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SIGHT FISHING

TRIPLETAIL

CAPE COD BLITZES

RECORD BREAKING SWORDFISH VOLUME 26 • ISSUE 312

PHOTO CREDIT: TOMMY LADO COURTESY OF CHEYANNE SINGLETARY

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ripletail are some of the most exciting gamefish that visit inshore waters. Their peculiar tendency to hang near the surface around floating debris makes them perfect for sight fishing, and on top of that they are absolutely delicious. Capt. Jeremy Davidson is an angler devoted to these oddball fish. His charter service, Southern Salinity, is based out of St. George Island, where he specializes in inshore tripletail on Florida’s Forgotten Coast. “They start to migrate to shallower water when that water temperature starts rising,” he said “It’s wind and water temperature dependent, but everything starts to move in March or April—the bait, the pelagics, everything.” Throughout the Gulf of Mexico and up the Atlantic Coast, tripletail move shallower in waves. Davidson said the timing is different by location, but the patterns are similar. First, scads of smaller

fish move in from offshore through the passes to find homes on floating debris. The early spring bite is characterized by plentiful opportunities at smaller fish. By May or June, larger 8- to 12-pounders settle in on trap buoys, floating vegetation and tide lines. Big fish in the 20-pound range arrive in deep summer. They’re there to feed and procreate, said Davidson, which means they are primed to pick up a bait. However, catching tripletail consistently is more difficult than it might appear. THE SETUP: To spot tripletail, you must train your eyes to look beneath the surface. Fish will stay with a piece of floating cover as long as it harbors the small crabs, shrimp and glass minnows tripletail feed on. Cover could be anything, and Davidson recommends checking out everything floating on the surface. You might spot the fish itself, but the first indication is usually the sub-surface flash of a turning fish. When Davidson spots fish, he leaves the boat in gear and noses into the current to point the bow at the fish within casting range. THE CAST: “Do not hit that fish,” Davidson warned. “Pick a spot out past it. I don’t care if it’s the treeline. Just make sure to pitch past that fish.” Casting past the fish with an underhand pitch allows the angler to retrieve the bait slowly through the strike zone. If the tripletail doesn’t take the bait on the initial retrieve, it’s time to flip the bail and allow the tide to carry the bait back past the fish. “It’s a slow dance,” Davidson said. “Retrieve it slow and easy.”

THE TAKE: Don’t set the hook! Tripletail feed delicately. They ease up and pluck their prey from near the surface. Then, to avoid spooking their next meal, they move away before engulfing it. “Let that fish roll down or go the other way,” Davidson said. “Give it 5 or 10 seconds, then lift up and he’s on. Then he turns into a wild man!” THE FIGHT: The harder you pull on a tripletail, the harder and wilder it fights back. This is important because, along with brute strength, these prehistoric fish have a sharp, line-slicing gill plate. Davidson reiterated his slow dance metaphor, saying you can sometimes lead a fish right to the boat by taking it slow and easy. “Square up with him. Keep your rod tip up, and let him run if he wants to dig,” said Davidson “Walk him around the boat. Stay square with him, and pump him in slow and easy.” THE RIG: Tripletail eat shrimp, pogies and artificials, but Davidson prefers to make a fresh-shrimp lure. He pops the heads off large restaurant-quality shrimp and pinches the flappers off their tails. Then he runs a 2/0 or 3/0 3X Strong VMC circle hook up the tail and out the second notch before turning the point back into the bait. This hides the hook and allows the shrimp to swim like a lure. To make pitching the rig easier, he ties an elongated float, like Boat Monkey’s Cigar Slip Float, between braided 30-lb. main line and a 2- to 3-foot leader of 30-lb. fluorocarbon. More advanced anglers might go bobberless for better control while working the bait. To do this, tie the braid directly to the leader with a double uni knot. Capt. Jeremy Davidson owns Southern Salinity, which runs charters on Florida’s Forgotten Coast. See their website at www.southernsalinity.com.

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ver the last few months, I’ve shared some techniques in these pages that people seem to be trying with some success. When you think about it, incorporating squid into your offshore spreads really is a nobrainer when you can find and purchase good whole squid. One of the best ways to rig those squid, and ballyhoo for that matter, is with a Chin Weight coupled with a “stiff-rig” stinger hook assembly. Recently, I’ve received quite a few calls and e-mails from folks all over the country asking for a simpler way to achieve the end result of a stiff-rig stinger hook. I had to go to the barn, have a few cocktails and dig deep, but here it is: The simple way to keep a stinger hook in a rigid “stiff ” position without snelling it or making a cat’s paw connection. If the terminology is throwing you off at this point, stay tuned, this actually is a very simple solution that anyone can achieve with a limited amount of materials and know how. The key to this rig is inexpensive heatshrink tubing over a standard crimped-wire connection. Granted, you might only get a bite or two out of this rig before teeth shred the heatshrink tubing and it’s no longer rigid. However, it’s so easy to make this rig that you can churn

Step two: Make a second crimp at 90 degrees to the first crimp. This is a (small) diameter in the cable to fit over a 7/0 or 11/0 Tim Barefoot Chin Weight (as shown in photo). Step Three: Slide a ¾-inch length section out dozens in different lengths of heat-shrink tubing over the crimped for different sized baits and keep them at the ready. Cut your cable to the connection of the hook and heat with a lighter correct length and make a few crimps… that’s in the vertical position. That’s it! all there is to it. Step One: Make a standard crimped connection using the High Seas 1.0 crimp and the American Fishing Wire 175# (7x7) or 49 strand cable.

Now, if you’re a visual learner like I am, go watch the video I made on the process. See it once, and it will be like a light bulb going off in your head. It really is that easy. For more information and to watch the video, go to barefootcatsandtackle.com. Click on “Heat Shrink Tubing Stiff Rig Stinger Hook.”

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INSHORE STRATEGIES FOR THE

PHOTO COURTESY OF KNOCKIN TAIL LURES.

Most fish are still in transition between the deep mud and the shallow sand or grass flats, which keeps them spread out through the bays. Add high winds, cool fronts and the small size of the forage, and you have a tougher puzzle to put together than the other three seasons. Here are a few tips to help you sort though this maze and hopefully land a few more fish this spring. First and foremost, baitfish are extremely small this time of year, and it is not uncommon to find dozens of small glass minnows in the bellies of trout and redfish in the spring. This makes my first tip obvious, so I won’t waste a lot of space here, but downsize your lure presentation if you can. Obviously, this can impact one’s casting abilities, so rigging small lures in tandem can be By Capt. Michael Okruhlik a plus and assist in casting distance. Something else I like to use in the spring is a clear or transparent lure with some glitter, or maybe one with a light translucent color. I choose these because it’s more difficult for the fish to see the lure’s actual size, which gives the appearance that it’s smaller than it actually is. I’ve found this to be a productive alternative to downsizing. While choosing a typical-size trout and redfish lure for this application, I look for one with subtle movements. I like either a darting-style bait or a paddle lure with a very subtle vibration. Strong, big-vibrating tails have their time, but early spring is not one of them. One thing I notice about schools of small baitfish is their movement. When displaced, they seldom dart deeper, and most of their movement is side-to-side or upward. Due to this characteristic, I also like a lightweight lure with a slow sink rate. I feel this better imitates spring forage movements and increases strikes. I like a lure that twitches side to side that doesn’t sink very fast on the pause. In early spring while the fish are in transition, they will start to congregate on sandy shores with grass. This will be the main cover for the small fry. While employing these techniques and lure choices, concentrate efforts on broken grass flats with potholes and distinct edges. These areas are best when they are close to deeper water. I hope you find these tactics helpful and as the weather warms and you pring is around the corner, and a lot of fishermen who hang up their gear enjoy the outdoors, don’t forget to take a kid fishing! for winter can’t wait for the temps to rise. Although the enthusiasm is high to wet a line, spring can be the most difficult season to successfully Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled pattern and to consistently catch inshore fish. Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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MARCH 2021

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ith a five-release first day, Michael Jordan’s boat, Catch 23, held on to win the 58th annual Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Tournament Jan. 20-23. This year’s event featured a fleet of 38 boats and a total of 63 sailfish caught. It was a big win for Catch 23. The big, beautiful boat has been making national headlines in tournament circuits the last few years, primarily because of the star power Jordan brings to the deck. But now Catch 23 has a big win to hang its hat on. The Buccaneer Cup is one of the nation’s oldest and most prestigious sailfish release tournaments. It was held this year out of Palm Beach and Jupiter, Florida during the traditional heart of the area’s sailfish season. The name Catch 23 pays homage to the jersey number Jordan wore through six NBA championships with Chicago Bulls. The custom 80-foot Viking is wrapped with the elephant print that first adorned Air Jordan 3 sneakers and now also appears on Jordan’s jet. Since 2019, Catch 23 has competed in several high-stakes marlin tournaments in mid-Atlantic. It also saw duty in the last two Stuart Sailfish Club Light Tackle Sailfish tournaments, and placed third in 2019. At this year’s Buccaneer Cup, Capt. Stetson Turney led Catch 23 to five releases on the first day of fishing, Thursday Jan. 21. The action came in spurts. Catch 23 called in its first two releases at 9:11 and 9:31 a.m. Jordan was on the reel for the first one, and angler Jimmy David cranked in the second. The team hung two more release flags just before 2 p.m., when Danny Young fought a sailfish to the boat at 1:47 p.m. and David got his second at 1:53. At 3:28 p.m., Jordan reeled in the fifth release of the day to earn the boat 1,000 points and a solid Day One lead. The tournament awards 200 points for each sailfish release using live bait and 300 points for each release caught on dead bait. Catch 23 did not call in another release until just before noon on the final day of fishing Saturday, Jan. 23. This allowed the eventual secondplace boat, De-Bait-Able, to climb into contention. De-Bait-Able, a 60-foot Viking, captained by KJ Zeher, called in two releases on the morning of Friday’s Day Two. Both fish were handled by angler Cameron Walsh. Saturday saw De-Bait-Able make a big push with four releases between 8:27 a.m. and lines out. Anglers Jay Lanigan, Mike Lanigan, Laura Rassel and Tom Walsh battled in their catches to give De-Bait-Able 1,200 points at the end of Day Three. They were one fish shy of catching Catch 23, which called in releases for anglers Annibal Moya and Danny Young on the final day of fishing. For more information on the Buccaneer Cup, go to www.buccaneercup.com.

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om Brady made a big purchase when he moved to Tampa for the 2020 NFL season. No, not just a new house, but a $2 million yacht. His custom Wajer 55 is a perfect choice for Tampa Bay area waters. He named her ‘Viva A Vida’ after Gisele Bündchen’s charity. With a top speed of 38 knots and a range of 450 nautical miles, it can get far offshore in the Gulf of Mexico quickly. But he didn’t need all that horsepower to show his boat off during the Super Bowl Boat Parade on Feb. 10. Following a 31-9 beat-down of the Kansas City Chiefs, Brady, the rest of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and quite a few fans took to the water to celebrate. Brady’s yacht is comfortable and spacious with seating for plenty of guests, whether it’s the sun pads on the bow and aft or the U-shaped couch behind the cockpit. Underneath are two beds for guests, a fully equipped kitchen with a dishwasher, a full bathroom with a shower, and a master suite. One of the coolest features Tom Brady’s boat has in store is its extendable swim platform that can be raised to also act as a gangway.

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lorida is home to one of the most incredibly diverse fisheries on the planet, and every change in season brings entirely new fishing opportunities to our doorstep. With long summers and short winters, temperature changes in autumn and spring bring the most dramatic shifts to our fisheries. Changes are unpredictable this time of year, and the month of March can be absolutely incredible or a total bust. It only takes a few degrees of water temperature rise to bring on full-on spring fishing. This is a wonderful time of year to be an avid fisherman. The delicate and seemingly minuscule weather changes are extremely impactful to the mysterious behavior of fish. We are on the precipice of the next fishing season, but it is based on many factors, none of which are your calendar. Florida is an annoyingly perfect place to be a boater and angler. It may seem like there are always too many boats out there competing for the bite, but, unlike places like Louisiana, where the fishing spots are marked by giant oil rigs, every venture is an opportunity to find a new honey-hole. One of the super-secret offshore coordinates found by the company I work for has been reliably fascinating throughout the year, or even throughout a week. This fishing spot is a unique little ecosystem. The bottom finder is usually marked up like a child’s crayon drawing, yet the species landed can vary greatly from day to day, or season to season. I was fishing this location recently and we caught 53 lane snapper in a few hours. We returned a few days later, and the bottom finder looked the same. We expected to catch lane snapper again, yet it was all mangroves. Then, all of a sudden the screen showed no fish. It was completely blank. This was just as interesting as any other change that had happened there. The fish would reappear on the screen, and disappear, and the bites and lack thereof, followed instantly. All of this happened back and forth within two to five minute intervals. Everyone on board began watching the screen to know when to expect a bite, and then we saw what we had all surmised. Big marks appeared on the screen zipping along solo. There were predatory fish down there. Luckily, we were able to land these predators visiting our honey-hole, and confirm that they were not just sharks. They were giant bull redfish, one of which came up double hooked. Likely not residents of this area, they had stopped by for a snack on their springtime journey through our area. This time of year is unpredictable, and I would never dare claim to understand all the mysterious behaviors of fish, so I will refrain from giving a fishing report. I will, however, say it is a great time of year to be surprised. Capt. Quinlyn Haddon fishes with Reel Lucky Fishing Charters out of St Petersburg, Fla. Give them a call at (504) 929-6342 and check out Capt. Haddon’s social media @CaptainQuinlyn.

8 FLORIDA

MARCH 2021

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SWORDFISH

The Pompano Beach fishing scene was buzzing in mid-January. Fish were really chewing out on the swordfish grounds, and it seemed everyone with a boat was running 15 miles out to the trench to get in on the action. That buzz rose to near hysteria the evening of Jan. 20, when four anglers between the ages of 17 and 21 returned to the docks at Lighthouse Point Marina. In their boat was an enormous 767.8-pound swordfish. It was a new state record. Here’s the story as told by 21-year-old Timmy Maddock, the new record holder:

had just returned from fishing in Costa Rica when I heard the swords were biting. I asked my buddy Hunter Irvine to go swordfishing, and he was ready! That evening, I swung by Big Dog Tackle in Pompano Beach where my girlfriend, Jaime Johanson, is the store manager. I bought fresh baits to rig for the next day’s trip. Hunter and I were up at 5:30 a.m. to load his 31-foot center console. Jaime and our other buddy Jeremy Rafferty met us there. At the sword grounds, we got a good bite on our first drop but were confused when the fish didn’t come back. After making three more drops, we heard on the radio there were bites to the south. We picked up and ran a couple miles south to find five boats stacked up in the area. Out of courtesy, we moved south of the other boats and dropped. The rod went slack the second the lead hit bottom. The four of us kind of looked around at each other, wondering if we had gotten cut off. I engaged the electric reel and started bringing in line to check. After a couple minutes, there was weight on the rod tip. “We got one on!” I yelled. The line was slack because the fish had shot straight to the surface. With the rod loaded and the darts ready for battle, the fish came straight up and jumped out of the water! We were all excited, thinking we might have a 400- or 500-pounder on the line. The lead was off within the first 15 minutes, and that fish raced all over the surface for 30 or 45 minutes before going back to the bottom. While she was up, we couldn’t get a dart in her because she was hauling ass all over the place. After two hours of hard fighting on the bottom, there was a nervous silence. We had begun to speculate how big she really was. She came halfway up and back down four or five times. The last time she dove, she was at 2000 revolutions off the LP electric reel. That’s when we think she died. We tightened the drag to gain line. Every time the boat rocked on a wave, we gained a foot. After an hour and a half of rocking, we finally got the wind-on leader back on the reel. Her head popped out of the water and we all freaked out, knowing she was dead and the fight was over. Jaime grabbed the gaff, holding her phone in the other hand to record this epic moment. Jeremy backed the boat to the fish on the surface, and Hunter put a dart in her to close the deal after more than five hours. When we got her tied off, happiness and adrenalin filled us all as we jumped around and celebrated. We spent 20 minutes trying to get the fish in the boat before radioing for help. Rob Doda was out swordfishing by himself, and he left his spot to come to our aid. He left his boat floating and jumped aboard to explain what needed to be done. After 30 minutes of all five of us pulling, we got her through the tuna door. The boat was taking on a lot of water from the weight on the back corner. We dropped Rob off at his boat and drove as fast as we could to the dock. 12 FLORIDA 1 LOCATION

MARCH 2021 JUNE 2020

• Word got out quickly as soon as we reached communication range. The folks at Big Dog Tackle led the search to find an IGFA certified scale. Shaughn Miller of Offshore Anglers of Pompano Beach agreed to meet us with a scale at the Lighthouse Point Marina fuel docks. There was a small crowd on hand. The girth of the fish’s tail was bigger than most men’s waist. As she was hoisted from the boat, the scale climbed 400… 500… 600! Everyone was cheering. When she was finally vertical, the scale stopped at 767.8 pounds. It was insane, to say the least. The fish yielded more than 400 pounds of meat that was given away to family, friends and Filet for Friends charity. Some of it was eaten during a celebration barbecue for the community, where many got a taste of the official Florida state record swordfish.

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Team Canestrari Takes First in BFA February Tournament

n Feb. 6, 37 boats checked in for the Backcountry Fishing Association’s second tournament of 2021. A total of 14 trout and 7 redfish were brought to the scale. The weather forecast had called for rain, but the majority of the anglers stayed dry all day. The wind picked up late in the day, and those who fished reported a tough day of fishing. Brothers Joe and Matt Canestrari took first place with a 2.87-pound trout and a 6.40-pound redfish, earning $749. They also paid an optional $10 for the redfish Calcutta and earned an additional $260.

The Backcountry Fishing Association tournament is a ninemonth circuit which runs from January thru September, with a twoday Classic held in October. The artificial lure only tournament gives two-person teams and solo anglers the opportunity to win cash and gain points.

Backcountry Fishing Association

Joe and Matt Canestrari, first place team and winners of the redfish Calcutta.

Fort Pierce, FL

PHOTOS CREDIT: Backcountry Fishing Association.

The next tournament is Saturday, March 6, with a captain’s meeting on Friday, March 5, at Little Jim Bait and Tackle, 601 North Causeway, Fort Pierce, FL.

For more information, call (863) 634-8527, email backcountryfishingassociation@ gmail.com or visit Backcountry Fishing Association on Facebook.

4330 Northwest Federal Highway | Jensen Beach geico.com/treasurecoast | 772-905-3311 LEFT: Eric Newman and Rich Engelmann, second place team. ABOVE: Cherlyn Arnold, the Backcountry Fishing Association’s February Lady Angler.

Eric Newman and Rich Engelmann took second place with a 6.03-pound redfish and earned a total prize of $449. Brandon Hooper and Patrick Herd placed third with a 5.96-pound redfish, taking home a prize of $300. Husband and wife, Mike and Shelly Bartus took fourth place with a 5.49-pound trout and earned points. They also paid an optional $10 for the trout Calcutta, which netted them $250. New members Brad Redington and Marco Oderda earned some points after taking fifth place with a 5.03-pound redfish. Lady Angler of the month went to Cherlyn Arnold with a 1.17-pound trout, and she won a pair of Danco pliers.

Redfish, trout and snook (seasonal) are the qualified species. Anglers attempt to bring one legal fish of each species to the scales for weigh in and live release. Teams must participate in at least five tournaments to be eligible to fish the Classic which is a two-day event. The top five eligible teams with the highest accumulated points from the season are given a bye from day one. The remaining eligible teams compete on an elimination basis the first day, where only the top five teams of day one progress to day two to compete against the season point leaders for the grand prize and cash for the top four teams. Membership fees are $25 for the year. To enter the tournament each month, the fee is $60 per team.

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MARCH 2021

TREASURE COAST 1

MARCH UPDATE By Michael Conner, Executive Director

Public Fishing Access Gets Second Chance

Indian Riverkeeper (IRK) was contacted on Jan. 3 by Jensen Beach anglers who went to their favorite public bridge to find spanking new no-fishing signs from one end of the iconic Jensen Beach Causeway to the other. The west and east relief bridges were now off limits, and no one saw it coming. No public notice, no public meetings. Martin County commissioners claimed no knowledge of the closure. IRK placed a call to county commissioners, and then the Florida Department of Transportation (DOT) when it was determined the agency erected the signs. DOT claimed the closure was necessary due to public complaints about litter, and blockage of pedestrian traffic. IRK Executive Director Mike Conner discovered that DOT is

willing to reverse the closure if Martin County would enter an agreement with citizens to police the bridge and educate the anglers responsible for the littering. IRK suggested the County place suitable trash cans at the bridge (for the first time), enlist law enforcement to discourage littering, and post proper signage. IRK made public comment at two meetings in January, and at a third meeting in early February was accompanied by five local, notable anglers who spoke strongly in favor of opening the bridge back up and changing the habits of the minority who cause the problem.

LEFT: These Florida DOT signs greeted Jensen Beach anglers in early January. Indian Riverkeeper hopes for a re-opening of the posted Jensen Beach Causeway by March. ABOVE: Now this is a groundbreaking! Construction on the Everglades Agricultural Area reservoir is underway and is expected to be operational by 2028. PHOTOS CREDIT: Mike Conner.

“Why lay a new law denying public access over a current law, no littering, that is never enforced,” IRK asked the commission. The commission voted unanimously to order county staff to engage the DOT, County law enforcement, and citizens to get the bridge open and give everyone a chance to improve the situation. It was a victory for public fishing, but now the commitment must stick, or the DOT could

close the Jensen Causeway bridges permanently. There is a lesson in this for all Florida anglers. Clean up your act or stand the chance to lose fishing access to your favorite bridge, catwalk or public beach.

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front, Florida Senate anglers looking over their President Wilton Simpson shoulder at the big lake. is still publicly claiming Due to heavy rains this that water storage north of past fall, the Lake is at 15.4 Lake O and ASR (aquifer feet, and that is about 2 storage and Recovery) feet higher than where is wells are in his opinion was last year at this time. a better option than Fears are that by June 1, the completing the vital EAA beginning of wet season, reservoir south of Lake the Lake will be at 13.5 or Okeechobee that is signed even higher, and once the into law under Senate Bill rainy season stays, major 10. We fear that budget Lake discharges will occur, funds promised to the EAA and once again billions project will be denied, of gallons of filth fresh and we will be joining water will decimate the other water advocacy estuary, and cause toxic Locator map for the EAA reservoir project. groups into pressuring Cyanobacteria blooms the Senate President anew. IRK has been on PROVIDED by Mike Conner. during spring session and numerous update calls with the Army Corps, and our consideration. For updates on beyond. We are asking anglers to message is clear—send as much LOSOM visit www.saj.usace.army. contact Senator Simpson by phone (352) 688-5077 or email at Simpson. Lake water south to the Everglades mil. wilton@flsenate.gov and ask him to Stormwater Treatment areas as support the EAA reservoir that is possible in March, April and May. Everglades Project Updates We feel that periodic, lower volume On the good-news front, the part of the original Comprehensive discharges now are not as damaging St. Lucie River’s C-44 Indian River Everglades Restoration Plan. It is as massive discharges later. South water reservoir is on schedule under construction and will be the And we are in favor of the Army for completion in 2021. That first completed water cleaning/ Corps’ new operational schedule, project will temporarily excess Lake conveyance project that will divert as called LOSOM (Lake Okeechobee Okeechobee and local basin runoff, much as two-thirds of the damaging System Operating Manual) over the and remove damaging phosphorus Lake O discharges from the St. Lucie past “Lake level” program known as and nitrogen before it reaches the River. It will clean and send that LORS (Lake Okeechobee Regulation upper St. Lucie by way of the S80 water south to Florida Bay where it is needed. For updates, check the Schedule) that failed to take estuary lock and dam. damages, and human health, into On the “not-so-good” news Indian Riverkeeper Facebook page.

TREASURE COAST

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MARCH 2021

TREASURE COAST 3

FISHING FORECASTS

Luke Fusco @FlooringKing with three sword bites and this gorgeous pomfret he caught while fishing aboard Off The Chain last month.

MARTIN COUNTY OFFSHORE

Capt. Scott Fawcett Off the Chain Fishing Charters (772) 285-1055 fishscottyf@bellsouth.net offthechainfishing.com

lackfin, mahi, sails, wahoo and pomfret? All are target species off the Treasure Coast in March. While most of our good fishing takes place over the reefs and small seamounts out of the St. Lucie Inlet, this is the time of year to sometimes venture a little further. March kicks off the “East Side” yellowfin tuna season along with our spring mahi run and when they are here it’s nothing short of National Geographic. Expect more sargassum weedlines and bigger fish cruising them. Now is a great time of year to use that downrigger we’ve been pulling our dredges with for what it was made for. Bigger mahi, sails, tuna and of course wahoo and kings will

all be susceptible to a down bait. The Cannon TS10 offers a cycle mode that triggers lazy fish into biting and also has auto deploy and retrieve. One of the coolest features is it can all be done through an app on your phone via Bluetooth. With such a variety of fish around in spring, I definitely recommend a mixed spread. Try to include a dredge and or a chain teaser, a couple or three small ballyhoo (dink baits), a bigger bait (Islander, Bart, Scylla...) and a down bait (rigged with a wire leader). Keep an eye out and fish around

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weed lines, color changes, current edges and bottom structure from 65to-300 for best results. On days when you decide to go way out, I recommend running rather than trolling, there is a lot of dead space between 300 and wherever you want to be on a given day, you’ll see what you’re looking when it’s worth stopping. Obviously look for things like floating, fish busting, tide rips, and birds. March is one of my favorite swordfish months too. There are some really big fish around and also

One and done on tiles for Fred Church with this Blackfin Rod/ Diawa combo. PHOTOS CREDIT: Capt. Scott Fawcett.

a good amount of bycatch, both top and bottom. Not every bite is a sword, there are sharks, tuna, rose fish, squid and the beautiful pomfret. Always have a bait ready for mahi, a sail, tuna or even a marlin you might see cruising. Whatever you, your family and friends decide to target this month, I hope all your fishing is Off The Chain.

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pring officially begins March 20 and brings with it some great opportunities for fishing the Treasure Coast. We should start seeing baitfish along Gilbert’s Shoal, the Sandpile, and Bull Shark Barge. So have your sabiki rods ready and look for birds. The cobia should start showing up under the sharks at those same spots and we attract them with

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arch will be a month for “Snapper Chat” amongst the offshore anglers of Martin County. Lane snapper will still be posted up on near shore reefs and artificial structures in 50 to 60 feet of water and will land in big numbers on fish box ice, again this month. Sturdy mangrove snapper will also be representing in a similar zone and on structures out to 90 feet of water. Mutton snapper will make a solid showing in the March ocean, with medium to larger representatives of the species (10- to 20-pound

on as the river-water warms a menhaden chum while up. Pitching baits under docks chunking bonito. Then, get and along seawalls is always a some live baitfish under the great method. For artificials, sharks with a weighted rig. we use topwater plugs early March is my favorite morning and soft swimbaits month for pompano fishing once the sun is up, such as and there are many different Savage Mullet, Live Target techniques. By boat, we Mullet, and D.O.A. TerrorEyz. jig the Sailfish flats while The water has cleared up a lot drifting in three-to five-foot back in both the North and depths. We also drop anchor South Forks and its loaded 200-to-400 yards inside the with snook and big jacks. St. Lucie Inlet in 8-to-12There’s also occasional trout foot depths to drop sandflea and redfish back there along bait rigs while casting halfthe mangrove shorelines. ounce pompano jigs upFor meat fishing, the current and bouncing the Patrick caught some nice pompano using causeway bridges have been bottom. The east end of the sandfleas at the St. Lucie Inlet with Capt. Giles. producing lots of sheepshead, Stuart Causeway Bridge is PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Giles Murphy. black drum, croakers. We a very popular spot to jig for pompano without a boat. But or Fishbites. We always do best with use double hook drop rigs with live my favorite is surf-casting from the incoming tide at the small beach shrimp. The Spanish mackerel are also still around at Peck Reef for beach with a pompano rig using accesses points. sandflea bait along with FishGum The snook bite has been turning catching dinner with the family.

fish) making their presence known along the naturally occurring reef line in 70 to 80 feet of salty liquid. The anchored boat will encompass the best strategy for getting attached to these salty snapper groceries, as precision positioning will be crucial in cycling for “snapper slams” and will allow anglers to settle in overtop of favorite fishing spots to conduct a surgical strike against their scaly opponents. As the winter days of March slowly and subtlety transition to the spring equinox (March 20), fishing captains and their crews will continue to monitor dynamic weather fronts and the winds that are associated with them. March is typically another windy and rough month in general, especially initially, and historically can taper to more fishing friendly conditions during the latter half of the month. However, since weather forecasting is not an exact science, it`s not uncommon to see late arriving cold

fronts that wipe out the offshore playing field at any time during the month. So, with this in mind, keep a mindful eye on the weather and be prepared for when a user-friendly window does open. Using forecast savvy web pages like Windfinder. com can help with planning for an offshore fishing trip for a particular week. Another excellent virtual, web page is Windstream at earth. school.net, which is a satellite wind map that gives a snapshot of wind velocity and direction, and allows the user to position a cursor, offshore, via a GPS number to determine wind velocity in an area one may be considering to fish on that day. Open weather friendly windows will lead to a colorful bounty of snapper during this offshore calendar month and will also have the potential to host a flurry of cobia activity, as hungry cobes glide through our zone during the fishy days of March.

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Mutton snapper like this sweet fish caught by Cristian Fuentes aboard the Safari 1 will be found along the southern reef line this month. PHOTO CREDIT: Safari 1.

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MARCH 2021

TREASURE COAST 5

FISHING FORECASTS

SOUTH INDIAN RIVER LAGOON

Capt. Charlie Conner Capt. Charlie’s Fish Tales Charters (772) 284-3852 captaincharlie@fishtalescharter.com www.fishtalescharter.com

arch has arrived bringing lots of windy days to the area. Utilize the winds to your advantage to get the best fishing opportunities. Warmer weather will bring water temperatures up into the 80s. Fishing is always good this month on the Treasure Coast so get out and enjoy!

Sheepshead, drum and snapper will be along channel edges and docks and willing to take a live shrimp. Snook fishing will pick up around the inlets, bridges and docks. Live pilchards are a favorite bait in March. Mackerel, bluefish, jacks and many other predators will be coming in with the tides and feeding around the inlets and channels of the river. Small shiny lures work best for these fish. Look for redfish to be around mangroves and docks. A D.O.A. Shrimp is always a good choice for reds. Trout will be moving onto the shallow grass flats as the sun warms things up. Try a D.O.A. Deadly Combo or live shrimp on a popping cork to locate trout. A D.O.A. C.A.L. will also work well this month. Pompano are in the river and along the surf and willing to take a Doc’s Goofy Jig, shrimp or sand

fleas. They usually can be found in channels and deeper parts of the flats in March. We have had great success on croakers the past few years. There will be nice sized fish in the river and along the beaches feeding with whiting. They are fun to catch and very good on the table! Winter wasn’t so bad even though we complain about it. Living in Florida spoils you! March is a good time to check equipment. Both fishing and the boat should be checked a few times a year to make sure everything is in good working order. Some of these windy days will provide a good chance to check rods, reels and safety gear for when good weather arrives. As always, remember, fishing is not just another hobby...it’s an ADVENTURE!! Have a great March, enjoy the fishing and be safe!

Croakers are great table fare and a good fish to target in March. Eva showing off a nice croaker. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Charlie Connor.

FORT PIERCE DEEP SEA

Capt. Cole Hazellief Lady Chris Charters (772) 971-7179 TheLadyChris.com

LEFT: A very jubilous junior angler! Fisher Hazellief is all smiles sporting his new personal best grey snapper! ABOVE: Lady angler Chrissi has her sights set on migratory March and more great catches like this tasty snapper and triggerfish combo. PHOTOS CREDIT: Lady Chris Charters.

schools. Hit the right coordinates and chum up for some action. Keep your bottom gear beefed up for the “size large” snapper ready to take the bait. Try to find structures or reefs in the 70-to-90-foot range, and you may land a trophy catch. Grey, mangrove, and mutton snappers are excited and ready to rattle in the cooler! The mahi-mahi will be running in schools, with peanuts, cows and

big bulls in the mix! The mahi will hit anything that moves around the surface. Keep an eye out for bird action, sargassum lines, flotsam around the edge of the warm currents. Troll some ballyhoo (mahi are not picky eaters) or your lucky lure, and when hooked up, keep the first mahi in the water swimming near the boat and check for others following. Keep the pitch rod ready

to cast, hook up, and repeat. If you do not have a ride out, call us! We sail everyday weather permitting and will take you directly to the best catchin’ spots off Fort Pierce and the Treasure Coast. All you need is to bring sunscreen, a good attitude and be ready to reel in the big one! Tight lines and winter vibes from the Lady Chris and crew!

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arch madness—a northward turn. March 20 marks the northward equinox and both the sun and migratory species will be on the move along the Treasure Coast! Cast for cobia! When the manta rays glide by our shores, their trusted wingman, the mighty cobia, will be riding shotgun. If you spot a large shadow under the surface, make a slow turn and run along-side with a pitch rod ready. Chances are that a fat cobia will be swimming in the manta ray’s wake! Use a jig with enough weight for a good long cast and prepare to brawl with a 100-pound brute! While cruising the shores, make sure to drop in on the snapper

f a

re and arch. oaker.

e Connor.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY more reports of large blackfin tuna being caught (8-to-20 pounds) OFFSHORE than in previous years. I would

Capt. Colton Hester Sonna Girl Fishing Charters (772) 293-5342 colton@sonnagirlfishing.com www.sonnagirlfishing.com

etting out offshore in March can naturally be tough to do, there are many days that the wind will be blowing a little too hard to get out. However, if you can get out there is a very good possibility that you will be rewarded with some fish. Normally, we get a run of mahi-mahi out of Fort Pierce in April and May, but there are some years where that run happens to come a couple weeks early and the boats that are out there when they come through do very well. Aside from the mahi-mahi fishing there are still some sailfish around to be caught as well, with a lingering blackfin tuna or two around. This year there has been

recommend keeping those cedar plugs out in the center of your spread as the long bait. The wahoo fishing has been hit or miss, but there is always the possibility to catch one while trolling for mahi-mahi. To catch these offshore trolling fish, I recommend focusing on 85-to-350 foot of water and trolling ballyhoo or artificial lures anywhere from 4-to-6 knots. The amberjack fishing is still consistent in 100-to-200 foot of water around wrecks and reefs. Snapper fishing will continue to be good this month in 60-to-80 foot of water. There are also some very large kingfish to be caught from 30-to-80 foot of water. These fish are most effectively caught slow trolling live blue runners on wire rigs. Lastly, if you’re doing some snook fishing, look to catch croakers for live bait along the north beach reef areas and drop offs.

ST. LUCIE COUNTY your best time to fish. Around the local bridges INSHORE the snapper, black drum and

Capt. Joe Ward Capt. Joe’s River Charters (772) 201-5770 or (772) 461-1335 CWard11605@aol.com

sheepshead are all taking live shrimp, clams or a piece of cut bait. There should still be plenty of mackerel, bluefish and jacks working their way in the Fort Pierce Inlet as they follow the bait schools. The pompano bite should be good in the surf when using clams or sand fleas along with some whiting and croakers.

he inshore bite for redfish should be good in the deeper holes up around Jack Island and Queen’s Cove. Try a D.O.A. Bait Buster or a live shrimp fished under a popping cork. As the day warms up the redfish will come up onto the flats and take the same baits. The trout fishing should remain good as long as the water temps don’t drop too much more. For trout, free line a live pilchard or again a live shrimp under a popping cork. The snook action in the turning basin and the Fort Pierce Inlet will be good when using pinfish or pigfish and Kaitlyn Ward with an over the slot snook. fish them on the bottom. It was released. The tide changes will be

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Joe Ward.

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FISHING FORECASTS

SEBASTIAN INSHORE

Capt. Gus Brugger Pattern Setter Charters (772) 360-6787 www.WelcomeToSebastian.com

Fort Pierce, FL

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enerally, March is looked at as the first month of spring, not the last month of winter in the Sebastian Fla. area. That may be reversed this year as winter has certainly made its presence known with average temperatures five-to-seven degrees below the past few winters. If winter hangs on in March, look for the lagoon to continue to provide good action on trout and redfish. If spring arrives, the Sebastian River will become more consistent with tarpon and snook and Sebastian Inlet will also begin to yield more than bluefish and sheepshead with regularity.

SEBASTIAN RIVER – March is a Facebook: FOR MORE INFO, CALL (863) 634-8527 Instagram: @backcountryfishing E-mail: backcountryfishingassociation@gmail.com bc_fishing_association

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great month for tarpon and snook in the Sebastian River. Once water temps are in the 70s, the Sebastian River and its juvenile tarpon become my primary focus. D.O.A. Shrimp and TerrorEyz jigs along with MirrOlure, MirrOdine plugs and YoZuri 3D Minnows are my go-to lures for the Sebastian River. The lower river has been home to a variety of species this winter including seatrout, bluefish, pompano and redfish and black drum. They will remain until warming waters move them out and snook and jack crevalle move in.

lagoon anglers in March. From the backwaters to the spoil islands trout of all sizes can keep anglers busy. Redfish and snook are also available and will generally be found close to shoreline cover. A four-inch D.O.A. C.A.L. jerk-bait on an eighth-ounce head is a great all-around lure to target everything that swims in the lagoon in March. Live shrimp fished below a small float will be hard to beat under the right conditions. Wade fishing will give anglers an edge and March is probably the best month to employ this tactic. Fly fishermen should take advantage of wade fishing drop-offs and spoil islands in March and April as the variety, and concentration of fish in these areas is at a peak. Baitfish patterns fished on an intermediate line is a good choice.

SEBASTIAN INLET – Sebastian Inlet snook fishing should pick up as water temps on both incoming and outgoing tides push over the 68-degree mark. This number has long been accepted by many to be the pivotal temperature above which snook feed. If the snook are not biting all is not lost, big jack crevalle, redfish, bluefish, pompano, Spanish mackerel, black drum and sheepshead are also available to inlet anglers in March.

NEAR SHORE ATLANTIC – The waters from the beach on out a few miles can be very productive in March if the winds allow boaters and surf fishermen the opportunity to fish them. Surf fishermen target pompano, bluefish and mackerel as they begin their northern migration. Boaters keep an eye open for cobia, cruising schools of big jack vrevalle and bonito and Spanish mackerel chasing minnows. Tight lines! INDIAN RIVER LAGOON – Trout and redfish are the main target of

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MARCH 2021

Gavin Ross of Vero Beach with a 28-inch gator seatrout caught on a D.O.A. C.A.L. Jerkbait.

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PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Gus Brugger.

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Brugger.

SEBASTIAN AREA OFFSHORE

Capt. Terry Wildey Big Easy Fishing Charters (772) 538 - 1072 Email: captwildey@bellsouth.net www.bigeasyfishingcharters.com

ld saying goes, March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. However sometimes it’s the last week in March and we’re still looking for that lamb. The fishing should be worth the wait. Look for good catches of mangroves, triggerfish and hopefully still some cobia lingering. Last year in the 85-to-90-foot range, fishing was great when we could find clean water. The winds of March can sometimes leave us with a decent ocean but dirty water conditions. Good to be prepared to run to 160 feet or deeper to find clean water. Chicken rigs with squid will produce catches of vermilion snapper, trigger fish and porgy’s. It’s a great way to salvage the day and put some dinner on the table. Offshore trolling should be slow but there’s always a chance of a blackfin tuna and occasional dolphin or wahoo. I like to troll

some ballyhoo from spot to spot while I’m looking for a mark of fish on the bottom. There’s the chance of picking up a fish as well as giving the rest of the crew something to do other than stare at you, starring at the bottom machine. I’ve found the water to be stirred up after long periods of March winds to where fish don’t mark or bite right away when you get to a spot. If that’s the case, you might give it some time. Stay to make it pay. If the waters dirty the fish will be back in the ledges and take some coaching to come out and bite. The fishing nearshore is usually tough due to lack of calmer water keeping it stirred up. With the crazy changing weather patterns though you never know if we’ll we get a couple weeks of decent March weather or just a couple days. if it’s the latter, I take advantage of this time to prepare for April fishing. I go through everything from safety equipment, bilge pumps, engine maintenance, tackle, also a good time to respool reels and restock your spare parts inventory. Sometimes having an extra fuel filter or set of spark plugs can salvage your fishing day as well as your reputation. If there’s a calm day in March, I’ll be out there on the Big Easy. “Fish on, gotta go!”

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A nice catch of triggerfish, mangrove snapper and kings with Warden, Rick, Joe and Buddy showing what we can expect in March in Sebastian area waters.

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Terry Wildey.

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MARCH 2021

TREASURE COAST 9

FISHING FORECASTS

FROM THE SHORE

Jayson Arman That's R-Man Land Based Fishing Services (772) 530-8080 thatsrman4677@gmail.com

ishing in March can be a transition month. At this time of year, we are getting away from cool fronts and starting to approach some South Florida heat. Getting out early can be important. When I am planning to go wade fishing, I’m normally done by 9 a.m. The wind will normally pick up after this time. Looking for good moving water will increase your odds if you find this condition at sunrise or sunset. March will also be a time of year where more bait fish are starting to show up. Throwing top water plugs at first light will be very exciting. After the sun pops up, I will normally tie on a D.O.A. Shrimp. Switching up these techniques is important but understanding when to apply these techniques can be difficult. If there is a slight ripple on the surface, I

will normally start with a top water. If there is no ripple, I am normally starting with a D.O.A. Shrimp. I also spend a lot of time on the beach this time of year focusing on the black tip shark migration. These fish push down our coast during February, March and sometimes into April. I will also bring an assortment of fishing rods. Some day’s there will be non-stop bluefish action and other days you won’t be able to walk away from your rod without having a shark ripping your line off of your reel. March is very good fishing if you know what condition to look for. This is also a great time of year to get out at night and do some snook fishing. When you have very strong winds, pick up your Flair Hawks and start throwing. Bridge fishing and fishing around inlets will be hot for snook. But, do not be surprised if you catch a giant doormat flounder on some of these trips. I also spend a lot of time in March bass fishing because throwing a frog along a canal bank in the afternoon This fine young couple enjoyed a great morning of wade after working and getting a solid fishing on the Indian River Lagoon. A 21-inch pompano blow up is a great way to end your and big jack’s kept them busy all morning long. day. PHOTO CREDIT: Jayson Arman. Always remember it is called fishing and not called catching. Try go and enjoy every moment spent on That’s R-Man Land Based Fishing to learn something every time you the water. over and out.

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KAYAK FISHING FORECAST

Brian Nelli Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters (772) 201-5899 Brian@tckayakfishing.com www.tckayakfishing.com

this time will be limited due to windy weather, but we have still been able to get out with some lucky calm windows. Dolphin and sailfish have been the main targets fishing Jupiter to Boynton Beach. As usual, using live baits such as goggle eyes and blue runners will be your best bet. Slow trolling 90 feet-to-240 feet will likely give you the best opportunity for either of these fish. March will start to bring reports of cobia as well as an even better dolphin bite.

Sailfish!

INSHORE: Winter weather is here. FRESHWATER: Peacock bass will Windy days and cold fronts can continue to be schooled in the Lake make the fishing difficult at times but finding a good bite can still be done. The pompano fishing will continue to be good. Try targeting the channel edges north of Jupiter and bouncing the bottom with Nylure Jigs or Goofy Jigs. Fishing these same areas, you can find plenty of sheepshead when you put live shrimp into the mix. Working mangrove lines and sand flats midday when fish are trying to warm up will put you in line with snook and redfish. I like using D.O.A. Shrimp or a small paddletail. Snook season is open so continue to fish structures like bridges, seawalls, docks, and spillways to put one on Double trouble. your dinner table.

PHOTOS CREDIT: Brian Nelli.

Ida chain. Target areas like bridges, docks and deeper holes. Live bait is the way to go with water temps being lower, but I always like to have a Rat-L-Trap or jerkbait tied on as well. Average size peacock bass is in the two-to-three-pound range. Largemouth bass and clown knifefish will also be in the mix, look to catch them on the same baits and areas listed above. Check us out at Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for all the latest adventures my clients and I get into. See you on the water!

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MARCH 2021

TREASURE COAST 11

FISHING FORECASTS

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

Capt. Nate Shellen Shellen Guide Service (863) 357-0892 OkeechobeeBassFishing.com sjmike7@aol.com

ome say March is the “BEST” month of the year to fish Okeechobee, personally, I think any month you can get here is the best month to fish here. March can some years be a questionable month. If the weather is cold and windy, lending itself to cool water temperatures and rough lake conditions, bass fishing can become very tough. However, “if ” the weather is warm and stable, it lends itself to warmer water temperatures and smoother conditions, which in turn can lead to some of the best bass catching conditions of the winter season. The fishing can be terrific for a solid week and then a cold front blows through South Florida and the water temperatures in the lake fall 10 or

more degrees overnight, leading to a downturn in fish production, only to fully recover, after a few warm days warm the water up once again. As I write this, bass fishing, particularly shiner fishing, has been quite good for the past five to six days. Local guides are reporting catching 35 to 45 bass per trip. Big bass are in the mix daily, 7- to 10-pound bass are falling prey to wild shiners daily. The full moon period will be around the first of the month with the full moon being on March 9 leading to another wave of pre-spawn bass that will move into the grass lines to feed prior to spawning. At this juncture in the season, we have a percentage of bass that have spawned already and are feeding up after exhausting most of their energy. Then too, there are bass that are in a pre-spawn mode that are just waiting for what bass consider perfect conditions to spawn. When the perfect conditions are present, the bass bite is something that will provide a lifetime of memories. It’s about timing, with a little luck mixed in. Judging simply from the number of speck fishermen on the lake, it must be a banner season! Based on reports from anglers, the evidence seems to support that position well. It has been a number of years since

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John Drab, his son, and his girlfriend landed these beauties and many more on live wild shiners. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Nate Shellen.

so many specks have been caught in and around the grass lines of the lake. Jig fishermen are having the best of it reporting catches each and every time they venture onto the lake. Minnow fishermen are finding their creels full of fat healthy 10-inch-plus specks as well. The Kissimmee River and local canals are giving up limits daily, and even more nightly. Water levels are still much too high for this time of year, as long as the levels are being manipulated by interference from government entities, the security of the lake

and both coasts will be in jeopardy. Anytime water is released from Lake Okeechobee it should be going south through the Everglades as it was intended. It is not about who has the most money at stake, it’s about what is best for the environment of the lake and the coasts. But money is what’s stopping the flow of water to the south. Call your local representative and tell them to get the land to the south of the lake back underwater as it’s meant to be, only then will the Indian River Lagoon be able to heal and return to its natural state.

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DIVING FORECAST

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arch is the last chance lobster hunters have to catch dinner before the season closes at the end of the month. Many divers have found success off local beaches in shallow water with big bugs over six pounds being caught recently. This time of year, divers may notice an increase in the number of eggbearing female lobster since the breeding season begins soon. The bright orange eggs are easy to spot but are sometimes overlooked so divers are wise to double check the underside of the tail for eggs, especially this time of year. Pregnant female lobster are easy to identify also since they usually keep their tail curled up, protecting the eggs underneath. Care should be taken to avoid unnecessary damage to

females during capture to increase their chances of survival and release of their offspring. Above the surface, divers should expect weather conditions to become increasingly more favorable as the frequent cold fronts of January and February begin to subside. So far, this year has been dry with minimal rain and very little freshwater runoff from local canals so visibility on the Treasure Coast has been quite good! Passing fronts may churn the shallow water close to shore but after a few days of calm conditions this turbidity settles down and clear water returns. On incoming tide, clear water is reaching far inshore to the Stuart Sandbar and mangrove shorelines near the Fort Pierce cove. Snorkeling can be quite good here but keep in mind a snorkel is considered a ‘breathing apparatus’ and requires use of a dive flag. Lionfish hunting is still gaining popularity too, especially with lobster hunters since the two species tend to hang out together. A short three-foot pole spear with This is the last chance lobster hunters have to catch dinner a three-prong tip can double as before the season closes on March 31. a tickle stick for lobster and an PHOTO CREDIT: Steve Wood. effective way to dispatch lionfish at the same time without adding pinning a speared lionfish to the Ceviche is always a hit and can even too much complexity to a dive. To sand and using surgical shears to be made while still out on the water help with safe handling, consider clip off spines while underwater. for a fresh treat between dives.

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TREASURE COAST 13

Fly Fishing Corner By Capt. Michael Mauri

HOW IMPORTANT IS

CASTING?

Michael Mauri sending out another spey cast in search of Atlantic silver in Norway. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Michael Mauri.

few charters ago, I had a brief conversation with my customers about fly casting and how important it is. The subject in question was the

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like choosing 33% of your weapons which cuts down two-third of your chances. The true answer is accuracy, distance and speed (timing) are the tools you should have in your toolbox. Why would anyone choose if he can accomplish the whole game? We all know there is way more involved than casting to catching fish, but let’s stick with the importance of casting! I know there are a lot of folks who don’t have enough time to practice their casting and when they get out only five times a year to fish, they’ll take it and that’s ok. For those who put the time into fly fishing regularly, I really want to encourage you to put your time in and learn how to fly cast properly. Fly casting is a lot of fun and can also be a big stress relief. I remember when I had a trout hatchery in Bavaria

where I was working day and night. My best stress relief was fly casting after work which was sometimes at 2 a.m. in a snowstorm. Practice accuracy, distance and speed right and left side (backhand or learn how to cast with both hands). As soon as you get comfortable think about the real fishing conditions and add training in nasty windy weather. You will see how much confidence you’ll get out of this and suddenly you’re enjoying the challenge. And yes, there will always be a situation where we can’t reach the fish with our cast but, the better we become, the less often we’ll face this situation. Capt. Michael Mauri www.mauriflyfishing.com michael@mauriflyfishing.com (772) 485-3321

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TREASURE COAST 15

MARCH FISHING CONDITIONS March 1

FAIR

Evening

March 21

BEST

Morning Morning

March 2

BEST

Evening

March 22

BEST

March 3

GOOD

Evening

March 23

POOR

Morning

March 4

POOR

Evening

March 24

POOR

Morning

March 5

POOR

Morning

March 25

GOOD

Morning

March 6

FAIR

Morning

March 26

GOOD

Morning

March 7

FAIR

Morning

March 27

GOOD

Morning

March 8

FAIR

Morning

March 28

FAIR

Evening

March 9

GOOD

Morning

March 29

FAIR

Evening

March 10

GOOD

Morning

March 30

BEST

Evening

March 11

GOOD

Morning

March 31

BEST

Evening

March 12

GOOD

Morning

March 13

POOR

Evening

March 14

POOR

Evening

March 15

POOR

Evening

March 16

FAIR

Evening

March 17

FAIR

Evening

March 18

POOR

Evening

March 19

POOR

Evening

March 20

POOR

Morning

16 TREASURE COAST

What do the ratings mean? POOR day basically means the fish will either steal all your bait or will not even touch your line. FAIR day means that you catch one or two fish but you will have to work hard to do so. GOOD day means that you will catch enough fish to feel gratified. BEST day means that you will catch something almost every time you cast your line in the water. SOURCE: The Old Farmers’ 2021Almanac

MARCH 2021

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he weather has finally given in, spring is almost here, with summer right around the corner, and we will be spending more time “on the road” to get to the water. Before doing so, make sure to check out your boat trailer and make sure you are up-to-date with the requirements and safety issues. • BRAKES. If you have a doubleaxle, or tandem as it’s called, the law says you must have working brakes on all wheels. If you’re bound for the Keys or plan to drive a distance,

make absolutely sure all brakes are working properly. • LIGHTS. Be sure your lights are working. Brake lights are especially important, along with directional lights. You don’t want to stop at a light and have someone run into the back of your boat. • TIRES. Check for uneven wear and heat cracks. Insuring proper tire pressure is an easy way to help keep heat cracking from happening. Most standard tires in the 14-inch and 15inch sizes should be kept at 52 psi.

• BEARINGS. If you notice uneven tread wear on the inside or the outside, you may want to have your bearings checked. • BUNK CARPET. Check to see if it is in good condition and stapled securely. If it is worn or torn, replace it. • WINCH STRAP. Be sure your winch strap is in good condition. You don’t want it breaking while your loading the boat back on the trailer. Take a little time and look your

trailer over carefully from front to back and side to side. If you see anything questionable, have an experienced technician check it for you. C&H Trailer offers free checkover/inspection of any trailer. We can make suggestions and you make the decisions. Give them a call at (772) 223-4014 for more information or to schedule a free check-over. Have a great spring and summer boating season and keep safe.

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TREASURE COAST 17

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1M 3:26 AM 10:04 AM 3:49 PM 10:31 PM 2TU 4:14 AM 10:48 AM 4:37 PM 11:22 PM 3W 5:04 AM 11:34 AM 5:28 PM 4TH 12:15 AM 5:59 AM 12:25 PM 6:25 PM 5F 1:13 AM 6:59 AM 1:22 PM 7:28 PM 6SA 2:18 AM 8:06 AM 2:28 PM 8:37 PM 7SU 3:28 AM 9:16 AM 3:39 PM 9:46 PM 8M 4:38 AM 10:23 AM 4:50 PM 10:50 PM 9TU 5:41 AM 11:23 AM 5:53 PM 11:47 PM 10W 6:35 AM 12:17 PM 6:47 PM 11TH 12:38 AM 7:21 AM 1:04 PM 7:35 PM

-0.48 2.56 -0.57 2.61 -0.39 2.5 -0.58 2.56 -0.24 2.41 -0.53 2.46 -0.07 2.28 -0.42 2.33 0.09 2.15 -0.31 2.21 0.22 2.05 -0.22 2.14 0.27 2.02 -0.18 2.15 0.23 2.06 -0.2 2.22 0.14 2.16 -0.24 2.31 0.03 2.27 -0.28 2.38 -0.08 2.36

L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H

12F 1:24 AM 8:02 AM 1:47 PM 8:18 PM 13SA 2:06 AM 8:39 AM 2:26 PM 8:57 PM 14SU 3:45 AM 10:14 AM 4:04 PM 10:35 PM 15M 4:23 AM 10:48 AM 4:39 PM 11:11 PM 16TU 4:59 AM 11:21 AM 5:14 PM 11:48 PM 17W 5:35 AM 11:54 AM 5:49 PM 18TH 12:25 AM 6:11 AM 12:29 PM 6:26 PM 19F 1:05 AM 6:50 AM 1:07 PM 7:08 PM 20SA 1:51 AM 7:36 AM 1:51 PM 7:57 PM 21SU 2:44 AM 8:32 AM 2:45 PM 8:58 PM

-0.29 2.43 -0.17 2.41 -0.27 2.43 -0.23 2.43 -0.21 2.4 -0.24 2.42 -0.12 2.34 -0.21 2.37 -0.01 2.25 -0.15 2.29 0.12 2.15 -0.06 2.19 0.26 2.04 0.04 2.08 0.39 1.94 0.14 1.98 0.51 1.85 0.23 1.9 0.6 1.78 0.27

L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L H L

22M 3:46 AM 9:38 AM 3:50 PM 10:04 PM 23TU 4:53 AM 10:44 AM 5:01 PM 11:07 PM 24W 5:55 AM 11:43 AM 6:07 PM 25TH 12:04 AM 6:50 AM 12:35 PM 7:05 PM 26F 12:56 AM 7:39 AM 1:22 PM 7:58 PM 27SA 1:45 AM 8:25 AM 2:08 PM 8:48 PM 28SU 2:33 AM 9:09 AM 2:54 PM 9:36 PM 29M 3:20 AM 9:54 AM 3:40 PM 10:25 PM 30TU 4:07 AM 10:39 AM 4:27 PM 11:14 PM 31W 4:56 AM 11:25 AM 5:16 PM

1.87 0.62 1.77 0.25 1.92 0.55 1.85 0.16 2.04 0.4 2 0.03 2.2 0.19 2.21 -0.12 2.37 -0.04 2.44 -0.26 2.53 -0.28 2.65 -0.35 2.65 -0.48 2.81 -0.38 2.71 -0.61 2.89 -0.35 2.71 -0.66 2.89 -0.26 2.66 -0.61

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TIME OFFSET High Tide -55 min Low Tide -35 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide 1.45 feet Low Tide 1.36 feet

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TREASURE COAST 21

The Singleton (left) and Alois Tugboats.

St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program:

TWO TUGBOAT BARGES TO BE ADDED

he St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program has a long history of using steel vessels as artificial reefs, having deployed 11 vessels, including 5 barges, 2 ships, and 4 tugboats. Vessels deployed have ranged from a 65-foot tugboat to a 468-foot naval vessel. Most recently, the 180-foot Voici Bernadette was deployed as the CCA-Curtis Bostick Reef which provided habitat for numerous fish species. St. Lucie County, accompanied by McCulley Marine Resources,

Inc. and Marine Environmental Transportation, LLC, have recently inspected two additional 120-foot tugboats, the Singleton Tug and the Tug Alois, and hopes to add both boats to its growing list of recreational opportunities. The Singleton Tug has a three-story superstructure with an estimated 50-foot profile. The Tug Alois was a U.S. Navy tugboat with a two-story superstructure but also with a deeper draft and a thicker hull. St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program will count on the entire

community again to raise funds to deploy these tugboats. The St. Lucie County Board of County Commissioners and Coastal Conservation Association were major contributors to the deployment of the CCA-Curtis Bostick Reef, which has attracted both anglers and divers due to its relatively shallow deployment. The Rusty Putter Restaurant and Cathy Townsend held a benefit and participated in many fundraising events to raise additional funds for that past deployment while the

Bottoms Up Public House and Chris Dzadovsky held an auction of items salvaged from the Voici Bernadette. Funding for the tugboat deployments will come from additional sources. The marketing agency, Saltwater Interactive, is interested in St. Lucie County’s artificial reef initiatives and has offered to help with fundraising. Funds are needed for the rigorous cleanup and careful deployment of the vessels. In addition to removal of loose trash and debris, both

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Amberjack on the CCA-Curtis Bostick Reef. PHOTOS COURTESY of Joshua Costas and Monique Guertin.

tugboats will be stripped down to bare metal, fuel and hydraulic lines will be removed, engines will be steam cleaned or removed, and other pollutants, including PCBs, heavy metals, and asbestos, must be removed if present. Once cleaned, the Singleton barge will be deployed in waters deeper than 150 feet to help with the St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program’s initiative to help restore colonies of deepwater ivory tree coral, Oculina varicosa. Additional concrete, like the large blocks delivered by the Orlando Utilities Commission and the poles delivered by Underwater Engineering Services, Inc. will be placed into the Tug Alois so that this vessel will be stable in shallower depths. The closure of grouper fishing during spawning season (January 1 until May 1) and Special Management Zone regulations prohibiting highly efficient gear types have helped to protect grouper spawning aggregations. Slow growing ivory tree corals used to form high profile

reefs that once hosted spawning aggregations of deepwater fishes like gag and scamp. The St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program will deploy the Singleton barge to gather data on the potential for high profile steel vessels to recreate these spawning aggregation sites. Representative Brian Mast has helped reintroduce the bipartisan Restoring Resilient Reefs Act of 2021 and it is hoped that this act, if signed into law, will provide funding for the study of ivory tree corals and fish spawning aggregations that develop on the Singleton barge. For more information on the St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program contact Jim Oppenborn, St. Lucie County Coastal Resources Coordinator, at (772) 462-1713 or oppenbornj@stlucieco.org. To get involved with fundraising for deployment of steel vessels, contact Julie Wohlberg at julie@saltwaterinteractive.com or (484) 201-7068.

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TREASURE COAST 23

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Allen Lantz caught this 44.6 pound wahoo aboard The Bounty in 135 feet of water out front of the St. Lucie Inlet on a ballyhoo. Bob Zelano’s (aka “Big Bob Z”), first bonefish. This 14-incher was caught off the beach drifting out live shrimp with a chum slick out while targeting Spanish mackerel.

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Tony Ettari.

Liam Cotner and his family had a fun day of fishing with No Du Charters as his mom, Kate, won the trip during a drawing organized by Capt. Patrick Price and other local captains to support Victory Leidner, 7, who is battling cancer. Liam, standing with his dad Ian, caught this wahoo.

PHOTO CREDIT: Bobby Zelano.

PHOTO CREDIT: Kate Cotner.

Frank Orio, #Muttonbutfun Fishing Team, pulled this bad boy off the bottom at the buzzer with Country Club Drift Fishing. PHOTO CREDIT: Country Club Drift Fishing.

Bobby Zelano with a 12-pound mahi caught 5 miles out of the St. Lucie Inlet on a birthday fishing trip.

Craig Wallengren cold January night fishing Hogy paddle tails “slow and low” near bridge structures in Stuart. Fishing with Capt. Chris Britton of Grey Ghost charters.

PHOTO CREDIT: Bob Zelano.

PHOTO CREDIT: Chris Britton.

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’m expecting awesome spring action at the beach. Longer days and warmer weather will start bringing snook from the deeper water around the inlets to feed in the surf early in the morning and late in the evening. Tarpon will start navigating the inlets and going along the beach. Pods of bait will have snook, tarpon, large jacks, mackerel and bluefish feeding on them. Even though the pompano bite and mackerel bite will start to end, the whiting and croaker bite will improve, and they will be hitting live bait, small jigs and spoons where you find bait. Follow the Bait: Fish will be following pods of glass minnows, greenies and other bait as they start heading north. Look for pelicans in the water and gulls and terns that dive at the tops of waves, picking off bait. When you go to the beach, look for birds that have located schooling bait or bait pods. The general rule is: No birds, no bait. Find a beach where you can see birds and/or bait. If you walk down to the water, you will see activity around the trough behind the closest breaking waves. You will see splashing or small fish jumping if there’s going to be fishing action. Birds will usually be concentrated on large schools of bait and big pods. The Early Bite is Best: My experience is 15 minutes before daybreak until early morning is the best time to fish the beach. It’s the best snook bite, and the fish will be around the trough because the bait will be in the wash. Usually the bait will start moving out after daybreak. Reels and Tackle: I use a medium to light spinning reel (400 series) with 10to 20-pound white braid on a 7-foot rod. A long rod gives you longer casts. I use a 30- to 40-pound fluorocarbon leader attached to the braid with a uni knot and attach the lure with a loop knot for better movement. Lures: My favorite search bait is a 3/8- to ½-ounce chartreuse jig with a pearl white paddletail, which gives the lure more movement and even works with a steady retrieve. That steady retrieve is useful in rough, windy weather. I use a variety of retrieves depending on whether the fish are hitting near top or off bottom. Usually, I try and fish near the top by holding my rod tip high, twitching the lure, and using a fast retrieve. For bottom feeders like whiting and croaker, I let the jig sit on the bottom and give it an exaggerated jerk, which brings it to the top. I also like shallow-running crankbaits and spoons in gold or silver. For long casts in wind and bigger fish, try 2-ounce silver crocodile spoon.

Your Spring Surf Fishing Forecast By Richard L. Matteson

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f you’re looking for a fishing adventure that’s just a short flight away, where the fishery is as good as any on the planet, and you won’t have to mortgage your home to afford it, don’t overlook Mexico and Belize. Flights to Cancun are available from almost every airport, and if you shop around, very inexpensive flights can be found. Once you get there, accommodations are very reasonably priced, and meals are cheaper than here in The States. I have fished the “Mayan Riveria” from Cozumel to Tulum, with results that are pretty awesome. What’s more, I had most of the areas I fished entirely to myself. I am a fly fisherman, and I spent days wading turtle grass flats for species like tarpon, bonefish, snook, a variety of snapper species, pompano and even the elusive Permit. I recently returned from a trip when the weather was marginal, at best, with high winds and rough seas. Still, I was able to produce several different species, along with some world-class triggerfish. These odd-looking warriors can be found hanging out on shallow coral reefs, and they are a ton of fun on the fly. I also spent a day fly fishing with my friend Will Robins, who owns and operates Fly Fish Costa Maya, in Chetumal, Mexico, near the Belize Border. In one morning, we hooked and broke off four trophy-sized triggers and had legitimate shots at three permit in the 10- to 15-pound range. If you know how difficult permit are to catch on the fly, you’ll understand that just having a few opportunities to cast to them is exciting. The highlight of the trip was a triggerfish we landed that would have been a monster anywhere. If Belize has been on your bucket list, the waters of Ambergris Caye are as good as their reputation. I’ve fished the caye several times with personal friend, Hilian Martinez. Most consider this man among the best in the country. Belize is also very easy to travel to, and reasonably priced. With a little homework, the waters of the Yucatan Peninsula and the waters of Belize can also produce good numbers for those who desire DIY fishing, without a guide. These are just a few examples of opportunities that await just a few hours away in a place that’s as beautiful as it is productive. A world-class fishery awaits, and it’s a lot closer and more attainable that you ever thought possible.

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SPRING TROUT IN THE SMOKIES

GIVEAWAY FRIDAY MARCH 12TH

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STAY LOW FOR

By TAM Staff

uide Ian Rutter is fired up about spring in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Ample rains and a mild winter bode well for the wild trout that inhabit more than 800 miles of trout streams in the park. This time of year, fish are perking up to feed on an abundance of aquatic insects. But there’s another reason the Smokies are inviting to anglers in spring. The summertime crowds, with their campers and inner tubes, haven’t yet invaded the larger rivers. Ian and his wife, Charity, run R&R Fly Fishing out of Townsend, Tennessee. They have guided anglers in the park for a quarter century and live a stone’s throw from Little River, one of the largest and most popular streams in the Smokies. From high-elevation brook trout rills to roadside rivers, they fish it all, but Ian said it’s wise to stick to the larger flows in lower elevations this time of year. In March, and even into April, it’s likely there will still be snow on the ground up in the hills. Trout thrive in cold water, but their metabolisms slow, and they feed less readily in icy temperatures. Also, the bugs they feed on are mostly dormant at higher altitudes, which can make things slow for fly fishing. Meanwhile, down in the valleys, larger rivers like Little River, Deep Creek and the Oconaluftee will be waking up. In afternoons, even on cold days, fish should be looking to the surface for hatches of mayflies like Quill Gordons, blue-winged olives and blue quills. Throw in a few early brown stoneflies, and you’ll see why the Smokies are known for great dry fly fishing. “Oftentimes you’ll have some combination of those bugs all at the same time,” Ian said. “They’re not too particular. And even the one’s that are particular aren’t as particular as some folks think they are.” Being sneaky is more important than fly selection, Ian said. Trout in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park are wild, stream-born and extremely wary of predators. So wading very carefully and making short accurate casts are important to success. Another thing about trout in the Smokies is they grow slowly. Fishing is less about catching big fish and more about the overall experience. “I like to say, ‘your results may vary,’” said Ian when asked about angler expectations. “We do catch some 16-inchers, but the important thing to remember is it’s a wild trout fishery. There aren’t any stocked trout that were put in last week at 14 inches. A 16-incher might be 10 years old. It’s survived every type of predator out there, so it’s super-smart and difficult to catch.” A proficient angler can expect to catch good numbers of brightly colored 8- to 10-inch wild trout. Any angler can expect to wade through some of the most gorgeous mountain trout water in the East. For information on fishing the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, contact R&R Fly Fishing through their website at randrflyfishing.com.

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From proprietary fabrics that breathe to superior functionality and bold graphics and colors, GILLZ is in a class of its own. It starts with revolutionary, chemicalfree GillzTec fabric. It’s engineered to quickly distribute moisture 360 degrees across the garment, so the moisture evaporates much faster, keeping you cooler. The cross-breeze ventilation system channels cooling air under the shirt. In

fact, you’ll find GILLZ shirts breathe like nothing you’ve ever worn. And of course, all of their shirts provide UPF 50+ sun protection, so you can fish from sunup to sundown safely. GILLZ masks feature “gills” that channel air down your neck and mesh mouth openings that prevent your sunglasses from fogging. Plus, their masks can also be worn in a variety of ways to suit your particular needs. Functional hybrid shorts with pockets where you need them also feature four-way stretch fabric, an expandable waistband and a vented, gusseted crotch that lets cool air in. And who couldn’t use some cool air down there? And you’ve got to check out the epic designs and styles. Each color and print is inspired by and pays homage to nature and marine life. You’ll find bold, confident styles for anglers like you. Whatever your destination – the Bahamas, Florida Keys, Outer Banks or the Gulf of Mexico… whether you’re fishing offshore, the flats, lake, or river, only GILLZ Technical Fishing Apparel brings this level of durability, comfort, and performance to the table. That’s why it’s the choice of many pros. Rest assured, GILLZ will continue to push innovation and performance to the limit with elite new products. So, breathe in that moment out on the water when your muscles are working overtime and the sun is beating down. You’ll know that GILLZ apparel breathes with you so you can be at your absolute best. See the latest GILLZ collections by checking out their website: www.gillz-gear.com

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MARCH 2021

NATIONAL 15

LOCAL ANGLER CRUSHES VIRGINIA SWORDFISH RECORD A daytime deep drop expedition yielded spectacular results for a Virginia angler this past September. It took four months for the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament to officially announce it, but a 597-pound swordfish caught by Nicholas Kontodiakos on Sept. 25, 2020 absolutely crushed the existing state record. Kontodiakos, of Norfolk, Va., was drifting in 1,000 feet of water off Virginia Beach when the massive swordfish hit a bait suspended at 800 feet. Caught along the southern edge of Norfolk Canyon, Kontodiako’s fish topped the existing record by more than 130 pounds. The previous record of 466 pounds was caught in August 2019 by Tony Gower Jr., of Virginia Beach. Kontodiakos and fishing buddy Trey Wallace left Rudee Inlet at 4:30 a.m. aboard the angler’s 2007, 29-foot SeeVee. After arriving at their location, they made several long drifts and had a couple of bites that did not come tight. The lines were set for “one more drift” before they planned to head in for the day. At 3:30 p.m. the deep “buoy rod,” with a rigged dolphin belly on a blue and white skirt, came tight. After wrestling the fish for nearly five hours, it was clear it was a large swordfish, and when the fish was finally secured at the transom, they began to relax. But securing the fish to the transom was

just round one. Round two consisted of couple hours of inching the fish onto the deck. Kontodiakos’ passion for swordfish began a decade ago while living on the east coast of Florida. “I had no idea how to go about catching them,” he admitted. After moving to Virginia Beach and realizing there were swordfish 60-plus miles off the Virginia coast, he decided he needed a bigger boat. Unfortunately, even with a bigger boat, his lack of success in Florida tagged along to Virginia. “No one wanted to fish with me because I never came back with any fish,” he said. Relentlessly perusing information on the Internet and talking to successful anglers eventually began to payoff, and his success improved in recent years. He said he’s caught a swordfish in every month of the year except January. It was nearly midnight when the pair pulled inside Rudee Inlet on Sept. 25. A call had already been made to alert the Virginia Beach Fishing Center of the catch, and the boat’s bow was pointed straight to the Fishing Center’s main dock. Representatives from the Fishing Center were dockside to assist, and a small crowd of onlookers had assembled, despite the late hour. The fish measured 180 inches total length,

M Y

with a lower jaw fork length of 111 inches. It sported a hefty girth of 69 inches. Kontodiakos used a custom Joe Leffler 80-pound class rod, teamed with a Shimano Tiagra 50 reel, spooled with 80-pound PowerPro braid and topped off with a 25-foot, 250-pound Moni mono leader with a Mustad 7691, 11/0 hook, attached to the business end.

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p b sh It’s the fry can Bu catchin vetera tips to 1) crappi hold o times shallow “Th for the the spa mid-5 As Then seek o of cree back o Th targets spawn could have m Sa the 10 discard

pringtime is crappie time. When water temps begin to climb, the crappie schools move shallow to stage on structure before the spawn. It’s the time of year when loading coolers for a fish fry can be quick and easy. But the thing with crappie is you’re either catching them or you’re not. With that in mind, veteran crappie angler Dan Saknini offered some tips to consistently catch slab crappie. 1) Know The Cycles: The comfort zone for crappie is 35 feet and shallower, said Saknini. They hold on deep brush during the coldest and hottest times of year, but in milder weather they move shallower in search of optimal water temperatures. “This time of year, the crappie are fattening up for the spawn,” he said. “Their comfort zone for the spawn is when water temperatures rise into the mid-50s, preferably closer to 60.” As the spawn begins, fish stage up on structure. Then they’ll move extremely shallow in waves to seek out spawning areas on the banks and backs of creeks. The females move in, lay eggs and move back out. The males stay shallow to guard the beds. Through the stages of the spawn, Saknini targets brush in 15 feet or shallower. With the spawning season lasting about a month, these could be pre-spawn fish or post-spawn fish that have moved back out. Saknini shoots jigs in and around docks in the 10- to 15-foot range. Many lake homeowners discard Christmas trees off their docks. These are

the docks you need to find. 2) Locate Structure: Regardless of the season, black crappie school up on some type of structure. They change depths, and move off structure momentarily to feed, so catching them consistently means knowing the locations of brushpiles at all different depths. Saknini said good electronics and prospecting are key to being a good crappie angler. If you fish a lake that allows it, you can build your own honey holes. “I probably sink 50 or 60 brushpiles a year,” Saknini said. “Then I go back and fish them. There might be fish there, or there might not, but I always have another one to go to.” 3) Ditch the Minnows: Fishing a minnow under a bobber is traditional, and it can be effective. However, Saknini said fishing jigs is a far more efficient. “Once you get used to jig fishing, it’s always more productive,” he said. “If you’re fishing a minnow, it’s either under a bobber or on a downline, and it’s stationary. With a jig, you’re moving and covering water.” Crappie are lazy and won’t chase a bait more than a few feet, Saknini said. There could be fish all over a piece of structure, but you wouldn’t know it if your minnow is just a foot out of the strike zone. With a jig, you can cover water vertically and horizontally for a better chance of passing through that zone.

PHOTO BY NICK CARTER

Catch More Crappie

Dan Saknini is a member of Lanier Crappie Anglers Club. Check them out at www.laniercrappieanglers.net.

FREEDIVER SPEARS WORLD RECORD SNAPPER

reediver Stephanie Schuldt broke a world record in late November when she speared a 19.3-pound (8.8 kg) dog snapper in the Bahamas. At a depth of 45 feet, Schuldt stuck the big snapper with 9-foot Headhunter Nomad roller polespear while wreck diving off Nassau. The fish qualified her for the International Underwater Spearfishing Association’s women’s world record for the species in the sling/polespear division. It also outweighed the men’s record of 19.1 pounds, which was caught by JonMichael Degidio off Grand Cay in 2016. “At the end of my breath hold I saw the dog snapper swimming in and out of the wreckage,” wrote Schuldt in a description of the event. “I came back up to the surface and told my boyfriend, Matt, ‘There is a world record dog snapper down there.’ I took some time to get a good breathe-up, dropped back down into the wreck and got a solid holding shot on the fish. It fought for a bit on the way up, but I was able to clear it from the wreck and get it to the surface. Once at the surface, it tried to bite me and tangled up my float line, but I was able to grab it by the gills and swim it back to my boat.” Even on a rod and reel, Schuldt’s fish would have been impressive. The IGFA all-tackle world record weighed 24 pounds. It was caught back in 1994 by Capt. Wayne Barder off Abaco. Check Stephanie Schuldt’s adventures at www.saillaviecharters.com. COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM

MARCH 2021

NATIONAL 19

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STURGEON SEASON LASTS JUST TWO HOURS

here should be a betting pool for just how quickly the Black Lake, Michigan sturgeon season will end each year. In 2020, the season lasted just six hours. This year, the scheduled Feb. 6-10 season was shut down after two hours of fishing when the harvest limit was met. Imagine getting all geared up to go spear fishing through a hole in the ice for these big prehistoric fish. The season opens at 8 a.m. Then, at 10 a.m., your hopes are dashed when Michigan DNR knocks on the door of your ice shanty. Apparently, that’s the way Black Lake sturgeon season goes for a vast majority of anglers. More than 500 anglers registered to jockey for a harvest quota of just six fish this year. It’s a credit to Michigan DNR that they even hold the event at the 10,000-acre lake, which is connected to Lake Huron by the Black and Cheboygan rivers. Rehabilitation of the lake sturgeon population in the watershed is an ongoing effort, and this limited harvest creates excitement around the effort. There are reports of anglers who have fished the season for decades without getting a single sturgeon. The six fish caught ranged from 50 to 63 inches and 25 to 61 pounds. Three of the fish had been tagged before during studies of the spawning run up the Black River. A 61-inch-long female, estimated to be about 20 years old, was tagged during the 2006 spawning run. Male sturgeon have a lifespan of about 55 years. Females can live longer than 100 years. For more information, go to Michigan.gov/Fishing. 20 NATIONAL

MARCH 2021

ooking through Facebook and reminiscing on traveling for boat-show season, one conversation starter I remember most fondly is, “That’s too big for my rope locker.” In spite of American fiberglass OEMs like Sea Chaser and Sea Pro factory-installing the Rebel EZ-4 on specific series, there’s still a popular myth that drum anchor winches are built predominantly for aluminum boats. One too many boaters have told me this when they stopped at our company’s booth during the 2020 season, and while we’re officially homebound due to the pandemic, we’re as busy as ever answering questions and informing customers about our product. We want to help them achieve the best anchoring results for them. From newbies who have recently embraced boating, to longtime hobbyists who have extra time to add new features on their boats, there is usually an anchoring solution, whether it’s a Patriot direct drive unit or a Rebel free-fall unit. “You can click the ‘Products’ tab on the website and select the winch that interests you,” Sara Hitchins, E-Z Anchor Puller’s office and trade show manager said. “Select the unit you’d like to view and the link to the dimensional drawings are on the product page. One way to measure is to make a cardboard cutout at home to measure against your boat.” If you’re one of the new boaters looking for a new fiberglass model or researching that windlass upgrade on your family boat, these center consoles from customers and builders prove that a drum winch looks sexy on center consoles, too! SEA PRO: Sea Pro Boats introduced the world to their 320 Deep V Center Console at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, joining Carolina Skiff to become another American fiberglass OEM to factory-install E-Z Anchor Puller’s Rebel EZ-4 free-fall unit, adapting the innovative technology one year after Georgia-based OEM Carolina Skiff began installing. SEA CHASER: “I liked it so much I installed a Patriot on my own personal boat,” Ed Johnston, engineer at Carolina Skiff told us when we saw him at the Miami International Boat Show. The 35’ Sea Chaser also uses the free-fall Rebel EZ-4 and hides it in the rope locker. PARKER: “I know this is an old post, but I love my EZ on my 2820,” one writer on Classicparker.com posted to a company thread, “I have 600’ of dyneema, 75 of nylon and 50’ of chain. With lots of extra room still.” Live2fish posted several pictures depicting the Rebel EZ-4 unit resting on a bow pulpit. ARIMA: Mark Fitch was an avid poster of his installation process on ArimaOwners.com, documenting his journey with various “beer breaks” in between. Mark’s 1987 Arima Sea Pacer was sized for the Patriot EZ-1, a smaller complete 316 stainless steel unit. He still tags #ezanchorpuller in his fishing posts.

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MARCH 2021

NATIONAL 21

HUGE SWORDFISH SETS NEW FLORIDA RECORD

n Jan. 20, four young anglers from Pompano Beach, Fla. set out early from Hillsboro Inlet to get in on the fast action being reported from the swordfish grounds, some 15 miles off the coast. They returned to the docks that evening with a 767.8-pound swordfish that set a new Florida state record. The official record holder and the man who manned the LP electric reel was 21-yearold Timmy Maddock. The 31-foot center console they fished from belongs to 17-yearold Hunter Irvine, who put the final dart in the enormous fish. Lady angler, Jaime Johanson, 20, videoed the landing and got in with the gaff, while Jeremy Rafferty, 21, manned the helm as they subdued the new record. It took five and a half hours to fight the fish into submission. It took almost another hour and a radio call for help to get the swordfish through the tuna door and safely in the boat. Rob Doda, who was fishing solo nearby left his boat floating and boarded Irvine’s boat to help haul the giant fish onboard. It was an epic catch for the group of young anglers, and the 400 pounds of meat their fish yielded was shared with friends and family, with the charity organization Filet for Friends, and at a celebratory barbecue for the whole Pompano Beach fishing community. To read Timmy Maddock’s account of the catch, see the Florida section of this magazine or online at www.coastalanglermagazine.com. 22 NATIONAL

MARCH 2021

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NEW ENGLAND AWAITS

warm water, and they’re looking for that constant bait source. That’s what the rivers provide.” Action is fast in tidal rivers like the Weweantic on the north side of Buzzards Bay. Murphy walks the dog with topwater baits like a 7-inch Lil’ Doc to draw explosive strikes from good numbers of stripers in the rivers. They’ll also eat By Nick Carter soft-plastic eel or herring imitations like those made by Hogy, and although these river fish aren’t the monsters Murphy pursues later in the season, there aren’t many anglers who’d turn their nose up to consistent topwater activity from fish up to 20 inches. As the season progresses, the bite moves to the mouths of the rivers, where stripers ambush herring moving out. This is where some of the bigger fish come into play, and they also can be taken on topwater. By mid-May, Murphy said he’ll be chasing the classic New England bass blitzes, when schoolie-sized fish ball up bait and crash the surface. At this point, fish will have spread up around Cape Cod or through the Cape Cod Canal into Massachusetts Bay. Action ou can almost feel the excitement building on the coast of can be intense for fish in the 2- to New England. Winter is ebbing, and soon warming water 10-pound range. conditions will spark the migration of striped bass up the “You can go out early in the Atlantic coast. Jack Murphy will be waiting when they arrive. morning any day and find blitzing Murphy and his partner, Jack Loveday, co-founded Lucky Jacks schoolies,” Murphy said. “You can Fishing in Marblehead, Massachusetts. For them, April begins the catch 30 or 40 fish in just a couple busy striper season off Rhode Island and Massachusetts. hours.” As you read this, striped bass are spawning in tributaries of By the first part of June, anglers Chesapeake Bay, Delaware Bay and the Hudson River. When in search of big fish will head 5 to water temperatures rise into the 50s, these fish push north with 10 miles offshore to find big pogy huge schools of menhaden to feed ravenous post-spawn appetites. PHOTOS BY SEAN MAIORANO PHOTOGRAPHY (menhaden) schools. This is a Murphy said the first fish collect on the south side of Cape Cod WWW.SEANMAIORANOPHOTOGRAPHY.COM short-lived first-light bite. in Buzzards Bay. Timing is dependent on weather and water temperatures, so “When you come on one of these schools that’s getting harassed, you’re in Lucky Jacks spends spring studying winds and water temps to try and intercept the first waves of migrating fish. They normally show up in the second or third for a heck of a day.” Murphy said. “We’ve had a few days when our smallest fish were 37 pounds, and 40- to 50-pound fish are very possible.” week of April. “When river herring (alewife) push into the rivers to spawn, the first waves of stripes will be right on their tails,” Murphy said. “They’re looking for that Check out Lucky Jacks Fishing at www.luckyjacksfishing.com.

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NATIONAL 23

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