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4 NATIONAL
JULY 2022
’GILLS, ERS ’CRACK
e m i t r e Summ AND
By Nick Carter
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! N U F
very now and then, it’s good to rediscover what ushered you into fishing in the first place. For many of us, it all began with small ponds and eager bream. The simplicity of just catching fish, without concern for size or species, is a pursuit that brings back a certain child-like joy. It’s even more fun when you take a kid. Witnessing the light of discovery and pride pass over a child’s face turns untangling lines and dodging errant casts into a labor of love. It doesn’t need to be difficult. If you time it right and have a good place to go, it’s easy to load a stringer full of fat bluegills or redear sunfish in a hurry. They are easy to clean, and they are delicious dredged in a seasoned cornmeal-flour mixture and fried crispy. The traditional preparation is to behead them, gut them and scale them, which yields those great crunchy fins. They can also be filleted for folks who don’t like picking through bones, and the resulting bream nuggets make tasty fish sandwiches or tacos. Throughout the spring and summer, bluegills return to the beds to spawn around each full moon. They spawn in groups, so their fanned-out beds look like honeycombs on the shallow bottom. Shallow flats with a sand or gravel bottom are the preferred areas, and they pile up on these beds for three days or so on either side of the full moon. In all but the most dingy water, you can see the beds on the bottom. Once you find them, the same spots will provide fast action year after year. A cricket under a bobber and a long cane pole is probably the way your grandfather yanked ’gills off the beds. If your young angler is competent with an ultralight spinning combo, a 1/32-oz. crappie jig can also be deadly when reeled steadily across the beds. Fly rodders can wear them out with a small popping bug or small streamer. Redear sunfish, also known as shellcrackers, can be more difficult to locate and catch than bluegills, but it’s worth it once you find them. They are the heavyweights of the bream world and regularly grow up to a pound or two. They fight very hard on light tackle. Shellcrackers spawn in early spring and prefer similar areas to bluegills, only deeper. Their beds can be difficult to find because they are usually too deep to see, and they don’t spawn throughout the summer. When they are on the beds they are very aggressive and will hit small jigs, spinners and flies. When they move off the beds, it’s time to switch to live bait. Shellcrackers feed near the bottom on snails and mollusks. After the spawn, they move off the banks to feed around grass or submerged structure like stumps and treetops. A red-wiggler, either slowly dragged across the bottom with some split-shot or a lightweight dropshot rig are both effective for ’crackers. Once you find one, you can usually find several.
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Red Snapper
The Official Fish of Summer Vacation By CAM Staff
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ed snapper should be the official fish of summer vacation. These hard-fighting and delicious reef fish are the traditional driving force behind the Gulf of Mexico charter fishing industry. The season dates are set to align with the arrival of tourists seeking fun in the sun, and whether you’re pulling your own boat to the Gulf for a week-long fishing expedition or you plan to hire a captain for a day on the water with the kids, here’s a state-by-state look at what you need to know to get in on the action.
Non-stainless steel circle hooks are required when fishing with natural baits. At least one de-hooking device is required and must be used to remove hooks. A descending device or venting tool that is rigged and ready for use is required when fishing for reef fish in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.
Federal For-Hire Season
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Gulf-wide, most of the recreational catch of Gulf red snapper comes from federal waters, which begin 9 miles offshore for purposes of reef fish management. Charter operations targeting red snapper and other reef fish in federal waters must have a federal for-hire reef fish permit to fish federal waters. The 2022 red snapper season for federally permitted vessels began June 1 and will close on Aug. 19. The bag limit is two fish per person with a 16-inch minimum length limit. Captain and crew may not retain a bag limit. Each state sets its own regulations for private anglers in state and federal waters as well as for charter boats in state waters. FLORIDA: Florida’s season opened June 17 and will run through July 31. Florida has also set aside the following weekends for snapper harvest in fall: Oct. 8-9, Oct. 15-16, Oct. 22-23, Nov. 11-13 and Nov. 25-27. The bag limit is two fish per person, per day with a 16-inch minimum length. The open season includes the These seasons apply to recreational anglers fishing from private vessels Monday of Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. The season in Florida Gulf state and federal waters. For-hire operations that do not have will remain open until recreational landings approach Louisiana’s allocation. a federal reef fish permit may also participate in the season but are limited to Anglers must have a Recreational Offshore Landing Permit (ROLP) to fishing for red snapper in state waters only. All anglers who intend to fish for fish for or possess red snapper and electronically report their catch via the or harvest certain reef fish, including red snapper, from a private vessel are ROLP app or the ROLP website. required to obtain the State Reef Fish Angler designation. MISSISSIPPI: Mississippi’s red snapper season opened for private ALABAMA: The season for private and state-licensed charter vessels recreational anglers and state for-hire vessels on May 27, with a mid-season opened May 27 in Alabama state and federal waters. The season consists of closure date of July 4. The mid-season closure allows for compilation of four-day weekends, Friday through Monday, until the private angler quota landings to examine a potential season extension. is projected to be met. The daily bag limit is two per person, per day with a The season will be open seven days a week in both state and federal waters minimum size limit of 16 inches. and will close if the annual catch target for recreational anglers is reached. One angler per vessel, per trip is required to report through the MDMR Alabama uses Snapper Check to monitor landings during the season and provide weekly updates at outdooralabama.com. Anglers must have an Tails n’ Scales system. The daily bag limit is two fish per person with a 16-inch length limit. Alabama Gulf Reef Fish Endorsement. The owner or operator of each vessel is required to complete one landing TEXAS: The private recreational angler red snapper season in federal report per trip through Snapper Check prior to removing red snapper from waters of Texas opened June 1. Red snapper fishing is open year-round in the boat or the boat from the water. Red snapper caught from non-powered state waters. The bag limit in federal waters is two fish per person daily, with vessels, piers and the shoreline are also required to be reported through a 16-inch minimum size limit. In state waters, the limit is four fish per person Snapper Check. A landing report may be submitted through Snapper Check daily with a 15-inch minimum. Red snapper caught in federal waters count in the Outdoor AL app, which is available at outdooralabama.com. as part of the state bag limit. No more than two red snapper in federal waters LOUISIANA: The season opened May 27 in state and federal waters of and four red snapper in state waters may be in your possession while fishing. Louisiana. It will run weekends only (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) with a For more information, go to gulfcouncil.org. daily bag limit of three per person and a 16-inch minimum size limit. 6 NATIONAL JULYfish 2022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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LURES
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TYPES OF LONG-DISTANCE LURES
L
ong-casting lures are not limited to one shape or style, and that is a good thing. Distance is sometimes important in reaching fish, and a specific action or type of lure is important in convincing them to bite. Here’s a look at several lure styles and the pros and cons of fishing them. Diamond Jig: The first longdistance lure ever was likely the diamond jig and other elongated metal spoons. Originally designed for handline jigging, it just turned out that this lure’s shape allows it to cut through the air to reach great distances. This one is always worth carrying. It allows you to cover a lot of water and cast in high winds pretty well. This said, the diamond jig being made of metal makes the lure size relatively small compared to its weight. It’s not the best option when fish are looking for larger prey. Topwater: Nothing is more exciting and eye opening than topwater action. When water explodes with snapping mouths as predators gobble prey on top, it gives you an obvious target to cast a lure to. Poppers, pencils, chuggers and walkers all belong to the noble
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or a fast retrieve. In most situations, I prefer topwaters that sink at rest. They draw those exciting topwater strikes, and they regularly achieve 50 percent or longer cast distance than PATRICK SEBILE floating lures. Swimming Plugs: This category includes race of lures that we all love just about anything with swimming action. I to fish because they are fun, group billed minnows, hard swimbaits, darters, especially when you can cast bottleneck swimplugs and others into this to fish that are feeding actively and visibly. category. I do not, however, consider soft-plastic swimbaits such as a paddletail/jigheads to be distancecasting lures. Like topwaters, floating versions of these plugs are common, but they limit the distance you can cast. Longdistance “rocket” or “bullet” models are typically heavier and sink at rest. They have the ability to reach fish far from the boat or shore, and they will also draw strikes right at your feet. A key point about sinking distance-dedicated lures is they cast much better into wind than floating models, and this matters because the bite is often best—especially for large fish—when the wind is in your face and the water is white. Next issue we’ll dig into the Floating topwater lures are traditional, but appendices and lure designs for long distance. they don’t cast the farthest. Some topwaters Legendary angler Patrick Sebile is a world are designed to be fished at the surface, rather than on top of it. These sinking and/or heavily record holder and an award-winning designer loaded lures significantly improve range, and of innovative lures and fishing gear. Check out his creations at abandofanglers.com. they can be worked on top thanks to design
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NATIONAL 9
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39TH NASSAU SPORT FISHING ASSOCIATION KINGFISH TOURNEY IS AUG. 6
ig-time kingfish tournament action returns to Fernandina Beach, Fla. this August with the 39th Annual Nassau Sport Fishing Association Kingfish Tournament and Fishing Rodeo. This Southern Kingfish Association-sanctioned event is slated for Saturday, Aug. 6 with Fernandina Harbor Marina as headquarters. There’s up to $10,000 on the line for first place in the Kingfish Division, and with eight different species in inshore and offshore divisions of the rodeo, there’s a shot at the leaderboard no matter what style of fishing you prefer. There are also Single Engine Boat,HOURS: Lady Angler and Youth Angler Divisions. FISHING For Division, early bird entry is just $350 6:30the AM Kingfish – 5 PM through July2-5 15. WEIGH-IN: WEIGH 5 PMThe entry fee rises to $400 from July 16 through AWARDS:Aug. 7 PM4. The on-site fee is $450. For the Rodeo Division, early bird entry is just $100 through July 15. Then it’s PUBLIC INVITED/FOOD NVITED/FOOD $125 through Aug. 4 and $150 on-site. Anglers may choose to ENTERTAINMENT fish either division or both, so make your plans and get ready for SILENT AUCTION one of the hottest tournaments of the season. Boat numbers will be issued Friday Aug. 5 from 3 to 7 p.m., and then $ at 7 p.m. at Fernandina Harbor ST will be held INGFISH a mandatory IVISIONcaptains meeting LACE (BASED ON 100 PAID BOATS WITH 80% PAYOUTa.m. ) Marina. Fishing begins at 6:30 on Saturday, Aug. 6, with all boats SINGLE ENGINErequired BOATback , LADY NGLER OUTH ANGLER at theAdocks by AND 5 p.m.YThe public is invited to come take part in THROUGH food, live entertainment and Asilent as boats EARLY BIRD ENTRY IS $350 JULY 15 TH . T HEN $400 THROUGH UGUST 4auctions TH , T HEN $450 ON-SITE.and fish return to the docks for the weigh-in. The scales open at 2 p.m. The awards ceremony will begin after weigh-ins. ODEO IVISION PECIES AID Proceeds from the tournament go to benefit the Nassau Sport Fishing (BASED ON 100 PAID BOATS WITH 80% PAYOUT) Association, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing and ST ND in the Nassau County promoting area while adhering to $ saltwater fishing $ LACE LACE state, federal and local regulations, to encourage compliance with rules of EARLY BIRD ENTRY IS $100 THROUGH JULY 15 . THEN members $125 THROUGHand AUGUST , THEN $150 ON-SITEand . to promote youth water safety byTHclub the4THgeneral public, related community activities. If you or your company are interested in becoming a sponsor for this event, contact NSFA at Info@nsfafish.net. NSFA meets on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month at Kraft Athletic Club on Amelia Island. Anyone interested in joining should visit the website at NSFAFISH.net.
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For more information or to register for the tournament, go to NSAFISH.net.
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For details and to register visit www.nsfafish.net/rodeo Pick upNS your boat August MPA 5 from 3 to 7 p.m. YOUR C E N TE R CO Onumber L EFriday,CO N ION Mandatory Captains Meeting at 7 p.m. at Fernandina Harbor Marina
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JULY 2022
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BAMA BOAT THREE-PEATS AT MGCBC
By Capt. Dave Lear
O
wner/angler Nick Pratt, Capt. Chris Hood and the It Just Takes Time team swept the blue marlin divisions by weighing the only qualifier during the 2022 Mississippi Gulf Coast Billfish Classic. The 763.6-pound blue gave the team an unprecedented third consecutive win. That feat has never been accomplished in the 26-year history of the Classic or in any other Gulf Coast big game tournament. It Just Takes Time, a 72 Viking based in Orange Beach, Ala., took home a payout of $630,985 for the marlin tournament award, crew division and all
marlin optional entry categories. The total prize purse this year’s event was $1.36 million. Quantified, a 64 Spencer with Capt. Justin Drummond at the helm, had an impressive showing, too. Angler Cyler Pape wound in the top dolphin at 37 pounds and the team released three sailfish and three white marlin to score 1,500 points in the release division. With tournament and optional entries, the team earned a payout of $140,060. The top release boat with four blue marlin on its ledger (2,400 points) was Ramble On, a 67 Billy Horton run by Capt. Shannon Allman. With an optional dolphin entry (25.9 pounds), the team won $120,170 for the tournament. Shock Wave, a 69 Spencer with Capt. Shelby Johnson on the throttles, scored three blue marlin in the release division, good for a check totaling $47,025 in optional entries. Sunrise, a 53 Guthrie (Capt. Billy Blount) also had three blue marlin releases, along with the third-place dolphin (Chris King/32.8 pounds), a 102.4-pound tuna and a wahoo optional, good for a $42,065 payout. Angler Drew Phillips outlasted a yellowfin tuna weighing 206.9 pounds after a 45-minute fight. Phillips was fishing aboard Second Wind, a 72 F&S run by Capt. Marlin Brown. The team earned $36,695 for that record catch. Rising Sons’ two optional entry tuna (52.1 and 50.9 pounds) paid out $34,650 for angler Evan Crochet and Capt. Toby Berthelot and the team. Rising Sons is a 58 Viking based in Orange Beach. Capt. Dennis Bennett and the Destin team aboard Salt Shaker (58 Viking) capitalized on two blues and a white marlin release in the Catch and Release Division. That score earned the team $32,760. Owner/angler Timothy O’Brien on Panhandler scored the second-place dolphin at 36.1 pounds. Capt. Nick Millsap was at the helm of the 63 Hatteras. With the tournament award and optional entries, that fish was worth $22,864. Iona Louise was the first boat to weigh on Saturday and the 52.5-pound wahoo they hoisted aloft held on to take first place in the division. Capt. Clip Hopkins runs the 58 Hatteras and Christopher Nolan for the angler. A total of 73 boats and 360 anglers competed in the 2022 MGCBC. The fleet caught 56 blue marlin, eight white marlin and three sailfish. In the game fish categories, 29 yellowfin tuna were weighed, along with eight dolphin and five wahoo. For complete results, see mgcbc.com.
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Pharmaceuticals Discovered in South Florida Bonefish
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three-year study by Florida International University (FIU) and Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT) has discovered pharmaceutical contaminants in the blood and other tissues of bonefish in Biscayne Bay and the Florida Keys. “Coastal fisheries face increasing threats associated with human-based contaminants,” said Jim McDuffie, BTT President and CEO. “Pharmaceuticals are an often overlooked dimension of water quality and their presence in South Florida bonefish is cause for concern. These contaminants pose a significant threat to the flats fishery, an important part of Florida’s recreational saltwater fishery, which has an annual economic impact of $9.2 billion and directly support over 88,500 jobs.” Since the study began in 2018, FIU scientists and BTT research associates, in partnership with Sweden’s Umeå Unversity and the University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU), have sampled 93 fish in South Florida, finding an average of seven pharmaceuticals per bonefish, and a whopping 17 pharmaceuticals in a single fish. The list includes blood pressure medications, antidepressants, prostate treatment medications, antibiotics, and pain relievers. Researchers also found pharmaceuticals in bonefish prey—crabs, shrimp and fish—suggesting that many of Florida’s valuable
SU
fisheries are exposed, and not only the bonefish fishery. Lead researcher Jennifer Rehage, a coastal and fish ecologist and associate professor at the FIU Institute of Environment, presented the study’s findings at a BTT panel event in Tallahassee. “These findings are truly alarming,” Rehage said. “Pharmaceuticals are an invisible threat, unlike algal blooms or turbid waters. Yet these results tell us that they are a formidable threat to our fisheries, and highlight the pressing need to address our longstanding wastewater infrastructure issues.” Approximately 5 billion prescriptions are filled each year in the U.S., yet there are no environmental regulations for the disposal of pharmaceuticals worldwide. Pharmaceutical contaminants originate most often from human wastewater and are not sufficiently removed by conventional water treatment. They remain active at low doses, can be released constantly, and exposure can affect all aspects of fish behavior, with negative consequences for their reproduction and survival. Pharmaceutical contaminants have been shown to affect all aspects of the life of fish, including their feeding, activity, sociability and migratory behavior. “These troubling findings underscore the urgent need for Florida to expand and modernize wastewater treatment facilities and
TR
The The allow allow
TH TH sewage infrastructure statewide,” said McDuffie. “Governor DeSantis’s leadership and historic funding for water quality improvements, along with legislative support and funding, have set us on the right path. Now we must expedite those efforts, increase investment over the long term, and pursue innovative solutions. We must accelerate septic to sewer conversion, and in those places where sewage is not available, require the use of advanced septic technology. The health of our citizens and the coastal resources that support Florida’s economy depend on it.” For more information, visit www.bonefishtarpontrust.org.
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By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
T
n e m er
T A H W
sh i F
he fishing industry offers some of the most grueling, labor-intensive and lengthy days of any profession. The pay isn’t always exceptional, and it takes a major toll on the body. So why would anyone choose this career? Why do so many who are in it seem so happy? What are these fishermen made of? As a female, who fell in love with fishing at age 25 with absolutely zero prior experience, I had a difficult time cracking into the industry. The time between being introduced to the sport and having it consume me was very short. I knew with every fiber of my being that fishing professionally is what I wanted to do with my life. I quickly found out what fishermen are made of, and what truly makes them good at what they do. Fishing will always be about a healthy combination of skill and luck, but without heart the aforementioned come with an expiration date. If you are someone with that unique passion for fishing and a curiosity about getting into the industry, here are some very basic tips. First, you must start at the bottom and pay your dues. It doesn’t matter how long you have owned a boat or held a captain’s license, spending time working as a deckhand is highly advised. Second, nobody is going to hire you over the
F O E D A M E R A
phone. Just show up, which is actually the third, fourth and fifth pieces of advice I can offer. The biggest downfall with deckhands is they don’t show up, or they don’t cover the extent of their chores. Just being at the dock to talk to captains about potential work speaks to the type of character they are looking for. Show up at the dock to look for work when boats are coming in from charters. Perhaps their deckhand didn’t show up that day, and they’d be happy to put you to work cleaning fish or the boat. If you get a foot in the door this way, be prepared to say yes if the captain asks you to be at the dock the next morning for a charter. Better yet, show up at the dock before boats head out on charters. When the deckhand, who only thought he had the heart for the job, is a noshow, you’ll be on deck. If you don’t get lucky the first time, keep showing up. Captains will notice. Once you’ve landed a job on a boat, forget everything you know and learn exactly what your captain expects of you. Even if you disagree, or know a better way, you’re wrong. Learn everything you can about the boat and the fishery, and never ever stop learning. Be a robotic, superhuman machine, with your head on a swivel, absorbing every piece of data you can. Be prepared to stay late, making sure everything is done properly and thoroughly, and that everything is prepared for the following day. If you’re on time, you’re late. Find out what time your
captain likes to arrive, and get there before then. Entertaining customers is also extremely important, especially when fishing is slow and your captain is grouchy. Never make your captain look bad in front of clients, even when they rip you a new one for something that might or might not have even been your fault. Accepting all blame publicly is, in fact, part of your job description. Eat the humble pie, and keep the energy positive for the clients. Deckhanding might feel like slavery a lot of the time, but mates also have a lot of control over the atmosphere on deck. Remember your customers’ names, be personable and start collecting jokes and one-liners. When fishing is slow, a good deckhand makes or breaks the experience of a charter. Heart is what makes a good fisherman a great fisherman. It’s what makes this career more than just a job. It’s what makes the crew more excited about catching fish, and more upset about losing one, than the customers. It’s heart that keeps us learning and trying new things every day. If that is something that speaks to you, you probably aren’t happy at your desk job. If you belong on the water, don’t put it off any longer. Somewhere, a deckhand didn’t show up for work this morning. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon fishes for Blue Magic Charters out of Marathon in the Florida Keys. Contact her at (504) 920-6342 or through social @CaptainQuinlyn.
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SUPatch the E TAGR STAR G
CCA Florida STAR:
State’s Largest Family Friendly Fishing Competition Kicks Off T he 2022 West Marine CCA Florida STAR Tournament presented by Yamaha began with a bang, as three tagged redfish were caught in the first three days of the competition. Tagged Redfish is STAR’s signature division, and since the three fish were caught and released in Wakulla, Brevard and Charlotte counties by anglers ineligible for the competition, there remains plenty of opportunity for registered STAR participants to win new boats, motors, scholarships and more valued at more than $500,000. “The STAR kickoff could not have been more exciting with having three tagged redfish caught along Florida’s coasts,” CCA Florida STAR Director Leiza Fitzgerald said. “But, since these anglers did not comply with rules, they missed their opportunity to win a new Contender, Pathfinder or Spyder boat; however, it means these boats along with other amazing prizes are still up for grabs.” STAR, a 101-day, family friendly fishing competition, invites anglers and non-anglers alike to participate, and registrants who catch
a tagged redfish and follow the rules will win a Contender Boats 22 Sport, Pathfinder Boats 2200 TRS or Spyder Boats FX19 Vapor all powered by Yamaha Outboards. The first two youth anglers who win this division will each be awarded a tiller boat powered with Yamaha Outboard, Minn Kota trolling motor, Humminbird electronics and sitting on a trailer. The best opportunity to catch this year’s tagged redfish will be in Brevard, Citrus and Charlotte Counties, STAR’s 2022 Destination Counties, which each have eight tagged redfish in their coastal waters. There will be on average four STAR tagged redfish in every other coastal county of Florida for a total of nearly 170 released tagged fish. There is one specially tagged fish worth $50,000, sponsored by Alta Equipment Company. In addition to the Tagged Redfish Division, there are 16 other divisions targeting 12 inshore and offshore species, plus the trash cleanup. For offshore anglers, the Tigress Outriggers and Gear Tagged Dolphin Division offers the first STAR registrant and CCA Florida member who lands one of the tagged dolphin $10,000 in cash or
scholarship. The dolphin have been tagged and released in the coastal waters of Florida for STAR by the Dolphin Research program implemented by the Beyond Our Shores foundation. Other divisions include ladies, kayak, conservation, guides and many more. Since most division winners are determined by a random drawing, it is not about catching the biggest fish, any size fish can win prizes. The family-friendly competition runs through Labor Day with registration being open throughout the competition. STAR registration is $40 and participants must be a CCA Florida member to be eligible for prizes. For youth participants (ages 6 to 17), STAR registration is free with CCA Tide membership for $10. To sign up for STAR 2022 or receive additional information on divisions, prizes and more, visit ccaflstar.com or Facebook.
This map shows the number of tagged redfish released in all of Florida’s coastal counties.
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SERVING HARDEE, HIGHLANDS, OKEECHOBEE, DESOTO, GLADES AND HENDRY COUNTIES
LAKE ISTOKPOGA & LAKE OKEECHOBEE EDITION
Happy FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE
PG 2
PG 6 PG 8 PG 9 PG 10 PG 11 PG 12 PG 13
PG 14 PG 16 PG 17 PG 17 PG 18 PG 21 PG 22
Bass Addiction-Bruiser Baits - Don Norton All About Lawns - Don Norton Ask Sara - Sara Menendez Bait of the Month Three's Company - James Reed A Record Trout - James Reed Boat of the Month - Corky Neff Boca Granda Pass, Charlotte Harbor and the Flats - Capt. Dave Stephens Angler Profile - Sam Cox Tournament Schedule for July Lake Okeechobee Report & Forecast The Florida Trail - Robert Fromhartz Girls on the Water Mayan Cichlids - Steve Daniel Braggin Board
STAFF
DON NORTON TAMARA KOPP TANGIE NEFF PAUL GLASS JACKIE KENNEDY TERRI LEE ROBERT FROMHARTZ CAROLYN OLSON MALLORY MCNALLY AMY NORTON CHRIS NORTON
PUBLISHER GRAPHICS SALES SALES SALES SALES DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION DISTRIBUTION TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
W
elcome to the July issue of the Angle r Magazine - Lake Istokpoga/Lake Okeechobee Edition. This is our 12th issue, one full year, and we wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of our contributing write rs and adve rtise rs. Without your articles and adve rtising we could not have succeeded. Don Norton Thank you. Publisher Our feature story, on page 2, Bass Addiction-Bruise r Baits is a great story about one mans passion for a hobby and how it became a major manufacture r of quality fishing tackle that we all use today. I finally finished my second book, Queenie, "The Legend of Lake Istokpoga" and I'm pretty proud of it. If you're a bass fishe rman, you'll appreciate how she became "One In A Million" Sara Menendez clears the air on how often bass spawn, while Jim Reed takes up the question of a five-fish limit in bass tournaments. Both are 'must-read' articles. Next month will be our One-Year - Annive rsary Issue.
CONTACT US (863) 273-4998
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Contact us today for information and pricing.
Don Norton don@theanglermagazine.com donorton13@gmail.com
BASS ADDICTION
BRUISER BAITS
A
ll great companies have a beginning, and Bass Addiction/Bruiser Baits is no exception. For Steve Dial, it all began about 9 years ago, in 2013, when he and his son were fishing a bass tournament on the Caloosahatchee River. They were catching some really good fish on a soft plastic crawdad when they ran out of them completely. Returning home after the tournament, he ordered all they had in that particular color and he was told they would no longer be making that color. Most anglers are picky about the color, probably more so than the bass, but that’s the color they had been using and that was the color he wanted. So, the next logical step was to search the internet for a mold that would replicate the crawdad. After numerous dead-ends, he finally found it. And, from there, one might say “the rest is history.” Except, there’s a whole lot more to the story. That first mold, a 5” crawdad mold that closely resembled the crawdad they were using that day, was named Boss Craw. From there, they added four new aluminum molds and began separating used plastic baits, aka casualties of war, by color, melting them down in an old Pyrex cup in a microwave oven. Then, the injections began. It wasn’t long before Steve realized it had become 2 OKEECHOBEE
JULY 2022
an addiction. Soon, he was adding more and more molds, more styles and adding new components like glitter and scents. Adding virgin plastic and additional injectors, Steve soon realized he needed more space. So, he built more benches and tables, shelving and even a new ventilation system. But it wasn’t long before he realized they weren’t just making baits, field testing them themselves, and often winning in the process. It clearly became an addiction. And so, the name was coined and trademarked to become Bass Addiction Baits”. It wasn’t long before they got noticed on social media, Facebook, Instagram, etc. and suddenly Steve was flooded with requests for different styles of baits and different colors. Along with that, more aluminum CNC molds were needed (at a cost of $50.00 to $100.00 each). The hobby was quickly turning into a business, and with that early success they added a line of clothing, hats, custom designed “flip-grip” gloves, their own braided line which they appropriately named “Goat Rope,” and eventually their patented and original – no chip, no paint weights – “Flat Out Tungsten’s.” All of their products soon began selling well at local stores as well as their own website “Bass Addiction Gear.”
The Bruiser Connection
The first couple of years went by pretty quickly. Steve’s son, who was still in high school, worked alongside him as they continued to work nights and weekends. He was still the co-owner of a pretty goodsized air conditioning company in Ft. Myers, Florida. They continued to recycle plastics but it wasn’t near enough and they were constantly in need of more virgin plastic just to keep up with orders, but it was getting more and more expensive. That’s when Steve met Frank Sipe, who became a
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good friend and a fishing partner. He was a staff member of Bruiser Baits, and they often traded baits they had both been successful with. In conversation, Steve mentioned his need to find more plastic for his lures when Frank introduced him to the owners of Bruiser Baits. Bruiser Baits, a father and son business located in Loxahatchee, Florida gave him the opportunity to purchase 900 pounds of plastic. He burned through that pretty quickly and when he reached out to Bruiser Baits again, the owner said he liked Steve’s enthusiasm for making baits and he asked if Steve would be interested in buying his company, Bruiser Baits. He indicated that he and his son wanted to get back into the home building market. Steve was humbled and nervous at the same time. His air conditioning company was doing well,
selling cold air in south Florida, but the idea of owning a larger bait company was very appealing, something he just couldn’t pass up. Steve ended up working out a one-year buyout transition in 2015, and eventually moved Bruiser Baits to his air conditioning company in Lehigh Acres. It wasn’t long before he built a shop in Alva, Florida where he currently resides and works today.
Re-Invigorating the Brand
Moving about four tons of stocked plastic baits from the east coast of Florida to their new home on the west coast was a lot of work. But these were just the stock baits that had been designed and sold back in 2008-2009. Well established baits like the Bruiser Super Swimmer, Crazy Craw, Red Shad, Intruder,
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FIS H S TO RIES AR E MADE IN O KEECHO BEE, FLOR I DA! Avenger, Kickin Frog, Evil Twin and many more. The baits were made in Georgia on custom molds that were owned by Bruiser and shipped in runs of 10,000 baits per color. These baits could also be made in-house with injection molds, but it was seldom needed. Most were stock colors. But as soon as Steve’s friends and customers learned they were the new owners, custom color requests as well as bait style requests came out of the woodwork. They got to work…..How could he say no? After all, that’s what he was told years earlier and it didn’t sit well so well with him. From there, he began to build a staff of about 50 fishermen who would engage with the products and provide input as he started designing, drawing, CAD work, CNC work, prototypes and then final molds. They added baits like the SpeedSpade and Da Big Nasty, V-1 and V-2 series, the McMinnow, the McDaddy, the Bruiser Drop Shot, the Intruder X-Glide, the Whiplash Snake and most recently, the Bruiser Bullet. Even with all that, Steve still has two more baits in prototype. The process is endless. Today, Steve’s current bait count is around 55 different styles with hundreds of color combinations, and that’s just the stock colors. They have even added a crankbait and jerkbait to the lineup; the Bruiser Cruiser Crank and the Banger 110 Jerk Bait.
O KEECHO BEE CO UNTY TOUR I S M
FIS H S TO RIE S AR E MADE IN O KEECHO BEE, F LOR I DA! O KEECHO BEE CO U NTY TOUR I S M
Going Full-time
After discussing with his wife, Steve decided to sell off his share of the air conditioning company that he had been a partner in for the last twenty years, and make baits full-time in 2019. He and his wife had saved and done well in real estate, so with no real debt, they built a shop and started a new gameplan. Steve’s son, Devon was graduating from high school and he was on board as well. Devon packs and ships orders all day long, every day. To say he is picky and meticulous with his packing is an under-statement. He spends about 60% of his time working on store orders and 40% on website and distributor orders. Steve spends about three hours a day on average, making custom baits for anglers. Why spend that much time on small, custom orders? Steve still remembers he was told no, and it’s hard for him to tell other anglers no, when they’re looking for a particular bait style or color. Steve said they do custom orders from about 50 each, depending on the bait style, all the way to 200 or more. Orders come in from their YouTube page, Facebook, Instagram, email….. you name it, customers find him. Steve said it’s not rare to receive orders from complete strangers all over the country. They have shipped anywhere from thirty Big Basty customs to six pallets pr 60,000 Crazy Craws.
www.visitokeechobeecounty.com (863) 763-3959
Just Getting Started
Their belief is simple, they want to be a one-stop shop for all angler’s soft plastic bait needs, and he knows there are still some holes they have in their lineup, that they need to fill, but make no mistake, they are working on them every day. They now staff 150 anglers from local and regional tournament anglers, to bank beaters and kayakers, to the BASSMASTER ELITE and MLF, their brands are working and thriving. Sometimes people call and just want to talk with Steve about baits and fishing. But with the heaters killing the signal and their centrifugal pie molds spinning all day long, it's very difficult to have a conversation. Steve says he feels bad, but there is a chance he’s making someone's custom baits as they speak…..and it just might be theirs.
www.visitokeechobeecounty.com (863) 763-3959
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JULY 2022
OKEECHOBEE 5
ALL ABOUT LAWNS, INC. By Don Norton
G
ood news for Highlands County residents, particularly folks living in Sebring. AAL, All About Lawns, located at 605 State Route 66, near the intersection of 66 and 27. Family owned and operated for the last 20 years, in 2020 they opened and then moved into their current showroom in April of 2021. At the time, the covid pandemic was raging and causing lots of problems with the supply chain. But that’s all in the past. They service all brands, makes and models of mowers, handheld 2-cycle equipment, along with warranty service and sharpening of blades & chains. Anyone visiting their spacious showroom will be impressed with the wide variety of nationally recognized outdoor power equipment. AAL has mechanics on staff and offers homeowners purchasing a mower, a one-year maintenance-free program. If you haven’t visited their showroom, you need to stop by Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 4:30. They are closed on the weekend.
Jimmy G’s PA R A D I S E R E A L E S TAT E I
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Stop in and see us!
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Just down the street from Istokpoga Park 1807 US Hwy 98, Lorida, Florida Tue - Sat, 11am - 6pm Closed Sun & Mon
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We service all brands, makes, and models of mowers, handheld 2-cycle Equipment along with Warranty Servic.e & Sharpening of Blades & Chains & More!
Visit our Showroom 605 State Road 66, Sebring, Florida
Queenie The Legend
I
of ake
L
ASK SARA How Often do Bass Spawn?
stokpoga
The odds were more than a million to one - but she beat the odds to become a legend. — Dedicated to my brother Bill who inspired me to write the story, but didn’t live long enough to read it.
PRE-ORDER
YOUR COPY TODAY! $19.99, plus $3.95 postage
Check, Money Order or Credit Cards Accepted Contact Don Norton 863-273-4998 | donorton13@gmail.com
A Bass Fishing Guide and Tournament Angler, Don Norton’s knowledge and passion for Lake Istokpog rings true in this story. 8 OKEECHOBEE
JULY 2022
T
his has been a much-debated topic for decades. If you ask any angler, he or she will tell you a different story. Well known bass guides, professional anglers, and even some fisheries biologists will tell you different things. There have been a multitude of scientific studies done focusing on spawning patterns of Largemouth Bass. From these studies, we have learned that there is a lot that goes into a Largemouth Bass spawning: water temperature, moon patterns, densities of nests. All can play a role in spawning of these fish. For example, in waterbodies up north, the water temperatures that bass prefer to spawn in may occur only in a week or two-week time frame. If this happens, all the spawning for that year occurs in that one-or-two week time frame and is typically acknowledged as one spawning event per fish. Dave Philipp and Cori Suski have a lot of scientific publications on this for smallmouth bass. In Florida, the conditions in which Florida largemouth bass prefer to spawn in can occur for a much longer duration. Mark Rogers studied this by looking at bass hatching dates in Florida and found fish spawning between December-May. Another variable to consider is how many bass are in a lake. Steph Shaw and Mike Allen found that if fish density was high enough in a lake, fish would not spawn. However, in a waterbody with low fish densities, fish will spawn like crazy. To throw in another monkey wrench, Steph Shaw and Mike Allen also documented skipped spawning in some females within a population, where some female bass chose not to spawn at all during the year. Another study performed by a colleague, Nick Trippel, from our Freshwater Research Institute mimicked natural fish communities using ponds at the Richloam hatchery. Their main efforts were focused on looking at impacts of bed fishing and spawning. In their study, they found fish would start spawning in late January/early February and found spawning going through early May. Once the study was over, they drained the ponds to see how many juvenile fish were produced. Through genetics work on the juvenile fish, they found that some fish had spawned with up to three different partners in one spawning season. After talking with colleagues and diving into the scientific research that had been conducted, it seems that female bass do not release all of their eggs into one nest at a given time. The female will drop some eggs into one nest, and then some more eggs again in another nest. While the female is dropping eggs into multiple nests, it is still considered one annual spawn. Future scientific research should be done however to further prove this is the case. If you have any comments or want more information about the scientific studies mentioned in this article, please contact Sara Menendez at sara.menendez@myfwc.com. Note: Sara Menendez is a Fisheries Biologist with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission – Southwest Region.
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Bait ofthe Month Bruiser Baits 6” Stick Worm
B
uilt for generating big bites, the Bruiser Baits Big Stick presents a large profile that can easily get in and out of cover and tempt those kicker-sized fish into biting. Featuring a long, streamlined profile and infused with a heavy dose of salt, it provides a classic side-to-side quivering action on the fall that fish find absolutely irresistible. The Big Stick also features a built-in hook pocket that provides superior weedless capabilities and makes it a perfect option for a variety of weighted and un-weighted applications. The rigging possibilities are endless. The Big Stick works great when rigged wacky style, Texas-rigged, Carolina-rigged, drop shot, and it even works extremely well on a shaky head. Available in a variety of big bass catching colors, the Bruiser Baits Big Stick provides plus sized attraction that will keep your livewell overflowing. Built for generating big bites, the Bruiser Baits Big Stick presents a large profile that can easily get in and out of cover and tempt those kicker-sized fish into biting. Featuring a long, streamlined profile and infused with a heavy dose ...features a built-in hook of salt, it provides a classic side-to-side quivering action pocket that provides on the fall that fish find absolutely irresistible. superior weedless The Big Stick also features capabilities and makes a built-in hook pocket that it a perfect option... provides superior weedless capabilities and makes it a perfect option for a variety of weighted and un-weighted applications. The rigging possibilities are endless. The Big Stick works great when rigged wacky style, Texas-rigged, Carolina-rigged, drop shot, and it even works extremely well on a shaky head. Available in a variety of big bass catching colors, the Bruiser Baits Big Stick provides plus sized attraction that will keep your livewell overflowing.
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JULY 2022
OKEECHOBEE 9
THREE’S COMPANY
FIVE’S A CROWD
BY JAMES REED
This is just observational, because there’s little, if any, data available on the mortality from a five-fish tournament compared to a three-fish tournament, but it makes sense.
I
never thought of fishing as being a competitive sport. For me, to bass tournaments, such as keeping fish in mesh bags for the weighfishing has always meant finding a natural habitat, figuring out in, minimum handling, clip-on cull tags if any are needed, well aerated where the fish were, then trying to find a way to catch some, and cooled live wells, etc. Then, while observing tournaments, I noticed perhaps for a meal but sometimes just for the challenge. To a degree something else. Those tournaments that used a 3-fish limit rarely had this attitude came from fishing with other sportsmen and observing a dead fish at the weigh-ins. This is just observational, because there’s how they treated the fish with respect. That’s the only term I can little, if any, data available on the mortality from a five-fish tournament think of, treating their quarry with respect, in catching, handling, compared to a three-fish tournament, but it makes sense. and releasing them. They didn’t carry fish If a team is only keeping three fish instead of around for hours in an unaerated livewell, five, their livewell is less crowded and the fish are It’s up to the tournament directors. nor did they just truss them up on a stringer handled less. The livewell’s dissolved oxygen is A bass tournament that only allows three shared by just three fish instead of five, and three where they died a slow, tortured death. But moving to Florida after a prolonged fish reduce the waste products in the livewell. fish per team to be weighed in looks period overseas brought to light a different Once a team has three good fish, smaller fish, like a Win-Win proposition. approach to fishing – the bass tournament. which may be more sensitive to handling, are In a tournament, fish (which may have been released when they’re caught. There may be an caught at first light) are kept crowded in a live well until weigh-in time, advantage in weigh-ins as well. In a five-fish tournament, anglers who only which may be late afternoon. Sometimes they’re marked with cull tags have a few fish may just release them and go home since they feel they punched through their skin. Sometimes the aeration pumps fail, or the won’t be competitive. With a three fish limit for the weigh-in competitors water heats up, and the dissolved oxygen isn’t sufficient to keep them may feel more involved, even if their catch is small-sized. alive. But tournaments also have a positive side – they are a thriving What’s the downside? Except for bragging rights against other and interesting business with economic benefits, which can teach new tournaments with larger bag sizes, I can’t think of any. It’s up to the anglers about equipment and habitat. Some tournament anglers are tournament directors. A bass tournament that only allows three fish per motivated conservationists who pass their preferences and ethics on team to be weighed in looks like a Win-Win proposition. to other anglers. Overall, fishing licenses fund ongoing preservation Editor's note: Many of todays bass tournaments with a five fish limit projects that improve habitat and restore fishing opportunities. take 25-30 pounds to win. If you do the math, that's an average weight So, it’s possible to prefer noncompetitive fishing opportunities but of 5 or 6 pounds. In most cases, the anglers will have one big fish, maybe understand that tournaments have a place in the fishing world. 8-10 pounds and another 5-7 pounds. There isn't much room in a livewell. Most bass tournaments have a weigh-in bag limit of five fish, My Ranger has a 44-gallon livewell. If you compare that to an aquarium, although occasionally there’s a three-fish limit and rarely there’ll be it wouldn't be large enough for even one 12 inch bass, let alone 5 bass, all a tournament whose participants only bring in the larger fish they’ve probably much larger than 12". caught that day. I’m all for anything that can reduce mortality related 10 OKEECHOBEE
JULY 2022
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A Record
BROOK TROUT?
I
was on a fly-in fishing trip in Northern Canada, at a lovely spot on the Tree River, to fish for Arctic Char and Brook Trout. A float plane from the fish camp flew me to the remote area where I was going to stay for a week, overnighting in a rustic cabin and eating the food I brought in an ice chest. No electricity, no telephone, just a place to stay, some firewood for the stove and a week’s worth of fishing. The plane dropped me off and would return a week later. The first day out onto the river I had been fishing for about two hours when something very powerful hit my spinner. It took a while, but I finally got the fish to the net. It was the biggest brook trout I had ever seen. I didn’t have a scale, but I was able to measure it and it was 31 inches long. I didn’t know what the record might be, but this looked like one to me. But I was only one day into a one week stay and had no way to contact the outside world. If the fish was a world record size, I was going to have to keep it for a week and then fly it out. Then I remembered something I had read many years ago – that it’s possible to keep fish fresh if they’re kept on ice and rubbed down regularly with oil. I had a small can of Crisco with me that I used when I fried eggs for breakfast, so I put the big trout into the ice chest and rubbed it down with Crisco. The next morning, I did the same thing, and for the next seven days I opened the ice chest, prepared my meals, but also coated the fish with another layer of Crisco. Then the day came for my return. The float plane returned, and I loaded my things aboard, anxious to return. After landing, I quickly got to my car and drove to a nearby Ranger station to display the trout I had caught on the first day of my trip. At the Ranger station I explained where I had caught the fish, didn’t have a scale but had measured it to be 31” and thought it might be some kind of record. But when we took the fish out of the ice chest and measured it, it was only 24” long! Amazed, I couldn’t explain what had happened. The Ranger asked me for the details, and I told him about catching the fish, measuring it, and preserving it for a week in an ice chest, coated with Crisco. “Oh,” he said, “I think I see your problem. You shouldn’t have used shortening.” BY JAMES REED
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OKEECHOBEE 11
ANGLER
of Boat the Month 2020 Ranger Z521 L IntraCoastal
Owned by
Corky Neff
2020 Ranger Z521 L IntraCoastal bass boat for sale!
If you'd like your boat featured in the Angler Magazine's "Boat of the Month" please submit your pictures and information to The Angler Magazine at donorton13@gmail.com or don@theanglermagazine.com.
Local bass fishing guide and tournament angler Corky Neff’s 5th Ranger Bass Boat is the Ranger Z521 L with a 250 Mercury 4-stroke engine, providing plenty of horsepower. The boat is equipped with an Ultrex trolling motor with three Lithium batteries for lighter weight. It has three 12-inch Humminbird depth finders, with two up-front and one on the console. The two up-front on the trolling motor have the Mega 360 LIVE transducers and the Lakemasters chip for mapping while the one on the console has side-imaging and down-imaging, as well as the Lakemasters chip. It also has the Sea Clear wiring harness so the electronics are not tied to anything in the boat other than the batteries. Unlike most bass boats that are designed for fresh-water only, the IntraCoastal can handle saltwater as well. With a 51-gallon gas tank and an 8.2” beam, this 21.8” rig will go anywhere you want to go. Unlike traditional bass boats, it also offers non-skid flooring, which makes clean-up a pretty simple task.
ss e ment y anger
a y oat ium nbird e. The VE e the g, as ring boat
Capt. Dave Stephens'
Boca Granda Pass, Charlotte Harbor, and the Flats
REPORT & FORECAST
E
very summer when the rainy season arrives, the waters of Charlotte Harbor become stained like a glass of tea. The darker water comes from the dead vegetation mixed with the rain run-off. No, the water is not polluted this is a natural occurrence that is important for the health of our estuary. There are both positives and negatives of the dark summer waters. Hopefully I can help you turn some of these negatives in to positives. The biggest complaint that I hear when speaking to people about the water clarity is sight fishing. Well look on the bright side if you can’t see them, they can't see you. If you have ever sight fished for Redfish on Charlotte Harbor, you know it is not as easy as it sounds. When I’m out fishing the flats with artificial, I do what we call fan casting. This is a simple technique, I will position myself to where the wind or current will push me across the flat I plan to fish. Put your anchor or pole down and make several
casts if you catch fish work the area more thorough, if not move to the edge of your cast and repeat. Also I recommend a lure that you can cover a lot of water with fast. In this situation early I throw top water later in the day a spoon. For the live bait guys out there, well I let the bait do the work for me. When I pull up to an area I’m going to fish I chum heavier this time of year than when I can see fish over the white sandy bottom. Many times fish will blow up on your chum in places you didn’t expect. Try to picture the area as it was when the water was clear. The grass lines and pot holes didn’t change. If you would like to experience some of Charlotte Harbors finest fishing give me a call or visit my website. We will customize a charter that best fits you and your party’s needs.
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JULY 2022
OKEECHOBEE 13
Sam Cox
The Angler Profile
By Don Norton
I
f you fish Lake Istokpoga, you’ve probably passed Sam Cox at one time or another. He lives on the lake and he’s been out there fishing two or three times a day since moved to Florida fourteen years ago. Sam originally came to Florida as a snowbird, staying with his brother for a couple of seasons, but eventually, he moved down hers. Like many guys who grew up in the 50’s and 60’s, Sam started fishing when he was seven or eight years old. Back then, he fished mostly for catfish and carp, but he fell in love with the sport. After graduating from high school in 1956, he went to college at the University of Missouri and majored in Business and Marketing. Preferring not to wait for the draft, he volunteered and joined the United States Air Force where he earned a commission as a Second Lieutenant, and retired 20
...he set up the front of boat with 6 PVC rod-holders, and as he was leaning forward, another boat went by, causing a wake. He went over the side, along with his rods and some tackle. He was fortunate to have been able to recover all but one fishing rod.
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14 OKEECHOBEE
JULY 2022
years later in 1980 as a Lieutenant Colonel. While in the states, he spent over seven years stationed at Charleston Air Force Base. His overseas duty included Hawaii, Japan and Thailand. While in the service, he still had many opportunities to go fishing and he often entered Billfish Tournaments in Hawaii. His biggest bass was ten pounds on the nose, caught in South Carolina. His biggest Florida bass came out of Lake Istokpoga and weighed around nine pounds. Quite often he’ll start the day crappie fishing, coming in for lunch and then a few later going back out to do a little bass fishing. Some time ago, he set up the front of boat with 6 PVC rodholders, and as he was leaning forward, another boat went by, causing a wake. He went over the side, along with his rods and some tackle. It was December, and the water had cooled off. He was drift-fishing in 7’ of water so he had no choice but to swim to the boat. He was fortunate to have been able to recover all but one fishing rod.
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ISTOKPOGA LAKE
BASS TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE July 2022
Sunday, July 3, 2022 Istokpoga Park
2:00 PM Xtreme bass series weigh-in 60 Anglers
Sunday, July 10, 2022 Hendersons Fish Camp
2:00 PM The Venice bass club weigh-in 60 Anglers
Saturday, July 16, 2022 Windy Point Boat Ramp
3:00 PM Dixie Country Bass Club weigh-in 60 Anglers
OKEECHOBEE, LAKE Thursday, July 7, 2022 Scott Driver Park
12:00 PM Old Farts Tournament weigh-in 30 Anglers
Saturday, July 9, 2022 Clewiston City Park
1:00 PM South Florida Bass Club weigh-in 25 Anglers
Sunday, July 10, 2022 Okee-Tantie Campground & Marina
3:15 PM South florida Elite Team Series weigh-in 60 Anglers
Thursday, July 14, 2022 Scott Driver Park
12:00 PM Old Farts Tournament weigh-in 30 Anglers
Saturday, July 16, 2022 Okee-Tantie Campground & Marina
2:15 PM Indian River Bass Anglers weigh-in 30 Anglers
Roland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina
3:00 PM Bass Busters weigh-in 150 Anglers
Sunday, July 17, 2022 Roland & Mary Ann Martin's Marina
3:00 PM Bass Busters weigh-in 150 Anglers
Thursday, July 21, 2022 Scott Driver Park
12:00 PM Old Farts Tournament weigh-in 30 Anglers
Saturday, July 23, 2022 Belle Glade City Park
1:00 PM Beeline Bass Busters weigh-in 28 Anglers Okee-Tantie Campground & Marina
2:00 PM Cracker Boys weigh-in 150 Anglers
Thursday, July 28, 2022 Scott Driver Park
12:00 PM Old Farts Tournament weigh-in 30 Anglers
PLACID, LAKE Wednesday, July 6, 2022 Public Ramp / Placid View Drive
3:00 PM Florida Fire/Rescue Bass Tour weigh-in 30 Anglers
Saturday, July 16, 2022 Public Ramp / Placid View Drive
2:00 PM South Pasco Bassmaster weigh-in 50 Anglers
Tournament directors have until the day before their tournament to schedule or make changes to their tournament exemption. This exemption allows the tournament participants to have an exemption from fish length limits, but not bag limits, while participating in the tournament. All fish are required to be handled as stipulated in the permit, while doing everything possible to ensure a live release. Any dead fish are normally provided to a charity, such as a homeless shelter. More information about black (largemouth) bass fishing tournament exemptions can be found here: https://myfwc.com/license/freshwater/bass-tournament/. Many of the bass tournaments are coordinated through local fishing clubs, reach out to the group specified for additional information. Weigh-ins are typically open to the public.
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JULY 2022
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F
i m d nearby As around allows condit do wh fishing crank and to W rig) ju to the hook o water, more t In The sh set tha big wo deeper Waterm Bream Fo
Capt. Angie Douthit ’s Lake Okeechobee
F
REPORT & FORECAST
ishing in the month of July on Lake Okeechobee for bass offers a multitude of ways to enjoy your day on the water. If you like to fish deeper water areas June is a good time to fish the Kissimmee River and nearby canals such as J & S and Taylor Creek. As summer continues, some bass like the cooler water temps and hang around areas such as ledges, drop-offs, rock piles and etc...this type of cover allows them the opportunity to ambush their prey. These types of fishing conditions, give Anglers various fishing techniques that you normally can’t do while fishing out on the lake in shallower water. My favorite lure when fishing the summer months, choosing to fish the River and Canals is the crank bait. This allows me to cover water quickly, catch that reaction strike and to feel the bass swim up/behind my lure before I feel the tug. When power-poled down on an area I enjoy throwing a C-Rig (Carolina rig) just to keep up with how it feels when working the worm/senko back to the boat allowing that sinker to bump rocks, come up ledges…setting the hook on a c-rig can be tricky. A good thing to remember…the clearer the water, the little longer your tag-end/leader end should be but normally no more than 2 ½ ft should be suffice. In muddier type water conditions you can shorten up your leader line. The shorter the leader line, the easier/quicker you can swing that rod and set that hook. With those two techniques combined with maybe say a Jig or big worm texas-rigged that should give you enough variety to affectively fish deeper water areas. Main color choices for Summer time bass fishing are: Watermelon; Watermelon/Red; Junebug; White; Green-Pumpkin and Shad/ Bream colors for crank baits and Crawdad colored skirts for jigs. For a shallow water presentation if you’re fishing out on the lake or
The
Annual trip with returning guests we caught 626 total bream, fishing only 3 hours each of the 3 days...both boats! The mornings of fishing was literally every cast, non-stop and SO much fun!! We all cleaned them right after each days trip for the flight back to MO for vacuum packing.
not,try modifying a Mann’s 1-Minus (the egg). When modified correctly the lure swims on top, moving side-to-side, offering a different noise and motion. Want to know how? You can email or call, I’ll walk you through the steps or you can look back into your Bass master magazine pile and reach for the July/August 2008 issue on page 74. This was a trick I learned from my friend, the late Charlie Campbell who fish the BASS tour and was known for his outstanding abilities as a top-water fishing expert. For the bream bite, live crickets works best. If you want to catch some fingerling as well, try using red worms, you’ll catch both and some shell crackers too. I use a 6 ½ - 7 ft. ultra light spinning rod/reel…actually Lews Wally Marshall combo brand, it works great and doesn’t break the bank. Tip your bait with a pegged small bobber stop above your cork and below (set for the depth your fishing) then a small split shot weight about 12 inches below your second bobber stop and hook sized similar to the size of your bait and your ready to go. To book your next fun time fishing Lake Okeechobee or River and Canal system call 863-228-7263 or log onto www.southfloridabassfishing.com.
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Florida Trail
Deer Lake Junction to Fort Pickens
F
By Robert Fromhartz
lorida’s Panhandle offers a beautiful hiking experience along the shore of the Gulf of Mexico. This section of only 55 miles will take you through a unique ecological environment of pine trees, yucca plants, sea oats and sand dunes. Or you can simply enjoy a walk along the beach through sparkling white quartz sand beside the emerald waters of the Gulf. See historic Fort Pickens on Santa Rosa Island. It is part of the Gulf Island National Seashore and administrated by the National Park Service. Camping at mile 12.1 and 20.8. At mile 23.5 you enter Eglin Air Force Base and it requires a permit. Cross US 98 at mile 27 and take the Navarre Beach Causeway and cross Santa Rosa Sound. More camping at mile 39.5 and the Fort Pickens campground at mile 54.6. This section will end in one more mile at the north terminus of the Florida Trail at Fort Pickens Historical site.
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JULY 2022
OKEECHOBEE 17
JP
s l r i g he
Dean
on t r wate
&Paige Person
A
t safe light JP and I prepaid to go out on Lake Jackson for our final tournament of the season. We started out at one of the best brush piles that had brought us good luck in the past, we fished it with some of our favorite baits and it did not disappoint! In an hour and a half we had almost caught our 5 fish limit, but we needed one more fish. With that in mind we went on to another brush pile but it seemed to be deserted, from there we started dragging. Dragging took a while to get a bite, we were patient and excited when we finally reeled in our last fish! Continued on page 20
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OKEECHOBEE 19
Continued from page 18
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JP and I had caught our bag limit so everything we caught after that we started culling them out. It was a really great day on the water and we ended it with 5 bass weighing in with a total of 7.6 pounds. With the 2021-2022 Highlands Country Anglers season ending JP and I have started our summer fishing! Being able to fish on weekdays not just on the weekends has us super excited to be able to spend more time on the water! We’ve been testing out some new baits and working on new techniques such as flipping and pitching with our new baitcaster from Mr. Red. Stay tuned for next months article on our summer fishing adventures!
Steve Daniel
The Voice of Okeechobee Fishing Steve Daniel • 239.560.2704 • 863.885.2230
MAYAN CICHLIDS GOOD OR BAD?
T
hat is a question I’m getting a lot these days. In reality we don’t really know just what effects these tropical fish will have on our fragile eco system. The only thing I can tell you is we now have millions of them here on the big O. The positive things are that they are fun and very easy to catch and they are good for the table. The negative side is they are ferocious predators. Just what effect will they have on the natural environment? They like to inhabit the same waters that our bass like to spawn and we know little about the effects they will have on our bass and bream populations. The bottom line is we know little about these fiery little predators and the effects all of the invasive fish and snakes will have in the long term.
The good news is Mother Nature has her own way of healing things when they get out of control, one good cold winter would start the healing process. Most of the tropical invasive fish in Lake Okeechobee are very tropical and can’t withstand cold water; the only thing that worries me is that we haven’t had a cold winter in many years. I guess we will just have to wait and see what Mother Nature will give us; we don’t have much control over that. So if you want to have some fun tie on your favorite beetle spin and take them all home, if you don’t eat them there is always someone fishing from the bank with a bucket that would probably love to have them? Don’t throw them back give them to someone that needs some fresh good eating fish, you might make some new friends.
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OKEECHOBEE 21
The
Braggin’ Board Submit your pictures to The Angler Magazine don@theanglermagazine.com
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Don Hawley Invitational Produces
119 TARPON RELEASES
T
he 48th Annual Don Hawley Invitational Fly Fishing Tarpon Tournament, one of the “Big Three” tarpon fly tournaments, pulled in a total of 119 releases for the week. Angler L. Mark Weeks, of Tokyo, Japan and Nampa, Idaho, and his guide, Capt. Andy Thompson, won the Grand Championship with 18 releases. Aside from two afternoons of dodging storms, the tournament lucked out and had a great week after some major tropical winds threatened the area days beforehand. The best fishing took place on the first and last days of tournament, which saw 36 and 30 fish, respectively. Afternoon lightning lowered the releases to 14 on Day 2, then 18 fish on Day 3, and 21 releases on Day 4. Ocean tarpon fishing proved more difficult than backcountry during the week. Locating fish is one of the biggest talents that guides bring to the team. The Don Hawley attracts some of the best fly anglers from around the world. It was the first tarpon tournament to stop the killing of tarpon in 1987. Anglers receive 1,000 points for each fish measuring 4 feet or longer caught and released on 12-lb. tippet, in accordance with International Game Fish Association rules. The Grand Champion title is awarded to the angler and guide with the most fish caught and released during the fiveday competition. In addition to other awards, Grand Champion names are added to the Perpetual Trophy, which showcases all past champion anglers and guides. The trophy resides at Florida Keys Outfitters in Islamorada, Fla. This year was the second time Weeks and Thompson had their names added to the trophy. “Five days feels like a lifetime in these tournaments, particularly when you’re getting chased off the water by thunderstorms and are neck-and-neck with several of the best teams to the bitter end,” said Weeks. “Lucky for us, Andy knows how to find fish and is a wonderful coach when it comes to catching them.” Coming in second place was angler Evan Carruthers, of Maple Plain, Minn., and his guide, Capt. Greg Dini with 16 releases. Third place was won by Angler Rich Garcia, of Islamorada, and his guide, Luis Cortes with 15 releases. Scott Christian and his guide, Chad Huff, earned the High Point Day award with a whopping eight releases on the first day. The Annual Don Hawley Invitational Tarpon Fly Fishing Tournament began in 1974. Proceeds benefit the Guides Trust Foundation, which assists Florida Keys Guides in times of hardship and provides scholarships to Florida Keys students interested in the marine sciences. Next year’s tournament will take place June 5-9. For more information, visit www.guidestrustfoundation.org.
16 FLORIDA
JULY 2022
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Bay Scallop Season Is Here! Y (including Cedar Key, Crystal River, Homosassa): July 1-Sept. 24. This region includes all state waters south of Alligator Pass day beacon #4 near the mouth of the Suwannee River in Levy County and north of the Hernando – Pasco county line. Pasco County: July 15-24. This region includes all state waters south of the Hernando – Pasco county line and north of the Anclote Key SEASONS St. Joseph Bay and Gulf County: Aug. 16- Lighthouse in northern Pinellas County, and Sept. 24. This region includes all state waters from includes all waters of the Anclote River. BAG LIMITS the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County to the Daily vessel limits do not allow individuals to westernmost point of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County. The area marked with FWC buoys south of retain more than the per-person limit. There is no Black’s Island is a Bay Scallop Restoration Area and size limit on bay scallops. Fenholloway through Suwannee River Zone: no scalloping or anchoring are allowed. • June 15-30: Daily bag limit per person is 1 Franklin County through NW Taylor County (including Carrabelle, Lanark, St. Marks): July gallon in-shell or 1 cup shucked. Daily vessel limit 1-Sept. 24. This region includes all state waters is 5 gallons in-shell or 2 pints shucked. • July 1-Labor Day: Daily bag limit per person from the westernmost point of St. Vincent Island in Franklin County to Rock Island near the mouth of is 2 gallons in-shell or 1 pint shucked. Daily vessel limit is 10 gallons in-shell or ½ gallon shucked. the Fenholloway River in Taylor County. All Other Zones: Fenholloway through Suwannee Rivers Daily bag limit per person is 2 gallons in-shell Zone (including Keaton Beach, Steinhatchee): June 15-Labor Day. This region includes all state or 1 pint shucked. Daily vessel limit is 10 gallons waters east of Rock Island near the mouth of the in-shell or ½ gallon shucked. Fenholloway River in Taylor County and north of OTHER INFO Alligator Pass day beacon #4 near the mouth of • Legal methods of harvest include by hand or the Suwannee River in Levy County. This area has with a landing or dip net. Recreational harvesters a lowered bag limit June 15-30. See bag limits for are required to have a Florida saltwater fishing more. license unless they are 1) exempt from needing a Levy, Citrus, Hernando Counties Zone license or 2) have a no-cost shoreline fishing license ou’d be hard pressed to find better Florida family fun than kicking around in the shallows to pick up scallops. Bay scallop seasons open across most of Florida’s west coast this month, so grab your mask, fins and snorkel, load up the kids and hit the water. Here’s what you need to know to get in on the action.
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T
and are wading from shore to collect scallops (feet do not leave bottom to swim, snorkel or SCUBA and harvesters do not use a vessel to reach or return from the harvest location). • Direct transit of legally-harvested bay scallops is allowed through closed areas.
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18 FLORIDA
JULY 2022
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JULY 2022
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FLORIDA ANGLER LANDS 100TH IGFA WORLD RECORD
NNUAL A H T re Coast N TE asu e Tr
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r. Jan Forszpaniak, a retired Florida surgeon, caught and released a 67-centimeter (more than 26-inch) asp from Italy’s Po River in February. The fish, a type of carp, was caught on fly tackle and set a new IGFA all-tackle length fly world record for the species. With that fish, Forszpaniak tallied his 100th IGFA world record. It’s the second time he’s broken his own record for the species. Forszpaniak is an IGFA representative who, since retiring in 2018, travels the world to fish and seek out records. He is an avid saltwater fly fisherman who has visited many of the world’s top fly fishing destinations, including Russia, South Africa, Zambia, New Guinea, Gilbert’s Archipelago, Christmas Island, Cook Islands, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, and Turks and Caicos, according to an Outdoor Life article. “I am very proud, privileged, and honored to represent IGFA as a lifetime member, ambassador, and international representative,” he told Outdoor Life. “I understand the importance of IGFA conservation efforts. “Whichever country I visit, I always spread the IGFA message and encourage people to join.” According to the IGFA database, some of Forszpaniak’s more notable records include the all-tackle length fly record for Pacific bonefish at 73 centimeters (almost 29 inches) as well as the 16-pound tippet record for Pacific bonefish for a fish that weighed 13 pounds. Both were caught at New Caledonia. He also holds the all-tackle length record for giant trevally for a 126 centimeter (nearly 50-inch) fish he caught in the Cook Islands. For more information, go to igfa.org.
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FLORIDA 21
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Angler Catches Pink-Tagged Bass and $6,000
O
n May 22, Florida angler Dale Dew caught the first of 10 pink-tagged largemouth bass released by FWC into lakes across the state this year. As a part of the TrophyCatch 10Tag Celebration, Dew received a $5,000 gift card to Bass Pro Shops and $1,000 to shop at AFTCO. The catch also qualifies Dew for a chance at an additional $10,000, which will be awarded at a ceremony this fall. FWC biologists tagged this specific bass in February on Lake Griffin. Dew caught the fish near the same spot it was tagged, using a plastic worm. He successfully submitted his catch according to TrophyCatch rules. Dew is originally from Antiqua and he and his family now live in central Florida. While he was not originally going fishing for the pink tag, he saw a sign about the promotion that day. “It was the first time we heard about it, and we were like, ‘Whoa what’s this? We aren’t going to catch it. We’re two guys who can’t fish!’” said Dew, the first lucky angler to catch a pink-tagged largemouth bass. “We don’t have all the nice equipment or a nice bass boat but we got lucky and caught it! So, it could be any ordinary person who catches it. You never know, it’s crazy.” Nine more pink-tagged bass are swimming in other waterbodies across the state: Newnans Lake; Lake George; Lake Talquin; Lake Walk-in-Water; Tenoroc Fish Management Area; Lake Trafford; Lake Istokpoga; Lake Rousseau; and Johns Lake. Anglers 22 FLORIDA
JULY 2022
have until the end of September to fish for these special, prized fish. To celebrate Season 10 of the TrophyCatch program, biologists with the FWC tagged and released 10 largemouth bass with bright pink tags in 10 different locations across the state. Anglers should check the TrophyCatch website for rules and updates. The TrophyCatch program rewards anglers who provide documentation of their catch and release of largemouth bass weighing 8 pounds or heavier in Florida. To be eligible for prizes, anglers are required to submit photos or videos of their catch to TrophyCatch.com, showing the entire fish and its weight on a scale, before releasing it back into the water. Participants are also automatically entered in a free boat drawing just for registering. FWC biologists use TrophyCatch data for bass research to make informed decisions about the management of Florida bass fisheries and to promote the catch and release of trophy bass. The associated TrophyCare program promotes best handling practices for trophy bass to ensure that each TrophyCatch bass is released alive. For more information, go to trophycatchflorida.com.
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FLORIDA 23
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CATCH HARD-FIGHTING
JACKS
On Top or On Bottom
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID JUNQUERA (IG: DAVID_ROCCA_)
are widespread in the Atlantic. They inhabit the western Atlantic from Nova Scotia to Uruguay and throughout the Gulf of Mexico. Juvenile jack crevalle live inshore, where they prefer moving water of upstream currents. They thrive in a wide range of salinity and are often found in brackish waters and sometimes freshwater canals. Adults, on the other hand, usually move out of the estuaries and occupy currents, reefs and other nearshore and offshore structure, generally within the bounds of the continental shelf. Large individuals can absolutely be caught in shallow inshore areas, but deep-water jacks are usually larger. The largest IGFA-recorded jack crevalle weighed 66 pounds, 2 ounces and was caught out of Angola off the western coast of Africa. When food, such as mullet, is abundant, jacks get excited and will chase prey right up on the sand, against seawalls or into a boat. In open water, they herd baitfish into a mass before plowing through it from all sides. I target monster jacks from the beach or an inlet. Fishing with live bait on the bottom is the easiest method. I drop baits in the deep trough, just on the backside of a sandbar. Baits in the 10- to 12-inch range work best for bigger fish, and I prefer using whatever baitfish is around. My favorite for jacks is needlefish. If you’re looking for more of a challenge as well as heart-stopping explosions, try fishing topwater plugs. David Junquera is a dedicated plugchucker from West Palm Beach. Using topwater lures, he has landed 23 jack crevalle heavier than 40 pounds. His heaviest to-date weighed 46.3 pounds. Junquera said time of day, winds, tides, migrations and location of bait are all crucial factors for successfully targeting jacks with topwater plugs. Anglers should get out and explore to determine the best patterns for the areas they fish. At a minimum, Junquera recommends a 6500-size spinning reel with By Emily Rose Hanzlik 50-pound braid and an 80-pound leader. Junquera prefers to throw lures that outh Florida boasts some of the best surf fishing in the world. High are 6.5 to 8 inches long. The faster you work the plug, the more strikes you’ll profile species are regular catches from the beaches of the sunshine state’s earn, he said. A whip retrieve is ideal. southern Atlantic coast. The jack crevalle is one of my favorites. It is a Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 51 IGFA world records in various categories. fierce, stubborn and dynamic gamefish that can be caught bottom fishing with She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bowfin live bait or by casting plugs. Whichever method you choose, you’re sure to Guide Service as well as fishing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her have a battle on your hands once you hook up. on Social Media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors. Shore-based fishing for jack crevalle is not limited to Florida. These fish
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JULY 2022
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LESTER WINS ELITE TOURNEY WITH SNEAKY PATTERN AT PICKWICK By TAM Staff
O
ver the years, Brandon Lester has become known as one of the most consistent anglers in tournament bass fishing. Yet, in nine seasons on tour, an Elite Series win has eluded him… until now. The Tennessee pro and former The Angler Magazine columnist won his first Elite Series tournament on Lake Pickwick in early June. He did it in spectacular fashion, weighing a four-day total of 20 bass for 86 pounds, 1 ounce. He beat out the next closest competitor by almost 6 pounds. Pickwick is a long 43,000-acre Tennessee River impoundment that runs north from Alabama into Tennessee along the Alabama/Mississippi border. It is renowned for excellent largemouth and smallmouth bass fishing, and in summer dam-driven river currents combine with the lake’s many offshore humps and ledges to produce some pretty consistent patterns. Threadfin and gizzard shad make up the majority of the forage base, so big flutter spoons, large deep-diving crankbaits and swimbaits are summertime staples. Lester said he knows the Pickwick ledge bite well and that doing something just a little different from everyone else put him on a sneaky pattern with some less-pressured fish. “It was shellbed, and where the current rolled up on that bar, from 8 feet to 4 feet, there was a hard spot,” he said. “The fish were sitting up on that spot. It was small, maybe three times the size of my boat. It was a typical Tennessee River feeding spot, right off the main river. There was a ton of bait in there — gizzard shad, threadfin shad. It was the perfect combination.” Most of Lester’s fish came on a Strike King 4.0 crankbait in chartreuse shad. He also fished a Berkley MaxScent Magnum Hit Worm in plum apple
Neko rigged with a 1/8-ounce nail weight. His sacks topped 20 pounds each day of the tournament, and the morning bite was key for him. A 6-pound, 13-ounce largemouth caught with a football jig anchored his sack on Day 3, and he entered Championship Sunday with a 3.5-pound lead. On Sunday, he poured on the gas, catching 22 pounds, 14 ounces, which earned him the VMC Monster Bag of the tournament. In the morning, he caught 17 pounds within the first half hour of fishing. He culled a few fish and then shut the door on the competition with 6-pounder caught at about 1 p.m. from a main-river ledge that dropped from 14 to 21 feet. He caught that fish on a Scrounger head with a 5-inch Castaic Jerky J, which is a bait that hadn’t produced all week. “This is unreal,” he said. “That Open win, I was super proud of it. It’s a stacked field in the Opens. But an Elite Series win is next level. I guess it’s between an Opens win and a Classic win. That’s the only thing that can top it. These are the greatest bass fishermen in the world.” The $100,000 first-place prize at Pickwick pushed Lester’s career Bassmaster earnings past $1 million. For more information, visit www.bassmaster.com.
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JULY 2022
NATIONAL 15
Enter To Win!
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PHOTO COURTESY OF ecreational SHOW ME THE FISH CHARTERS harvest of red snapper in federal waters of the South Atlantic will be two days long this year. The July 8-9 season opens at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 8, 2022, and closes at 12:01 a.m., local time, on July 10, 2022. The season is for Atlantic waters off North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. The recreational bag limit is one red snapper per person per day. Captain and crew on for-hire vessels may retain the recreational bag limit. There are no minimum or maximum size limits. Allowable gear includes vertical hook-and-line, including hand line and bandit gear, and spearfishing gear without rebreathers. When fishing for or possessing snapper/grouper species in federal waters of the South Atlantic, the following regulations apply: • Use of a dehooking tool is required. • The use of non-stainless steel hooks is required when using hookand-line gear with natural baits. In waters North of 28-degrees N. latitude, the use of non-offset, non-stainless steel circle hooks is required when fishing for snapper grouper species using hook-and-line gear with natural baits. • A descending device is required on board all vessels and must be readily available for use (attached to at least 16 ounces of weight and at least 60 feet of line).
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ICAST 2022 ROLLS INTO ORLANDO JULY 19-22
I
t first glance, this fish might look like a deformed dolphinfish (mahi-mahi), but it’s not. It’s a pompano dolphinfish, and it’s a new North Carolina state record and a potential world record. Charles Kenneth Noonan, of Sumter, S.C., caught the 11-pound, 5.4-ounce fish at an abandoned raft, about 42 miles off Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina on June 8. Noonan said he is applying to the IGFA for certification of the fish as the all-tackle world record. The current certified world record pompano dolphinfish weighed 8-pounds, 8-ounces, and was caught off Maryland in 2008. Noonan’s fish measured 30.5 inches fork length and had a 17.25-inch girth. He was fishing with Capt. Tyler Hailey and First Mate Bailey Auten of Salt Fever Guide Service in Ocean Isle Beach. They were aboard the Glory Daze, a 37-foot Freeman Boatworks Catamaran.
CAST, the world’s largest sportfishing trade show, will spread out across the expansive floor of the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. July 19-22, showcasing the latest innovations in gear, tackle, accessories and apparel. From Super Tuesday on July 19 to the final bell on Friday, July 22, it’s almost a full week of events that have become a cornerstone of the sportfishing industry. From seminars and “learning lunches” to a show floor jam packed with quality exhibitors displaying the products that will drive the industry in the coming year, ICAST is the place to make valuable connections and stay on top of the trends in fishing. Many companies choose to roll out their latest innovations at ICAST each year, and the New Product Showcase is a chance for them to shine a spotlight on their latest and greatest. These new products are the hottest new lures, tackle, clothing, electronics and gear that anglers will be purchasing in the coming year. ICAST is the one-stop shop for retailers and manufacturers to connect in-person and make valuable business relationships. Orlando’s world-class dining, lodging and entertainment will be bustling with the movers-and-shakers and the up-and-comers of the industry, as the sportfishing world convenes to determine what drives the next year in fishing.
For more information North Carolina state records fish, visit ncwildlife.org.
For more information, go to www.ICASTfishing.org.
TEEN ANGLER CATCHES PENDING WORLD RECORD
A
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JULY 2022
NATIONAL 17
SLOW DOWN AND COVER THE ENTIRE WATER COLUMN
Tim Barefoot
I
’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: wahoo and tuna don’t wear Maui Jims. They use depth to regulate the amount of sunlight they are exposed to. So, while normal trolling at 6 to 8 knots and high-speed trolling at 15 to 20 knots are good things at first light and up to 10:30 or 11 a.m., it’s time to slow down once the sun gets directly overhead. I slow it to a crawl and even fish some baits down deep under a sliding cork on the drift. Spreading baits across the water column is the best way to continue that morning bite when the midday doldrums arrive. Darker colored baits like red-and-black or purple-andblack work well when fish are looking up to feed. The dark silhouettes of darker colored baits show up well against the bright surface. Yet, it doesn’t make sense to continue trying to convince fish to come to the surface to eat a bait 50 or 75 feet above them. When pelagics drop down in the water column, it’s better to put a bait right in the
“strike zone” where they are. There are several baits that provide a natural presentation down deep, but a big
beautiful squid checks all the boxes on this one. Squid rise to the surface at night and descend to the depths as the sun gets higher… just like the fish. This is the natural choice, as you are trying to match the hatch, so to speak. There is nothing in all the seven oceans of the
SUMMERTIME FISHING...
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world that is more common than the squid. Squid could, and should be called the “rice of the oceans.” Frozen squid are readily available for bait, and everything in the ocean eats them. I have the ultimate example of this as one day we were on anchor grouper fishing when a couple of nice dolphin swam under the boat 20 to 30 feet below. I could tell they were nice ones and started throwing out cigar minnows and sardines to get them fired up. They didn’t want any part of the free minnows. So, I pulled out a whole frozen squid and hooked it up on light tackle and threw it out about 50 feet. I just let it start sinking. After all the minnows they let go by and sink out of sight, the biggest one of the pair saw that sinking squid and inhaled it! It just goes to show, they will eat a squid when all else fails. The other good news is a squid is so easy to rig to swim perfectly. Whether you are fishing a natural frozen squid, a live one or an artificial one, just slow down a little to allow the bait to get down to the level where the fish are staged during the middle of the day for some serious bites. See more from Tim Barefoot at barefootctasandtackle.com.
www.
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n the blockbuster film, when a strapping Australian crocodile hunter and a lovely American journalist were getting robbed at knife point by a couple of young thugs in New York, the tough Aussie pulls out his dagger and says “That’s not a knife, THIS is a knife!” Of course, the thugs scattered and he continued on to win the reporter’s heart. Our Aussie friend would approve of our rendition of his “knife.” Forged of high grade 420 surgical stainless steel, this knife is an impressive 16" from pommel to point. And, the blade is full tang, meaning it runs the entirety of the knife, even though part of it is under wraps in the natural bone and wood handle. Secured in a tooled leather sheath, this is one impressive knife, with an equally impressive price. This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers. But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99, 8x21 power compact binoculars, and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Down Under Bowie Knife. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the impeccable craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 days for a complete refund of the item price. Limited Reserves. A deal like this won’t last long. We have only 1120 Down Under Bowie Knifes for this ad only. Don’t let this beauty slip BONUS! Call today and through your fingers at a price that won’t drag you’ll also receive this you under. Call today! genuine leather sheath!
Stauer® 8x21 Compact Binoculars -a $99 value-
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What Stauer Clients Are Saying About Our Knives
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“This knife is beautiful!” — J., La Crescent, MN
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“The feel of this knife is unbelievable...this is an incredibly fine instrument.” — H., Arvada, CO
Down Under Bowie Knife $249*
Offer Code Price Only $99 + S&P Save $150
1-800-333-2045
Your Insider Offer Code: DUK313-01 You must use the insider offer code to get our special price. Rating of A+
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14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. DUK313-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com
*Discount is only for customers who useNot the offer code versus the shown listed original Stauer.com price. actual size.
California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product.
• Etched stainless steel full tang blade ; 16” overall • Painted natural bone and wood handle • Brass hand guards, spacers & end cap • Includes genuine tooled leather sheath
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JULY 2022
NATIONAL 19
COLUMBIA
BANS SPORTFISHING By CAM Staff
C
olumbia recently banned sportfishing. That should serve as an eye opener even for anglers who have never considered travelling to fish. A potential destination fishery, with rivers famous for exotic species like peacock bass and a coastline that boasts excellent fisheries for roosterfish, tuna, marlin, sailfish and cubera snapper, has decided that catch-and-release fishing is cruelty to animals and has deemed the practice unconstitutional. With an 8-1 vote in favor, the ruling came down from the Columbia Congressional
20 NATIONAL
JULY 2022
Court in May with a plan to begin enforcement next year. The court, which is roughly equivalent to the U.S. Supreme Court, decided that while commercial, artisanal and subsistence fishing remain constitutional, catching fish and returning them to the water should be banned. If you catch a fish, you must kill it in order for the catch to be legal. It’s enough to scramble the brains of anglers and conservationists. Anyone who has paid a lick of attention has watched the rise of catch-and-release lead to the rebound of coastal and inland fisheries around the world. At presstime, Columbians were voting to elect their president, with Gustavo Petro, an extreme leftwing candidate by U.S. standards, leading in a runoff election against Rodolfo Hernandez, a businessman and former city mayor running on an anticorruption platform. Columbian attorneys are already contesting the sportfishing ban, but if Petro wins the election there’s a good chance parts of the ruling will be enacted. Columbian lawyer Luis Guillermo Valez Cabrera lambasted the ruling in op-ed for the website La Republica, saying the ruling “may be the stupidest decision a constitutional court has made in recent history. It’s really laughable.” “What the court wants to tell us is that, since we do not know if the fish can suffer, to protect the environment, we must prohibit sportfishing,” Cabrera wrote. “The possible impact on the environment is due to commercial fishing and artisanal fishing, practices that were not constitutionally prohibited. Think of the meshes, the dynamite and the dragnets that kill anything, sentient or not.” While this court’s ruling might be easy to write off as nonsense from a nation more well-known for corruption and cocaine than anything else, it’s a reminder that hunters and anglers must remain vigilant. Germany banned catch-and-release fishing in the 1990s, and the animal rights movement has successfully restricted hunting in many places around the globe, including in Columbia. As with most political debates, money is the key. Politicians who’ve never held a fishing rod need to realize that fish in the water can be far more valuable economically than they are served up at restaurants. Just ask Costa Rica, which boasts of a recreational fishery that generates hundreds of millions of dollars annually. For more information, see the July issue of The Angler Video Magazine at VidMag.com.
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By Nick Carter
EPA MOVES TO PROTECT THE WORLD’S LARGEST SOCKEYE RUN
P
ebble Mine, a proposed mining development in the headwaters feeding Bristol Bay, Alaska, is in the news again. The latest development in this two-decade struggle is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposal to veto the project under authority of the Clean Water Act. It is a next step toward establishing lasting protections for the largest remaining salmon fishery in the world. The Pebble deposit is an enormous accumulation of gold, copper and molybdenum in the headwaters of the Kvichak and Nushgak rivers, which feed Bristol Bay and the Bering Sea about 300 miles southwest of Anchorage. In 2001, the first steps toward mining the deposit began, and ever since it has been a source of controversy as mining rights have changed hands through several multi-national corporations and actual development of a massive
open-pit mine has been tied up in red tape. At stake is one of the few remaining truly pristine areas on the planet. Back in 2005, my wife and I spent a glorious week with Alaska Sportman’s Lodge fishing the Kvichak, Nushgak and several other rivers in the Bristol Bay drainage. It was a once-in-a-lifetime type experience in the most beautiful and unspoiled place I’ve ever been. The fishing was phenomenal and featured 40-plus-pound king salmon, a sockeye salmon run so thick you could have walked across their backs, 30-inch rainbow trout in their native waters, as well as grayling and Dolly Varden in places where anglers share water with brown bears, moose and bald eagles. Getting there is difficult and expensive, but the experience is highly recommended for anyone interested in arguably the best fly fishing destination in the world. But there’s more to it than a recreational fishery so good it will spoil you. Bristol Bay is also the most important salmon fishery on earth. It provides half of the world’s wild sockeye salmon. If your local grocery store carries “wildcaught sockeye salmon,” there’s a good chance it was caught by Bristol Bay’s commercial anglers. According to Bristol Bay Defense Fund, the unspoiled natural resources of the region support a $2.2 billion economy that employs tens of thousands of people in commercial fishing, hunting, sportfishing, outdoor recreation and tourism. Earlier this year, Alaska Department of Fish and Game projected 2022 will be the second record-breaking year in a row for Bristol Bay’s sockeye salmon run. The estimate calls for 73.4 million fish to swim up area rivers to spawn. This annual run supports an amazing ecosystem that has for time immemorial thrived on the transfer of nutrients far inland from the ocean. And while proponents of the Pebble Mine likely speak the truth in their assertion that a mine would bring added wealth and jobs to the region, it would come at the potential expense of a natural phenomenon that perpetually and sustainably supports humans as well as the native flora and fauna. EPA’s public comment period on the proposed veto is open until July 5. To get involved, go to www.epa.gov/bristolbay.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
JULY 2022
NATIONAL 21
THE GULF’S PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES
BOUNTIES
W
hen the surf is on, it can be some of the best and easiest fishing around. For those in the know, we keep a keen eye on the beachfront starting in May and when the conditions are right, we make sure not to miss it! During July, the shrimp migration hits the beachfront and many hungry predators are following on their tails. Trout in the 5- to 8-pound range are not uncommon while trout shorter than 20 inches are found in large schools. There are many productive tactics that can land you a hefty stringer of these speckled beauties from live shrimp and finfish to an array of artificial lures. I prefer the latter, and here are some of my favorites. Topwater! There is no beating a topwater eruption as the sun is peeking over the horizon. I use a wide range of plug sizes and let the size of the seas determine what I throw. I like a larger heavier lure when the surf is rough. When it is flat, a small or large can be effective. Switching out the standard trebles to single circle hooks is a good approach to lessen the chance of injuring yourself. Bouncing around in the surf trying to land a stout surf trout can lead to an accidental hook in you. Singles also save time unhooking, which leads to more time fishing and catching. Slow-sinking hard baits with rattles also make it into my box when heading into the suds. I like to cast these lures out and let them sink for a few seconds. Most of them have a relatively slow sink rate, so I give them a little time to get lower in the water column. A series of fast twitches followed by a pause usually draws their attention. Many solid trout have fallen for the old faithful ¾- to 1-ounce silver spoon. The presentation is as simple as it gets. Cast and reel; that’s it. This inexpensive lure is an attention getter for sure and casts like a bullet. I typically start my day before sunrise. During the course of my wade, I will hit all structure from a foot deep to eight feet deep. I give equal attention to the depth of the guts to the top of the bars. I see a lot of fishermen go straight out to the second or third gut and stay there the entire time. You will miss many opportunities if you choose to do this. The fish are not always in that gut. At times, I only catch them on top of the bar. Start early, broaden your target area, be safe and catch fish! Surf ’s Down!
The Return of a FROM THE BEACH By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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ripletail have long been a prized target for anglers in the Southern Atlantic and the Gulf of Mexico, and they are gaining popularity farther north. A big 16-pound, 12-ounce tripletail caught from Chesapeake Bay last summer was recently certified as a Virginia state record. A press release from Virginia’s Marine Resources Commission suggested the rise in popularity of sight fishing for cobia is also pushing tripletail into the spotlight. Richard H. Stuart Jr., of King George, Va., and his father, Richard Sr., were sight fishing for cobia in southern Chesapeake Bay last July 23 when they spotted a flash in the water and decided to pursue it. On approach, they identified the fish as a tripletail on the surface. Richard Jr. convinced it to eat on the second cast of a 2-ounce cobia jig. Tripletail are not a new arrival to Chesapeake Bay, but with the rise in the popularity of sight fishing for cobia, encounters are increasing. Along the Atlantic Coast tripletail have been collected as far north as Massachusetts but are rarely found north of the Chesapeake Bay. Their flesh has been compared to other mild-tasting white-fleshed fish like snapper and grouper. The IGFA all-tackle world record for tripletail was caught off Zululand, South Africa in 1989. It weighed 42 pounds, 5 ounces. For more information, go to mrc.virginia.gov. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
JULY 2022
NATIONAL 23
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Explore the “Great Lakes” of South Carolina! Explore many attractions, splash on the lakes, 40+ waterfront campgrounds and fish camps. Explore the “Great Lakes” of South Carolina! It’s time to make memories in Santee Cooper Country. Explore many attractions, splash on the lakes, 40+ waterfront campgrounds and fish camps. It’s time to make memories in Santee Cooper Country.
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Queen City Kayak Bass Fishing – Nov 19th, 2022
Queen City Kayak – Nov 19th, Duckfest Open Bass TeamFishing Tournament – Oct 1, 2022 2022 Duckfest Open Team Trophy Tournament – Oct 1, Trail 2022– Dec 9-10 Striped Bass Challenge-2022 Championship Striped Bass Challenge-2022 Trophy Championship Trail – Dec 9-10
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