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LOCAL REPORTS PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHELLE DALTON INSTAGRAM: @BOMBCHELLE_FISHING VOLUME 26 • ISSUE 320
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NYMPHING FOR WILD
Chattahoochee
BROWNS
D
By Nick Carter
rifting between forested banks over bedrock shoals, it’s easy to forget where you are on the Buford Dam tailrace of the Chattahoochee River. This beautiful stretch of water snakes southwest through densely populated suburbs north of Atlanta, yet riverside development is limited. There are long stretches where this river feels like wilderness— where the sounds of the city are replaced by lapping oars and the soft swish of fly rods cutting air. Chris Scalley, owner of River Through Atlanta guide service, manned the
4 NATIONAL
NOVEMBER 2021
oars. He rowed and coached and again showed us the bounty of the “Hooch.” The Angler Magazine Atlanta co-publisher Bob Rice and I have fished with Scalley several times before. Our late-September trip was another good one. The river’s wild reproducing brown trout were active in cooling weather patterns, and they punctuated a steady catch of sleek and feisty rainbows. The Chattahoochee is one of the best tailwater trout fisheries in the Southeast. It is a success story for fisheries management. Georgia DNR stopped stocking brown trout in the river in 2005 after natural reproduction was discovered. Today, those beautiful butter-bellies still thrive. It’s a unique situation that has made this 30-mile-long stretch a destination fishery. The Hooch has produced a string of state-record browns, including the current nearly 21-pounder. But before you get geared up for 30-inch trout, realize that while monsters do exist in the river’s deep holes and log jams, they are not frequent catches. Over several trips with Scalley, it seems a pretty good day consists of numerous rainbows, a handful of browns in the 10- to 12-inch range and a fish or two in the 14- to 16-inch range. Of course, the opportunity for larger fish is always present. Early in our float, a wading angler hailed us over to show photos of a 20-plus-inch fish he had in his net earlier that day. It was proof the big girls were eating, and it inspired us to fish our triplenymph rigs more diligently. After bringing several 8- to 12-inch rainbow trout to hand, I hooked into our first brown, a gorgeous 15-incher that took the big black stonefly anchoring the rig. We went on to catch several more good browns and a bunch of rainbows. The bows preferred either the small Baetis nymph in the rig or an egg pattern Scalley called a Stormy Daniels. While fishing three nymphs at once might sound like a recipe for disaster, it’s actually quite simple. Under Scalley’s coaching, even beginners catch on to the looping lob it takes to cast such a rig. Once it’s in the water, nymphing with an indicator is a lot like the bobber fishing you did as a kid. You just float down the river and watch for a fish to bite. Those bites should be frequent over the next few months. Water temperatures remain consistent on the tailwater year-round, and fall and winter offer great fishing for wild browns. Contact Chris Scalley and River Through Atlanta through their website riverthroughatlanta.com, or call (770) 650-8630.
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NATIONAL 5
MUD HOLE URTESY OF PHOTO CO
Tailing the Kingfish Migration By CAM Staff
P
PHOTO CO
“K ‘th be lo URTESY O
F ERIC MAR
EST
erhaps more than any other species, king Texas. Some of these fish push farther south mackerel are temperature driven. Kingfish into waters off Mexico’s Yucatan. Regardless of where you fish along prefer a temperature range of about 68 to 73 degrees, which is extremely specific, and it these migrations, kingfish are looking for the same conditions. They can be found on keeps them on the move. That magic temperature window also makes ledges, reefs, oil rigs and wrecks, wherever them easier to find. With today’s technology and there are baitfish. They like nearshore subscription services providing daily updates and offshore structure and color breaks on offshore conditions and currents, identifying where plankton-rich waters exist in the prime hunting grounds for kings can be a matter temperature range they prefer. Trolling or drifting are the most of checking your phone or tablet in the morning effective methods to target kings, and before you head out. It’s no surprise that general seasonal good live bait is the best way to hook migratory patterns take king mackerel to up with big ones. Blue runners, pogies warmer waters as cold fronts of fall arrive. (menhaden), pilchards, threadfin Tagging and genetics studies have shown that herring, any bait with some silver Atlantic king mackerel push south to waters off flash is good. Switching them out and Florida to overwinter. Their numbers this time keeping them lively is important. A of year thin out the farther north you go, yet fall heavy chum slick can do wonders for can also be the best time to catch big isolated bringing them up near the surface. Idle speed is about right for smokers off the coast of the Carolinas. Off South Florida, Atlantic kingfish pulling baits. Stagger depth and intermingle with Gulf kingfish during the winter distance from the boat. Bump the months. This winter mixing zone is primarily throttle into neutral and drift when around the Florida Keys, where the December the sonar shows good bottom or kingfish bite ramps up along with the action for bait. other species like sailfish and wahoo. For more kingfish tips, visit In the Gulf of Mexico, kings spend summer coastalanglermag.com. in the northern Gulf, with high densities tracked to waters off the mouth of the Mississippi River. KINGFISH RIGS In fall, they push south in two separate groups. Some fish move east and then south along the A mainline of 20- to 30-pound monofilament will suffice, but with all the teeth in Florida coast, where anglers intercept them as a king’s mouth, a wire leader is required. Depending on water clarity, go as heavy as the fish will they move down the coastline. allow, but keep it light enough for your bait to appear natural. The other group of Gulf kings moves west A 24-inch, single-strand wire of 40-pound test is a starting point. Go lighter in clear water or with the arrival of cooler weather. They run with smaller baits; go heavier in dirty water or if you’re fishing big baits. down the Texas coast to winter2021 off the south 6 NATIONAL NOVEMBER COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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NOVEMBER 2021
NATIONAL 7
g n i fish
THE EVOLVING ART OF DAYTIME
S
d wor
W
ithin the last decade, swordfishing has steadily evolved from being exclusively a nighttime pursuit into a roundthe-clock affair. The ongoing pioneering of daytime swordfishing techniques leaves room for experimentation to perfect personal preferences within this art. A lot of work goes into going after just a single bite, and many variables are at play fishing in 1,000 to 2,000 feet. Then, factoring in tackle, crew and the inconsistent bite style of these fish, the best way to figure out daytime swordfishing is to go do it. Although you might see little sport in utilizing an electric reel, this type of fishing requires an incredible amount of teamwork. There’s always a job for everyone on the boat. Good communication is essential, not only to land fish, but also just to set the bait correctly. Rigging a bait for swordfish is more satisfying than buying one pre-rigged. It’s a chance to flex your creativity and experiment with different styles and baits. After all, you want more than one bait on-hand during a sword trip. Whether you go with the tried-and-true squid bait or hardier mahi- or bonita-belly strips, the most important factor is whether or not the bait spins. If it spins on the surface, it will spin worse at the bottom, and it must be modified or scrapped. Personally, I like a glow-in-the-dark squid skirt on any bait, not just for added movement and visual enhancement, but the skirt also streamlines the bait and compensates for rigging errors. Once you’ve sewn the bait, slowly troll it behind the boat to check for spinning. If your Franken-bait is straight as an arrow 8 NATIONAL
NOVEMBER 2021
By Capt. Quinlyn Haddon
on the surface, send it on down. Affix breakaway lights along the wind-on leader near the bait. About 100 feet up the leader, use rigging floss to create a loop where the clip for the weight will attach to the main line. The clip is attached to about 30 feet of lighter leader, in the 50-pound range, that is then affixed to a weight. Adjust weight to the current. A reasonable go-to is 10 pounds. Again, ensure you have extra weights on board before investing in a sword trip. The last thing you want is to get revved up over a bite, come up without a weight and have to scavenge a tool box for your heaviest wrenches to toss overboard. There are a few different styles of driving the boat for swordfishing that have proven successful. Regardless of the method you chose, the idea is to keep the weight from free falling and tangling the line. Keep tension on the line while it is going down, take up the slack, and relocate the bottom. Come up off the bottom 100 feet, or so, and continue that process as you drift over varied depths. Keep eyes on the rod tip the entire time, and find the happy medium between not blinking and not losing your mind. Swordfish might swipe the bait before committing to the hook, or they might hammer it. Sometimes they just start swimming to the surface with it. All the different bites look different on the rod tip. You might see the rod bounce with taps, get heavy and not bounce at all, or just completely go slack. Whether the bite is obvious or subtle, setting the hook or knowing when to reel up to check the bait is a matter of experience. Swordfish are counted like tarpon, where the overall bite count is included along with those landed. Don’t even bother fishing for swords if
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you don’t have patience or enough love of fishing to be okay with coming home skunked. It’s all hands on deck boating one of these very aggressive, potentially large fish. If you’re lucky enough to get a swordfish to the boat, you’ll find out very quickly which friends to invite back on the next trip. While the captain remains behind the wheel, ideally someone will be on the rod with another person unclipping the weight and pulling off the breakaway lights as the leader gets to the boat. Once all that gear has been removed, there is the matter of hand-leadering the fish, gaffing it, potential use of tail rope, and heaving that sucker into the boat. There are many ways to go about this, and many ways the fish could react. Swordfish are well known for stamina and can be quite dangerous to green gaff. Be prepared for the fish to get a second wind boatside. This is where communication and teamwork can make or break the experience. Go into a swordfish trip with everything you’ve got, but with the intent to relax and hang out. You might sit there all day without a bite, so bring people you enjoy the company of, and leave the “I’m-so-bored” guy at the dock. He is worse than bananas, anyway. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon fishes with Blue Magic Charters out of Marathon, Fla. Check her out her Instagram @CaptainQuinlyn, her website CaptainQuinlyn.com, or call (504) 920-6342.
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Goliath Grouper Recovering; Angler Harvest Proposed
F
4 FLORIDA
NOVEMBER 2021
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By CAM Staff
lorida has moved one step closer to allowing harvest of goliath grouper. In early October, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved a draft proposal to allow limited and tightly controlled harvest of the species. Don’t run out and stock up on heavy tackle just yet. A permit to keep a single fish will come with a hefty price tag, and anglers will only be allowed to keep a smaller one. These iconic fish, which grow to more than 800 pounds and 8 feet in length, have been protected from harvest in state and federal waters off Florida since 1990. The harvest proposal is at the beginning of the long road that leads to regulation change. The proposal, with changes, must now be brought back before the commission at a future meeting. If approved again, it would then enter into the public feedback and data gathering stage before a final public hearing in March 2022. Regulations changes would take effect in 2023, at the earliest. Here’s an outline of the limited season the latest draft proposal would create: • Goliath grouper season would run March through May. • A lottery system with a $10 entry fee would issue $500 permits to harvest one fish per person. • Only 200 total permits would be issued. • There would be a slot limit from 20 to 36 inches. • Harvest would not be allowed off Palm Beach County, the Atlantic
Re
• Fi coast of the Keys and Dry Tortugas National Park. • There will be post-harvest requirements. Commissioner Robert Spottswood said limited harvest should help better determine the overall stock of the fish in the next three to five years. “This stock is rebuilding,” Spottswood said. “We’re hearing that it can easily sustain this very small harvest of fish. We’re going to learn something from it. And more importantly, we’re going to give some access that we can give safely and sustainably back to the stakeholders that own the resource.” Goliath grouper were in a bad situation prior to harvest restrictions put in place in 1990. There are numerous factors that make the species susceptible to overfishing. They are a desirable and easy target for anglers because of their size and because they inhabit shallow waters in comparison to other groupers and tend to gather in large numbers in predictable locations. Since the 1990 harvest ban was enacted, goliath abundance has increased, and that positive trend is expected to continue. A limited harvest, managed similarly to the existing alligator program, would provide both data and funding for goliath grouper research, while allowing expanded recreational angler access to the species. The 200 permits issued are not expected to impact the population or its growth. For more information, go to myFWC.com.
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Hialeah Angler Catches State Record Peacock
O
f all the non-native fish species that have established themselves in South Florida’s system of freshwater lakes and canals, peacock bass are the only ones that arrived legally. Butterfly peacock bass are a species anglers are glad to have, and Felipe Prieto, of Hialeah, caught a dandy out of a Broward County lake while fishing live bait after work. His 9.11-pound, 23 5/16-inch catch was recently certified by FWC as a new state record. Prieto’s big peacock bested a mark that has stood for nearly three decades. The previous state record of 9.08 pounds was caught back in 1993. It is not, however, the largest ever caught in Florida. FWC has record of a 12-pound, 25.5-inch peacock that was not submitted for state record recognition. That fish was not far off the current IGFA all-tackle world record, which weighed 12 pounds, 9 ounces and was caught from Venezuela’s Chiguao River in January of 2000. Peacock bass are native to South America, and they were intentionally introduced to Florida. The FWC stocked peacock bass in coastal southeast Florida canals in 1984 to help reduce the number of undesirable exotic fishes, especially spotted tilapia. An awesome new fishery was a side benefit of the stocking. Limited low-temperature tolerance normally restricts butterfly peacocks to Broward and Miami-Dade counties, but recent mild winters have allowed anglers as far north as Palm Beach County to enjoy catching this species. “The butterfly peacock bass is colorful, a lightning-fast striker and a hard fighter,” said FWC Commission Chairman Rodney Barreto. “Anglers from across the country travel here to catch a peacock bass, which only adds to the tremendous economic impact fishing has in Florida. This unique game fish is just one of the features that makes Florida, truly, the Fishing and Boating Capital of the World.”
6 FLORIDA
NOVEMBER 2021
To properly certify a new freshwater Florida state record, an FWC biologist must identify the species and an FWC employee must witness its weighing on a certified scale. Anglers can check the current state records at BigCatchFlorida.com by clicking on “State Record” and should notify the nearest FWC regional office if they believe they have caught a record fish. Anglers are encouraged to be prepared to provide a photograph of the fish on a scale with the weight legible, for expediting the initial verification of the fish species and potential state record status. Contact information for FWC regional offices can be found at MyFWC.com/Contact by clicking on “Contact Regional Offices.”
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PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES
Easy Pickin’s By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
F
all fishing can be the easiest and best fishing of the year. For me it is the flounder run, schools of trout and reds under flocks of gulls, and the prelim to giant trophy trout time. The fall flounder migration is definitely a staple of fall fishing, and I know that it goes on wherever flatfish exist. We do have a closed season for the first time, so be sure to check the regs wherever you plan to fish. Most states have changed flounder regulation in the last couple years. Not only are flounder easier to find when they travel though the passes in their voyage to their spawning grounds, they also feed aggressively as they follow baitfish out of the bays. When I focus on flounder, I change my presentation dramatically. I like to apply scent to my lures, which gives you a great advantage when it comes to catching flounder. A tandem rig is a popular method to utilize for flounder. Since flounder frequently ambush bait by burying themselves in the sand, I keep my lead lure in contact with the bottom at all times and give the lure a twitch with my rod using a sideways motion. If I am in a boat, I do this with my rod tip down, but while wading my rod moves to my side. Finding trout and reds smashing shrimp under feeding gulls can really get your heart pumping from the visual excitement. It can also provide nonstop fish on every cast. This is especially true in the fall, when it is more common to find larger trout schooling than in the other three seasons. When fishing the birds, I use a heavier jighead than I typically do. A ¼- to 3/8-ounce jighead works well. The more skittish the fish and birds, the heavier head I will use. I do this simply to increase my casting distance, so I can reach the schools sooner and stay farther away in an attempt to
not break up the schools or push them down. Using a durable soft plastic and smashing down the barb of the hook are helpful in maximizing the number of fish you can pull off each school. If you can keep the birds off of it, throwing a topwater might pull out some of the larger fish and add to the fun and visual stimulation of the entire event. By the end of fall, trophy trout become my main focus, and this continues through mid-spring. At this time, the water will have cooled considerably, and the majority of bait will have left the bays. Artifical lures will become a more reliable option for catching trophy trout. Enjoy this cooler weather, and spend some time on the water. This is a great time to introduce young anglers to the sport. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures and Controlled Descent Lures, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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Trial Offer Details: Activate a new monthly subscription to either: (i) SiriusXM Marine Fish Mapping or (ii) SiriusXM Marine Fish Mapping and the SiriusXM Platinum audio entertainment plan on the same device, and receive your first (1) month free for each activated service (a savings of $99.99 on Fish Mapping and $22.99 on Platinum plan), plus get free device activation (an additional savings of $25). A credit card is required on this offer. Service will automatically renew every month thereafter and, at the beginning of your second month, you will be charged at then-current rates (currently, $99.99/mo. for Fish Mapping and $22.99/mo. for Platinum plan). Fees and taxes apply. You must cancel your subscriptions during your promotional period(s) to avoid future charges. Please see our Customer Agreement at www.siriusxm.com for complete terms and how to cancel, which includes calling us at 1-800-985-9200. All fees, content and features are subject to change.This offer may be modified, suspended or canceled at any time. Subscription and hardware sold separately. Your Platinum subscription plan may be eligible for a multi-radio discounted rate if maintained on the same account as an activate full-price SiriusXM Marine Weather or Fish Mapping subscription package or other qualifying SiriusXM audio subscription. © 2021 Sirius XM Radio Inc. SiriusXM and all related logos are trademarks of Sirius XM Radio Inc. and its respective subsidiaries. All rights reserved.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CAPT. GREG MCKEE
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I
f you’ve spent any time on a boat in sharky waters, there’s no doubt the tax man has taken his due from what you thought was going to be fish dinner. Racing sharks to get your catch to the boat is a part of fishing, and it’s a component of our fisheries that NOAA wants to look at a little closer. NOAA Fisheries is considering an exempted fishing permit (EFP) that would authorize the collection of fish with evidence of shark depredation on charter vessels in southeast Florida. The project seeks to collect fish carcasses with evidence of shark depredation and conduct genetic analysis to determine which shark species were responsible for the damage. If the EFP is approved, fish carcasses collected may be outside of the range of minimum size limit, bag limit, or seasonal closure regulations. Information collected would be useful in understanding the impact shark depredation has on the charter fishing fleet in South Florida. Researchers would work with specific captains who fish in federal waters between Sebastian Inlet and Jupiter Inlet, Fla. These charter vessels would continue routine fishing operations, and if a fish is caught that exhibits signs of depredation, the fish would be retained by the researcher, isolated from other catch, and transferred to Florida Atlantic University (FAU), Harbor Branch Laboratory when returned to port. Signs of depredation from landed fish include: fresh teeth marks and active bleeding; partially removed trunk tissue (scales, skin, and muscle); exposed musculature and/or internal organs; and missing fins. The skin and flesh exposed by the bite wound would be swabbed to identify depredating species from trace amounts of DNA left on prey remains. Researchers would retain a maximum of 240 individual fish distributed across the following species complexes during the study: snapper-grouper, dolphin-wahoo, and coastal migratory pelagics. Some samples collected may be under-sized, above the recreational bag limit, or caught during a closed season. Only the captain and crew aboard authorized charter vessels would be permitted to retain species with evidence of shark depredation that may be recreationally harvested out of season, or out of the authorized recreational bag limits or size limits. The EFP would be valid for two years during the course of the study. For more information, see www.fisheries.noaa.gov.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
TAMPA BAY FISHING REPORT BY: CAPT. WOODY GORE
ARTIFICIAL LURES
O
ver the years, I have personally figured out that I’m an artificial lure angler. My passion has progressed to spot casting and then skipping lures and soft plastics under docks, around oyster bars and overhanging mangroves. Skipping is relatively straightforward; you use the same technique as skipping a flat stone across the water. The only difference is that you have a rod and reel in your hand. Although it takes time to learn, you can practice each time you’re on the water. When switching to artificial lures, it’s essential to identify and target places that just look fishy. Redfish like those scattered oyster beds, mangrove shorelines and old barnacle-encrusted docks. Yep, you’ve got it. It’s those same unused docks getting little to no foot traffic. Artificial anglers must also be on alert for places where currents flow around the ends of mangrove shorelines or points. Any moving water is an excellent place for snook. Fish are notorious for changing locations, primarily because of food and water temperatures. Like ourselves, you must remember fish seek out locations with food and water temperatures that make them comfortable. Always recall and keep track of what the fish are feeding on, because there are times when fish get selective. Matching the hatch always puts you ahead of the game.
On windy and rainy days, the waters get muddy or tannin-stained. Muddy or stained waters require slowing down your retrieval, while you might speed it up in clear and transparent waters. Tossing artificial lures is very gratifying. And, I’ll guarantee that, when making the switch, you will change your thinking; especially, when you start catching those big redfish, spotted sea trout and snook on something other than live bait.
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NOVEMBER 2021
TAMPA 1
ST. PETE REPORT BY: CAPT. ANTHONY CORCELLA
COOLER WEATHER IS ON ITS WAY!
W
hen the first big cold front ushers in the Fall season and lowers water temps, the fishing will be on fire. The inshore and near shore bite is in full swing. Reds, snook, trout, flounder, snapper and sheepshead are best bets inshore, while snapper, grouper, mackerel and kingfish will be near shore and on the reefs in the Bay. It’s possible to have a shot at all the species on one full day trip. Whitebait is still around and works like magic; and a freelined live shrimp is one of many go-to baits. Cut bait like threadfins, pinfish and ladyfish will catch all of the inshore species except for the sheepshead. If you’re targeting sheepshead and snapper around the docks, rockpiles or bridges, live shrimp is a safe bet. Cut shrimp has its days, so always have a few dozen fresh dead shrimp onboard, even if you don’t bring live. For the lure fisherman, it’s the peak time of year. Topwaters, jigs, spoons and subsurface will all work. The low tide in the mornings is a perfect time to target the inshore bite, as the fish will be stacked up in the deeper potholes and channels surrounding the flats. As the tide comes in and scatters the fish, it’s a good time to check the inshore and near shore rockpiles that are scattered throughout the Bay. Snapper, sheepshead, and gags are stacked up on the structure, the shipping channel and around most of the towers. Live pinfish and whitebait are best bets, as is cut threadfins and live or frozen shrimp. Cobia are a welcome addition to the party, and tripletail will be around the markers and buoys, too. The mackerel, both king and Spanish, will be around the bait schools. Look for the birds and the macks will be there. For Spanish, live whitebait and shrimp are a safe bet. Small silver spoons or gotcha lures will provide steady action, too. If targeting kingfish, slow trolling a live blue runner, sardine or ladyfish on a stinger rig is a proven technique. A spoon or diving plug trolled on a planer is also a tried-and-true method for the hard bait crowd. The areas around the Skyway are top mackerel and kingfish grounds. Remember to check us out at waypoint TV. What makes our charter service unique is that we cater to disabled veterans and wheel chair bound clients! Our boat is able to accommodate wheelchairs and is ADA compliant. IF YOU’RE A DISABLED VETERAN, YOUR TRIP IS FREE! This is our way of giving back to our veterans. Capt. Anthony Corcella, Pocket Change Inshore Fishing Charter - 727-432-6446 www.pocketchangefishingcharters.com | Check us out on Facebook 2 TAMPA
NOVEMBER 2021
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
stone system shelter organi it’s im their h
THE
GOPHER TORTOISE By: Wes Tallyn
S
tubborn and determined, the gopher tortoise begins its morning search for food. The gopher tortoise is found throughout Florida living in dry sandy soils. The tortoises are both a federal and state threatened species. It is thought that they can live up to 60 years in the wild. The gopher tortoise is considered a keystone species due to their importance to many other species in their ecosystem. The deep burrows that they dig into the sandy or clay soil provide shelter and even protection from wildfires for a documented 350 other organisms. This makes them extremely important to the ecosystem and it’s imperative that they’re protected. Their biggest threat is development of their habitat. Upland areas are very desirable for development. Less fill dirt
is needed and there’s less flood danger in the areas the tortoises inhabit. What should you do if you see a gopher tortoise? Always give the gopher tortoises a safe distance. Do not take them down to a water source such as a pond or lake. They live their entire life on land and will drown in water.
How to identify them: Juvenile gopher tortoises are yellowish in color and don’t tend to stray very far from their burrows. They typically scramble down the hole at any sign of a threat. Adult gopher tortoises are green and then the color will fade to greenish/gray as they age. If in doubt, refer to reptile books or field guides to assist with identification. Let’s all do our part to take care to protect this valuable part of natural Florida! Captain Wes Tallyn was raised in Florida and is a fisherman, birder, avid outdoorsman, photographer, and environmental scientist. Wes has a focus on conservation and education in the community and is the owner of Snook Jam Ecotours. You can find him on Instagram @snookjam or call 727-410-5853.
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
NOVEMBER 2021
TAMPA 3
RIVERS TO BAY REPORT BY: CAPT. JOHN RIVERS
T
ampa Bay has year-round fishing and November is another outstanding month to fish the flats, rivers and deep channels of the Bay. As November slides in, the cold fronts get stronger and the temps dip; therefore, the water temps drop to the middle and lower 70’s, which triggers the fish to start feeding. As the bite fires off, we’re targeting snook, redfish, jack crevalle, trout, sheepshead, cobia and more. One major bonus to fishing Tampa Bay in November is that when you find a few fish, there’s a good chance that the fish will hang out there a while. During the warmer days of November, fish will be staged up on the flats. During the negative tides in November, look for snook and reds in pot holes and other depressions. If we get a cold front, look for fish on drop offs and near the mouth of the rivers. If it’s cold for a few days, look for snook, reds and trout up in the rivers; but, when we get a few days of warmer weather in November, some of those fish will make their way back out onto the flats. Bait is usually readily available in November; it’s still on the flats, unless we get a few major cold fronts, then it will be on the markers, bridges and at the Skyway. If you don’t feel like tossing the net for white bait, you can get live shrimp and/or toss artificials. Live shrimp works great in Tampa Bay in the winter, because that’s what the fish feed on naturally in the winter months. Winter is when I bring out the artificials for trout, snook and reds, and I usually do very well. Another bonus to November fishing is that you don’t have to get out at the crack of dawn to get to the fish. When targeting snook, reds and trout in November, you can wait a bit and let the sun come up and warm up the flats while the fish stage up and get warm on the shallows near the mangroves. There are plenty of shopping days left until Christmas, so make a little time to get out on the water and go fishing! I hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving. Tight Lines. Capt. John Captain John Rivers | www.tampabayinshoreguides.com captjohnrivers@gmail.com | 727-313-1781 4 TAMPA
NOVEMBER 2021
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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TAMPA 5
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Date
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Old Port Tampa, FL - Nov 2021
Low
High
Date
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Mon
1:05
2.1
12:42
2.3
6:46
0.9
7:09
0.5
7:40
6:47
2
Tue
1:24
2.2
1:44
2.3
7:32
0.5
7:41
0.7
7:41
6:46
3
Wed
1:42
2.4
2:43
2.3
8:16
0.2
8:11
0.9
7:41
6:45
6:45
4
Thu
2:01
2.6
3:43
2.2
9:00
-0.1
8:39
1.2
7:42
6:45
7:43
6:44
5
Fri
2:25
2.8
4:45
2.1
9:47
-0.3
9:07
1.4
7:43
6:44
1.5
7:44
6:44
6
Sat
2:53
3.0
5:53
2.0
10:37
-0.4
9:33
1.6
7:43
6:43
1.5
6:44
5:43
7
Sun
2:28
3.1
6:10
1.9
10:33
-0.4
8:59
1.7
6:44
5:43
6:45
5:43
8
Mon
3:08
3.1
11:34
-0.3
6:45
5:42
-0.3
6:46
5:42
9
Tue
3:56
3.0
12:43
-0.2
6:46
5:42
1:20
-0.1
6:47
5:41
10
Wed
4:53
2.8
1:59
0.0
6:46
5:41
2:30
0.0
6:47
5:41
11
Thu
6:07
2.5
10:44
1.8
3:11
0.1
6:47
5:40
1.6
3:28
0.2
6:48
5:40
12
Fri
7:52
2.1
11:10
1.9
2:23
1.6
4:12
0.2
6:48
5:40
3:46
1.3
4:16
0.4
6:49
5:40
13
Sat
9:47
1.9
11:34
2.0
4:13
1.2
4:59
0.3
6:49
5:39
2.0
4:54
0.9
4:54
0.6
6:50
5:39
14
Sun
11:15
1.9
11:56
2.1
5:24
0.8
5:36
0.4
6:49
5:39
11:37
2.1
5:43
0.6
5:25
0.8
6:50
5:39
15
Mon
12:23
1.8
6:16
0.4
6:05
0.6
6:50
5:39
11:52
2.3
6:25
0.3
5:51
0.9
6:51
5:39
16
Tue
12:15
2.2
1:19
1.8
7:00
0.0
6:30
0.8
6:51
5:38
1:43
1.7
7:02
0.0
6:12
1.1
6:52
5:38
17
Wed
12:33
2.3
2:10
1.8
7:38
-0.2
6:52
1.0
6:52
5:38
2.4
2:30
1.6
7:35
-0.1
6:30
1.2
6:53
5:38
18
Thu
12:48
2.5
2:58
1.8
8:13
-0.3
7:13
1.2
6:52
5:37
12:25
2.4
3:15
1.6
8:08
-0.2
6:46
1.3
6:53
5:38
19
Fri
1:05
2.6
3:45
1.8
8:46
-0.3
7:36
1.3
6:53
5:37
Sat
12:46
2.5
4:00
1.5
8:41
-0.3
7:00
1.4
6:54
5:37
20
Sat
1:25
2.6
4:32
1.7
9:19
-0.3
8:02
1.4
6:54
5:37
21
Sun
1:12
2.5
4:47
1.4
9:17
-0.3
7:15
1.4
6:55
5:37
21
Sun
1:52
2.7
5:19
1.7
9:53
-0.3
8:33
1.5
6:55
5:37
22
Mon
1:43
2.5
9:57
-0.3
6:56
5:37
22
Mon
2:25
2.7
6:07
1.7
10:29
-0.3
9:09
1.5
6:56
5:36
23
Tue
2:19
2.5
10:42
-0.2
6:56
5:37
23
Tue
3:03
2.7
6:57
1.6
11:10
-0.2
9:54
1.5
6:56
5:36
24
Wed
3:01
2.4
11:33
-0.2
6:57
5:36
24
Wed
3:48
2.6
7:48
1.6
11:56
-0.2
10:50
1.4
6:57
5:36
25
Thu
3:51
2.2
12:48
-0.2
6:58
5:36
26
Fri
4:55
2.1
9:08
1.5
27
Sat
6:20
1.9
9:30
1.6
12:54
28
Sun
8:01
1.7
9:52
1.8
29
Mon
9:37
1.7
10:15
30
Tue
11:00
1.6
10:39
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Mon
12:27
2.0
12:09
2.1
6:08
0.9
6:33
0.5
7:40
6:47
1
2
Tue
12:43
2.1
1:10
2.2
6:54
0.6
7:06
0.7
7:41
6:46
3
Wed
1:01
2.3
2:08
2.1
7:39
0.2
7:35
0.9
7:41
6:46
4
Thu
1:21
2.4
3:06
2.0
8:24
-0.1
8:01
1.2
7:42
5
Fri
1:46
2.6
4:07
1.9
9:11
-0.3
8:24
1.3
6
Sat
2:15
2.8
5:15
1.7
10:01
-0.5
8:41
7
Sun
1:50
2.9
5:42
1.6
9:56
-0.5
7:48
8
Mon
2:29
2.9
10:58
-0.4
9
Tue
3:16
2.8
12:07
10
Wed
4:13
2.6
11
Thu
5:33
2.3
10:49
1.7
12
Fri
7:33
2.0
10:51
1.8
1:49
13
Sat
9:25
1.9
11:05
1.9
14
Sun
10:48
1.8
11:21
15
Mon
11:55
1.8
16
Tue
12:52P
1.7
17
Wed
18
Thu
12:07
19
Fri
20
1
Moon
12:28
-0.1
6:58
5:36
25
Thu
4:39
2.4
8:38
1.6
1:24
0.0
6:59
5:36
26
Fri
5:40
2.2
9:21
1.6
12:05
1.4
1:44
-0.1
6:59
5:36
1.4
2:18
0.1
7:00
5:36
27
Sat
6:58
1.9
9:57
1.6
1:38
1.2
2:41
-0.1
6:59
5:35
2:38
1.1
3:07
0.2
7:00
5:36
28
Sun
8:34
1.7
10:27
1.8
3:10
0.9
3:35
0.1
7:00
5:35
1.9
3:52
0.8
3:52
0.4
7:01
5:36
29
Mon
10:09
1.6
10:53
1.9
4:26
0.6
4:24
0.2
7:01
5:35
2.1
4:50
0.4
4:32
0.6
7:02
5:36
30
Tue
11:33
1.6
11:19
2.1
5:26
0.2
5:06
0.5
7:02
5:35
Moon
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NOVEMBER 2021
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Rocky Creek, LittleFL Pine Island Hernando Beach, - Nov 2021
Low
High
Date
Low
AM
ft
AM
ft
Mon
11:31
2.9
PM
ft
Rise
Set
6:45
1.0
7:16
0.6
7:43
6:47
2
Tue
12:07
2.9
12:33
3
Wed
12:41
3.1
1:29
3.1
7:40
0.5
8:04
0.6
7:44
6:46
3.2
8:29
0.1
8:48
0.7
7:45
6:45
4
Thu
1:14
3.3
6:45
2:21
3.3
9:16
-0.3
9:29
0.9
7:46
7:44
6:44
5
Fri
1:48
6:45
3.4
3:12
3.2
10:01
-0.5
10:08
1.0
7:46
1.2
7:45
6:44
6
Sat
6:44
2:22
3.6
4:03
3.1
10:47
-0.7
10:47
1.2
7:47
8:26
1.3
6:45
5:43
7
6:43
Sun
1:59
3.6
3:56
2.9
10:34
-0.7
10:27
1.3
6:48
-0.6
9:08
1.4
6:46
5:42
5:43
8
Mon
2:38
3.6
4:50
2.7
11:23
-0.6
11:09
1.4
6:49
10:13
-0.3
9:57
1.5
6:47
5:42
5:42
9
Tue
3:23
3.5
5:45
2.5
12:14P
-0.3
11:58
1.5
6:50
11:09
0.0
10:56
1.5
5:41
6:48
5:41
10
Wed
4:15
3.3
6:44
2.3
1:10
0.0
6:50
12:13
5:41
0.3
6:48
5:41
11
Thu
5:18
3.0
7:53
2.3
12:57
1.5
2:14
0.3
6:51
1.5
5:40
1:28
0.6
6:49
5:40
12
Fri
6:39
2.6
8:58
2.3
2:15
1.5
3:29
0.6
6:52
1:48
5:40
1.3
2:40
0.8
6:50
5:40
13
Sat
8:28
2.5
9:49
2.5
3:49
1.3
4:41
0.8
6:53
2.5
5:39
3:10
1.0
3:38
0.9
6:51
5:39
14
Sun
10:03
2.5
10:30
2.7
5:11
0.9
5:39
0.9
6:53
10:09
5:39
2.6
4:12
0.6
4:25
0.9
6:52
5:39
15
Mon
11:12
2.6
11:05
2.8
6:13
0.6
6:26
0.9
6:54
2.5
5:38
10:41
2.8
5:02
0.2
5:05
1.0
6:52
5:39
16
Tue
12:06P
2.7
11:37
3.0
7:03
0.2
7:06
1.0
6:55
11:53
5:38
2.5
11:10
2.9
5:44
0.0
5:40
1.0
6:53
5:38
17
Wed
12:49
2.7
7:45
0.0
7:41
1.0
6:56
12:32P
5:37
2.6
11:38
2.9
6:20
-0.2
6:12
1.1
6:54
5:38
18
Thu
12:06
3.1
1:28
2.8
8:21
-0.2
8:13
1.1
6:57
5:37
1:08
2.5
6:54
-0.3
6:44
1.2
6:55
5:37
19
Fri
12:34
3.2
2:04
2.7
8:55
-0.3
8:45
1.2
6:58
5:37
3.0
1:44
2.5
7:26
-0.4
7:15
1.2
6:55
5:37
20
Sat
1:01
3.2
2:40
2.7
9:27
-0.4
9:16
1.2
6:58
5:36
12:32
3.0
2:19
2.4
7:57
-0.4
7:46
1.3
6:56
5:37
21
Sun
1:28
3.2
3:15
2.6
9:58
-0.4
9:47
1.3
6:59
5:36
Mon
1:01
2.9
2:55
2.4
8:29
-0.3
8:18
1.3
6:57
5:37
22
Mon
1:57
3.2
3:51
2.5
10:30
-0.3
10:19
1.3
7:00
5:36
23
Tue
1:32
2.9
3:32
2.3
9:03
-0.3
8:54
1.3
6:58
5:36
23
Tue
2:28
3.1
4:28
2.5
11:04
-0.3
10:55
1.3
7:01
5:36
24
Wed
2:08
2.8
4:10
2.2
9:40
-0.2
9:34
1.3
6:59
5:36
24
Wed
3:04
3.1
5:06
2.4
11:41
-0.2
11:35
1.3
7:02
5:35
25
Thu
2:50
2.7
4:53
2.2
10:21
0.0
10:23
1.3
6:59
5:36
25
Thu
3:46
2.9
5:49
2.3
12:22
0.0
7:02
5:35
26
Fri
3:42
2.6
5:44
2.1
11:10
0.2
11:27
1.3
7:00
5:36
26
Fri
4:38
2.8
6:40
2.3
12:24
1.3
1:11
0.2
7:03
5:35
27
Sat
4:47
2.4
6:43
2.2
12:10
0.3
7:01
5:36
27
Sat
5:43
2.6
7:39
2.3
1:28
1.3
2:11
0.3
7:04
5:35
28
Sun
6:15
2.2
7:42
2.3
12:48
1.2
1:21
0.5
7:02
5:36
28
Sun
7:11
2.4
8:38
2.4
2:49
1.2
3:22
0.5
7:05
5:35
29
Mon
7:54
2.2
8:33
2.4
2:09
0.9
2:29
0.6
7:02
5:36
29
Mon
8:50
2.4
9:29
2.6
4:10
0.9
4:30
0.6
7:06
5:35
30
Tue
9:17
2.3
9:17
2.6
3:17
0.5
3:29
0.7
7:03
5:36
30
Tue
10:13
2.5
10:13
2.8
5:18
0.5
5:30
0.7
7:06
5:35
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Mon
10:35
2.7
11:11
2.7
4:44
1.0
5:15
0.6
7:41
6:47
1
2
Tue
11:37
2.9
11:45
2.9
5:39
0.5
6:03
0.6
7:42
6:46
3
Wed
12:33
3.0
6:28
0.1
6:47
0.7
7:43
6:46
4
Thu
12:18
3.0
1:25
3.0
7:15
-0.3
7:28
0.9
7:43
5
Fri
12:52
3.2
2:16
3.0
8:00
-0.5
8:07
1.0
6
Sat
1:26
3.3
3:07
2.8
8:46
-0.7
8:46
7
Sun
1:03
3.4
3:00
2.7
8:33
-0.7
8
Mon
1:42
3.4
3:54
2.5
9:22
9
Tue
2:27
3.2
4:49
2.3
10
Wed
3:19
3.0
5:48
2.1
11
Thu
4:22
2.7
6:57
2.1
12
Fri
5:43
2.4
8:02
2.2
12:14
13
Sat
7:32
2.3
8:53
2.3
14
Sun
9:07
2.3
9:34
15
Mon
10:16
2.4
16
Tue
11:10
17
Wed
18
Thu
19
Fri
20
Sat
12:05
21
Sun
22
1
Moon
PM
ft
Moon
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NOVEMBER 2021
TAMPA 7
CAPT. SERGIO’S CORNER FLATTIES (FLOUNDER) OF TAMPA BAY
T
ampa Bay offers a smorgasbord of species to fish for, including redfish, snook, trout and cobia, just to mention a few. As a charter captain, the most requested inshore species is snook with redfish a close second. One species often overlooked is Paralichthy lethostigma or, in layman’s terms southern flounder. Southern flounder are frequently called “doormats.” These fish can easily camouflage themselves and can be found around sandy or muddy bottoms along the edge of grass beds and channels. These doormats average in size from 2 to 4 pounds with many tipping the scales at 8 pounds. A strong fighter on light tackle and rated as one of the best in food value, most Southern Flounder are caught by accident while drifting the flats or cuts for redfish and trout. Although southern flounder can be caught all year long, I find the cooling Fall season as the prime time for catching doormats. November and December are my favorite months to catch them. When other fish are slow to strike, the flounder are always ready for an easy meal. Flounder are bottom feeders and, in order to increase your chances at the big ones, I recommend several techniques that have worked for me over the years.
8 TAMPA
NOVEMBER 2021
One technique is to drift along the outer edges of grass beds or alongside of channels with structure or rubble. A ¼-ounce jighead works best in 2 to 6 feet of water. Hook a small piece of shrimp or Fishbites Shrimp scent on the jig or, if you prefer, a medium live shrimp. Bounce the jig along the bottom and the drift of the boat will do the rest of the work. In deeper water (6 to 10 feet), I recommend a 3/8-ounce jig head. A 3/8-ounce jighead with a 3-inch tail works during cold fronts. Artificial baits with fish attractant built in like the Fish Bomb (shrimp cocktail) can make a big difference in the number of fish caught. A second technique is to anchor on the outer edges of grass beds or deep-water channels casting up current or tide. The secret is to bounce the jig along the bottom with a slow retrieve. Flounder will only travel a short distance for food, so the presentation must be close. The more casts the better the chances of catching fish. Dock Fishing is another good way to catch the big ones. The heat generated around the concrete pilings on a cold windy day is a natural attractant. A 1/4-ounce sinker setup as a Texas rig with a glow bead between the hook and the sinker works for the big ones. It’s my belief that the glow bead just draws attention on the dark bottom and turns the flounder on to strike quicker. Seawalls that have a quick drop into a sandy bottom with grass patches are also key spots. Around bridges, flounder tend to sit and wait for their bait. Try fishing the side of the bridge where the tide is moving bringing the food to them. Here I use a 3/8-ounce sinker setup with the glow bead casting along the edges of the shoreline and working the shrimp towards the drop. My favorite rod is a 7.5-foot Okuma medium light action rod in the 10 to 17-pound test range and a medium size spinning reel like the Okuma Halios 30. Fall usually means windy days so I prefer using Fins Windtamer 15-pound
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test bra down t braide
Sand
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side of feet of , if you drift of mend a fronts. ail) can
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BY: CAPT. SERGIO ATANES
test braided line. It’s one of the best lines I have found to help keep wind knots down to a minimum. Most of my big founder fishing is done around docks and braided line seems to be the most proficient.
Great locations to fish for flounder Old Tampa Bay: Big Island Cut west end of the Howard Frankland Bridge. 4th Street Bridge on an incoming tide. St. Pete side of Gandy Bridge just outside the rocks. South end of Picnic Island--the rock piles. Tampa Bay: Edges of the rocks along the St. Pete Airport. Sandy areas on the outside of the artificial reefs east of the Vinoy Resort. Terra Ceia Bay: Bird Key | Flounder Pass Southern Flounder will offer a change of pace and taste, so don’t overlook the doormats of Tampa Bay. Please e-mail any questions concerning fishing or tackle and I will be glad to respond. Good fishing and tight lines. — Capt. Sergio Atanes is host of Florida West Coast Fishing Report on Facebook and YouTube every Monday night 7-8 p.m. live. He is also host to Aventuras De Pesca USA on national TV and Radio Show. reelfishing.com | Email: atanes@msn.com | Phone: 813-973-7132
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
NOVEMBER 2021
TAMPA 9
BARRACUDA BOB’S CLEARWATER AND DUNEDIN THE MACK ATTACK IS BACK!
A
s air and water temps cool this month, anglers will be enjoying a respite from the summer heat and huge schools of bait will be making their southern migration from the northern Gulf, and using our local waters as a rest station before pushing on further south. This means MACKEREL! Hordes of kings and Spanish mackerel will be harassing the bait schools offshore, while pushing tons of bait into inlets like Hurricane Pass giving anglers a good shot on limiting out on these tasty speedsters. Anglers fishing Pet Beach and Hurricane Pass at the southern end of Honeymoon Island will be the first to tangle with big schools of macks, as they push their way into the backwaters of Clearwater Bay and St. Joseph Sound; and, those fishing from Dunedin Causeway can catch just as many. While the bag limit on Kings is three fish per angler, you can keep 12 Spanish each and every day, making for some awesome fish fries and freezers full of tasty filets. Chum is the magic ingredient that will light up the bite on these fish, along with plenty of live white bait (if you can find them) or frisky live shrimp.
10 TAMPA
NOVEMBER 2021
The secret to attracting fish to your bait is a noisy popping cork like a Cajun Thunder. Hang your bait three feet under a popping cork and really make some noise with it to get the fish’s attention. Once the bite with live bait starts happening, I like to switch to silver spoons, or Gotcha lures, fished hard and fast through the chum slick. Mackerel are fast swimmers and hard fighters, and they like to chase their meals down at high speed. A fast, jigging retrieve with a shiny silver lure will put plenty of fish in your box. Remember, mackerel blood is very fishy tasting, so once you’ve landed a fish, make sure to bleed it out before tossing it on the ice. Just cut its throat and hang on to the tail while swishing your fish in the water. My space here is somewhat limited this month, so I can’t go into a lot more detail about fishing tactics; but, if you’ll stop into Barracuda Bob’s on your way to the water, we’ll be happy to discuss baits, rigs and tackle that will help you catch more and bigger fish. Learn more about Barracuda Bob’s at www.BarracudaBobs.net. Make it your mission to join us at Barracuda Bob’s on Saturday, November 19th at 10:00 AM for a fall fishing clinic we’re hosting with Capt. Sergio Antanes and some of the other top fishing guides in his posse. We’ll be covering baits, rigs, tackle and tactics that will put more fish in your box and a big smile on your face. Capt. Sergio and crew have been guiding anglers to outstanding catches around the Tampa Bay area for over 50 years, operate a fishing school
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
in Tam on Ca nation
Se
BY: CAPT. JOE LONDOT
in Tampa, and will help you become a more successful angler, too. More on Capt. Sergio can be found on his website, www.ReelFishy.com and his national Spanish radio and TV show, Adventuras de Pesca. See y’all there, Capt. Joe Barracuda Bob’s Clearwater and Dunedin Visit us at 240 Causeway Blvd. Dunedin, FL 34698 | 727-466-1776 Check us out on Facebook or at www.BarracudaBobs.net
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NOVEMBER 2021
TAMPA 11
SKINNY WATER REPORT BY: DERICK BURGOS & NATALIE MANRIQUE
FALL REDS
N
ovember is a fantastic month to hunt for our favorite inshore fish, the redfish. October boasted staging, schooling and a multitude of large fish beginning to congregate inshore. This month is a fantastic month to take advantage of this, as the cold fronts are coming in. This drives these coveted fish into the warmer waters and further into the creeks. Reds also love to bask in the skinny, muddy flats where the sun has warmed the sand and potholes. They love to be lazy while basking; so, when fishing the
shallow flats, they tend to be more of an opportunistic eater and produce a lazier bite. This is where enticing and finesse with your lure comes into play. When you search for reds in the creeks and further into the murky waterways, be sure to cast into the mangroves as closely as possible. You will often find a foraging or basking redfish seeking refuge in the snarled roots below the waterline. Topwater lures can be very effective in these conditions. A perfectly thrown topwater lure can invoke a reaction strike fairly easily by a redfish that’s already warmed up. Kayak fishing during these traditionally lower than usual tides can be very effective for sneaking up, and can produce a fun day of catching redfish. We certainly encourage this. Don’t forget to come see us for all of your kayak fishing, paddling and kayak accessory needs. Good vibes and tight lines from your friends Natalie and Derick at Pure Florida WaterSports! purefloridaws@gmail.com purefloridawatersports.com 813-602-8824
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HERNANDO COUNTY BY: CAPT. JOEL GANT
WHAT NOT TO SAY...
I
t’s been another crazy, unpredictable year. Not only in the world with our country but in the fishing industry. Closures on red grouper and triggerfish started on Oct. 11 (red grouper reopens on Jan. 1st, the same time gag grouper is closed-how convenient!). Rumors are that they may open goliath grouper (to a few that can afford it) for a short time. OK, I’ve been watching too much news on the TV--gets me riled up. Let’s talk about fishing. Here on the Nature Coast, the fishing is really turning on. Start looking for the grouper, kingfish, cobia, mackerel and other species to move in and are ready to eat. This time of year, I get excited about the gag grouper. With cooler water and the thousands of stone crab traps being set out, the grouper will begin to move in to shallower water. For the fishermen that don’t like to
14 TAMPA
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run way offshore, now is the time to check your near shore rock piles. I like to start by chumming up the spot with some cut baits before tossing out a bait. Grouper love to eat live baits like pinfish, pigfish or threadfins. Or, try fresh cut baits or frozen bait like threadfin or mackerel. Use fairly strong gear. I like to use 50 to 60-pound line, as light a weight that you can to keep the bait on the bottom and a 7/0 circle hook. Be patient, and you will be rewarded. When you’re off-shore bottom fishing, put out a free line with a live bait for kingfish or cobia. These line screamers will be in those same areas. Inshore, the redfish and trout bite has been really strong with the cooler and clear water. This is the time of year for those that like to throw artificial baits. With jigs, crankbaits and topwater lures, you should have no problem enticing a bite. You can never go wrong with live shrimp. This time of year, the fish are looking for them. The snook bite has also been getting better every year in our area. This is also the time of year to be thankful. I am thankful for my family, my friends and blessed to be able to chase fish with the new friends I have met on every charter. Even when things seem bad, stop and think about how many things you should be thankful for. Have a great Thanksgiving all you fishheads. Get out there on the water and make some memories with friends and family! Capt. Joel Gant operates Fishdaddy Charters out of Hernando Beach. Coast guard licensed, insured and Federal permitted. He knows the local waters like the back of his hand, and works both inshore and offshore trips. Check him out on facebook or you can reach him at (352) 279-1615. Visit his website, www.fishdaddycharter.com
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FALL REDFISH
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ith Fall in effect and the weather being cooler, many anglers are looking to wet their lines by targeting Winter time species. Redfish have made their way into Tampa Bay in great force. They can be found at any of the South Shore grass flats, mangrove lines and oyster bars. I always head to my favorite backwater spots this time of year to find them. Redfish desire the same structure and environment as other inshore fish--a place to hang out and ambush baits passing by. Choice baits to use are live shrimp and scaled sardines. These baits should be presented on a size 2/0 to 3/0 hook freelined or with a split shot. Some bait shops sell scaled sardines, but most of the time you have to use a cast net to catch them. I recommend catching enough to use for bait, as well as, a few extra for chumming. You will be able to find these baitfish at the channel markers and shallow-to-deep transition areas nearest boat channels. I use a 10-foot 3/8”mesh Humpback cast net to gather my bait. I can usually catch enough bait for a trip in one or two casts, due to the ease of opening in the net design. Take advantage of the cooler water temperatures, as the fish are more active in the shallows. You can sight cast or drift fish for redfish. I recommend throwing a Livingston Lures Pro Sizzle “Gold Digger” colored topwater lure. This is one of my top choices of artificials to use, if you desire to cover a large area in a small amount of time. Captain Christopher Taylor | Florida Reels Fishing Charters www.floridareelsfishingcharters.com | (813) 220-6135
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NOVEMBER 2021
TAMPA 15
TALES FROM THE TUPPERWARE NAVY BY: BRUCE BUTLER
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elcome back yak fans. Well, my cobia hopes didn’t work out. The backcountry has been good, but challenging. More on that in a bit. I’m super happy to hear that the FWC has finally decided to allow our favorite trio to be harvested again with the lifting of the ban on reds trout and snook in the southern areas. While I firmly believe in conservation, it’s nice to hear my friends and readers can bring home something for dinner! Having said that, please fish responsibly. As for fishing, I thought I’d share a little history on our area of my favorite game fish, the snook. While our redfish population has been more elusive than in years past, snook seem to have taken over part of that food chain. Fifteen or so years ago, snook on the Nature Coast were rare and Hernando County was to Eas Fa Gu ily m lf, Ac ou IC ce s J W ssi oh & W bl e n’ s P orl as d s
considered the northernmost end of their territory. I’m happy to say that, due to weather pattern changes or natural migration, we now have snook literally everywhere. I’m not saying getting a slot-size fish is easy but, other than tarpon, snook give one of the most memorable battles with airborne head shakes (which can often end up with your lure flying back at you) and that sphincter tightening from fear every time they go airborne. Remember the fisherman’s mantra. Please don’t come unbuttoned; repeat it as necessary. At the turn of the century, the snook was regarded as a nuisance fish and earned it the name of soap fish. This was due to the habit of cooking fish with the skin on (by the way don’t do that). It ruined the meat and made it taste like soap. Thinking about it, back then the most common soap was Lye based, so it would taste awful. I mean if you ever, like me, had a bar of soap stuck in your mouth for using a bad word, think about having it for your whole dinner. The local bite has been tougher than I remember Knowing your terrain and for this time of year, especially redfish. On my last changing your spots is important. trip, my buddy didn’t get a Don’t invest too much time in one single slot-size fish, and this spot. I don’t care how many fish is one of the most experienced fishermen I know. you caught there before-Knowing your terrain and If it ain’t happening, move! changing your spots is important. Don’t invest too much time in one spot. I don’t care how many fish you caught there before-If it ain’t happening, move! I think, if nothing else, that was why I was able to get on snook, reds and sheepshead, because I refused to invest too much time in non-productive spots. Also, always work the tides. Out going to low will always be my favorite, but a general rule of thumb is that moving water increases the bite. Also, a shout-out to all of you who have gone to check out Aripeka. My friends at Norfleet’s said they have had many people come through that learned about it from my stories. So, thanks. And, if you have any questions about where to fish in that area, send me a text message--I might not even lie. And, thanks to my buddy Kirby who shared this picture of a 39-inch snook in Hernando County to share with the story. Till next time, Bruce Indian Bay Outfitters is Hernando County’s premier fishing guide with full and half-day charters available. Kayaks, tackle and gear are provided. Just bring your lucky hat and a good attitude, and be ready to see some pristine shoreline and great fishing. | Bruce Butler “The Stumbling Gypsy” (352) 428-5347 Bruce@IndianBayOutfitters.com Web: www.IndianBayOutfitters.com
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I
was always destined to be a fisherman. I recall watching childhood heroes fishing exotic places on Saturday morning fishing shows and dreaming I would be one of the fortunate anglers to make experiences like those a reality. I watched Flip Pallot fly fishing the Everglades. I saw legendary Capt. Billy Black on the deck of the Duchess off Walker’s Cay. For a young man from up North, Florida was Mecca if your passion was sportfishing. Imagine the excitement when my wife and I had the opportunity to make a life-changing move. It was only natural that we chose Florida. We wanted somewhere with mild winters and a small-town feeling that was close enough to major attractions. We decided the Jensen Beach/Stuart area was perfect. Not to mention that Billy Black and the Duchess call Stuart home. I have since met this man. He is not only a great captain and fisherman, he is a very genuine and kind man. The fishing is all that I imagined. Lake Okeechobee is a short drive to the west, the Florida Keys are just a few hours south, and the Indian River Lagoon is our new backyard. The Treasure Coast has wonderful offshore fishing, where mahi and sailfish are much sought after. The annual glass minnow run sends anglers roaming beaches in search of tarpon and snook. Most days it does not disappoint. If you turn on the television during “Shark Week,” you’ll undoubtably see mention of the shark migration through South Florida. It boggles the mind just how many sharks cruise the waters here. But, the granddaddy of them all is the “mullet run.” There are very few area anglers who don’t await this time of year like a youngster on the night before Christmas. The Indian River Lagoon comes alive, as everything eagerly devours this bountiful baitfish. This area has a wide variety of quality fishing, something for everyone, regardless of target species. The Indian River Lagoon needs no introduction. This world-class fishery has a long and storied reputation and is on the bucket list of any person dreaming of snook, trout and redfish. When the topic of Mosquito Lagoon comes up, visions of monster redfish and goliath trout come to mind. The IRL produced one of the most impressive catches in recent history when in 1995 angler Craig Carson, of Orlando, caught the heaviest spotted seatrout ever recorded. The 17-pound, 7-ounce beast was pulled from a backwater cove in Fort Pierce. It’s been a few years since we made the move to follow my dreams of fishing. The Treasure Coast has certainly lived up to its name. I cherish every outing in this beautiful and diverse environment. And, even after all the years, after all the places I have been fortunate to visit, I still have species left on my bucket list. I can think of no better place to pursue those fish than Florida. For more from Rex Hannon, go to www.coastalanglermagazine.com.
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TAMPA BAY REOPENS FOR SNOOK, TROUT AND REDS
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WC reopened recreational harvest of snook, redfish and spotted seatrout in Tampa Bay on Oct. 12. This ended the temporary catchand-release-only regulations that were implemented July 16, due to the impact of red tide. This applies to all Florida waters of Manatee County north of State Road 64, including all waters of the Braden River, and all tributaries of the Manatee River, excluding all waters of Palma Sola Bay; all Florida waters of Hillsborough County; and all Florida waters of Pinellas County, excluding all waters of the Anclote River and its tributaries. Learn more at MyFWC.com/Marine by clicking on “Recreational Regulations.”
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t its October meeting, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved the creation of new regulations for spot and Atlantic croaker in state waters from the Florida-Georgia border through Miami-Dade County. The following changes for the Atlantic coast of Florida will go into effect Dec. 1, 2021: • Establish a daily recreational bag limit of 50 fish per person for each species. • Establish the following commercial vessel limits Spot: 2,200 pounds. Atlantic croaker: 1,200 pounds. There have been recent coast-wide declines in abundance and harvest of spot and Atlantic croaker. The approved changes are part of a coast-wide, multi-state conservation strategy for Atlantic stocks of these species.
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FLORIDA 17
LIFE IS A BEACH November is a Great Month for Beach Fishing By Richard Matteson
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ooling weather and longer nights make November one of the hottest beach fishing months of the year. Early November still features the occasional late run of mullet trying to catch up with the main waves that already moved through. Yes, the mullet runs are mostly in October, but warmer weather patterns have extended the runs into November. Look for birds and bait. There are many beach accesses in Martin and St. Lucie counties. If fishing on the Treasure Coast, try different beach accesses between the St. Lucie and Ft. Peirce inlets. Deeper water beach areas have been producing bigger and more fish. Some of the deeper water accesses are Bathtub Beach (walk to the inlet point), Tiger Shores, Walton Rocks and Ft. Pierce Inlet point. Either side of high tide seems to be best (incoming high or outgoing high). There are still lots of tarpon schooling and large snook, and the bite is hot the whole month. In midDecember and January, the patterns change and both snook and tarpon are harder to catch. Try freelining a 6- to 8-inch mullet or croaker just past the trough and working the outside of the trough during the day. Early morning or evening, fish are closer to the shore and use the trough as their bait freeway. The trough
is a deep channel carved out by the closest waves (first breakers) and is usually 1 or 2 feet deeper than the sand line. For large fish, use 20- to 40-pound braid (white) with a 40-pound fluorocarbon leader. Besides freelining live bait, try using a jig with a 4-inch paddletail or a silver crocodile-style spoon (1 oz.). Yo-Zuri shallowdiving crankbaits (white) and topwater (Zara Spook/Skitterwalk) will also work for schooling fish chasing bait. November is also the month when mackerel, pompano and bluefish begin their southward migration. They start showing up around the mullet run, and by the end of November are regularly caught off our beaches. Mackerel and bluefish like shiny fast-moving lures like spoons, while bluefish can also be caught on cut bait. Both have teeth, so be prepared to have your leader cut! Pompano usually can best be caught on live sand fleas or red Fishbites. The mackerel bite is best in a small boat around the inlets or in the bull-shark reef area, but surf fishermen can have hot mackerel action, too. In the morning, the bite is usually near the trough when bait is present. Later in the day, make long casts with silver or gold spoons. Good luck! May your days be filled with leaping fish and tight lines. Richard Matteson is a long-time contributor to Coastal Angler Magazine and staff writer for the Stuart Rod and Reel Club.
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IT’S ALL ABOUT THE BAIT
Tim Barefoot
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t some point you have to realize the where these schools of bait truth about what really holds fish in went, the reds and gags went a certain area and why they show up with them. Find the bait; find the fish. during certain times of the year. Nowadays, I go to the same areas of “good For example, November is the first “cold” month of the year, and that signal is felt by the bottom,” and I look for stacks of beeliners to fish massive schools of cigar minnows, sardines and on. I have written about this before, but when the inshore baby beeliners (vermillion snapper). you find big stacks of bait, catch one of the baits They are programed to “ball up” for one reason and put it right back down. It increases your or another. The fish anglers are searching for get odds of catching what you came for. Granted, more gags, the same signal, scamps and red and they key in grouper have on these schools been caught of bait. Gags on frozen cigar are now well minnows than established on all the other nearshore ledges baits combined, for their annual but that was spawning run, then, and this and it is not is now. Thirty coincidence years ago, there these are the were so many same traditional grouper it was areas where the a competitive bait stages. atmosphere At one on the bottom, point in my without all bottom-fishing the little dink evolution, I snapper and fished stacks junk bites. That’s of bait on slick why frozen flat-sand bottom On the graph, a stack of bait marks not connected cigar minnows that we referred to the bottom indicates beeliners, cigar minnows worked so well. to as “trash and sardines. Grouper will be under or near a Now, you have piles.” These school of baitfish like this one. to think a little stacks of bait bit, and put baits were miles away from ledges and wrecks, but they held grouper down that attract the target species, instead of and big snapper just the same. These were giant everything down there. A grass grunt or pinfish stacks of cigs and sardines that were constantly as big as your hand will eliminate all the trash followed by red and gag grouper. No matter bites, and zoom in on the grouper. Nothing is
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JUNE 2020
PHOTO CREDIT: ANDREA WHITAKER COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
a better vehicle to the bottom, creates a better “illusion,” and is a cleaner tackle than plugging one of these live or butterflied baits onto a Decoy Jig. If you find a stack of beeliners, you need to put some effort into catching some of these beeliners, butterflying them and sending them right back down. You’ll feel all the “junk bites” down there ripping chunks out of your bait, but that’s OK. Be patient. When you get the real bite, there will be no question, and it’ll be worth the wait. Check out Capt. Tim Barefoot at Barefootcatsandtackle.com, where there are videos highlighting his tips, tackle and techniques.
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BRIDGE OPENING TIMES (estimated): 6:50 PM: Spanish River 7:20 PM: Palmetto Park 7:30 PM: Camino Real Bridges will be in the UP position for approx. 45 minutes.
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alking Liberty Half Dollars, or “Walkers” as they were called, led a coin renaissance in the U.S. that was in large part inspired by President Teddy Roosevelt’s 1904 comment that U.S. coinage was “artistically of atrocious hideousness.” During the first two decades of the 20th century, every circulating coin denomination in the U.S. got a new look. The front of the Walking Liberty Half Dollar features Adolph Weinman’s Walking Liberty design of a confident Miss Liberty striding toward the sun and the dawning of a new day, draped in an American flag, carrying laurel and oak branches representing peace and strength.
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TIPS FROM A PRO
FLIPPING HEAVY GRASS FOR FALL BASS
time or two until I get a bite or two in an area. Once you know there are fish around, slow down, make very precise flips and work the bait up and down multiple times with each cast. I flip and pitch with a craw-style bait. If the water has a good stain, black and blue colors are a must. If you’re working with cleaner water, TYLER WOOLCOTT green pumpkin or brown variations usually do the trick. When you are dealing with pressured fish or fishing in colder conditions, downsize and flip a creature bait like the 13 Fishing Lunch Bug. When the ith fall upon us, it’s time to bring out the big sticks and heavy braid. One of my favorite techniques weather is stable and you are around aggressive fish, flip a full-sized to target bass is flipping and punching grass, and fall is a creature bait like the 13 Fishing Invader. great time to do it. Fish seek heavy cover Flipping/ Punching Gear and vegetation to feed up on forage and get warmth under matted grass. This presents It is important to use the correct the opportunity to place your bait right in equipment to get your bait into the grass front of them. and then winch fish out. I like a 13 Fishing Flipping and pitching grass can be hard 7’9” Heavy Fast Envy Black rod paired to learn, but once you get the hang of it, it up with a Concept A 8:3:1 reel. The long can be one of the most exhilarating ways to heavy-action rod gives you power to get catch a bass. I live in Florida, where grass a hook into fish and then get them out of is always prevalent. It has taught me a few grass. Pairing that rod with a fast-gearthings about how fish position in fall, and ratio reel allows you to make lots of flips I’ve been able to use this knowledge all and to pick up line quickly. over the country. Heavy braided line is imperative. I Seek out either a clean edge or patches like 65-pound Seaguar Smackdown braid of grass that are isolated away from in grey. I use a Woo! Tungsten weight expansive areas of grass. These areas between 1 and 2 ounces, depending on concentrate fish in targetable places and the thickness of the grass. Hook size varies give you the highest probability of getting depending on the size bait. I use between a your bait in front of a hungry bass. 3/0 and a 5/0 Hayabusa FPP Straight HD When flipping, cover as much water as hook. possible until you run into a group of fish. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament Fish tend to group up in the fall, and this is angler and guide. Check out his website at also true with fish in the grass. I like to flip www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com. fast, only pumping the bait up and down a
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KEEP IT GENUINE PRECISION PROTECTION
Whether you take your boat out to the lake or the ocean, your 4-stroke outboard needs ECSTAR Suzuki Semi-Synthetic Engine Oil so it can run long and strong. ECSTAR features special additives that protect the engine in harsh salt and fresh water environments, advanced detergents that keep engine parts clean, and viscosity index improvements that help the engine start in cold conditions. No matter where your next boat ride takes you, go confidently with ECSTAR.
RUN LONG. RUN CLEAN. RUN STRONG.
Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-Approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. Suzuki, the Suzuki “S” ECSTAR and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki trademarks or ®. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC.
Q3 ECSTAR HALF HORIZONTAL CSTL2021 ANGLR 7-16-21.indd 1 10 SZNATIONAL NOVEMBER COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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StyleCraft and A&M Introduce Versatile, Premium Fiberglass Hull Pontoon Boats
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ptimum durability and performance are the design achievements for an all new line of pontoon boats named Style Craft Boats. These premium fiberglass-hulled pontoon boats result from a partnership between Billy Chapman and John Hemken, and they are only available through factory direct sales. Chapman, pioneer of Amazon peacock bass fishing and creator of the Floating Suite mobile lodge, and Hemken, with over 25 years of perfecting new and innovative production and owner of A&M Manufacturing, are designing several models of pontoon boats. Flagship of the line is the Fun Slide boat, a 28-foot pontoon craft built on Bulldog hulls with a 10-foot-wide main deck and upper deck featuring two water slides. The 22- and 26-foot Outfitters are recreational tritoons with multiple floorplans for family fun and fishing built on Riptide hulls. Outfitter pontoon boats also feature multiple deck boxes with cushion seats, and much more. StyleCraft Boats also offers three different kit boats, allowing the DIYer to finish out the boat to their liking. The Kit Boat includes fiberglass hulls and heavy-duty aluminum C-channel floor beams ready for assembly. The StyleCraft Boats Tuff Boat is a workboat created for the rigors of heavy-duty operations. A deck boat that can be configured for any task, the Tuff Boat can be outfitted with a crane, welder and anything else a work boat
might need. StyleCraft works with the owner to determine the right size pontoon boat for the work at hand. All StyleCraft Boats are built by A&M Manufacturing and feature a heavy-duty set of fiberglass hulls measuring from 30 feet to 53 feet in length. The deck is built with marine-grade composite that is fiberglassed, gelled and webbed. No wood is used in StyleCraft Boats. Each boat can be configured with an outboard engine. More models will be introduced. The Fun Slide boat and Outfitter series are equipped with a Humminbird Helix GPS depthfinder, anodized aluminum railing and Phifertex rail coverings, upgraded custom upholstery with hydraulic steering and steering wheel on a fiberglass console. A&M Manufacturing is the contract manufacturer of Elite Craft leisure boat, hand built from fiberglass but with the regal look of real mahogany wood. Elite Craft boats have been built for over 30 years. For more information about StyleCraft Boats, visit stylecraftboats.com.
TRAVEL PROTOCOLS RELAXED FOR BAHAMAS INTER-ISLAND TRAVEL
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ffective Immediately, the requirement for a travel health visa for inter-island travel within The Bahamas has been removed. Other important updates include: • Vaccinated persons travelling inter-island from New Providence and Grand Bahama will now only be required to produce a negative result of a rapid antigen test of the type approved by the Ministry of Health, and if non-vaccinated, travelers are required to produce a negative result of the RT-PCR test at the point of embarkation to the operator of the airline or vessel on which they are travelling. • For persons travelling inter-island from any other islands of The Bahamas, only a negative result of an antigen test of the type approved by the Ministry of Health is required. • The requirement for secondary testing for inter-island travelers is now removed. Curfew times have also been relaxed to 11:59 p.m. to 5 a.m. on New Providence and Paradise Island, Grand Bahama, Exuma mainland, Abaco mainland, Bimini and North and South Eleuthera, including Harbour Island. For entry into the U.S., beginning Nov. 1, 2021, all adult foreign nationals traveling to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated, with limited exceptions. Additionally, unvaccinated U.S. citizens and Legal Permanent Residents who return to the United States will be required to provide proof of a negative test result taken within one day prior to their departure. For more information on US requirements, visit https://bs.usembassy.gov/ covid-19-information. For full Bahamas Covid Protocols & Requirements for Boaters, visit www.bahamasmarinas.com/procedures-and-protocols.
12 NATIONAL
NOVEMBER 2021
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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NOVEMBER 2021
NATIONAL 13
FCRaUllISING!
PHOTO BY CAPT. JOE JELLISON
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Rocco Mansueto (center) with his fishing partners, Jay Effner (left) and Phillip Mansueto (right).
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By Richard Simms
olor mutations occur in a variety of wildlife species—albino whitetail deer, black (melanistic) coyotes and yes, piebald catfish. To witness, and especially catch, one of those unique creatures, however, is rare. Yet it happened recently for Rocco Mansueto on the Tennessee River. Mansueto was fishing in late September with Capt. Joe Jellison, a guide working with Scenic City Fishing Charters in Chattanooga, Tenn. Capt. Jellison also produces the popular YouTube Channel, Chatt Cats Fishing. Capt. Jellison routinely fishes on the Tennessee River near Chattanooga. His clients had already enjoyed a successful day, including a 27-pound blue caught by Rocco’s brother, Phillip, when Rocco hooked up again on a respectable catfish. When they fought the fish close enough to the boat to see it, Capt. Jellison, who has boated thousands of catfish, said he was awestruck. “Piebald catfish are quite rare. There’s one-in-a-million chance of getting one,” said Capt. Jellison. “They are actually blue catfish with a genetic mutation. I told Rocco many (or most) fishermen will fish their whole life and not catch a piebald catfish.” Piebaldism is the absence of melanin-forming cells (melanocytes) in certain areas of the skin. It is different from albinism, where all cells lack the ability to produce pigment altogether. Hence, piebald creatures do not have the pink eye characteristic of albinos. The piebald gene is often hereditary. Another Scenic City Fishing guide, Capt. Sam Simons, caught a similar fish in 2019. While it appeared to be a totally white albino, it did not have the characteristic pink eye, hence was probably a piebald as well. At the time of the catch, Capt. Jellison was drifting chicken breast as bait in the Tennessee River current, what Scenic City guides refer to as their “light tackle technique.” They use standard spinning gear and relatively light line (10-pound mono or 20-pound braid), which allows the bait to drift more naturally. Even though they use light tackle, the technique sometimes produces big catfish—up to 50 and 60 pounds. However, trophy-sized catfish are not as rare, or as cherished, as a once-in-a-lifetime piebald. Mansueto released his rare piebald catfish back into the river in hopes someone else might someday have the same experience he did. Richard Simms is an outdoor journalist and owner/guide at Scenic City Fishing Charters in Chattanooga, Tenn. Check them out at www.sceniccityfishing.com.
14 NATIONAL
NOVEMBER 2021
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719-POUNDER WINS BLUEFIN BONANZA L ocal captain Pete Speeches, of Scarborough, Maine, and the crew of Backstabber, brought a giant 719-pound bluefin tuna to the scale to win the Third Annual Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza out of South Portland, Maine. They took home their second consecutive Casco Bay Cup. It was a fretful year for the Bonanza, as proposed restricted fishing days threatened to scuttle the event. Then, an 11th-hour category closure forced postponement of the three-day tournament from early August to early September. Despite the tremendous inconvenience to all, and a less-than-favorable forecast, the boats set out and didn’t disappoint. First to the dock on Day 1 was Endorfin with a 511-pounder. Keith Jordan, of the Bailey and Bella, quickly set the bar higher with a fat tuna that weighed 700 pounds on the nose. Speeches was hot on his tail, arriving at the scales just 20 minutes later with what would eventually prove to be the tournament winner. He was preceded by Mitch Napalitano’s 598-pounder, moving Mitch down to a third-place position, at least temporarily. Perennial frontrunner Kurt Christensen and the Molly Jane came in with a 373-pounder with Wasabi, High Anxiety and Lion’s den bringing in fish of 478, 311 and 440 pounds, respectively. Forecasted high winds and thunder showers kept many boats off the water on Day 2, but Backstabber—vying for the cumulative-weight prize—landed their second, a 467-pounder followed by Bailey & Bella’s 582-pounder. Bounty
Hunter II, one of the smaller boats in the tournament went way offshore and after a five-hour battle managed to wrangle in a 422-pounder, and made the scales before they closed. Despite challenging conditions, the crew of Molly Jane showed their mettle, bringing in a 632-pounder to open Day 3 that would ultimately hold up in the top five. Hot on their heels was Bailey & Bella with a 646-pounder that would take fourth place and secure the overall cumulative weight. The final fish was ANUT’s 698-pounder, which moved them back into third place. In the end, over $18,000 in prize money was handed out, including a top prize of $7,500 and the Casco Cup for the largest fish. More importantly, the Bluefin Bonanza raised enough money to ensure that 14 students, two from each of Maine’s seven community colleges, will receive scholarships next year. The Bonanza will also be able to fulfill their endowment to the Foundation for Maine’s Community Colleges, ensuring there will always be scholarships in the future. Furthermore, a new endowment will be established with the University of Maine’s School of Marine Sciences and the Gulf of Maine Research Institute to support vital bluefin tuna research that will ensure the resource and the fishery remain sustainable. For more information, check out the Casco Bay Bluefin Bonanza on Facebook, visit www.bluefinbonanza.org or email bluefinbonanza@gmail.com.
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THE CHOICE IS YOURS SUZUKI’S SELECTIVE ROTATION TECHNOLOGY Suzuki has achieved what no other outboard manufacturer has done and provided a simple way to setup dual, triple, and even quad engine applications (150HP and up). This cutting-edge Selective Rotation technology provides the ability for the consumer to select regular or counter rotation into a single outboard model. This technology adds ease of use and overall resale value for the life of the motor.
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5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC. All rights reserved.
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