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Gifts for Anglers Issue
SURF EXPO
Jan. 8-10 in Orlando PHOTO COURTESY OF DARCIZZLE OFFSHORE VOLUME 24 • ISSUE 297
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F R A N C H I S E
O P P O R T U N I T I E S
A V A I L A B L E
DECEMBER 2019
W O R L D W I D E
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Boaters and anglers up and down the east coast know there’s an important season between the holidays and spring: Boat Show Season! Timed perfectly to gear-up for some of the best fishing of the year, the National Marine Manufacturers Association’s (NMMA) line-up of premier boating and outdoors shows are the venues where shoppers and dreamers alike can peruse the latest the industry has to offer. From yachts to kayaks and all the accessories, these shows offer hands-on experience with the hottest boats and gear bound for the water in 2020. It’s no secret that shoppers take advantage of the best deals of the year on the floor at NMMA’s annual boat shows.
Here’s the rundown of this years best shows and expositions:
1) Progressive Insurance Atlanta Boat Show
Jan. 16-19, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta With 600-plus boats, the Southeast’s premier boating event returns for its 58th year to Exhibit Hall C of the Georgia World Congress Center. A boating bonanza, show-goers tour hundreds of boats, and interactive features including virtual reality exhibits, educational seminars on boating, fishing and sailing, a nautical Kids’ Zone, Touch-a-Boat Tour, events with local breweries, DIY workshops, Career Day and more! Entry is just $15 for adults. Kids 12 and younger are free. Tickets are $3 off for active-duty military, retired military, veterans, law enforcement and firefighters. Advance tickets are also $3 off when purchased at www. AtlantaBoatShow.com.
2) Progressive Insurance New York Boat Show
Jan. 22-26, Javits Center, New York City A New York tradition since 1905, the world’s first and longest-running boat show enters its 115th year with a five-day celebration of boating at the Javits Center. Boat hop and shop 350 boats along with the latest boating innovations, technology and gear. Highlights include Kids’ Build-aBoat and The Progressive Boathouse, which features hands-on boating courses for all experience levels. Entry is $16 for adults. Kids 12 and younger are free. Tickets are $3 off for military and first responders. Save $2 by buying advance tickets at 5) Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show NYBoatShow.com. Feb. 26-March 1, Atlantic City Convention Center, Atlantic City The Progressive Insurance Atlantic City Boat Show brings activities to 3) Progressive New England Boat Show give lifelong boaters and novices an all-access pass to discover why life is Feb. 8-16, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, Boston For nine days, this nautical extravaganza will showcase more than 700 better with a boat. Serious shoppers benefit from “Super Thursday” and new boats and watercraft, along with a stunning array of must-have ma- find bargains on hundreds of boats as well as gear, technology and acrine accessories. There is something for all ages and boaters at this year’s cessories to go with them. With everything from kayaks to sportfishers, show. Dozens of seminars will cover fishing, sailing and boating. Explore there is a boat for every lifestyle and budget. Admission is $17 for adults. Children 12 and younger are free. Adboating careers at Marine Innovation & Career Day. Hop on “Salt,” the life-size inflatable humpback whale. Boost your boating IQ at the Pro- vance tickets can be purchased at ACBoatShow.com. gressive Insurance Boathouse. Kids can captain their own paddleboat at 6) Progressive World Fishing & Outdoor Exposition the Kid Paddle Pool. Feb. 27-March 1, Rockland Community College, Suffern, N.Y. Entry is $16 for adults. Kids 12 and younger are free. Active military The Northeast’s premier fishing, hunting and travel exposition features receive one free ticket with valid ID. Purchase advance tickets at www. a vast selection of outdoor sports vendors, speakers and events. With newenglandboatshow.com. major manufacturers, trusted brand names and local retailers, show-goers can compare and shop new and hard-to-find outdoors products and 4) Progressive Miami International Boat Show enjoy a variety of educational seminars and attractions. For more inforFeb. 13-17, Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin, Miami Over President’s Day weekend, the world-renowned Progressive mation, go to sportshows.com/suffern. Miami International Boat Show will host nearly 100,000 visitors from around the globe to shop more than 1,400 boats as well as gear, tech- 7) Progressive Insurance Saltwater Fishing Expo March 13-15, New Jersey Convention & Expo Center, Edison, N.J. nology and accessories from more than 1,000 vendors. From yachts and The one-stop shop for saltwater anglers of all experience levels, catamarans to offshore fishing boats, high-performance boats and family cruisers, visitors will experience one of the largest and most influential the Progressive Insurance Saltwater Fishing Expo returns to Ediboat shows in the world. Sea trials allow serious buyers to take their son, New Jersey, offering a vast selection of vendors, speakers and special events. The three-day event kicks off the region’s saltwadreamboat for a spin. Tickets are $30 per adult; two-day passes (Feb. 14-17) are $55; Premier ter season with deals from more than 200 vendors selling everyDay (Feb. 13) is $45. VIP packages available. Children 12 and younger thing you’ll need to hit the water, from boats to terminal tackle. For more information, go to www.sportshows.com/saltwater. are free. Purchase advance tickets at www.MiamiBoatShow.com.
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ENTER TO WIN! Editor’s Pick Holiday Gifts for Anglers
FireDisc Cookers
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A modern, high-performance version of an authentic plow disc cooker, FIREDISC is built to last and designed to be easily taken down for travel and storage. FIREDISC fires up fast, cooks virtually anything, seasons like a cast-iron skillet and cleans up quickly with just water. These portable propane cookers are going to change the way you cook outdoors — you’ll never go back to a traditional grill!
You’ve got a lot riding on your hitch, and the only thing keeping your truck and trailer connected are those relatively small pieces of engineered steel. The hitch matters to your safety and the safety of our roads. That’s why B&W treats the manufacture of your trailer hitch with the respect it deserves. For one, we insist on American-made steel.
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Simms G4 Pro Jacket
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Cut from advanced GORE-TEX Pro Shell three-layer fabrics and kitted with ingenious fishing details, the G4 Pro Jacket is Simms’ highest-performing, most durable jacket. The streamlined design of four front pockets reduces bulk and allows rain to sheet off. A three-point adjustable storm hood and a long rear hem to collar length extend protection from the elements. Nine pockets include hand-warmer pockets as well as a large rear game pocket, accessible through the front. .
With over 20 years of experience, AO Coolers offers well-constructed, innovative coolers made for all outdoor activities, including boating, fishing, and camping. We’ve now taken our knowledge to make the best 80-quart hard-sided cooler – we are excited to introduce the Everest Series! Built tough to handle the abuse of the great outdoors. Keeps your food, drinks or catch ice cold for days. Rotomolded polyethylene construction, the same process to make whitewater kayaks, ensures excellent impact resistance and long-lasting durability. Now available in three colors: white, deep blue and tan.
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99.9% Pure Gold History In Your Hands In 1934, the U.S. Government issued $100,000 Gold Certificates—but they were never meant for general circulation. The United States had left behind the gold standard the year prior, and were in need of a new way to transfer large amounts of wealth between Federal Reserve banks. The $100,000 Gold Certificate legally represented its worth in gold, and didn’t require a forklift to move. By 1960, the notes had served their purpose, and most were destroyed. Only a small number still exist, including notes held by the Smithsonian.
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Limited Mintage — Secure Yours NOW! For this first-ever release, only 5,000 of these Series 1934 $100,000 Gold Certificate Currency Strikes were produced. These are the very first of their kind, created with 100mg of 99.9% pure gold. They’re already going fast, and there’s no telling how long our limited supply will remain in our vault. Don’t let this shining gold piece of Americana pass you by—secure Each currency strike comes sealed in a protective plastic holder to preserve its GEM condition yours now! 1934 Smithsonian $100,000 24k Gold Certificate $29.95 ea. + s/h FREE SHIPPING on 5 or More! Limited time only. Product total over $149 before taxes (if any). Standard domestic shipping only. Not valid on previous purchases.
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GovMint.com • 14101 Southcross Dr. W., Suite 175, Dept. SHN284-01 • Burnsville, MN 55337 GovMint.com® is a retail distributor of coin and currency issues and is not affiliated with the U.S. government. The collectible coin market is unregulated, highly speculative and involves risk. GovMint.com reserves the right to decline to consummate any sale, within its discretion, including due to pricing errors. Prices, facts, figures and populations deemed accurate as of the date of publication but may change significantly over time. All purchases are expressly conditioned upon your acceptance of GovMint.com’s Terms and Conditions (www.govmint.com/terms-conditions or call 1-800-721-0320); to decline, return your purchase pursuant to GovMint.com’s Return Policy. © 2019 GovMint.com. All rights reserved.
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SAILFISH ON THE MOVE
Photo by Craig McMicken
By Gene Dyer
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ailfish are on the move off the coast of southeast Florida. It happens every year as the first cold fronts make their way south and bring cooler temperatures and northerly winds. Highly migratory in nature, these acrobatic pelagics can be caught here year round, but the highest concentrations occur from November through April. Techniques for targeting sailfish vary depending on location. In Stuart, trolling dead ballyhoo with dredges in the spread is the most popular method. Off Palm Beach and Fort Lauderdale, kite fishing with live bait on the drift is the go-to technique. In the Florida Keys,
it could be a combination of both or it could be sight fishing with a few live pitch baits ready to throw at a hungry sailfish. Regardless of location, wind and sea conditions change constantly and play a huge role in determining the best fishing technique on any given day. The best sailfish bite happens during tailing conditions. Typically, tailing conditions occur right after a cold front passes, while the western edge of the Gulf Stream is in close proximity to the coast. When the strong north current of the Gulf Stream clashes with strong winds from the opposite direction, it fires sailfish up into a feeding frenzy. In tailing conditions, it is not uncommon for the top sailfish boats in the fleet to catch and release 20 or more sailfish in a day. Not everyone can afford the expensive electric reels and other gear required for kite or dredge fishing, but anyone who owns a boat with outriggers can slow troll or bump troll baits to get tight with arguably the most majestic gamefish in the ocean. You will need four 20- to 30-pound conventional outfits. Since sailfish are capable of swimming at high speeds, you want reels with at least a 5:1 gear ratio and high line capacity. Connect the main line to 6 to 8 feet of 40-pound fluorocarbon leader with a small barrel swivel. Tie an inline circle hook to the business end. Use a 7/0 hook for larger baits such as blue runners or goggle eyes. For smaller baits like pilchards or cigar minnows, use a 5/0 hook. Deploy the two outrigger baits first with one long and one short. Then send out your flat lines from the corners with one short and one long. Once your spread is out, position your boat down-sea and keep it moving forward slowly by putting the boat in and out of gear. Keep an eye on your spread, as sailfish will sometimes show up out of nowhere. Sailfish tend to swim in packs, so it’s a good idea to keep a 20-pound spinning outfit ready to go with a live pitch bait. Once you get your fish to the boat, grab it by the bill and remove the hook. Hold your sailfish alongside the boat while in gear to revive it before release. Gene Dyer is editor and co-publisher of Coastal Angler Magazine/Fort Lauderdale.
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don’t throw much anymore. I don’t throw them except for around the spawn, but it sure does work that time of year! JD: What was your most productive technique this year? Lester: A wacky rig, especially early in the season. It’s always huge for me during and around the spawn. It just gets bites and catches big fish, too. I put fish in the boat using the Mustad Titan X Wacky Neko hook with an X Zone Lures True Center Stick. I fish it on the MHX NEPS 81MXF. That rod was my MVP this season too.
BRANDON LESTER
JD: Speaking of MHX rods, you’re well-known for building your own custom rods on tour. What rods will you build this off-season? Lester: Mud Hole is always making new blanks available, so I plan on building nearly a whole new set this winter. You can build rods efficiently once you do it a few times, and it really doesn’t take much time. For anglers out there looking to have a full complement of rods that are the same brand but won’t break the bank, I highly suggest building MHX rods. They have a starter kit (great Christmas gift) on their website www. MudHole.com, and all the other bass rods a man would need. They have all the kits broken down by style, and if anyone has any questions they can ask me on social media. Instagram is @ brandonlesterfishing and Facebook is @proanglerbrandonlester.
By JD Blackburn JD: How did your Bassmaster Elite Series season go this year? Lester: I finished in sixth place in the Toyota Angler of the Year point standings and also finished sixth in the 2019 Bassmaster Classic. Those were both career-best marks. JD: What one new piece of equipment did you adopt this year that really helped you? Lester: The new C-Map card from Lowrance Electronics. Case in point: on Lake Guntersville this year, I fished structure I had no idea was in existence on that lake. The detail the card has on it is just amazing.
For more Lester visit,
JD: What was the biggest fish you caught this season? Lester: The biggest weighed 7-11, and it came from the St. Johns River in Florida. I used an 8-inch lizard, which is a bait people
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he world’s largest and longest-running watersports and beach/ resort lifestyle show is a best-kept secret for retailers of fishing apparel and accessories. Surf Expo launched its Bluewater category in January 2018 with some of the hottest brands in fishing. Since then, angling has become an integral part of the twice-annual show, which returns to Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center Jan. 8-10. Savvy buyers will find that today’s Surf Expo is a lot more than surf. Featuring internationally influential brands from all facets of watersports, Surf Expo is the show that drives water-lifestyle trends each season. It is geared toward buyers seeking to stock their shelves, which makes it a unique opportunity for retailers to get ahead of the market’s next big thing. Bluewater is where buyers can find all the freshwater and saltwater fishing and marine lifestyle apparel and accessory brands grouped together in one easy-to-shop area of the show floor. Since Bluewater’s inception, more and more marinas, tackle shops and outfitters have discovered that Surf Expo is a very convenient way to shop all their mainstay apparel and accessory brands and then easily browse other products they need such as sunscreens, sunglasses, coolers, T-shirts and PFDs. Tackle dealers who don’t take advantage of the crossover between fishing and the overall watersports lifestyle are missing out on a powerful revenue stream. Surf Expo is the one show where you can see and touch it all… and attendance is free for qualified retailers. “We’ve been attending Surf Expo for many years,” said Aledia Tush, owner of CB’s Saltwater Outfitters, a fishing and boating landmark in Sarasota since 1959. “We’re always looking for new products, T-shirts, sportswear, suntan products, towels, sandals, shoes and sunglasses. Being a Florida retailer, Surf Expo is a show not to be missed!” Brands exhibiting in the Bluewater category include: HUK, AFTCO, 5Fin, Marsh Wear, Fish Hippie, Hooked Soul Fishing Co., Heybo
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Outdoors, Salt Life, Big Ocean Sport, Florida Cracker Trading Co., REEL Happy, Deep Blue Gear, Salty Crew, MANG Gear, Sunday Afternoon, Anglur, Huntworth, Skinny Water Culture, Tormenter Ocean, Costa, Bimini Bay and more. “We’ve been coming to Surf Expo since the beginning, and we were one of the first to be in the Bluewater section—where we’ve found a new home,” said Bill Shedd, president of AFTCO and 5Fin. “There’s a whole lifestyle that’s being developed around saltwater, offshore and big game fishing that’s bled off into inshore fishing and more of an outdoor activity in the broader outdoor world. AFTCO and 5Fin fit into that. Bluewater at Surf Expo is a perfect section to corral up a growing number of brands like AFTCO, 5FIN and Marshwear. The buyers don’t have to walk around looking; we’re in one area.” Surf Expo is a place where it’s easy to get business done. It is a pure, trade-only event, which eliminates the hubbub of open-to-the-public trade shows. It’s also a fun place to be, with a laid-back atmosphere that appeals to those in the watersports industry. The Bluewater Lounge has become a popular hangout for the fishing crowd. Hosted by Hell’s Bay Boatworks, it features happy hours daily and talks with special guests from Captains for Clean Water. Preserving the waters we love has always been an important part of Surf Expo. It is a platform for the watersports industry as a whole to promote clean water, water access, conservation and sustainability. “When people come to the Surf Expo for the first time, they notice the relaxed, cool atmosphere. It’s that lifestyle we all buy into, and there are a lot of down-to-earth beautiful people at a surf show,” said Surf Expo buyer relations manager Steven Fisher. “It’s just a great place to be if you’re in the watersports industry. If you’ve got a shop, come check it out for yourself.” For more information or to register now, buyers should visit www. surfexpo.com.
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Photo: TBA Outdoors
feet; the fish are swimming along the trough looking for baitfish. When there’s bait around the trough (the deep channel where the breakers hit the beach), there are fish. Look for birds. When there are birds diving around the trough, the fish are near. There are several techniques I use to catch fish.
By Richard Matteson
S
urf ’s up! Grab your spincaster and head for the beach. I just moved to Hutchinson Island, one of the barrier islands on Florida’s Treasure Coast, and I’ve had a lot of fun fishing the surf early in the morning and late in the evening. I’ve averaged several snook per trip, with a few jacks, plus bluefish and mackerel. My best hour so far was four snook, a dozen jack, two ladyfish, two bluefish and a mackerel. Now that’s an action packed 60 minutes, and the best thing is you don’t have to cast more than 30
W
TACKLE: I use a spincasting reel with 10-pound braided line and a clear 20-pound fluro or mono leader. Tie 2 feet of leader onto the braid with a double uni knot, and then tie your lure on with a loop knot so it moves more freely. I use a 3/8- or ½-ounce jig with a D.O.A. paddletail either in pearl white or silver sparkle. I like the lighter weight, but it’s harder to cast. Silver spoons and topwaters are my secondary lures. THE SURF: you want some wave action, and rough surf is better than calm, but if it’s too rough the jig doesn’t stay in the strike zone long enough. Always fish into or toward the wind so you keep in contact with the lure. TECHNIQUE: I wear shorts and stand in the shallow wash. You don’t have to get wet. After a wave breaks, fish the backside between waves, jigging gently and keeping some tension on the line. When a wave overtakes the lure, keep in touch with it and let it tumble until the wave crashes on the beach. Then fish the backwash on the beach side of the trough. If you fish perpendicular to the trough, the lure is only in the trough for a few seconds. If you cast parallel to the beach, the lure stays in the trough longer and you have better action. Remember, the fish are feeding in 6 inches of water sometimes and can even strike in the backwash. Keep tension on the fish when you get one on, and lower your rod tip so Spanish, snook and bluefish won’t jump as much. When a fish rides the wave into the shore, you’ll need to reel fast to keep tension or they will flip off. Where to Fish: Any beach access is good, but look for birds and activity. No birds, consider moving to another beach access. I like the St. Lucie beaches in the Herman’s Bay area and the beaches near the inlets. Richard Matteson is staff writer for the Stuart Rod and Reel Club. For information, call 336-414-3440.
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By Darcie Arahill
s the holidays approach and temperatures drop, many will feel the need to scratch that fishing itch. There is no better place to catch your next trophy this winter than down in sunny south Florida. If it’s monster offshore pelagics you seek, winter offers some of our best fishing. Take your boat or book a charter out of Stuart, Fla.—aka “The Sailfish Capital of the World”—and you are sure to land a sailfish, a bucket list fish for many. Mahi, cobia, kingfish and wahoo will also be biting. Our average January high of 74 degrees will also quickly quench your thirst for warmer weather.
North of Palm Beach, we do a lot of trolling, and south you’ll find live baiting very popular, so don’t forget your sabiki rod. No boat? No problem. We have multiple beach-access points where you can catch your fill of Pompano, whiting, bluefish, snook and more, maybe even a permit or bonefish. In Martin County, check out Stuart Beach, Hobe Sound Beach and Tiger Shores. Excellent jetties and piers include Juno Pier, Ft. Pierce Inlet and Sebastian Inlet, where I recently limited out on redfish one day and caught an inshore slam the next! Fishing off the beach, a “pompano rig” will catch a ton of species and even cut bait on the bottom with a pyramid sinker will work. For lures, I like topwaters in the morning and after that I throw lipped crankbaits and paddletail swimbaits. Regarding inshore saltwater, I love fishing from the Saint Lucie Inlet north to Ft. Pierce. Under the docks and along the mangroves you will find snook, redfish and trout, as well as flounder and drum in deeper holes and channels. If you can’t find any mullet to net, a simple live shrimp and a bobber will catch everything and anything. If you do not have a boat, walk the shoreline for some incredible wade fishing. I caught my first snook wading the docks in Ft. Pierce many years ago. Don’t worry, I didn’t forget about you bass guys! Our incredible bass fishing this time of year starts with the largemouth spawn and plenty of crappie on Lake Okeechobee. I also love Camp Mack in Lake Wales, Fla. Mix up your freshwater game with abundant exotic species fisheries featuring clownknife fish, peacock bass, hybrid bass and even the bullseye snakehead. You will catch exotics in any of the Lake Clarke, Lake Osborne or Lake Ida chains in Palm Beach County. If you have any questions, Google “Darcizzle Offshore” to find my Youtube, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, website, podcast and e-mail to drop me a note.
Serving the Coastal Communities of Southwest Florida
FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINESARASOTA/ | DECEMBER 2019 | SARASOTA / BRADENTON 1
Christmas H urricane season is over and we can all be thankful that our coast saw little to no damage. Unfortunately, the red tide has made its way back into the news and onto our beaches. Some areas have been affected, but the water off Sarasota has yet to see its destruction. Large schools of bait fish are everywhere, literally everywhere. Look for small white terns and pelicans crashing on these schools and then look for fish boiling underneath. Not every school of bait in our area has game fish around them. Somedays you’ll find Spanish mackerel,
By Matt Fueyo
Comes Early!
ladyfish, bluefish and Jack Crevalle. Then the next day in the same location there will be a school of trout and redfish feeding. It always amazes us in the charter boat world, the differences that occur in the water from day to day. You never know what to expect, so always be ready for everything. Using circle hooks is one way we find success in our charters. By using circle hooks the fish are hooked in the corner of the mouth 99% of the time. So even while dealing with “toothy critters” we find our hook-up ratio to be very successful. This obviously is a little different when you venture offshore. Our inshore nearshore reefs are holding Spanish mackerel and kingfish. These oily meat missiles slice and dice up bait fish on the reefs and somedays you can even smell the fish. Guest with a huge Jack Crevalle! Our captains have been able to
locate some beautiful barracuda, kingfish and cobia as well. Gag grouper, red groupers and mangrove snappers have made for a good bottom bite too! The best part about fishing this time of year offshore is being able to bring a ton of small bait from the inshore beaches and passes out to the big fish. We start to chum and watch the madness ensue. Our guests like to fight fish on light tackle and are always amazed that the same rod they caught a snook on, they can then catch a grouper or a kingfish on. It’s
all about your presentation and your knot tying abilities. We like to use medium light to medium heavy spinning rods with reels from the 5000 range to 8000 (size of reel, not cost) with an appropriate braided line that will allow us to cast, as well as have the strength to pull up the big ones! Hook size will vary too, depending on your target species. Please remember while bottom fishing offshore, it’s mandatory to use circle hooks and to have a “venting tool” to help groupers and snappers swim back down to their homes. If left unvented their mortality rate skyrockets and they will become shark food! Please respect the ocean and the laws set forth to keep these fish a part of our lives.
www.reeltightfishingcharters.com
2 SARASOTA / BRADENTON | DECEMBER 2019 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/SARASOTA/
FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINESARASOTA/ | DECEMBER 2019 | SARASOTA / BRADENTON 3
Starting Over
By Capt. Tim Ramsey
T
here are two things wrong with fishing by yourself. The first is, you miss the camaraderie of a fishing partner, the laughing, joking, chit-chat, and witness to your catch. The second is, you can never really tell how good you’re doing. I retired from the US Army recently and found myself, after the death of my father, changing directions in life from returning to the Middle East with a defense contractor to staying in Naples to make sure my mother was okay. Life didn’t just take a turn.
I also discovered my “blurting” problem, like when I see an oh-so-trendy man in Florida wearing shorts and a scarf, I can’t help but blurt “manscarf,” out loud. Jean shorts get “Jorts!” Don’t even get me started on people with the collars up on their shirts. Yes, I’ve become incorrigible. And I digress. As I was saying, two things wrong with fishing by yourself. While fishing alone can be therapeutic sometimes, usually it’s a bit lonesome. My wife works in Panama so
It made a 360, went through the mud, fell over a few cliffs, got doused in donuts, depression and doubt, ruined by a hurricane, and set on a course that would see me selling boats, fishing alone, spending more time at the gun range than I did in a full military career, living in my mother’s house (thanks to Irma), and writing. It was a strange transition, but interesting in small, but interesting (at least to me) ways. Sometimes frustrating ways. For example, I find myself practicing my sarcasm skills on social media. I seem to have a knack for it.
I’m alone a lot, and it led to problem number two: I can’t tell how well I’m doing. Sure, if it’s tarpon season I can go and catch tarpon. But, doing it alone is difficult and I’m not into being a tarpon torturer anyway. I know, I catch and release everything else, but I don’t fight those fish for an hour. Yes, I’m catching fish. Sometimes, I’m catching bunches of fish, but I can’t tell if it’s good or not? Am I catching all the small ones and everyone else is getting the biggies? Am I concentrating on one species when everyone else is tearing-up something else?
4 SARASOTA / BRADENTON | DECEMBER 2019 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/SARASOTA/
Am I better at this than most people but just don’t know it? And the paradoxes continue: I can catch tarpon, but while catching one I might be able to catch ten snook. While waiting for tarpon I could be running those trap lines catching tripletail. Baby reds are all over, but I know where the big ones hang out so, do I catch a bunch of little ones or a couple big ones if I’m not keeping any of them anyway? I could enter some tournaments to check my skill level but I’m by myself and it’s a pain to do that alone, plus it’s sort of embarrassing. Yes, this taking care of Mom thing is not without its embarrassing, humiliating, soul-crushing moments, like when you witness something exciting on the boat, blurt out “hey, did you see that,” and turn to realize no one is there. This is actually where we start. A retired army guy, back in the area, rediscovering fishing; figuring out the migratory patterns of snook and redfish, running my Skeeter in the backcountry, scowling at the guys that use the bait cleaning table and the jet ski tours, keeping five rods ready with bucktail, rubber
jig, top-water lure, suspending lure, and floating/diving lure. I don’t say “plug” and stopped keeping a rod with a circle hook and one with a rattle float and hook. I found my cast net skills are still there, but live baiting isn’t my thing. Bottom fishing also isn’t on the menu. Anyone asks what I’m fishing for, it’s always “Snook, what else?” I reaffirmed my belief in Montes bucktails and joke about buying so many I paid for his car. October to May, I’m the guy that’s in your way near the stone crab floats. I’m starting to take small videos of fishing in the back country or out in front and I will show others what I’m doing and where…if they ask. I don’t divulge spots frequently used by local guides, mostly because that sucks, I’m not that guy, but lately, it’s because I see them just trying to keep the action going and I’m looking for something else. Besides, since the bad red tide of last year, we have a lot of fishermen and guides from outside the area, and I don’t want to rat (censored) the locals. But stay tuned. I’m out there somewhere. I’ll let you know what happens.
FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINESARASOTA/ | DECEMBER 2019 | SARASOTA / BRADENTON 5
Where to Start
By Joe Sheaffer
M
any of us have a couple of days a week to fish, if we are lucky. Some of us will check our local tackle shops, online fishing sites, check with fishing buddies for fishing reports, or we will go to the same areas where we have had success before. While this information may be helpful, my experience has been, especially fishing inshore tidal waters, conditions can change day by day and
even tide by tide. We are very fortunate to live in a time with so much technology and information at our fingertips. There are all types of free satellite maps that we can access (Google maps, Bing maps, just to name a couple). Spending a few minutes using these tools can help us find very probable fish-holding areas; at the very least, giving us more areas to explore. Add
current, seasonal weather patterns, water temperatures, wind, and tidal conditions and we not only can find potentially productive areas, but also eliminate areas that don’t meet certain criteria. Simply zero in on maps of areas that you plan to fish or have fished in the past and identify possible fish holding structure. The areas that have multiple types of structure increase your odds that fish will be close by. Ask yourself what is structure, what do fish need or want to meet their survival needs. Most inshore species like grass,
6 SARASOTA / BRADENTON | DECEMBER 2019 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/SARASOTA/
depth changes, current breaks ( docks, bars, mangroves, points, oyster bars, and many others), potholes, sea walls, rip rap just to name a few. It might take you awhile to figure how to identify these different types of structures on these satellite maps, but my experience has been if it looks different from everything else it is a form of structure. An area that has grass, docks, and some depth changes close by, will have an advantage over an area that just has grass. When I’m planning a trip I like to research maps for productive looking areas to fish during my fishing day. Fishing these areas aren’t always productive, but I have definitely found many more productive areas to fish. It is very satisfying to catch fish in areas that I have found. Doing a little research before each trip may give you an awesome fishing experience.
Length,
By Capt. Neil Eisner
Power, Action
T
here are three things to look at when buying that new fishing rod, length, power, and action. I find the best allaround length when fishing mangroves is a seven-foot rod. Some rods I call specialty rods, like a seven-foot six inch I use for fishing the flats where I want to cover a lot of water with a top water plug. A six-foot six inch is nice for fishing in tight quarters when you want to flip a jig under an overhang. But for all around fishing, chose that seven-foot rod. Let’s now talk about actions. There are four actions and we won’t bother with slow action rods. Extra fast, fast, and medium. Extra fast action will bend from the tip down about four inches and then transfers the weight down to the back bone of the rod. Fast action will bend more and medium even
more, about a third of the way down. The slower the action, the harder it is to set the hook. The action will influence how sensitive the tip is and how far it will cast.
Powers are the back bone of the rod. Heavy, med-heavy, medium, med-light, and light. The bigger the fish the heavier the power you want. I use the
med-heavy rods with a fast action. Want to learn more, call or email me.
239-860-4242
FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINESARASOTA/ | DECEMBER 2019 | SARASOTA / BRADENTON 7
Unexpected
I
was recently contacted by a couple young kids who have requested that I go fishing with them, so I got to thinking about it. After talking with them and thinking you don’t see this very often, kids running around outside riding their bikes from Ponta Pine with their fishing pole in hand, off to any location where they believe they will catch fish. As we all know, most kids today are inside playing video games on their phones or other gaming machines, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to add some encouragement to the next generation angler. After a long discussion with his parents, I met up with Daniel so he could take me to his fishing holes and I brought my brother along with me, who had never caught a bass. We made our plans and started out the next morning very early and got to
up out of nowhere and start hooked up heading towards me. I reeled on a fish on my line in as fast as I could his shaky to get out of there. As soon as head, so By Chasten Whitfield my fish was up and out of the we decided water and I was departing, my to move a pond around 7:30am. Daniel brother Caden was down the bank in hopes the is 15 years old and said that he gator would go the other way has fished this pond before, – which he did. Daniel was but doesn’t like to fish it a throwing his swim bait and lot because he doesn’t like to also caught a pretty nice pressure the fish. I think that fish. As the sun came up, the is amazing, very smart, and a water temperature changed mature thought because fish and the bite completely in ponds do get pressured turned off, however, it was a lot because they can’t go an awesome morning as we anywhere else; they’re stuck discussed conservation and in the same little body of Captains For Clean Water, water for everyone to chase. which I believe that 15-yearAs we were discussing old kids who love to fish how we’re going to fish should know about because this pond, we all decide they will be the voice of the which lure to use. I next generation! decided to throw a top water plug, while Daniel is throwing a swim bait, and my brother Caden is throwing a shaky head. On my first cast, I hooked up on a good 2 ½, maybe 3-pound fish. It hit my top water twitches, however, It’s All About the Kids! @Chastenation I could see an alligator come
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8 SARASOTA / BRADENTON | DECEMBER 2019 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/SARASOTA/
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By Capt. Philip Watson quickly. Make sure to get the
Coolers
he winter season is setting in and the shallow reefs are alive! I favor ledges in the 45’-70’ range with an area of hard bottom around them. Gags and hogfish are the fish of the month for me. With fish in close, short runs usually offer full coolers of mangrove snapper, Key West grunts, red and gag grouper, hogfish and porgys. For this month, the featured trip was with Isaac and Elliot Ullmann. We set out on a Hogfish Hunt and ended up with a couple of nice ones! We
headed offshore out of Anna Maria Island and started fishing in 50’ of water. The fishing started slow, but we got them going. Everybody caught at least one hogfish with a couple other snapper and food fish mixed in. To hook and line hogfish I like to scale down to 30lb fluorocarbon leader, while using a knocker rig or Captain Chappy’s Hogballs. He makes a variety of colors and weights for you to choose from. Make sure you stock up on shrimp because all you need to do is bait them with small pieces. I typically make sure that I have at least 10 dozen shrimp when leaving the dock on my six-hour trips. It feels weird to use so little bait while hogfishing, but in this case you must remember that elephants eat peanuts. Another key piece of advice is to not give up on a spot too
bite going before
y o u move on; most of my hogfish are all caught within a few minutes of each other. Also, while on the Hogfish grounds you will have a good opportunity to do some grouper digging. I find that while fishing the shallow stuff, the gags will kind of hang back and watch the show for a while. Once your chum slick is
going drop down a pinfish. I prefer to freeline them back, so beef up your fluorocarbon to 60 to 80lb. Make sure to turn those fish, nothing will shut down a bite quicker than an angry gag grunting in his ledge after he breaks you off!
Capt. Philip Watson @ 941-226-1100
FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINESARASOTA/ | DECEMBER 2019 | SARASOTA / BRADENTON 9
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FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINESARASOTA/ | DECEMBER 2019 | SARASOTA / BRADENTON 11
By: Eric Henson
Preferences W
ell it’s that time of year again and the holiday season is in full swing! We are all super busy between working, vacationing, shopping, eating, and hopefully doing our best to sneak a little fishing in here and there when the weather is right. I’m going to write a little “holiday wish list” for all my fellow kayak anglers or just share a few things that I feel are great to have while making the most of your time while on the water kayak fishing. People ask me all the time what the best kayak or paddle is. There is no perfect kayak or paddle, I promise you! Make sure to do your homework to pick the right kayak and paddle to fit your specific needs. Go to your local kayak shop and sign up for the demo day so that you can really test and feel the kayak/paddle that fits you best. If you are new to kayaking or
don’t want to spend a lot of money, you can find plenty of options. At the end of the day you get what you pay for, but most important is getting out on the water! Next would be a rod and reel combo to target whatever species you may look forward to catching. I have many different set ups and sizes for all types of fishing, but the main size set-up I use 8090% of the time (whether I’m fishing saltwater on the flats or fishing freshwater for bass) would be a 2500 – 4000 size reel, 8-17 to 10-20# rod, 10-20# braided line. These set-ups will help you catch just about any species you can imagine. My personal number 1 all around setup is a 3000 reel on a 10-
20# Bull Bay Sniper rod, with 15# Yo-Zuri Super braided line. Finally, lure selection. Make sure you are covering the entire water column! My favs starting from the top is the Yo-Zuri 3DB Pencil for topwater action. Second is a
search bait like a Yo-Zuri 3D twitch bait. Hard lures like these are great for making long casts and covering lots of water. Last, but not least, would be soft-plastics like the Monster 3X X-MOVE or X-TAIL on a 1/16 -1/4oz. jig head weedless hook, as a finesse bait. These are the main things that help me be successful on the H20! Hope they help you as well! Tight lines and Tight knots to everyone! Eric Henson is the owner of Casting Kayaks LLC. a guided kayak fishing company out of Sarasota Florida. He specializes in inshore light tackle or fly fishing from Tampa Bay to Charlotte Harbor.
Contact Eric Henson at 941-504-1349
12 SARASOTA / BRADENTON | DECEMBER 2019 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/SARASOTA/
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’m truly blessed; sharing gifts of God’s creation on the water with people from all over the world who visit Anna Maria Island. I have gained so many wonderful friends, from the families who have chartered with me over the years. I would like to thank all of you for the memories we now share. As I scan through the photos I noticed a bunch of kids have grown about a foot since last year. ln all those smiling fish photos I also noticed a few got braces and some had them taken off. After fishing with hundreds of kids, I can say I have only had one “bad boy”. If he gets coal in his stocking for Christmas, it was because he pushed me in the
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water! It was a beautiful calm day when I picked his family up from the boat club. Mom, Dad, Bro 12, and Sis was 13. We headed out to the 3 mile reef. I was showing Bro and Sis the sonar images of schooling fish below the boat. I told Bro, who was built like a football player, that I was going to the front to lower the anchor and said let me get around you. I hopped up on the gunnel and he pushed backwards and I went for a swim. He said sorry, but with his head slightly tilted to the side and a big smile. I was thinking “no way he actually meant to do that”. I said, “that it’s ok bro, the water felt great”.
It’s pretty hot out. His parents apologized and I said “no big deal, I’m ok, let’s catch some fish”. Mom, Dad, and Sis were great! The little boy was a handful the whole trip. They caught a bunch of fish, had a great time, and I have a funny “story about the time some kid pushed me in the water”. This story has been circulated around local marinas. A few days later I was going over the life jackets and safety of the boat before departure when the laughing started. “Don’t worry we won’t push you in.” I said, “who told about that”? My charter guests said, “the guy on the forklift, while you were pulling up to the dock”. “Oh ok, I was going to tell you the story but
he beat me to it. That’s why we don’t tell him where the good fishing spots are, he is a bit of a blabber mouth”. (I hope you read this before the forklift guy gets to you.) I’m really looking forward to catching sheepshead in the next couple of months. They are really delicious. I like to cook them with Sprite soda and butter. Check out my video on the how to cook poor man’s lobster Living Water Charters on Facebook or Instagram. Tight l i n e s and God bless. Captain James
Living Water Charters (941) 812-1245
FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINESARASOTA/ | DECEMBER 2019 | SARASOTA / BRADENTON 13
Safety
By Rick Bennett
On The Water
I
n March 2019, my two teenage sons were out in our family’s 22’ center console with friends fishing near the mouth of the Manatee River. They had been casting to docks,
frequently pulling anchor, moving a short distance to the next dock, and resetting the anchor, when they decided to run around Emerson Point into Terra Ceia Bay. Instead of stowing the anchor inside
the boat, my son Caleb had placed the anchor on the deck at the bow of the boat. While the boat was underway; at a speed of 20 to 30 mph, the anchor fell off the front of the boat and when the 24 foot of line pulled tight, the forward movement of the boat caused the anchor to “sling shot” up into the boat from behind. The anchor struck my son Caleb in the head, causing the metal rod of the anchor to penetrate his skull 2.78 inches, just above his right eye. By the grace of God, the anchor went past, but did not damage the blood vessels in his brain, actually coming to rest up against a major blood vessel necessary for life. The anchor moved this blood vessel, but miraculously did not cause it to leak. One friend called 911 and Andrew told them that he would take Caleb to the
dock at the Bradenton Yacht club. Paramedics took Caleb from there to the Bay Flight helicopter that was able to land across the street. Minutes later Caleb was in emergency brain surgery at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Pete. A large section of Caleb’s skull was removed so that his brain could swell without constricting the blood vessels. He was kept in a coma for five days to allow the swelling to reduce. During that time we did not know if he would ever walk or talk again. Thankfully, within minutes of waking, he began talking, remembering, and moving his arms and legs. The doctor asked him if he remembered what happened. He said “The anchor hit me in the head, I thought I was going to die, and I just kept thinking if that was the last snook I was going to catch, I wish it had
14 SARASOTA / BRADENTON | DECEMBER 2019 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/SARASOTA/
been bigger”. The heroic efforts of the first responders and medical professionals at Johns Hopkins and God chose to spare Caleb’s life and give him a miraculous recovery. Ten days after the accident, Caleb walked out of the hospital to continue his recovery at home. He has had one additional surgery to replace the portion of his skull that was removed and is expected to be able to lead a normal productive life. His team has since won the “biggest youth snook” award at the Big Art Snook Tournament with a 40 incher they caught. I hope that everyone who reads this will continue boating, but take time to think about what you are doing and
the potential consequences. Stow that anchor in a safe place; what happened to Caleb is a fairly common occurrence. Since the incident, I have heard several similar stories of a forgotten anchor flying violently into the boat.
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FACEBOOK.COM/COASTALANGLERMAGAZINESARASOTA/ | DECEMBER 2019 | SARASOTA / BRADENTON 19
The Best Angler Photos From Southwest Florida!
Fish Face Charters & Paige Conner with a nice pompano!
Living Waters Charters guests with a nice grouper. A nice linesider caught on the Reel Tight!
Reel Salty Endeavours on light tackle.
Mike Leichty w/ a 40� Kingfish, trolling light tackle, 4 miles off Venice.
Bobby caught some nice yellowtail on the Just Kickin Back.
Fun times for this Pales Horse Fishing Charters guest!
A fun day out with TNT Fishing Charters Venice!
Matlacha Fishing Charters is putting guests on the fish!
Photos submitted Courtesy of Coastal Angler Readers and Contributing Writers 20 SARASOTA / BRADENTON | DECEMBER 2019 | COASTALANGLERMAG.COM/SARASOTA/
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Decked for the holiday season during Palm Beach’s By John out Lidington 2018 boat parade. Photo by Andrea Whitaker.
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t’s the holiday season, a time of giving and good cheer, and divers are as ready as any to participate. One source of good cheer is supporting good causes. Humanitarian causes are typically linked to this season, but we can feel good about aiding organizations focused on our diving environment, too. A number of worthy organizations stand ready to put your aid to good use. This year, on the humanitarian front, there’s a special cause for divers to consider. Hurricane Dorian did a number on Grand Bahama and the Abaco Islands. The devastation has dropped out of the news cycle, but their needs will be great well into the future. The Bahamian government maintains a webpage listing relief organizations at www.bahamas.com/relief. While donations are a major component of the relief effort, restoring jobs is also essential. If you want to boost your spirits along with the local economy, try a winter dive vacation to Grand Bahama. Its major dive operations are back up, and flights to Fort Lauderdale and other international airports should have resumed. Restoration of Abaco’s services will lag Grand Bahama’s, but the islands should offer
great adventures for the more self-reliant. Of the many marine-focused organizations, here are several that Florida divers might consider: Probably the best-known diver-oriented nonprofit is Reef Environmental Education Network, based in Key Largo. Check out R.E.E.F.’s website (www.reef.org) but plan on a lengthy visit. Their “quizlets” will hook you if you’re into fish-ID. Coral propagation is an important tool in restoring disease-damaged reefs. The Coral Restoration Foundation (www.coralrestoration.org) has focused primarily on growing elkhorn and staghorn corals to replace stands wiped out in the 1980s. Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium (mote.org/research/program/coral-reef-restoration) is working with brain and boulder corals, with the goal of repairing reefs hit by the new disease outbreaks from Martin County down into the Florida Keys. Are sea turtles your thing? Two long-established local organizations are the Loggerhead Marinelife Center (marinelife.org) and the National Save The Sea Turtle Foundation (savetheseaturtle.org), which now hosts the Florida Hawksbill Project (www.floridahawksbills.com). In addition to collecting nesting and tracking data, Loggerhead operates a turtle hospital. NSSTF funds turtle research projects, including several at Florida Atlantic University. There are more ways to offer support than giving organizations cash. Check off your gift list while supporting your favorite cause. Check out their online stores. Apparel, books, toys—they’re all there. Save the Sea Turtle even offers subscriptions to “Florida Environmental Outreach” for a gift that gives all year. You can spread the holiday cheer close to home, too. Pura Vida Divers is participating again in the Palm Beach Holiday Boat Parade and supporting the Toys for Tots donation drive. Every new, unwrapped toy you donate at the shop earns you 20 percent off in-store items and a raffle ticket for Pura Vida’s Holiday Party on Dec. 13. This year, pick a cause and support it. Your holidays will be even happier!
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By Will Schmidt
G
rowing up, I used corks a lot, usually to know when a bream had taken my little dough ball when I was fishing in my backyard. Later, I used them to keep track of lively white bait or aid in casting shrimp farther. Now days, I use them more as a dinner bell than anything else. I am also using them in much deeper water than you would ever expect, but here you need a little patience.
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If you’ve fished the flats in saltwater, you have probably used a popping cork and a shrimp at some point. Giving your rod a sharp tug to make the cork pop always seemed to liven up the action. Well, the same can be done in deep water to help hungry reds find your meal offering. The really cool thing about this is it works with conventional tackle as well as fly setups. The concept is pretty simple, a popping cork with about 20 inches of mono out of the bottom tied to large swimbait or fly. We use them around large schools of bait that are being worked over by breeding-sized reds. “Pop it hard and wait at least 10 seconds. You know it’s deep here and it will take at least that long for the fish to find it,” said Capt. Gary Dubiel. He should know since he invented the Pop N Fly technique. The key is to make a huge pop with a lot of noise and then pause. The deeper the water, the longer you wait. The fish are in constant movement around enormous schools of bait. When they hear what seems to be another fish feeding, they come running to get their share. But it might take a minute. You want to make sure your bait gets straight down below the cork, as well as giving the fish plenty of time to locate it before popping again. On average, wait 8 to 10 seconds in 14 feet of water, longer if the water is deeper. It is also nice that you don’t need live bait for this technique because it saves time at first light, making it easy to run and gun on large schools of bait. For tackle, a medium weight spinning rod with plenty of 20- or 30-pound braid will do the trick. On the fly, you will want a 10 weight to cast the rig and plenty of backing. Below the cork, your fly or swimbait will slowly sink down looking like a stunned or wounded baitfish that seemingly escaped a vicious attack… aka an easy meal. Pop and be patient, the strikes are basically unremarkable; the cork just disappears. But the fight of these 40-plus-pound beasts on light tackle or a fly rod is much more noteworthy. Will Schmidt is a seasoned tournament angler who has been writing about fishing for two decades. Reach Capt. Dubiel at (252) 249-1520.
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VISIT THE
STUART BOAT SHOW JANUARY 10-12
Photo by Cayne Grace
A wide variety of boat brands are represented at the show including the latest models of motor yachts, cruisers, center consoles, speed boats, sport fishing boats and pontoons ranging in size from 12 feet to 90-plus feet in length. Additional exhibitors include the latest in personal watercraft, safety equipment, marine electronics, inboard and outboard engines, financing and insurance companies, nautical clothing and jewelry, fishing gear, accessories and financing and insurance companies. The schedule is full all three days with seminars presented by female angler Darcizzle, captains Chris and Alyse Caldwell, Capt. Paul Sperco, Capt. Planet and Mark Palazzo. It will be lots of fun for the whole family with an expanded food court area with delicious food, and a bar and large screen TVs to round out the show.
WHEN:
Friday, Jan. 10, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 12, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
WHERE:
54-290 NW Dixie Hwy., Stuart, FL - Free shuttle service available from Whitham Field and Wright Blvd./Dixie Hwy. parking lots.
ENTRY:
$14 General Admission, $12 Veterans and $7 Children 12 and under. Tickets available at www.stuartboatshow.com/tickets. Sorry, no pets.
F
ind your dream boat at the largest boat show on the Treasure Coast Jan. 10-12 in Stuart, Fla. In its 46th year, the Stuart Boat For more information on the Stuart Boat Show, visit http://www. Show will feature more than 175 local, national and interna- stuartboatshow.com. Follow the Stuart Boat Show on Facebook, tional exhibitors displaying hundreds of boats in water and on land. YouTube, Instagram and Twitter.
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F L O R I D A
FWC has approved several draft rule changes for spotted seatrout. Based on public comment, the Commission also directed staff to continue considering public input and update the proposal as needed prior to bringing this back at a future meeting for final approval.
Approved draft changes include:
• Splitting the Northwest spotted seatrout management zone into two separate zones including the Western Panhandle (Escambia County through most of Gulf County, not including Indian Pass/Indian Lagoon) and the Big Bend (Franklin County, plus Indian Lagoon, through Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County). • Moving the boundary between the southern management zones to create the newly-renamed South Florida zone (Fred Howard Park Causeway in Pinellas County near the Pasco County line through Broward County) and Central East zone (Palm Beach through Volusia counties). • Reducing bag limits - Western Panhandle: five to three fish - Big Bend: five to four fish - South Florida: four to three fish - Central East: four to two fish - Northeast: six to five fish • Modifying the recreational slot size limit from 15-to-20 inches to 15-to-19 inches total length.
• Allowing one seatrout over 19 inches per vessel (currently, per harvester). • Changing the current daily commercial limits to 50 per harvester and 100 per vessel. • Prohibiting captain and crew from keeping a bag limit on a for-hire trip. • Re-establishing the February recreational closure in the Western Panhandle zone and the November-December recreational closure in the Central East zone. Provide online comments about these draft changes at MyFWC.com/SaltwaterComments.
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By Paul Tyre
F
rog fishing is one of the most exciting ways to catch the largemouth bass that ambush feed in grass-choked reservoirs of the South. Lake Seminole, on the Florida/Georgia border, is one of the best frog-fishing lakes in the country. If you ever get the chance to visit Seminole, do it. In the meantime, these tips and techniques may help on your local grass mats. My favorite hollow-body frogs are the Spro Bronzeye series. Spro Bronzeye frogs are built
around a Gamakatsu EWG double hook that is very strong and sticky sharp, which is needed for getting big bass out of heavy cover. They come three styles: Bronzeye Frog, Bronzeye POP and Bronzeye Shad. Each has a unique action that works great under different circumstances. The Bronzeye Frog 65 has a pointed nose that can be worked over and through the heaviest cover or in open water. It’s the frog I choose for covering water to find concentrations of bass under grass mats. As the grass starts to die under mats, it creates open pockets and perfect frogging conditions. When fishing a Bronzeye Frog 65, heavy braided line is a must. My choice is Cortland Master Braid for its durability and strength. I also prefer a high speed reel, at least 7:3:1 gear ratio mounted on a 7-foot, 2-inch to 7-foot, 6-inch heavy action rod with a fast tip and a lot of backbone to haul big bass out of cover. Make long casts across a flat and work the frog with a fast hopping action. Expect a blowup! This is a great technique for covering large expanses to find out where fish are holding. When you get a strike, be sure to pause before setting the hook. Also, when a missed strike occurs, reel the bait in as fast as possible and cast back past where the strike occurred. Work the frog slowly with slight twitches to move it side to side but not forward. The bass should key in on the bait and strike again. The Bronzeye Pop 60 has incredible attention-drawing power. Its concave nose allows you to fish slower with a popping of the rod tip. The frog remains in the strike zone longer and generates explosive strikes. Fish this frog around all types of cover from laydowns to docks, to grass lines and holes in grass beds. I prefer a 7-foot to 7-foot, 3-inch heavy action rod with a fast tip and a high-speed reel with 50- to 65-pound braided line, depending on the cover I’m fishing. The Bronzeye Spit Shad 65 has a spitting and gliding action. It can be fished anywhere you would want to throw a hard bait but can’t due to hangups. I fish lily pad fields with this bait. It comes through pads very well and allows faster fishing to cover more water. Contact Paul Tyre, of Lake Seminole Fishing Adventures, at (850) 2647534, e-mail paultyrefishing@yahoo.com and follow him on Instagram @lakeseminilefishingadventures and Facebook @paultyrefishing.
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Gimme Six Extended Protection promo is applicable to new Suzuki Outboard Motors from 25 to 350 HP in inventory which are sold and delivered to buyer between 10/01/19 and 12/31/19 in accordance with the promotion by a Participating Authorized Suzuki Marine dealer in the continental US and Alaska to a purchasing customer who resides in the continental US or Alaska. Customer should expect to receive an acknowledgement letter and full copy of contract including terms, conditions and wallet card from Suzuki Extended Protection within 90 days of purchase. If an acknowledgement letter is not received in time period stated, contact Suzuki Motor of America, Inc. – Marine Marketing via email: marinepromo@suz.com. The Gimme Six Promotion is available for pleasure use only, and is not redeemable for cash. Instant Savings apply to qualifying purchases of select Suzuki Outboard Motors made between 10/01/19 and 12/31/19. For list of designated models, see participating Dealer or visit www.suzukimarine. com. Instant Savings must be applied against the agreed-upon selling price of the outboard motor and reflected in the bill of sale. (Suzuki will, in turn, credit Dealer’s parts account.) There are no model substitutions, benefit substitutions, rain checks, or extensions. Suzuki reserves the right to change or cancel these promotions at any time without notice or obligation. * Financing offers available through Synchrony Retail Finance. As low as 5.99% APR financing for 60 months on new and unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors. Subject to credit approval. Not all buyers will qualify. Approval, and any rates and terms provided, are based on credit worthiness. $19.99/month per $1,000 financed for 60 months is based on 5.99% APR. Hypothetical figures used in calculation; your actual monthly payment may differ based on financing terms, credit tier qualification, accessories or other factors such as down payment and fees. Offer effective on new, unregistered Suzuki Outboard Motors purchased from a participating authorized Suzuki dealer between 10/01/19 and 12/31/19. “Gimme Six”, the Suzuki “S” and model names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2019 Suzuki Motor of America, Inc.
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ve he R ! e Old Florida Waterfront Charm Re-Discovered N t s e O R R fO eas The Perfect Vacation Getaway for Fishing, Boating and Outdoor Enthusiasts NOWteR s N Wi Accommodations are nestled on 6 lush tropical acres of pristine waterfront directly on the Indian River Lagoon. As you make your way down the one lane road you will truly be stepping back in time. Your hosts Kim and Robert Pruitt have re-captured the very best of Old Florida charm with modern conveniences and services to make your stay truly memorable and unforgettable.
• Cable TV, Hi-Speed Internet • Boat Trailer Parking on site w/ Water and Power • 2 miles to the Ft. Pierce Inlet • 12 miles to the Gulf Stream • Water Taxi Service Available
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3011 N. Indian River Dr., Ft. Pierce, FL 34946 www.indianriverlagoonwaterfrontcottages.com Reservations and Information: (772) 349-2206 Nightly • Weekly • Monthly • Seasonal Rates Available It turns out that being a Florida resident meant two things for Viens, racing and boating. As for racing, Viens started locally at the New Smyrna Speedway and fell in love with the sport. After starting racedaysponsor.com and climbing the ranks, he found himself at the Daytona International Speedway racing before all of his friends and family. “My first time there was surreal,” Viens remembered, “definitely my favorite moment on the track.” One day, after fighting again with a rusted adjustable wrench trying to get the drainplug from his boat, Viens knew there had to be a better way. On one of the Nascar driver’s long walks, the idea for the Boat Gadget was born. Viens wanted an all-in-one boat tool that could truly be useful and not something that just sat in the garage. What came to fruition was one of the most useful tools on the market today. The Boat Gadget has more than 10 uses, including: 1) Molded notches for deck plates 2) Wine or canvas snap opener 3) Fishing line cutter 4) 30mm & 35mm gas cap key 5) T-bar drain plug crank 6) Bottle opener 7) Flat top drain plug tool 8) Flip top gas cap 9) Safety whistle 10) Square boat drain plug
By CAM Staff
N
ascar driver turned inventor Tim Viens is bringing a revolutionary new boat tool to the industry this December, and Coastal Angler sat down to see just how he made the switch from the track to the docks.
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You can find this innovative new product for purchase at www. boatgadget.com, and make sure you follow them on Facebook and Instagram @boatgadget.
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COM
HUS
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
hft_co
SUPER COUPON OVER 5,000
1,000+ Stores Nationwide • HarborFreight.com
5 STAR REVIEWS Customer Rating
SUPER COUPON
Strong, secure, easy-open latches
WEATHERPROOF PROTECTIVE RIFLE CASE
99 $1 09
• 50-3/8" L 13-5/8" W 5-1/8" H
14999
Super strong reinforced polypropylene construction
PELICAN $ 99
SAVE $ 160
269
MODEL: DOUBLE RIFLE
Case contents not included.
SUPER COUPON
20V LITHIUM-ION EXTREME TORQUE IMPACT WRENCH KITS
COMPARE TO
SUPER COUPON
YOUR CHOICE
250 LUMEN POP-UP LANTERN
99 $229 $
A. 1/2"
ITEM 63537/64195 63852 shown
6
ITEM 64349 COMPARE TO
A
SAVE $ 304
INGERSOLL RAND $ 45
534
MODEL: W7250-K2
$ GO GREEN POWER
1499 SAVE 66%
Customer Rating
NOW
99 $1 09 $
126 SAVE $ 16
$ 10 POWERSMART MODEL: PS50 COMPARE TO
12499
NOW
$5 99
COMPARE TO
BLUE HAWK $ 99
19
MODEL: 77280
SAVE 70%
8
$ 99
ITEM 63024/63025 shown ITEM 69505/62418/66537 shown
*27729478 * 27729478
*27734669 * 27734669
*27737543 * 27737543
*27742756 * 27742756
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
SUPER COUPON
TACTICAL AMMO/UTILITY BOX
SUPER COUPON Customer Rating
10 FT. x 20 FT. 18" x 12" PORTABLE CAR CANOPY MOVER'S DOLLY
Customer Rating
• 1000 lb. capacity
Customer Rating
Tools sold separately.
NOW
$699 8
NOW
$9999
$ 99 COMPARE TO
FLAMBEAU
$
1999 SAVE 65%
MODEL: 1409
COMPARE TO
ITEM 64113
$
SHELTER LOGIC
199 SAVE $99119 ITEM 63054 62858 shown $
99
MODEL: 23522
SUPER COUPON
40V LITHIUM-ION 14" BRUSHLESS CHAIN SAW Customer Rating
NOW
$799
COMPARE TO
BUFFALO TOOLS $ 99
22
MODEL: HDFDOLLY
$
SAVE 65%
1099
ITEM 60497/61899/62399/63095/63096/63097/63098 shown
KOBALT $
199
MODEL: KCS120-07
W
17999 1N5O 499 $ SAVE 44 $
COMPARE TO
$
ITEM 64715/64478/63287 shown
*27745891 * 27745891
*27752768 * 27752768
*27769405 * 27769405
*27769616 * 27769616
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
8 GALLON, 150 PSI OIL-FREE AIR COMPRESSOR • Air delivery: 4.1 SCFM @ 90 PSI
NOW
99 $124 $ COMPARE TO
ITEM 56269/64294 shown
KOBALT
SUPER COUPON
Customer Rating
SUPER COUPON
$
14999
159 SAVE $ 34
MODEL: 300841
MECHANICS GLOVES AVAIL. IN SM,
Customer Rating MED, LG, XL, XXL
SAVE 66% VALEO $ 99
14
MODEL: 25521
4-1/2" ANGLE GRINDER 10 GUN ELECTRONIC SECURITY SAFE • CA DOJ compliant Customer Rating
NOW
COMPARE TO
NOW
SAVE 44%
99
$4
NOW
COMPARE TO
5
$ 99
PERFORMAX $ 99
17
ITEM 62434, 62426, 62433, 62432, 62429, 64178, 64179, 62428 shown
MODEL: 2411-1
$
$999
14
99
ITEM 69645/60625 shown
*27773794 * 27773794
*27773865 * 27773865
*27774043 * 27774043
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
2 TON CAPACITY FOLDABLE SHOP CRANE
Customer Rating
YOUR CHOICE
$5
Item 42305 shown
Customer Rating
99
7
SAVE 66%
$ 99 COMPARE TO
$
17
97
MODEL: HCW10PCSAE
TYPE ITEM SAE 69043/63282/42304 METRIC 69044/63171/42305
COMPARE TO
BIG RED $ 99
299
MODEL: 11674699
$
SAVE $110
MODEL: SS-16-MB-E
$
34999
SAVE $264
COMPARE TO
ITEM 64008/64011 shown
SUPER COUPON
6.5 HP (212 CC) OHV HORIZONTAL SHAFT GAS ENGINE
Customer Rating
NOW
$9999
NOW
99 SAVE 49%
ITEM 60388/69514 shown
564
Customer Rating
NOW
239 $1 89 99
STACK-ON $ 57
99 $299
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
2/10/50 AMP, 12 VOLT BATTERY CHARGER AND ENGINE STARTER
• Boom extends from 41" to 61-3/4" • Crane height adjusts from 73-5/8" to 89"
Contents not included. COMPARE TO
*27797800 * 27797800 SUPER COUPON
SUPER COUPON
9 PIECE FULLY POLISHED COMBINATION WRENCH SETS
SUPER COUPON
SUPER COUPON
Customer Rating
SUPER COUPON
HUSKY
72" x 80" MOVING BLANKET
• 5 hour run time @ 50% capacity
$4
COMPARE TO
SUPER COUPON
900 WATT MAX. STARTING 2 CYCLE GAS POWERED GENERATOR
99
ITEM 64110
B
*27725225 * 27725225
Limit 1 coupon per customer per day. Save 20% on any 1 item purchased. *Cannot be used with other discount, coupon or any of the following items or brands: Inside Track Club membership, Extended Service Plan, gift card, open box item, 3 day Parking Lot Sale item, compressors, floor jacks, safes, storage cabinets, chests or carts, trailers, welders, Admiral, Ames, Atlas, Bauer, Central Machinery, Cobra, CoverPro, Daytona, Diamondback, Earthquake, Fischer, Hercules, Icon, Jupiter, Lynxx, Poulan, Predator, Tailgator, Viking, Vulcan, Zurich. Not valid on prior purchases. Non-transferable. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 2/3/20.
SUPER COUPON Customer Rating
$ 99 NOW
B. WITH 2" ANVIL Customer Rating
Cannot be used with other discounts or prior purchases. Original coupon must be presented. Valid through 2/3/20 while supplies last. Limit 1 FREE GIFT per customer per day.
Customer Rating
26999
13
*27724488 * 27724488
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
20% OFF
ANY SINGLE ITEM*
ITEM 63878/63991 PERFORMANCE $ 52 64005/69567/60566 MODEL: W2364 TOOL 63601/67227shown
Pre-drilled for two padlocks (locks sold separately)
*27726160 * 27726160
ITEM 64520
WITH ANY PURCHASE
SUPER BRIGHT LED /SMD WORK LIGHT/FLASHLIGHT
ALL IN A SINGLE SUPER POWERFUL LIGHT
Adjustable pressure relief valve equalizes pressure for easy opening
COMPARE TO
FREE
• Super-Strong, Ultra-Lightweight Composite Plastic • Magnetic Base & 360° Swivel Hook for Hands-Free Operation • 3- AAA Batteries (included) • 144 Lumens
Customer Rating
NOW
$
Pick and pull foam insert for impact-absorbing protection
SUPER COUPON
59
9 $299
ITEM 60581 SCHUMACHER $ 77 3418 $ MODEL: SE-1250 60653 shown ELECTRIC
5499
$ ITEM 60363/69730 ITEM 68121/69727 shown CALIFORNIA ONLY
COMPARE TO
HONDA
$
11999
329 99 SAVE $ 230
MODEL: GX200UT2QX2
*27802566 * 27802566
*27803818 * 27803818
*27804066 * 27804066
*27807499 * 27807499
LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 2/3/20*
*Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 2/3/20.
hft_coastalangler_1219_M-REG163334.indd 1
At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.
11/4/19 2:14 PM
Don’t Suffocate Your Boat with Shrink Wrap!
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CARVER BOAT COVER
SHRINK WRAPPING
A rugged, breathable Carver boat cover is more cost-effective and environmentally friendly than shrink wrap. When properly supported and secured, a Carver boat cover will outperform shrink wrap, help prevent mold and mildew, and provide accessibility to your boat...year after year. Stop throwing money in the landfill every Spring.
Carver covers are on sale now at select retailers! Visit CarverCovers.com COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
I
DECEMBER 2019
I
NATIONAL
16
1782-18B Coastal Angler.indd 1
12/19/18 3:50 PM
Secrets of a Billionaire Revealed “Price is what you pay; value is what you get. Whether we’re talking about socks or stocks, I like buying quality merchandise when it is marked down.” — wisdom from the most successful investor of all time
W
e’re going to let you in on a secret. Billionaires have billions because they know value is not increased by an inflated price. They avoid big name markups, and aren’t swayed by flashy advertising. When you look on their wrist you’ll find a classic timepiece, not a cry for attention–– because they know true value comes from keeping more money in their pocket. We agree with this thinking wholeheartedly. And, so do our two-and-a-half million clients. It’s time you got in on the secret too. The Jet-Setter Chronograph can go up against the best chronographs in the market, deliver more accuracy and style than the “luxury” brands, and all for far, far less. $1,150 is what the Jet-Setter Chronograph would cost you with nothing more than a different name on the face. With over two million timepieces sold (and counting), we know a thing or two about creating watches people love. The Jet-Setter Chronograph gives you what you need to master time and keeps the superfluous stuff out of the equation. A classic in the looks department and a stainless steel power tool of construction, this is all the watch you need. And, then some. Your satisfaction is 100% guaranteed. Experience the Jet-Setter Chronograph for 30 days. If you’re not convinced you got excellence for less, send it back for a refund of the item price. Time is running out. Now CLIENTS LOVE that the secret’s out, we STAUER WATCHES… can’t guarantee this $29 chronograph will stick around long. Don’t overpay to be “The quality of their underwhelmed. Put a precision watches is equal to many chronograph on your wrist for that can go for ten times just $29 and laugh all the way the price or more.” to the bank. Call today! — Jeff from McKinney, TX
Absolute best price for a fully-loaded chronograph with precision accuracy...
ONLY
$29!
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TAKE 90% OFF INSTANTLY! When you use your OFFER CODE
Jet-Setter Chronograph $299† Offer Code Price $29 + S&P Save $270
Limited to the first 1900 responders to this ad only.
You must use the offer code to get our special price.
1-800-333-2045
Your Offer Code: JCW208-01
Rating of A+
Please use this code when you order to receive your discount.
“See a man with a functional chronograph watch on his wrist, and it communicates a spirit of precision.” — AskMen.com®
Stauer…Afford the Extraordinary.® • Precision crystal movement • Stainless steel case back & bracelet with deployment buckle • 24 hour military time • Chronograph minute & small second subdials; seconds hand • Water resistant to 3 ATM • Fits wrists 7" to 9"
Stauer
® 14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. JCW208-01, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com † Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code.