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LOCAL CATCH PHOTOS
GRASS FLAT
GATOR TROUT
CURRENT INTEL FROM AREA CAPTAINS PHOTO CREDIT: PAUL MACINNIS IG: @RSOCFISHING
VOLUME 27 • ISSUE 323
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YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY
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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ost folks associate the word “gators” with big scaly reptiles or a college mascot. Mention gators to a cadre of hardcore inshore anglers and you are likely to elicit fond memories of 30-plus-inch silver flanks speckled with black spots and gaping yellow mouths sporting a wicked pair of canine teeth. I’m talking about seatrout, big trophy trout that prompt some of us to wake up at 4 a.m. so we can be on the water throwing topwater plugs at first light. Big trout don’t act like their smaller brethren, and the techniques that hammer schoolies won’t work on bigger fish. Most gator trout are caught on shallow grass flats 1 ½ to 3 feet deep. Look for flats with dense grass mixed with a few sandy potholes that big trout use to ambush prey. The flat should also have a healthy supply of bait like mullet or pinfish, and it should be close to deeper water, so a wary old trout has a short escape route. During the hottest days of summer, big trout retreat to deeper water off the edge of a flat or seek out shade under mangroves or docks. During the coldest nights of winter, gator trout move into deep channels, canals and dredge holes where they can be targeted with sinking plugs and shrimp imitations worked slowly along the bottom. Seatrout see well in low light, unlike their prey items, like mullet. So, big trout feed best during low light. It is best to
By Paul MacInnis
SLING LURES for Grass Flat Gator Trout
fish early mornings, late evenings, on overcast days and at night. It may seem counter intuitive, but more trophy trout are caught on artificials than bait. Big trout are loners. Lures allow you to cover a lot of water, increasing your odds of intercepting bigger fish. About 80 percent of an adult seatrout’s diet is fish. With that in mind, large mullet-imitating lures are a good choice. The classic gator trout lure is a topwater “walk-the-dog” bait like the venerable Zara Spook. Of course, big swimbaits and shallowrunning plugs also work, along with soft plastic shrimp. A seatrout doesn’t grow to trophy size by being stupid. Big trout are wary and will evacuate a flat at the slightest indication of danger. Hull slaps and pressure waves from a drifting boat put wise old trout on high alert. It’s best to ditch the skiff and either wade or fish from a minimally invasive vessel like a kayak. It also helps to make long casts to get your lure in front of a fish before it detects your presence. Catching a true gator seatrout is not easy, and even when you do everything right there is still an element of luck involved. When you finally catch that trophy fish, handle with care and release her gently. A mature female seatrout can release over a million eggs during a spawn. Let her go to release her big-fish DNA into the gene pool.
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The Experts in Custom Rod Building Have Much to Share
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ud Hole Custom Tackle is the world’s largest supplier of rod building and tackle crafting goods and instruction. The heart of Mud Hole is its people, who strive for excellence and truly care about what they do. From leadership to customer service, and from product development to the warehouse floor, Mud Hole is comprised of passionate anglers and rod builders who use their own products every day and are eager to bring custom rod building to anglers everywhere. Established in the 1970s as a custom rod shop in New Jersey, and named after the famed Mud Hole trench at the outflow of the Hudson River, Mud Hole has truly humble, “tackle-shop” origins. Things really picked up in 1999, when the headquarters moved to Oviedo, Florida and the Internet made it easier to connect across the globe. Promoting the many benefits of custombuilt fishing equipment, Mud Hole Custom Tackle thrived and brought custom rod building to the masses. As interest in rod building grew and the industry flourished, Mud Hole dedicated itself to providing accessible DIY rod building instruction and resources to anyone who wanted to learn. Today, the Mud Hole YouTube channel hosts almost 500 videos with over 10 million views, and is followed by over 31,000 subscribers. From Rod Building
101 instructional videos to product reviews to Rod Recipes to Mud Hole TV episodes—where the team builds custom rods and puts them to the test against the most popular target species—Mud Hole provides the highest quality, most entertaining rod building content available. In addition to recorded video content, Mud Hole also hosts a live, streamed rod building show, Mud Hole Live, where hosts and guests share rod building techniques with an interactive, online audience. Who knew that custom rod building would hit the big time! Beyond making quality rod building content easily accessible to DIY audiences, Mud Hole also offers custom rod building classes with professional instructors. The workshops take place in the Mud Hole Education Center in Oviedo, Florida, in local markets across the U.S., and even online, in the comfort of your own home. A variety of topical classes are offered, from beginner workshops to application-specific builds, such as surf, fly, redfish and mahi rods. All classes include every component, supply, and all of the personal interaction needed to build high quality, custom fishing rods. Mud Hole also collaborates with schools and youth organizations like the Boy Scouts of America and 4-H to bring rod building to students through
specialized programs and education curriculum. In its 13 years, the Mud Hole Education program has reached over 30,000 students across 650 institutions in the United States, Canada and Australia. For Mud Hole, it’s not just about selling customers the components, tools and supplies they need with top-notch customer service, it’s also providing all of the instruction and resources to help them build! It’s about supporting and growing the community of rod builders who share a passion for custom rod building. Check out all that Mud Hole Custom Tackle has to offer at mudhole.com.
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THE ALTERNATIVE TO BUYING A NEW BOAT
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WHAT A TRIGGERS THE BITE? PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
ction, color, profile, style, which is more important when fishing artificials inshore? I investigate this question more than the average fisherman does on each trip, because I manufacture lures. To prove my point, how many of you switch tactics or lures when the bite is hot? I do! Years ago, I would not change a thing while the bite was on. If I lost the last soft plastic of a particular color, I would dig through every compartment to find one more identical to what was working. I might even rig it upside-down or sideways to get that last soft plastic to stay on the hook for a few more bites. Designing and fine-tuning lures has driven me to fish differently and explore more frequently, even when the fish are biting. On a recent trip, I was trying a new design, even though I was more confident in one of my original designs for this scenario in these conditions. The bite was strong, I switched between two lures about every three fish just to see if there was a preference. I started with the new design in a green-back, clear-belly color and caught a fish on the first cast! I was feeling confident, since it was a new lure and a new color, but it took dozens of casts to catch a few more fish. I switched to my original design in a pearl color. Once again, fish on the first cast! It didn’t take long to land a few more, and I decided to switch back to the new design, only this time in the same pearl color. My intent was to see if color was what the fish were keying on. Although I caught fish on both lures, the original produced considerably more fish per cast. I kept switching to gain knowledge and validate my findings. Both lures were the same color and 5 inches long with very similar body size. The actions, however, were completely different. One was a paddle tail, while the other was a soft jerk- or twitch-bait style. The fish on this day undoubtedly preferred the erratic side-to-side action of the twitch bait. Although I attempted to work the swimbait more erratically, the paddle tail did not have the quick side-to-side action that triggered the strike. Both lures were rigged on the same weighted swimbait hook, and I used the same rod. In this scenario, the action and lure style were the keys to triggering the bite. Even if you’re catching fish, it is a good idea to change things up from time to time. The day before, in the same area, I caught an equal number of fish on both the abovementioned lures. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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It Simply Makes Sense
Repowering your boat with Mastry Suzuki outboards gives you an effective
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When Considering A Repower, Consider These Factors: • Mastry Suzuki RePower exclusive Owner’s Edge Program* • Mastry Suzuki RePower Centers are located throughout the southeast • Mastry has over 5-decades of repower experience for proper rigging, controls, propeller matching and in water testing • With Mastry Suzuki RePower owners gain improved performance, less noise and greater reliability • Options that will fit most any budget • Financing available • All Suzuki RePowers come with latest factory backed 5-year warranty
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ou won’t win many boat races with the Outfitter ZX from StyleCraft Boats, even with the proprietary fiberglass hulls and their racing design. These hulls move the pontoon boat to plane faster with better fuel efficiency and a smoother ride. This is just one of the features boaters love about StyleCraft Boats. The goal of any pontoon boat owner is fun on the water, another trademark of StyleCraft Boats. Owners of the Outfitter ZX can enjoy freshwater or saltwater outings without worry of boat deterioration. After all, there is no aluminum in these triton hulls and the wood-free 3/4-inch thick deck is made entirely of a composite material. For cruising to catch the breeze in the hair, turn to the Outfitter ZX. Comfortable seating, a tritoon design for the smoothest of rides and amenities like Bluetooth music create a great atmosphere for all, including the youngsters. Ride the water for a while then anchor at a swimming hole and jump in. The fold down ladder makes for a work-free re-entry onto the deck and the Bimini top keeps the sun off sensitive skin. The Suzuki 90 horsepower outboard provides the perfect speed for cruising. With a 150 horsepower Suzuki, the Outfitter ZX will pop the skier on the end of the rope right up. Straight runs, zig zags and arcing circles give skiers or tubers an entertaining ride while jumping wakes. The ski tow bar option transforms the Outfitter ZX from a cruiser to a skiing phenom
without taking up deck space. The new Outfitter ZX fishing version is still in design, but the regular Outfitter ZX can be transformed into a fishing machine with just a couple tweaks. A Humminbird Helix GPS fishfinder is standard on the Outfitter. With fishing chairs on the forward deck area, anglers have ample space to cast and catch. The shallow draft design of the pontoons allows the boat to maneuver in shallower conditions, taking anglers where the fish might be. Add the optional aerated live well, and fish can be kept alive. Stow some lawn chairs, extra ice chest and a grill on board and nose up to a nice sandy beach. It’s picnic time. Add a tent and sleeping bags, and the Outfitter ZX becomes an overnight on-the-beach hotel. The Outfitter ZX tritoon footprint starts at as a trailerable 8 1/2 feet wide and 20 feet long. For more floorspace and increased passenger capacity, there’s also an 8 ½-foot-wide and 24-foot-long deck model, which is also trailerable. Now the fun part starts, completing the layout for individual tastes and desires. Regardless of how you use your Outfitter ZX, you will look great on the water and you and your boat mates will have a whale of a time. Ask your favorite marina to offer the Outfitter ZX for your next rental. StyleCraft Boats are made in the USA in Alachua, Fla., and are available factory direct only. Follow StyleCraft Boats on Facebook and Instagram.
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I DO NOT FEEL THE NEED FOR SPEED (SOMETIMES)
fish) on as light tackle as possible. I like to slow it down, and use the correct tackle for the job, while getting baits down in the strike zone. While drifting or trolling, I like to use a jig when I need to get my baits down deeper where the mid-day fish are hanging out. A 4-ounce Squid Decoy Jig is a good option because it drifts and trolls well and can be fished with or without bait. Tipped with cigar minnow or sardine, Tim Barefoot the jig looks like a squid that has caught supper, and everything eats squid. his is a play off the famous line from the movie This is a wahoo bait that can be fished with fluorocarbon instead Top Gun, but it has a clear meaning when it comes to fishing for palegics. Are there times when I want to high-speed troll of wire or cable, simply because almost all wahoo strikes on squid are to locate areas with fish? YES. Are there times when I want to troll 6-7 knots to catch numbers of good fish when they are on or near the surface feeding? YES. With all that said, are there times to slow down and get baits down to where the fish are in the water column? YES, Definitely! intended to cut the back half the These times are typically squid off before consumption. after 10 or 10:30 a.m., when Predatory fish know that they the sun is high in the sky, and can easily eliminate a squid’s on, or around a full moon. The only defenses… tentacles and a first reason is obvious. Fish don’t biting beak. have Maui Jims, so they adjust A stinger hook in the the amount of light they need/ head of a live or frozen cigar want with water depth. This is minnow or sardine will do especially true with wahoo and the work. There is only one tuna. And the full moon thing… major problem with this setup. they stay up all night eating with Don’t let it get too close to the “big light” on. the bottom, or you’ll have a Have you ever noticed how the bite dies down after 10 or 11 in the morning? Have you ever noticed grouper or big snapper bite. I think we just got ’em on a technicality. If the days around a full moon are typically slow? These are not just a you are “trolling for wahoo” and let the bait get too close to the bottom coincidence. Granted, the planner rod (aka “the meat stick”) is the one and catch a grouper, oh well, I wasn’t using circle hooks. Just sayin’. that produces in the middle of the day, and at daylight for that matter, See more from Tim Barefoot at barefootcatsandtackle.com. and around the full moon, but I much prefer to catch these fish (any
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I DO NOT FEEL THE NEED FOR SPEED (SOMETIMES)
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Tim Barefoot
his is a play off the famous line from the movie Top Gun, but it has a clear meaning when it comes to fishing for palegics. Are there times when I want to highspeed troll to locate areas with fish? YES. Are there times when I want to troll 6-7 knots to catch numbers of good fish when they are on or near the surface feeding? YES. With all that said, are there times to slow down and get baits down to where the fish are in the water column? YES, Definitely! These times are typically after 10 or 10:30 a.m., when the sun is high in the sky, and on, or around a full moon. The first reason is obvious. Fish don’t have Maui Jims, so they adjust the amount of light they need/want with water depth. This is especially true with wahoo and tuna. And the full moon thing… they stay up all night eating with the “big light” on.
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n the cigar ill do y one setup. ose to have a lity. If ottom in’.
Have you ever noticed how the bite dies down after 10 or 11 in the morning? Have you ever noticed the days around a full moon are typically slow? These are not just a coincidence. Granted, the planner rod (aka “the meat stick”) is the one that produces in the middle of the day, and at daylight for that matter, and around the full moon, but I much prefer to catch these fish (any fish) on as light tackle as possible. I like to slow it down, and use the correct tackle for the job, while getting baits down in the strike zone.
While drifting or trolling, I like to use a jig when I need to get my baits down deeper where the mid-day fish are hanging out. A 4-ounce Squid Decoy Jig is a good option because it drifts and trolls well and can be fished with or without bait. Tipped with cigar minnow or sardine, the jig looks like a squid that has caught supper, and everything eats squid. This is a wahoo bait that can be fished with fluorocarbon instead of wire or cable, simply because almost all wahoo strikes on squid are intended to cut the back half the squid off before consumption. Predatory fish know that they can easily eliminate a squid’s only defenses… tentacles and a biting beak. A stinger hook in the head of a live or frozen cigar minnow or sardine will do the work. There is only one major problem with this setup. Don’t let it get too close to the bottom, or you’ll have a grouper or big snapper bite. I think we just got ’em on a technicality. If you are “trolling for wahoo” and let the bait get too close to the bottom and catch a grouper, oh well, I wasn’t using circle hooks. Just sayin’. See more from Tim Barefoot at barefootcatsandtackle.com.
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FLORIDA 9 LOCATION 3
PHOTO BY JAMES MARTINS
an empty pail and hold it vertically on the surface of a pool, pond or tub of water, and you can easily recreate this for yourself. Apply force to the pail, straight downward, until its rim is just under the surface. Water rushes in to fill the pail until it has reached full capacity. If there are objects on the surface or suspended in the water, they will accompany the inrush of water. What you have done is introduced a void into the water. This empty space must be filled if water is to adhere to its own principles. Essentially, a vacuum effect occurs in which both water and the objects it contains are pulled into the void. Fish generate a similar vacuum via the expansion of their mouths, and anything within range of that vacuum will be drawn inside. This form of attack is concentrated in the fish’s head, requiring little or no forward motion of the body. If the fish wants to swallow what it has trapped in its jaws, it will expel the water through its gill slits in a rapid jet. Between a closed mouth and the fish’s gill rakers, solid objects are trapped inside, where they can be directed down the fish’s throat. If the fish should decide it doesn’t want to swallow what it has in its mouth, it will simply open its jaws and let the water float out along with whatever else was inside. It is much like a terrestrial animal opening its mouth and drawing in a big breath of air. Any airborne particulate matter will be taken in with the breath. If something noxious is taken in—smoke, for example—it can be ejected by exhaling or coughing. The difference between fish and terrestrial animals is the comparative enormity of most fish mouths and the great density of water compared to air. While a vacuum may be of little benefit to land animals, it is extremely useful to fish. Most fish, therefore, employ this technique to some degree in their feeding. For the sake of efficiency and the surer capture of prey, predatory fish are likely to use this method in conjunction with a more traditional attack featuring forward motion of the body. When employed together, these techniques allow the fish to draw its prey closer and seize it with the most By John Saporito security. When swallowing prey whole, they will turn it in their mouth so that espite different designs among the many species, there is a it can be taken headfirst—scales, fins and other parts folding tight against the commonality in fish when it comes to the capture of prey, a special body to facilitate an easier passage down the throat. procedure making use of the physical properties of the water they John Saporito is a lifelong fisherman, writer, and student of the seas. live in. Visit him online at johnsaporito.com. When a fish suddenly opens its mouth underwater, a void is created. Take
HOW FISH EAT
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10 FLORIDA
FEBRUARY 2022
COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
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TAMPA BAY FISHING REPORT BY: CAPT. WOODY GORE
F
ish tend to school together as water temperatures drop, so you can catch a large number of them in the same spot. Also, cold weather tends to pull them out of the shallow water and send them looking for deeper water, usually in creeks and canals with muddy bottoms and docks. Their metabolism slows, so they eat less food and are willing to take smaller lures and baits. Because of their sluggish metabolism, the fish slow down, so make your presentation unhurried and accurate. I’ve found that with smaller greenbacks, a very slow deliberate reel seems to trigger more strikes. There are plenty of fish to catch during Photo courtesy of Rosemary J. White the Winter months--all you have to do is go fishing. This time of year, we get big jack crevalle, blue fish, mackerel, sheepshead, snapper, orange mouth grunts and the list goes on. Just put on your jacket, get your rod and reel and head out for a fun day on Tampa Bay. Incoming or outgoing tides and a topwater lure produce awesome trout strikes on a calm early morning flat. Of course, the old standby, a live shrimp under a popping cork, always results in fish. If you’re looking for some nice trout action, don’t forget to check out grass and rock bottoms with some artificial jerk baits. Many times, you’d be surprised at the results. As cooler weather approaches, the waters begin clearing. This triggers some fairly decent sight fishing for the much sought-after redfish. Low tides and clear
water make sight fishing reds a shallow water anglers dream. We’re also catching reds in mullet schools using cut, live bait and also artificial lures. You can also expect some exciting strikes when pitching soft plastics or top water lures around the mangroves on high incoming tides. Winter patterns also include pitching shrimp and artificial lures around deep water residential docks. The cooler temps should push cobia into the warm water runoffs of local power plants. Be certain to adhere to the restricted areas. Don’t forget to check the shallow water beach edges adjacent to the runoffs, because cobia like migrating to and from the warm water along the shorelines. If you’re looking for sheepshead, try checking around bridges, oyster bars and deep-water docks. Use mussels, fiddlers (if you can find them), small black rock crabs, shrimp or oysters. Remember, you can scrape the oyster covered pilings as chum to get them going.
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FEBRUARY 2022
TAMPA 1
ST. PETE REPORT BY: CAPT. ANTHONY CORCELLA
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
W
e just wanted to start off with a thank you to our readers for all the support and for taking time to read our reports each month. We wanted to share the good news that Pocket Change and Finns Charter Service will be offering offshore trips in a whole new style. Take a ride on the 39-foot Sea Vee Z with quad Mercury 350 horsepower outboards. This offshore machine will get you out to the fishing grounds fast with cruising speeds of 40-mph. We will be offering 4,6,8,10,12 and 24-hour trips to get on those monster fish like grouper, snapper, sharks, kingfish and pretty much any offshore fish out there. For our longer trips we will be doing deep drop fishing with electric reels. Drinks and food are included. Let’s get to the fishing report. Lots of sheepshead are currently being caught around the docks and rock piles by the Skyway. Also, the redfish are biting well. We have been throwing shrimp at both species. Using a 1/0 J-hook with 1/8-ounce weight seems to work great for both reds and sheepshead. Once again, the dead bait works well under those deep docks for the big snook this time of year. The lure of choice is the Hookup bait for trout. They hit it on the fall, so you better hang on because it’s an aggressive bite. Try out these tips--they should work for you. If you have any questions, please reach out to us--we love to talk fishing. Remember to check us out on 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
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RIVERS TO BAY REPORT BY: CAPT. JOHN RIVERS
W
hat a weird weather pattern we’ve dealt with these past few weeks; one week it’s really cold like we’re in the North pole, and then it’s back to normal with temps in the mid 60’s to lower 70’s. A lot of people asked, “what’s this done to the fishing?” Here is the answer. The trout bite has been outstanding the past month, and February should be just as good as the water temps are in the 60’s--right where the trout like it. My go-to baits for trout are soft plastics, such as a Matrix Shad on an 1/8-ounce jig head or 1/4-ounce jig head, depending upon how deep the water I’m fishing. I will also have a 17MR MirrOlure tied on, as well as, a Heddon Spook top-water plug. These three lures are my staples when it comes to speckled trout fishing. I’ve been using them for years, and they have never failed me yet. Now, let’s talk redfish. Big schools of reds have moved into Tampa Bay. I can’t say where, but I can say that they are chewing on a variety of baits from cut white bait to cut mullet. If you want to toss artificials, tie on a Heddon Spook or a gold spoon and hang on! Look for pushes in the water and lots of mullet, and you’ll find the reds in depths of 2 to 5 feet of water. Moving on to sheepshead, the bite has been outstanding on many of the bridge pilings, rock piles and docks in Tampa Bay. Live shrimp and fiddler crabs are the baits of choice. Remember to have a light leader and a small #1 or #2 J Hook tied on. I like Gamakatsu, but you can use what you like or you can use a 1/8 or 1/4-ounce jig head, depending upon what the current / tide is doing. Snook fishing has been slower, and it will be until Spring, especially with the major cold fronts we had in January which put the snook in Winter mode--very lethargic and not feeding much. Once the water warms back up, the snook should be back to their usual feeding patterns. Until then, I suggest letting them adjust to the weather change and go after some other species. As you can see, the fishing has been very good the past four weeks and February should be very good, as we get closer to Spring. Captain John Rivers | www.tampabayinshoreguides.com captjohnrivers@gmail.com | 727-313-1781 4 TAMPA
FEBRUARY 2022
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TAMPA 5
St. Petersburg
www.USHarbors.com www.stpetefishingoutfitters.com
St. Petersburg, FL - Feb 2022 High
Date
Old Port of Tampa
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
www.USHarbors.com ezdocktampa.com
Old Port Tampa, FL - Feb 2022 High
Date
Moon
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
8:17
0.8
7:15
6:11
1
Tue
12:51
2.4
4:02
1.1
8:51
-1.0
7:16
0.9
7:15
6:12
1
Tue
1:26
2.4
4:36
1.2
9:38
-1.1
2
Wed
1:45
2.3
4:14
1.1
9:27
-0.8
8:17
0.7
7:15
6:13
2
Wed
2:21
2.3
4:56
1.2
10:12
-0.9
9:14
0.6
7:15
6:12
3
Thu
2:36
2.1
4:28
1.2
9:59
-0.5
9:17
0.5
7:14
6:13
3
Thu
3:14
2.1
5:13
1.3
10:41
-0.7
10:09
0.4
7:14
6:13
4
Fri
3:26
1.9
4:45
1.4
10:26
-0.3
10:18
0.4
7:14
6:14
4
Fri
4:06
1.9
5:30
1.4
11:04
-0.5
11:05
0.2
7:13
6:14
5
Sat
4:19
1.6
5:06
1.5
10:51
0.0
11:22
0.3
7:13
6:15
5
Sat
4:58
1.6
5:48
1.5
11:25
-0.3
7:13
6:15
6
Sun
5:19
1.3
5:32
1.6
11:15
0.3
7:12
6:16
6
Sun
5:56
1.3
6:10
1.7
12:01
0.0
11:46A
0.0
7:12
6:15
7
Mon
6:36
1.0
6:02
1.7
12:32
0.1
11:36A
0.5
7:12
6:17
7
Mon
7:05
1.0
6:36
1.8
1:01
-0.2
12:09
0.2
7:12
6:16
8
Tue
8:35
0.9
6:38
1.8
1:47
0.0
11:51A
0.8
7:11
6:17
8
Tue
8:39
0.8
7:09
1.8
2:11
-0.3
12:34
0.5
7:11
6:17
9
Wed
7:23
1.8
3:06
-0.1
7:10
6:18
9
Wed
10:54
0.8
7:52
1.8
3:31
-0.3
1:03
0.8
7:10
6:18
10
Thu
8:21
1.8
4:19
-0.3
7:10
6:19
10
Thu
8:48
1.9
4:52
-0.5
7:09
6:18
11
Fri
9:29
1.9
5:21
-0.4
7:09
6:20
11
Fri
9:56
1.9
6:00
-0.6
7:09
6:19
12
Sat
10:34
1.9
6:12
-0.6
7:08
6:20
12
Sat
2:25P
1.3
11:02
2.0
6:53
-0.7
5:16
1.2
7:08
6:20
13
Sun
11:29
2.0
6:56
-0.6
5:14
1.1
7:07
6:21
13
Sun
2:53P
1.4
11:58
2.1
7:38
-0.7
6:15
1.1
7:07
6:21
14
Mon
3:00
1.2
7:32
-0.7
6:04
1.0
7:07
6:22
14
Mon
3:18
1.4
8:15
-0.8
7:00
1.0
7:06
6:21
15
Tue
12:16
2.1
3:07
1.2
8:04
-0.6
6:47
0.9
7:06
6:22
15
Tue
12:47
2.1
3:39
1.3
8:46
-0.7
7:41
0.9
7:06
6:22
16
Wed
12:58
2.1
3:12
1.2
8:32
-0.6
7:29
0.7
7:05
6:23
16
Wed
1:32
2.2
3:54
1.3
9:11
-0.7
8:21
0.7
7:05
6:23
17
Thu
1:39
2.1
3:20
1.3
8:57
-0.5
8:13
0.5
7:04
6:24
17
Thu
2:16
2.1
4:06
1.4
9:34
-0.6
9:02
0.4
7:04
6:23
18
Fri
2:21
2.0
3:33
1.4
9:22
-0.3
8:59
0.4
7:03
6:25
18
Fri
3:01
2.1
4:18
1.5
9:56
-0.5
9:46
0.2
7:03
6:24
19
Sat
3:06
1.9
3:50
1.6
9:47
-0.1
9:49
0.2
7:02
6:25
19
Sat
3:48
1.9
4:33
1.6
10:19
-0.3
10:32
0.0
7:02
6:25
20
Sun
3:56
1.7
4:13
1.7
10:11
0.1
10:46
0.0
7:02
6:26
20
Sun
4:39
1.7
4:53
1.8
10:44
-0.1
11:22
-0.2
7:01
6:25
21
Mon
4:55
1.4
4:41
1.9
10:34
0.4
11:51
-0.1
7:01
6:27
21
Mon
5:36
1.4
5:19
2.0
11:09
0.2
7:00
6:26
22
Tue
6:12
1.1
5:15
2.0
10:53
0.7
7:00
6:27
22
Tue
6:49
1.2
5:51
2.1
12:20
-0.3
11:33A
0.5
6:59
6:27
23
Wed
8:23
0.9
5:58
2.1
1:10
-0.2
6:59
6:28
23
Wed
8:42
0.9
6:31
2.2
1:34
-0.4
11:49A
0.8
6:59
6:27
24
Thu
6:54
2.1
2:42
-0.4
6:58
6:28
24
Thu
7:26
2.2
3:13
-0.4
6:58
6:28
25
Fri
8:12
2.1
4:12
-0.5
6:57
6:29
25
Fri
8:42
2.2
4:59
-0.5
6:57
6:29
26
Sat
9:43
2.2
5:26
-0.7
6:56
6:30
26
Sat
10:15
2.3
6:16
-0.7
6:56
6:29
27
Sun
11:04
2.2
6:24
-0.8
6:55
6:30
27
Sun
11:37
2.3
7:13
-0.8
5:36
1.3
6:55
6:30
28
Mon
2:36
1.2
7:11
-0.8
6:54
6:31
28
Mon
2:59
1.5
7:58
-0.9
6:45
1.1
6:54
6:31
2:51P
1.2
10:49A
5:50
0.9
1.0
2:42P
1.5
Moon
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Tarpon Springs, Anclote Anclote River River, FL - Feb 2022 High
Date
AM
ft
Hernando Beach
www.USHarbors.com bluepelicanmarina.com
Rocky Creek, LittleFL Pine Island Hernando Beach, - Feb 2022
Low
High
Date
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Moon
1:33
2.2
7:15
-1.1
7:00
0.6
7:16
6:12
1
Low
AM
ft
PM
ft
AM
ft
PM
ft
Rise
Set
Tue
12:39
3.2
2:29
2.3
9:16
-1.1
9:01
0.6
7:19
6:11
1
Tue
2
Wed
12:33
3.0
2:04
2.2
7:54
-0.9
7:45
0.4
7:16
6:13
2
Wed
1:29
3.2
3:00
2.4
9:55
-0.9
9:46
0.4
7:18
6:12
3
Thu
1:21
2.9
2:33
2.2
8:30
-0.6
8:30
0.3
7:15
6:13
3
Thu
2:17
3.1
3:29
2.4
10:31
-0.6
10:31
0.3
7:18
6:13
4
Fri
2:08
2.7
3:01
2.3
9:04
-0.3
9:14
0.2
7:15
6:14
4
Fri
3:04
2.9
3:57
2.4
11:05
-0.3
11:15
0.2
7:17
6:14
5
Sat
2:55
2.4
3:29
2.3
9:35
0.0
10:01
0.2
7:14
6:15
5
Sat
3:51
2.6
4:25
2.5
11:36
0.0
7:17
6:15
6
Sun
3:44
2.1
3:58
2.4
10:05
0.3
10:49
0.2
7:13
6:16
6
Sun
4:40
2.3
4:54
2.5
12:02
0.2
12:06
0.3
7:16
6:16
7
Mon
4:37
1.9
4:31
2.4
10:34
0.6
11:46
0.2
7:13
6:17
7
Mon
5:33
2.0
5:27
2.5
12:50
0.2
12:35
0.6
7:15
6:16
8
Tue
5:41
1.6
5:10
2.3
11:07
0.9
7:12
6:17
8
Tue
6:37
1.7
6:06
2.5
1:47
0.2
1:08
0.9
7:14
6:17
9
Wed
7:16
1.4
6:01
2.3
12:56
0.2
11:53A
1.1
7:11
6:18
9
Wed
8:12
1.5
6:57
2.4
2:57
0.2
1:54
1.1
7:14
6:18
10
Thu
9:05
1.5
7:09
2.2
2:19
0.1
1:12
1.3
7:11
6:19
10
Thu
10:01
1.6
8:05
2.4
4:20
0.1
3:13
1.3
7:13
6:19
11
Fri
10:28
1.6
8:22
2.3
3:34
0.0
2:41
1.4
7:10
6:20
11
Fri
11:24
1.7
9:18
2.4
5:35
0.0
4:42
1.4
7:12
6:19
12
Sat
11:18
1.8
9:25
2.4
4:34
-0.2
3:53
1.3
7:09
6:20
12
Sat
12:14P
1.9
10:21
2.5
6:35
-0.2
5:54
1.3
7:11
6:20
13
Sun
11:53
1.9
10:20
2.5
5:20
-0.4
4:50
1.2
7:08
6:21
13
Sun
12:49P
2.1
11:16
2.7
7:21
-0.4
6:51
1.2
7:11
6:21
14
Mon
12:22P
2.0
11:07
2.6
5:59
-0.5
5:37
1.0
7:08
6:22
14
Mon
1:18
2.2
8:00
-0.5
7:38
1.0
7:10
6:22
15
Tue
12:49P
2.1
11:49
2.7
6:32
-0.6
6:18
0.8
7:07
6:23
15
Tue
12:03
2.8
1:45
2.3
8:33
-0.6
8:19
0.8
7:09
6:23
16
Wed
1:14
2.2
7:04
-0.6
6:55
0.6
7:06
6:23
16
Wed
12:45
2.9
2:10
2.3
9:05
-0.6
8:56
0.6
7:08
6:23
17
Thu
12:28
2.7
1:37
2.2
7:34
-0.5
7:32
0.4
7:05
6:24
17
Thu
1:24
2.9
2:33
2.4
9:35
-0.5
9:33
0.4
7:07
6:24
18
Fri
1:07
2.7
2:01
2.3
8:05
-0.4
8:10
0.3
7:04
6:25
18
Fri
2:03
2.9
2:57
2.5
10:06
-0.4
10:11
0.3
7:06
6:25
19
Sat
1:48
2.7
2:26
2.4
8:36
-0.3
8:50
0.1
7:03
6:25
19
Sat
2:44
2.9
3:22
2.6
10:37
-0.3
10:51
0.1
7:05
6:25
20
Sun
2:32
2.5
2:53
2.5
9:08
0.0
9:34
0.0
7:02
6:26
20
Sun
3:28
2.7
3:49
2.7
11:09
0.0
11:35
0.0
7:04
6:26
21
Mon
3:22
2.3
3:25
2.6
9:41
0.2
10:24
-0.1
7:02
6:27
21
Mon
4:18
2.5
4:21
2.8
11:42
0.2
7:03
6:27
22
Tue
4:19
2.1
4:02
2.6
10:17
0.6
11:24
-0.1
7:01
6:27
22
Tue
5:15
2.2
4:58
2.8
12:25
-0.1
12:18
0.6
7:02
6:28
23
Wed
5:31
1.8
4:47
2.6
10:58
0.9
7:00
6:28
23
Wed
6:27
1.9
5:43
2.8
1:25
-0.1
12:59
0.9
7:02
6:28
24
Thu
7:17
1.6
5:47
2.6
12:40
-0.1
11:56A
1.2
6:59
6:29
24
Thu
8:13
1.7
6:43
2.8
2:41
-0.1
1:57
1.2
7:01
6:29
25
Fri
9:15
1.6
7:08
2.6
2:09
-0.2
1:30
1.4
6:58
6:29
25
Fri
10:11
1.8
8:04
2.8
4:10
-0.2
3:31
1.4
7:00
6:30
26
Sat
10:35
1.8
8:33
2.6
3:32
-0.4
3:00
1.4
6:57
6:30
26
Sat
11:31
2.0
9:29
2.8
5:33
-0.4
5:01
1.4
6:59
6:30
27
Sun
11:23
2.0
9:48
2.8
4:39
-0.6
4:13
1.2
6:56
6:31
27
Sun
12:19P
2.2
10:44
3.0
6:40
-0.6
6:14
1.2
6:57
6:31
28
Mon
11:58
2.1
10:51
2.9
5:33
-0.7
5:14
0.9
6:55
6:31
28
Mon
12:54P
2.3
11:47
3.1
7:34
-0.7
7:15
0.9
6:56
6:32
Moon
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TAMPA 7
CAPT. SERGIO’S CORNER BY: CAPT. SERGIO ATANES
SOUTHERN COMFORT
T
ypically, the average angler stays home in February as high winds, low tides and cold weather is enough to keep you around the house. But, where would you go with all this bad weather? Try some southern comfort and go south and catch fish. A short drive from the Tampa Bay area is Charlotte Harbor; most anglers associate Charlotte Harbor with Boca Grande and tarpon fishing, and rightly so. However, this area has a lot more to offer all year long, especially during the Winter months. I decided it was time to do some fishing with a long-time friend and resident guide of the area, Capt. Scott Roe. Capt. Scott fishes year-round for snook, redfish and trout, except the months of April, May and June when he targets tarpon in Boca Grande Pass. We met Capt. Scott at the Placida boat ramp and headed towards Bull Bay as our first destination. The weather, as expected, had 15 knot winds from the northeast and no water anywhere. Bull Bay is protected and fishable all year ‘round, even with Winter low tides. We worked our way inside Bull Bay and our first stop was one of the many stilt houses grandfathered in from the early years. You can always find deep water around these stilt homes all year long and even that day with a negative tide was no different. Winter fishing, in fact, is made easy by not having to catch live greenback sardines. Just use live shrimp and artificial baits for best results. Capt. Scott anchored within casting distance of the piling. We started with live shrimp and, within minutes, a nice 4-pound sheepshead was boated. As the tide continued to exit the area, the redfish turned on, and for over two hours we were fighting fish. A neat way to fish for reds in deeper water is to use a jig head and tail- hooked shrimp, bouncing the shrimp along the bottom with a slow retrieve. The jig stirs the bottom up drawing the attention of all
8 TAMPA
FEBRUARY 2022
bottom feeders from reds to flounders. After several hours of bottom fishing, Capt. Scott suggested we fish for trout around Three Sisters Key. Although the water was low, Capt. Scott worked our flats boat along the southwest side. We switched to 1/8-ounce jig heads with 12 Fathom 3-inch chartreuse tiger tails. After several drifts and only four trout, we decided it was time to head home. Not bad for a Winter day; 18 redfish, three sheepshead and several trout.
R
R
Where to fish:
E C A
Winter fishing:
503
• Sister Key- Fish either side according to wind conditions. • Devilfish Keys- Fish the southeast corner outer edges of the sand bar. • Bull Bay- Fish the outer edges of cuts and grass flats. At low tide, work the area around the stilt houses. • Gasparilla Island- Fish around the entrance of the canals on the east side for gag grouper and redfish. • Phosphate Dock- A good area to fish for large redfish, drum, snook and grouper. • Redfish, flounder, trout, sheepshead and some snook. • Summer fishing: Snook, redfish, trout, tarpon, tripletail and cobia. • Offshore (weather permitting): Grouper, kingfish, mackerel and snapper. — 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
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TAMPA 9
TALES FROM THE TUPPERWARE NAVY BY: BRUCE BUTLER
W
elcome back yak fans. January ended with a great bite, and let’s hope the trend continues. The only time I want to hear the word “front” is while standing in a hotel lobby. So I don’t lose you completely, that’s what the manager would say to call a bellhop--like that happens anymore. What I’m saying is that uneventful weather should equal some very eventful fishing. Reds are showing up in good size schools of 15 to 30 fish, and large trout are coming in on the high tide. I know I’ve always talked about the bite being on the lower turn of the tide, but the other day around Raccoon Point on the high turn of the tide to outgoing the trout bite was awesome, working the Spook (top water lure) around the edges of the small grass islands and points. I was getting nailed on almost every cast, all in the 18 to 23-inch range. Heddon just came out with a new Spook Jr. with a metallic blue top, silver bottom and red throat and, right now, the fish are loving it. This is probably due to all the bait moving around right now. I was actually having a Spook off against my trusty Zara in bone until a blue fish took the line under the boat and broke my Carrot Stix. For some reason, they don’t like being bent double. God, I hate that sound. At that point, the blue spook won by default. The day had pretty much started that way. First, a snook took off with my
bone spook (I always carry a spare). Then, I lost my scissors. It was the first time in over three years. Next, a large trout got tangled in the net and sunk a treble hook in my finger and, of course, we all love yanking those out with the pliers. Add the broken rod, and I’m wondering why I’m still happy (more or less). I guess it was the trout bite--it was awesome. “Momma said there’d be days like this.” With the rods being warranted, trout in the freezer and my fingers healing, it works. Gotta remember to replace the Spook and my scissors! The bite north of Bayport and around Rocky Creek have been good. I prefished with my friend P.J. on the outgoing to low tide, and we both got a slam. Hey, a double slam in Hernando County ain’t bad and, modestly of course, I picked the spots. As a guide of many years, all I have to say is “now if I could only do that every time.” Anyway, back to fishing. Large reds are back in the inside creeks and bays. My problem has been finding one small enough to keep. Most have been 29 to 32 inches. Understand, I’m not complaining. I’ve had a couple of epic battles trying to paddle with one hand and follow him around points, oysters and creeks on 10-pound test braid, the broken rod, sore finger, etc. And, that is probably at the end of the day. I mean that few minutes of utter terror and then winning the battle is why we do what we do! That’s it! 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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FEBRUARY 2022
TAMPA 11
SKINNY WATER REPORT BY: DERICK BURGOS & NATALIE MANRIQUE
W
ith the cold fronts we have been having, now would be the ideal time to search for your first big trout. Despite the fact that they can be caught year-round, the cooler winter months have proven to produce some monsters. Fishing for them at the end of low tides early in the morning can’t be beat, as opposed to the other parts of the day. As the sun rises, it shines on the exposed sand, grass and oyster clusters which, in turn, warms them up. As the tide starts rising, warm Gulf waters begin to fill those areas up, making it prime real estate for hungry predatory fish. The last thing you’ll need to know about before endeavoring for your trophy trout is lure selection. Many lures have proven to catch trout but, for the sake of this write up, I’ll stick with what works for my clients and myself most frequently.
Trout are very territorial fish and tend to strike at just about anything that crosses their path. For that reason, my favorite is the top water walk-the-dog style lures. When presented correctly, the side-to-side action of these lures attracts a highly aggressive strike, which can be both physically and visually enthralling. Top water lures can also be considered one of the best “search baits,” and are great for covering large areas of water. Another option for lure selection would be to use a simple jig head paired with a soft plastic. This combo is widely used in our area for not only trout, but other species, such as reds, snook and cobia. Mullet patterns, chartreuse, gold and root beer colors are some of the best that have produced great fish for me and my clients throughout the years. Start by rigging with an 1/8 ounce jig head and a paddle style tail soft plastic. Scan the area for potholes in the sand and grass, and start casting towards those areas. You will find that many trout and a vast array of species tend to congregate in these areas, thus making your hook-up ratio increase. That’s it for now, see you next month for the next skinny water report-good vibes and tight lines always! purefloridaws@gmail.com purefloridawatersports.com 813-602-8824
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FEBRUARY 2022
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FEBRUARY 2022
TAMPA 13
HERNANDO COUNTY BY: CAPT. JOEL GANT
A BLESSED CAPTAIN
A
blessed captain is what I am. Blessed to be able to be on the water, blessed to have met some wonderful people on my charters and blessed to be a “Captain.” I’ve always had a passion for fishing ever since I was knee high to a grasshopper, and my grandparents would take us kids fishing with cane poles. Some of the most fun charter trips for me was with families, seeing the excitement and smiles on the kids’ faces and hoping I helped them get the fishing bug for the future. Thanks to all that have read my articles, and I hope you enjoyed them. This will be my last report for the Coastal Angler Magazine. It has been great to be part of a lot of knowledgeable charter captains and seeing how much this great magazine has grown. When I started over eight years, ago it was almost like a newspaper type magazine--now it’s full glossy color. I’ve worked with a few editors in the past and they have been really wonderful to work with. I will be turning the reports over to a local guide that has been fishing in this area for quite a while. His name is Gary Strickland of “Reel Shallow Fish.” I’m sure you will get some great tips from him. Offshore fishing: The good news is that red grouper season is now open (gag grouper is closed). Most of the time, you will want to anchor on some kind of structure and bottom fish for them. I use the same gear for reds as for the gags; 60-pound mono, a 4-ounce weight and a 7/0 circle hook. You
14 TAMPA
FEBRUARY 2022
can use cut bait, squid or live baits. The legal size to keep is 20 inches to the tail and 2 per person. With cooler water and the thousands of stone crab traps being set out, the grouper will begin to move in to more shallow water. There have been a lot of mangrove snapper being caught now (remember 10 inches in state waters and 12 inches in federal, 5 per person). The best tactic is with shrimp on a jig head or a 2/0 hook. Sheepshead can also be caught with this method. Inshore fishing: With the water being cooler now, the snook, trout and redfish bite has been great. From Pasco to Citrus, look for the outside edge of oyster bars or mangroves with moving waters. These predators like to ambush their prey, so moving water is key. This time of year, shrimp seems to be the best choice. Shrimp is very abundant in the Winter months; therefore, that’s what most fish are keyed into. 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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SOUTH SHORE TAMPA BAY REPORT BY: CAPT. CHRISTOPHER TAYLOR
COUNTING SHEEP AND SEEING SPOTS
W
ith the end of Winter in sight and the weather being mildly warmer, many anglers are looking to wet their lines as the new year starts to race by. Sheepshead have made their way into Tampa Bay in great force. They are well known for their dominant presence during the Winter months, and historically peak in numbers during February and March. They can be found at any of the Southshore bridges, docks, seawalls and jetties. I always head to my favorite mangrove snapper spots this time of year to find them. Sheepshead desire the same structure and environment as mangrove snapper. Most of the time, when fishing these areas, you will catch more sheepshead than snapper just because of their great numbers during these months. Choice baits to use are live shrimp and fiddler crabs. These baits should be presented on a size 1/0 hook free-lined or with a split shot, or your favorite 1/8 to 1/4-ounce jighead. Where there is one, there are a bunch. Keeping count is important when catching these guys, because you can fill a cooler quicker when the bite is right. Another species to target this month is spotted seatrout. These hungry shallow water predators can be found stacked up anywhere that has a drop in depth adjacent to a sandbar or sandy patches and potholes on grass flats. Take advantage of the mild water temperatures, as the fish are more active. Baits I use for spotted seatrout are scaled sardines and live shrimp. Both baits are presented on a size 1/0 hook free-lined. You can sight cast or drift fish these baits. MirrOlure MirrOdines or Trout Master gold colored spade tale grub are my top choice artificials to use, if you desire to cover a large area in a small amount of time. If you’re fishing the Southshore side of the Bay, I recommend stopping at Hooked Up Bait and Tackle off of US 41 and Beach Ave. Augustine always has everything you need for a good day of fishing. Captain Christopher Taylor | Florida Reels Fishing Charters www.floridareelsfishingcharters.com | (813) 220-6135
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FEBRUARY 2022
TAMPA 15
White mangrove
Buttonwood mangrove
Red mangrove
Black mangrove
KNOW YOUR MANGROVES By: Wes Tallyn
T
here are four species of mangroves that are native to Florida. The most easily recognizable species across the landscape is the red mangrove. Red mangroves are quickly identified by their prop roots. They live the most waterward of the four species, meaning they can live in the wettest environment of the four. They are shoreline protectors, limiting soil erosion during storms and tidal changes. Captain Wes Tallyn As you move landward, you will find the black mangrove. The most recognizable characteristics of black was raised in Florida mangroves are their pneumatophores. Pneumatophores are finger like projections that extend upward from the and is a fisherman, tree’s roots. They rise out of the soil to assist in gas exchange. You will often see hundreds of these pneumatobirder, avid outdoorsphores sticking up out of the soil around the base of the trees. man, photographer, The next species you will encounter is the white mangrove. They can’t handle as much water intrusion as and environmental often, so you will find them a bit further upland than the previous two species mentioned. The easiest way to scientist. identify white mangroves is by their rounded, oval-shaped leaves. Wes has a focus on conservation and educaFinally, the fourth species is the buttonwood mangrove. They are not as common in the wild, but are betion in the community and is the owner of coming more popular in landscaping practices around the state. They’re found on dunes and sandy soils in the Snook Jam Outdoors. You can find him on wild. An identifying characteristic is their spur-like seeds. They’re not technically mangroves in the scientific Instagram @snookjam or call 727-410-5853. sense, but they’ve been adopted by Floridians as honorary members of the mangrove family!
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Fishing the bay side may not even be a second choice this month, with the abundance of cobia, snapper, mackerel and the other usual suspects that frequent our shallow-water wrecks. However, if the weather allows, fishing the Atlantic side is advisable. Snapper and amberjack are a viable option, while being near an excellent pelagic fishery. Wahoo and king mackerel will be cruising the reef, along with sailfish, tuna and the occasional mahi. Mahi may be few and far between in February, but they will likely be much larger than summer schoolies. On the reef, incredible tailing conditions occur this time of year, which pushes migrating species to the surface. Once in a lifetime sightings can be had, but the most notable species affected by this anomaly is sailfish. On days like these, we target sailfish by cruising waves along the reef and looking for fish swimming on the surface. Sailfish appear black in the water, and on sunny days you can see them several waves ahead, leaving ample time to set up a pitch bait for sight casting. In the beginning of winter, when sailfish season begins on the reef, ballyhoo are extremely abundant, and the challenge is to get the fish to choose your bait out of the rest. This time of year, when bait is more scarce, your bug-eyed, red-nosed bait might actually have a chance at coming across as appealing to these hungry travelers. Tailing conditions in Marathon are caused by an east wind that opposes the current of the Gulf Stream. Migrating fish are traveling against the current, and heavy wind creates waves that push in the direction they are going. By swimming on the surface, to the point where their tails even breach, they use the force of the wind to surf the waves. It gives them a little break. It is a breathtaking experience to see these fish with such clarity, as if they are in a rolling aquarium. For obvious reasons, this type of fishing requires some heart to brave the he coldest month of the year may shut off a lot of fisheries around waves, and possibly some Dramamine. If you are prone to seasickness, take the country, but the Florida Keys thrive throughout the month of Dramamine the night before. This allows time for it to get into your system February. and eliminates the uncomfortable drowsiness that occurs from taking it the While the Keys are not immune to seasonal cold fronts, the temperatures morning of your trip. remain significantly higher than the rest of the country and provide the Capt. Quinlyn Haddon, of Blue Magic Charters, can be reached at versatility of being able to duck onto the bay side if waters on the Atlantic (504) 920-6342. Check out her social media: @captainquinlyn. side get too sporty.
SIGHT FISHING
Sailfish
IN TAILING CONDITIONS
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TYLER WOOLCOTT
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n the South, bass are making their transition to prepare for the spawn. This time of year can present an awesome opportunity, with large groups of fish ready to feed before they head to the shallows to do their business. One of the best ways to catch bass is to locate a large group of feeding fish with electronics and put them in the boat. This time of year is my favorite time to do it. Bass group up, stage on certain things in a little bit deeper water near spawning areas and feed heavily. This scenario presents some very fun fishing days! The first thing you need is a fish finding unit with side-scan capabilities and a little bit of patience. Finding the perfect spot sometimes isn’t easy, but when you do find it, it can be extremely rewarding. The first step is to identify a general area in a lake where bass will eventually go to spawn. After that, you want to look for a transition area with structure that bass will stage on and feed before they
JUNE 20202022 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM FEBRUARY COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
move up to spawn. For most of the country, a transition area can be anything from deeper water with structure, points, or even deep banks leading near the spawning grounds. Here in Florida, we look for submerged grass clumps or edges, brushpiles, and even shell bars in a bit deeper water near spawning areas. This habitat provides bass with an ambush point to feed heavily and an easy route to spawning grounds when they are ready. Side scan is very helpful in for finding these things, as you can see the bottom 150 feet or more on each side of your boat at idle speeds. This allows you to cover a ton of water and eliminate a lot of the guesswork. With some trial and error, you can actually see fish with this technology as well! I know this technology is expensive and takes some time to learn and understand. However, if you can get your hands on it and learn how to us it, your understanding of where these fish move, live, and feed will grow exponentially. The best way to learn is to get out on the water and find that special area for yourself. Content and video on the Internet helps if you get stuck in a technological bind or aren’t quite sure what you are seeing on your screen. You can always reach out to me on social media with questions. I’d love to help in any way I can. Tyler Woolcott is a professional tournament angler and guide. Check out his website at www.tylerwoolcottfishing.com.
TIPS FROM A PRO
TIPS FROM A PRO
UTILIZING ELECTRONICS TO FIND GROUPS OF PRE-SPAWN BASS
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UTILIZING ELECTRONICS TO FIND GROUPS OF PRE-SPAWN BASS
SEAWALL EROSION CONTROL I TYLER WOOLCOTT
n the South, bass are making their transition to prepare for the spawn. This time of year can present an awesome opportunity, with large groups of fish ready to feed before they head to the shallows to do their business. One of the best ways to catch bass is to locate a large group of feeding fish with electronics and put them in the boat. This time of year is my favorite time to do it. Bass group up, stage on certain things in a little bit deeper water near spawning areas and feed heavily. This scenario presents some very fun fishing days! The first thing you need is a fish finding unit with side-scan capabilities and a little bit of patience. Finding the perfect spot sometimes isn’t easy, but when you do find it, it can be extremely rewarding. SAFE FOR THE The first step is to identify a general area in a lake where bass ENVIRONMENT will eventually go to spawn. After that, you want to look for a transition area with structure that bass will stage on and feed before Our Polyurethane they move up to spawn. For most Fills voids of the country, a transition area can Seals cracks Strengthens soilsbe anything from deeper water with structure, points, or even deep banks leading near the spawning grounds. Here in Florida, we look for submerged grass clumps or edges, brushpiles, and even shell bars in a bit deeper water near spawning areas. This habitat Free Estimates Competitive Pricing provides bass with anofambush Free 2nd Opinions Serving All Floridapoint to feed heavily and an easy route to spawning grounds when they are ready. Side scan is very helpful in for finding these things, as you can see the bottom 150 feet or more on each side of your boat at idle speeds. This allows you to cover a ton of water and eliminate a lot of the guesswork. With some trial and error, you can actually see fish with this technology as well! I know this technology is expensive and takes some time to learn and understand. However, if you can get your hands on it and learn how to us it, your understanding of where these fish move, live, and feed will grow exponentially. The best way to learn is to get out on the water and find that special area for yourself. Content and video on the Internet helps if you get stuck in a technological bind or aren’t quite sure what you are seeing on your screen. You can always reach out to me on social media with questions. I’d love to help in any way I can.
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By Richard Matteson
Cool Water, Hot Surf Fishing
F
ebruary is one of the coolest months for surf fishing, and it’s one of the best for cool-water fish. Mackerel, jack, bluefish and ladyfish are coolwater fish that are very active this month. February is also one of the best months for table fare like large pompano, whiting and croaker. The schooling predator fish mentioned above are active chasing bait in the morning around daybreak and in the evening. They are shallow in the morning around the first breakers and running the trough, a deep cut along the shoreline under the closest breakers. Any shiny, fast-moving lure will produce strikes. I prefer small crocodile-style spoons (1-ounce) in the morning, a shallow-running crankbait, if there are no weeds, or small jigs (4-inch pearl white with a 3/8-ounce chartreuse jig head). Schooling mackerel and bluefish will cut your line, so use a heavy 40-pound mono or fluoro leader tied onto braid. Whether it’s early morning or not, you need to find bait to be successful. Look for birds feeding. On any beach, there will usually be some schools of bait. They might be 100 yards away or a half a mile. Walk the beach and look for dark spots in the water and small splashes on top. Although birds will be feeding on large schools of bait, they may not see smaller schools. Make long search casts past the bait and use a fast, steady retrieve to pull the lure through the bait. The action can be fast and furious as long as you are around bait and feeding fish. All the cool-water predator fish will take live bait and cut bait. Greenies and live shrimp work as well as cut ladyfish and frozen shrimp. If it gets cold, try beach fishing with waders. Numbers of pompano have been reported along many of the beach accesses in the Treasure Coast area, including Bathtub Beach and Middle Cove up to the Ft. Pierce Inlet. February is one of the best months for large 3- to 5-pound pompano. Pompano beach fishing is an art in itself and requires longer fishing rods as well as triple rigs baited with sand fleas or FishBites (red or pink). One of the easiest ways to catch pompano is to fish the lagoon bridges (Jensen Beach Causeway/Stuart Bridge if you are in Martin county) with pompano jigs (pink) on moving tides. The whiting bite has been very good this winter with small pieces of frozen shrimp. Cast just past the shoreline breakers. When fishing live or cut bait on the beach, make sure you reel in pompano or whiting fast or your fish might be shark bait. The best table-fare beaches have deeper water. The best times are when high tide is moving in or out. The weeds have been much better on the beach and the water is clear. Richard Matteson is a long-time contributor to Coastal Angler Magazine who reports from the Stuart Rod and Reel Club. Contact him at (336) 414-3440.
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CATCH SMALLMOUTHS IN THE MOUNTAINS OF NORTH CAROLINA
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By Capt. James McManus
ere in the western North Carolina mountains, we get a lot of visitors. Snowbirds are what we call people who come here from up north to enjoy our milder climate. One snowbird most fishermen cherish is the smallmouth bass. We are at the southern end of their natural range, and almost all of our watersheds contain some. Smallies have characteristics that endear them to anglers. They are aggressive, eat year-round, grow to respectable size and when hooked spend as much time out of the water as in.
You can find these beauties in most of our sizeable rivers. River fish seem to be more active in summer. I think it’s linked to terrestrial food items being more available. Floating area rivers like the Tuckasegee, Little Tennessee, Hiwassee and French Broad will keep you in fish regardless of your preferred method. For fly guys, any minnow or crawdad imitation will draw strikes, and in warmer weather nymphs and hoppers get their attention. Poppers and sliders can be lots of fun, just remember river smallies tend to be smaller than their lake buds. I spend more time chasing lake fish. There is less competition from other anglers, and average size is much better. Winter and early spring are the best seasons, in my opinion, only because the females are chock-full of eggs. It is when we catch our largest fish of the year. Many methods produce, and I throw a lot of jigs and jerkbaits. Lake fish have a variety of forage, so anything resembling threadfin shad, blueback herring or crawdads fits their menu. Dropshot, Shaky head and wacky-rigged worms all catch fish. Average depth for smallies year-round is 45 feet, or so. However, our clear mountain lakes allow them to identify prey up on the surface. Don’t shy from throwing topwater just because you mark fish deep. Especially when they are feeding up pre- and postspawn, you’ll find smallmouths on rock or gravel, where they love to eat little lobsters. They also suspend in open water to chase shad, but this is more of a warm-water behavior. On Lake Fontana, my home lake, we troll a good bit, and it’s not unusual to find them suspended at 45 feet over 200 feet of water. I should note that while we still have good smallmouth fishing, invasive spotted bass have forced their way into smallie enclaves. For this reason, we never kill a smallmouth. If you like to eat fish, take all the spotted bass you want; they are better eating anyway. Smallies and spots use the same spawning areas and hybridize. While not good genetically, it produces a fish that has that hybrid vigor, hence the name “meanmouth.” Markings and coloration make the smallmouth one of the prettiest of all fish. We should try hard to preserve them so our kids have the thrill of fighting one of the gamest fish around. Captain James McManus owns 153 charters out of Sylva, N.C. Call him at (828) 421-8125. James fishing McManus/Instagram.
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C-HAWK & MITZI SKIFF: DEPENDABLE SIMPLICITY
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here’s a certain type of boater who values simplicity and functionality over flashiness. Most anglers fall into this category. A simple boat comes with less hassle, allowing you to spend more time on the water. Two brands that fit right into this niche for dependability and easy boating are C-Hawk and Mitzi Skiff. Across the product lines for both boats, a no-nonsense reputation has developed a considerable following among people who would rather fish than look at their boats. No trailer queens here! “We build a keep-it-simple-stupid boat. If you want something you can soft scrub at the end of the day and put it away, you’re my guy,” said Brad Grubbs, the owner and manufacturer of C-Hawk and Mitzi Skiff. “We set out to make boats that are affordable to operate and affordable to own, and the philosophy has worked.” C-Hawk, which has been around since the mid-1970s, offers lines of 16’ to 29’ center consoles and 22’ to 29’ sport cabins that were originallyw developed for commercial applications. C-Hawks remain widely used commercially, and many recreational boaters also see the value in a vessel
H that’s built to take a beating. “Really, we just took a commercial-duty boat and put a little lipstick on it,” Grubbs said. “The boat is as tough as it ever was. It’s been the same boat for nearly 50 years.” Mitzi Skiffs were designed for a specific purpose, yet the same philosophy applies. When the first Mitzi was designed in the mid-1990s, the concept was simple. There was nothing on the market with the shallow draft, clean layout and quiet maneuverability needed for fly fishing the flats. Those ideas propel the company today. Almost 30 years later, Mitzi’s line of 15’, 16’ and 17’ skiffs achieve those purposes exceptionally well, and they are inexpensive to own and operate. With the original design and continuing innovation, Mitzi Skiffs are flats boats other boat builders imitate. C-Hawk and Mitzi Skiff boats are available exclusively through select dealers. Contact your local dealer to find out how they can be rigged out to fit your style of fishing.
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ave yourself the parking headaches—oneshot your boat or trailer into position every time with one of Parkit360’s Electric Trailer Dollies. Parkit360 units are powerful and easy to use. Even large trailered boats, campers and cargo trailers are infinitely more maneuverable, especially in tight spaces, with a Parkit360 Trailer Dolly. The Force and Transformer models are compatible with almost every trailer right out of the box thanks to their ball-mounted Stablelock technology. Just freewheel the dolly to the trailer, connect to the hitch and steer your trailer into place. With weight capacities ranging from 5,000 to 15,000 pounds, these portable powerhouses can handle the most difficult parking challenges with ease. Parkit360 makes compact dollies that make parking easy, even on difficult surfaces. With planetary gearing, all Force and Transformer models include 6.5” tires, standard, which provide excellent traction on a wide range of surfaces like firm grass, packed gravel, asphalt and up to a 6 percent incline. Unlike a driver who relies on mirrors and backup cameras, the user faces the trailer, giving them complete visibility and control while parking. See exactly where the trailer is at all times and steer within inches of any obstacle if needed. You can park in ways that are impossible with a truck and have the flexibility to move around the trailer at any time to check its position or for obstacles that might damage your precious cargo. The dolly’s compact design also allows the user to park hitch-end forward as a serious theft deterrent, something that is pretty much impossible to do with a vehicle. All models include Intelligent Speed Control, a great feature for those looking to move through open areas quickly, and more precisely in tight spaces. The high and low speed
B option starts and stops the motor gradually to prevent potential damage from sudden movements, something that makes these trailer dollies stand out above the competition. Switch speeds any time during parking and get things done faster than ever before! Have a unique trailer hitch on your boat trailer? Easily move any ball mounted, fifth wheel or gooseneck trailer up to 15,000 pounds with our standard adapters, or try the Telescopic Hitch Adapter. It’s a non-invasive, alternative connection point that bolts around your existing trailer frame. Want a Dolly that’s ready to park, right
out of the box? Most models include a 12V U1 Interstate Battery with all required cables and hardware. With existing features like the Built-in Battery Charger, Electric/Surge Brake Controller and a full 2 Year Warranty, Parkit360 has truly made parking simple for every trailer. Parkit360 has been in business for more than 10 years and has shipped more than 15,000 trailer dollies to customers all over the world. Move your trailer with ease, and get in and out of storage faster than ever!
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For more information, visit Parkit360.ca
C.
“Peo years
• 20"
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44 million year old honey gold Baltic amber gives you a glimpse into the fascinating world of prehistoric times
Get the complete set for only $249 plus Free Shipping with call-in only!*
Prehistoric Perfection B
44 million year old Baltic amber priced at just $99
oth in love and in gemstones, it can take a long time to achieve perfection. Just as your relationship has matured and strengthened over the years, so has Baltic amber. This natural gemstone is a scientific phenomenon that contains fossilized plant and animal life that date back over 40 million years. In fact, most of the life-forms found in Baltic amber are now extinct. Thankfully, the fine art of a great deal B. is alive and well at Stauer. The amber pieces you see here feature ample carats of amber from the icy Baltic region, famous for containing the world’s finest amber deposits. And, adding to the prehistoric mystique is the fact that no two stones are identical–– each piece captured something different as it formed, just as every love story is unique. C. Now, there are necklaces with generous gems of amber going for nearly $15,000. We think that’s barbaric. Which is why we made certain you can bring home 160 total carats of the world’s oldest natural gem for only $99. “People have been making amber jewelry for over 10,000 years, which could make it the first gem material ever used.” — The International Gem Society (IGS)
PRAISE FOR STAUER Satisfaction guaranteed or AMBER JEWELRY your money back. Revel in the unique beauty of Cherry Amber “When it arrived I was for 30 days If it fails to delight, blown away by it’s beauty and uniqueness.” send it back for a full refund of – J. R., Port Angeles, WA the item price. Limited Reserves. Baltic amber at these prices won’t stick around. Call today before this great deal becomes extinct.
Cherry Amber Collection A. Necklace (160 ctw) ..................... $499† $99 + S&P Save $400 B. Ring (8 ctw) ................................. $399† $129 + S&P Save $270 C. Earrings (15 ctw) ......................... $399† $149 + S&P Save $250 Necklace, Ring & Earrings Set $1297 $299 + S&P Save $998 *Call and ask how to get the set for only $249 with free shipping
You must use the insider offer code to get our special price.
1-800-333-2045
Your Insider Offer Code: CAC193-02 † Special price only for customers using the offer code versus the price on Stauer.com without your offer code.
Stauer
®
14101 Southcross Drive W., Ste 155, Dept. CAC193-02, Burnsville, Minnesota 55337 www.stauer.com
Rating of A+
• 20" Necklace • 160 carats total weight tumbled Baltic amber • Ring set in yellow gold-finished .925 sterling silver • Ring: whole sizes 5-10
Stauer… Afford the Extraordinary.®
AndAlusiA MArine & powersports inc.
Headquarters For All your Boating needs Xpress •
1707 River Falls Street, Andalusia, AL 36421
Alweld •
(334) 427-1428
stingrAy • VerAndA • Quest
All kinds of parts and accessories in stock and ready for delivery! Innertubes • Ski’s • Wakeboards Ropes • Life jackets Solas and Michigan Wheel Props
certified full line YAmAhA deAler!
GreAt service!
• Humminbird • Garmin • Lowrance • Minnkota - authorized sales and service center • Rhodan • Certified Full Line Yamaha Dealer
www.andalusiamarine.com www.facebook.com/andalusiamarine
WHEN FISHING SHALLOWS, YOU NEED A REEL WITH A REPUTATION THAT RUNS DEEP.
Packed with more fish stopping features than ever before, the PENN ® Slammer ® IV takes a tradition of excellence to a whole new level. An 8+1 sealed stainless steel bearing system with Hydrophobic Line Roller Bearing makes the reel as smooth as it is tough. The Slammer IV drag system was upgraded to provide wider range. And the reel body and spool are now even more perfectly sealed. Just like the fate of the fish. PENN. LET THE BATTLE BEGIN.
© 2021
Pure Fishing, Inc.
PENN ® Slammer ® IV
FOR REEL
GOOD FISHING Visit Upcountry South Carolina Stop by the South Carolina Lakes booth at the Bassmaster Classic Expo, March 4-6, 2022 at the Greenville Convention Center.
Perfectly Seasoned FishUpcountrySC.com
864-233-2690
Lake Hartwell, host of the 2008, 2015, 2018, and 2022 Academy Sports & Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk