed 67 pounds, 8 ounces and was caught from Lake Court Oreilles in Wisconsin.

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By John Lidington t’s January—named for Janus, the two-faced god who looked forward and backward at the same time. It’s also New Year’s resolution time. That’s when we look at what we should have done, to figure out what we ought to do. Doing this, I’ve come up with a long list of shortcomings that could stand some attention in 2020. But resolutions don’t have to focus on negatives. Accentuating the positives is equally important. One such positive event was a special snorkeling session at the Blue Heron Bridge. The 6-year-old granddaughter of some friends was coming to visit, and they wanted to introduce her to snorkeling. They heard the Blue Heron Bridge was a great site, but had never been. Knowing it’s a spot I frequently dive, they asked if I would guide them. I agreed, and we chose a day with an early afternoon high tide so

the weather would be at its warmest. Of course, the bridge delivered its usual magic—magic that was amplified and transformed by a 6-yearold’s reactions to experiencing it for the first time. We swam the full length of the snorkel trail—saw the sunken boat, the shark statues, the rock piles and the artificial reef castings. I pointed out critters left and right to a very excited audience. When we reached the end, she insisted on retracing our path back to the beginning. She wanted to see everything again! As we wrapped up, it hit me that even though I had not seen a single frogfish, octopus or nudibranch, I was psyched. I realized that I’ve come to treat the standard cast of fishy characters—angelfish, barracuda, porkfish, grunts, parrotfish, porgies and so much more—as background noise while I search for “rarities.” Familiarity had bred complacency. It took the contagious enthusiasm of a 6-year-old to knock me out of my rut. That was a special afternoon. I’d like to think I helped start someone on a lifetime of appreciation for the marine environment. But it was important for me, too. I felt good that, through a small investment of time and effort, I could make someone happy. I also welcome a renewed enthusiasm for what I had begun to treat as commonplace. So what’s my New Year’s resolution? Well, I have three grandchildren, spaced a bit more than a year apart, with a fourth on the way. I resolve to offer all of them a good introduction to snorkeling. Obviously, that’s a multi-year resolution. It will let Grandpa interact with them in a way that will keep them excited and my outlook fresh. If I’m really lucky, they will transition to PADI’s Junior Open Water SCUBA Diver program as they turn 10, opening up even more years of fun for us. If you’ve got someone to take under your wing (or fin), get out in the water with them! There’s no shortage of easy snorkeling sites in Florida, and Pura Vida Divers will show you where to go. The rewards are great for all involved. Give Pura Vida Divers a call at (561) 840-8750 or make an online reservation through their website at www.puravidadivers.com.

a few inches wider, a few #10 self-tapping stainless screws, some indoor/outdoor carpet and a pool noodle.

Tim Barefoot

ot an aluminum jonboat that makes a lot of noise with hull slap? The Silencer eliminates this hull slap noise and allows you to get closer to the fish. With a few basic hand tools and materials, you can have a jonboat that is as quiet as a V-hull fiberglass boat. Internal insulation reduces the noise of hull slap, but The Silencer eliminates the chop that causes this hull-slap noise all together. Sure, you will have to drill a few holes in your bow, but this simple homemade gadget allows you to get closer to wary fish. Fish hear your noise way beyond casting distance. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been frustrated by watching trophy fish swim right past the boat in shallow water. These fish have lockjaw. They’ve heard the boat, and they’re trying to get away instead of smashing that topwater lure. Noise absolutely matters! Fish are not stupid to the sounds of trolling motors and hull slap. There is nothing I can do about trolling motor noise, but when you need to get closer to fish upwind, the Silencer allows you to get within casting range without the noise from hull slap. I created this method due to my own frustration at watching fish spook before they were in casting range. From ponds to the Intracoastal Waterway and the sounds, aluminum boats offer advantages for fishermen. But their built-in disadvantage is they are noisy. The materials for The Silencer are simple. Everything you’ll need for this project can be purchased at the local hardware store or flooring supply store. All you need is .125-inch (1/8 inch) x ¾ wide aluminum (or stainless) bar stock cut to the width of your bow or

STEP 1: Sew a loop of the carpet around the pool noodle (as shown in photo). The carpet should be as wide as your bow and slightly longer than the height of your bow off the surface of the water. STEP 2: Screw the aluminum bar stock and the non-pool-noodle end of the carpet to the bow rail. Drill (.187) 3/16-inch (clearance) holes in the aluminum bar stock, and match the self-tapping holes in the bow of your boat to match. Use an impact driver or drill to “seat” the self-tapping screws into the bow rail, through the clearance holes in the bar stock and the indoor/outdoor carpet. STEP 3: You’re done. Toss the pool noodle end of The Silencer off the bow. Chop is absorbed by the carpet and pool noodle, leaving an eddy of still water between The Silencer and your hull. For a detailed video of how to DIY, visit

BAREFOOTCATSANDTACKLE.COM click on: “The Silencer.”

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CANGL_FL1-FL16.indd 11

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FLORIDA

12/14/19 12:53 PM

By John Saporito

ith winter temperatures upon us, its time to switch tactics when targeting inshore gamefish. The warmer months feature an abundance of life on the flats and shallow beds, but winter shows the opposite trend. Both gamefish and their prey seek out stable water temperatures, many moving upriver and into creeks to find refuge from the cold. Due to the high specific heat capacity of water, many fish will escape the cold by moving into deep-water areas of our bays and estuaries.

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Often, fish will congregate in passes, boat channels, and around bridges, where the bottom has been scooped out, creating places that assure consistent water temperatures. These deep-water haunts are excellent places to score in winter, where fish can keep themselves at the appropriate temperature while exploiting the bottom structure and moving water to help with their feeding activity. Whenever deep moving water is in play, there is one technique that stands out above the rest: jig fishing. Jigs are the most effective tool when it comes to pulling fish out of a lateral current. Their unique ability to ride naturally through the turbulence and get down to the bottom where fish are holding makes them ideal for this style of fishing. A single upright hook allows them to bounce off most obstructions and has the strength to hold heavy fish in heavy current. But not all jigs are created equal. The two main styles of jig in use today are the nose-eye and offset-eye. The nose-eye jig has its eye in a forward position on the head of the lure, while the offset-eye jig has its eye in a centered position on top of the jig’s head. The offset-eye jig is superior thanks to its knack for maintaining a horizontal orientation during retrieve. This makes natural presentation with the offset-eye jig a cinch. Weight is a critical factor when using jigs. The lightest possible jig that can get and stay within a few feet of the bottom will net you the most fish. Too heavy a jig will drag uselessly in the bottom sediment, while too light a jig will be unable to reach the deep-water strike zone. Water depth, current speed, wind speed and direction, line material and diameter, and the type of trailer used on the jig are all variables that go into weight selection. Once you’ve selected the appropriate jig, cast it up-current, allow it to sink to the bottom, and let the current sweep it toward any fish-holding structure that might be present. This structure may consist of bridge abutments, dock pilings, boulders, sand waves, ridges or holes. If you can get your jig to glide through the strike zone close to structure in fast deep water, hold on! A jig can help you clean up with your favorite inshore gamefish all winter long. John Saporito is a lifelong fisherman and student of the seas. Visit him online at guerillaangling.com and follow on Instagram @guerilla_angling.

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JANUARY 2020

FLORIDA

12/14/19 12:53 PM

COLD WEATHER BASS HAMMERING SHAD

Travis Poole with a fine winter bass caught while fishing with C-note Charters. By Randy Cnota hen the north winds blow across Florida, bass experience significant shock from rapidly dropping water temps. Those fronts actually kill many shad; not all, but many. Through the fall and winter, bass tend to school and follow balls of shad to take advantage of feeding opportunities available due to the cold. The abundance of forage and the natural urge to fatten up turn bass into eating machines. Airline_Ad_CoastalAngler_8-1-14_Layout 1 8/1/14 1:14 PM Page 1 action and As a shad dies, it flails about in a jerky twitching

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CANGL_FL1-FL16.indd 14

JANUARY 2020

eventually sinks. If any bass are around, it will never make it to the bottom. Lures that mimic this action and excel this time of year include jerkbaits, A-rigs, spinnerbaits, lipless and deep-diving crankbaits and spoons. The flutter spoon is a personal favorite due to its ability to trigger a feeding response when other lures won’t. The erratic fluttering motion as it falls appears as a very familiar sight bass have been witnessing as shad succumb to the cold. When they strike, you’d best be holding on tight! Spoons are a great tool for scouring depths from 5 to 50 feet. Not only do they generate bites in open water where schools of bass roam for bait balls, they are deadly fished around deep and shallow grass beds. For this, rig a spoon on 50-pound braided main line with a 15-pound-test monofilament leader and cast to grass edges. Allow the spoon to fall into the grass, and then rip it out to generate bone-jarring strikes. Note: 99 percent of spoon bites come as the lure falls on a slack line. Suspending jerkbaits provide a different action needed for winter bass. When it’s bitter cold and bass are depressed from the conditions, you need to slow down while still presenting a shad imitation. Fished on light fluorocarbon line, jerkbaits reach deeper depths than you might think. In clear cold water they produce with reliable results. Long casts and slow retrieves with long pauses between twitches will get cold bass to move and strike. As winter moves toward spring, I cast a lipless crankbait at shallow grass near deep drop-offs. Bass will start moving closer to spawning areas long before they actually spawn and will continue to feed. If weather conditions create a slight rise in water temps, this technique can be hard to beat. Even if water temps are still in the low 50s, but have increased slightly, a fast retrieve will allow you to cover vast areas and pluck off many bass that have started to scatter from their winter schools. During these coldest times of the year is when some of the biggest bass are caught. Don’t let the conditions deter you from searching out that trophy bass. Bundle up and get after it! Randy Cnota is co-publisher of the Panama City/Destin/Forgotten Coast edition of Coastal Angler Magazine and owner of C-note Charters. Contact him at (229) 834-7880 or randyc@coastalanglermagazine.com.

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By Michael Okruhlik • Capt. Michael Okruhlik Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures.

or those who enjoy targeting speckled trout of larger proportions, we know they are not easy to come by. The majority of trophy trout hunting is done in cooler water temps and below normal feeding patterns. Utilizing solunar tables for feeding times can improve your hookup ratio and help you get the edge on gator trout. When I was a child, I would look at the calendar on the wall and see how many fish were on the day I had a trip planned. Multi-fish days built the excitement and anticipation while zero

fish still left me wanting to go, but lessened my expectations. During my younger years, I also found no consistent correlation between my success and the number of fish on the calendar and soon felt no reason to review it. I felt it was more of a folktale than a tool. As I matured into a somewhat better angler, and started spending more time saltwater fishing, I once again started to study the solunar tables along with the tides. To be clear, these tables are not a magic act, nor do they place fish where they are not, but I am a believer that if you are on fish, they will be more aggressive during the feeding times specified in the tables. Many people misinterpret the major as the better bite. This is not necessarily the case. The major vs. the minor is the length of time the bite will last. The major is typically two hours long while the minor is about an hour and a half. Both can share the same intensity of the feeding period. I plan each trip around the bite times. Naturally, I fish more than the two hours of the major bite, but I place myself in what I feel is the prime area during the bite. One rule that I stick to is to fish during the feed times rather than travel from one spot to another. On a recent trip, I wasn’t having any luck and considered moving locations. I checked the time and realized the bite was approaching. I decided to not move during the bite and continued to fish the once non-productive area to realize an aggressive feed during the specified time slot. I find this approach especially true when hunting gator trout. They do not feed that often and are difficult to catch, therefore utilizing the solunar can give you the edge for catching these larger specks. As I stated previously, these solunar tables do not guarantee you will catch fish. However, if you have the correct conditions of tide, wind, water clarity, temps, bait and most of all FISH, giving it your best during the feeding times greatly increases your odds of catching fish, and gator trout. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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ll of us have enjoyed those rare days when fish would ingest virtually any lure or bait tossed in the water. Those experiences are certainly the exception, because fish are selective about their diets and seldom vary extensively in their choice of foods. Only when they cannot find enough of their standard fare will they range in their choice. Let me share a few examples: It was a beautiful day on the offshore grounds with a strong current that should hold fish. As the hours passed, our frustration increased. We couldn’t even raise a fish. Finally, the captain told us to reel in the lines. It seemed obvious he was going to try another spot, but that wasn’t his intention. Instead of moving, he took the trolling lures off the rods and rigged them with a single hook. One of the outfits had a sinker so it would go deeper. Then he turned the boat broadside to the current and cut the engine. We were now being pushed by the natural flow of water. A live baitfish was put on each hook and then streamed off the starboard side of the boat. He chopped up dead bait and threw a handful overboard as chum every couple of minutes. It didn’t take long before the big guys hit the live bait, and it suddenly became a banner day because the skipper did something different. More than 50 years ago, the late Joe Brooks told me no

one to his knowledge had caught an Allison (yellowfin) tuna on a fly, and he was sure I could do it. Joe set up a trip for me to Bermuda, where yellowfins responded to chum. I had fished chum slicks with a fly with my father since I was a young boy, and we simply cast in the slick and retrieved the fly. I can’t remember ever having a problem with that method. We were anchored on the edge of a bank in Bermuda, with the current taking chum off the edge into deep water. Tuna were devouring chum, and I was sure it would only take a cast or two to hookup. To say I was wrong was an understatement. The tuna ignored the fly as I retrieved it. They swam around it and kept eating chum. Finally, in desperation, I dropped the fly into some chum that lingered on the surface and did not move it. To this day, I can see that tuna inhaling the fly. It weighed 53 pounds and 6 ounces. The point to remember is that if the more common method isn’t working, try a modification. A friend and I were both fishing the same plug. He kept getting strikes, while nothing touched my offering. Finally, he showed me how he periodically vibrated his wrist. It made the lure flash, and that’s all it took. In a similar situation, another friend and I were using diving plugs. He kept hooking fish while I couldn’t buy strike. While I followed a standard retrieve, he would pause for an instant periodically. That allowed the plug to float upward before diving again. Simple, isn’t it? Before you claim there are no fish where you are fishing, try a few variations to standard practice. You might be surprised with the results.

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