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CLEANING OUR OCEANS FOR A BETTER
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SUZUKI’S CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT If you’re going to claim to be “The Ultimate Outboard Motor,” you’d better do more than just build great engines. This is why, for the past 10 years, Suzuki has been committed to cleaning up the marine environment through voluntary “Clean Up The World” activities around the globe. Through the recently launched CLEAN OCEAN PROJECT, Suzuki Marine is committed to reducing the use of plastics in packaging materials to its consumers which has led to eliminating 2.3 tons of plastic waste annually. Suzuki is continually finding ways to reduce plastic waste while educating and informing the boating industry about this critical issue. This is only the beginning and Suzuki is pledging itself to the important cause of protecting our planet’s waters, coastal environments, and marine ecosystems for future generations to enjoy.
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5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY applies to qualifying purchases of Suzuki outboard motors sold and delivered to the retail purchaser, for pleasure (non-commercial) use only, from April 1, 2021 through March 31, 2022. See Suzuki Limited Warranty for additional details. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. Don’t drink and drive. Always wear a USCG-approved life jacket and read your owner’s manual. © 2021 Suzuki Marine USA, LLC. All rights reserved.
tw Flo Ro season bites t of the “M favorit mid-F some uncom and it my fin spring Ro here, nutrie offsho 34’ Le a crew for ma Sailfish
S R E V I L E D H C A E PALM B
I
t was a good winter in the Atlantic off south Florida’s Palm Beach County. Capt. Austin Rowe said that bodes well for the spring season, when a convergence of several different bites typically makes for some of the best action of the year. “March, April and May are by far my favorite time of year around here,” he said in mid-February. “We’re already starting to see some blackfin tunas right now, which is kind of uncommon. It was a crazy-good winter for mahi, and it was a good for sailfish, as well. I’ve got my fingers crossed that the fish stick around for spring, and we can really put a hurting on them.” Rowe is a young captain who grew up fishing here, where the Gulf Stream sweeps warm nutrient-rich waters northward just a few miles offshore. He captains “Angler Management,” a 34’ Legend center console with twin 300s. With a crew of up to six clients, it is a perfect ride for making the short runs out of Singer Island’s Sailfish Marina quickly and comfortably.
By Nick Carter
“One of the really beautiful things about fishing around here is you don’t have to go very far to get to the fish,” he said. “A full tank of gas lasts a long time.” Most spring mornings start for clients with a run of just 3 or 4 miles out of the inlet with tanks pre-loaded with live threadfin herring and/or goggle eyes. Kite fishing is the preferred method in this part of the world, and that’s exactly what Rowe does when conditions are right. “I’m looking at water color, temperature and moving water. I’m also looking for bait,” Rowe said. “I’m a big fan of charts, and I study them religiously looking for eddies and things, but keeping your eyes open is the biggest thing when you’re out there. If you see live water, with birds diving, it’s probably time to pick up and go see what’s happening over there.” With kites—or drifting with flatlines when conditions call for them—you’re targeting anything that will eat live baits at the surface. That can produce some pretty exciting mixed bags.
“We see a lot of blackfin tunas. There should still be some sailfish around. The kingfish start to show up pretty thick this time of year, and there are also mahi,” Rowe said. “And don’t forget wahoo. Wahoo can get really good around the full moon in March.” If all else fails, or if his clients just want some more meat, the reef is just a couple miles from the kite-fishing grounds, and it’s usually no problem to load up a cooler full of snappers in short order. Big African Pompano also make regular appearances on the reef. Rowe said that by the end of the day, if his anglers aren’t too worn out, he’ll stop in the inlet and let them test their strength against some hard-pulling jack crevalle. You can pack a whole lot of fishing into a full day when you don’t have to run far to find fish. Check out Austin Rowe and Absolute Action Sportfishing Charters at absoluteactionfishing.com.
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NATIONAL 7
ventilation, you’ll conquer every battle, every day. GILLZ took its Pro Series UV Hoodie to the next level. They went one step further and provided anglers with a built-in mesh mask to go along with the 3-piece hood construction. Now, you’re able to keep your gear organized in one place for when that unexpected pull on the reel turns into a clash of strength. Brand new to this collection is the Pro Series Board Shorts. Made of recycled quickdry polyester, the 9-inch inseam gives you the freedom to move without worry, and the secure cellphone hip pocket keeps your devices safe from any damage. This time, Gillz introduces anglers to a new design feature: a no-sew fabrication. This means no chafing or irritation as you charge headfirst against the waves. The Contenders Series, delivers an amazing fit and feel for each and every angler. With the Contender Series Long-sleeve or Hoodie, you’re guaranteed to have 360-degree cooling and 170 GSM interlocking polyester that gives you perfect performance every single time. Moreover, you’re given an extended range of motion that allows every angler to move freely. When facing the unpredictable outdoors, GILLZ Gear and the new Spring 2022 who want Collection will give you the power to perform to face the at your best, no matter where you and Mother elements head-on. With our GILLZTEC proprietary fabric, Nature meet. With prices starting at $39.99, there’s 4-way stretch, and the ability to modify with something for every angler from the Atlantic to the shoulder shape, the Pro Series Long-Sleeves and Pacific and every waterway in between! Hoodies fit every angler to perfection. Plus, when Check out the Gillz Spring 2022 Collection you add on UPF 50+, ultra cooling, a single seam at gillz-gear.com. underarm mesh gusset, and complete 360-degree
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other Nature isn’t known for her gentle reputation. She’s known for how she changes the direction of the boat, how she pushes the wind into your skin and lets the sun beat down through clear skies. But, as you sail the rough waters or sit, breathing the fresh air, GILLZ Gear’s new Spring 2022 Collection is at your side for anything that’s thrown your way. Their Pro Series collection is for serious anglers
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MONSTER BASS ON
JURASSIC LAKE
I
t piques my interest when “Jurassic” appears in a nickname. So is the case with Jurassic Lake, a 10,000-acre reservoir in Fellsmere, Florida, officially known has Headwaters Lake. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) had a goal to turn Headwaters into a worldclass trophy bass fishery. By all accounts, they succeeded. Just a little over 10 years ago, this bassfishing mecca was farmlands, cattle pastures and orange groves. The St. Johns River Water Management District purchased the lands from Sun-Ag to build a reservoir intended to provide a water supply for surrounding communities and flood control for the St. Johns River. The FWC saw an opportunity and invested $1.35 million in bass fishing “enhancements.” Prior to the reservoir’s flooding in 2015, the FWC constructed fish habitat in the form of winding channels, dredge holes, flats, islands and more, with the goal of providing the optimum combination of structure, depth and spawning habitat. The FWC planted 15,000 bald cypress and red maple trees on the numerous islands, and they stocked over a million bass, bream and crappie. If there is a downside to Headwaters, it’s that there is so much awesome, fishy-looking habitat that it can be a little over whelming trying to figure out where to fish. Since August 2020, when the Headwaters Lake boat ramp opened, 103 trophy bass (bass eight pounds or larger) have been registered into FWC’s Trophy Catch program from Headwaters. Who knows how many other giants were caught that were never entered into Trophy Catch? The biggest registered catch is a 13-pound, 1-ounce monster caught by kayak angler Mary Kelly on January 24, 2022. Those are pretty impressive results for a reservoir that is not even seven years old. Jim Fallon, the Godfather of Headwaters,
10 NATIONAL
MARCH 2022
By Paul MacInnis
has probably fished these waters more than anybody. “I love this lake because of the design of the habitats, the natural beauty and all the great fishing,” said Fallon. You’ll find Fallon on the reservoir three to five times a week. He’s been fishing there since 2018, before the boat ramp opened, when he’d drag a kayak into the reservoir from the bank. Fallon says a competent bass angler should catch 15 to 40 bass on an average day with a decent shot at a trophy fish every trip. Fallon has caught almost 50 bass over eight pounds from Headwaters, including 13 in the double digits, all on artificial baits. The address for the Headwaters Lake boat ramp is 16245 Fellsmere Grade Road, Fellsmere, Fla. Headwaters is an hour and a half drive from Orlando, making it a great diversion on a central Florida vacation. The nearby city of Palm Bay has convenient hotels, many with bass boat friendly parking lots. An internet search will bring up several Headwaters guides who can put you on a bass of a lifetime. For more information, visit MyFWC.com.
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APPROACHING THE
TRANSITION
A
By Capt. Michael Okruhlik
s I type this article in early February, the temperature is 38 and the forecasted lows across the Texas coast will dip into the mid to upper twenties for a few nights. This should place larger seatrout into full-blown winter mode, which is a great thing. It might not be so cold where you fish, but similar patterns should exist wherever there are big trout. Predicting movements and habits is always easier when the seasons are typical. This tells me where I should start in early March versus where I should fish later in the month. In early March, I look for shallow areas with irregular soft mud and grass bottoms. I particularly like these areas adjacent to deeper water, as the night temps will still cool flats to less favorable temps for large trout. The term “deeper” will be different for each area. So, as you plan your trip, you should focus on deeper pockets in relation to the overall area. Early in the month, I will stick to a larger profile lure
like a 5-inch paddletail. The trout will still be feeding on mature mullet, and the 5-inch swimbait is a great imitation. These lures are versatile, and they are ideal due to the finicky nature of trout during the transition from winter to spring. A slow roll can be deadly when trout move onto a flat to warm and feed. Depending on the conditions, a slow roll just under the surface that creates a slight ripple can trigger an aggressive strike. If the bait is down, I will slow roll the lure in the mid to lower water portion of the water column. The versatility of these lures also allows them to be jigged and twitched; however, I prefer to do that in a little deeper water. As the water temps rise later in the month, fish become more difficult to pattern. Although high temps warm the water faster, persistent cool fronts still chill the waters, and the wind shifts can wreak havoc on the pattern. It keeps fish and anglers confused. During this part of the season, I tend to move often, not devoting too much time to a location or pattern. Changing things up often until you find them is more effective than banging it out in a spot like I would do in early March. Lures to choose from are wide open here. Small and large soft plastics in the twitch or paddletail style can all be effective. Topwaters and slow sinking hard baits can also produce. Keep moving and changing lure styles, sizes, colors and action until you find the bite. Don’t forget to take a kid fishing. You will be surprised what they can teach you when they put the electronics down. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Knockin Tail Lures, Controlled Descent Lures, and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.
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THE ALTERNATIVE TO BUYING A NEW BOAT
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GULF COUNCIL MULLING LIMIT CUTS for Kings, AJs and Gags
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he Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met virtually in January to make decisions that will affect Gulf anglers. The council is the regional authority charged with managing fisheries in federal waters of the Gulf. Here’s a brief overview of what was decided.
R
Vermilion Snapper After hearing a summary of public comments and recommendations from its Reef Fish Advisory Panel, the Gulf Council took final action to South Atlantic Council is expected to take final action in March meeting. increase the vermilion snapper overfishing limit, acceptable biological The Gulf Council is expected to take final action in April. catch, and annual catch limit. The most recent stock assessment determined Greater Amberjack the stock is not overfished nor experiencing overfishing. This change will The most recent assessment shows that greater amberjack is both increase the total annual catch limit, but it will not change the daily catch overfished and experiencing overfishing, and that recent average recruitment limit of 10 fish. is lower than it has ever been. The Council’s Scientific and Statistical King Mackerel Committee recommended new overfishing limit and acceptable biological A recent update stock assessment for king mackerel determined that catch recommendations for greater amberjack. These recommendations king mackerel is not overfished or experiencing overfishing. However, the require a significant decrease in harvest. spawning stock biomass was found to be below the biomass necessary to Gag Grouper achieve maximum sustainable yield. The most recent gag grouper stock assessment determined that the stock The Gulf Council must work with the South Atlantic Council on actions for this highly migratory fish, and both are still considering options. They is overfished and experiencing overfishing. Additionally, the assessment have both removed alternatives that would reduce the recreational and identified there is a low proportion of males in the gag grouper population commercial minimum size limit for Atlantic king mackerel and will retain (less than 2%), which impacts the stock’s ability to reproduce. The Council is obligated to end overfishing and develop a rebuilding plan the 24-inch minimum size limit. Also, they both opted to allow for the retention of cut-off/damaged Atlantic migratory group king mackerel caught for gag grouper, and initiated the development of a plan amendment to revise under the recreational bag limit that comply with minimum size limits. The catch limits, accountability measures, and other management measures. • STEEL BUILDING • SALE • PRE-ENGINEERED BUILDINGS • SAVE • STEEL BUILDING • SALE • CARPORTS • SAVE • CALL NOW • SPECIALS • SALE • STEEL BUILDING • SALE •
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Catch High Season For Marlin in the Bahamas
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f a big blue marlin is on your bucket list, there’s no better time to visit The Bahamas than over the next few months, when high season for billfish brings giant pelagics to the deep blue waters off the islands. Bahamian waters are the birthplace of big-game sportfishing. Back in the 1930s, the world was introduced to adventure like no other when anglers like Ernest Hemingway and Michael Lerner did battle with giant marlin and big bluefin tuna off Bimini. The fishing is still ridiculously good. Marlin season in the Bahamas begins in March or April, when the white marlin arrive, and by June or July things get into full swing when big blue marlin show up. They come in numbers to feed off the islands, and PHOTO COURTESY OF The Out Islands Bahamas throughout summer it is not unusual to have days with multiple bites on the same trip. In recent years, far-flung destinations like Africa and Australia might have come to the forefront as the best places to tie into granders (blue marlin that weigh in excess of 1,000 pounds). Yet, The Bahamas remain one of, if not the best place, in the world to actually catch blue marlin. It’s worth noting that the Out Islands of The Bahamas are a quick and easy trip for anglers in the eastern U.S. White and blue marlin are the marquee species when trolling off The Bahamas, and there’s also a good chance other highly sought after gamefish will crash into the spread. When the outrigger snaps, you might be reeling in wahoo, tuna or mahi for dinner. Check out all the action the Out Islands of The Bahamas have to offer at www.myoutislands.com.
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FLORIDA 9
Largemouth Bass: Florida’s Gift to the World
F
lorida is the land of sunshine and hurricanes. If you stopped random people on the street in any other location in the world and asked them what first comes to mind about Florida, most would offer something about places like Daytona Beach, Disney World or the beaches of Miami. Florida is also the second largest producer of beef in the U.S., and of course Florida oranges and Indian River grapefruit. If that person you stopped fishes, they would likely talk about the Florida Keys, tarpon, or any of the other sought-after saltwater fish. But, for the freshwater angler, Lake Okeechobee largemouth bass are what dreams are made of. “Lake O” needs no introduction for those familiar with the bass fishing world. Black bass in Florida have a long and storied history. Bass anglers across the country can thank Florida and those early fishery managers who had the foresight to protect largemouth bass. The early years of the 20th century saw bass population depleted due to their importance as a food source and no regulations. As a result, the 1926 Black Bass Act was passed to restrict interstate commerce of bass and allowed states to designate them as a gamefish. These restrictions and future
By Rex Hannon
regulations limited commercial harvest and sale and increased their value as a sport fish. By mid-century, large reservoirs across the U.S. were built to accommodate the growing need for electric power. These were prime locations for bass stocking and management programs. Today, largemouth bass have been successfully exported worldwide. The economic impact is impressive; bass fishing is a $60 billion industry. Today’s Florida offers the best bass fishing on the planet. Lake Okeechobee is considered the pinnacle here, but trophy fish can be found in the countless lakes, ponds and canals that are readily available to any angler almost everywhere in the state. There is no need to travel to exotic locations or plan a vacation around fishing for monster largemouths. With a little research and some scouting, you can find them in your hometown, and often in your own neighborhood. Florida largemouth bass are a hardy species, and you can target them in a wide range of habitat and water qualities. I have caught largemouths and snook in the same canals and ponds. This speaks to the adaptability of both species. There has never been a better time to be an angler. Anglers today have access to many species
that in the past would have required a trip to far away and exotic locations. Native Florida bass have not only become a sought-after species for sport, they are an economic generator for future generations. There are anglers worldwide who dream of fishing Florida for a trophy bass of a lifetime. Whether you’re an avid angler or just someone who wets a line when time permits, today’s Florida offers something for everyone.
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MARCH 2022
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Outrage Wins Slow Pelican Yacht Club Invitational By Ed Killer for CAM
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Dougherty fished with longtime friends Mike Haley, Eric Nabreski, Bob Nabreski and Mike Steele along with mate Ronnie Davis. The team also won two daily awards. The key to their victory, Dougherty said, was hooking multiples. “We caught a triple-header Saturday out of about eight fish that came up in our bait spread. Then we put the baits back out and caught one more,” he said. “The guys did a great job in the cockpit catching almost everything we saw this week.” Frequent tournament winner Cowpoke led by Capt. Mike Brady of Fort Pierce and owned by Cruiser and Christy Crews of Avon Park finished runner-up with eight sailfish.
Team Outrage, winners of the 2022 Pelican Yacht Club Invitational Billfish Tournament. PHOTO CREDIT: Peter Tyson.
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oats fishing the waters of the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of the Treasure Coast had epic sailfishing the first week of February. One boat had 14 catches of 22 sailfish bites. Another had 22 catches of 35 sailfish bites. Too bad the final tournament of the 2021-2022 calendar finished about two weeks prior. The annual Pelican Yacht Club Invitational Billfish Tournament hosted a fleet of 19 fishing teams in its Fort Pierce marina Jan. 9-15. Unfortunately, the sailfish decided not to participate. Teams fished three of a possible five days and combined to catch 77 sailfish. Yeah, not awesome. Apparently, the fish were still well to the north. Outrage, a first time Pelican Yacht Club invitational entry, came out on top catching and releasing 12 sailfish fishing. Owner and captain John Dougherty of Philadelphia said his team has been a regular on the Palm Beach circuit, and fishes events in the Mid-Atlantic states, and always fishes dead bait trolling methods.
PELICAN YACHT CLUB INVITATIONAL RESULTS 12 sailfish, Outrage, Capt. John Dougherty; 9, Cowpoke, Capt. Mike Brady; 8, Lo Que Sea, Capt. Garrett Yarbrough; Fleet totals - 77 sailfish by 19 boats.
Heading out the Ft. Pierce Inlet.
® © © _
PHOTO PROVIDED by Ed Killer.
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MARCH 2022
TREASURE COAST 1
Florida Fish and Wildlife
FWC
news updates
UPDATE ON EAST COAST MANATEE MORTALITY EVENT
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ith both cooler air and water temperatures throughout the state in January and February, manatees gathered in large numbers at many warm water sites. The last week of January, FWC staff estimated there were almost 400 manatees in the supplemental feeding trial area of the Temporary Field Response Station in the Indian River Lagoon. Because this trial effort is a management action that has not been attempted before, FWC does not know how much vegetation individual manatees might consume. One of the goals of this action was to reduce manatee mortality. It will not eliminate it. Unfortunately, with the cooler temperatures, FWC Research staff continue to see a rise in the number of manatee carcasses. FWC Research continues to work on manatee carcass recovery operations in coastal waterways. Necropsy teams are investigating manatee health through sampling of select carcasses. The majority of manatee carcasses continue to be in the East Central and Southeast Florida regions. Staff continue to focus on rescuing animals in need of assistance. They are also working with the Manatee Rescue & Rehabilitation Partnership to release rehabilitated manatees into suitable habitat, which will free up room for recently rescued animals at critical care facilities. Ways you can help manatees: • Call FWC’s Wildlife Alert toll-free number: 1-888-404-FWCC (1-888-
Tagged manatee in warm-water canal. During winter, manatees aggregate in canals that provide warm water. These canals are called passive thermal basins due to their ability to retain warmer water temperatures than the bays and rivers around them. PHOTO CREDIT: FWC/Ann Spellman.
404-3922) or #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone if you see a sick, injured, dead or tagged manatee. • Boaters will find them easier to spot if they wear polarized sunglasses and keep a lookout for signs of manatees such as the circular “footprints” they trace on the top of the water or their snouts sticking up out the water. • Look, but don’t touch manatees. Keep your distance when boating, even if you are steering a canoe, kayak or paddleboard. Be a good role model for others so that they learn how to watch and enjoy manatees without disturbing the animals. To learn more visit myfwc.com/research/manatee/rescue-mortality-response.
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Many hundred during our coas
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Flock of Birds on the Beach? Walk Around, Please. Let birds rest by walking around a flock! Many shorebirds and seabirds fly hundreds, or even thousands of miles during winter migration and rely on our coasts to rest and restore their energy. When people get too close, it can cause birds to fly and use their important energy reserves. Repeatedly causing them to fly can threaten their survival. Walking around a resting flock helps birds conserve energy and reach their migration destination. Learn more from the Florida Shorebird Alliance. (https://flshorebirdalliance.org/)
MARCH FISHING CONDITIONS
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Many shorebirds and seabirds fly hundreds, or even thousands of miles during winter migration and rely on our coasts to rest and restore energy. PHOTO CREDIT: FWC/Carole Rizkalla.
March 1
GOOD
Morning
March 21
BEST
Evening
March 2
GOOD
Evening
March 22
POOR
Evening
March 3
POOR
Evening
March 23
POOR
Evening
March 4
POOR
Evening
March 24
FAIR
Evening
March 5
POOR
Evening
March 25
FAIR
Morning
March 6
FAIR
Evening
March 26
GOOD
Morning Morning
March 7
FAIR
Evening
March 27
GOOD
March 8
POOR
Evening
March 28
GOOD
Morning
March 9
POOR
Evening
March 29
BEST
Morning
March 10
POOR
Morning
March 30
GOOD
Morning
March 11
BEST
Morning
March 31
POOR
Morning
March 12
BEST
Morning
March 13
POOR
Morning
March 14
POOR
Morning
March 15
FAIR
Morning
March 16
GOOD
Morning
March 17
GOOD
Morning
March 18
FAIR
Evening
March 19
FAIR
Evening
March 20
BEST
Evening
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’ 2022 Almanac
TREASURE COAST
COASTAL ANGLER PUBLISHERS GARY & MISTI GUERTIN SALES GARY GUERTIN EDITOR/DIGITAL CONTENT MISTI GUERTIN GRAPHIC DESIGN LAURA KELLY CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Capt. Gus Brugger Capt. Rocky Carbia Michael Conner Capt. Scott Fawcett Capt. Cole Hazellief Capt. Colton Hester Ed Killer Capt. Michael Mauri Capt. Giles Murphy Brian Nelli Jim Oppenborn Capt. Nate Shellen Capt. Adam White Capt. Terry Wildey Steve Wood
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MARCH 2022
TREASURE COAST 3
FISHING FORECASTS
MARTIN COUNTY OFFSHORE
Capt. Scott Fawcett Off the Chain Fishing Charters (772) 285-1055 fishscottyf@bellsouth.net offthechainfishing.com
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ollowing one of the mildest winters I’ve experienced in my 35 plus years living here, I’m not sure what this March has in store for us. “Marchinal” weather is almost a certain, but if the winds stay out of the north that could be a good thing continuing the southern migration. With water warmer than normal, I’m expecting an early run of mahi this March when conditions are right. Color changes, temperature breaks, current rips and pieces of float should be holding. I’ve noticed a decline in our flying fish population and also amount of sargassum weed lately, but both are obviously good indicators of life and good areas to try when found. There’s been a big push for mahi regulation changes, but amazingly
Dan and Renee McDougal and in-laws Steve and Karen with a nice catch of mahi and Steve’s first sailfish on a morning trip last month. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Scott Fawcett.
enough they haven’t made any yet. Please take it upon yourself to selfregulate; keeping only what you’re going to eat, releasing small fish and females especially. The sailfish season has become a year-round thing lately with late spring and summer being the best over the last few years. I expect
this March we’ll have a pretty good showing of sails along with other pelagic stuff. Trolling and live baiting both work well leading up to the summer live bait bite, I strongly recommend a dredge teaser. A Fish Razr strip teaser or a rubber fish dredge made up of RonZ rubber fish are what I use.
I’ve been live baiting a lot lately and made the switch over to Tigress Kites which I’m extremely happy with. They fly in virtually no wind, when we have that scenario, and are extremely responsive when steering them with weights in average to windy conditions. I also have a couple of their Trident Cup Holder combos. It really makes it easy having everything in arms reach to and helps to move the entire spread around the boat when drifting or chasing fish. This year the fishing has been better a little deeper than in years past, so don’t be afraid to slide out beyond the reefs. I’ve been spending most of my time lately out as deep as 175-250 on average and on some days out as deep as 400. Blackfin tuna, wahoo and kings all usually fire off in April but I’m guessing that this year we’ll see a good amount of them in March. The Hill, the Pinnacles, The Ledge and the Peanut are all good places to target them trolling, live baiting or even jigging. March has always been a pretty good month, this year I expect it to be even better than usual. Fingers crossed... Whatever you decide to do this March I hope your next fishing trip is Off The Chain! Give me a call at (772) 285-1055 to set up your next fishing adventure.
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MARCH 2022
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is d this m arriva snapp prevai and w of bo be cau wreck the o Count Lan up on struct and w box ic mangr repres on str Mutto showi mediu the sp makin the na 70 to 8
MARTIN COUNTY INSHORE NEARSHORE
Capt. Giles Murphy Stuart Angler Bait & Tackle (772) 288–1219 Fishing Charters (772) 475-4857 giles@stuartangler.com www.stuartangler.com
S
pring season has sprung! Well, not officially until March 20, but it’s a big turning point for our local fishing as baitfish start to show up again along with many migratory fish such as cobia, permit, tarpon and monster jacks. The cobia will be hanging under sharks at shallow wrecks and humps. Simply chum the sharks and pitch weighted baitfish out to swing underneath the sharks. Always be on the lookout for the manta rays migrating down the coast holding cobia as well. It’s a sight to see! March has been my best month
for pompano fishing the last few Kaijay caught and years. The bite just kicked off early released a 28-inch February, so hopefully they stick snook caught on around. Something I have noticed, a live pinfish with I seem to find the biggest schools Capt. Giles. on the flats in the late afternoon as the sun starts getting low. We’ve noticeably skipped more and caught more between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. during any tide. After a very cold winter, it’s possible we will start seeing tarpon cruising down the coast this early in search of warmer water. The river has been full of minnows which could also draw out the juvenile tarpon we find rolling back in the St. Lucie River Forks. These minnows have also brought lots of snook action to the dock lights and bridge lights in the evening. There can be permit spawning on some shallow wrecks 30-to-60 feet of water to drift live crabs while also bottom fishing for snapper and cobia. The sea conditions are a big factor in early spring when deciding PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Giles Murphy. to fish inside or outside the inlet, as every trip is a “scouting” trip starts warming up. But for the most outside in March with favorable to see who’s arriving as the water part, we mainly start working the conditions—and outcomes.
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
MARTIN COUNTY DEEP SEA
Capt. Rocky Carbia Safari I Deep Sea Fishing Pirates Cove Resort and Marina 4307 SE Bayview St. Port Salerno Reservations: (772) 334-4411 Safari-1.com
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isions of cobia will occupy the daydreams of offshore anglers this month. Along with an expected arrival of a body of cobes, solid snapper fishing will continue to prevail through the days of March and will highlight the diversity of bottom dwelling fish that can be caught among the many reefs, wrecks, and snags that lay beneath the offshore waters 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 fish) making their presence known along the naturally occurring reef line in 70 to 80 feet of salty liquid.
Cobia dreams will be a reoccurring event for anglers this month, like this pretty dream fish caught aboard the Safari 1. PHOTO CREDIT: Safari 1.
The anchored boat will encompass the best strategy for getting attached to these 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
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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MARCH 2022
TREASURE COAST 5
FISHING FORECASTS
ST. LUCIE COUNTY DEEP SEA
Capt. Cole Hazellief Shock Leader Charters (772) 800-5448 www.shockleaderfishing.com
M
igratory March delivers cobia and mahi madness to the Treasure Coast! The waters off the Treasure Coast are warming up and the Shock Leader is hot in the offshore fishing game! After a record month of cooler bursting catches of snappers, the migratory fish are now moving in closer to shore following the bait fish that are schooling in the warm waters. Consequently, March promises a great opportunity to set a personal best or even a state record for cobia or tripletail, and a good chance for a reel in big mahi-mahi’s. Cobia are aggressive and will take almost anything presented in front of them but prefer a tasty crab or topwater bait. Once a pod pops up, be prepared to cast your bait in front of the cobia and watch it get crushed!
March is a great time to target that personal best snapper. PHOTOS CREDIT: Shock Leader Charters.
Cobia pull like locomotives and can easily spool you unless you are prepared for a heavy-weight fight. Oh, and the current state record sits
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March Mahi Madness!
at 130 pounds! The “three-legged-dog” of the sea, tripletail, can be found inshore, nearshore and in the offshore waters along the Treasure Coast. On the Shock Leader we like to sight fish for tripletails “floating” near weed lines, crab traps, channel markers and other structure while heading to our snapper grounds. Rig up spinning tackle with a live shrimp and a small circle hook and cast toward the sleepy looking three-finned fish. Once hooked up, your northern friends will be dumbfounded by its strange looks and blown away by its fantastic flavor! Mahi-mahi are on the move,
Novice & Experienced Anglers Of All Ages Welcome
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MARCH 2022
streaking by in golden green flashes chasing flying fish, snapping up crabs, and small fish at the top of the water column. The Shock Leader is locked and loaded for reeling in mahis with an irresistible spread of trolling baits and rigs. Keep your trigger finger on the drag and wait for the reels to scream into action once a bull mahi takes the bait. It is an experience you will never forget! March can be unpredictable in ways of winds and weather, so play it safe and book a trip on the Shock Leader for dry ride and phenomenal deep-sea fishing every day of the month. We look forward to seeing you all out there!
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ST. LUCIE COUNTY OFFSHORE
Capt. Colton Hester Sonna Girl Fishing Charters (772) 293-5342 colton@sonnagirlfishing.com www.sonnagirlfishing.com
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hope everyone’s 2022 is starting out great and you already have some fish stories to tell. March is upon us which means the trolling bite will begin picking up and our temperatures will be rising. There are plenty of blackfin tuna to be caught in 120-to-400 foot of water. Troll a cedar plug and small ballyhoo to have the best action. The darker skirts on the ballyhoo and a plain cedar colored cedar plug will provide the best results. Our mahi-mahi are starting to show up as well. Expect fish in the 15-to-30-pound range to begin
showing up in those same depth ranges. You still have a chance at a large resident sailfish as well while fishing for theses mahi. The king fishing on the offshore bar should remain productive. You can troll spoons or use live greenies and blue runners to have the best results. There will be commercial kingfish fleets out locating the fish. If you’re around a commercial kingfish boat, then you’re close to the motherlode of fish. There will be some cobia mixed in with the kingfish around the 65-to80-foot areas so be sure to keep an eye out for them on the surface. Fishing a downrigger down 45-to-50 feet will prove to be crucial in getting one of these fish to bite as well. On the bottom we will see mangrove and mutton snapper active as the water warms this time of year. I generally stay in 70-to-90 foot of water. Anything shallower I do not seem to catch as big of fish. Also, don’t forget grouper season is
or shrimp tipped jigs will keep the rods bent most of the day. Look for the snook fishing to pick up in the shallow water this month. My Capt. Adam White two favorite top water lures are St. Lucie Flats Fishing Charters Zara Spooks or Rapala Skitterwalks (609) 820-6257 for snook. Most days I will utilize topwater until about an hour after www.stlucieflatsfishing.com daybreak then switch to live bait or soft plastics. The docks and spoil can’t believe it’s March already. island points with good current It feels like two weeks ago was break will hold a few fish. Pompano are still in the river and December. We should see the water temps climb to the high 70s this making a good appearance along the month with the warmer weather. surf as well. Working the deeper drop March is typically windy but using the offs with Doc’s Goofy Jigs, sand fleas, or shrimp are all good ways to target pompano. Out in Rand with a nice the surf you will have quite shallow water a bit of tasty bycatch such as snook caught on croakers, whiting, and the a live pilchard. occasional permit. This is prime time for the spinner and black tip shark migration through the Treasure Coast. If you do target them from land, remember that you now need to take a quick course on the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s website and get the Shore-Based Shark Fishing Permit. I like to target them with topwaters or spoons. I am not a big PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Adam White. fan of handling sharks so I wind to your advantage can provide replace all treble hooks with in-line you with some great opportunities single hooks and file the barbs down, making the hook removal process throughout the month. The channel edges will have very quick and easy. Aside from a couple of cold fronts, quite a few drum, sheepshead, and snapper. Live shrimp, FishBites, winter wasn’t so bad this year. With
ST. LUCIE COUNTY INSHORE
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Some nice kingfish caught aboard Sonna Girl Fishing Charters recently! PHOTO CREDIT: Sonna Girl Fishing Charters.
coming up in a couple months so it’s a great time to check your offshore rocks and ledges for fish beginning to stack up. Amberjacks will also begin to be plentiful again as we work our way
to the summer months coming fast. Stay safe out there as the march winds can make for some rough conditions. Tight lines and make some memories!
summer right around the corner, take some time on these windy days to do some basic maintenance. Checking all your wire connections, pumps, navigation lights, and safety gear will
give you peace of mind when heading out throughout the year. The saying “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” should resonate through the boating community.
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MARCH 2022
TREASURE COAST 7
TIGHT-LINES STAY CHARGED UP
FISHING FORECASTS
SEBASTIAN INSHORE
Capt. Gus Brugger Pattern Setter Charters (772) 360-6787 www.WelcomeToSebastian.com
M
arch is a month that is historically excellent for the Sebastian area inshore angler. Warming waters improve snook fishing at Sebastian Inlet and kick start tarpon and snook fishing in the Sebastian River, but the backbone of the inshore fishery in March has been a consistent seatrout and redfish presence. The warming waters and the nighttime movement of the local shrimp population fire up the trout and reds in early spring.
®
fishing will give anglers an edge and March is probably the best month to employ this tactic. Spoil islands are excellent areas to find numbers of trout and reds in March. Their close proximity to the deeper waters of the Intracoastal channel make them excellent places for all types of fish to lay in waiting for the migrating shrimp that use the channel and its current as a highway. A live shrimp fished with a natural drift while wade fishing can be amazingly effective.
SEBASTIAN INLET – Sebastian
Inlet snook fishing should pick up as water temps rise. Bucktails at night and live pinfish and shrimp both day and night are effective. In addition to the snook, Sebastian Inlet will play host to big jack crevalle, redfish, bluefish, pompano, Spanish mackerel, black drum and sheepshead are also available to inlet anglers in March.
SEBASTIAN RIVER – March is a great
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MARCH 2022
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Trip Freeman has his hands full with this trophy tripletail he caught after a 30-minute battle on 10-pound line with no leader. Trip pitched a live shrimp to the behemoth after it was spotted by Daniel Gutherie who drove the boat, netted the fish and supplied the photo. PHOTO CREDIT: Daniel Gutherie.
INDIAN RIVER LAGOON – Trout NEAR SHORE ATLANTIC – The
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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 MirroOlure, MirrOdine plugs and Yo-Zuri 3D minnows are my go-to lures for the Sebastian River. The upper south fork seems to be the first area that juvenile tarpon begin to show themselves. Snook of all sizes are spread throughout the entire river system, but backwater bays and shallow areas that warm quickly with the sun seem to be best places to get them to bite.
and redfish are the main target of 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 4-inch D.O.A. C.A.L. jerk-bait on an ⅛-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
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waters from the beach to a few miles offshore 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 on both bait and artificials with a preference for incoming tides. Boaters keep an eye open for cobia, cruising schools of big jack crevalle as well as bonito and Spanish mackerel chasing minnows. Tight lines!
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this minute r. Trip after it ove the photo.
SEBASTIAN AREA OFFSHORE
Capt. Terry Wildey Big Easy Fishing Charters (772) 538 - 1072 captwildey@bellsouth.net www.bigeasyfishingcharters.com
M
arch at Big Easy Charters is preparation time. We go through all our safety gear, check all bilge pumps, and running and spotlights. Basically, all the things that get overlooked during the rough winter months. We do it now before the weather gets nice and we’re too busy fishing. March should be some awesome fishing. Plenty of cobia all up and down the 85- and 90-foot reefs. They’ll be biting pretty much anything you throw at them, from live pilchards, thread fin, croakers and grunts to jigs. The snapper—mutton, mangrove, and lane— should be fired up too. Don’t overlook the 60-foot reefs as well if the water clears. We’ve had some great mangrove catches in there already in February. Offshore trolling should have some scattered dolphin and wahoo on the color changes, along with the
772-569-2723 North Location: 1803 90TH AVE VERO BEACH, FL 32966
Sally and Rino Peterson with their son Tim with a nice catch of mangroves, lanes and kings.
PHOTO CREDIT: Big Easy Fishing Charters.
occasional blackfin tuna and sailfish. If you’re a smaller boat and don’t want to venture far, there should be some lane snapper and other smaller action around the Sebastian Inlet Sportfishing Association artificial reefs. You can find coordinates to all of these on the internet. There’s some fun fishing on them! Sometimes they hold everything—king and Spanish mackerel, lane and mangrove
772-286-0996 South Location: 2601 SE MIAMI ST STUART, FL 34997
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snapper, and cobia. You might have to scale down to a lighter leader and lead weight. Maybe even pick up some shrimp but it’ll be worth it. Keep in mind this year will be the busiest ever. With the massive influx of people to our area, the impact to our fishery will be incredibly strong. You’ll find you’ll do better to look for places to fish where there are less boats than if you follow the crowd.
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You know the ol’ saying “fortune favors the bold”. Mostly make it safe and make it fun. Keep in mind all the shortages, especially tackle and bait that has to be shipped. This is a good time to hit your local tackle shop and stock up. Hooks, leader, and bait can be as scarce and as important as toilet paper lol. That’s it for now, “Fish On Gotta Go!”
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MARCH 2022
TREASURE COAST 9
KAYAK FISHING FORECAST
Brian Nelli Pushin’ Water Kayak Charters (772) 201-5899 Brian@tckayakfishing.com www.tckayakfishing.com
OFFSHORE: Offshore is about to heat up in the next month. Right now, the dolphin bite has been good as well as some spotty cobia reports down the coast. As usual using live baits such as goggle eyes and pilchards will be your best bet for dolphin and a cruising cobia. Bigger concentrations of cobia can be found bouncing the bottom of the live reef in 60-to-80 feet. Try using a D.O.A. swimming mullet or a three-ounce buck tail jig tipped with a sardine.
INSHORE: Look for the glass
minnow schools to get on some seatrout and snook. The spring mullet run should push more bait into the river this month and really get the bite going. The pompano fishing is getting even better fishing channel edges in the Intracostal. Live shrimp and Goofy jigs are the ticket to putting these guys on ice. Water temps have cooled so fishing later in the day will be good around mangrove shorelines. These areas will hold fish trying to warm up. Right now using a D.O.A. shad tail or MirrOlure MirrOdine are best bets. Sharks are on the flats near the inlets. Grab your favorite cut bait and wore rig for some blacktips and spinners.
Brian Nelli with a tournament winning sailfish.
Justin with a blacktip shark.
Larry doubled up on peacocks. PHOTOS CREDIT: Extreme Kayak Sailfish Tournament.
FRESHWATER: Cold fronts have pushed the water temps down quite a bit the last month. Peacocks will be a little sluggish but still biting. Focus on deeper holes during the cold days and docks and bridges when the sun is high and warm. Clown knifefish don’t seem to mind the cold as much and can be found in the deeper areas as well using live shiners or shad. Check us out 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 2022
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TREASURE COAST MARCH DAY
TIME
1TU 12:51 AM 7:36 AM 1:19 PM 7:52 PM 2W 1:41 AM 8:22 AM 2:06 PM 8:40 PM 3TH 2:28 AM 9:04 AM 2:51 PM 9:25 PM 4F 3:13 AM 9:44 AM 3:34 PM 10:08 PM 5SA 3:56 AM 10:23 AM 4:16 PM 10:50 PM 6SU 4:39 AM 11:00 AM 4:58 PM 11:32 PM 7M 5:22 AM 11:38 AM 5:41 PM 8TU 12:14 AM 6:06 AM 12:17 PM 6:27 PM 9W 1:00 AM 6:55 AM 1:01 PM 7:18 PM 10TH 1:51 AM 7:51 AM 1:52 PM 8:17 PM
HEIGHT -0.54 2.53 -0.29 2.51 -0.56 2.59 -0.41 2.58 -0.53 2.6 -0.47 2.59 -0.43 2.54 -0.47 2.53 -0.29 2.43 -0.4 2.43 -0.12 2.29 -0.29 2.29 0.07 2.13 -0.14 2.12 0.25 1.98 0.01 1.97 0.42 1.84 0.15 1.84 0.54 1.74 0.24
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2:51 AM 8:54 AM 2:54 PM 9:20 PM 3:57 AM 9:57 AM 4:01 PM 10:19 PM 5:59 AM 11:53 AM 6:05 PM 12:11 AM 6:52 AM 12:42 PM 7:00 PM 12:58 AM 7:38 AM 1:25 PM 7:49 PM 1:41 AM 8:20 AM 2:04 PM 8:35 PM 2:22 AM 8:59 AM 2:42 PM 9:18 PM 3:01 AM 9:38 AM 3:20 PM 10:00 PM 3:42 AM 10:16 AM 3:59 PM 10:44 PM 4:23 AM 10:56 AM 4:41 PM 11:28 PM 5:07 AM 11:37 AM 5:25 PM
1.77 0.6 1.69 0.26 1.77 0.59 1.71 0.23 1.85 0.5 1.8 0.14 1.98 0.37 1.94 0.03 2.13 0.21 2.11 -0.07 2.27 0.03 2.27 -0.16 2.37 -0.14 2.42 -0.22 2.44 -0.28 2.53 -0.23 2.47 -0.39 2.6 -0.2 2.45 -0.45 2.6 -0.12 2.4 -0.44
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 L
22TU 12:16 AM 5:55 AM 12:22 PM 6:15 PM 23W 1:07 AM 6:48 AM 1:12 PM 7:12 PM 24TH 2:06 AM 7:48 AM 2:11 PM 8:17 PM 25F 3:11 AM 8:58 AM 3:21 PM 9:29 PM 26SA 4:22 AM 10:10 AM 4:36 PM 10:41 PM 27SU 5:32 AM 11:18 AM 5:48 PM 11:46 PM 28M 6:33 AM 12:19 PM 6:52 PM 29TU 12:44 AM 7:27 AM 1:12 PM 7:47 PM 30W 1:36 AM 8:14 AM 1:59 PM 8:36 PM 31TH 2:23 AM 8:56 AM 2:43 PM 9:21 PM
2.54 0 2.32 -0.38 2.44 0.14 2.23 -0.27 2.32 0.27 2.14 -0.16 2.23 0.35 2.08 -0.09 2.2 0.34 2.1 -0.08 2.25 0.24 2.21 -0.13 2.35 0.09 2.35 -0.19 2.46 -0.08 2.5 -0.23 2.55 -0.23 2.62 -0.24 2.59 -0.33 2.68
SEBASTIAN (INLET)
VERO (OCEAN)
FORT PIERCE
TIME OFFSET High Tide -48 min Low Tide -24 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide .93 feet Low Tide 1.0 foot
TIME OFFSET High Tide -55 min Low Tide -35 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide 1.45 feet Low Tide 1.36 feet
TIME OFFSET High Tide -31 min Low Tide -18 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide 1.14 feet Low Tide 1.50 feet
JENSEN BEACH (INDIAN RIVER)
ST. LUCIE INLET
JUPITER INLET
TIME OFFSET High Tide +55 Low Tide +1 hr; 42 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide 1 foot Low Tide .50 feet
TIME OFFSET High Tide -10 min Low Tide -9 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide 1.08 feet Low Tide 1.42 feet
TIME OFFSET High Tide +2 hrs; 17 min Low Tide +3 hrs; 4 min HEIGHT OFFSET High Tide .48 feet Low Tide .92 feet
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MARCH 2022
TREASURE COAST 11
FISHING FORECASTS
LAKE OKEECHOBEE
Capt. Nate Shellen Shellen Guide Service Okeechobee Bass Fishing Guides/Charters (863) 357-0892 sjmike7@aol.com OkeechobeeBassFishing.com FellsmereResevoirBassFishing.com
worms, flukes, spinnerbaits, Skinny Dippers, Big Easy’s, and Wacky Worms are all picking up bites. More big bass fall prey to live wild shiners than all the artificial baits combined; average catch rates vary from 10-to20 bass per trip, and we have even landed a few in the 10-pound range. Panfish time is right around the corner! Normally, shellcrackers are the first to show up, looking to spawn traditionally in March, but sometimes as early as a late February moon phase. Bluegills will not be
I
t’s the most wonderful time of the year for fishing! Most of the First two fish of the cold weather is behind us and as day were these two the season progresses and the water beautiful largemouth warms up, the artificial bite will bass caught by Lelia be turning on. Local Okeechobee Armstrong from anglers and visitors have been Wilmington, NC, on a experiencing great bass fishing this cold 47-degree morning. winter. We see the bass in traditional One fish weighed in at 7-pounds and 2-ounces, areas like Grassy Island, Tin House and the other weighed Cove, and Indian Prairie. Also, in at 10-pounds and we see good bass fishing on the 6-ounces. Great eastern side of the lake, all the way work Lelia! south down to J&S Fish Camp. All anglers are catching fish with wild shiners, and for more skilled anglers, far behind the shellcrackers, often spawn. Red worms, crickets, and of topwater baits, 10-inch plastic using the same bedding areas to course, grass shrimp are the primary
PHOTOS CREDIT: Capt. Nate Shellen.
baits for catching large numbers of panfish. Simple rigs are best for pan fishing; we use jig poles, primarily with 8-pound test line, a small hook and a tiny bobber to dip our bait into holes found in the cover or along the canal edges. The MLF Toyota series took place on Lake Okeechobee Feb. 3-5. Many of today’s top pros were fishing this tournament and many have experienced big bags and big checks on this lake. Rob Branagh from Palm Bay cashed a 65k check with his final bag over 19 pounds.
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took b. 3-5. fishing have checks m Palm s final
DIVING FORECAST
Steve Wood Deep Six Watersports - Stuart (772) 288-3999 Stuart (772) 562-2883 Vero Steve.wood@deepsix.com www.deepsixintl.com
L
ast call for lobster! Season closes at the end of the month and March is a great way to stock up for the summer. Care should be taken while handling bugs this time of year since eggs bearing females are common. Pregnant lobster are easy to identify even before removing them from the reef since they usually keep their tail curled up, protecting the eggs underneath. Consider using a net or lobster snare to minimize damage during capture so released females have a higher chance of survival. 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
Lionfish are another great option to put fish on the table. Many consider lionfish cerviche one of the best ways to prepare the invasive species. PHOTO CREDIT: Drew McArthur/ Shutterstock.
to shore but after a few days of calm conditions this turbidity settles down and clearwater returns. On incoming tide, clear water is reaching far inshore to the Stuart sandbar. Snorkeling can be quite good here along the mangroves and some of the deep edges of the spoil islands just south of the Stuart Causeway. Remember a snorkel is considered a ‘breathing apparatus’ and requires use of a dive flag. Spearfishermen have a few options this month despite grouper
and hogfish being closed and cobia are usually top of the list. These fish are strong fish and hard on equipment so seasoned divers usually carry extra shafts on board. Consider keeping them pre-rigged with mono ready to go in case one gets lost or bent during the struggle to get back in the game quickly. Deep Six stocks up on shafts this time of year in anticipation of cobia season so divers have options if a shaft is lost while offshore. Lionfish are another great option
to put fish on the table when other species are scarce. Treasure Coast divers have an advantage over popular reefs to the south off Palm Beach since there are less divers overall and lionfish tend to be plentiful. A good game plan would be to survey a reef or wreck for large snapper or cobia for the first 5-to-10 minutes of a dive and then switch gears to target lionfish for the rest of the dive if no one else is home. Many consider lionfish ceviche one of the best ways to prepare them.
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VERO BEACH • 772-562-2883 STUART • 772-692-2747 416 21st St., Vero Beach, FL 32960 2525 NW Federal Hwy., Stuart, FL 34994 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM
MARCH 2022
TREASURE COAST 13
Fly Fishing Corner
Finally, They’re Back!
By Capt. Michael Mauri
A
fter over two years, I finally got my European customers back. The first who came back here is actually a customer who has become a really good friend over the years. At 6-foot 6-inches and weighing in at 230 pounds, this German loves to fly fish for big fish. Unfortunately, when he came back the third week in January, we faced some pretty cold temperatures. After a day or two playing with some snook he was ready for some more action, he told me. The cold weather and the time of the year didn’t give us too many options but there was one I really wanted him to experience. Blacktip
It is great to see our European friends and guests returning to the States for some great fly fishing action! PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Michael Mauri.
and or spinner shark, one of my favorite B-Plans which will wear out even the most badass fisherman. The next day started with a quick run to catch some Spanish
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mackerel. I take a lot of pride in fishing a clean fly without cheating however, some days it’s necessary to chum to get these sharks fired up. It didn’t take very long, and we were loaded with some Spanish for bait and a few minutes later we arrived after a short boat ride at the shark spot. Chum out and a quick explanation what will happen for my German friend and then waiting. I want to see these sharks coming in hot before casting the fly to them. It did take way longer than expected that day but finally one shark showed up. Eckhardt put the fly right in front of him but nothing. Suddenly and out of nowhere a second shark showed up and took that fly so fast and hard that Eckhardt nearly lost his balance and went overboard while
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MARCH 2022
Capt. Michael Mauri www.mauriflyfishing.com michael@mauriflyfishing.com (772) 485-3321
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setting the hook. This shark went mental, jumping all over the place and ripping line off the reel like a freight train on steroids and man did I enjoy this! Watching my friend getting torn apart in bits and pieces while trying to survive this fight just made my day, actually my whole cold week. Long story short, we landed this shark after a 20-minute hard battle. Quick picture and fast and strong release. The last time I saw my friend that exhausted after fighting a fish was close to three years ago fighting three giant jacks back to back. Welcome back my friend!
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TREASURE COAST 15
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t should not shock anyone, especially anglers who plainly see the unmistakable decline of Treasure Coast waterways, and the Indian River Lagoon in particular, that state government has failed in myriad ways. And it should shock no one to hear that a handful of state senators slipped “water policy amendments” into a general appropriations budget bill late on a Friday afternoon when even the most watchful water advocates were heading home for the weekend. This is the case with Senate Bill 2508, one that became known to a tiny percentage of the general public on Monday morning, Feb. 7. And one that places demands on the governing board of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), an otherwise responsible pro-water agency that was literally as blindsided as Indian Riverkeeper, Captains for Clean Water, Friends of the Everglades, Everglades Foundation, and others. The bill, sponsored by Senator Ben Albritton (R), is 25 pages long, so there are plenty of hiding places for policy changes that threaten to undo the hard work of the Army Corps of Engineers in formulating the recently completed Lake Okeechobee Systems Operating Manual (LOSOM) that is a marked improvement over the original, flawed LORS Lake management plan that blatantly favored agricultural interests over millions of coastal residents, many of whom derive their incomes from water-related industries. Such as recreation fishing. Such as real estate. Such as tourism. LOSOM as written in its final
form is not perfect, but it will reduce polluted Lake Okeechobee discharges to both the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries by 37 percent and send as much as three times as much water south to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay. This bad bill, which passed on the afternoon of Feb. 9 by a wide margin, on the watch of basically clueless state Senators, basically tells the SFWMD that it shall allocate irrigation water to agricultural interests no matter what the water level is in Lake. If it’s low, in the water shortage stage in dry season, it appears the District is expected to provide all the water growers south if the Lake want. The Everglades comes in a distant second, again. And if the District balks, it appears that the state legislators will close the purse strings and deny the agency funds needed to complete vital water projects such as the Everglades Agricultural Area reservoir and cleaning marsh. Most of the panel of Senators were the ones who voted in favor, in fact unanimously, to pass Senate Bill 10 (the Joe Negron bill) that made the reservoir completion law. So what happened? Heavy lobbying happened, that’s what! Indian Riverkeeper opposes 2508, not to mention the sneaky shenanigans of those elected officials who rammed this legislation through. They should be ashamed of their knee-jerk votes due to the negative impact the bill could have on clean water, public health and our economy in Florida. Some of the worse facets of this bill include the likelihood that it will lead to more toxic algae blooms on Lake Okeechobee, the St. Lucie and
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Caloosahatchee rivers in wet times, and will further starve Florida Bay of the clean, fresh water it needs for salinity balance that sustains healthy seagrasses. Also buried in the pages of the bill is the fact It would delegate some wetland “dredge and fill” permit reviews to utility companies such as FPL and Duke Energy. That’s akin to giving drivers the right to decide whether they were actually speeding after an officer pulls them over. It simply picks winners and losers on Everglades funding, as has been the case for decades of bad District boards, some members of which were overly friendly to Big Sugar. The bill sponsors are enamored with certain projects in the funding chain, especially the scientifically questionable Aquifer Storage and Recovery wells that are central to the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project. Soon-to-be Senate President Senate Wilton Simpson (an egg farmer) recently said he “made a big mistake” when he voted for the EAA reservoir. Senator Ben Albritton does not hide his disdain for the EAA reservoir, despite the fact that it is a central part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) signed into law back in year 2000.
Some of the worse facets of this bill include the likelihood that it will lead to more toxic algae blooms on Lake Okeechobee, the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers in wet times. PHOTO CREDIT: droneworldaventure.com/Shutterstock.
Language in this bill forces the South Florida Water Management District to keep former water-supply promises in the new Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual. Keep in mind that around 95 percent of Lake O’s permitted water is allocated to the EAA growers. Now that this bad bill has passed, the South Florida Water Management District is required to certify to the President of the Florida Senate and Speaker of the Florida House that their recommendations for Lake O water-level management does not decrease the amount of Lake water
for existing legal users, or adversely impact them in any way. As we see it, it is the same old song—growers in the heart of the Everglades see no adversity whatsoever while Lake O and the downstream estuaries suffer further. A higher Lake in dry season means a disastrously high lake when the rains return. High lake levels harm the ecology of the lake, and makes discharges to the St. Lucie, the Caloosahatchee and Lake Worth Lagoon more likely. When Senator Ben Albritton was asked why the South Florida
Water Management District was not consulted before this bill was filed, his attitude and disregard to your fishing waters was on full display when he said, “We are the Legislature. We write the laws.”
About that IRL Seagrass (The following letter to the editors of TCPalm was written by Indian Riverkeeper Mike Conner and appeared on Jan. 21.)
Some reprehensible pieces of legislation are like vampires: They
SEE RIVERKEEPER...................... PAGE 21
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The Last One will be renamed the Capt. Patrick Price Reef. It will be deployed south of the 420-foot Aftersome Reef which was deployed on December 4, 2021 and the 85-foot Blake Charron Foundation Reef which was deployed on September 25, 2021.
St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Update:
NEW ARTIFICIAL REEF TO HONOR CAPT. PATRICK PRICE
T
he St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program has been offered two large metal vessels for deployment on the Fort Pierce Sportfishing Club Artificial Reef Site. The 98-foot Last One and the 65-foot Spirit of Palm Beach have both been prepared by the Martin County Anglers Club Reef Fund and approved for artificial reef deployment by the United States Coast Guard (USCG). The USCG has also approved the program’s float plan for sinking these vessels. The vessels will be deployed on St. Lucie County’s Fort Pierce Sportfishing Club artificial reef site by McCulley Marine Services to honor the late Capt. Patrick Price but the project could not have been accomplished without the work of David Powell, Vice-President of the MCAC Reef Fund. Mr. Powell gathered sponsorships from anonymous donors whose funds were used to help clean and sink the boats. Capt. Price was a highly respected charter captain who was also known for his assistance to the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Also instrumental was Willis Custom Yachts in Stuart where both boats are being held until deployment. The two ships will be deployed to create habitat for fishes in deep water (180 feet) and shallower water (105 feet) feet to benefit both fishers and divers, something that people who knew Capt. Price think he would have liked. The Last One will be renamed the Capt. Patrick Price Reef and the Spirit of Palm Beach will be renamed the Daymaker Reef, subject to approval by the St. Lucie County Board 18 TREASURE COAST
MARCH 2022
of County Commissioners. The Last One will be deployed south of the 420-foot Aftersome Reef which was deployed on December 4, 2021 (see the January 2022 edition of Coastal Angler Magazine) and the 85-foot Blake Charron Foundation Reef which was deployed on September 25, 2021 (see the November 2021 edition of Coastal Angler Magazine). It is hoped that these three reefs will benefit such deepwater species as the imperiled Warsaw grouper (Epinephelus nigritus), scamp (Mycteroperca phenax), and the tiger grouper (Mycteroperca tigris) which has been found only once on St. Lucie County’s artificial reefs by researchers at Florida Atlantic University’s Harbour Branch Oceanographic Institute (FAU-HBOI). FAU-HBOI collected much useful information on St. Lucie County’s mesophotic (deepwater) artificial reefs that has proved instrumental in deploying additional vessels at depths of 100 to 200 feet. The Spirit of Palm Beach will be deployed in shallower water near the 185-foot CCA – Curtis Bostick Reef (see August and September 2019 issues of Coastal Angler Magazine). It is hoped that this reef will benefits such species as gag (Mycteropera microlepis) and amberjack (Seriola dumerilii). Sinking the st in shallow water required the MCAC Reef Fund to add 30 tons of concrete into this vessel. Providing diverse habitats over a wide range of locations and depths is important to maintaining fish stocks throughout the region. The Marine Cleanup Initiative has also been a part of the Patrick Price reefs. Volunteers from
The Spirit of Palm Beach will be deployed in water near the 185-foot CCA – Curtis Bostick Reef and be renamed the Daymaker Reef. PHOTOS CREDIT: St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program.
MCII have helped remove objects from both boats to be repurposed into artwork by the St. Lucie Cultural Alliance. Putting the “Art” in artificial reefs will help others to get involved in the artificial reefing process. A book is being prepared for Patrick Price’s widow and son. Anyone wishing to contribute is welcome to send an email of memories of Capt. Price.
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For more information on the St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program or to give personal experiences with Patrick Price, contact Jim Oppenborn, St. Lucie County Coastal Resources Coordinator, at oppenbornj@stlucieco.org or (772) 462-1713. For information on creating or buying pieces of artificial reef artwork, please contact Alyona Aleksandra Ushe at alyona@artstlucie.org.
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RIVERKEEPER.................. FROM PAGE 17 meadows, which results in a net loss rise in the dark, and just when you think a bad bill is dead, it’s back on the prowl. House Bill 349, introduced by Reps. Tyler Sirois (R-Merritt Island) and Toby Overdorf (R-Palm City), calls for a “seagrass mitigation bank.” Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez (R-Doral) introduced a Senate companion, SB 198. If developers seek permits for projects that destroy seagrasses, they will have the option of buying credits in a mitigation bank to cover costs of seagrass restoration projects elsewhere, potentially even in other bodies of water. There aren’t many seagrass restoration success stories in Florida. In-kind mitigation – projects that create identical habitats in similar locations – is difficult. Meadows consist of multiple species. It may be impossible or cost-prohibitive to replicate that diversity, especially elsewhere in different conditions. Plus, it takes cleaner water to start seagrass beds than to support established plants. Most Florida waters that support (or supported) seagrass meadows are in decline. Second, “preservation credits” could be issued to protect existing
of seagrass due to the developers’ impacts. Third, who makes sure the mitigation is successful, and with what criteria for success? Who is liable when a project falls short or fails? It’s mind-boggling that all three politicians represent districts where seagrass die-offs have hurt constituents, our businesses, and our resilience. We urge them to withdraw this bill, which will blemish the good work that has come out of Florida’s legislature through bankrolling Everglades Restoration and wastewater/ stormwater infrastructure. The sponsors should put a stake through the heart of this legislative vampire. At the time of this writing, it is not known if this mitigation bill will have advanced through legislative committees to a final vote on the floor. Treasure Coast CAM readers can make their feelings known to the following bill sponsor by asking for retraction of this bill: Rep. Toby Overdorf, (772) 221-4961; toby. overdorf@myfloridahouse.gov. For more information, visit www.theindianriverkeeper.org or call Mike Conner at 772-521-1882.
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USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 59 Officers Elected M
embers of U.S. Coast Guard Flotilla 59 located in Stuart, Florida elected their new leaders for 2022. The two senior Officers of each Flotilla are known as the “bridge” honoring the seagoing nature of the U.S. Coast Guard. The 2022 Bridge consists of Mr. Kevin Gilbert who assumes the role of Flotilla Commander and Ms. Sheryl O’Neil, the new Vice Flotilla Commander. The U.S. Coast Guard has an unusual tasking among the other United States military services in that they provide armed policing of the nations near shore waters but also have the responsibility to educate the boating public and for the inspection of vessels in those waters. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary was created in 1939 to augment the active-duty sailors by aiding in
the non-armed requirements of the U.S. Coast Guard. The new Bridge Officers’ priorities center around recreational boating safety. Boating safety starts and ends with the boat operator. This year Flotilla 59 is working to provide flexible formats to reach as many boat operators in Martin County as possible. Adapting courses and presentations to fit the new “normal” will include more off-site training and exploring new modes of education. The Auxiliary’s job is to ensure boat operators and their vessels are topnotch. Helping boaters return safely from a day on the water is the Flotilla’s overarching goal. Flotilla 59’s building is in Sandsprit Park and the membership consists of over 50 dedicated
individuals who provide boater education, training and penalty free vessel inspections. All U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliarists fall under the Department of Homeland Security and serve our nation and our local community in this very important job of recreational boating safety. One of the basic tenets of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is fellowship among its members. The Auxiliary is always looking for new members to join and enjoy the sense of achievement and comradery. Monthly meetings are held on the second Tuesday of the month at 7 p.m. For more information, visit cgaux59.org.info, call (772) 288-0509 or email Flotilla59@gmail.com.
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Shannon Miller caught this 5-pound Spanish mackerel while trolling a spoon along the channel edges of the Fort Pierce Inlet.
Liam Payne with an awesome bowfin.
PHOTO SUBMITTED by Capt. Joe Ward.
PHOTO CREDIT: William Payne.
Cherlyn Arnold with a 26-inch redfish caught in Vero Beach while working a D.O.A. jerk bait paired with an eyestrike jig head. PHOTO CREDIT: Lewis Arnold.
Gavin Shelt, 13, and Landon Shelt, 10, landed this sailfish in 160 feet of water off Stuart. PHOTO CREDIT: Rob Shelt.
Rocky Russ with a 34-inch Indian River Lagoon snook caught using a live finger mullet fishing the mangrove shorelines on an incoming tide. PHOTO CREDIT: Rocky Russ.
Chase Farmer with his first whiting caught while fishing with his “Pa Pa”, Donnie Farmer, who also caught his personal best pompano—17 inches to the fork. They were using 5-ounce Sputnik Sinkers and Green Fishgum. PHOTO CREDIT: Daniel Farmer.
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By James P. Goss
Pompano Beach Boulevard include a bricked boardwalk, contemporary streetlights, and other eye-catching design elements. The centerpiece continues to be the pier, revamped to resemble a fish: a pompano, of course. At the pier’s eastern end, the rounded shape of the fish’s head features a mouth and an eye gazing southeast. In addition to new wood decking and railings, there are fish prep areas and built-in metal fishing rod holders. Blue sail awnings fly overhead. Artists’ renderings of tropical fish— kingfish, bluefin tuna, false albacore, pinfish, bottlenose dolphin, hammerhead sharks—pop up between the railings. As I wandered the pier, a fisherman adjusting
his lure told me, “I usually get here around seven in the morning and leave around nine. I got here late today. If I catch anything, I’ll be lucky.” As all anglers know, good fishing depends on a variety of fickle factors in addition to the time of day… or night. These include weather (cold fronts, prevailing winds), tides and currents, species’ particular habits and migration patterns. Clear or murky water plays a role, as do reef features and ocean floor contours. Ocean health depends on a delicate balance: an adequate supply of nutrients, minimal pollution and species diversity—including the presence of apex predators like sharks. Another angler had a line in near a small school of needlefish. Hoping to attract Spanish mackerel, he used a Got-Cha lure. He confided, “They like clear water when the air temperature is a little bit chilly.” Over the many years he’s fished the Pompano pier, he’s caught a lot of snapper and hooked three types of sharks: blacktip, reef and nurse. But he hasn’t seen too many pompano around lately. “They don’t like a city named after them,” he joked. In a more serious tone, he wondered about the effects of all the recent construction. To help address this type of environmental concern, contractors added structures to the ocean floor to augment the existing reef. Still, the fisherman said many popular South Florida fishing spots, including the Pompano Beach pier, are getting “fished out.” The challenge of maintaining adequate stocks of fish is an ongoing concern the world over. Along with millions of dollars spent on physical upgrades to the pier itself, habitat work will hopefully ensure the fish keep showing up.
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THE
’HOOS
ARE STILL OUT THERE By CAM Staff
16 FLORIDA
MARCH 2022
W
ahoo are a favorite fish of any angler who has ever been hooked up to one. They are incredibly fast, sleek and powerful. The initial blistering run is enough to hook anyone. With line pouring off the reel, instinct begs you to stanch the flow. Just hold on. The fight is predictable. After that run, the fish will most likely turn back to the boat, shaking its head to throw the hook. Then it’s a sprint to pick up line. In the boat, the beauty of the fish will amaze you. Perfectly camouflaged in blue water, a wahoo’s silvery belly gives way to a dark blue back with undulating cobalt blue bars falling vertically down its sides. If you can look past that weird toothy beak, it is a gorgeous fish. Photos never do it justice, as the color fades as soon as you take them from the water. What doesn’t fade is the excitement this species brings to the table. They are mackerel, but they don’t taste like it. Wahoo meat is snow white, firm and has a mild taste sometimes compared to albacore. It’s a tremendous sportfish that travels in loose schools and sometimes feeds in packs. Find one and you’ll likely find several hanging and feeding near blue water structure. They move and feed with the bait, migrating to stay in the water temps they prefer, 70 degrees and higher. Wahoo are notoriously unpredictable. They are streaky feeders, and might not eat unless time of day, tides and moon phases align just right. Late winter is the best time to catch them off northeast Florida, when they will be feeding on the ledges with a bite that sometimes lasts into April. Expect decent numbers of fish from 35 to 60 pounds, and every year a few fish show up heavier than 80 pounds. Down in South Florida, wahoo can be found on the edge of the Gulf Stream, with peak fishing occurring late spring through summer. During that same time period, anglers in the Keys will be targeting smaller wahoo, averaging 25 pounds, on floating debris. But arguably the best wahoo fishing in this part of the world is the Bahamas. Here there is a shot at triple-digit fish, and good numbers of fish in the 40-pound range are the norm. Winter is best from the northern Bahamas around the Abacos and farther south, around the San Salvador humps. In the Gulf, wahoo season is also in winter, but winter brings with it foul weather. Early spring is a favorite time of many captains because the fish are still around and you can actually get to them. They’ll be hunting in packs and following baitfish. There’s a good chance at some 30- to 50-pounders this time of year, and 80- or 90-pound fish are not unheard of.
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FLORIDA 17
OKEECHOBEE SHORTCUT CLOSED FOR REPAIRS
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oaters making the trip between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico via the shortcut through Lake Okeechobee will be forced to take the long way around for the next couple months. The St. Lucie Lock and Dam was closed and dewatered for maintenance Jan. 4. The “Okeechobee shortcut” is expected to re-open by April. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District also announced temporary closure of some recreational facilities at the St. Lucie Lock and Dam. The St. Lucie Visitor Center, lock observation decks and the St. Lucie North Recreation Area will be closed until the project is complete. The St. Lucie South Campground will remain open. “The safety of our employees, volunteers and visitors remains our top priority. Equipment and materials are currently being staged at the St. Lucie Lock and Dam in preparation for the upcoming dewatering operation and lock repairs,” said Tammy Cleveland, deputy chief of the South Florida Operations. “We know that the St. Lucie Lock and Dam is a very popular recreational area for the local community and visitors. This the first major maintenance to be performed on this lock in 26 years, and we apologize for any inconvenience during this temporary closure.” According to Ed Killer, with Treasure Coast Newspapers, closure of the Okeechobee shortcut creates a roughly 320-mile detour around Florida’s southern tip for mariners travelling between the Atlantic and the Gulf. Last year, more than 3,000 boats passed through the St. Lucie Lock. For more information, visit: www.saj.usace.army.mil/VisitorCenters/.
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To Introduce You to Spring in the Keys
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he transition into spring can be unpredictable, as it brings dramatic changes to the fishery and obeys no written calendar. Migration, water temperatures and spawning create unique variables this time of year. As the exchange of targeted species swings from winter to spring, each day can be an opportunity to pioneer the new season. The fishery can change overnight in the coming weeks, and you never know when you will stumble across an abundance of fish that haven’t been seen in months. The Florida Keys, this month, will see more permit, cobia and pompano, while also welcoming the start of our world-class tarpon fishery. During the seasonal transition, there will be an overlap, when iconic spring species, such as permit and tarpon, will be chewing along with the sailfish that favor the shallow reefs in winter. Permit harvest season closes in the Keys at the end of March. Although the permit is respected as a game fish, and socially encouraged to be released, it does yield fillets of decent size and of excellent tablefare. Targeting permit can be a little more of a challenge than your average “send-out-the-shrimp” fishing. Whether you are sight casting to a school of them or floating a crab over a wreck, their bite is a
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little bit different than most fish. For a drag-screaming, hard-fighting fish, such as the mighty permit, one might expect them to crush the bait with force. However, permit can suck a hook clean, like a ninja cowfish, without drawing much attention. Learning their bite, especially when freelining in heavy current, can take a bit of practice, but it is absolutely worth the investment. Targeting this species offers a little extra for the angler who has it all. They definitely aren’t top of the beginner’s list, but they absolutely should be top of the bucket list. Crabs are king for permit fishing. Hook a crab on the edge of its shell, avoiding any interference with its back two legs, the swimmerets, so that it can move naturally in the water. Sight casting can be productive with a crab on a jighead, but if you just want to soak a crab over a wreck while fishing for other species, skip the jighead and affix a float up the leader. Put the float as far up the leader as you can stand to have it for casting, and I mean the standing-on-the-bow, swinging-the-momentum-like-you’re-fly fishing kind of casting. Combat different current scenarios by adding split-shot to the leader.
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No matter what time of year, the Florida Keys always have an incredible fishery. Each day can produce once-in-a-lifetime sightings of epic species. It is worth noting that regardless of weather, season, time of day, bananas on the boat, or a small zombie apocalypse, the snapper are always snapping! Quinlyn Haddon captains boats with Blue Magic Charters, in Marathon, Florida. Call her at (504) 920-6342 and check her out on social media @captainquinlyn.
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The U.S. Mint Just Struck Morgan Silver Dollars for the First Time in 100 Years!
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t’s been more than 100 years since the last Morgan Silver Dollar was struck for circulation. With a well-earned reputation as the coin that helped build the Wild West, preferred by cowboys, ranchers, outlaws as the “hard currency” they wanted in their saddle bags, the Morgan is one of the most revered, most-collected vintage U.S. Silver Dollars ever. Struck in 90% silver from 1878 to 1904, then again in 1921, these silver dollars came to be known by the name of their designer, George T. Morgan. They were also nicknamed “cartwheels” because of their large weight and size.
Celebrating the 100th Anniversary with Legal Tender Morgans
Honoring the 100th anniversary of the last year the Morgan Silver Dollar was minted, the U.S. Mint struck five different versions in 2021, paying tribute to each of the mints that struck the coin. The coins here honor the historic New Orleans Mint, a U.S. Mint branch from 1838–1861 and again from 1879–1909. These coins, featuring an “O” privy mark, a small differentiating mark, were struck in Philadelphia since the New Orleans Mint no longer exists. These beautiful coins are differO PRIVY MARK ent than the originals for two reasons. First,
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MARCH IS THE TURN-AROUND MONTH
The early part of the month will feature very cold water temps around the inlets and river mouths, and keep the trout, drum (redfish) and flounder a little on the sluggish side, but that doesn’t seem to bother the shad, rock and cats. As a matter of fact, it kicks them into overdrive. It’s not water temperature so much as it is the length of daylight in the beginning of the month, but water temps do come into play by the end Tim Barefoot of March. The end of March will see the big spawning female speckled trout his has been a winter for the books, with cold temps, constant wind and sometimes too much rain keeping us arriving at the inlets and river mouths, and the drum bite will be on from the offshore grounds weekend after weekend. In light of fire. This is the time of year when you stand to catch an egg-filled gator trout, but for goodness sakes, take some this, let’s talk about some of the things that brought a lot of good photos and dimensions/weight us to the dance, the anadromous fish that are coming home and let her go do her spawn. This can be in the month of March. the time of year for some great topwater/ If you live on the East Coast, white and hickory shad, popping cork trout and drum bites. striped bass and sturgeon are coming back to the place There are bites, then there are topwater they were born to spawn. March is traditionally a very bites. It’s exciting fishing to say the least. windy month, so on the days we can’t get offshore, there is March will also produce tuna, a safe haven up in the river for some entertainment. Truly, dolphin and wahoo when you can get some of the best to them. The wind will keep us inside memories I have a lot during March, but whenever the were made up seas lay down enough to get offshore, the river. While go for it. This can be the time to catch a not the best stud wahoo and numbers of tuna. Find table fare, white a temperature break and/or the bait, and and hickory you’ll find the wahoo and tuna. They are shad are right on the move and chewing. up there at I don’t care what the wind is doing, I the top of the can always find somewhere to get a bite entertainment and grin in this turn-around month we list. Other fish call March. that have always been at the top See more from Capt. Tim Barefoot of my favorite spring entertainment list are striped bass (rock) and blue at barefootcatsandtackle.com catfish. They come back to the upper reaches of the river to spawn in and rigandjig.com. large numbers.
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14 NATIONAL
MARCH 2022
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NATIONAL 15
PHOTO BY SEIGO SAITO/B.A.S.S.
At Hartwell, Stage is Set for 2022 Bassmaster Classic By TAM Staff
F
or months the field has been set for the big show. From March 4-6, some of the world’s top professional bass anglers will fish South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell, vying for a championship in the 2022 Bassmaster Classic. Upstate South Carolina will play host to the field of 55 professional anglers as well as hordes of fans, who will attend daily weigh-ins at the Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville and morning takeoffs at Green Pond Landing & Event Center, near Anderson. The annual Bassmaster
Classic Outdoors Expo will take place each day at the Greenville Convention Center. As for the fishing, Hartwell is familiar to the anglers. The 2022 Academy Sports + Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk will mark the fourth time the tournament has been held on the 56,000-acre reservoir. The fishery is renowned for excellent spotted and largemouth bass fishing. Early March is typically a transition period on upstate lakes, when bass begin moving up in preparation for the spawn. Weather will have
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everything to do with how successful anglers will fish. The two normal patterns that set up that time of year are either a deeper bite on ditches and points in 30 to 60 feet of water, or a shallower bite when bass move up into the 5- to 20-foot range to stage next to the spawning flats. The prespawn bite can provide excellent numbers of fish as well as some solid size, which could potentially produce fast action and heavy sacks for Classic competitors. Lake Hartwell’s bass eat a lot of blueback herring, and Hartwell tournaments are responsible for the rise of the underspin as popular bass lure. If the fish are deep, it’s likely underspins, shaky heads and football jigs will see a lot of time in the water. If fish are shallow, jerkbaits, jigs and red crankbaits are Hartwell staples. Each of the three previous Classics have provided action-packed finishes. In 2008, Texas pro Alton Jones Sr. went into the final day with little more than a pound lead, but managed to hold off the rest of the field and claim his only Classic trophy. In 2015, when temperatures dipped as low as 9 degrees, hometown favorite Casey Ashley, of South Carolina, came from behind on the final day to win his only title. Then in 2018, young Alabama pro Jordan Lee jumped from sixth place on the final day to win his second-straight Classic. Fans turned out in droves for all three visits, creating an electric atmosphere for the weigh-ins and packing the Expo all three days. For information on fishing Upcountry South Carolina, visit FishUpcountrySC.com.
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Notes from the field:
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n paper, I was in Switzerland to ski the Alps and eat my weight in fondue. According to some, I was actually there to keep an eye out for Karloff, a rival spy who’d been attempting to rip off a Swiss bank. Walking through Bern’s picturesque Old City, passing Einstein’s house,
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I noticed that I was being followed by a dark figure in a trench coat. No matter how I zigged and zagged through the old cobblestone streets, I couldn’t shake him. Finally, I turned a corner and quickly ducked into an old watch shop. The place looked like it had been there for ages, as did the shopkeeper. Taking me for a customer, the shopkeeper began giving me the full story on why Swiss-made watches are renowned the world over. In 1971, he said, rules were established mandating that any timepiece bearing the “Swiss-made” hallmark must have its mechanics, casing and final inspection take place in Switzerland. Swiss watches are built to last several lifetimes. I smiled, because I knew only Stauer can build Swiss-made watches without it costing a fortune. Now you can also enjoy the precision and accuracy of a Swiss-made sports watch with a moveable bezel. Introducing the Pride of Bern Watch, a timepiece built to keep pace with the underworld of spies. The first time we offered this watch it sold out in TWO DAYS. Finally back in stock after six months, supplies of this quality Swiss-made timepiece are still limited. Get your hands on it before we run out again!
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rom humble beginnings in a home office five years ago, GaugeSaver has flourished on word-of-mouth and happy customers. The company has found great, hardworking friends to help the business grow, and a year ago expanded into a commercial property at 5049 Hwy 17-S in Green Cove Springs, Fla. They fixed up a 1,500-square-foot building for a main office and technician space, and recently constructed a 2,500-square-foot rigging shop. The plan is to grow into this space and offer electronic installs, repairs, etc. Happy customers are the key to GaugeSaver’s growth. Eric Clayton and his wife Tammy believe in their service so much that they both left 25-plus-year IT careers to grow the brand. They now do more than just gauge restorations. They remanufacture replacement parts for Yamaha, Mercury and Suzuki gauges. They restore LCDs for many devices and most major manufacturers including Garmin, Raymarine, Furuno, Simrad, iCOM, Volvo, Honda, Humminbird, SeaDoo, Kawasaki, and more. They can restore almost anything that has an LCD. This includes VHFS, Chartplotters, AutoPilots, Jet Skis and Side-By-Sides. GaugeSaver can even replace LCD assemblies with aftermarket or OEM parts to keep electronics out of landfills. GaugeSaver was founded to extend the lifespan of electronics and save people money. Every week they are learning new ways to do so. They offer Dealer Discounts for friends in the industry. Check out Gaugesaver.com (or drop by and meet the shop dog, Jeb) to see if WWW.GAUGESAVER.COM GaugeSaver can save you money!
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NATIONAL 21
WILD SALMON THREATENED BY INTERBREEDING WITH FARMED FISH
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nterbreeding between farmed salmon and wild populations in Norway is changing the lifecycle of wild salmon, according to a report from the website Phys.org. Researchers with the Norwegian Institute for Nature Research and Rådgivende Biologer studied scale growth patterns in thousands of salmon taken from rivers in Norway from 2010 to 2017. They looked at the impact of escaped farmed salmon breeding with wild salmon by collecting scales from 6,900 adult wild Atlantic salmon in 105 Norwegian rivers. The researchers conducted genetic tests on the scales to learn the genetic history of the fish. The researchers found that both farmed salmon and wild salmon with farmed ancestry mature and age at a faster rate and return to rivers earlier to spawn. It was hypothesized this accelerated maturation process puts salmon at a higher risk of predation because they venture into saltwater earlier, when they are less likely to evade capture by sharks and halibut. Prior studies have indicated that salmon with farmed ancestry are less afraid of predators. The study suggests interbreeding of farmed and wild salmon will result in reductions in wild populations, which has already been observed in some areas. To read the entire report, see phys.org
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FOR REEL
GOOD FISHING Visit Upcountry South Carolina Stop by the South Carolina Lakes booth at the Bassmaster Classic Expo, March 4-6, 2022 at the Greenville Convention Center.
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Lake Hartwell, host of the 2008, 2015, 2018, and 2022 Academy Sports & Outdoors Bassmaster Classic presented by Huk