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FOLLOW THE BAIT FOR NEARSHORE WAHOO
T
Tim Barefoot
his is the time of year when water temperatures allow pelagics like wahoo, dolphin and tuna to show up right on the beach… so to speak. I live in North Carolina, and every year there are stud wahoo caught “right on the beach.” Here “right on the beach” is the 20to 25-mile area off the beach. For some folks in Florida, “right on the beach” might be that first sea buoy right out of the inlet. In late summer, we have a monolithic water temperature from the Gulf Stream to the beach in the mid 80s. That allows wahoo to follow huge schools of bait wherever they go. This is what we call the beginning of the end… the end of summer. The cigar minnows and sardines come nearshore, and the wahoo follow them as far in as they are comfortable with the water depth, which is usually not much less than 75 or 80 feet. They will eat whatever they want, including live menhaden or cigs pulled around by king mackerel fishermen. We call it the beginning to the end of summer, but it’s also the beginning of a wonderful time of year for me… fall and winter. The cigs and sardines come in. The pelagics follow them for a month or so
until the water starts to cool in mid September. Then the magic happens. When cooling water runs off the wahoo, the gags show up in numbers. It’s all a very beautiful dance. Let’s enjoy every step along the way. I keep talking about the nearshore activity of the cigs and sardines, but the offshore schools are also getting bigger now, and this draws the attention of everything from pelagics to bottom fish. All the grouper and big snappers shadow these schools wherever they go. This is why it’s so important to “find the bait.” Cigs and sardines are not the only thing I’m looking for offshore. I like to find a big stack of beeliners. Wherever you find a big stack of beeliners, you can bet your bottom dollar there are grouper and big snapper directly under them and wahoo and kings around them. August is also a month to consider spending the night offshore. Yes, there are late afternoon thunderstorms that pop up, but overall weather patterns are consistent, and you can fish for days, back to back. Leave in the early afternoon, get where you are going and get acclimated to the setting sun. Anchor up on a pretty piece of bottom and bait, and turn on the lights. This is a “National Geographic moment.” The minnows and squid come to the light, so you can easily load up the livewell before the daylight bite starts. I will close with this: We lost a fishing pioneer and legend last month with Mark Sosin’s passing. Our thoughts, prayers and celebrations go out to his family. See more from Tim Barefoot at barefootcatsandtackle.com.
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LIVE BAIT AND ARTIFICIAL TACTICS FOR
J
upiter, Fla. is a worldrenowned fishery. In the summertime it’s known for hot inshore snook. Offshore produces an epic sailfish, kingfish, tuna and pelagic bite. There are always fish willing to eat. One of my favorite bites is for springtime blackfin tuna. From March through May, jumbo blackfins migrate down the east coast of Florida. It is not uncommon to catch them anywhere from 20 to 35 pounds. From their deliciousness on the table to their long powerful runs, blackfin tuna are one of my favorite offshore fish to target. They are sure to send you to the tackle shop to get your reels serviced after a productive day of fishing. Blackfin tuna are excellent hunters. Often, they work together to ambush schools of baitfish. They are equipped with massive eyeballs, which are designed for pitch black and low-light conditions. They spend a majority of their time down deep feeding on squid. However, at dawn and dusk, the tunas move higher in the water column to feed near the surface. Be on the lookout for frigates and disturbance on the water’s surface. It’s not uncommon to see them exploding and flying out of the water on a bait ball. I keep an easily accessible casting rod, with a plug or weighted feather jig tied on, for this scenario or in case a school of mahi shows up. Blackfin tuna will often hold to areas with bottom topography like humps, reefs and wrecks. You can find success drifting over areas like these with live bait. Live sardines, pilchards, threadfins and gogs will all work. I prefer live sardines. For me, they have been the most productive bait.
Chumming is important to bring blackfins higher in the water column. Chunk up pilchards and throw a few pieces out at the bow, mid and stern every couple of minutes. The best chum is live chum. Small- to medium-sized pilchards are your best bet. I throat-hook a sardine and send it out on a free line. The bait will swim down on its own, and you should keep some tension on it. I also drop a live bait on a down rod and wait for the bite as I drift along. Blackfins’ excellent eyesight means they can be leader shy, so I often run a 40- to 50-pound fluorocarbon leader, but will go as light as 30 pounds. A triplehook rig for freelining or a single 4/0 or 5/0 circle hook depending By Ryan Izquierdo on the size of the bait is my hook preference. You can also catch them kite fishing, trolling feathers/spoons, with ballyhoo rigs, cedar plugs, planer fishing, vertical jigging and slow-pitch. Second to live bait, slow-pitch jigging is a fun and effective way to catch tunas when the hot mid-day sun pushes them down deep. My go to jig is a Jyg Pro 240 Gram strike jig. I like to jig anywhere from 200 to 350 feet. Send it down to the bottom over active areas and work your rod up high and let the jig flutter back down. You can change the pace and tempo of your jigging until you find what works. Don’t be surprised to get hit as you are burning the jig back to the surface. I hope these tuna tips bring you success and dinner to share with your close friends and family. Keep on fishing! Check out Ryan Izquierdo’s adventures on his YouTube channel: Ryan Iz Fishing.
You raise the flags of the fish just caught to show you weren’t skunked. Once onshore you can take it a step further showing your fellow anglers your catch of the day wearing “slippahs” from Scott Hawaii.
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FREEDIVER SPEARS WORLD RECORD CUBERA SNAPPER A massive 137-pound Atlantic cubera snapper speared by a Texas freediver in early June was heavier than the existing IGFA all-tackle world record as well as the Texas state record. It will not, however, qualify for either record because of the method used to catch it. Who cares? The diver, Braden Sherron, a student at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, can rest assured that his monster cubera is one of the largest of its species ever caught by any method. It will likely be the new International Underwater Spearfishing Association’s world record. If approved, it will replace a 122.4-pound fish shot in 2006 off the coast of Brazil. According to a Field & Stream story on the catch, Sherron first encountered the giant snapper while freediving a Gulf of Mexico oil rig about 60 miles out of Port Aransas, Texas. He did not take his shot at the time because he was not equipped to handle such a large fish. A week later, on June 3, he returned to the rig with heavier gear, dove to about 55 feet and put a dart into the fish. Luckily, the cubera wrapped the trailing line up in the oil rig, which kept the fish from diving. While the fish fought itself, Sherron returned to the surface to wait 10 minutes before diving down to secure
By CAM Staff
his prize with two more shots. When Sherron brought his fish back to the scales at Fisherman’s Wharf in Port Aransas, it began making the rounds on social media almost immediately. It truly is an enormous fish, which outweighs the existing IGFA record—a 2007 Louisiana fish that weighed 124 pounds, 12 ounces—by more than 10 pounds. Sherron’s fish also outweighs the Texas state rod-and-reel record of 131 pounds. The only larger cubera snapper research was able to turn up was a 151-pound monster that’s listed as an “other methods” catch by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. That fish, caught by handline out of Port Mansfiled in 1984, weighed 151 pounds. The thing is, none of these other anglers were holding their breath when they caught their fish. Sherron’s catch is absolutely one for the record books. “I would equate it to shooting a 200-plusinch whitetail deer on public land,” he told Field & Stream. “It’s one of those things that happens once in a lifetime, and you can’t believe it when it does.” Check out video of Braden Sherron’s spearfishing on his Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/3yKm8EP
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August is the Best Month for
GIANT SNOOK By Emily Rose Hanzlik
A
ugust offers the best chance for anglers to catch a 40-inch-plus snook in Florida waters. With a majority of snook returning from offshore spawning grounds, the big girls will feed up to recover from the rigors of the spawn. Right now is a good time to catch them. Snook are widespread, but their range is limited by temperature intolerance. They are found throughout the Caribbean on the Atlantic and Pacific sides, including most of Florida. Due to their limited cold tolerance, Snook avoid temperatures below 60 degrees. There are 12 species of snook that can be found in just about any body of water within their range. Snook can be caught all year long. In winter they prefer shallow flats and deep holes in bay areas. As water temperatures rise, they move out to offshore structure to spawn. When snook are not spawning, they move inshore and travel upstream. Since snook are euryhaline, meaning they can live in a wide range of salinity, they travel upstream into brackish and freshwater areas. Snook have a special osmoregulation feature that allows them
to control the water content inside their bodies to maintain the same salinity as the outside water. Snook spawning takes place between April and October with peak around June and July. During this time, females and males move into higher salinity locations where they broadcast spawn with the females releasing eggs into the water column and the males fertilizing them. One female snook can release up to 1.5 million eggs each spawn. All of the hatchlings are born as males and transition to females when they reach between 12 and 35 inches in length. They are protandrous hermaphrodites, meaning the males change to females as they age. Some of the best places to locate big girls in large numbers this time of year are at the mouths of inlets, bridges and piers. Heavier tackle is preferred, since you will most likely be fishing heavy structure. Some of the best baits for really big fish include croaker, mojarra, snapper, needlefish and southern sennet. It is best practice, if you do land a big fish, to release the fish safely back into the water using a
SU
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TH sling. Where a bridge/ pier net is used to land the fish, the net can also be used to release the fish when a sling is not available. Lay the fish in the net with its head as far upwards as possible. The largest IGFA-recorded common snook weighed 53 pounds, 10 ounces. It was caught from Costa Rica. Emily Rose Hanzlik holds 51 IGFA world records in various categories. She hails from West Palm Beach, where she has a part time Bowfin Guide Service as well as fishing classes for Jr. Anglers. Find her on Social Media @emilyhanzlikoutdoors.
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fishery in Florida for future generations while balancing stakeholder interests,” said FWC Commissioner Steven Hudson. The changes to redfish management regions and regulations, as part of FWC’s new management approach, will better capture regional differences and improve angler satisfaction. The new management approach includes annual reviews of the redfish fishery For more information, including the July 2022 Commission and redfish regulations may be changed each meeting presentation, visit MyFWC.com/Commission year in response to the reviews. and click on “Commission Meetings.”
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HYDRASTEPP 18’ The New Face of High Performance Flats Boats
I
By Phil Wolf
f you are in the market for a new flats boat, the 2022 Hydrastepp 18’ might just be the boat you’re looking for. It has all the whistles and bells that a flats boat needs, plus great looks, high-quality construction and performance abound. This new 18-foot flats boat is the result of several years’ trial and improvements. Renowned racing boat designer/ builder Steve Stepp has 50-plus years of experience in the industry. His previous company, Velocity Powerboats, in Sanford, Fla. holds 14 world records, showing that his advanced designs achieve performance and efficiency that most manufacturers cannot match. Hydrastepp Boats are built right here in Central Florida. Check-out their website at www.HYDRASTEPP.com, and take a look at this impressive HP flats-boat. At first glance, you’ll notice this boat’s sleek and clean lines. It has 94” beam, which is extremely wide for an 18’ boat. This makes it very stable when walking around on the wide gunnel. There is a huge storage compartment up front, with a removable tackle storage system and two additional large storage compartments in the rear, both at port and starboard. Two 28-gallon livewells are located in the front and the rear, and a new rod-storage system holds 16 rods. Custom divided sport seats with removable backrests, like you see on offshore racing boats, provide comfort. The console is very sleek and sports
a pair of 9” Simrad flush-mounted monitors for fish-finder/ GPS and supports all the normal gauges: tachometer, waterpressure, temperature, gas and speed by GPS. They are all linked to the motor and fuel system, which is very cool! A 29-gallon gas tank allows this boat to make long runs thanks to the super high-efficiency hull design. On a recent test ride of the new 2022 demo model Hydrastepp 18’, the boat was equipped with a 150 hp Mercury Pro XS, a 30” pitch Mercury 4 blade prop, three-quarters of a tank of gas, a Motorguide 24 volt trolling motor, 50 pounds of gear in the front compartment, three batteries and two adults. The boat’s performance was outstanding! It gets on a plane in 2.5 seconds with little effort. Top speed with load is 65 mph at 5,800 rpm, while getting 5 miles per gallon. Fuel consumption at 30 mph and 3,050 rpm was 7 miles to the gallon (best), allowing over 200 miles to the tank! To say this vessel is super-efficient is an understatement. I’ve ridden in just about every flats boat on the market. This Hydrastepp 18’ outperforms all of them by far. If you are in the market for a flats boat, give Steve a call to schedule a test ride for yourself, and place your order for the new face of flats boats! Tell them that you read about them in Coastal Angler Magazine! Phil Wolf is co-publisher of the Orlando edition of Coastal Angler Magazine. Check out HydraStepp boats at hydrastepp.com.
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! ery Breath
he Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis hosted their 6th annual Landing at Lake Worth Beach Pier on Sunday, June 26th where 130 paddlers endured the 80-mile journey from Bimini, Bahamas. Teams from across the country, including Southern California, Colorado, and New Jersey traveled to Florida to compete in the endurance paddling competition to help raise awareness for Cystic Fibrosis. This year, The Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis featured a Livestream broadcast where spectators could cheer from a distance. The first paddler crossed the finish line in 12:54:09. The finish line was filled with tears of joy and champagne showers as paddlers celebrated by ringing the bell with Thor’s hammer. “This was our best year yet! We had an incredible community of courageous and
The
Crossing for
big-hearted individuals come together from all over the country. It’s amazing to see such pure inspiration and love pouring out of everyone. We were blessed with spectacular ocean conditions which made for a beautiful crossing.” Piper’s Angels Foundation, which puts on the event, raised $450,000 this year. Top sponsors of the event included; CELSIUS, Seacor Island Lines, Dixie Vodka, Gordon & Partners, MedLab, Buoy Hydration, Power Design, UBS, Garden of Life, Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County, City of Lake Worth Beach, and more. For more information on The Crossing for Cystic Fibrosis, check out their website w w w. c ro ssi ng forc yst i cf ibro sis.com . Registration for paddlers will open in August for next June 2023.
Cystic Fibrosis
Notable paddlers include 1. Team Double or Nothing: Scott Johnson (participant with double lung transplant), Travis Suit, Todd McLaughlin, Ryan Burgess
2. Women’s Overall Winner: Kate McBride 3. Men’s Overall Winner: Todd Bourgeois 4. Team Special Compass - Jim & Michael Sayih (participant with cerebral palsy)
5. Team Claire’s Place Foundation (from California) -
CF Mom, Melissa Yearquist, paddling in honor of her daughter Claire Wineland who passed away from CF at 21 during an operation for a double lung transplant.
For advertising or other inquiries, call 917.612.8275 or email us at ilene@coastalanglermagazine.com
A e h t g n i fish aches e B m l a P
ugust will bring light south and southeast winds and calm seas to South Florida. The air temps in the upper 80’s and low-90’s with humidity making it feel like 100-105 degrees and afternoon thunderstorms is what August will surely bring. What does this mean for fishing? Offshore fishing is generally slow in south Florida during the warm summer months, but there is certainly opportunity! I suggest you get out there early before the hot sun sends the fish down deep. Mahi are typically on the small side in August, but if you search for those weed lines and debris up to 20 miles out you can still catch dinner on most days. This is the time for all the small boat owners to take advantage of calm seas and keep running out searching for fish and covering water. Closer to shore, there should be a decent king bite but be sure you target them in the early morning. Using live goggle eyes on a “kingfish rig” or trolling spoons will do the trick to catch kings. Bonita are thick and should remain so through August, they are lots of fun on light tackle, but if you are not a fan of this fish simply save them up for bait, chunks and strips—they usually get scarce as soon as you need them! August also brings the best wahoo bite, especially around the full moons. We like to regular troll with, our trolling baits include a bonito strip under a pink sea witch, a split-tail double-hook rigged mullet (with or without the Sea Witch) and the always popular ballyhoo under a blue/white or black/red Ilander Lure. Don’t forget to do some bottom fishing before you go in, the snapper bite should be good, and you can catch dinner. Inshore and at the inlets it’s snook spawn time! Live baits such as pilchards, greenies, sardines and croakers will catch snook at the inlets. Be certain to go fishing when the water/current is moving fast as this gets the bait moving so plan your trip accordingly. Snook fishing is a lot of fun and does not take a lot of gas, money or time. Of course, next month we will all be looking for the start of the annual mullet run of bait fish, it’s a very exciting time both inshore and along the beach.
Fishing
Forecast
with
Darcizzle Please be sure to check out my YouTube Channel “Darcizzle Offshore” for fishing videos every week!
www.youtube.com/DarcizzleOffshore
Gorgeous 10lb mutton snapper I caught while bottom fishing with a dead ballyhoo.
www.USHarbors.com
Boca Raton, Lake Boca Raton, FL - Aug 2022 High
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1:16
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1:59
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8:37
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2:49
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10:28
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6:47
8:05
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4:51
2.1
6:00
2.5
11:31
0.0
6:47
8:04
8
Mon
5:58
2.1
7:04
2.5
12:19
0.5
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-0.1
6:48
8:03
9
Tue
7:04
2.2
8:04
2.6
1:25
0.4
1:41
-0.1
6:48
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10
Wed
8:06
2.3
9:00
2.7
2:27
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-0.2
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9:04
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9:51
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3:24
0.2
3:38
-0.3
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10:00
2.4
10:39
2.7
4:16
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10:53
2.5
11:25
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5:05
0.1
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-0.2
6:50
7:59
14
Sun
11:46
2.5
5:52
0.0
6:10
0.0
6:51
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15
Mon
12:10
2.5
12:38
2.4
6:38
0.0
6:59
0.1
6:51
7:57
16
Tue
12:53
2.4
1:29
2.4
7:24
0.1
7:49
0.3
6:52
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17
Wed
1:38
2.3
2:22
2.3
8:10
0.1
8:40
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6:52
7:56
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18
Thu
2:25
2.1
3:17
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4:10
2.0
5:13
2.2
10:41
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6:53
7:53
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21
Sun
5:09
2.0
6:10
2.3
11:35
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6:54
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6:08
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7:03
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12:19
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12:29
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7:51
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Tue
7:02
2.0
7:50
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1:13
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1:22
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6:55
7:50
Join Sea Tow Palm Beach \ 561-844-8056 seatow.com/palmbeach
24
Wed
7:51
2.1
8:33
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2:03
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9:17
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9:57
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10:35
2.3
10:54
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4:44
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5:56
0.1
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12:04
2.3
6:35
0.1
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6:58
7:42
1
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Fishing Forecast with
Barry came over from Scotland hoping to check off goliath grouper and he did!
Capt. Patrick Smith
www.swamptosea.com • 561-503-0848
W
elcome to the August forecast, it’s really getting warm out there but there is some decent fishing if you look in the right places at the right time. A big suggestion is always for me this time of year is to focus on early morning and in the evening to avoid high water temps. Right after an afternoon thunderstorm can be a great time Saylor Sosa had some luck with the to get out there a lot of times snook on an evening trip. where the fish really turn on. My main focus is going to be snook and tarpon usually out on the beach. My first couple shots will be with the fly rod and an artificial such as a D.O.A. TerrorEyz or a twitch bait. If that is not producing, I will be looking to troll a live bait such as a medium sized mullet, pilchard, or even ballyhoo. When targeting tarpon on the beach I use relatively heavy spinning gear as the fish tend to make longer runs than
Angel Sosa got in on some snook action.
they do inside The Intracoastal, using leaders that will range from 40 pound to 60 pound fluorocarbon depending on water clarity. On the fresh water, the bite from peacocks and clowns will be excellent. Same deal - go early or go late. The largemouth bass fishing tends to slow down a bit with the hot weather but there are a few willing to participate. Live baiting is the sure bet as usual but don’t be scared to throw a jerk bait or even an unweighted fluke that you can Marlin got his first tarpon. skip back under docks where hungry fish may be waiting in ambush. If the water is flowing around spillways and bridges, you can throw small torpedo prop baits at dusk and sometimes have pretty epic sunshine bass sessions. Good luck out there. Drink plenty of water, be safe!
Kayak
your launch and take out spots as the current will most likely push you 1020 miles from your launch spot. I like to launch at Boca Raton Inlet and drift to Palm Beach Inlet on these longrange trips. Trolling a daisy chain or pilchards will help put a fish in the kayak. Most will be small, but there are chances for a big bull.
Fishing Forecast with
Capt. brian nelli
772-201-5899 • Brian@tckayakfishing.com • tckayakfishing.com
Marcus with a nice sailfish.
Freshwater
The peacock bass will start to move off their shallow spawning areas and Inshore back to deeper water and structure Jason with a stud blackfin tuna. Snook should be your target this month. Look to pick off a few this month. Fishing dock lights with jerk baits and live shiners. Clown and bridge shadow lines at night is a great way to catch knifefish will be in the mix with the moving peacock a linesider and avoid the heat. If you can get out during bass near structure and deeper pockets. the day, switch to fishing seawalls and docks with good Check us out Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters on current. Launching at Sawfish Park in Jupiter will put Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube for all the latest you in close proximity to reliable areas. In Broward adventures my clients and I get into. County there are plenty of pilchards, threadfins, and See you on the water! sardines around the piers and inlets to catch for bait. Loading up the kayak and chasing snook and tarpon along the beach is a great option right now. Get out Tom with a early and launch at places like the south side of Jupiter nice peacock. Inlet and south of Hillsboro Inlet. Pedal the beach south looking for rolling fish and snook in the surf line.
Offshore
Fishing off Palm Beach County should produce plenty of kingfish, sailfish, and a few tunas. Using goggle eyes, pilchards, threadfins, and blue runners will be top choices. If you are looking for a mahi dinner make the run 4-8 miles out looking for weed lines. Plan 4 Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas
August 2022
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using pound nding
from ellent. e. The o slow er but cipate. ual but bait or ou can ungry If the rpedo ions.
Success! I said, “let’s go to lunch and call it a day”. I asked Neil if he was hungry and then he disclosed to me that he ate a banana for breakfast! Neil knows not to bring bananas on the boat (it’s bad luck), but it didn’t occur to him that the curse would remain in effect with it digesting in his stomach. Myth confirmed or was it bad luck? He should’ve brought his lucky rabbit foot!!! Keith Lozott The Fishing Realtor
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Boynton Beach, Lake Worth, FL - Aug 2022 High
Date
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! e v i D
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM Low
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1:15
2.5
1:38
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0.2
8:17
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6:46
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1:53
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5:20
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6:28
2.6
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1:13
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7:38
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3:14
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1:23
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2:08
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2:54
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3:37
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6:31
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7:27
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7:28
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8:16
2.5
2:19
0.8
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8:18
2.4
9:00
2.6
3:06
0.8
3:21
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9:40
2.7
3:48
0.7
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2.7
10:18
2.8
4:27
0.6
4:40
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10:29
2.7
10:55
2.9
5:04
0.5
5:17
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6:57
7:46
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11:09
2.8
11:31
2.9
5:39
0.4
5:54
0.3
6:58
7:45
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Mon
11:50
2.9
6:14
0.3
6:31
0.3
6:58
7:44
30
Tue
12:07
2.9
12:31
2.9
6:51
0.2
7:10
0.4
6:58
7:43
31
Wed
12:44
2.8
1:15
2.9
7:30
0.2
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6:59
7:42
1
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august 2022
Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas 5
The 13th annual Sailfish Marina
S a lt wat e r Angling Lessons and Techniques for Youth
Big Dog Fat Cat KDW Shootout
T
Photos by: Leonard Bryant Photography
Group photo back at the dock on the Miss Blue Heron.
Yellowtail caught on the new PENN spinners the kids received.
Youth anglers learning to troll for wahoo on the way to the reef.
Knot tying at the WPBFC.
Kids learning to spool up their rods from WPBFC volunteers.
T
Excited youth angler catching bonita on light line.
he West Palm Beach Fishing Club’s charitable affiliate, the Palm Beach County Fishing Foundation, took to the water to help cultivate the next generation of knowledgeable and responsible young anglers earlier this summer. The S.A.L.T.Y. Youth Fishing Program was another fun and successful event, strengthening the bond between the kids involved and their parent/chaperone, and further connecting local youth to the incredible saltwater resources Palm Beach County has to offer. The youth participants rigged at the historic West Palm Beach Fishing Club (WPBFC) on a Friday night, in preparation of fishing the next morning. With the assistance of helpful volunteers, the kids learned knot tying, sardine rigging, how to tie a guppy rig, and they spooled up their new PENN Fishing combos they received as part of the program! That following Saturday morning was an opportunity to put their new skills and rigs to the test. Plenty of fish were caught and a lot of memories were made on the water while fishing on the Miss Blue Heron out of Palm Beach Inlet. A big thanks goes out to the WPBFC volunteers who inspired and worked with the S.A.L.T.Y. kids. And of course, a special thanks to community partners like the Marine Industries Association of Palm Beach County for making these youth fishing programs possible. There’s something special about connecting kids to the water!
Photos by: Leonard Bryant Photography
he 13th annual Sailfish Marina Big Dog Fat Cat KDW Shootout was an amazing event from beginning to end. It’s the fastest growing KDW tournament in Palm Beach County since 2010. The event began with a pre-party presented by Deep Eddy Vodka & Admiral Nelson’s Rum. At Friday evening’s Captains’ meeting, participants received tournament rules, shopped the Sidewalk Celebration with many vendors, partook in the silent auction and raffles, and enjoyed dinner and drinks provided by Sailfish Marina and Havana Restaurant. A VIP and sponsor party held above the restaurant concluded the fantastic evening. The festivities Winning Wahoo continued Saturday with competitive fishing, the second day of the Sidewalk Celebration, additional silent auction and raffles, the weigh-in, dinner, and award presentation; with all being held on the beautiful Sailfish Marina lawn. “It was great to see the local support of sponsors & vendors like Contender Boats & many others. We could not do this without our committee and volunteers, & so many more did an impeccable job and put much time into this yearly event,” said Bill Wummer. This year, over 240 boats participated in the tournament. Second Chance Puppies and Kittens Rescue helped more than 20 animals find their furever homes. Last year, the event was able to donate over $30,000 to charity and they are hoping to surpass that this year. Congratulations to Barnacle Fishing Team for their 50.8-lb. wahoo tournament winner, as they won $5,000 in cash and $7,500 in Humminbird and Cannon products plus $3,000 in a Pelagic Clothing package. Sailfish Marina Big Dog Fat Cat KDW Shootout congratulates everyone who placed, and thanks to all that participated to make this such a successful event!
Tom ‘Buzz’ Bzura Managing Director West Palm Beach Fishing Club 6 Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas
August 2022
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
T
size, th packs around find. nearby debris food. fishing territo the m over so offsho find a oasis desert find s make around come yield a Spo
sportfishing
F o r e c a s t with
Come on ... Admit It!
Capt. Rod Roydhouse
New Lattitude Sportfishing • (954) 707-2147 • www.NewLattitude.com
T
he dolphin are here and they are hungry. The smaller dolphin of June and July have grown from 3–5 pound fish, to 6-10 pounders, some even bigger. Dolphin grow extremely fast. When dolphin reach this size, they break from their schools of 50 plus fish, down into smaller hunting packs made up of 8-10 fish. This makes for a lot more schools of dolphin around offshore and they are easier to find. These schools of dolphin gather nearby a seaweed line or other floating debris for protection and a place to find food. The secret to offshore dolphin fishing is territory coverage. The more territory you can troll your lures over, the more of a chance you have to run over some fish. It’s a big ocean out there offshore, almost like a desert, until you find a floating piece of driftwood... an oasis in the middle of this saltwater desert, loaded with dolphin. When you find something good to fish next to, make sure to pull some deep running lures by it too. Wahoo typically hang around floating debris offshore as well, but they stay much deeper and rarely come near the surface. Pulling a planer or downrigger bait by it will often yield a nice wahoo to complement your catch. Sportfishing closer in on the reefs is nearly non-stop action. Bonitos are everywhere on the reefs. They are so abundant that I actually have to try to avoid them sometimes to give the anglers a rest. Trolling the reef is great right now for bonito, kingfish, barracuda, wahoo, and even a rare sailfish. It’s not sailfish season yet, but there are always a handful of them caught in August. Wreck fishing is particularly good this month. Black, snowy, and warsaw groupers are all being caught deep dropping around the wrecks. Amberjack, almaco jacks, and cobia are showing up on these same wrecks and biting good on live bait. Out in 400 feet of water, just about everywhere, gray tilefish are all over the bottom. You can catch these by dropping a multi-hook rig baited with squid and catch them 3 at a time. There is a lot of variety out there this month. This is the last great month for action before we get into our fall big game fishing season, so get out there and catch some fish. Tight lines everyone! COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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Bring the Family or Host your Company Convention with the Best Crew in South Florida! august 2022
Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas 7
ECO ToURISM with Chris Thalmann Aqua Adventure Tours, Inc. • 561-635-6899 • www.aquaadventuretours.com
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ello everyone! Here in South Florida, it’s hard to imagine that we’re edging closer to fall migration season, but there are some subtle changes underway among our local wildlife populations. Several migratory bird species start getting ready to head south for the winter, including one of our smallest and most active coastal birds, the least tern. If you’re not familiar with these energetic little birds, there’s much to like! They arrive here in the US to nest in late spring. Most stay until August or September before heading back toward South America for the winter. It’s a huge journey for the smallest of the tern species, feeding almost exclusively on small fish in coastal areas. They’re acrobatic flyers and their wing shape makes them fast and efficient. You can often spot them hovering in place over water while searching for food. Once locked on, they quickly dive in headfirst to catch their next meal. Least terns are easily spotted on top of pilings and markers. More difficult to spot are their nests and their hatchlings. Least terns don’t build typical bird nests of twigs and sticks. Instead, they scrape out a little depression on beaches and lay their tiny eggs among the sand, pebbles, rocks, and shells. Their incredible camouflage skills make it possible for them to nest in wideopen areas, unlike many other birds. Least terns are fierce defenders of their nests against other birds, raccoons, foxes, and even people. They’ve even devised a defense of sorts
unior Angler Team
8 Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas
August 2022
against habitat loss. Many of their coastal nesting areas were destroyed while South Florida was being built out. These resourceful little birds found replacement nesting areas way up high on the gravel-topped roofs of many buildings. While they have been successfully nesting up there for many years, Palm Beach County and several cooperative partners have been gradually restoring our coastal habitats. It’s a longterm effort that’s starting to pay off. Least terns have successfully nested at several restoration sites along Lake Worth Lagoon in the last few years, even sites still under construction. These little birds love to chat while flying and diving and are among the most vocal seabirds, so if you hear a high pitched “zwreeeeep - zwreeeeep zwreeeep” or a squeaky “kit - kit - kit - kit” coming from overhead, just look up for the cutest little dive bombers around! Enjoy their antics while they’re still here and look for them again next spring. Hope to see you outdoors and on the water!
By Christopher Sprague
H
ello anglers! I hope you all have been catching a bunch of fish in this scorching heat. I recently went offshore for some dolphin with my family. About 2 miles off Boynton Inlet, there was a huge weed line, but since so many boats had already fished it and the fact that it was just so massive, it was hard to pinpoint the dolphin. We decided to run past it and look for floating objects or other nice weed lines. We kept running and found just a bunch of scattered weeds. Finally, around 20 miles off the coast, we got past the scattered weed and began to find some nice patches. We put out ballyhoo and trolled around with no luck. Eventually, we reeled in and kept running. Finally, we spotted a tree, and it was huge! We were so excited; it was about 20 feet long and had branches all over and it had been in the water for a while because it was growing barnacles. We thought we were going to get a monster, so we pitched our baits and waited. One of our crew members then yelled “look there’s another tree over there!” We kept fishing this one tree for a little longer, but with not one dolphin spotted, we moved to the other tree. We did the same thing and NOTHING. It was the wildest thing; I would have expected hundreds of dolphin to be in the boat by now. We kept running and found a couple hundred feet of yacht rope bundled up and fished that for a little, and finally, we had some small dolphins to the boat. We got around 6 dolphins, only one being a gaffer. By now we were 30 miles offshore and were seriously debating on just running to the Bahamas! We had enough fuel so why not! Customs would have been an issue and we were hungry, so we just ran back to land and got some lunch on the water. We came home with dinner and a big gas bill, but we had a priceless time and had a blast offshore.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Why Keep Bonitos? By Bri Andrassy – Sea-Doo Fishing Brand Ambassador
Many areas South lt out. birds esting n the many
been up Palm everal have ng our longsted at s, even
ng the eeep st look hey’re
n this n with d line, as just n past nning les off e nice tually, huge! ll over nacles. ts and er tree t with same pected found a little, und 6 re and nough ungry, came nd had
Bonito chumming for dolphin. Full video found on YouTube: BA Fishing Doubled on Dolphin https://youtu.be/EPW3tU7YXoM.
‘T
is the season for a bountiful catch of bonito offshore of Southeast Florida. If you stay shallow, it’s hard to avoid catching anything but bonitos. Unfortunately, they do not taste like our beloved black-fin tuna, but they are considered to be a valuable bait fish. As far as how to catch them - live, dead, and artificial baits all draw them; personally, I enjoy catching them on the vertical jig. They strike hard and fast. If you’ve never caught one, their fight may surprise you. So even if you’re looking for a solid catch-and-release fight they’ll throw some punches, but if you’re looking for fresh bait, then it’s a win-win. Just be ready - bonitos are part of the tuna family so they will make you work hard to get them on board. As far as their value as bait, they can be used in variety of ways. If you leave a thin layer of meat on the skin, you can cut them into strips which are a great bait to troll behind a sea witch. You can also score, chunk, and chum the meat to help start some action. Having a pitch rod ready is key, if a dolphin swims up, toss out a couple of chunks to hold their attention, and then throw a chunk out on your pitch line. Bonitos are not a hardy fish in terms of live bait trolling, but if you get one up that is still green you can try bump trolling for a billfish. You can also add some weight and drop them down to see if there are any hungry bottom dwellers. I primarily fish on my Sea-Doo FishPro Trophy offshore of Jupiter, Florida. Although there is more space than expected, I do try to conserve as much space as I can. I prefer to catch my “chum” instead of transporting
Bonito and Sanchez! Full video found on YouTube: BA Fishing SEA-DOO Fishing with my Raccoon https://youtu.be/--VuT8sKYg4.
large blocks. This way you can chum fresh bait, save money, and save space. Two average sized bonitos can last a full-day trip. My latest video shows my bait fishing tactics with the cutest little bait buddy around! Follow me on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook @ BA Fishing
ThE #1 chOIcE FOR spRAy-ON
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954-969-7795 www.LINEXOFLAUDERDALE.cOM COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
august 2022
Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas 9
Gold the day the fish gods smiled By Mark Ambert
– what an The smiles say it all all boat crew. sm s thi for nt me accomplish
Nothing compares to the thrill of a potential winning catch. This wahoo weighed in at 50.8 pounds!
E
Barnacle to Team st fish. s e o g Award ament heavie for tourn
ntering any tournament – especially for the small boat angler is a big deal. The commitment it takes to want to compete is second to none. It starts with endless hours of preparation if you want to win. And with all your best laid plans – it still comes down to the fish gods and whether they will smile on you that day. This is the story of the recent KDW Big Dog Fat Cat tournament win for heaviest fish. It has all the earmarks of a classic fishing adventure and will put a smile on even the most seasoned tournament captains. It is the story of the “weekend warrior”. Dedicated to both life and fishing they dream of the big fish that for once didn’t get away. On this day along with much blood sweat and tears – the fishing gods smiled.
done pretty good catching the same nice fish that the larger center consoles and sport fishers catch”. On sporty days, it takes a hearty captain and crew to fish the Jupiter / Palm Beach reef system. The boat crew consisted of Captain James, Jorge Perez, and Dennis Arian. Jorge and James had prior fishing experience together and Dennis was a recent addition. Everyone has a favorite fish and for James, it’s the wahoo. “I got into wahoo fishing three years ago when my friend Jordan Stilley gave me a half hour phone call with basic instructions and a few tricks on how to catch them. After catching the first one I was addicted! I love the bite, the food quality, and love that they can be so challenging to catch”.
Welcome to the Big Dog Fat Cat Shootout!
– The Day Begins –
By way of introduction, BDFC is the fastest growing KDW Tournament in Palm Beach County since 2010, and all for a good cause. The tournament benefits local outstanding animal organizations every year. In this tournament alone, 19 puppies found forever homes courtesy of A Second Chance Puppies and Kittens Rescue Center. Everything about this event is top notch including the venue – Sailfish Marina is a local icon for boaters and fisherman everywhere. Thanks to Tournament Director Bill Wummer for putting on a first-class event. The captain and boat owner that would eventually win the coveted KDW category for heaviest fish is Dr. James Whitney Chiropractor of Palm Beach Gardens. James is no stranger to small boat fishing – especially for wahoo and has also successfully treated many local captains with a similar passion. There tends to be a lot of fishing talk in the office! James’s interest in Chiropractic started with a surfing injury. He uses techniques that got him through his own situation focusing on a combination of soft tissue and joint manipulation. I first heard of Dr. James from my local live bait supplier, Matt Rainey / Jupiter Live Bait. He swore by his treatment’s, and I am now a happy believer. James entered the tournament using his boat name “The Barnacle”. This boat is a 22’ Pro Line that according to James “has been great to me -- it has 10 Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas
August 2022
o
“We decided to fish off The Breakers because we had done well there and got 3rd place single engine in the BDFC two years ago”. “Tackle included a trusty Shimano TLD 50 with 80-pound braid and shallow planer combination. At the business end is a long light mono leader, to a Sea Witch and bonita strip combo which is what he hit. In the weeks leading up to the tournament the scattered weeds were so bad it was very difficult to troll, and I wasn’t confident in pulling planers and trolling if the weeds were thick and scattered. We also had live bait as plan b, and we were going to spend a couple hours on the ledge for kingfish and head offshore for mahi if the weeds were too difficult to fish inside.” Turns out the weeds cleared up a little bit a day or two before the tournament. We had lines in at 6:30am and had three kingfish up to 15 pounds in the box early. The action was red hot and between 120 and 180 feet. We got “the bite” at 8:15 in the morning in 140 feet which is shallow for wahoo in my experience. Our mystery fish had that classic smoking first run that screams “big wahoo” and took a ton of line off the reel. With a lot of heat on the drag the fish still seemed like it took a mile worth of line which made us all a bit nervous. With the amount of boat traffic in the area we were fearful of being cut off. We also kept a wary eye for the local commercial kingfish fleet. I’ve had two other wahoo close to 50 pounds and neither one had a run CONTinued on PAGE 14 >>
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PB Fo
Recycle your old boat supplies.
August Reminder!
Recycle your used motor oil and automotive supplies.
Find your nearest drop-off at SWA.org/HCRC Boats and vessels are accepted at the landfill for a fee after all fuels, flares, batteries and other hazardous materials are removed by the owner or hauler. Removing under-floor fuel tanks, when possible, is recommended. Boats will be inspected by SWA staff prior to disposal.
PBC Residential Disposal Only. For commercial disposal, call 561-687-1100.
Palm Beach
“
In & Offshore Fishing Forecast with Capt. Weston Russell
W
elcome to the Coastal Angler fishing report for West Palm Beach, Singer Island, and Palm Beach Shores. The bite the last couple of months has been good but expect things to pick up for the month of August. Offshore… the snapper bite will be on. Muttons will be hanging under the kingfish schools waiting for a free meal to sink to the bottom. If you’re catching undersized fish, try fishing deeper water. Deeper means water from 150’ to 250’. Believe me, monster muttons live in the deep. You will need heavy lead and a long leader. I use 30’ of 60 lb. to fool the big boys. The bait of choice is a fresh cut goggle eye. Also, if you’re looking for a trophy wahoo, try fishing at the crack of dawn. Fast troll any lure that looks
like a bonito. Speeds of 10 to 12 knots is best. Good luck! If you’re looking to land a West Palm Beach Gladiator (aka swordfish), you will need to head east 20 miles. The mighty swordfish will be lurking deep below. Daytime swording is an option that not a lot of anglers are taking advantage of. Swordfishing is not hard. Think of it as bottom fishing on a bigger scale, but it’s always a great idea to hire a pro to show you the ropes. For you inshore anglers, the Palm Beach Inlet will still be holding plenty of tarpon, snook, and jacks. Light tackle is the way to go. Inlet fishing is all about tides, so plan your trips accordingly. The weather plays a major role in sportfishing. Storms can pop up fast and ruin your day. Please take care and beware. If you are looking for some pro tips, visit reelintensefishing.com for your next fishing adventure. www.USHarbors.com
Jupiter Inlet, south jetty, FL - Aug 2022 High
Date
Low
AM
ft
PM
Mon
11:40
2.5
2
Tue
12:00
2.6
12:23
3
Wed
12:38
2.5
1:09
4
Thu
1:19
2.5
5
Fri
2:05
6
Sat
7
ft
www.USHarbors.com
Palm Beach, FL - Aug 2022 High
Date
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Moon
5:06
0.3
5:19
0.2
6:43
8:09
1
2.5
5:45
0.3
6:01
0.4
6:44
8:08
2
Tue
12:28
2.5
6:27
0.2
6:49
0.5
6:44
8:08
3
Wed
1:06
2:01
2.5
7:16
0.2
7:43
0.6
6:45
8:07
4
Thu
2.4
3:00
2.5
8:12
0.1
8:45
0.7
6:45
8:06
5
3:01
2.4
4:05
2.5
9:14
0.0
9:51
0.8
6:46
8:06
Sun
4:05
2.4
5:13
2.6
10:19
-0.1
10:57
0.7
6:46
8
Mon
5:15
2.5
6:19
2.8
11:23
-0.2
11:59
0.5
9
Tue
6:23
2.7
7:19
2.9
12:24
10
Wed
7:26
2.8
8:14
3.1
12:58
0.3
11
Thu
8:24
3.0
9:05
3.2
1:53
12
Fri
9:18
3.1
9:53
3.2
13
Sat
10:10
3.2
10:39
14
Sun
11:01
3.1
11:24
15
Mon
11:50
3.1
16
Tue
12:08
3.0
12:40
17
Wed
12:53
2.8
18
Thu
1:39
19
Fri
20
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
12:08
2.5
5:55
0.2
6:08
0.2
6:43
8:09
2.6
12:51
2.5
6:34
0.2
6:50
0.3
6:44
8:08
2.6
1:37
2.5
7:16
0.2
7:38
0.4
6:44
8:07
1:47
2.5
2:29
2.5
8:05
0.1
8:32
0.5
6:45
8:07
Fri
2:33
2.5
3:28
2.6
9:01
0.1
9:34
0.6
6:45
8:06
6
Sat
3:29
2.5
4:33
2.6
10:03
0.0
10:40
0.6
6:46
8:05
8:05
7
Sun
4:33
2.5
5:41
2.7
11:08
0.0
11:46
0.5
6:46
8:04
6:47
8:04
8
Mon
5:43
2.6
6:47
2.8
12:12
-0.2
6:47
8:04
-0.4
6:47
8:03
9
Tue
6:51
2.7
7:47
3.0
12:48
0.4
1:13
-0.3
6:47
8:03
1:22
-0.5
6:48
8:03
10
Wed
7:54
2.9
8:42
3.1
1:47
0.3
2:11
-0.4
6:48
8:02
0.1
2:17
-0.6
6:48
8:02
11
Thu
8:52
3.0
9:33
3.2
2:42
0.1
3:06
-0.4
6:48
8:01
2:46
0.0
3:09
-0.5
6:49
8:01
12
Fri
9:46
3.2
10:21
3.3
3:35
0.0
3:58
-0.4
6:49
8:00
3.2
3:38
-0.2
4:00
-0.4
6:49
8:00
13
Sat
10:38
3.2
11:07
3.3
4:27
-0.1
4:49
-0.3
6:49
8:00
3.1
4:28
-0.2
4:51
-0.2
6:50
7:59
14
Sun
11:29
3.2
11:52
3.2
5:17
-0.2
5:40
-0.2
6:50
7:59
5:17
-0.2
5:41
0.1
6:50
7:58
15
Mon
12:18
3.1
6:06
-0.1
6:30
0.0
6:50
7:58
2.9
6:06
-0.1
6:31
0.3
6:51
7:57
16
Tue
12:36
3.0
1:08
3.0
6:55
-0.1
7:20
0.3
6:51
7:57
1:30
2.8
6:57
0.1
7:24
0.6
6:51
7:56
17
Wed
1:21
2.9
1:58
2.8
7:46
0.1
8:13
0.5
6:51
7:56
2.6
2:22
2.6
7:49
0.3
8:19
0.9
6:52
7:56
18
Thu
2:07
2.7
2:50
2.7
8:38
0.2
9:08
0.7
6:52
7:55
2:27
2.5
3:17
2.5
8:44
0.5
9:17
1.1
6:52
7:55
19
Fri
2:55
2.5
3:45
2.5
9:33
0.4
10:06
0.8
6:52
7:54
Sat
3:20
2.4
4:17
2.4
9:41
0.6
10:15
1.2
6:53
7:54
20
Sat
3:48
2.4
4:45
2.5
10:30
0.4
11:04
0.9
6:53
7:53
21
Sun
4:18
2.3
5:16
2.4
10:38
0.6
11:11
1.2
6:53
7:53
21
Sun
4:46
2.3
5:44
2.4
11:27
0.5
6:53
7:52
22
Mon
5:17
2.3
6:12
2.5
11:31
0.6
6:54
7:52
22
Mon
5:45
2.4
6:40
2.5
12:00
0.9
12:20
0.5
6:54
7:51
23
Tue
6:13
2.4
7:01
2.6
12:03
1.1
12:21
0.6
6:54
7:51
23
Tue
6:41
2.4
7:29
2.6
12:52
0.9
1:10
0.4
6:54
7:50
24
Wed
7:03
2.5
7:45
2.7
12:50
1.0
1:05
0.5
6:55
7:50
24
Wed
7:31
2.5
8:13
2.7
1:39
0.8
1:54
0.4
6:55
7:49
25
Thu
7:49
2.6
8:25
2.8
1:32
0.9
1:46
0.4
6:55
7:49
25
Thu
8:17
2.6
8:53
2.8
2:21
0.7
2:35
0.3
6:55
7:48
26
Fri
8:33
2.7
9:03
2.9
2:11
0.8
2:24
0.3
6:55
7:48
26
Fri
9:01
2.8
9:31
2.9
3:00
0.6
3:13
0.3
6:56
7:47
27
Sat
9:14
2.8
9:40
2.9
2:48
0.6
3:01
0.3
6:56
7:47
27
Sat
9:42
2.9
10:08
3.0
3:37
0.5
3:50
0.2
6:56
7:46
28
Sun
9:54
2.9
10:16
2.9
3:23
0.5
3:38
0.3
6:56
7:46
28
Sun
10:22
2.9
10:44
3.0
4:12
0.4
4:27
0.3
6:56
7:45
29
Mon
10:35
2.9
10:52
2.9
3:58
0.4
4:15
0.4
6:57
7:45
29
Mon
11:03
3.0
11:20
3.0
4:47
0.3
5:04
0.3
6:57
7:44
30
Tue
11:16
2.9
11:29
2.9
4:35
0.3
4:54
0.5
6:57
7:43
30
Tue
11:44
3.0
11:57
2.9
5:24
0.2
5:43
0.4
6:57
7:43
31
Wed
12:00
2.9
5:14
0.3
5:37
0.7
6:58
7:42
31
Wed
12:28
3.0
6:03
0.2
6:26
0.5
6:58
7:42
12 Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas
August 2022
ft
Low PM
1
AM
Mon
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Moon
T
RE
er
“Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” Anglers To Learn Plus Tackle Fishing at Keys Oct. 7-9 Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing No-Yelling School
ng comfortable weather. begin to push intoLearn back bays,
Remaining 2022 LLGF events, with optional or included fishing are:
from the pros in Islamorada and Tavernier plus fishing, rigging, conservation, and a fun s steady action along seawalls, e flats is another option forFishing Fever competition for beginners!
Sept. 23-24
or D.O.A. 3” Shrimp presented
Guy Harvey Outpost Bass Seminar Romeo with & Tournament Camp Mack, Lake Wales, FL spiring anglers can learn, practice skills, and go fishing at the award-winning “Ladies, et dock lights with a D.O.A. a shark. Let’s Go Fishing!®” Keys University and Fishing Fever Tournament, Oct. 7-9 in the r plugs. Oct. 7-9 ing excellent fishing for Sport the Fishing Capital of the World. Hosted by the nonprofit Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing Foundation, the “No-Yelling School of Fishing” offers classroom presentations, two networking Keys Saltwater Weekend Seminar, horelines, docks, and deep hands-on Charles skill practice, and optional charter boat fishing. Classes will be held at the Fishing and Fishing Fever Tourney Islamorada, FL with baits like mullet,events, pinfish, waterfront Elks Lodge in Tavernier. No equipment or experience is necessary. a tarpon. asses offer plenty of shots on Optional offshore or inshore charter fishing out of Islamorada is offered on Friday and Nov. 19-20 w or alewife with a jig head. Sunday with prizes awarded for the LLGF Fishing Fever tournament. Participants can also St. Augustine Surf Fishing Academy choose to fish from their own boats. CW water ways. Jacks will launch Friday evening with a networking social 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Saturday morning and Night of Lights Tour Activities eawalls, docks, or open indoor presentations begin at 9 am, covering Offshore, Inshore, and Bottom Fishing, plus Additional: nds. Battling jacks on light Fishing Basics and Conservation. Speakers include Captains Lee Lavery, Jeanne Towne, and perience the tussle yourself. more. Setting this program apart from typical fishing classes are the hands-on fishing activities Check the website for Virtual Meetings iter area. I hope taught you all by several guides for releasing, knot tying, dehooking, bait rigging, spin casting, cast and more events. netting, and more until 4:30 pm. A second networking party will be held afterwards at Seaside Contact: LLGF, Phone 954-475-9068, Glassworks. email: fish@ladiesletsgofishing.com, Captain Craig Korczynski 269 fish were caught at the 2021 Fishing Fever event, including mahi, tuna, wahoo, snook, website: www.ladiesletsgofishing.com, 4371 • phlatsinshorefi shing.com redfish, trout, and a first-ever sailfish release. Facebook: www.facebook.com/ladiesletsgofishing ok, Instagram, Twitter Featured & YouTube on national network television and more, the series is supported by major partners including Recreational Fishing and Boating Foundation, Take Me Fishing, Vamos a Pescar, Mercury, Magic Tilt Trailers, Shearwater Boats, rs.com Power-Pole, Penn, TACO Metals, Fish & Wildlife Foundation of Florida, and Fish Florida. Largest annual sponsors are Freedom Boat Club, ICOM, CCA Florida STAR, Lowrance, Bob’s Machine Shop, AFTCO, Costa, Tom with Smith a big Optics, Frogg Toggs, Hubbards Marina, Star Brite, Big Rock Sports Moon Conservation Foundation, and Future Angler Foundation. Annual and jack. class-specific contributors are listed on the website. Local sponsors are Breezy Palms, Jeanne Towne of Fidelity Real Estate, and the Monroe County Tourist Development Council. Class-specific contributors are listed on the website. Bahamas, Caribbean Sin Online early registration rate is $125 per person. Regular entry is $145. Florida, ce 19 g n i v 82 VIP registration of $180 offers special gifts and discounts. The registration Ser fee includes instruction, the use of equipment, a welcome reception, lunch, Saturday party, and $20 in gifts. Reservations made far in advance are Removed • Repaired • Replaced recommended. The host hotel is Breezy Palms Resort in Islamorada. The Tavernier Elks Club is located at 92600 Overseas Hwy, Tavernier, FL 33070, MM 92 Bayside. Ladies may register a male guest or teens to include the family.
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The boys had fun battling the bonita during School of Fish Camp.
A
Logan with a tarpon ready for release.
Kyle with a beautiful tarpon.
ugust is a scorcher, but the bite can be just as hot for anglers. Grab your gear and get on the water, get that drag screaming! Local inlets are great spot for red hot snook action. When fishing the inlet target moving water for best results. Live baits fished on the bottom are the best way to hook up with a snook. For all the artificial lure lovers, nothing beats catching a monster snook jigging the inlet. A D.O.A. C.A.L. 4-inch jerk bait in bayou tiger or Arkansas glow on a 3/8-ounce jig head triggers strikes. The key is to have the bait near the bottom and present a natural presentation. The snook range in size from 10 to 30 pounds. Tarpon! Aka silver king, best time to target the tarpon is sunrise and sunset for best results. The tarpon can be seen rolling on the surface just off the beaches and inside local inlets. Inlets are a prime location for the tarpon, fish the edge of
CONTinued from tournament gold >> anywhere near this strong. We all eyed the reel nervously waiting for it to slow down and turn. With what seemed like a mile of line out we had to deal with 6 or 8 boats in close proximity. Keeping the boat moving it took us about 10 minutes to clear away from all the traffic, and we dodged a few that got close to running over our line. Of course, we were worried about sharks the whole time and pointed the boat east off the reef and towards deeper water. The way the fish was hooked, his mouth was wide open, creating a ton of drag, which made the fight a lot longer. Throughout the whole process, we thought “if that is the right kind, that’s a tournament winner!” This was said at least 3 or 4 times and we held our breath until we saw color! After about 20 minutes with the fish about 20 yards out, with Jorge on the gaff, Dennis on the helm, and myself on the rod, everyone got silent. There was a couple of tense moments next to the boat because the deep planer rod was still out and engaged, so we were dodging the other line. Jorge stuck the fish, and he came aboard! We were so excited we piloted the boat directly to the weigh-in station only to realize It wouldn’t open till later in the day. We loaded up on ice and headed back out. Now that we had kingfish and a solid wahoo in the boat, the rest of the day was devoted to catching a dolphin for our first ever “KDW”. Finally, after several hours and out to 1000 feet we picked up a school sized mahi and the day was complete. We went to the scales expecting a big kingfish to take us out but today was our day.
the inlet with live baits free lined for best results. Usually, the first of incoming and outgoing are the best tides for tarpon. The average size of the tarpon is 15 to 80 pounds with bigger fish found on the beaches. The ICW is full of bait providing great action for anglers targeting a variety of species from snook, tarpon, jacks, triple tail, and many other species. Docks and seawalls are the prime location for all the above species along with mangrove shorelines. The best times to fish are early morning and late afternoon due to cooler water temps. The middle of the day fishing can be brutal and very stagnant for anglers due to extremely high water temps. Well, that is the fishing report for August, hope you all enjoyed. Remember, any day on the water is a good day.
Nothing better than the support of your spouse to put the cap on.
of 15 years, Bentley, went to doggie heaven the day after the tournament. My wonderful wife Dana and I lovingly joked that he hung around long enough for us to finally win something fishy. It was a bittersweet day with mixed emotions. We are dog lovers and will miss him dearly. And being huge animal lovers, we especially love the Big Dog Fat Cat Tournament and the cause.” Dr. James Whitney / Chiropractic Services https://www.whitneychiro.com/ 561-694-8897 Matthew Rainey / Jupiter Live Bait https://www.facebook.com/jupiterlivebait 561-201-2419
- Fishing is a Passion -
Big Dog Fat Cat Shootout http://bigdogfatcat.org/
You make your own luck in the business of fishing and being prepared is a large part of that luck. “I fished 2 days the prior week in preparation with the team and we did terrible. As I always say, “you have to have the bad trips to have the good ones, or they would all just be trips”. Some of those bad days I always joke that I’m going to quit fishing, but the good trips are wonderful and bring me back. What a great day Saturday was, and the fishing gods were with us. We realized halfway out the inlet, we had forgotten the big cooler and almost turned around to get it. Had we done that – we might never have crossed paths with that fish. And this may be interesting. My dog
Sailfish Marina and Resort https://sailfishmarina.com/
14 Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas
August 2022
A Second Chance Puppies and Kitten Rescue https://www.asecondchancerescue.org/ Mark Ambert, marksgonefishing™ Author – Avid outdoorsman, sports writer, and photographer. Follow me at www.marksgonefishing.com or contact me at marksgonefishing25@gmail.com
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
Lake Okeechobee
Braden Breen caught this 8-pound, 10-ounce giant, his personal best with Capt. Nate Shellen/ Okeechobeebassfishing.com and Headwatersfishingguide.com.
F o r e c a s t with Capt. nate shellen
Shellen Guide Service • (863) 357-0892 • sjmike7@aol.com www.OkeechobeeBassFishing.com
L
esults. are the arpon on the
ake Okeechobee continues to churn out great catches of bass, for those anglers who get on the water at first light. The first several hours of each morning are a crazy time, bass are actively chasing baitfish in and around the Kissimmee grass exploding on the bait pods that are attempting to feed and hide in the thick cover. A shad lookalike top water bait worked tight to the cover will draw vicious strikes from bass as they aggressively attack anything they perceive as part of the food chain. Spinner baits thrown deep into the grass on a heavy braided line are the only bait you may need on some morning, particularly if there is a little cloud cover. Gold blades, silver blades, or copper blades all have a place and time for catching bass. The skirt colors we use vary from white, white/blue, white/chartreuse, gold, and even solid black, they all work. Depending on the thickness of the grass, a more heavily weighted bait may be necessary in order to get the bait to sink into the grass, ⅜-ounce to ½-ounce will handle most situations. Bluegill are spawning as well, which means big bass will be around the spawning areas looking to ambush the unsuspecting bluegill when the opportunity arises. Top water lures such as a Zara Spook, Big EZ, and even a topwater frog will draw strikes from these bluegill-eating bass.
action from other
cation ngrove orning ps. The d very water
, hope water
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Port Everglades, ICWW, FL - Aug 2022 High
Date 1
Mon
www.USHarbors.com
Pompano Beach (Hillsboro Inlet), FL - Aug 2022
Low Moon
There are many anglers who love fishing with plastics, rubber worms, Senkos, flukes, and the like. The sheer number and types and styles of plastics these days is staggering. Tackle shops can’t begin to carry all of the variations of colors/styles that are available from a myriad of different companies. Yet many anglers get stuck fishing the same color or type of worm that worked for them before. I was guilty of this until a customer from the frozen North pulls out an obscure piece of plastic and proceeds to catch bass after bass, putting a whipping on the other non-believing anglers in the boat. It is imperative to have confidence in whatever bait you are using, fishing it without purpose and confidence does not work. It can be difficult to target exactly what the bass are eating at this time, many times though just being aware of what the fish are eating right now can lead you in a direction that will reward your efforts with great catches of bass. There are numerous tackle shops around the lake and the guys behind the counter receive a lot of input into what is working and what areas are putting out bass, ask some simple questions and the results may surprise you. It’s very difficult these days to keep your fishing both simple and productive, at times going back to square one can be all that is needed to get your mojo going.
High
Date
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
11:30
2.5
11:47
2.6
5:16
0.3
5:26
0.2
6:45
8:08
1
Mon
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
11:27
2.6
11:47
2.7
5:15
0.3
5:28
0.2
6:44
8:08
2
Tue
12:12
2.5
5:55
0.2
6:11
0.3
6:45
8:07
2
Tue
12:10
2.6
5:54
0.2
6:10
0.3
6:45
8:07
3
Wed
12:23
2.6
12:57
2.5
6:38
0.2
6:59
0.4
6:46
8:07
3
Wed
12:25
2.6
12:56
2.6
6:36
0.2
6:58
0.4
6:45
8:07
4
Thu
1:03
2.5
1:45
2.6
7:24
0.1
7:51
0.4
6:46
8:06
4
Thu
1:06
2.6
1:48
2.6
7:25
0.1
7:52
0.5
6:46
8:06
5
Fri
1:48
2.5
2:41
2.6
8:14
0.1
8:47
0.5
6:47
8:05
5
Fri
1:52
2.5
2:47
2.6
8:21
0.1
8:54
0.6
6:46
8:05
6
Sat
2:40
2.4
3:45
2.7
9:10
0.0
9:50
0.5
6:47
8:04
6
Sat
2:48
2.5
3:52
2.6
9:23
0.0
10:00
0.6
6:47
8:05
7
Sun
3:44
2.4
4:53
2.8
10:12
-0.1
10:55
0.5
6:48
8:04
7
Sun
3:52
2.5
5:00
2.7
10:28
-0.1
11:06
0.6
6:47
8:04
8
Mon
4:53
2.5
5:57
2.9
11:16
-0.2
11:58
0.4
6:48
8:03
8
Mon
5:02
2.6
6:06
2.9
11:32
-0.2
6:48
8:03
9
Tue
6:00
2.6
6:57
3.0
12:18
-0.3
6:49
8:02
9
Tue
6:10
2.8
7:06
3.0
12:08
0.5
12:33
-0.3
6:48
8:02
10
Wed
7:03
2.7
7:55
3.2
1:00
0.3
1:19
-0.4
6:49
8:01
10
Wed
7:13
2.9
8:01
3.2
1:07
0.3
1:31
-0.4
6:49
8:02
11
Thu
8:05
2.9
8:49
3.2
1:58
0.1
2:16
-0.4
6:50
8:01
11
Thu
8:11
3.1
8:52
3.3
2:02
0.1
2:26
-0.5
6:49
8:01
12
Fri
9:03
3.0
9:39
3.3
2:51
0.0
3:10
-0.4
6:50
8:00
12
Fri
9:05
3.2
9:40
3.4
2:55
0.0
3:18
-0.5
6:50
8:00
13
Sat
9:58
3.1
10:27
3.2
3:41
-0.1
4:01
-0.3
6:51
7:59
13
Sat
9:57
3.3
10:26
3.3
3:47
-0.2
4:09
-0.4
6:50
7:59
14
Sun
10:50
3.1
11:14
3.1
4:29
-0.1
4:52
-0.1
6:51
7:58
14
Sun
10:48
3.3
11:11
3.2
4:37
-0.2
5:00
-0.2
6:51
7:58
15
Mon
11:43
3.0
5:18
-0.1
5:45
0.1
6:52
7:57
15
Mon
11:37
3.2
11:55
3.1
5:26
-0.2
5:50
0.0
6:51
7:57
16
Tue
12:01
3.0
12:35
2.9
6:09
0.0
6:39
0.3
6:52
7:56
16
Tue
12:27
3.0
6:15
-0.1
6:40
0.3
6:52
7:57
17
Wed
12:48
2.8
1:27
2.8
7:01
0.1
7:34
0.5
6:52
7:56
17
Wed
12:40
2.9
1:17
2.9
7:06
0.1
7:33
0.5
6:52
7:56
18
Thu
1:35
2.6
2:20
2.6
7:51
0.2
8:28
0.7
6:53
7:55
18
Thu
1:26
2.7
2:09
2.7
7:58
0.2
8:28
0.8
6:53
7:55
19
Fri
2:25
2.4
3:19
2.5
8:43
0.4
9:25
0.8
6:53
7:54
19
Fri
2:14
2.6
3:04
2.6
8:53
0.4
9:26
0.9
6:53
7:54
20
Sat
3:21
2.3
4:21
2.5
9:38
0.4
10:24
0.9
6:54
7:53
20
Sat
3:07
2.4
4:04
2.5
9:50
0.5
10:24
1.0
6:53
7:53
21
Sun
4:23
2.3
5:19
2.5
10:34
0.5
11:21
0.9
6:54
7:52
21
Sun
4:05
2.4
5:03
2.5
10:47
0.5
11:20
1.0
6:54
7:52
22
Mon
5:21
2.3
6:10
2.6
11:28
0.5
6:55
7:51
22
Mon
5:04
2.4
5:59
2.6
11:40
0.5
6:54
7:51
23
Tue
6:12
2.3
6:57
2.7
12:13
0.8
12:18
0.4
6:55
7:50
23
Tue
6:00
2.5
6:48
2.7
12:12
1.0
12:30
0.5
6:55
7:50
24
Wed
7:00
2.4
7:41
2.8
1:01
0.8
1:05
0.4
6:56
7:49
24
Wed
6:50
2.6
7:32
2.8
12:59
0.9
1:14
0.4
6:55
7:49
25
Thu
7:46
2.5
8:21
2.8
1:44
0.7
1:49
0.3
6:56
7:48
25
Thu
7:36
2.7
8:12
2.9
1:41
0.8
1:55
0.3
6:56
7:48
26
Fri
8:28
2.7
8:58
2.9
2:23
0.6
2:29
0.2
6:56
7:47
26
Fri
8:20
2.8
8:50
3.0
2:20
0.6
2:33
0.3
6:56
7:47
27
Sat
9:08
2.7
9:32
2.9
2:58
0.4
3:06
0.2
6:57
7:46
27
Sat
9:01
2.9
9:27
3.0
2:57
0.5
3:10
0.3
6:57
7:46
28
Sun
9:46
2.8
10:04
2.9
3:31
0.4
3:42
0.2
6:57
7:45
28
Sun
9:41
3.0
10:03
3.1
3:32
0.4
3:47
0.3
6:57
7:45
29
Mon
10:23
2.9
10:37
2.9
4:04
0.3
4:19
0.3
6:58
7:44
29
Mon
10:22
3.0
10:39
3.0
4:07
0.3
4:24
0.3
6:57
7:44
30
Tue
11:02
2.9
11:12
2.9
4:40
0.3
4:59
0.4
6:58
7:43
30
Tue
11:03
3.1
11:16
3.0
4:44
0.3
5:03
0.4
6:58
7:43
31
Wed
11:44
2.9
11:50
2.8
5:19
0.2
5:44
0.5
6:59
7:42
31
Wed
11:47
3.0
11:55
2.9
5:23
0.2
5:46
0.6
6:58
7:42
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
august 2022
Moon
Palm Beach & Fort Lauderdale Areas 15
B O A G A R R D B Jackson from Philly with a giant snook he caught on a live bait with Captain Patrick Smith from Swamp to Sea. Jax with a beautiful rainbow runner.
John Smith had to John Salomone and -lb cobia thi double team s 40 at The Juno Pier.
Get social & tag us in your photos! @ facebook.com/ CoastalAnglerPalmBeach
eled in this iden Vaughn re lm Springs. 11-year-old Ka Pa in emouth bass rg la e om es aw
Cousins Madison and Dylan Fogle caught their first sailfish together. The 70-lb sailfish was caught and released off Hillsboro Inlet on a netted thread fin herring.
Bragging is good! Send us your catch photos with details: Who, When, Where, With What, etc. to Ilene@CoastalAnglerMagazine.com
Scout Smith landed this beautiful peacock on a topwater lure.
Get the latest news and updates!
@ coastalanglermagpalmbeach
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here is nothing like the sight of a monster tarpon as it sails through the air trying to shake your hook. Your hands begin to sweat profusely and your triceps suddenly tense up as you buckle down to try and gain control over its wild acrobatics. Will you get that fish back to the boat? That’s the question we all think about at that very moment. Full of excitement, tarpon fishing is a bucket-list item for many fishermen, but it can also be extremely taxing on fishing gear for those who do it. If you’ve ever hooked up to a giant tarpon, 4 you understand that they are big and mean fighting machines. For that very reason, Okuma has worked to perfect a rod that is designed SILVER SLAYER TARPON RODS to allow anglers to - Specifically, designed rod blanks for Tarpon fishing - SeaGuide double locking Alien reel seat - Powerful and responsive 24-ton carbon rod blanks - Tapered cork fore and rear grip with rubber cork inlay go toe-to-toe with Silver Slayer specific models. The four models include a 7’ heavy, 7’ extra-heavy, - UFRII: Ultimate Flex Reinforced rod tip technology - Premium Fuji gimbal for support fighting big fish these beasts of 7’9” heavy and a 7’9” extra-heavy. These rods have the backbone to tarpon rodsby a Limited areLifetime - Fuji K-Concept deep press frames help reduce tangles - Silver Slayer rods are backed warranty - Silky smooth performance from Fuji FazLite guide inserts the salt. We built with powerful and really work your fish to the boat and feature a tapered cork fore and give you responsive 24-ton carbon full-rear grip design with a rubber cork inlay. the Silver SILVER SLAYER TARPON RODS With the brute strength that tarpon possess, Silver Slayer rods rod blanks that feature Okuma’s SLAY-S-701H-FG H MF 7' 0" 15 - 30 lbs 1/2 - 2 oz 12" 1-pcs 7 + Tip A Slayer have all the components to match. Each rod is designed with Fuji UFRII rod tip7"7" technology. What’s SLAY-S-701XH-FG XH MF 7' 0" 20 - 50 lbs 3/4 - 3 oz 12" 1-pcs 7 + Tip A tarpon proprietary blends SLAY-S-791H-FG H MF 7'UFR-II? 9" 15 - 30 lbs This 1/2 - 2 oz 7" 13-1/2"process 1-pcs 7 + Tip AK-Concept deep press frames that help reduce tangles and line SLAY-S-791XH-FG XH MF 7' 9" 20 - 50 lbs 3/4 - 3 oz 7" 13-1/2" 1-pcs 7 + Tip rod! unidirectional fiber over 24-ton carbon in Atwist after all-day casting. Each of these guides holds firmly in place S = Spinning Model the extended tip section of the rod to increase a Fuji Faz-Lite guide insert for silky smooth performance. The rods lifting strength and power by as much as 400 also have a Sea Guide double locking Alien reel seat that keeps your in place. And while fighting percent. This technology provides for the ultimate in spinning reels firmly and comfortably Okuma | Product Catalog 2022 90 strength without sacrificing sensitivity so that you can feel your fish, the Silver Slayer rods all come standard with a premium Fuji gimbal for even the lightest of bites down deep. Learn more at OkumaFishingUSA.com. There are four Silver Slayer tarpon rods that are all spinning- support.
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Legendary Angler Mark Sosin Dies
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he fishing world is mourning the death of Mark Sosin, a legendary fishing writer and television personality who was a long-time columnist for Coastal Angler Magazine. Sosin died on Thursday, June 30 in Boca Raton, Fla. He was 88 years old. Mark Jessurun Sosin was born on July 7, 1933, in Highland Park, New Jersey. He was introduced to fishing at an early age by his father, whose tactics and dedication to conservation were frequent topics in Sosin’s writing. Before making his way into the fishing industry, Sosin graduated from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania and earned a master’s in business administration from New York University. He then spent four years in the U.S. Navy and after being discharged worked in several different positions. All the while he fished and dreamed of earning a living from his passion for fishing. Sosin’s long and illustrious career as a writer began in the 1960s, when he began writing magazine articles and books on fishing. Sosin is estimated to have written more than 3,000 magazine articles over his career and more than 20 books on fishing. After moving to Boca Raton with his wife, Susan, in 1979, Sosin launched his TV show, “Mark Sosin’s Saltwater Journal,” in 1983. The program ran for 27 years. Much of Sosin’s work was geared toward education and conservation. His legacy in the fishing industry is that of an educator who helped generations of anglers enter and improve in the sport we all love. Go to www.coastalanglermagazine.com to read Mark Sosin’s columns for Coastal Angler Magazine.
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LURES
LURE APPENDAGES FOR LONGER CASTS
PATRICK SEBILE
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hen it comes to lures designed for longdistance casting, some are built with appendages that truly help reach distances other lures can’t achieve. These appendages might be located inside or outside of the lure. One popular appendage on minnow-style baits is a mass-transfer device. A weight located inside the lure moves to the tail when the lure is held vertically in the casting position, and once it hits the water the weight slides back to its original location for better swimming action. Typically, these lures are best when they use a magnetic mass transfer device. Some billed minnows use a heavy fixed weight in the tail and can achieve longer casts than mass-transfer lures. Either way, one thing is sure: minnows not built for distance do not cast as well as those designed for this purpose. The external shape of a lure also plays a large part in the distance it is capable of reaching. Remember: a floating lure does not perform as well as a sinking or super-long-distance model because of its low density. Denser lures cast better as a rule of thumb, but they might not be best for catching fish because of where they swim in the water column or because they lack seductive action. Appendages can help achieve the best of both worlds by providing
for long casts as well as swimming well at the desired depth. Side wings are an incredible advantage. They add water lift, which helps compensate for a heavier lure and generates great swimming motion. This is how some SK and SLD poppers and pencils can weigh 25 to 100 percent more than similar floating lures and still be able to be used on the surface. The added weight allows for significant increase in casting distance. In the case of a 160mm (6 3/8”) pencil, the floating model weighs 2 ½ ounces, while the sinking model weighs 3 ¼ ounces. This weight increase translates into 50 percent longer casts. On the typical topwater retrieve, the sinking model does everything a floating one can. Actually, the walkthe-dog action is a bit superior, and it’s also possible to fish the heavier pencil like a swimbait with a slow steady retrieve. Those appendages provide great fish-catching action. But there’s a catch. Sinking lures sink. When you need a lure that floats at rest, floating lures with pointy noses cast farther. The physics are simple. Any lure flying through the air generates turbulences in front of the lure, where the line attachment is. This turbulence acts as a suction cup, dragging on the lure and diminishing casting energy. Like on a jet plane, a pointy nose helps limit this effect. Floating lures with pointed noses consistently cast farther than floating lures with similar style and length. Pay attention to these appendages next time you’re buying lures. They will reward you when it comes to distance—and fish caught! Legendary angler Patrick Sebile is a world record holder and an award-winning designer of innovative lures and fishing gear. Check out his creations at abandofanglers.com.
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Stay informed and spend more time on the water with SiriusXM Fish Mapping, our most comprehensive Marine service. Get the latest satellite weather, sea conditions and forecasts, plus recommended fishing locations for popular gamefish, plankton and temperature fronts, weed lines and more. Get all that and SiriusXM entertainment on your compatible display.
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CCA FLORIDA STAR AWARDS $80K RIG TO FLORIDA ANGLER
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n early July, CCA Florida, the state’s leading organization dedicated to marine fisheries conservation, education and advocacy, named and verified the first Tagged Redfish division winner in the 2022 West Marine CCA Florida STAR competition presented by Yamaha. Jeff Moore, of Punta Gorda, selected a prize package from Pathfinder Boats and Yamaha Outboards valued at more than $80,000. “I still cannot believe I landed a STAR 2022 Tagged Redfish and that it won me a new Pathfinder!” Moore said. “I almost released the fish when I noticed something on its back, which looked like a parasite, so I brought it back over the edge of my ’yak for a better look. You can understand my excitement when I realized it was a STAR tag. I knew I needed a photo on the measuring device to submit my catch through the STAR app and follow the rules to win. I was jazzed that I had registered for STAR. It is like an insurance policy for fishing; don’t fish without it because you could win a boat!” This year, nearly 160 Tagged Redfish were released across Florida’s coastal waters, giving participants more opportunities to win. Remaining
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prizes in the Tagged Redfish Division include a Contender 22 Sport and a Spyder Vapor 19FX, all powered by Yamaha along with $50,000 cash from Alta Equipment Company. Additionally, STAR’s other tagged division, the Tigress Outriggers and Gear Tagged Dolphin Division, will award $10,000 to the first registrant who catches a tagged dolphin. Unlike traditional fishing competitions, CCA Florida STAR focuses on conservation and offers $500,000 in prizes and scholarships during the 101-day event. Recognized as a “catch, photo and release” competition, STAR’s smart phone app eliminates the requirement for anglers to harvest or capture and transport fish. “Not only is STAR about having fun and winning awesome prizes, but it is also dedicated to fishing smarter to help restore, preserve and improve Florida’s marine habitat and water quality,” CCA Florida STAR Director Leiza Fitzgerald said. “Implementing a catch-photo-release competition is just one way to continue fulfilling our organization’s mission and protect our coastal waterways.” STAR is also focused on youth participation, with its Youth Scholarship Division presented by Realtree Fishing, offering $100,000 in scholarships. Youth anglers (ages 6-17) can register for free with a current CCA Florida youth membership ($10) and are eligible for prizes in both tagged divisions. Youth winners in the Tagged Redfish Division will be awarded a new boat with Humminbird Electronics, MinnKota trolling motor, Yamaha 40HP motor and trailer. Additionally, if the first registered angler to catch one of the 20 tagged dolphin (mahi mahi) is a youth, then he or she will win a $10,000 scholarship in the Tigress Outriggers and Gear Tagged Dolphin Division. The STAR competition includes 17 divisions and 12 species and most winners are determined by a random drawing, giving anglers of all ages and skill levels the opportunity to win. Registration is $40 for current CCA Florida members or $75 for non-members. For more information or to register for STAR, visit Facebook, Instagram or ccaflstar.com.
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By Will Schmidt
Your Grouper Grounds
F
inding new spots to fish has been one of the biggest issues facing us since… well, since fishing started. For years inshore fishermen have used satellite views to find points with cuts, oyster bars and other features that can be seen from above in the shallows. The good news is offshore anglers can now take advantage of similar imagery to make finding new spots feel like you’ve got it made in the shade. High-definition relief shading like that in the new Garmin Navionics Vision+ package gives anglers insight into spots they would have never known about unless they just stumbled across them. There are countless examples of offshore spots where I’ve marked and caught fish without knowing that just a few hundred feet away were even better looking spots. It’s hard to know every ridge or well-defined bottom feature, so getting a view of what is down there can be extremely beneficial. Of course, not all
spots that look good hold fish, but it’s a start. Once you find something of interest, spot lock trolling motors make it easy to move and drop baits to see if anyone is home. For larger areas, such as long ridges, sometimes trolling makes a bit more sense to cover more ground. When chasing bottom fish such as grouper, there are a few techniques that work well. Downriggers and planers with jig heads and large paddletail baits work well, but I find deep diving plugs to be even better. There are a host of deep divers out now that provide an accurate depth to which they will dive. The Nomad DTX Minnow is one of my favorites. It is deadly on grouper and does double duty with its high-speed capability for chasing pelagic species as well. I also love the fact that they come rigged with single hooks versus treble hooks. The key is to just graze the sandy bottom next to the rocks to get the groupers’ attention. They have keen sight and will charge out quickly to grab a meal, and the bonus is you start with them already away from the rocks. Just a few hundred feet away The great thing about using highfrom where the author has definition relief shading and trolling marked and caught grouper for grouper is you might have one is a massive ledge that holds even more fish. spot that quickly turns into four or five locations to drop baits in a relatively small area. Sometimes the spots are within a few hundred feet and sometimes farther. Regardless, this technology is a game-changer, and by covering new ground quickly it can make finding new productive spots much easier. Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about fishing from more than two decades.
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them carefully when dog-day temperatures peak. Fish are fighting for their lives with every ounce of their strength on the end of a line. The stress can kill them when water conditions are less than ideal. That, along with blazing hot sun on the back of the neck, is enough reason to strike out in search of a more appealing environment when it gets hot. My 11-year-old son and I recently spent a couple days on the headwaters of North Carolina’s Nantahala River at a place called Standing Indian. Standing Indian Mountain tops out at close to 5,500 feet, and its slopes feed the river with plenty of cold water from numerous headwater branches. This area, upstream of the U.S. Forest Service’s Standing Indian Campground, is off of U.S. 64 west of Franklin, N.C. The Nantahala at Standing Indian bears little resemblance to the big whitewater river it becomes downstream near Bryson City. In its headwaters, there are about six miles of public water that might be 20 feet across in the wide spots. It’s a great little stream for folks who enjoy slinging dry flies on a four-weight fly rod for pretty little rainbow and brown trout. The fishing wasn’t exactly stellar the two days my son and I fished in mid-June. There were thunderstorms each night, so the river was a little high and stained. My son is also new to a lightweight fly rod, and overhanging rhododendron and river birch are hardly easy terrain for a beginner. Still, we managed to catch numerous gorgeous rainbows slinging a dry-dropper rig with a small Pheasant Tail fished beneath a yellow Stimulator. There were little yellow Sally stoneflies in the air, so our selection of dry fly matched the hatch. Good small-stream browns in the 14-inch range come from this stretch of water pretty regularly, but all we caught were rainbows with a couple measuring maybe 10 or 11 inches. That’s a pretty good fish in terms of little By Nick Carter wild trout streams in the Southeast. We considered our mission accomplished returning to a riverside campsite each evening. While my son might not be old enough to appreciate it, the cool mountain rout anglers have two options when it comes to deep summer. They can air and bedding down to the gurgle of the creek were the highlights of the trip. either hit tailwater fisheries, where dam-controlled flows provide stable The air temperature was easily 20 degrees cooler than back home, and I don’t year-round water temperatures, or they can seek out high-elevation know if I’ve ever slept better. headwaters, where both fish and angler find comfort in rhododendron-shaded For information, check out Nick Carter’s book “Flyfisher’s Guide to creeks with water conditions perennially perfect for little wild trout. North Carolina & Georgia.” It’s available on Amazon or by Big fish and big hatches of tailrace trout fishing are certainly appealing. contacting the author at nsc8957@gmail.com. However, anglers should play fish intended for release quickly and handle
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B
TYLER WOOLCOTT
ass are on the move in deep summer. Throwing search baits, especially topwater, is one of the best and most fun ways to find groups of feeding fish. A style of lure that was created a long time ago but still works wonders today is an old-school topwater popper. You can throw this just about anywhere around rocks, grass, wood, docks and in open water to get bites. When the weather gets hot and more people get on the water, getting fish to commit to a surface lure is sometimes almost impossible. What I like to do is put away the bigger topwaters like walking baits or Whopper Ploppers and take out a smaller Pop-Rstyle bait. There are a few reasons this bait gets more bites in the right situations. The first is it’s smaller and quieter. A smaller profile and less noise is sometimes what these finicky fish want. I have seen many situations when throwing a big noisy topwater won’t get a single bite, but throwing a popper in the same area makes fish eat. Another reason popper-style baits are very good is the speed at which you can work them. There are many topwaters that require highspeed retrieves. With a popper, the slower you work it the more it drives them crazy. I vary my retrieve and see what the fish are feeling, but usually I’ll pop the bait subtly a few times and vary the action to make it look like a dying baitfish. Then I’ll let the bait sit for a few seconds before creating another movement. This absolutely drives them crazy. One last reason poppers are deadly is that feathered rear treble hook. When fish are feeding on tiny baitfish or bugs, the feathered treble makes them bite. Sometimes even the small profile of the bait is still too big for them, but they come up and see the feathers and eat those instead. Fishing the right rod and reel with a Pop-R makes a huge difference in landing fish. You want a rod with a good amount of bend because you don’t set the hook. Instead, you just reel into them. I use a 13 Fishing Defy Black 7’ cranking rod. For the reel, you want something that is able to cast a light lure as far as possible. You also need one that will pick up the bait fast for another cast in case a fish misses or you spot surfacing fish. I use a 13 Fishing Concept with an 8:3 gear ratio. I spool it with 30- to 50-lb. Seaguar Smackdown Braid. Next time you get on the water, pick up a popper style lure like a 13 Fishing Poppy McPop Face and see how deadly it can be in the summer months. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.
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