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Fishing a Fairytale in

By Nick Carter

Bristol Bay, Alaska A

rguably the best salmonid fishing in the world exists in the system of waterways that feeds the Bering Sea on Alaska’s southwest coast. The region is a vast, sparsely populated web of streams and rivers, lakes and wetlands that weave through open tundra to Bristol Bay. The wildlife is astounding. To be there is like stepping into a documentary film, with bears, moose and bald eagles going about their business unconcerned by human visitors. On a July afternoon, I watched in terror as a brown bear crashed from the brush, bluff charged my wife and stole the sockeye salmon from the end of her line. It’s that kind of place. From fancy lodges or tiny riverside fishing villages, human anglers are nothing special. They are just one of many species taking advantage of the great salmon migrations that drive the ecosystem. All five species of Pacific salmon spawn in the Bristol Bay watershed. Coho, chum and pink salmon all make runs up the rivers that feed the bay. But king and sockeye salmon are the reason anglers should book passage to the area. The Nushagak River boasts what might be Alaska’s best king, or Chinook, salmon run. Back bouncing egg sacks on heavy casting tackle, anglers regularly do battle with big kings in the 20to 40-pound range. Just a short puddle-jump down the coast, the Kvichak River hosts the largest sockeye salmon run on the planet. Sockeye pile into the river by the millions and push up into the headwaters to spawn and then die. For thousands of years, this transmission of nutrients from the sea inland has fueled the region’s wildlife, tundra and forests of alder and spruce. An angler with a fly rod can stand on the bank and cast streamers to huge pods of sockeye as they run past. Hooking one is no problem; it’s like collecting meat. The fight, however, is that of a creature determined to achieve its sole remaining purpose on earth.

These massive salmon runs feed all of the wildlife in the Bristol Bay region, and that includes rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, arctic grayling and others. Some area rivers are places where mouse patterns streaking across the surface draw aggressive strikes from rainbows 30-inches and longer. I can’t count the number of 25-plus-inch rainbows and Dollys we caught in a single day swinging big streamers. During and after the salmon runs, fish key in on salmon eggs and chunks of dead salmon adrift in the rivers. This is when egg patterns and flesh flies lead to unbelievable numbers of big fish. It’s the kind of fishing that only occurs where humans have yet to make a pronounced impact on systems designed by nature.

And that’s where the Bristol Bay fairytale is in danger of ending. In 2005, gold, molybdenum and copper deposits were discovered underground near the headwaters of the Nushagak and Kvichak rivers, just a few miles from the banks of Alaska’s largest lake, Lake Iliamna. Ever since, conservation groups, sporting groups and locals have been waging a legal battle against greed to save this pristine landscape and fishery. As proposed, the Pebble Mine would be an enormous scar on the landscape. According to The Wild Salmon Center, it would destroy an estimated 10,000 acres of wetlands and more than 330 miles of streams at the head of the most productive salmon fishery in the world. Annually, an estimated 10.6 billion gallons of mine-polluted wastewater would be sent downstream toward Bristol Bay. For anyone who has ever fished or hopes to fish in a place as unspoiled as the Bristol Bay drainage, it’s unconscionable such a project is even being considered.

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For more information, visit www.savebristolbay.org.

NOVEMBER 2020

PHOTO BY TRAVIS WISE NATIONAL 7

Permit

By CAM Staff

The Ultimate Challenge on Flats of the Keys

f it’s farther away, it must be better. While there’s truth to this concept that sends anglers around the globe seeking out remote and spectacular fisheries, there are also flaws to this way of thinking. It’s like the bank fisherman who strives to chuck baits as far offshore as possible only to cross lines with the boater casting tight to shoreline structure. While you’re at home dreaming of Indo-Pacific atolls, there’s an angler on the other side of the world flipping through magazine images of the Florida Keys. It’d be a shame to forget that geography gifted North Americans with some of the most productive and gorgeous flats habitat on the planet. Nobody knows this better than Capt. Luke Kelly of Key Flat Charters. Kelly has spent his life fishing the Keys. He operates year-round backcountry and flats charters out of Sugarloaf Key Marina. It’s about 20 minutes north of Key West on A1A, slap in the middle of the mangrove islands and vast crystal-clear flats of the Lower Keys. This is a place where anglers watch from the casting deck of a small flats boat as tarpon, bonefish, permit and other species cruise and hunt in knee-deep water. A flats slam of all three species is possible any day of the year, and while the power and aerobatics of a big tarpon might be the ultimate thrill in angling, permit are the ultimate challenge… especially with fly tackle. “Permit are highly sensitive and can sense the slightest vibration. It’s the challenge of this hunt that makes it all worthwhile,” said Capt. Luke. “With little room for error, anglers must be precise and stealthy during their first attempt, as second chances rarely exist when targeting permit on fly. Considered by many as

the ultimate catch during a fly-fishing career, permit demand the best from anglers and guides.” Kelly said convincing a permit to take the hook is the most difficult aspect of the pursuit. They are abundant in the Lower Keys, especially during the late February through April prespawn, when 10- to 40-pounders invade the flats. The easiest way to hook one is to accurately present a live crab with light spinning tackle. Permit feed aggressively when they feel comfortable, Kelly said, but they spook easily. “Once alerted by boat or angler, that’s it, the jig is up,” he said, “and the permit never gives second chances.” The odds of a hook-up reduce dramatically for anglers who take up the challenge with an 8- to 10-weight fly rod. A good double-haul is required to achieve the long accurate casts necessary to put a shrimp or crab fly in front of a permit. From there, it’s up to the angler to give life to the fly during a short time-window of opportunity. “Proper technique found successful in hooking permit on fly varies greatly with any given situation,” Kelly said. “Permit eat a variety of different things, all of which act differently in the wild. Anglers must be willing to think outside the box at times when trying to fool this ultimate gamefish into eating something artificial… It boils down to a challenge, and should be viewed in no other way.” Contact Capt. Luke Kelly and Key Flat Charters for light tackle and fly fishing trips for tarpon, bonefish, permit and more. www. lowerkeysflatsfishing.com / (305) 304-3152 / keyflat@icloud.com.

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By Justin Lewis, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust

ast year, Hurricane Dorian devastated Grand Bahama and Abaco. The most destructive hurricane to ever hit The Bahamas, it destroyed homes and businesses and displaced thousands of people. After the dust settled, I got a lot of questions about how the marine environment and the fishery fared after such a powerful storm. As Bahamas initiative manager for Bonefish & Tarpon Trust (BTT), I keep an eye on such things. After several surveys, getting out fishing and hearing reports from other anglers, it appears the inshore and offshore fisheries weathered the storm well. There are plenty of big bonefish and permit on the flats, the reefs are full of snapper, hogfish and grouper, and the offshore tuna and mahi bite is great. The northern Bahamas remains one of the world’s foremost destinations for anglers. With lodging and charters recovering from the storm and Covid-19 restrictions beginning to ease, now is a good time to plan a trip. Fishing pressure is down, and the islands could certainly use an economic injection from anglers. One of the great things about these islands is there’s no need to travel far or break the bank for incredible fishing. The main islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama sit on the Little Bahama Bank and give access to more than 5,700 square miles of reefs and flats with an easy run to productive offshore waters. For a quick weekend or family trip, you can’t beat access by air or sea. Commercial flights are 45 minutes from Miami or Fort Lauderdale, and a boat ride is just two to four hours, depending on your destination. Fishing the northern Bahamas offers some of the greatest variety of sportfish anywhere in the world. In the same day, you can catch bonefish on the flats, spearfish the reefs for hogfish and lobster, and then head offshore after dolphin and tuna. SEASONS: Right now, the winter bite is on. High-speed trolling the dropoff is producing big wahoo. Spearfishing is also good for hogfish and lobster. Come spring, late-season wahoo will be around, and the dolphin and yellowfin bite really picks up. Blue and white marlin are also popular spring targets around Abaco, and bonefish and permit can be phenomenal on the flats. Summer is time for multi-day trips targeting tuna, hogfish, grouper, snappers, bonefish and permit. Deep dropping and spearfishing are particularly good in summer. MANGROVES: While the fishing remains stellar, mangroves were heavily impacted by Dorian. Mangrove habitat is an important nursery for many fish species, and it is vital to protect the coast from erosion and storms. BTT found that 70 percent of the mangroves on Grand Bahama and 40 percent on Abaco were lost to the storm. BTT is collaborating with Bahamas National Trust, Friends of the Environment and MANG to restore mangroves on Abaco and Grand Bahama. Check out www.bonefishtarpontrust.org for info on this project. Before making a trip to The Bahamas, visit www.bahamas.com for current information on access and checking in with customs. Fishing regulations are available at www.myoutislands.com.

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NATIONAL 11

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FOLLOW BAIT AND WATER TEMPERATURE Tim Barefoot

ow is truly a transition time for a number of things including the number of daylight hours, water temps and the mass migration of baitfish. The number of daylight hours is a major signal to all species of fish from mullet to marlin and everything in between. Daylight hours decline by a minute or so a day until Dec. 20. Fish and bait understand this. They react accordingly by putting the feedbag on. Another important piece of the puzzle is dropping water temperatures. Every species in the ocean, from nearshore and offshore waters to the shallow marshes, reacts by working temperature breaks. Areas with dramatic thermal change will concentrate fish. When the cooler north/northwest winds start howling, distinct water temperature breaks will become more defined. Pelagics, bottom fish and the bait they pursue will all be affected. Bait like cigar minnows and sardines will gather in large schools. Everything we fish for looks forward to this buffet. Some of the best grouper bites I’ve ever encountered were on or near structure where huge stacks of baitfish were consolidated. But the bait is the most important part of the equation. As a matter of fact, I’ve been on some crazy good bites that were on slick flat sand bottom that held big stacks of bait. It’s pretty simple… find the bait; find the fish. Once gags, reds and scamps start their true spawning rituals, the bait becomes less important, but for right now, I’d focus on the food rather than simply the structure. It’s a given that the big spawning gags will key in on the best bottom, as long as it holds bait. However, grouper certainly follow these huge schools of bait around wherever they go. This is especially true for red grouper. They will follow the bait and almost disregard the ledges and structure.

Granted, a live cigar minnow is one of the most desirable baits of all time for grouper and big snapper, but a big live sardine is absolutely irresistible! It must be the oil content or the taste, but I’ll take a large live sardine on a Crab Decoy Jig over anything out there. I’m not discounting a live vermillion snapper (beeliner), though. Speaking of a live beeliner, don’t ever hesitate to put out a live beeliner on the light line for a smoking hot wahoo bite when anchored up bottom fishing. Bottom fishing and light lining or kite fishing is almost at the apex of the year, with December and the first few weeks of January being the best. Get out there and get after it!

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New Member of the Family

NOVEMBER 2020

By Brenda Riggs, Co-publisher

ast month, I featured a story about a nonprofit dog rescue called “Go Rescue Pet Adoption Center” located in Norfolk, Virginia and owned by Georgia Obenaux. Last month I was blessed to have the opportunity to adopt our newest family member to our home. Her name is Sheba and she is almost 4 months old now. She was signed over to Georgia at Go Rescue after a docking of her ears went terribly wrong as you can see in the before pictures. Georgia rushed her to a vet hospital for immediate surgery to try and save some of the ear tissue. Unfortunately, it was too late for one ear and the other only has a small piece of ear left. The vet bill was so high from her surgery and daily care that if it wasn’t for donations received to offset the costs, she might not have been able to be adopted; I know I wouldn’t have been able to adopt her. She is such a joy to have and such a cuddler. She small enough now to be a lap dog, but when she reaches her full height and weight she might need two laps. This is what Georgia and Molly at Go Rescue does. They call and drive around to dog shelters all over the area sometimes 100 plus miles away to find dogs that need and want a forever home. They don’t just get the cute, young ones. If a dog is in need, no matter what age or condition, Georgia and Molly will travel all around to bring these dogs in to their care and help find them their forever homes. When they arrive at Go Rescue, they are taken to have a physical and vetted in preparation for their adoption. These vet costs are paid by Georgia and from donations only. These are two of the pups featured in last month’s issue, but this shows the condition they were in when they were rescued and then, after much hard work and vet visits, their new “I want to find my forever home” look. Go Rescue is a non-profit organization and they need our help to continue to find and save these dogs. Their only source of income is from cash donations, item donations that Georgia sells at on-line yard sales and then the dog’s adoption fees. Georgia also has talents repurposing items for resale and she’s very crafty, so from time to time, you can see her products for sale on the Facebook page. Please consider making a cash donation to Go Rescue at GOrescuedogs.com or Facebook.com/GoRescue. A big thank you to those that donated for the vet bill for Sheba. She is such a blessing to have as our new family member. We’ll be introducing her to fishing soon and hope she likes it as much as Cheyenne does.

PUBLISHER & EDITOR BRENDA RIGGS MIKE RIGGS Co-publishers & Editors

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

GO RESCUE Pet Adoption Center 757.432.9222

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NOV 2020

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FALL STRIPERS By Mike Buss

ree leaves are turning and that means it is fall here in the Tidewater area and that means one thing, stripers. Big ones, little ones and all those in between. It is one of my favorite times to fish for stripers because you have a chance at 30 plus pound fish but can also go after smaller 18 to 23-inch stripers and catch lots of them. We are blessed here in the Chesapeake Bay area because it is estimated that 75% of the total striper population along the East Coast make the trek to winter off the Virginia and North Carolina coast. These large fish begin to appear in November and winter off our coasts until they make their spawning trek into the Chesapeake Bay in the spring. At approximately the same time the smaller stripers who spent the summer in the marshes of the Chesapeake Bay begin their trip to the lower Chesapeake Bay. If you can find these fish, it is often possible to have 50 plus days and a lot of fun catching lots of them. Smaller stripers are fun on 7 weight rods and I use a 250-grain sinking line to get my flies down to them. The way to find these fish is to look for birds working over blitzing fish or the fleet. They are often found together. Once you are in the area just notice on your depth finder the depth of the fish. Then position your boat and make an up current cast and let your line and fly sink to the proper depth. They usually take your fly on the first or second strip. These smaller fish are the future of the Chesapeake Bay, so I practice catch and release and urge all to do the same. My favorite way to fish for the bigger stripers is to fish the pilings of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge hi-rise on the Eastern Shore side. The big stripers are there to feed on the eels coming out of all the marsh areas on their way to the spawning waters south of Florida. This all starts around the first week of December. This is night-time fishing and it is well known in the fishing community and not unusual to find a boat anchored up next to all of the pilings. The tidal currents are different for each of the pilings resulting in some being better than others. Time on the water is the only way to discover the good pilings. I recommend you make your first trip more of a scouting than fishing trip. Get there early and anchor to the side of a piling and then pay attention to which pilings give up fish. You also need to note the time of the tide so you can return at the same tide for your next trip. The same piling may not be good for the total tide as the currents change as the tide progresses. The current may also be different at the surface than it is deeper. It sounds complicated and it is, but it will begin to make sense after you have spent some time on the water. You are going to be dealing with big fish so your rod should be able to handle big fish. I use a 10-weight rod and a 450-grain line to get my fly down to the fish. You are trying to imitate an eel so you should use a large, long and slender fly. I anchor to the side of the piling and make an up current cast so that my fly will drift close by the piling. It may take several casts to get the right drift down. When you do it right, there is nothing like a 30 plus pound striper to put a big smile on your face. These big fish are mostly females and they and their eggs are also the future of the Chesapeake Bay so I practice catch and release with them as well.

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The Flying Fisherman

By J. Andre

THE AWAKENING While I’m in the hangar working on my airplane, Tugboat Eddie calls me to proclaim he is on the water fishing. He snuck out in the morning in his newly rigged boat and catfishing gear. I felt shamed that he had beat me to the water after all the weeks of summer inactivity. Then to rub it in, he started sending me pictures of the cats he’s catching with his homemade PVC/pool noodle sticks. He caught a nice eater Blue and what looked like a huge White Cat. The White Cat is a bit of a mystery to those that fish in the central states, but they are very common in our brackish tidal waters. They rarely grow longer than 20” but they are stout furious fighters on light tackle and great table fare. The Virginia record was caught in Western Branch at 7 lbs., 6 oz. After Eddy cleaned the fish, he sent me some pictures. I studied them for several minutes and counted 24 rays on the anal fin, definitely a White. He said it weighed around 8 pounds and a picture of the fish laying on a tape measure showed a 24.5-inch fish. It could have been a record fish! That was all it took! I wrapped up work on the airplane and walked over to #8. Besides a tank of fuel and a visit to Gail’s Bait Shop for some plump Canadian Night Crawlers, I was ready to go. My only problem was I was driving my Mini Cooper and I would have to go home and come back with the truck to get the boat, so that meant a late morning start. And a late morning start it was. Getting up late caused a bit of anxiety. While loading catfish gear into the truck, I was certain something was forgotten. Lighter rods were prepared for this trip, but otherwise it was the same routine. Then, I returned to the airport in the truck to retrieve #8. The rig was hitched up and we were soon heading for the river. Luckily, I remembered to stop in Blackwater to get some fuel for the boat, but it was there that I realized that I had forgotten to remove the seat cushion from the boat and temporarily store it in the truck. During the hurried transit it apparently blew off the boat donating yet another cushion to the side of the road. At the boat ramp while loading the boat, I realized what was missed earlier while loading the truck, my 2 bait rods. The summertime hiatus had really knocked my routine for a loop. Thankfully, the light catfish rods made it practical to rig up some 6 lb. leaders with #6 hooks to catch 2 White Perch and a Sunfish for bait. Then it started raining. My Columbia Rain Gear was great back in my working days when I only needed to make a mad dash from the car to the office, but today I was going to get wet. The first 2 hours went by agonizingly slow and then at 11:30 the dinner bell rang. There were 3 hard knockdowns, but no hookups. I locked down the gears on all the reels and 5 minutes later the “Live Liner Drag” on my Penn Spinfisher 4500LL and GX2 Ugly Stik combo went screaming away. This fish was heading East for the main channel! It stripped 100 yards of line before I could turn his head. It wasn’t a monster at 15 lbs., but the Blue Cat kept the skunk off the boat and awakened my senses to the joys of another Fall Catfishing Season. I released the fish and retreated home. Hopefully, the next trip will be more deliberately planned, and I’ll be back on the routine. I now have a new Class IV boat cushion and some Cabela’s “Guideware” Rain Gear. I usually learn the hard way, but I can be taught. Folks, the fishing will only get better from here on out with each passing cold front. Get out there and GET SLIMED! (No face mask required). COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

NOV 2020

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OBX By Aaron Kelly

INSHORE

Waters are cooling but the fishing can get hot! We now are in striped bass mode. If you focus on the early mornings and the dusk bite you will catch more stripers. Trolling up current along our bridges produces many stripers. Stripers like current and structure. Blue n chrome rattle traps are a safe starting point for a lure. Chartreuse 1/2-1 ounce jigs tapping along the bottom get them as well. Little umbrella rigs, swimmy shads, stretch 15s are more lures that land these stripers. Some folks like to Carolina rig live eels. Some nights we toss top water poppers. So as you can see there are a myriad of techniques and tackle you can dupe the great gamefish. Timing is important they don’t feed all the time so you gotta put your time in as well. In the near shore waters we will still have opportunity to catch speckled trout, red drum, king mackeral, false albacore, and bluefish. Pretty days there can be some exciting fish off the beach. Crowds are down and a lot of boats have been tied up in exchange for a tree stand. This gives fishermen little competition with each other. You might be fishing one of our fishy “AR” reefs and never see a boat! Pushing out further there will be some excellent yellowfin tuna fishing. I also have been seeing some huge and beautiful wahoo on the docks lately. I hope this holds for a while longer. So good luck, great fishing and go sample some of our great outdoors we are so blessed to have. Captain Aaron Kelly rocksolidfishing.com 252-441-6575

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Jake’s Outdoor Adventures

By Jake Worthington

ast month I reported that Northeastern North Carolina was being geographically discriminated against by the current NC Marine Fisheries Commission due to their lack of a recreational fisherman appointment on the commission from NENC. One of the main reasons this has been allowed to happen is because recreational fishermen in our part of the state, along with others in different parts of the state, do not have a true organization to represent and promote their interests in hearings, public comments, the legislative process and the lobbying processes. The so-called organizations that claim they represent the interests of the recreational anglers is just a giant smokescreen and they are pushing for their own radical agendas, regardless how it truly affects the recreational angler. What is a Recreational Angler? They are anglers that target recreational species of fish on their boats or hire recreational charter captains. So Charter Captains are considered in the group with recreational anglers. A recreational angler is one who fishes off the surf with the aid of a 4x4 or parks and walks to their fishing spot. Recreational anglers also fish off bridges, as well as public and private fishing piers. Recreational fishermen use kayaks, canoes and jet skis to fish. These same recreational anglers are the ones who live nearby or are visitors who visit and make a huge economic impact on the local economy by making purchases at local tackle shops, marinas, boat dealers and repair shops, hotels, restaurants, and gas stations. With all the economic impact recreational fishermen make, it is a shame we do not have a single group that truly represents the interests in the surf, pier, private boat, charter boats, kayak, and other fishing platforms. The time has come for all of these groups to band together in the name of protecting our access to the public fishery. It is time for our user group to have a seat at the table and a voice in those regulations that will affect our lives as recreational fishermen. There is one group that does exist who claims they represent recreational fishermen; however, their actions over the last few years say otherwise. I also find it ironic that this group does not have a chapter in Dare County or any of the NENC surrounding counties. Ask yourself, “Are our areas in NENC being shut out of the process and our right to have representation on the board because we are not a member of their group?” We must organize and start a counter organization that will give the recreational fishermen not only in our area a voice in the process, but those others in the state that are not being represented because of a certain group’s policy views and power grabs. We need all of these user groups to come together so we can have one true voice based on sound science and best practices. Hopefully, I will have some good news on this grassroots effort to form such a group at the beginning of the year. If this idea comes to fruition, we will need every recreational angler to join and support this group so we can have representation in the fisheries management process. Jake Worthington is the First Mate on The Marauder based out of Wanchese Marina. He is a recent 2020 graduate of North Carolina State University with a degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism Program Management.

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TIDEWATER AND THE OUTER BANKS Big Brother is Watching (Your Outboard) By John Tiger

hen talk comes to modern outboards, it’s clear that like today’s tow vehicles, they’re engineered and built better than ever. They run better, burn less fuel, idle more smoothly, and have more power than their older brothers of yesteryear. You don’t get something for nothing, as the old saying goes, and so with those improvements come some downsides—outboards today are typically heavier, more sophisticated and more complicated than ever. They’re no longer easy for a shade-tree mechanic to troubleshoot and repair; indeed, factory training is now pretty much a standard requirement, even for simple tasks like a thorough check-up and maintenance service. OUTBOARDS IN THE COMPUTER AGE Here’s the brief history: Mercury, Yamaha and Suzuki started the march into employing computer-controlled systems such as ignition, fuel flow (fuel injection) and timing, following the automotive lead, in the very late 1970s and through the 1980s. In the 1990s (1996 to be exact), outboard builders introduced fully computer-controlled directinjected outboards such as the OMC Johnson/Evinrude FICHT and Mercury Optimax. These engines used digital EMMs or ECMs (Engine Management Modules or Engine Control Modules) to synchronize fuel flow, engine timing and ignition, helped by inputs from air sensors, fuel sensors and temperature sensors, to manage the engine’s running from idle to full throttle and everything in between. This was due largely to thencoming EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) air quality management regulations that demanded cleaner emissions from outboards, starting in 1996 and finally by 2006, pretty much eliminating all traditional carbureted and standard fuel-injected two-stroke outboards. Today, only four-strokes are left as Evinrude exited the business a few months ago. Computer-controlled four strokes are the only engines produced that pass the strict EPA and California CARB emissions regulations.

This means that if you’re not following break-in instructions, for example, the dealer can see it. If your engine is not set up properly (with the correct size propeller, or raised too high on the transom, as examples) and it’s over-revving, the dealer can see that too. Conversely, they can also see if it’s over-propped (not reaching the manufacturer’s recommended full throttle RPM range) and therefore over-loaded. These are easy checks that can be done in seconds by the dealer technician. MORE INVOLVED FORENSICS Beyond working with the engine’s computer, factory service representatives and engineers can do further diagnostics to see how an engine has been treated, even down to what type of lubricating oil and gear lube have been used! Typically this type of detailed review would not come to pass unless a failure occurred (and as a result, a claim made for warranty coverage). But, careful failure analysis for warranty claim has happened many times in the past and will continue into the future. The difference is, today manufacturers today have better engineering intelligence and easier ways to test products and lubricants, to find out the true service history that contributed to an engine failure. Oils and lubricants can be lab-tested and examined for properties, then compared to known samples to measure the differences. What that means to consumers is to be careful about the oils and lubricants you choose to run in your engine. While most in today’s markets are very good, there are still products available that do not meet manufacturer specifications. TIP: Oil type and specification can be critical! When in doubt, ask your dealer or go directly to your engine manufacturer’s website and/or consumer help line to confirm. John Tiger has published columns and articles about boating and towing for over 25 years. 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.

THE COMPUTER KNOWS! As a result of all this computerization, consumer outboards today truly rival autos and trucks for sophistication, starting and running ease, running quality and reduced emissions. But since the EMM/ECM (computer) controls all these functions, it’s easy to understand that the computer memory also records data that is produced from running the engine. For this reason, it’s important that consumers really pay attention—more so than ever before—to engine owner’s manual and dealer instructions on important events like break-in and annual maintenance requirements. Why? Because it’s easier than ever, thanks to computerization, for the manufacturer to be able to see your engine’s running and service history by simply plugging in a diagnostic terminal to your outboard’s EMM. When your engine is in for service at the dealership, a technician uses a computer diagnostic terminal to view the engine’s running history in full detail. What can be seen? It varies by manufacturer, but typically overall running hours, hours at incremental RPM levels, engine temperature (overheating episodes), if the engine has hit it’s RPM limiter (and how many times it’s done so), and of course, fault codes (for example: ignition misses, engine knock sensor, etc.). 6 TIDEWATER & THE OUTER BANKS

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BOTTOMS UP!

TIDEWATER / OUTER BANKS

CATCHIN’& COOKIN’ THANKSGIVING RECIPE This one is guaranteed to make you happy-just make two!

Do something for somebody else. Make a fantastic meal, and deliver it to the needy, local church, whatever. This will not only make someone else’s Thanksgiving, but it will make yours extra special as well. One year while living in Hampton, I smoked a turkey, made oyster stuffing, mac and cheese, packed it all in a big bag then jumped on my bike to deliver it to the homeless. Believe it or not, the homeless had moved! So, I went riding my bike with a full Thanksgiving dinner looking for some homeless. Finally, I ended up at a church that was having a big holiday feast to feed anyone who walked in the door. They gladly took the meal we had fixed, and it was the only smoked turkey with Oyster Stuffing they had. It made my day, and someone else’s as well. As far as cooking the bird? Smoke it, fry it, bake it, what ever fits your fancy. Just cook two and give the other away. Happy Thanksgiving!

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by Jim Baugh reporting from Oyster Farm at Kings Creek, Cape Charles VA Jim Baugh Outdoors TV over the last 33 years has featured a wide variety of fish species and certainly a ton of different ways to catch them. Since the beginning, our story is to tell the story of the folks that know their business the best when it comes to angling, and that is charter captains, guides, etc. Fortunately, because of the show, I have been introduced to some of the most amazing characters ever imagined many of which I highlighted in my book HOOKED. While yes, the thrill of heading offshore and catching a Marlin, of even a school of dolphin is a thrill of a lifetime. Most folks may find this hard to believe but when it comes to my personal favorite fishing, the thing that relaxes me the most, and I really enjoy it, is simply bottom bouncing. Give me a double bottom dropper rig, box of squid, some fried chicken, and I am off to the races. This is one reason why we have for now over 30 years highlighted croaker, spot, flounder, and sea bass fishing. Getting on a head boat and going out fishing for the day is something I did with my dad for as early as I can remember. The fish you catch and the people you meet has always been a joy for me and I made sure I passed that onto my son as well. Since Ben was about 5 yrs old, I would take him offshore on the Carolina Princess out of Moorhead for a long day of bottom fishing. He would go NUTS! Loved it, and still does. Both my kids grew up fishing since they were tiny and they both grew up to be fantastic people. One a teacher and the other a geologist, very proud papa. Recently I had the pleasure of filming a show on board the Miss Jennifer out of Cherrystone Campground that is a stone’s through across the creek from the Oyster Farm. What a day! Lots of families onboard and the fish action was nonstop. We did not get into anything big, but all the fish you wanted to reel in. Sea Bass and Flounder was what the bite was mostly on, also a few spot. This is a super nice boat with a high freeboard that makes it very safe for the youngsters. If you are interested in a charter on the lower Shore I highly recommend to take a trip on the Miss Jennifer. Give them a shout at (757) 641-1995. http://missjennifercharter.com/ Hey! Don’t forget to register for the Rockfish Shootout coming up in December. It is gonna be a great one! Contact the Oyster Farm for booking your slips and accommodations and book early if you can. Contact the Oyster Farm at https://www.theoysterfarmatkingscreek. com/. Also ask about winter dry storage that is also available at the Oyster Farm. Registration for the tournament is available online right now. Check out the Shootout website or Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ rockfishshootout/. Also join us on Amazon Prime Video for our 32nd season. Streaming 24/7! 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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FISHING ON MIKE’S 60TH By Brenda Riggs, Co-Publisher

ike and I took some friends out fishing for Mike’s 60th birthday aboard Rock Solid with Capt. Aaron Kelly and Capt. John out of Oregon Inlet. We went down to Nags Head the day before to spend the night so we’d be ready early the next morning to fish. Thank goodness that wasn’t the day we were going fishing. The weather was raining, windy and cold. I did a lot of praying for warm weather, calm seas and big fish. God answered our prayers with the most beautiful day it could have been. Now it was up to Capt. Kelly to put us on some big fish. True to his promise, we were soon into some nice size red drum. Once we caught our maximum amount, he throttled us over to a new location for some sheepshead and trout. The sheepshead were a little harder to catch. We were using sand fleas and they can suck those shells clean before the line gets tight. Somehow, I was able to catch a really nice size one but definitely fed more than we caught. We ended the day with 7 red drum, 4 trout, 3 sheepheads; not bad for a ¾ day fishing trip. Rock Solid offers gift certificates for ¼ day, ½ day, ¾ day or a full day of fishing. Instead of buying holiday gifts for your friends who already have everything, get a group together and treat yourselves to a day of fishing in 2021!

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Helping Heal our Heroes with Offshore Fishing By Chris McCoy

Happy November, where has the year gone!? We are proud to say we have taken over 21 Veterans out this year on 17 separate trips, so it has been a busy one for us! We have a few planned for Virginia in 2021 so stay tuned for those. 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. At the end of September, we had the pleasure of partnering with The Independence Fund to take a brother and sister out for an offshore day out of Carolina Beach, NC. We give nominated Veterans with serviceconnected 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. Nick and Rena are both Army Veterans with service-connected disabilities and part of a family committed to protecting our country. We hit our first fishing spot about 7:45 am and started what was a day of laughter and a stunning haul of fish. Thanks to Sea Hound Fishing they were able to haul in over twenty Spanish Mackerel and three Albacore Tuna! This was such a fun time for Nick and Rena and everyone else on the boat thanks to the energy they brought to the day. It was a joy to serve them and also see their son Jack’s first time on an offshore trip. 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. 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! As we mentioned our trips are no cost to the Veteran, so each dollar raised helps bring another one of these trips to life. Everyone has a Veteran they know in their family, their neighborhood, or their workplace so let’s give them that experience and healing they deserve and nominate them as well!

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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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TIDEWATER & OUTER BANKS BRAG BOARD SEND YOUR GREAT FISHING & HUNTING PHOTOS TO BRENDA@COASTALANGLERMAGAZINE.COM

[ 1] [ 2]

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Brag #1 George Summerfield 50lb Red Drum aboard Jenna Lee II - Poquoson, VA Brag #2 Matti Sorey, 11 years old, First Deer, Chesapeake, VA Brag #3 - #5 aboard Rock Solid Capt. Aaron Kelly - Oregon Inlet

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Brag #6 & 7 Dr. Ken Neill, III aboard Healthy Grin Sheepshead and Red Drum

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It’s Sailfish Season! S

PHOTO COURTESY OF WEST PALM BEACH FISHING CLUB

W FOR YOUR O N E V R E RES CAPE!!! WINTER ES

ailfish are a target year-round off the Atlantic Coast of Florida, but the best action should kick off this month and improve progressively with each passing cold front as more migratory fish arrive to spend winter off the coast of central and south Florida. November is the traditional start to the season, when sailfish from the north follow migrating baitfish into Florida waters to join the resident population. By December and January, it is estimated that more than a million sailfish arrive to overwinter, and that’s when top sailfish boats report dozens of releases in a single day. It sparks a mini tourism boom when anglers—rather than beachgoers— descend upon central and south Florida. Charter boats book up in a hurry this time of year. If you haven’t already planned your trip, it might be too late. Booking a jam-up sailfish trip is made more difficult by the specialized conditions it takes to bring out the best action. Everyone is looking for tailing conditions after the passage of a cold front. Sailfish move high in the water column and feed aggressively when a north wind clashes with the prevailing current to kick up swells in the Gulf Stream. Some say that the rougher the conditions are, the better the fishing is. It’s a good time of year to have a big boat, but even smaller vessels can get in on the action where the Gulf Stream swings closest to shore. Carefully watching the weather and timing a trip to get out as soon as conditions begin to subside strikes that fine balance between safety and catching sailfish. Tactics differ depending on conditions and location. Some troll a spread of teasers and dead ballyhoo. Slow-trolled or drifted live baits can also be remarkably productive in some situations. The preferred method for many is kite fishing with live baits, because it is effective and exciting. A kite is deployed trailing live baits, typically bridled goggle-eyes, threadfin herring or other hearty baitfish. The kite keeps baits near the surface, and most of the leaders and tackle are suspended above the water. On approach, anglers might see the fin or bill circle the bait. On the take, everything goes into overdrive with the legendary speed and aerobatics of a hooked sailfish. This time of year, it is a scene that takes place multiple times a day, and sometimes with multiple fish at the same time. Rough weather is a good time to be on the water when the sailfish descend on the Florida coast.

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The Islamorada Sailfish Tournament is the primary fundraiser for the Islamorada Charter Boat Association, a 501-C-3 corporation. For more information, please visit us on the web or call Dianne Harbaugh 305.522.4868

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NOVEMBER 2020

NATIONAL 15

It’s Tuna Time In Tuna Town V

enice Marina is the jumping-off point to some of the best fishing in the world. Known as “Tuna Town,” this southern Louisiana meeting place of the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico features endless branches of bayou waterways that give way to a Gulf peppered with oil rigs and other world-famous offshore structure. It is an incredible ecosystem for fish to thrive in. There are also very few marinas with easy access to this fishery, which means a phenomenal array of fish species are plentiful, oversized and underfished. It is truly like going back in time. This time of year, Tuna Town is aptly nicknamed. Autumn is shrimp-boat season in Venice, and it is arguably one of the best times to fish for tuna. In the summer, you might run many miles offshore in search of yellowfin tuna, bouncing from rig to rig or finding prime schools breaching under frigate birds in open water. With a 24-mile run down the Mississippi River just to reach Gulf waters, the summertime gas-bill can definitely take a bite out of your wallet. In fall, when these yellow-sickled beasts school behind shrimp boats, you will find yourself in a “Nat Geo” type situation within 300 feet of water, which out of Venice is only a few miles from the shore. At the shrimp boats, you must convince the shrimpers to give you bycatch. Trade is king in this situation, but not all the crews are after the same thing. Bringing a case of cheap beer is standard practice, but sometimes they request something different like soda, energy drinks or even hooks and monofilament. Sometimes, you will get lucky and the shrimpers will toss bags of stinky gold onto your boat. But more times than not, your mate will have to board them. The captain will pull up right behind their

16 NATIONAL

NOVEMBER 2020

By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon

vessel, and the deckhand has to leap from the bow and grab the tires that hang off the back of the shrimp boat and scurry aboard to avoid being pinned between the boats. Once the deckhand has filled a few sacks of bycatch, they make the leap back onto your boat. I have personally done this many times, and all I have to say is, please don’t forget to tip your mates! The idea is to pull up next to a shrimp boat and chum so hard that you pull up a school of fish as you drift back. As you continuously throw chum in the water, you will see yellowfin tuna rolling out from underneath your boat to devour each piece. Your lines will be out of the water as you hand-feed the tuna and take inventory of fish collected under the boat. When you see the one you want cycle through the feeding pattern, that’s when you toss out bait with a hook in it. It sounds easy enough, but tuna aren’t the only fish that school behind shrimp boats. Buckle-up, because you’ll have to land that fish in the midst of a sharknado. The sharks can be so thick, that as the crew we’ve had to ask clients if they wanted to fight fish or eat fish and had to land a few tuna for them. This type of fishing is incredible to witness for anyone, but is truly better suited to a more seasoned anglers. Shrimp-boat season is completely worth the trip to Venice, but the weather can get a little nasty in the fall. You are likely to encounter a few days in a row that are unfishable offshore this time of year, so allow yourself a few extra days of availability. You can always check out the equally epic inshore fishery if you have to wait it out. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon now fishes out of St. Petersburg, Fla. with Reel Lucky Fishing Charters. Their charters are available for offshore, nearshore, inshore and customizable from anything in between. Call or text the owner, Capt. Joseph Dephillips, at (727) 557-7829.

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NATIONAL 17

J.O. SPICE COMPANY CELEBRATES 75 YEARS AND 4 GENERATIONS

teamed blue crabs seasoned with J.O. No.2 or a custom blend that J.O. manufactures is the flavor people experience at crab establishments all over. Most people credit this crab house seasoning to another product but J.O. has been the crab houses’ seasoning of choice since 1945. J.O. Spice, started by J.O. (James Ozzle) Strigle and his wife Dot in Baltimore City in 1945, is celebrating its 75th Anniversary. A native of Tangier Island, Va., J.O. Strigle brought the seafood spice blend he created in his kitchen on the island to Maryland. Jane McPhaul, J.O.’s daughter took over operations of the family business in the late eighties while her son, Don Ports, was serving in the Marine Corps. In 1990 Don joined his mother in the family business with a vision to expand. In the summer of 1991 Don met his spice girl, Ginger, with the pick up line, “you’re destined to be mine; you’re named for a spice,” said J.O. Spice Company president Don Ports to wife Ginger Ports the moment they met. Twenty eight years later, Don and Ginger- alongside their children Brittany, Tyler and Bethany, are continuing the family traditions of quality seasonings, spices, and more at reasonable prices at their Halethorpe based J.O. Spice Company. “We can provide crab houses everything they need for the crab eating experience, minus the crabs”, Don says. The company added crab boxes, crab paper, bushel baskets, crab knives, crab mallets and a variety of other items to their offerings. “We purchased our first laser engraver and that opened the door to the retail gift world and personalized options,” Don says. J.O. specializes in custom blended seasonings for pizza companies, pit beef stands, butchers, potato chip companies and more. We are more than seafood seasonings. “My children, the fourth generation, and our amazing team work side-by-side to make all of this happen,” Ginger says. “At J.O., we are all family who enjoy working with so many other family businesses. We are blessed.” Please visit us at jospices.com.

18 NATIONAL

NOVEMBER 2020

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Idaho Producing Monster Yellowstone Cutthroats

Models Available 18-29 Feet

ellowstone cutthroat trout longer than 30 inches are exceedingly rare, but that hasn’t stopped Idaho anglers from besting that mark twice in the last few months. On Sept. 8, Nate Burr, a fly fishing guide from Rexburg, Idaho, caught a 31-inch Yellowstone cutthroat that beat the 30.5-inch state length record set in August. Both fish came from the Snake River. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game reported that Burr and a buddy had been fly fishing the Snake River for three days, looking for big trout without much success. As evening set in on the third day of slow fishing, their luck changed as a huge trout smashed Burr’s fly. “It was one of those brutally slow days,” Burr said. “Hunting big trout on streamers means a day on the water can go from zero to 100 in a split second. That was exactly the case with this fish.” After chasing the hooked trout for nearly half a mile downstream in a driftboat, the pair managed to finally scoop the fish with a landing net. After taking a quick photo and reviving the fish, Burr released the huge trout back into the Snake River, securing his name in the record books.

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NOVEMBER 2020

NATIONAL 19

FORCE ISC™ 10K B2

BIG BASS AT CLEAR LAKE, CALIFORNIA

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHRISCHILDERSBASSGUIDE.COM

ass anglers looking for a destination fishery worth travelling to would be hard-pressed to find a better one than California’s Clear Lake. With all the historic bass fishing powerhouses in the South and the rise of awesome Northern smallmouth fisheries like the St. Lawrence River, it’s worth asking why anyone would travel to the West Coast to go bass fishing. The answer is simple: Clear Lake is home to an abundance of large bass, and its location in California’s gorgeous wine country makes it worth a visit even if the fishing wasn’t so great. And the fishing is great. According to California studies, Clear Lake has more fish per acre than any other lake in the country. Couple that with tournament data from B.A.S.S., and the fishery looks even more attractive. Tournament statistics show the average Clear Lake fish weighed 5 pounds in competition sacks last year. With high catch rates and average fish that weigh 5 pounds, competent anglers can expect to target lots of large fish. A 16-plus-pounder was the highlight of 2019. The lake record is 17 ½ pounds. Clear Lake is a 43,000-acre natural lake about two hours north of Sacramento. Stockings of Florida strain largemouth along with northern largemouth has created a fishery renowned for quality and quantity. About 100 miles of shoreline are littered with docks, piers, pilings and other manmade structure. Humps, boulders, brush piles and an abundance of aquatic vegetation provide plenty of natural cover and structure. For information, go to www.californiasgreatestlakes.com.

20 NATIONAL

NOVEMBER 2020

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GULF SNAPPER Three Times More Abundant Than Previously Thought

ou can bet there are a bunch of Gulf charter captains out there right now bellowing an emphatic, “I told you so!” In early October, preliminary findings of the Great Red Snapper Count were presented to Congress with results that indicate up to three times as many red snapper in the Gulf of Mexico than was previously thought. This unprecedented study was led by the Harte Research Institute and provides an independent and robust assessment of Gulf of Mexico red snapper stock abundance. It shines an additional spotlight on how inadequate data was used to all but shut down one of the most popular recreational fisheries in the world. The state-of-the-art study was funded through a $10 million Congressional appropriation, championed by Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) in 2016 and awarded by Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant. The American Sportfishing Association (ASA) was an early proponent of this study. Over a two-year period, 21 scientists used a comprehensive suite of methods on high relief areas, like natural and artificial structures, and low relief areas, such as sand or mud bottom, to arrive at the absolute abundance estimate. Approximately two-thirds of the Gulf red snapper population was found to inhabit these low relief areas, which have not been historically sampled. “The Great Red Snapper Count results validate what the recreational fishing community has long said – that there are a lot more red snapper in the Gulf than have been reflected in recent stock assessments,” said Kellie Ralston, ASA’s Southeast Fisheries Policy director. “We are grateful for the excellent scientific work by the Harte Research Institute and its partners, as well as Senator Shelby for recognizing the need to fund such a ground-breaking study.” With an interim analysis of stock abundance expected for the Gulf in early 2021, NOAA has indicated it will incorporate the Great Red Snapper Count’s findings into its interim stock assessment. Hopefully that will lead to off-the-charts snapper fishing next summer!

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NOVEMBER 2020

NATIONAL 21

DESTINATIONS FOR WINTER TROUT

Karl Eckberg with a delayed harvest trout from South Carolina’s Chauga River.

By Nick Carter

or trout anglers, the next few months offer some of the best catch-andrelease fishing of the year. Delayed harvest (DH) waters are regulated by the states to carry us through to spring with heavy stockings and catchand-release, artificial-only fishing geared toward fly fishers. Here’s a look at a couple good DH options.

About an hour and a half west of Greenville, the Chauga flows a ridge east of the well-known Chattooga River. That’s part of what makes the Chauga such a great option during South Carolina’s Nov. 1-May 14 DH season. The Chattooga draws most of the fishing pressure, allowing the Chauga to fly under the radar. The Chauga fishes just like the Chattooga, only a little smaller, said Karl Eckberg of Chattooga River Fly Shop. The river’s ledges, drop-offs, deep river-bend holes and an abundance of riffle water hold rainbows, browns and brookies. There are only two access points to the DH stretch. Despite a good trail, Ekberg said the middle portion of the specially regulated water hardly gets touched. Early in the season, freshly stocked trout are suckers for the “big flashy and rubbery stuff,” said Ekberg. Load your box with Mop Flies, Y2Ks, Squirmy Worms and Gummy Worms. Micro streamers become more important as the season progresses, but fall and winter also offer hatches of midges, bluewinged olives and little black stoneflies.

NANTAHALA RIVER, NORTH CAROLINA

The upper Nantahala River’s 4-mile DH section is like a high-elevation trout stream without the hike. About 20 minutes southeast of Bryson City, Wayah Road hugs the upper Nantahala, giving no-hassle access to miles of riffles and pocket water, big bridge holes, gorges and deep plunge pools. The drawback to this situation is fishing pressure. Roadside pullouts fill up when the weather is nice during the October into June DH season. Stocked trout learn to spot a fake pretty quickly, so the fishing can be challenging. There are good numbers of standard hatchery-sized rainbows, browns and brook trout. Big fish are known to stake claim to the best holding water. For a few days after a stocking, the usual flashy “junk food” flies are effective, but Nantahala fish switch to more natural behaviors in a hurry. Fall and winter bring out winter stoneflies, blue-winged olives, midges and maybe even a few small caddis. Spring ushers in a riot of bug life and excellent dry fly fishing.

The Return of a

CHAUGA RIVER, SOUTH CAROLINA

The Chauga River is one of several good backcountry streams in Upstate South Carolina. It features some 20 miles of remote, lightly pressured water known for brown trout. This time of year, the Chauga’s 3-mile-long DH stretch is where it’s at.

Nick Carter is the author of “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” It is available on Amazon.com, and autographed copies are available by emailing the author at nsc8957@gmail.com.

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• 2 ctw blue topaz; ½ ctw Ultimate Diamond Alternative®, DiamondAura® • .925 sterling silver setting • Sterling silver chain sold separately

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®

Bad to the Bone Full tang stainless steel blade with natural bone handle —now ONLY $79!

he very best hunting knives possess a perfect balance of form and function. They’re carefully constructed from fine materials, but also have that little something extra to connect the owner with nature. If you’re on the hunt for a knife that combines impeccable craftsmanship with a sense of wonder, the $79 Huntsman Blade is the trophy you’re looking for. The blade is full tang, meaning it doesn’t stop at the handle but extends to the length of the grip for the ultimate in strength. The blade is made from 420 surgical steel, famed for its sharpness and its resistance to corrosion. The handle is made from genuine natural bone, and features decorative wood spacers and a hand-carved motif of two overlapping feathers— a reminder for you to respect and connect with the natural world. 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 Huntsman Blade. 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 Huntsman Blades for this ad only. Don’t let this BONUS! Call today and beauty slip through your fingers. Call today! you’ll also receive this

Huntsman Blade $249*

genuine leather sheath!

EXCLUSIVE

FREE

Stauer® 8x21 Compact Binoculars -a $99 valuewith purchase of Huntsman Blade

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

Offer Code Price Only $79 + S&P Save $170

1-800-333-2045

Your Insider Offer Code: HUK322-01 You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.

Stauer

Rating of A+

14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. HUK322-01 Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com

shown *Discount is only for customers who useNot the offer code versus the actual size. listed original Stauer.com price.

California residents please call 1-800-333-2045 regarding Proposition 65 regulations before purchasing this product. • 12" overall length; 6 ¹⁄2" stainless steel full tang blade • Genuine bone handle with brass hand guard & bolsters • Includes genuine leather sheath

Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®