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GO FROM FISH TO WAKE TO DAD OF THE YEAR IN THE SAME AFTERNOON.
Go from fishing to wakesurfing to conquering the water. The all new 25-foot FSH® Series from Yamaha is perfect for those who want to get the most out of their boating experience. With fishing-friendly features like a GPS Simrad® system and dual livewells, along with a premium layout and the patented Yamaha swim platform, the new 25-foot FSH Series guarantees you’ll be in the center of everything you love about life on the water. #RUNTHEWATER YA M A H A B OAT S . C O M
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How to Be Cut Off From Civilization When it’s you against nature, there’s only one tool you need: the stainless steel River Canyon Bowie Knife—now ONLY $49!
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ou are a man of the wilderness. The only plan you have is to walk up that mountain until you feel like stopping. You tell your friends that it’s nothing personal, but this weekend belongs to you. You’ve come prepared with your River Canyon Bowie Knife sheathed at your side. This hand-forged, unique knife comes shaving sharp with a perfectly fitted hand-tooled sheath. The broad stainless steel blade shines in harmony with the stunning striped horn, wood and bone handle. When you feel the heft of the knife in your hand, you know that you’re ready for whatever nature throws at you. This knife boasts a full tang blade, meaning the blade doesn’t stop at the handle, it runs the full length of the knife. According to Gear Patrol, a full tang blade is key, saying “A full tang lends structural strength to the knife, allowing for better leverage ...think one long steel beam versus two.” With our limited edition River Canyon Bowie Knife you’re getting the best in 21st-century construction with a classic look inspired by legendary American pioneers. What you won’t get is the trumped up price tag. We know a thing or two about the hunt–– like how to seek out and capture an BONUS! Call today and outstanding, collector’s-quality knife that you’ll also receive this genuine leather sheath! won’t cut into your bank account. This quintessential knife can be yours to use out in the field What customers are saying or to display as the art piece it truly is. But don’t wait. A about Stauer knives... knife of this caliber typically cost hundreds. Priced at an amazing $49, we can’t guarantee this knife will stick around for êêêêê “First off, the shipping was fast long. So call today! and the quality is beyond what Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Feel the knife in your I paid for the knife. Overall I hands, wear it on your hip, inspect the craftsmanship. If you don’t feel like we cut you a fair deal, send it back within 30 am a satisfied customer!” days for a complete refund of the sale price. But we believe that — D., Houston, Texas once you wrap your fingers around the River Canyon’s handle, you’ll be ready to carve your own niche into the wild frontier. TAKE
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very year in Basel, Switzerland, the world’s best-known luxury watchmakers gather to display their new timepieces. It’s a great event for spotting timepieces that standout–– in performance and in personality. We saw one impossible to ignore: a precision dive watch with an arresting green dial. But we also saw the five-figure price tag and knew we could bring our customers that exact same precision and stand out appeal for a whole lot less. The Stauer Evergreen Diver is that timepiece. Built like a submersible battleship with a stainless steel case, caseback, and band, the Evergreen Diver is water-resistant down to 660 feet or 20 atmospheres, a feat facilitated by a hardened crystal and screw-down crown. Green On Your Wrist AND In Your Pocket. You could pay an awful lot elsewhere for this verdant virtuoso, but the majority of the cost is in the big designer name upcharge. We think those guys are all wet. This is how you own a top-of-the-line dive watch without helping pay for some marketing guy’s yacht.
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ach year, millions of collectors and silver stackers around the word secure freshly struck American Eagle Silver Dollars. Minted in one Troy ounce of 99.9% pure U.S. silver, these legaltender coins are perhaps the most widely collected silver bullion coins in the world... and they’re about to change forever.
Final Release of Original Silver Eagle Design
Since 1986, the design of the “Silver Eagle” has remained unchanged: Adolph A. Weinman’s classic 1916 Walking Liberty design paired with former U.S. Mint Chief Engraver John Mercanti’s stunning eagle reverse. But in mid-2021, the U.S. Mint plans to replace the original reverse. This initial release is the FINAL appearance of the U.S. Silver Eagle’s original design! $27 $26 $25 $24 $23 $22 $21 $20 $19 $18 $17 $16 $15 $14
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In the last 12 months, average monthly values of silver bullion have increased nearly 38%! At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in the U.S. Mint slowing production of freshly struck Silver Eagles. Add in the final issue of the original design, and you have a trifecta of demand that has buyers around the world ready to pounce.
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10:41:29 AM
AN AMBITIOUS 2021
BUCKET LIST
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By Gary Turner
T
his year has not been my best fishing year. I did end up doing a little fishing, just not nearly as much as usual. So, this is the list of fish I want to catch in 2021. Some of these will not be very impressive to some of you, but some of them might seem worthy of adding to your own bucket lists. Here is my list, in no particular order: 1) Swordfish: With my friend Jimmy Dean’s help, I hope to land a swordfish out of the West Palm Beach area. This will not be easy, but hopefully I can get a shot or two. 2) Salmon Shark: This smaller cousin of the great white weighs up to 1,000 pounds and can measure 10 feet long. I plan to fish out of Resurrection Bay, Seward, Alaska. As of right now, I don’t have a captain selected, so kindly e-mail recommendations. 3) Halibut: I’m hunting a halibut heavier than 300 pounds. This will also most likely be out of Seward, Alaska. I have several friends who fish out of Seward for halibut, and it might take several years to find this fish, but every halibut is an adventure. 4) Blue Catfish: I would like to catch a 100-pounder or better. I like the Tennessee River in the Guntersville area for good odds of making this happen. 5) Snakehead: Why? Because I’ve never caught one. The Miami area is where I plan to look for these fish. 6) Oscar: I’d like to catch a very large Oscar. I love these fish, and years ago I used to raise them. The fact that they grow wild and big in south Florida makes me want to catch them, and they are supposedly very tasty. 7) Alligator Gar: This is a trip I have talked about for years and haven’t
f A r s w d m
been able to pull off. A friend and I have talked about fishing for giant alligator gar, so I just have to get out to the Trinity River in Texas to make it happen. 8) Tarpon: I have caught tarpon but never one of great size. Hopefully, on one of my trips to Florida, I will catch the right time and place and make it happen in 2021. 9) Bluefin Tuna: This one might be on the list for a few years, but I’m giving it more and more thought. A friend has been telling me about catching tuna in the Prince Edward Island area. The more we talk, the more I want it. My other choice of locale is North Carolina. 10) Goliath Grouper: I’d like to reel one up and take some awesome pictures before release. Again, this is a Florida trip. I have several friends who want to do this, too, so it should be a great trip. That’s my list for now. If you have time, email me and tell me about your list for 2021. Contact Gary Turner through email at gary@purgeright.com.
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ere’s a memorable beach moment: You’re basking in the warm sun, toes in the sand, letting the gentle turn of the foam-capped waves lull you into a state of complete relaxation. As your eyes scan the endless horizon of blue on blue, you’re rewarded with a school of dolphins making their way across the sea. There’s no denying their signature shape as they leap from the water. If you don’t see anything else extraordinary the rest of the day, you can take solace knowing you’ve witnessed one of nature’s most playful and intelligent creatures in their natural habitat.
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THE TENDENCIES OF
BIG TROUT PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES.
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
N
ow that we are in the clutch of winter’s grip, let’s talk about how if affects speckled trout and what you need to do to catch them on the coldest of days. Several years ago, I fished a south Texas trip with my brother and brother-inlaw. We planned it with one thing in mind and one thing only: big speckled trout! As luck would have it, the coldest front of the year blew in the day before our three days of fishing began. We had anticipated a wade-fishing event on muddy bottom in waist-deep flats, but with the water temp at 38 degrees when we reached our spot, we had to adjust. The muddy shallows were no longer waist deep as the tide was blown out by stiff north winds. They were also void of visible baitfish. With hands so cold they refused to move without assistance, we decided to grind it out in a deep channel in the vicinity of our original spot. When most would have stayed in the hotel, we decided to give it a try since we had driven hours to get there. We threw slowsinking lures and soft plastics on a jighead. When we decided to call it a day, we had one small red and an 8-pound trout, which made it all worthwhile. Anytime I see a fish of that magnitude, it doesn’t matter what else was caught. On day two, the weather warmed only slightly, but the wind had died down considerably. Rather than make the long run to mostly barren grounds, we decided to fish closer to the ramp in an area with multiple deep dead-end channels in close proximity to each other. In these channels, we bounced soft plastic off the bottom and had a banner day. The three of us easily landed 40 to 50 trout. Most of these fish were solid 2- to 4-pound fish with a few 5- and 6-pounders and one heavier than 7 pounds. The bite was very subtle, and the jig had to be on the bottom. The sun came out in the afternoon, and the water began to warm considerably. The wind also shifted to the south, and the evening temps didn’t drop nearly as low as they had been. The next day we went back to the exact same location and only caught a few trout. The lesson from this trip is the trout don’t want to be in those dead-end channels, but that’s where they need to be during cold snaps. They did not go in to feed; they were there to survive. Once they knew the threat of the freeze was over, they left and went back to the open bay. Although these canals can be a great place to fish when it’s cold, timing is everything. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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TIDEWATER / OUTER BANKS
JANUARY 2021
PUBLISHER & EDITOR BRENDA RIGGS MIKE RIGGS
By Chris McCoy
Co-publishers & Editors
Happy 2021 Everyone! We were thrilled to take twenty-five Veterans out on the water in 2020, totaling nineteen trips overall! We have shared many with you over the past few months and hope you enjoy taking a look at our most recent one included here! Our trips are no cost to the Veteran, so each dollar raised helps bring another one of these trips to life. If you like what you see and read please don’t hesitate to reach out, our info is located at the conclusion of our article. Everyone has a Veteran they know in their family, their neighborhood, or their workplace so let’s give them the experience and healing they deserve and nominate them for a trip! Our mission here at Hook Line and Heroes is based around the love and compassion we share for our servicemen and women who defend our freedom. In mid-November we had the pleasure of taking Frank, pictured here, out on Lake Murray down in South Carolina. Frank is a Purple Heart recipient from his time served during the Vietnam War and he snagged a variety of catfish, striped bass and largemouth that morning. Frank was joined by Keith, who is one of our board members and a Veteran himself. Keith experienced the impact of our trips first hand when he was nominated and awarded a trip, and afterwards he wanted to join our effort as soon as he could. We give nominated Veterans with service-connected disabilities the opportunity to spend a day in the beauty of God’s creation and relax while fishing. As we can all agree, the outdoors is a great place to bring peace of mind, calming, reflection, and a chance to put aside the typical day-to-day stresses. Our trips are targeted to be a relaxing experience between a representative of Hook Line and Heroes and the Veteran. No matter where the trip is located throughout the Carolinas or Virginia, we always provide a licensed fishing guide as well to ensure the Veteran has the best experience catching fish that day. We highly recommend Captain Josh Freeman of Palmetto Guide Service if you are ever looking for a day out on Lake Murray! He helped us keep Frank busy all day and have a wonderful time! After each trip, our Veteran walks away with a fishing rod, fishing tackle, Hook Line and Heroes apparel, a Bible and daily devotional book. The fishing guide, equipment, and travel cost are all covered by Hook Line and Heroes. We are a 100% volunteer run organization. Above all, we aim for the Veteran to take away new friendships and love, enabling them to create or renew their passion for fishing as well as their relationship with God. For more information about Hook Line and Heroes or to nominate a Veteran for a trip, please visit our website at www.hooklineandheroes.org. Our website also details the many ways you can support us through one time, monthly, or corporate giving donations. Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram @ hooklineandhero to keep up with our events, fundraisers and most importantly see highlights from every trip we complete! COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS J. JIM MIKE AARON CHRIS GLEN WARREN JOHN JAKE
ANDRE BAUGH BUSS KELLY McCOY PIZZANELLO II REESE TIGER WORTHINGTON
GRAPHIC DESIGN JENNY DIAZ
CONTACT INFORMATION For editorial comments, articles, photography, artwork and all other inquiries please contact:
BRENDA RIGGS brenda@coastalanglermagazine.com
757.409.7518 MIKE RIGGS mriggs@coastalanglermagazine.com
757.681.5001
JAN 2021
TIDEWATER & THE OUTER BANKS 1
2021 By Mike Buss
H
appy New Year! It seems like I have been waiting forever to be able to say that and put 2020 in the rearview mirror. With vaccines on the way, we may be able to finally put the virus in the rearview mirror as well. 2020 has been quite a year with the virus, riots, and political unrest creating an almost unreal atmosphere. It also created lots of opportunities to get outdoors to get away from the virus and go fishing. I hope many of you were able to take advantage of these opportunities. I had some very memorable fishing trips this past year despite all the distractions and look forward to more of them in the new year. I like to spend time in January planning my bigger fishing trips for the year. If it will be to a new location, I try to find all the information I can about the area before making a call to a fly shop in the area. I also look for the closest flyfishing club and contact them as well. The call to the fly shop should result in contact information and a recommendation for a guide. I then put a call to the guide to reserve a date and get his recommendations as far as tackle is concerned. I like to spend the first day in a new location fishing with a guide. It is always money well spent as I can gain a wealth of information. It usually results in saving a lot of time as I can put information like areas to fish, flies to use, and techniques that work well in the area to work. If I am going to an area I have fished before, I review my fishing logbook to review what worked in the past and make my plans accordingly. If it is to a saltwater area, I try to be on the water at the same time of tide that I had success in the past. A good fishing logbook is important, relying on memory becomes harder as we get older, and if you have not fished the area in a while, it becomes even harder to recall what worked in the past. I would strongly recommend keeping a fishing logbook and making entries every time you go fishing. It doesn’t need to be fancy, anything will do, even a cheap notebook. What is important is the information you put in the logbook. I log the date and time, area fished, weather conditions, water temperature, flies used, techniques and depth fished, results, and any other information that is unusual for that location. If it is a saltwater location, tide information is also logged. January is also the time to clean and refurbish my flyfishing tackle. I give all my flyrods a good washing with soap and water and a toothbrush to get into all the rod guides. I also give my reels a good washing. I do this by pulling all the fly line off each reel and then removing the spool and giving both a good bath in mild soap and water. I also pull the backing and give it a good washing. Make sure all are thoroughly dry before putting back together in the rod and reel cases. It is also a good time to take inventory of leaders and flies used the past year and replace as necessary. Happy New Year to all and I hope the coming year results in lots of tight lines. Thanks, and tight lines
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THE FLYING FISHERMAN
By J. Andre
What’s THIS!?
We have talked around the subject of catfish identification before, but never comprehensively. Really, it is not that hard to ID what’s on your hook, but it can be confusing if you are just getting started in the sport. Sometimes, the lore and legends don’t help. In some parts of Virginia, the folks call every fish with whiskers a variety of Channel Catfish, that is, a Blue Channel Cat, a White Channel Cat, a Bullhead Channel Cat. Sorry folks, a Channel Cat is a Channel Cat. Out west, they proclaim a white catfish is a false mythical fish, but I assure you they are common up and down the East Coast estuaries and rivers. There is a lot of overlap in the waters where these fish live so you can’t automatically assume a species by where you are fishing. Also, the coloration in Blues, Whites, and Channels can be deceiving depending on their age and the environmental factors. Still, if you are fishing on a large lake or river and catch a monster catfish over 80 pounds, it is likely a Blue Cat. A Flathead Cat looks like a toad with fins that has a severe case of a protruding bottom jaw. Here is some clarification and a more technical way of determining what’s in the net. Blue Cat Key Identifiers: Skin color is typically light blue/gray to dark slate gray, and it will gradually darken from a light belly to a dark shade on the top. They have deeply forked tails and the bottom of the caudal fin just in front of the tail (also called the anal fin) is straight and nearly parallel with the body. If you are still not sure, count the rays in the caudal fin. This is the tie breaker. Blue Cats have 30-35 rays which is the skin between the fin bones on the lower rear fin. When asked what I buy for Blue Cat bait I say, “nightcrawlers.” I use them to catch native perch and bluegills that will be cut up for the kitties. Crabs and Shad are also popular baits for blues. Remember, Chicken Eddie uses chicken breasts. Channel Cat Key Identifiers: The skin color has an olive tint, but large adults may appear similar in color to Blue Cats. Young fish may have small black spots sparsely distributed across their sides. The bodies are generally narrower with smaller heads than a Blue Cat of equal length. Like a Blue Cat, the tail is deeply forked, but a Channel Cat has a round caudal fin. Be careful of trying to identify the fin shape by looking at a picture that may show the straight appearance of a Blue Cat’s fin. A Channel Cat can roll up that round fin sideways away from the camera making it appear straight. Your average Channel Cat only grows to two thirds of the size of a Blue Cat, so size can be a contributing factor. Again, the rays in the caudal fin tell it like it is. 25-29 rays say it’s a Channel Cat. They will eat just about anything so if you can’t catch bait, raid the refrigerator. The smellier the better. White Cat Key Identifiers: A pure white belly transitioning to mottled white/grey/black sides to a black upper back. Adult fish rarely go over 18-20 inches, but I did see a monster 24 incher. They have a broad set of shoulders and humped back peaking in height at the dorsal spine. The tail has a moderate-to-shallow Vee, but it is not blunt like a bullhead or flathead. The caudal fin is shaped round like a Channel Cat, but it is smaller. The rays are key. Some say 19-23, others say 18-24. Either way they have less rays than a Channel Cat. These fish may be smaller, but on light tackle they can be a blast to catch. The only issue with targeting these fish with light tackle is you may get slammed by a 40-pound Blue. That ought to be entertaining. They love cold water and night crawlers, shiners, and native cut bait. I think they are the best eating of all the Virginia cats. Flathead Cat Identifiers: In addition to what was said above, they are very unique and easy to identify. Ugly is the key. Focus on live bait for these predators. Now go out there and “Get Slimed.” COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
JAN 2021
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OBX By Aaron Kelly
INSHORE
Well the last month of the year! Thank you for reading the Coastal Angler Magazine! Special thanks to Brenda for keeping up with us! Great sponsors and products all thru the magazine! Well if you wanna get out and fish this month, come on! Storm lures swimmy shads casted and trolled have been getting some nice sound side stripers. Best tide has been on the Yule tide! Casting up current and slowly reeling back has been stuffing coolers! Fresh fried striper fillets will make you holly jolly! Surf fishing tends to be pretty slow but you never know what you may find if the surf is nice. Pretty days slide offshore and hook into some naughty tuna! These strong fish will make your drags jingle jingle! Trolling ballyhoo adorned with seawitches is the bait of choice. Colors that have been hot are red, green, and white. I hope you have a great Christmas. I hope you get a great meat hog sweatshirt or cobia jigs from St Nick. Or maybe a rod custom from OBX local surf guru Nick. Happy Holidays, enjoy you family and friends, and God Bless! Captain Aaron Kelly rocksolidfishing.com 252-441-6575
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JAN 2021
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OUTBOARD CHOICES
By John Tiger
It’s the dead of winter as this is published, and a great time to think about spring 2021 boating. Here at Tiger Outboards, we’re busy as heck, due to many reasons. Gratz to our dedicated customers, who love two-stroke outboards and refuse to let them die with the times. We’re also thankful for the boom in boating business, which has been the biggest seen in over 30 years, and has had dealers all around the country struggling to meet demand for new boats, engines and gear. This has even trickled down to small independent businesses like Tiger Outboards, as people resurrect older hulls and engines in their quest to get out on the water and enjoy. At our small outboard shop, we see plenty of customers who have an older boat, most often from the 1990s or early 2000s—and they need an engine for it. When they price a new outboard, it’s sticker shock time! A new midsized four stroke outboard engine (70-115hp) goes for upwards of $8000, often $11 grand or more including controls, mounting, and rigging. That’s more than many want to pay, especially for mounting on an older boat that might be worth half of that. The alternative is a used engine, but with anything used, it may be a “barn find” and run perfectly, or it just may be someone’s old junk. Unfortunately, there’s no way to tell without running it on a boat, in the water, under load. We provide a great alternative—restored and rebuilt, resurrected two stroke outboards from Johnson, Evinrude, Mercury and Yamaha. Our engines sell for a little less than half of what a new engine costs, and include a one-year warranty. Each one is custom built, and takes typically 4 to 8 weeks from time of order to delivery (longer wait times are possible when workload is high). You can reach out and discuss your needs, and place an order for an engine, at jtigerjr@hotmail.com, or 518/469-3700. Some of the more significant differences between a new four-stroke outboard and an older rebuilt/restored two stroke outboard include: • An older two stroke is lighter, simpler to service and repair, and easier to mount and rig.
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• An older two stroke will cost less than half of a newer four stroke to rebuild, when that time comes. • A new four stroke gets better fuel mileage. At full throttle, the difference is small. At idle and cruise speeds (typically 2500-4500 rpm), a newer four stroke will see improvements 30 and 40% better mileage than an older two stroke. • A newer four stroke typically will not accelerate as quickly and powerfully as an older two stroke. The manufacturers have closed the gap in this area in the past few years, but the earlier four strokes—those built between the late 1990s and the mid 2-teens—are very slow off the line compared to a traditional two stroke. • A newer four stroke is easier to start than a traditional two stroke. For most, this won’t matter; they’ve grown up starting outboards and similar devices (weed eaters, leaf blowers, etc.). For those who want their outboard to start like a new truck, a new engine might be a better choice. Hopefully this story will help with decisions when it comes time to consider a replacement engine for your boat.
John Tiger, a recognized expert in high performance boat setup, rigging and driving, outboard repair and trailer towing, John’s boating and racing experience has helped him write popular columns such as Outboard Tech and Seat Time as well as many hundreds of feature stories.
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CATCHIN’& COOKIN’
JIM’S STUFFED MEATBALLS
It is that time of year and nothing goes down better on a cold night better than a piping hot meatball sub or simply baked in the oven with some melted motz. Here is my recipe, you will need 1lb fresh ground veal 1lb 80/20 burger 1lb fresh ground sausage 1 cup fresh basil 1 tbsp each of salt, garlic powder, oregano, ground pepper 1 cup bread crumbs ½ cup ketchup Tsp fresh cracked red pepper flake 1 egg 20+ ½ inch motz cubes Mix all ingredients but don’t overwork the mixture. Make balls, big ones, and use your finger to insert a cube of motz in each ball. Then cover the cheese with the surrounding meat. Place on a baking sheet and cook in the oven for 45 minutes and turn the balls ½ way through baking. When fully cooked, let rest on a cooling rack then serve. Fantastic stuff !
WE MADE IT TO THE NEW YEAR! by Jim Baugh reporting from Oyster Farm at Kings Creek, Cape Charles VA Happy New year folks! It is time we got 2020 behind us and looking forward to a prosperous and bountiful 2021! At the time of this writing, we are getting ready to film the Mid Atlantic Rockfish Shootout held at the Oyster Farm. Great event always! To see the standings from the tourney just check the Mid Atlantic Rockfish Shootout Facebook page or their web site. We will also have the info post on all Jim Baugh Outdoors Social Media. Hey the new year means more fishing! During this time of year, a lot of anglers will target togs in the Bay. Probably one of the best areas is of course the artificial reefs at the CLT, or known as the tower reef. There is an incredible amount of structure all around this area anything from WW2 tanks, airplanes, docks, boats, you name it and is there. JBOTV many years ago in the 1990’s filmed the sinking of the redbirds some 50+ railcars all sunk to make for a fantastic reef system. You can check out the show on our You Tube Channel here https://youtube/CRENP1RMDsU It is this time of year I get most excited about what is coming up next month. Jim Baugh Outdoors TV Annual Offshore Sea Bass Blitz! Every year we head out from the fishing center and have a whopping good time catching really big sea bass and lots of them. One of my favorite fish to catch and dine on. Lightly pan seared black sea bass with a three-pepper shrimp sauce is still one of the best meals you can ever have. Plan now to join us by making your reservations at the Virginia Beach Fishing Center. You will be glad you did! January is also a great time to take a break from cooking from the holidays and enjoy a night out with the best view on the Bay at the Seafood Eatery located at the Oyster Farm. The Oyster Farm Marina also has all the amenities you will need for your boat and one fantastic fish cleaning station to boot. They also have winter storage for your boat so call them if you need that service. The marina number is 757- 331-8640 and the web site is www.theoysterfarmatkingscreek.com Jim Baugh, Jimbaugh.net, Jim Baugh Outdoors TV For more updates on our fishing trips and latest shows log on to: https://jimbaughoutdoors.blogspot.com/ for updates on everything, digital prints gallery, etc. Jim Baugh Outdoors TV Amazon Prime Video https://www. amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07Z9S825F/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r JBOTV Online Hubb: https://jimbaugh.blogspot.com/
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VISIT YOUR LOCAL DEALER NORTH CAROLINA KILL DEVIL HILLS Bill’s Marine LLC 252-982-6595 VIRGINIA ACCOMAC Sandpiper Marine Inc. 757-787-7783 VIRGINIA CHESAPEAKE Centerville Waterway Marina 757-547-4498 VIRGINIA NEWPORT NEWS Sports Marine, Inc. 757-595-9333 SMITH MOUNTAIN LAKE Smith Mountain Boat & Tackle 540-576-2755 EXMORE Seaworthy Marine Services 757-442-3666 NORTH CHESTERFIELD Nautical Marine 804-271-3198
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AREA ANGLER CLUBS The Great Bridge Fisherman’s Association is a family-oriented fishing club located in the Great Bridge area of Chesapeake, Virginia. Our charter is to introduce new anglers to the sport of recreational fishing while promoting the conservation of our resources. The diversity of its membership covers all aspects of recreational fishing from freshwater to saltwater, surf to pier, and inshore to offshore fishing. The club is active in the community, sponsoring various events including Wish a Fish, an Annual Scholarship to high school seniors pursuing higher education and inshore party boat fishing for both our senior and disabled residents. Our Tournament Director also ensures that the membership sponsors and participates in various inter and intra club tournaments throughout the year. Some of our annual activities include a banquet, lead pouring, oyster roast and fishing flea market. Monthly meetings are held the first Monday of the month from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. There is always a guest speaker talking on a wide range of topics and there are plenty of door prizes, raffles and snacks to round off the night. We meet at the Great Bridge Baptist Church located at 640 Battlefield Blvd South, Chesapeake, Virginia across the street from the YMCA. Guests are always welcome. Feel free to contact us with any questions at www. fishgbfa.com.
The Tidewater Anglers Club (TAC) was founded in February of 1941 at a meeting at the Monticello Hotel in Norfolk, Virginia. The objectives of the TAC were the same then as they are today—to promote legislation and fishing practices that effectively provide protection of the environment and our resources. TAC is an organization that influences the customs and practices for the conservation and propagation of fish and kindred creatures. The TAC organization is committed to the promotion of true sportsmanship among all fishermen along with providing entertainment and education for its members. The club has grown into a truly multidisciplined angling organization with almost equal individual and family memberships. Each year there are 11 monthly membership meetings and an Annual Awards Banquet. There are also club activities such as tournaments, family fishing days, a fish fry and other events which allow members to gather for fun and fellowship. The monthly meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at Bayside Presbyterian Church, 1400 Ewell Road, Virginia Beach, VA. (Intersection of Independence Blvd. and Ewell Rd.) Guests are always welcome and we usually serve light refreshments. Monthly meetings always include an educational talk or presentation on some aspect of fishing. Also members submit fishing contest forms and this information is used to select the winners of our annual trophies. The club maintains a record of all fish reported to determine club records. Special events bring everyone together for some fun and relaxation. These include hot dog and chili nights, our annual fish fry and our annual awards banquet for the awarding of the fish trophies. We welcome you to join the Tidewater Anglers Club. We are a group of about 100 members, of various levels of fishing experience, ranging from those of us who have not purchased their first fishing rod or tackle box or own a boat to those of us who have been fishing for over 60 years. For more information, please call Mr. Leslie Parr at 757-593-8853 or go to our website at www.tidewateranglersclub.org. In 2008, a group of men gathered on the Outer Banks with the purpose of organizing a club for fishing and called themselves the Outer Banks Anglers Club (OBXAC). The OBXAC meets the last Monday of every month at the Kern-Pitts Center located behind the Southern Shores Town Hall at 7:00 pm. The meetings are open to anyone, whether they are an experienced fisherman or those who are just starting out. At each meeting, the club has a monthly guest speaker that may be a member, a local fishing captain, biologists, state or local marine agencies, or has a connection with fishermen. Also, members will discuss their fishing trips and share information and sometimes pictures from the trips. Every month, members will submit their exemplary catches for the Fish of the Month contest. During the break, refreshments are served and members and guests can network. After the break, a short business meeting is conducted and ends with a raffle for a $50 gift certificate from TW’s Bait and Tackle, as well as a 50/50 raffle. Check out the club’s webpage http://www.outerbanksanglersclub.com for more information about the club.
Come visit the Virginia Beach Anglers Club. We meet thefirst Thursday of each month at 7:30pm at the Foundry United Methodist Church located at 2801 Virginia Beach Blvd. in Virginia Beach. For more information go to virginiabeachanglersclub.org - Check out our monthly newsletter TIGHT LINES there or email vbanglersclub@gmail.com 12 TIDEWATER & THE OUTER BANKS
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JAN 2021
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GO FLY A KITE!
A
Tim Barefoot
s I’ve written before, we’ve all experienced the slowdown that happens around 10 a.m. You might have seen my column last month, in which I covered slowing it all down and sending baits deeper during the middle of the day. Like I said, wahoo don’t have Maui Jims… so they use water depth to get the right amount of light they want and constantly look up to see the silhouette of any given bait. This is exactly why all the dark colors work best, and only the planer rod is the one producing bites during the middle of the day. Again, who says you have to go 6 knots, and/or have to use a ballyhoo? Slow it down. Fly a kite with artificials, and use big natural baits on the downrigger to get results. A big beautiful squid on the downrigger on a Barefoot Cats and Tackle Chin Weight and a spread of artificial squid and/or flying fish on the kite, along with the outriggers loaded up with natural squid is a beautiful spread. With one squid at 50 feet and one at 75 or 100 feet, you are putting a completely irresistible bait at the depth of the fish. The squid on the downrigger will be the “hot” rod on a consistent basis. It’s a complete no brainer… this is the food they eat… at the correct depth. I’m not saying the surface bite does not work during the middle of the day. There have been many beauties caught on a ballyhoo during the middle of the day. All I’m saying is, I’ve fished many times when the bite died right around 10 a.m., and only the planer rod got bites. The kite adds a completely new dimension to the spread, and it also adds reality to the spread. When squid and flying fish get pinned against the surface and they’re scared, they jump! The kite picks the baits out of the water and makes it look like they are jumping. This is a good reason
GO DEEP FOR WINTER CONVICTS PHOTO COURTESY OF DARCY HILL
By CAM Staff
D
uring winter, there’s a fish we can usually count on to provide consistent action and high-quality fillets for the table. Even when a cold snap shuts inshore fisheries down, bait-stealing Sheepshead will still be chewing shells with their hook-crushing chompers. They are almost always game once you find them, and cold, calm days can bring
to keep at least one red squid in the spread. When squid get scared, they turn red. A red squid coming out of the water is another “no brainer.” Pancake trolling weights for the downrigger are the way to go. They are slimmer, have less resistance and have less “blowback” with more speed. A stout release tension is best for this application. As a matter of fact, the tension should be tight enough to “set the hook” and allow the slack to come tight after the strike. The stinger hook will hook the fish 90 percent of the time with a squid, as the fish almost always eat the back half of the squid to disable the squid’s beak. This is the only thing on a squid that could injure a fish.
Videos for this style fishing will soon be available at:
BAREFOOTCATSANDTACKLE.COM
some of the best fishing of the year for both numbers and size of these black-barred convicts. Year-round, sheepshead can be caught wherever structure makes a home for barnacles. Bridge pilings, piers, jetties, wrecks, sea walls, oyster beds, any type of structure will suffice as long as it’s been in the water long enough to develop growth. This time of year can be the best time to target larger breeding-size sheepshead. When inshore waters cool, it sparks an offshore migration. Ahead of the early spring spawn, convicts in the 5- to 10-pound range congregate on deeper structure in 30 to 60 feet of water. This can make for easy pickings… if you can figure out how to get a hook-set. Those black-and-white prison stripes aren’t the only reason sheepshead are called convicts. They are thieves and will chew through a boatload of bait if you don’t pay attention and get a feel for that light, nibbling bite. Even in 15 feet of water, it takes practice to time the hook set. The challenge is amplified when you’ve got 40 or 50 feet of line out. A vertical presentation and staying in touch with the bait are absolutely critical when targeting deeper winter sheepshead. You want to drop baits straight down, as close to structure as possible. The limited stretch of braid paired with a short fluorocarbon leader of a foot or less helps with detecting the bite. Abrasion resistance around all that structure is also important. Using 20-pound-test for mainline and leader is usually enough to muscle a hard-fighting sheepshead out of structure. A simple fishfinder rig with just enough weight to keep your presentation vertical in the current is a tried-and-true rig. The lighter the weight, the easier it is to feel the bite. Find the sweet spot where your bait stays put. A small short-shank bait hook works well. Take a variety of baits and see what works. Fiddler crabs are the all-time sheepshead favorite, and convicts also crunch up live or dead shrimp, crab parts and clam or oyster meat. Drop that bait straight to the bottom, lift it up a few inches and then wait with a tight line. If you’re not getting nibbles within 15 minutes or so, it’s time to move. If you do feel light pecks or even a little added resistance on the line, set the hook immediately with a short, sharp upward jerk. Then haul the fish as quickly to the net as you can. Sheepshead are known for snapping lines on structure as well as with their teeth.
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JANUARY 2021
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E-Z Anchoring Applies to
Pontoons, Too!
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OFF THE JERSEY COAST
A
stuttering buzz from the stern brought Ken to his feet. He cranked in a Spanish mackerel to get things started. It was followed by a bluefish, and then Adam got a second Spanish. Here off New Jersey, this trolling bite was what we had hoped for. Things were good. With patience restored, we got reoriented and trolling. I was tying on a green crocodile spoon when one of the reels started screaming. Ken let the fish run a long time before he tightened the drag and started gaining. When he first saw the fish, his face lit up. He kept saying, “It’s a king!” in a high, tight voice I’d never heard before. Off New Jersey, a king mackerel might be once-in-a-lifetime. As Ken brought the beast boat-side, Adam swung and missed with the gaff, then hit it square in the head with a second shot. Ken took his fish and stood there grinning while Adam and I muttered, “yeah, great job.” We trolled another hour. While Ken grinned at the horizon, Adam focused on the depth sounder to hide his jealousy. I was jealous, too, so I stared at my rod, blinking one eye at a time. The jealousy ebbed once we got on plane headed home. We’d all caught dinner. I’d made peace with my lone bluefish when Adam hollered, “Woah!” He slammed the boat into neutral. “That was a cobia! I thought it was a shark, but it was a cobia!” Adam was excited, talking fast. I didn’t see anything. Neither did Ken. Adam swung the boat around, retracing his wake. “There! Throw something! Cast!” he shouted. My eyes focused in on a lumbering golden-brown cobia. The fish swam closer to investigate. Ken cast. The fish didn’t see his lure and kept swimming… toward me. Just feet away, I plunked an epoxy jig in the water. I saw the wide mouth open and inhale my lure. I froze. The huge fish, old and ragged and covered in scars, was looking me in the eye. I was hypnotized. With Adam and Ken yelling, I snapped out of it and set the hook. It felt like a brick wall on a medium-heavy spinning rod. I cranked twice and my rod bent double. Too much drag. I moved to loosen the drag and saw the cavernous mouth open and the head shake. The fish was still looking at me as if to say, “not today.” The rod slacked. I heard the jig whiz past my ear. My jaw dropped as I watched the fossil swim away. The boat was quiet for a minute, and then they started busting my chops. That went on for the whole ride in. By the time we hit the inlet, I was able force a laugh. Looking back, maybe I’m glad I lost it. A fish that old deserves to swim. From now on, though, I’m keeping my drag nice and light.
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The Return of a
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Things s tying Ken let g. king!” ackerel swung d shot. “yeah,
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ow’s this for a bucket-list fish? There is a potential new all-tackle world length record for Siberian taimen. According to the International Game Fish Association’s Facebook page, Maxim Mamaev caught this 156-centimeter (more than 61inch) fish while fly fishing Russia’s Tugur River. If approved, it will best the previous record by 16 centimeters (about 6 inches). Siberian taimen are the largest, most ferocious species of salmonid on the planet. Growing to weights in excess of 100 pounds, they look and behave like giant trout and feed on fish, ducks and small mammals like muskrats. Their home waters are the rivers of northeast Asia, where they can live up to 50 years. Over the last few decades, the rise of taimen as a spectacular gamefish is a good thing. They have been fished and dammed almost to extinction across much of their native range. There are just a few large and remote drainages left where they thrive in Mongolia and Russia, and their appeal as a sportfish, especially for fly anglers, has helped develop strict regulations to protect them. The Tugur River is home to the largest Siberian taimen in the world. Isolated in Russia’s Far East, it feeds the Sea of Okhotsk and runs through an 80,000-acre nature reserve that protects many species of fish, including the
PHOTO COURTESY OF IGFA
Pacific salmon that pile into the river in late summer to spawn. It doesn’t hurt that much of the drainage is accessible to anglers only by helicopter, but the salmon run definitely contributes to the unparalleled growth of Tugur taimen. The nutrient transfer from saltwater to fresh during a large salmon run is well documented. Everything feeds on salmon and their eggs, and large taimen are capable of gorging on whole adult salmon. The current world record Siberian taimen by weight was caught on a fly by taimen researcher Matt Sloat on the Tugur. That fish, caught in 2018, weighed 101 pounds. There are multiple un-certified Tugur taimen reported to weigh into the 150-pound range. According to National Geographic, the largest Siberian taimen ever caught weighed 231 pounds and stretched a tape to 83 inches. It is rare, however, for anglers to encounter taimen of such enormous size. With such long lives, they grow slowly, and the larger individuals are old and wise. Most taimen caught on the fly weigh less than 20 pounds. But you can keep those 100-pounders in the back of your mind when you’re packing up your 9-weight rod for a trip to Siberia.
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Catching Cold-Water Bass In Small Lakes By CAM Staff
t’s the time of year when big-water bass anglers bundle up in their bibs and parkas and slug it out through bitter reservoir winds to drag jigs on the bottom. For some of us, finding joy in such misery seems masochistic. Why brave the cold winds of big water when countless sheltered ponds and small lakes are there to provide winter bass fisheries that’ll scratch the itch? Small waters often fish very well this time of year. Whether casting from the bank or a jonboat, here are a few tips to take with you. 1) Find Warmer Water: Carry a thermometer. Water temps just a couple degrees warmer than surrounding water will consolidate baitfish and bass. In spring-fed lakes or ponds, an underground spring will provide relatively stable temperatures year-round. During winter, flows from a spring are likely warmer than the main body. Where there are no springs, look to sun-warmed rock or metal structure. Muddy shallows are also known to warm more quickly in the sun. 2) Play the Weather: The smaller the volume of water, the more easily influenced it is by weather patterns. On a small lake, water temperatures can increase dramatically with a single day of warmer-than-normal weather. The bite can go from non-existent to wide-open in an afternoon. String together a threeday warming trend, and your pond might exhibit spring-like feeding patterns. 3) Find the Fish: On small waters there are limited areas where bass can go to find comfort. Rather than spreading out in search of forage, bass group up in areas where they are comfortable. If you don’t find fish on sun-warmed rip-rap, look to the steep drop-offs at pond dams or creek channels. They might be down there stacked up in 10 feet of water. 4) Match the Hatch: Bass are not as aggressive when they are cold, which means you have to go with a more natural approach. Bugs and frogs aren’t on the menu this time of year, so baitfish imitations like jerkbaits and crankbaits are your best bet. Reel them down to depth and fish with slow twitches. If crawfish are active year-round where you fish, a jig is absolutely a good option. 5) Cover Water: Covering water is relative. This time of year, you’ll want to slow it down. Yet you still need to encounter fish to catch them. One of the great things about small waters is you can fish a lot, or all, of a small lake or pond in a single afternoon. Fan cast and work your baits slowly enough to be effective, but keep moving until you find that area where fish are piled up.
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