Coastal Angler Magazine | January 2020 | Treasure Coast Edition by Coastal Angler Magazine

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Winter's

Best Bites

Switch It Up Offshore

PHOTO COURTESY OF DARYN ANDREW WHITE VOLUME 25 â€¢ ISSUE 298

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JANUARY 2020

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12/11/19 4:17 PM

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Photo courtesy of Big Ol’ Fish Guiding Service, bigolfish.com

hether saltwater or fresh, good striper fishing awaits those hearty enough to brave winter on the water. So layer-up, zip into that parka and go. Some of the biggest fish of the year are feeding right now. On the southern end of their fall migration, striped bass are holed up for the winter off North Carolina. They’ll be chowing down and following schools of bait up and down the coast from Wilmington to the Outer Banks. Many years, Oregon Inlet sets up as the epicenter for the bite, but striped bass can be found in most area inlets. The key is to follow the birds and find bass blowing up on menhaden, glass minnows or eels. The action can sometimes come in close enough that surf casters can catch stripers from the beaches of the Outer Banks, but the best bet is to hire a local captain with recent intel and a fast boat. A little farther south, Wilmington offers another option, as stripers pile into the Cape Fear River, where they hold around structure, drop-offs and creekmouths and can be caught on artificials or even flies. These resident fish are a separate group from the highly migratory fish that winter off the Outer Banks. Cape Fear stripers are catch-and-release only, and must be returned to the water immediately. Keep an eye out for tagged stripers swimming these waters. Finally, on freshwater reservoirs across the Southern states and up through the Mid-Atlantic, fisheries stocked with striped bass produce pretty well for anglers this time of year. While smaller schoolie-sized stripers tend to get tough during the coldest temperatures of the year, the larger fish will still feed. The action won’t be as fast as dropping downlines to massive summertime schools, but the fish that do eat tend to be larger. Tactics will vary depending on the fishery, but when water temperatures stabilize or during a warming trend of a few days, the biggest fish in the lake tend to move up shallow—sometimes very shallow— behind schools of small shad. Find the flickering shad, and you’ll find the stripers. Sometimes you’ll see them plucking bait near the surface. Stealth is imperative in catching them, and a soft plastic such as a Fluke will usually out-produce live baits in such situations. It’s easier to cast and slowly retrieve an artificial. Another popular tactic is to cover a lot of water trolling wide spreads of small live baits or pulling an umbrella rig loaded with swimbaits, or both. When prospecting like this, it’s wise to seek out good information on where the stripers are holding. On many lakes they spend winters down by the dam. On others, you might find them way up in the creeks.

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12/10/19 9:01 AM

It’s boat show time! And the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA), which produces 18 boat and sportshows across the country, is investing in more experiences and education than ever to meet the desires of attendees and inspire the next generation of the boating workforce. Attendee favorites will return, too, from fishing ponds to Super Thursdays. Here are some 2020 show season highlights. • With a need for skilled workers in the marine industry (more than 31K open jobs), NMMA boat shows are expanding Boating Career Days, offering the chance for students and job seekers to learn more about opportunities in the boating industry, get career advice from marine professionals and check out job openings. Last year the program attracted more than 550 students across eight shows. In 2020, the program is expanding to 14 markets: New York, Baltimore, St. Louis, Kansas City, Nashville, Louisville, Atlanta, New England, Atlantic City, Minneapolis, Northwest, Miami, Norwalk and Tampa. • New for 2020, NMMA is introducing The Discover Boating Experience (DBX), the “Hub for Boaters,” an educational marketplace that provides space to mingle, enjoy expert seminars, explore new products, learn boat care, discover new technologies, learn to navigate a boat show and more. DBX offers a place to relax and have a drink while enjoying a variety of topics, inspirational stories and live music. • The Progressive Boat House features an Occulus Rift Virtual Reality boat race game, the Annapolis School of Seamanship’s expert seminars and a docking pool with a remote-control boat and helm station to master docking skills. • Returning favorites include free fishing for kids and special deals, like $5 tickets after 5 p.m. and Super Thursday, offering deeper discounts, exclusive pricing and incentives. • Ongoing education for boaters and anglers of all skill levels is a hallmark of NMMA boat shows with free daily seminars.

The Progressive Insurance Miami International Boat Show, Presented by West Marine cruises into the docks at Miami Marine Stadium Feb. 13-17. Great deals and hands-on experience with hundreds of boats and the associated gear are the big annual draw. Highlights of the 2020 boat show include:

• Costa Conservation Village will showcase the work of some of Florida’s leading environmental organizations, such as The Nature Conservancy, Captains for Clean Water, and Costa’s Kick Plastic program.

• Presentations on sustainable seafood from esteemed Chef Allen Susser and an opportunity to get a signed copy of his new cookbook, “Green Fig and Lionfish: Sustainable Caribbean Cooking.”

• Junior Captains Program, where kids ages 13-17 can learn to operate a boat with Annapolis School of Seamanship.

• Boat US on-water training with Intro To Boating, Women on the Water and Precision Docking.

• The Progressive Boathouse, offering boating seminars, a remote-control docking pond and an Oculus Rift Virtual Reality boat race game.

• Wining and dining at three full-service, sit down restaurants at

the Show including: Latin Café, V&E Restaurant Group Showcasing menu items from Havana 1957 & La Cerveceria De Barrio and SuViche featuring select menu items from Novecento.

• For more information, visit www.MiamiBoatShow.com.

For more information and the schedule of 2020 NMMA boat shows, visit to www.boatshows.com. 4

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The easiest way to find bait when you’re ready to go fishing is by using the new Baitfinder App, available for free download on both Apple and Android devices. Bait shops are the best possible resource for local information on what’s biting, and on what bait, to ensure you have the right equipment and knowledge before you head out to target a specific species of fish. Everything about Baitfinder is designed for anglers, by anglers, allowing all bait shops in your area to advertise their bait availability in real-time. There’s no more last-minute anxiety about locating bait or driving all over to locate the bait you’re looking for. Anglers can reserve their bait of choice prior to getting to their favorite bait shop to pick it up, and it’s all easily done on the app! Let your friends know of this free app, and encourage all your local bait shops to enroll at: WWW.BAITFINDER.COM

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By Nick Carter

otivating yourself can be tough when daytime temperatures fall into the low 20s and ice forms on the edges of Southern tailwater trout fisheries. Even on these dam-fed systems, where water temperatures remain relatively consistent, trout become difficult when tiny midges are the primary food source. But there’s a phenomenon that occurs on some tailwaters that makes fishing the cold snaps worth sucking ice out of your guides. It’s called a shad kill. When it happens every fish in the river takes part in the feast. Shad kills are caused by extended cold weather. When air temperatures drop into the teens or lower for several days in a row, baitfish in reservoirs that feed our tailwaters suffer from plummeting water

temps. Either stunned and dying or just diving deep to find more comfortable conditions, shad and blueback herring get sucked into dam turbines. What’s washed out into the tailwater is a mix of chopped up, whole dead, and quivering stunned baitfish. “All of a sudden, they get flushed out into the tailrace. It’s like chumming the river in that upper mile or so below the dam,” said Bill Stranahan, who guides with Southeastern Anglers on Tennessee’s Hiwassee River. “Good browns and rainbows will key in on it. The ones you catch are so stuffed they look like they’re about to pop.” Fed by high-mountain winters on Appalachia Lake, the Hiwassee shad kill is a good one. In the Arkansas Ozarks, the White River sees shad kills almost every year. The Cumberland River in Kentucky and Georgia’s Chattahoochee River below Lake Lanier are two other tailwaters where trout put on the feedbag for these events. But shad kills are not like a hatch you can follow by calendar. It takes rapidly cooling water temps to disorient the numbers of baitfish necessary to be noticeable in the tailrace. During the winter’s hardest freeze, intrepid anglers should hit the water near the dam and watch for activity. “You’ll see them floating down the river stunned or dead,” said Stranahan. “Sometimes you’ll see fish coming up to the surface to swipe at them.” White and flashy are the keys to catching fish during a shad kill. White Zonkers or other bunny flies, white Woolly Buggers, anything that looks like a dead or dying baitfish will work. Stranahan said to match the size of the baitfish you see in the water and to experiment with depth and presentation. Sometimes a jerky retrieve is preferred, while other times a dead drift is the ticket. At times trout will feed on the surface, and some days call for a sinking line to get the fly down. Shad kills can be ephemeral or they can last a couple weeks when conditions are perfect. It’s the kind of thing you have to be on the water to encounter, and when it happens it brings out the biggest fish in the river.

Contact Southeastern Anglers through their website at www.southeasternanglers.com.

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after wrestling it from between the pilings, it turned toward open water. As I felt the battle shift in my favor, the line parted, likely from earlier contact with the pilings. “That can happen when you’re fishing up tight like this,” said our skipper, “but some days you have to dig in to get the big ones. Other times we’ll find them in more open water around oyster bars or in the surf.” Captiva Island, on Florida’s southwest coast, is prime territory for snook, redfish, sea trout, tarpon and a variety of other inshore species. “Our waters produce so well because we have a ton of bait, structure and opportunity here,” said Fischer, proprietor of Tarpon Fischer Charters (http:// www.tarponfischercharters.com). “Pine Island Sound, on the backside of the island, for example, has several passes that allow water and bait to flow in and out. The Peace, Myakka and Caloosahatchee rivers also empty into here. I run a lot of my charters out of South Seas Island Resorts (https://www.southseas. com) at the north end of Captiva, and from there you can be fishing in the sound or the open Gulf in a matter of minutes.” Snook and redfish top 40 inches, tarpon range from chickens to 200 pounds and sea trout are abundant. Those species are resident, noted Fischer, but come December and January, offshore action also kicks in with snapper, sheepshead, grouper, kingfish and cobia, among others. For anglers, these waters call for medium-light spinning tackle. Rig a size 3/0 J-hook or a light jighead on a 2 1/2-foot leader of 30-pound mono to freeline live baits around structure, mangroves or the surf edge. Add a 1/2-ounce splitshot two feet above the hook to get down in deeper water or stronger currents, or add a float two feet above this rig to fish the flats. If you prefer to throw lures, toss a 4-inch paddletail, Rapala Skitter Walk or Zara Spook. Fischer favors a 7 1/2-foot, 8- to 17-pound class Bull Bay rod and Shimano 4000 spinning reels for his inshore fishing. Keep in mind this area occasionally suffers from red tide blooms. “It can be here one week and gone the next.” Fischer said. “If it occurs during your visit, simply head for the cleanest water you can find.”

By Tom Schlichter

A s

apt. Nick Fischer nodded at a boat dock ahead. “There should be a Launching is available at South Seas Resorts (if you are staying there) or good one under there,” he said. “We had a couple there this morning from the Sanibel Island Public Boat Ramp ($5/hr. parking fee: 239-472-6397; but saw a real solid fish just before we left.” 888 Sextant Dr., Sanibel.) Nearby, the ‘Tween Waters Inn is another good spot It didn’t take long to confirm a nice snook was home. I hooked it and, to spend the night. More info at www.fortMyers-Sanibel.com.

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t’s prime time for wahoo in the sparsely populated southeastern Bahamas, where a fleet of boats shows up each winter specifically to target some of the biggest wahoo in the world. Just off San Salvador and Cat Island, precipitous ledge drops within a 15- or 20-minute boat ride from shore are a magnet for wintering wahoo. The prime wahoo season runs from November to about April, when fish are densely congregated. Triple-digit weights are not uncommon, and the average wahoo will tip the scales between 50 and 60 pounds this time of year. High-speed trolling is the name of the game. Pulling lures at 14 knots and zig-zagging along the ledge over depths from 400 to 600 feet is the kind of fishing that produces world records. Five current IGFA line-class record wahoo came from the waters off San Salvador and Cat Island. Two of those weighed more than 150 pounds. When that reel goes off, screaming from the pull of a big fish moving at 60 mph, it’s important to crank down on the drag and power it to the boat as quickly as possible. Oceanic whitetips are thick in the area, and they’re known to show up and rip a trophy fish to shreds.

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Winter can be brutal, but to the saltwater fly fisherman it can be the greatest time of year to catch some quality fish on the fly. The beaches, flats and bays are practically deserted, the “sunshine” fishermen having retreated to their firesides at the appearance of the first raindrop or snowflake. It’s time for the serious fly flingers to put on thermals, grab a fly rod, and head for the water. Two of my favorite wintertime saltwater fish are the speckled trout (or spotted seatrout) and the redfish, two game fish that thrive in cooler water and make for some great fly rod action even “when the frost is on the pumpkin.” The speckled trout is a coastal fish found on the shallow mud flats and sand flats from North Carolina to Texas. A fish generally traveling in large schools, the “speck” is capable of providing fast action on the fly whether you’re wading or fishing from a skiff, kayak or boat.

A proven way to locate the “speck” is to look for depressions, channels, holes or cuts on or along these areas. Once located, cast into them with a floating or intermediate line, a 9-foot leader and a baitfish pattern. A weedless fly like a Bent Back works well. The key to catching speckled trout in cold water is to retrieve the fly sl-o-o-o-wly using short, jerky strips. The strike is often as light as an aunt’s peck on the cheek, so keep close eye contact with your fly. Another worthy wintertime adversary is the redfish, a fish found in the same areas as the speckled trout. Redfish (red drum), can tip the scales from 5-pounds to a heavyweight of 40 pounds. These members of the croaker family take up residence near breakwaters, pier pilings, channels, estuaries and marshes. They are a great match for the fly rod. Redfish can be finicky eaters and sometimes the fly needs to be placed close to their noses, especially in colder water. An accurate cast is essential in fishing for these rascals. Come prepared with a 9- or 10-weight rod, a floating line (weight forward), a 9-foot leader and a pocket full of crab patterns, as reds favor crustaceans. Don’t hang up your fly gear at the first signs of the winter solstice. Winterize yourself and go fly fishing; it beats sitting in a chair and dreaming of warmer weather.

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By CAM Staff

veryone seems to gets excited about those spring runs, when cobia push north in their migration and can be targeted by sight while cruising the beaches. With the run-and-gun nature of these tactics, it’s arguably the most exciting way to catch them. But it’s not the most efficient. Die-hard cobia fans know that wintertime, before the big move, provides some of the best fishing of the year. Consolidated is a good way to describe cobia populations during the winter. On the Atlantic coast as well as in the Gulf of Mexico, fish have moved southward and offshore in search of comfortable water conditions.

At no other time are cobia populations so dense around the Florida Keys, but they can also be found grouped up on deeper wrecks and reefs along both Florida coasts. In the warmer waters of the Keys, deep jigging the ocean-side reefs with butterfly jigs or 1-ounce bucktails will haul up a mixed bag, which will likely include cobia, and chumming them up to the surface is also tried-and-true tactic. Out on the reef line, anchor up and drop a chum bag of chopped-up frozen baitfish and wait for the action to come to you. Cobia will show up with sharks, as well as various mackerel and snapper species. Whether it’s pinfish or shrimp, present your bait weightless, and you might want to add a wire leader for the toothy critters in the melee. Farther north on both coasts, resident cobia are schooled up and easier to locate than they are at any other time of year. Find a good winter day, with warm sunshine and calm seas, and make the run to offshore wrecks or reefs. The key to this is water temperature, so look for temperature bands with surface temps around 70 degrees, and find some good structure with bait present on the sonar. Again, chumming can bring cobia right up to the surface, which leads to fast action on live baits, but jigging is a tactic that is both fun and effective for targeting fish you actually spot on the screen more than 100 feet down. It’s quicker, cleaner and more efficient than live bait. The key to this technique is finding the magic depth where the cobia are schooled up. Drop a 2- to 6-ounce jig, depending on the current and depth, vertically to the depth you’re marking fish. Experiment with the action until they eat. Some pump a jig up with fast, short jerks, others prefer to swing it up high and let it flutter back down. Both techniques will work, and the jig should be sweetened with either a 7-inch soft-plastic trailer or a natural bait like cuttlefish. Some of the biggest cobia of the year come off wrecks and reefs in winter. So head down to the Keys or make the run offshore and catch them before they scatter with the spring run.

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By CAM Staﬀ

ahamian waters did not disappoint for the more than 70 anglers competing Nov. 7-10 in Bimini’s Wahoo Smackdown IX. Hosted by the historic Bimini Big Game Club Resort and Marina, more than 1,500 pounds of fish were landed during the event. A fleet of 14 boats fished, with 11 teams making it to the leaderboard. Over the two days, 108 fish were caught, the largest weighing

52.7 pounds. Team Blitzsea, out of Pompano Beach, Fla., took top team honors with their six largest of 16 fish weighing a total of 251.4 pounds. It earned them $8,200 in cash winnings. Second place Team Remain Calm, also out of Pompano Beach, Fla., earned $4,500 in cash winnings with 13 fish for a total catch weight of 238.3 pounds for their six largest. Another Pompano Beach team, Team Mi Novia, finished third, taking home $2,500 in cash winnings for a total catch of 13 fish and a total catch weight of 190.7 pounds for their six largest. Team 4 Play caught the largest fish of the tournament, at 52.7 pounds. Outstanding catch went to Indecisive for a 23.5-pound king mackerel. Top Lady Angler went to Lisa aboard Blitzsea. Top Junior Angler went to Luke Pinder aboard Bad Habit. Tournament coordinator Beth Watson said the weekend “went flawlessly,” despite some rough seas and rain with squalls up to 40 knots on Day 2. “The teams that did attend were amongst the most competitive we have seen in all of our years of hosting fishing tournaments,” she said. Tournament festivities included live local entertainment nightly, a cocktail reception for the Captains’ Meeting, a barbeque at Sharkies Bar & Grill on day one of the tournament, and a closing awards party in the Hemmingway lounge, featuring a buffet, live entertainment and a full open bar. Sponsors included David Dunleavy Performance Fishing Apparel, Juno Bait, Carey Chen Marine Artist, Morita Custom Gaffs, CS Custom Lures, Starbright, Paul Cuffaro Brand, Flanigan’s Seafood Bar and Grill, Mermaid Vodka, Tropic Ocean Airways and Piper’s Angels. With more than 50 record-setting catches in the waters around the island, Bimini has often been referred to as the Sport Fishing Capital of the World. Plans are already underway to make Wahoo Smackdown 2020 the biggest best one yet!

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It’s All About the Vibe! By Ed Killer for CAM

2019 Fish Heads of Stuart “Quickie” winner Floridian returns to the Manatee Pocket.

hen it comes to tournament sailfishing, it’s all about the vibe. The right one can lead to a victory. The wrong one can relegate a team to also-ran status. As the Floridian fishing team began to ascend through the standings of the Fish Heads of Stuart Quickie Sailfish Tournament, everyone on board was in sync with that perfect vibe for catching and releasing sailfish. By the end of the two-day tournament, it wound up putting the team into the winner’s circle with nine sailfish. “The vibe on the boat is everything,” explained Capt. Glenn Cameron, owner and operator of the Floridian, a charter boat based at Sailfish Marina in Stuart. “If you don’t have the right vibe, you don’t have anything.” Catching sailfish in a tournament with 14 of the best fishing teams in Florida leaves little room for mistakes. It’s a team effort — way more than just one angler versus one fish. Action is taking place throughout the cockpit and everyone has a role in getting the sailfish to the boat, and then released quickly. The captain has to maneuver the boat without running over the fishing

line, even as the sailfish speeds in circles or jumps wildly nearby. The angler has to keep the line taut, even as jumping creates slack line. One team member needs to grab the leader below the knot, signifying a legal release. Another needs to keep all the action framed in a video with a camera or cellphone, despite waves crashing over the stern as the captain backs the boat into a wave. “One person can mess it up,” Cameron said. “But our team has a lot of good chemistry.” Cameron praised his top angler — and wife — Jennifer Cameron. The Stuart couple have been working hard to elevate her angling skills from an amateur three years ago to a veritable tournament-winning veteran. “She did awesome and outfished everybody,” Glenn said.

PHOTO CREDITS: X

SEE QUICKIE .................................PAGE 3

2019 QUICKIE RESULTS

9 sailfish releases, Floridian, Capt. Glenn Cameron 8, Vintage, Capt. Hans Kraaz Jr. 7, InTents, Capt. Rhett Bailey

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2018: 8 sailfish, Alikai, Capt. Patrick Price; Fleet — 53 sailfish, 16 boats 2017: 9 sailfish, Showtime!, Capt. Wink Doerzbacher; Fleet — 70 sailfish, 17 boats 2016: 14 sailfish, Martha D, Capt. Scott Fawcett; Fleet — 108 sailfish, 18 boats 2015: 8 sailfish, Big Oh, Capt. Mike King; Fleet — 21 sailfish, 12 boats 2014: 7 sailfish, Outlaw, Capt. Ian Wichers; Fleet — 45 sailfish, 12 boats Record: (2010) 19, Zues, Capt. Glenn Cameron; Fleet — 116 sailfish, 21 boats

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hat is the basic method to win a Treasure Coast sailfish tournament. Captains must make a critical decision between two basic choices — fish with the fleet or find the fish on your own. Each has its own benefits, and challenges. In the Pirates Cove Resort and Marina Sailfish Classic, Showtime! Capt. Jon Meade made the right choice. Meade arose to the bridge of the 61-foot Spencer in September when longtime skipper Capt. Wink Doerzbacher elected to retire from the boat. During the seven years Meade worked the cockpit for Doerzbacher, the duo collected countless tournament victories throughout Florida and South Carolina. The Classic was just Meade’s second tournament at the helm. But on the tournament’s final day, Meade led owners Fred and Nancy Hardwick of Sailfish Point, fellow anglers Tom Russell of Palm Beach and Howard Webb of Fort Pierce, and crewmen Chase Neiderer, Jake Emchee and John Henry, to seven sailfish catches and 15 overall to win the Classic, his first tournament win as a captain. The fleet of 22 boats tallied 135 sailfish in three days enjoying several catches of multiple sailfish during the weekend. For Showtime!, Meade said the tournament action on the final day was brief, but intense. The team caught all its fish in just three opportunities with hungry schools of sailfish. “All week, I knew a lot of the boats

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were fishing up along the boundary line to the north,” Meade said. “I was doing the math, and I basically asked myself, ‘How can I find myself some fish?’” That meant searching for spots even as he ran the boat to another. He had seen some places where the water looked right along with other indicators like flying fish. After a slow start Sunday, he decided to run to one of those spots. Right away, three sailfish came up in the bait spread. “We hooked three, but one pulled off,” Meade explained. “Then we fished there for three more hours without a bite.” Shortly after lunchtime, Meade made a turn and up popped three more hungry sailfish. His anglers hooked all three, and then released all three by 12:52. In the sport of sailfishing, it’s known as a tripleheader. And when tournament standings are as close as they were in the Classic, it can shake up the overall standings. But when a team like Showtime! follows that less than 15 minutes later with the catch and release of doubleheader, well, it’s hard for the rest of the competitors to recover. “Catching five sailfish in less than 30 minutes was really exciting,” said Meade. “That’s why everybody really loves sailfishing. It’s always a shootout.” Wrapped Up with Capt. Patrick Price took second with 13 sailfish overall, edging InTents and Capt. Rhett Bailey, also with 13, based on time of last release. “We caught a double at 2:34 to tie Rhett,” Price explained. “A few minutes later, I took an up-sea tack

He was glad he did. InTents caught it’s 13th sailfish less than 10 minutes later. Price said the fishing action was really spread out. JT caught fish in 100 feet of water. InTents was deeper, out near 200 feet of water. Some boats were catching sailfish in 170 feet just offshore of the wrecks. He said it was difficult to get a feel as to where the fish would bite. Meade credited the knowledge he gained by working for multiple tournament-winning skipper Doerzbacher. “I learned so much from him over the years,” Meade said. “I was very fortunate to be able to spend so much time fishing with him and the Hardwicks and their family and friends.” It was the third time ABOVE: Showtime! wins the 2019 Pirates Showtime! had won the Cove Sailfish Classic. OPPOSITE PAGE: Pirates Cove Sailfish Team Showtime! celebrates the win! Classic. The team strung PHOTO CREDITS: Fred Hardwick. together one of the area’s and we got bit on a prospect. We hottest winning streaks a few literally reeled it in one minute to seasons ago and won back to back Classics in 2013 and 2014. put us ahead of InTents.”

QUICKIE ............................ FROM PAGE 1

Jimmy Vaughan of Winter Haven, Justin Drummond of Texas and Hayden Brownie of Islamorada were the team’s other anglers. Vaughan said Jennifer Cameron was a force in the cockpit. “She was red hot,” Vaughan said. Jennifer said communication was key. “Justin taught me to prospect (an angling method which can generate a sailfish bite), and we used headsets for the first time, which really helped us all a lot,” she said. “Honestly, we had a lot of ‘rigger bites. I was just hanging out by them all day, and they just kept popping, popping, popping.” Teams troll with four lines in the water. Two are usually deployed on outriggers 15-20 feet to the sides of the boat. The 14 boats caught 22 fish on day one and 43 on day two for 65 overall. Cameron said the majority of his bites came along a current edge with green water and blended water. “We had beautiful conditions blowing about 20 mph out of the northwest,” he said. “There was a hard edge. I would make a sweep up into the super green water inshore and then chug downsea and then, here they come.”

Treasure CoasT

COASTAL ANGLER PUBLISHERS Gary & Misti Guertin SALES Gary Guertin EDITOR/DIGITAL CONTENT Misti Guertin GRAPHIC DESIGN Laura KeLLy CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jayson arman Capt. Gus Brugger Capt. rocky Carbia Capt. Charlie Conner Capt. scott Fawcett Capt. Cole Hazelief Capt. randy Lang Capt. Danny Markowski Capt. Michael Mauri Capt. Giles Murphy Brian nelli Jim Oppenborn Cammie Ward Capt. Joe Ward steve Wood

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JANUARY 2020

TREASURE COAST 3

FISHING FORECASTS

MARTIN COUNTY OFFSHORE

Capt. Scott Fawcett

Off the Chain Fishing Charters (772) 285-1055 ﬁshscottyf@bellsouth.net offthechainﬁshing.com ABOVE: There will be great dolphin action over the coming months; here is Erik with a nice one! RIGHT: Getting ready to release another sailfish aboard Off The Chain.

icking off the new year with smiles should be pretty easy in 2020 with what we’re expecting off the coast this January. Experiencing an extremely warm start to our winter season last month only helps the next couple months here. Typically, in January, water temperatures are in the low to mid70s off our coast and everything north of us is deemed uninhabitable as our pelagic fish don’t like water temperatures below 67 degrees. With every north wind, and temperature drop expect another body of fish to make their way down the coast. Bait is already staging off our beaches and reefs, so once the fish make it here. there’s no reason for

them to continue their journey south. Focus along color changes, temperature breaks, and reef lines to maximize your efforts. Depths from 75-to-175 feet are where we spend most of our time now but extending your hunt both deeper and shallower can be beneficial at times, especially when searching for mahi. Obviously keep an eye out for debris and floatsum and when you find it be prepared to fish something deeper down in the water column as bigger dolphin and wahoo often hang deep on stuff like that. Most of our efforts are still spent

trolling for the first half of this month, but live bait becomes easier to catch this time of year and Capt. Bryan is normally selling some in the Pocket during the morning rush. If you decide to catch your own, make sure you use a de-hooker. You can buy one that my little boy Thatcher makes at Snook Nook, Fish Heads, White’s Tackle and Stuart Angler. The target species right now are pretty much everything except for grouper due to seasonal closures. Sailfish, mahi, blackfin tuna, wahoo, king mackerel, cobia, and snapper are all fair game in January and can

PHOTO CREDITS: Capt. Scott Fawcett.

even be targeted on the same day. Just try not to spread yourself too thin, it’s usually better to focus on just a couple or a few of the species in a given day. Wishing you a Happy New Year and hoping your next fishing trip is Off The Chain.

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Capt. Giles Murphy Stuart Angler Bait & Tackle (772) 288–1219 Fishing Charters (772) 475 - 4857 www.stuartangler.com giles@stuartangler.com

he new year has begun bringing with it some great fishing opportunities with cooler weather for anglers to enjoy on the water. The Indian River can start to produce better results as trout and redfish get pushed down from the cooler water temps. We catch them at the bridges, docks, and mangrove shorelines casting 3-inch D.O.A. C.A.L.’s or Gulp Swimming Mullet on a ¼-ounce jig head, and GilesJigs. Keep your retrieval methods

slow if water temps are below 72 degrees. The pompano are in town, so always have a pompano jiggingrod ready when cruising the river in case they start “skipping” when spooked by your boat. The St. Lucie River fishes great in the winter, especially back in the North and South Forks where snook love to hug the mangrove shorelines and seawalls. We also catch the occasional trout or redfish back there as well casting those same jigs, but mostly chartreuse green colors due to the darker “ice tea” colored water. When the water temps are below 70 degrees, definitely look for shallow spots where the sun warms the water. If we experience a cold front, the fish like to sit deeper for those first couple days where the water temp is warmer than the surface. The Spanish mackerel bite is happening from the St. Lucie Inlet down the coast to Pecks Lake Reef. This is a great opportunity for anglers of all ages to catch lots of

Phil from Australia caught a nice snook on fly fishing with Capt. Giles of Stuart Angler Charters. PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Giles Murphy.

good-eating fish. Some good lures to cast or troll are Gulfstream Flash Minnows, sz #2 Clarkspoons, GotCha Plugs, and tube jigs. Chumming the mackerel with minnows will

keep them close by. Despite what many people say, I think Spanish mackerel are a great eating fish grilled, pan-fried, or broiled, just be sure to cook them fresh off the boat!

ish vision will be 20/20 as the new pages of the calendar reveal saltwater excitement offshore of Martin County. Best fishes for the New Year will be found around the expansive reef system in our local ocean. Naturally occurring Safari 1 snapper smiles will be bountiful during the days of January. coral reefs, along with over five PHOTO CREDIT: Safari 1. dozen artificial reef sites east of our St. Lucie Inlet will become strategies. The New Year’s liquid profile, in the form of winter-time the focal point for offshore fishing playing field will display a new fish that will settle into these salty reef habitats. Schools of Spanish and king mackerel and lane snapper will congregate this month and Visit our Facebook page populate seasonally, preferred reef areas. While most species of fish Safari I Deep Sea Fishing Boat can be found over a wide area in our Located at Pirates Cove Resort and Marina local zone, these fish seem to have 4307 SE Bayview St. Port Salerno/Stuart, FL with coupon a predilection to certain spots, like For Reservations call (772) 334-4411 not valid in combination the offshore Peck Lake/ Kingfish with other offers or Hole, the 140 King Numbers, and discounts-offer valid thru January 31st. the Sand Pile (the Texas Reef), just to name a few. Local knowledge of the preferred and proven TRiP TiMES fish haunts will be the primary Monday-Saturday Sunday component to any angler`s chance for success. Anglers can search 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. out for GPS numbers for many of Adults $50; Children $40 Adults $60; Children $50

Stuart`s reef locations by logging on to www.martinreefs.com. This website will give one an expansive selection of all of Martin County`s offshore Artificial Reefs. The Florida winter will be firmly in place in January`s near coastal fishing zone. This month, the procession of cold fronts will have patterned the way these fish feed and move through this zone. Given the proper, user-friendly weather window, anglers will be able to ply honey holes in depths from 25 to 180 feet of water, where pelagic and resident fish will frequent, for feeding and spawning. Live bait should be available in abundance by January however, anglers should always bring a good selection of dead baits (like Spanish sardines, ballyhoo, and squid) in case live bait is not easily found on a particular fishing day. Spoons and jigs should always be part of good offshore tackle box, so don`t forget to bring a selection of artificial baits or lures, along with whole dead baits. A good selection of frozen baits and jigs will always compliment a live well full of ammo and give January`s offshore angler endless options as they dial in the desired fish catching strategy. So, in January, watch the weather, find your fish-friendly window and keep your offshore strategy options open. With preplanning and a cooler full of bait, this will lead to happy fishing and a Happy New Year!

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TREASURE COAST 5

Capt. Charlie Conner's son, Joe, was visiting from Oklahoma and his first catch was this nice seatrout while fishing around docks in Fort Pierce.

FISHING FORECASTS

SOUTH INDIAN RIVER LAGOON

Capt. Charlie Conner

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

John had an exciting morning catching drum, sheepshead and many other species. This nice sheepshead was headed for dinner!

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

elcome 2020! We are looking forward to the New Year and new catches. January will offer an array of great catches and the Treasure Coast reefs will be harboring schools of delicious snapper, making bottom fishing to the top of our New Year’s Resolutions list. These pelagic pals will continue to be active and offer

PHOTO CREDITS: Capt. Charlie Connor.

Redfish can be found around docks and sitting on the flats on warm, sunny days. Try a D.O.A. shrimp around mangroves and docks for reds. The trout bite has greatly improved this past year and it should continue to get better. Snook season is closed for now and it will continue to be catch and release. Bridges, docks and the inlets will be the best opportunities to catch snook this month. Bridges will continue to produce

some fun runs and acrobatic displays throughout January. The snapper bite has been on fire all winter long and will continue to stay blazing hot! Ring in the new year 2020 and best your record. Large size lane, mutton, grey, yellowtail, and vermillion snapper will be ready to bite the bait and to fill our fish boxes, along with a few other reef species, such as triggerfish and black sea bass. Got smoke fish on your mind? Fresh catches of Spanish and king mackerel along with cobia will make for delicious smoky appetizers. These darting delights will be seen shooting from the waters left and right and set your reel on fire! The cold fronts will produce cooler

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JANUARY 2020

sheepshead, black drum, croakers, sand perch and bluefish. Most of the anglers on the catwalks prefer live or frozen shrimp for these fish. The drum and sheepshead have once again arrived early, and action has already been steady for these tasty fish. The inlet and turning basin will be full of bluefish, jacks and mackerel this month. Live or dead bait on a jig head will give you plenty of action along with silver spoons or shiny lures. Around seawalls, channel

edges or deeper structure you can find grouper for catch and release action in January. Pompano fishing will depend on water temperatures for their location, but they will be in the area throughout the winter. Surf anglers will be targeting these fish on days when the beach is fishable. Enjoy fishing in January on the Treasure Coast! Remember, fishing is not just another hobby, it's an ADVENTURE!

Friends that fish together, stay together and stack the fish high together. Great snapper catches will continue through the month.

SEE WHAT’S CATCHING ON NSTAGRAM - THE.LADY.CHRIS

ard to believe that another year has arrived! Happy New Year! January should provide anglers with lots of exciting action this year. Fishing in deeper water will provide you with better results on most days. Working your lures and baits much slower will also give you a better chance at success. Fish tend to become lethargic in cold water and are slow in moving to strike at lures. Finding water that is a couple degrees warmer than the surrounding area can also give you an edge on finding fish. Water temperatures have been mild so far.

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PHOTO CREDIT: Lady Chris Charters.

water temperatures which will get the reef and pelagic species moving. All of the action will be going on while we deal with shorter days and the wintertime weather patterns. As long as the winds stay calm, 2020 will start off with great catches! Remember to stay safe, have fun and keep an eye out for other boaters and quickly changing weather systems. Gear up, call us, and let’s head out to claim your New Year’s trophy! Finally, we would like to thank everyone who has come out with us in 2019! We are excited to see what 2020 has in store for us! Tight lines and good vibes!

ng many head

ST. LUCIE COUNTY INSHORE

Capt. Joe Ward

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

he inshore fishing should be red hot in January if the weather conditions are good. This is the time of year when the cold fronts start coming south with all the low temps and strong north east winds causing a lot of headaches for anglers. But it is time for the bluefish, Spanish mackerel, croakers and black drum to show up in full force. These fish will be coming in the mouth of the Fort Pierce Inlet and working their way into the turning basin and both north and south in the river. On the nicer days try some of

these tips. The redfish and trout will be in the deeper holes and channels around places like Harbor Branch and Queen's Cove to the north and to the south try places like Pete Stone Creek or Big Mud Creek. Try working a live shrimp on a ⅛ or a ¼-ounce jig head and fish it very slow if the water is cold. For some fun and maybe a fish dinner try fishing in the Fort Pierce Inlet and the area between the bridges for some nice Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Your best results will probably come from using a Gulfstream Flash Jig or a small spoon. Just look for the birds and the fish feeding on top. Remember, don't take more than you can eat because these fish don't freeze well and there should be plenty of them around all winter. For the bottom fish like black drum, sheepshead and croakers use a live shrimp or a fiddler crab on a #2

you to get out and bend some rods. You can catch bluefish on smaller mullet, pilchards and sardines if you are a live bait fisherman. The Capt. Danny faster the bait swims the better the chances of hooking these fish. Markowski If you like to fish with artificial LottaBull Fishing Charters bait and lures, the bluefish will hit (772) 370-8329 anything that is shiny and quickly lottabull4@bellsouth.net retrieved. It doesn’t matter if you lottabullﬁshingcharters.com are using top water or sub-surface lures, they will hit them. Bluefish hen the winds are blowing in will also hit a silver spoon with a January, there are still fish to fast retrieve. If you cannot see the be caught. The water temperature bluefish, watch for birds diving and should have dropped enough to schools of jumping bait, the bluefish bring in the schools of bluefish from will typically be in that area. Light tackle setups are great for the north. Bluefish will be from the beaches to one or two miles these fish. I would recommend a offshore. On days that the weather 4,000-size reel matched with 10will allow, you can usually find to 15-pound line. I prefer using bluefish schools swimming offshore 10-pound mainline with 20-pound in larger schools. This will allow leader and a small barrel swivel. You will want to put a piece of #3 wire up to your hook or lures so you don’t get bit off due to their razor-sharp teeth and attach the wire to the swivel. Once you catch some bluefish, try to catch some live bait. Many days as the sun comes up, the winds and chop subside, and conditions allow for a run further offshore. Look for the sailfish as they will still be Good size kingfish like this are still around. Karl in the area. There (left) visiting from Michigan hooked up this will possibly be some 18-pound kingfish, fishing a trolled live blue runner mahi mixed in with in 50 feet of water out of the Fort Pierce Inlet. the sailfish. The best

ST. LUCIE COUNTY OFFSHORE

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Danny Markowski.

Eric Hager caught and released this 34.5-inch redfish at the Fort Pierce jetty using a live shrimp.

PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Joe Ward.

hook and a 15-pound fluorocarbon leader with just enough weight to hold the bottom. Try places like the Drum Hole, Sand Pit or around the bridges. In the surf the pompano bite should be good for anglers

using sand fleas or clams fished on a pompano rig. Try one kind of bait and each hook to see which one is working better that day. Just a reminder, snook season is closed December 15 to February 1.

bet to get hooked up will be to troll ballyhoo from 90 feet on out towards the warmer Gulfstream waters and once the rip for the Gulfstream is found (or other rips or mats or floating debris is found) switch over to live bait and start

slow trolling. Once you start slow trolling, place a dredge or teaser in front of your baits, this will entice a deeper fish to come to the surface to check out your baits. The offshore bite will be good this time of year when you can get out.

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JANUARY 2020

TREASURE COAST 7

FISHING FORECASTS

SEBASTIAN INSHORE

Capt. Gus Brugger

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

t’s time to go try out all the new fishing tackle you got for Christmas. Hopefully you asked for some light tackle as that is what the next few months will be geared toward in the Sebastian Area. From bluefish and mackerel off the beach to trout and reds in the backcountry, a seven-foot medium action spinning rod with 10-pound braided line will be all you need.

SEBASTIAN RIVER – The Sebastian

River’s most prominent role in January is a thermal sanctuary. Ladyfish and jacks school up in the Sebastian River this time of year. They may not be everywhere, but when you catch one, you can usually catch a hundred more in the same area. Bucktails, Goofy Jigs, small plugs and flies are all great lures

for anything in the Sebastian River in the winter. Gator trout take advantage of the deeper warmer waters of the river as well, and again if you can catch one, work the area thoroughly as there are likely more nearby. Snook are in the river, it is getting them to bite that is the issue. Baby tarpon way up the south fork will cooperate during warm spells and it is a great scenic ride on a bright winter’s day if they don’t.

INDIAN RIVER LAGOON – The lagoon offers some excellent light tackle options for trout and redfish in January. Canals, protected shallow bays, and sunny shorelines are excellent areas to find both trout and reds soaking up the sun’s warmth. Techniques can vary from sight fishing with a fly rod to soaking a live shrimp on a float. Using live shrimp is not as popular as it once was and serious anglers are using more and more of the fantastic soft plastic baits and plugs now available, but this time of year is when a properly presented live shrimp can produce amazing results. I limit my live baiting to the nasty, windy days when controlling the movement of the boat is near impossible. Under these conditions you can anchor upwind of where you think there may be trout or reds

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This gator trout was one of over a dozen taken on live shrimp from an area no bigger than a pickup truck bed on a cold windy winter’s day PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Gus Brugger.

laying and allow the wind and current to sweep your live shrimp on a small unweighted float back through the strike zone. If you drifted by this area, you may catch a fish before being beyond the zone or worse, over it, spooking everything away. By anchoring several casting distances away and paying line off your reel to allow a natural drift of your bait into

the zone, you have the opportunity to catch a large number of fish from an amazingly small area. This is a great way for kids and less experienced anglers to catch some nice reds and trout in the lagoon on windy days that may have you thinking you should have stayed in bed.

SEE SEBASTIAN INSHORE......... PAGE 13

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feet range for trips. If conditions are good, cruise along the weed lines for a bit and look hard for the camouflaged rascals. When you see one, cast over him and wind in until Capt. Randy Lang the bait is dangling in his face. Live Sebastian Gypsy shrimp is a sure thing, but fresh cut Fishing Charters bait, squid or frozen ship will usually Email: gypsycharters@gmail.com get it done. Keep your distance from www.sebastianﬁshingcharter.com a suspected tripletail spot and make a good downwind cast. They can get anuary is a great month to fish lockjaw if you get too close. Be ready with a couple sabiki rigs out of Sebastian. The water has chilled down and that fires up the when you clear the inlet. Look for nice snapper and grouper along all birds and baits flipping on the surface. of Sebastian’s natural reefs. The major Chances are there will be big schools reefs out of Sebastian include depths of threadfin herring (aka greenies) of: 20-to-40, 50-to-60, 80-to-100, available somewhere on your way out. 120 and 160-feet. Those 20-to-40 feet Spending an hour loading up on live reefs along the beach and within a few bait is time well spent and will greatly miles of shore are good alternatives increase your odds of catching some when the wind is westerly and the quality fish. Kingfish fishing should be great waters well offshore are sporty. Big gag grouper will move into these this month. Keep a live bait or a shallower areas so use the 50-pound frozen sardine freelined while bottom gear and a big live bait on the bottom. fishing. The kings will need a small Also, big sheepshead and triggerfish wire leader although a 50-pound will be in there, so mix it up with mono leader and 4/0 circle hook some lighter tackle and a #2 hook. will hold them if you’re lucky. Target them by slow trolling and drifting over the reefs. Keep a couple baits near the surface and a couple baits at mid-depth. A simple rig is a 2-to-4-ounce jig head with a live bait or frozen sardine hooked through the lips. Prepackaged “kingfish rigs” are always a good way to go. Put an egg sinker above the swivel to get your bait to the proper depth. A sure thing is to find the “kingfish fleet”, which often fishes the Pelican flats area. Sometimes dozens of commercial guys will bunch up and have their way with the kings. Remember to respect these guys fishing The kingfish should be thick out of area. There will be plenty of Sebastian this month. This young man got fish around the periphery. him a couple nice ones on the Reef Gypsy! Sailfish can be hot this PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Randy Lang. month during balmy periods In January, the reefs in 80 to 100 feet causing the fish to move to the are excellent fishing. In addition to north. Look for the sails in the 130 snapper and grouper we always seem to 180 feet range off of Bethel Shoal to pick up some nice “resident” cobia and don’t be surprised if you have a off the bottom. Remember, when you decent mahi day also. Trolling smaller are grouper fishing and you realize blue/white Islanders with ballyhoo you’ve hooked a cobia, loosen the seems to work well for the sails. drag immediately. The hammered Keep a naked ballyhoo in the spread down drag of grouper fishing may too. If you locate the fish, switch to result in a lost cobia. The big cobia drifting live baits and circle hooks on will need to run a bit to prevent eight feet of 60-pound flour leader. broken lines and pulled hooks as you Remember that regulations require keeping released sailfish in the water fight him near the boat. In the winter months, always while dehooking and getting pictures. be ready for triple tail. I’ll rig a light Please handle these great fish gently spinner with a big weighted floater and revive them well boat side before and 30-pound leader with a 1/0 releasing. Best of luck out there everyone hook. Examine weed patches and any floating debris in that 40-to-70 and have a great fishing year!

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TREASURE COAST 9

FISHING FORECASTS

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or the land-based angler, January means good seatrout fishing. Wade fishing is always something I like to do when the weather cools down. Seatrout will school up in big numbers. Throwing Bass Assassin sea shads is the ticket. Covering a lot of water and trying to figure out where the schools are located can be the most difficult part. But when you find them it normally it means "GAME ON", you don't have to move any further.

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Sometimes on the cooler days switching to a live shrimp or an artificial D.O.A. Shrimp is what you will have to do to get bites. Spanish mackerel is also normally a targeted species around your jetties and bridges. They will hit several different things from small flash minnows to live shrimp. It is also very important that you take advantage of the migratory fish patterns that will take place this time of year. You could be at the jetty catching blues and mackerel one day and the very next day could be flounder and redfish. Always be prepared for several different situations. Also keep in mind if it is too windy or too rough to get out in the river you always can get a good thump from a largemouth bass. January can be excellent freshwater fishing. You don't have to worry about it getting hot and the fish going deep this is literally something you can do all day long and be productive. Until next month report, that's R-Man over and out.

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This gentleman found out quickly just how much fun catching seatrout is. The D.O.A. Shrimp got the job done on this beautiful seatrout. This time of year, you have to fish "slow and low". PHOTO CREDIT: Jason Arman.

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KAYAK FISHING FORECAST

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INSHORE: Pompano, bluefish, jacks are typically only a handful of days and Spanish mackerel become more of the focus in January. I like to target areas near the inlets like the mouth of the Loxahatchee River in Jupiter and Palm Beach Inlet area. The deeper channels and sand flats make them ideal locations for the fish to swim in and out with the tides. Try working the edges of these channels with Goofy Jigs, small buck tails and D.O.A. Jerk Baits. This time of year, brings cold air and wind which in turn creates wet conditions on the kayak. Having a pair of waders to keep you dry and warm in the chop is highly recommended.

during this month that the weather will allow you to get in the ocean without dumping your kayak in the process. Choose your days wisely and be sure to have all safety equipment on board. Look to have a variety of baits; some big and some small. Pilchards, goggle eyes and runners are at the top of the list. Keep them up on the surface and frisky and you should get a few bites.

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clown knifefish bites should be in full swing unless we get super cold weather. Look to target concrete structure for bites from both species. Live shad or shiners will be at the top of the list for live bait but bring along a few rattle traps for the artificial bite. See you on the water!

OFFSHORE: January is considered one of the best months to target sailfish. As always winter months are very weather dependent. There

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JANUARY 2020

TREASURE COAST 11

FISHING FORECASTS

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

Capt. Nate Shellen

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

ake Okeechobee’s massive size can be quite daunting to even an experienced angler/boater. When first setting eyes on the lake, nearly everyone makes the same comment, “Everywhere I look appears to be a great fishing spot”. That quote is true to a certain extent as fish frequent every area of the lake. However, the areas where an angler can catch large numbers of bass are very “area specific”. Once located though, an angler can experience the best fishing/catching of his or her life. Being able to read the cover is critical to the process and is something learned with time and experience. Also learning where fish want to be at a certain time of the year is key to finding the fish year in and year out.

Alex and Tori Maslan caught these Okeechobee giants last month on live shiners! PHOTO CREDIT: Capt. Nathan Shellen.

During the winter months the prevalent wind is from the north to northeast which makes the northern end of the lake “fishing friendly”. Areas to fish during this time of year are, Grassy Island and further along the east side of the lake to the J&S Lock area. The main lakeside of Kings Bar is a good spot when the

winds are north northeast, as is the entire shore from the pole at Pierce Canal, traveling west to Harney Pond, Horse Island, Worm Cove and Indian Prairie are all great fishing areas between these two points. Techniques being used at this time are varied, as nearly all anglers have a style of fishing they prefer.

Fast moving baits, such as a rattle trap, are putting numbers of small bass in the boat, especially in areas where they can be found schooling. Jerk baits and top water will also produce fish as they continue feeding throughout the winter months. Flipping or pitching a creature style bait or a jig are responsible for more big bass at this time of year than any other artificial bait. Senkos and other plastics will draw strikes from small bass as will the old school standby, the rubber worm. During the winter months, no other bait accounts for the catching of more bass and big bass than a wild golden shiner. The shiner fishing technique is a little different than you may be used to and there are many intricacies to refining your presentation even with live bait. Whether you are an experienced angler or a relative newcomer to the sport of fishing, shiner fishing affords everyone the chance to catch a lot of bass and just maybe the ‘Bass of a Lifetime’. More big bass are caught from a boat than from the living room couch every year so get out and take advantage of the great fishing! Happy New Year and look forward to seeing you out on the water!

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anuary may not be the warmest month to go diving but those who venture out may be in for a treat. If sea conditions lay down long enough between cold fronts, divers who sneak out local inlets maybe surprised to find abundant lobster on area reefs. Since lobster season remains open through March, divers have plenty of time to bag a delicious meal while exploring area reefs. Rough sea conditions typical of January in south Florida can affect lobster in a few ways. Lobsters are known to move around during large swells and heavy surf into areas that are typically picked over. Reefs like Peck Lake, just south of the St. Lucie Inlet in Stuart, or the shallow reef off Bathtub Beach are usually hit hard during the first few months of lobster season leaving plenty of shorts behind. As the New Year gets underway, divers may be surprised to see the return of larger bugs in greater numbers to these areas. Secondly, fewer boats make it offshore this time of year compared to August so pressure on lobster populations is much lower thereby increasing the chances for those who do make it out. Boat limits are not uncommon this time of year. Visibility reports are less common this time of year so plan a short “bounce dive” or two to scout conditions; keep in mind that safe diving standards like a slow ascent

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and even a safety stop still apply to bounce dives too. If visibility is poor out front, try heading south to the ledges and artificial reefs off Hobe Sound to find cleaner water. Blue water dives are another good option if clarity on the reefs is no good. Floating 10-to-20 feet below weed lines or other floating structure can be a really interesting experience. Water temps this time of year should be in the mid to low 70s and while this is not too cold, air temps may be. A knee-length ‘boat coat’ and a beanie are great ways to keep warm between dives. Consider packing a dry bag with warm clothes to change into after getting out of the water.

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SEBASTIAN INLET – A few fleas, cut clams and dead shrimp

on three hook dropper rigs are the baits of choice. Boaters fishing along the beaches are apt to find blues, mackerel and some pompano on the calmer days. Goofy Jigs, spoons, and bucktail jigs worked from the beach or toward the beach from a boat are good ways to catch pompano and blues on calm days. January offers light tackle action for all skill levels. Have fun with every cast action from jacks and ladyfish NEAR SHORE ATLANTIC – or stalk the shallows for a shot at a Pompano and whiting are the trophy trout or tailing red.

nice flounder will remain around the inlet throughout the winter. Bluefish, jacks, pompano, redfish, black drum, and Spanish mackerel will keep jetty anglers busy throughout the day. Bouncing a Goofy Jig on and around the flats immediately behind the inlet will give anglers their best chance at a pompano or a small bonefish. Yes, I said bonefish.

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JANUARY 2020

TREASURE COAST 13

Fly Fishing Corner By Capt. Michael Mauri Heather Cammisa, from Pennsylvania, recently caught her first snook. Her snook measured 33 inches. Photo by her husband, Tim. Tim landed a 30-inch snook right before his wife.

New Year Fly Fishing

Resolutions

• Fish and catch the specials sn’t it crazy how fast time runs? you want to go for! You turn around twice and the • Learn from your failure! year is gone. Is it a good thing or a • No excuses because time flies! bad thing? Not sure but I guess it is good! We created memories for life, My personal 2020 fly fishing catching fish of a lifetime on fly and resolutions: • Fish more with friends enjoying nature. Very few things in • Catch monster tarpon from the life make me happier than watching beach my customers, friends and family • Catch goliath grouper catching fish on flies. Sharing this • Catch more sharks on top passion, educating and teaching water flies people how to fly fish just makes me happy! It is such a privilege to live here Here's some New Year’s resolutions: on the Treasure Coast where we can fish all year! I remember the years • Fish more with the fly and of guiding in the winter, standing in always have fun! the freezing cold water and teaching • Don’t bring a spinning rod to my guys how to catch grayling. Back the fly game! then, I loved my life before but now, • Practice casting! living and guiding here has taken it to • Learn and practice different a whole new level! It is very easy to get fly fishing techniques!

PHOTO CREDIT: Tim Cammisa.

Have a great 2020 and catch your spoiled here on the Treasure Coast! I’ve been enjoying not having dream! discharges from Lake Okeechobee Capt. Michael Mauri and fishing in clean water. It’s adding www.mauriflyfishing.com so much quality to the marine life! michael@mauriflyfishing.com We live in paradise and it is worth (772) 485-3321 the fight every single day.

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ark your calendar for Port Salerno Seafood Festival—this friendly neighborhood tradition continues on Saturday, January 25. The festival began in 2006 as a neighborhood fish fry and dock party along the waterfront of Port Salerno. While the Port Salerno community was in the midst of a redevelopment phase, a small group gathered to take the fish fry to the next level in an effort to bring positive awareness to Salerno’s historic commercial fishing industry and garner support for the community. It was a resounding success and attendance has grown steadily ever since. Now more than 30,000 attend each year, enjoying what has become one the most successful waterfront seafood festivals on Florida’s East Coast! The 14th annual Port Salerno Seafood Festival will take place along the Port Salerno waterfront and will include the businesses of Twisted Tuna, Pirate’s Cove Resort, Manatee Island Bar and Grill, the Fish House Art Center, and Port Salerno Marine. Festival attendees can shop hundreds of unique arts and craft vendors and nautical themed vendors, including local businesses. There will be lots for the little ones including a free kids’ zone with bounce houses and activities. Bring your camera for photos with live animals, birds, and interesting reptiles courtesy of Treasure Coast Wildlife, and be on the lookout for pirate ships, pirates and plenty of beautiful mermaids.

Come hungry and be prepared to enjoy delicious seafood food prepared by the local fishermen and their families. Local restaurants will also be serving up some of their tasty dishes along with some new seafood choices that will be brought in to complement the menu. For those not fond of treats from the sea, there will also be plenty of land lubber and snack food choices on hand as well. New this year, the festival has done away with tickets for food or drinks. Food and drink purchases can now be made with cash instead of having to stand in line twice using tickets. Feature headlining tribute bands include: Saturday Night Special, a tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd; Bad Inc. followed by FNR2, tributes to both Bad Company and Foreigner; and local bands and solo acts providing a mix of rock, reggae, blues, and island tunes. Advance tickets, which include entertainment, free parking and complimentary shuttle bus transportation, are $10 and can be purchased online on the festival’s website or at local Port Salerno restaurants. At the gate, tickets will be $15. Children 10 and under are free. Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Vendor and sponsorship opportunities are still available.

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ish move between the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian River Lagoon via man-made inlets such as the Fort Pierce Inlet. Fish are regularly caught by anglers fishing by boats and from the jetties, fish tagged with acoustic tags are detected swimming through inlets, and planktonic fish larvae drift from the ocean to seagrass

beds, mangroves, and hardbottom communities in the Indian River Lagoon during incoming tide. After these larvae develop into juveniles many will move back through the Fort Pierce Inlet to offshore reefs, including artificial reefs. The entire process of developing from embryo to adult is known as ontogenesis and

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inlets can be described as ontogenetic corridors. Natural and artificial reefs inside the Fort Pierce Inlet are a source of food and protection for juvenile fish heading to oceanic reefs. Natural wormrock reef extends from the Fort Pierce Inlet State Park towards the shipping channel. The wormrock reef was impacted in the mid-1990s but has partially returned due to the work of Sabellarid worms that secrete sand around their soft bodies. The accumulation of sand around millions of worms forms a hard-three-dimensional structure that is known for providing juvenile fish habitat. This wormrock reef is likely to be impacted again when the inlet is re-dredged for navigation purposes. Limerock jetties, originally installed to protect the inlet, and other manmade concrete structures also provide juvenile fish habitat. The St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program is looking for potential locations to restore habitat in the Fort Pierce Inlet to increase fish habitat without affecting navigation. The program’s artificial reef contractor, McCulley Marine Resources, manufactures and installs juvenile fish habitat modules locally. Areas that already have hardbottom communities or eventually might include these modules include the 1) Fort Pierce Inlet State Park, 2) Fort Pierce Inlet sand trap currently being permitted by the St. Lucie County Erosion District, 3) Museum Point Park, 4) Wesley’s Island, 5) PP Cobb bridge, 6) Fort Pierce City Marina Breakwater Islands, and 7) private residences on the Inlet. Juvenile fishes and invertebrates observed in this area include African pompano,

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black seabass, gag, red grouper, spiny lobster, stone crab, and yellowtail snapper. Additional benefits that increase the recreational and ecological value of the ontogenetic fish corridor will be sought. Special Acts (1959) which had prohibited all diving in the Inlet and within 1,000 feet of either the North or South Causeway has been repealed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and replaced with standard regulations that cover all of coastal Florida. Finding a site that can be dived without creating navigational concerns continues to be problematic, however. In addition to addressing recreational concerns in the Fort Pierce Inlet, improving water quality in this area is being addressed. Restoring water quality in the Fort Pierce Inlet is likely to help spur seagrass growth which will also benefit the ontogenetic corridor. Stormwater conveyance via canals (C-25/Taylor Creek, Moore’s Creek) and urban stormwater runoff from roads is a contributor to increased pollutants such as oil, grease,

Ecosystem module at Cracker Boy Boat Works showing vertical spacing.

and heavy metals. The St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program is working with the County’s Public Works Department and the City of Fort Pierce on ways to clean water entering the Fort Pierce Inlet. The Artificial Reef Program is also looking to partner with local NGOs and businesses to benefit the Inlet. For more information on the St. Lucie County Artificial Reef Program contact Jim Oppenborn, St. Lucie County Coastal Resources Coordinator, at oppenbornj@ stlucieco.org or (772) 462-1713. To learn more about the planning for a diving trail using artificial reef modules, contact Katrina Collins at kch34961@gmail.com or (772) 321-2815.

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Melissa Fox of Port St. Lucie getting some great Thanksgiving Day mahi-mahi fishing out of the St. Lucie Inlet fishing with her dad, Leonard. Melissa is now sponsored to fish for Salt Life Apparel. Congrat’s Melissa!

Bryson Stephen, 7, with a 21-pound permit caught just north of Bathtub beach in Stuart, FL. Photo taken by proud dad, William Stephen.

PHOTO CREDIT: Leonard Fox.

Cherlyn Arnold with a cold-front flounder caught in Fort Pierce on a No Live Bait Needed (NLBN). PHOTO CREDIT: Lewis Arnold.

Kevin’s first snook EVER from the beach. Fish estimated at 22-inches.

A 24-inch black drum held by Chris Johann, which was caught by his dad, Bruce (left), while fishing under the Merrill P. Barber Bridge in Vero Beach. This black beauty was caught on live shrimp.

John Stewart, Jr., landed these two beauties in 200-250 feet trolling with his dad out of the St. Lucie Inlet just before Thanksgiving Day.

PHOTO CREDIT: Sam Scharbach.

PHOTO CREDIT: Chris Johann.

PHOTO CREDIT: John Stewart.

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By John Saporito

ith winter temperatures upon us, its time to switch tactics when targeting inshore gamefish. The warmer months feature an abundance of life on the flats and shallow beds, but winter shows the opposite trend. Both gamefish and their prey seek out stable water temperatures, many moving upriver and into creeks to find refuge from the cold. Due to the high specific heat capacity of water, many fish will escape the cold by moving into deep-water areas of our bays and estuaries.

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Often, fish will congregate in passes, boat channels, and around bridges, where the bottom has been scooped out, creating places that assure consistent water temperatures. These deep-water haunts are excellent places to score in winter, where fish can keep themselves at the appropriate temperature while exploiting the bottom structure and moving water to help with their feeding activity. Whenever deep moving water is in play, there is one technique that stands out above the rest: jig fishing. Jigs are the most effective tool when it comes to pulling fish out of a lateral current. Their unique ability to ride naturally through the turbulence and get down to the bottom where fish are holding makes them ideal for this style of fishing. A single upright hook allows them to bounce off most obstructions and has the strength to hold heavy fish in heavy current. But not all jigs are created equal. The two main styles of jig in use today are the nose-eye and offset-eye. The nose-eye jig has its eye in a forward position on the head of the lure, while the offset-eye jig has its eye in a centered position on top of the jig’s head. The offset-eye jig is superior thanks to its knack for maintaining a horizontal orientation during retrieve. This makes natural presentation with the offset-eye jig a cinch. Weight is a critical factor when using jigs. The lightest possible jig that can get and stay within a few feet of the bottom will net you the most fish. Too heavy a jig will drag uselessly in the bottom sediment, while too light a jig will be unable to reach the deep-water strike zone. Water depth, current speed, wind speed and direction, line material and diameter, and the type of trailer used on the jig are all variables that go into weight selection. Once you’ve selected the appropriate jig, cast it up-current, allow it to sink to the bottom, and let the current sweep it toward any fish-holding structure that might be present. This structure may consist of bridge abutments, dock pilings, boulders, sand waves, ridges or holes. If you can get your jig to glide through the strike zone close to structure in fast deep water, hold on! A jig can help you clean up with your favorite inshore gamefish all winter long. John Saporito is a lifelong fisherman and student of the seas. Visit him online at guerillaangling.com and follow on Instagram @guerilla_angling.

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COLD WEATHER BASS HAMMERING SHAD

Travis Poole with a fine winter bass caught while fishing with C-note Charters. By Randy Cnota hen the north winds blow across Florida, bass experience significant shock from rapidly dropping water temps. Those fronts actually kill many shad; not all, but many. Through the fall and winter, bass tend to school and follow balls of shad to take advantage of feeding opportunities available due to the cold. The abundance of forage and the natural urge to fatten up turn bass into eating machines. Airline_Ad_CoastalAngler_8-1-14_Layout 1 8/1/14 1:14 PM Page 1 action and As a shad dies, it flails about in a jerky twitching

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eventually sinks. If any bass are around, it will never make it to the bottom. Lures that mimic this action and excel this time of year include jerkbaits, A-rigs, spinnerbaits, lipless and deep-diving crankbaits and spoons. The flutter spoon is a personal favorite due to its ability to trigger a feeding response when other lures won’t. The erratic fluttering motion as it falls appears as a very familiar sight bass have been witnessing as shad succumb to the cold. When they strike, you’d best be holding on tight! Spoons are a great tool for scouring depths from 5 to 50 feet. Not only do they generate bites in open water where schools of bass roam for bait balls, they are deadly fished around deep and shallow grass beds. For this, rig a spoon on 50-pound braided main line with a 15-pound-test monofilament leader and cast to grass edges. Allow the spoon to fall into the grass, and then rip it out to generate bone-jarring strikes. Note: 99 percent of spoon bites come as the lure falls on a slack line. Suspending jerkbaits provide a different action needed for winter bass. When it’s bitter cold and bass are depressed from the conditions, you need to slow down while still presenting a shad imitation. Fished on light fluorocarbon line, jerkbaits reach deeper depths than you might think. In clear cold water they produce with reliable results. Long casts and slow retrieves with long pauses between twitches will get cold bass to move and strike. As winter moves toward spring, I cast a lipless crankbait at shallow grass near deep drop-offs. Bass will start moving closer to spawning areas long before they actually spawn and will continue to feed. If weather conditions create a slight rise in water temps, this technique can be hard to beat. Even if water temps are still in the low 50s, but have increased slightly, a fast retrieve will allow you to cover vast areas and pluck off many bass that have started to scatter from their winter schools. During these coldest times of the year is when some of the biggest bass are caught. Don’t let the conditions deter you from searching out that trophy bass. Bundle up and get after it! Randy Cnota is co-publisher of the Panama City/Destin/Forgotten Coast edition of Coastal Angler Magazine and owner of C-note Charters. Contact him at (229) 834-7880 or randyc@coastalanglermagazine.com.

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By Michael Okruhlik • Capt. Michael Okruhlik Photo courtesy of Controlled Descent Lures.

or those who enjoy targeting speckled trout of larger proportions, we know they are not easy to come by. The majority of trophy trout hunting is done in cooler water temps and below normal feeding patterns. Utilizing solunar tables for feeding times can improve your hookup ratio and help you get the edge on gator trout. When I was a child, I would look at the calendar on the wall and see how many fish were on the day I had a trip planned. Multi-fish days built the excitement and anticipation while zero

fish still left me wanting to go, but lessened my expectations. During my younger years, I also found no consistent correlation between my success and the number of fish on the calendar and soon felt no reason to review it. I felt it was more of a folktale than a tool. As I matured into a somewhat better angler, and started spending more time saltwater fishing, I once again started to study the solunar tables along with the tides. To be clear, these tables are not a magic act, nor do they place fish where they are not, but I am a believer that if you are on fish, they will be more aggressive during the feeding times specified in the tables. Many people misinterpret the major as the better bite. This is not necessarily the case. The major vs. the minor is the length of time the bite will last. The major is typically two hours long while the minor is about an hour and a half. Both can share the same intensity of the feeding period. I plan each trip around the bite times. Naturally, I fish more than the two hours of the major bite, but I place myself in what I feel is the prime area during the bite. One rule that I stick to is to fish during the feed times rather than travel from one spot to another. On a recent trip, I wasn’t having any luck and considered moving locations. I checked the time and realized the bite was approaching. I decided to not move during the bite and continued to fish the once non-productive area to realize an aggressive feed during the specified time slot. I find this approach especially true when hunting gator trout. They do not feed that often and are difficult to catch, therefore utilizing the solunar can give you the edge for catching these larger specks. As I stated previously, these solunar tables do not guarantee you will catch fish. However, if you have the correct conditions of tide, wind, water clarity, temps, bait and most of all FISH, giving it your best during the feeding times greatly increases your odds of catching fish, and gator trout. Capt. Michael Okruhlik is the inventor of Controlled Descent Lures and the owner of www.MyCoastOutdoors.com.

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urf Expo is coming to Orlando’s Orange County Convention Center Jan. 8-10. It is an enormous one-stop shop, where retailers can stock up for the upcoming season. The expo’s Bluewater category is designed specifically for retailers of fishing gear, apparel and accessories. Here is a list of Bluewater vendors at January’s Surf Expo: Smithfly, Monster Cooler, Fish Hard Gear, CEECOACH, Big Ocean Sport, Apparel by Home Run, Kanga Coolers, Float Pak, Mang Gear, Fish Hippie, Ugo Wear, Reel Happy, Hooked Soul Fishing Company, 5Fin, AFTCO, Marsh Wear Clothing, Heybo Outdoors, HUK, Tormentor Fishing Products, Jeep by Buck Wear, Bimini Bay Outfitters, Salt Life, Pure Lure Reel Fishing Gear.

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ll of us have enjoyed those rare days when fish would ingest virtually any lure or bait tossed in the water. Those experiences are certainly the exception, because fish are selective about their diets and seldom vary extensively in their choice of foods. Only when they cannot find enough of their standard fare will they range in their choice. Let me share a few examples: It was a beautiful day on the offshore grounds with a strong current that should hold fish. As the hours passed, our frustration increased. We couldn’t even raise a fish. Finally, the captain told us to reel in the lines. It seemed obvious he was going to try another spot, but that wasn’t his intention. Instead of moving, he took the trolling lures off the rods and rigged them with a single hook. One of the outfits had a sinker so it would go deeper. Then he turned the boat broadside to the current and cut the engine. We were now being pushed by the natural flow of water. A live baitfish was put on each hook and then streamed off the starboard side of the boat. He chopped up dead bait and threw a handful overboard as chum every couple of minutes. It didn’t take long before the big guys hit the live bait, and it suddenly became a banner day because the skipper did something different. More than 50 years ago, the late Joe Brooks told me no

one to his knowledge had caught an Allison (yellowfin) tuna on a fly, and he was sure I could do it. Joe set up a trip for me to Bermuda, where yellowfins responded to chum. I had fished chum slicks with a fly with my father since I was a young boy, and we simply cast in the slick and retrieved the fly. I can’t remember ever having a problem with that method. We were anchored on the edge of a bank in Bermuda, with the current taking chum off the edge into deep water. Tuna were devouring chum, and I was sure it would only take a cast or two to hookup. To say I was wrong was an understatement. The tuna ignored the fly as I retrieved it. They swam around it and kept eating chum. Finally, in desperation, I dropped the fly into some chum that lingered on the surface and did not move it. To this day, I can see that tuna inhaling the fly. It weighed 53 pounds and 6 ounces. The point to remember is that if the more common method isn’t working, try a modification. A friend and I were both fishing the same plug. He kept getting strikes, while nothing touched my offering. Finally, he showed me how he periodically vibrated his wrist. It made the lure flash, and that’s all it took. In a similar situation, another friend and I were using diving plugs. He kept hooking fish while I couldn’t buy strike. While I followed a standard retrieve, he would pause for an instant periodically. That allowed the plug to float upward before diving again. Simple, isn’t it? Before you claim there are no fish where you are fishing, try a few variations to standard practice. You might be surprised with the results.

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heepshead are some of the tastiest fish in the ocean. They are abundant throughout the Gulf and up the Atlantic coast, usually holding tight to structure like piers, pilings, seawalls, jetties and wrecks. Sheepshead are easy to find, but difficult to hook. They have hard mouths and teeth designed to crush the shells of barnacles, shrimp and mollusks. They’ll crush bait, and the hook, without an angler even knowing they were there. That’s why a dropshot rig is a good tool to have. The standard Carolina or fishfinder rigs are effective, but the added sensitivity of a dropshot, where everything is in line, lets you know the fish is there before it gets away. You’ll get two taps. Set the hook on the first one, because the second tap means the fish is gone. Fishing a dropshot rig is simple. Drop it to the bottom and reel up any slack. With a sensitive rod, the smallest peck is transmitted to the angler’s hand. Here’s how to tie it: • Use a double uni-knot to secure 6 feet of 15- to 20-lb. fluorocarbon leader to a 10- or 15-lb. braided mainline. • Use enough weight to stay in contact with the bottom, and tie it into the end of the leader. • Choose your depth, typically about 2 feet up the leader, and use a Palomar knot to tie in the hook so it rides point-up. Use a sharp J hook (#1-4) depending on the size of the bait, whether it’s a fiddler crab, sand flea, pieces of clam, or shrimp.

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