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SUZUKI MAKES IT

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Brown Trout

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GIFT IDEAS FOR ANGLERS

heck out these great gift ideas for the outdoor enthusiast on your holiday gift list. These local merchants are available to ensure your holiday gift giving satisfaction. We always try to encourage our readers to shop locally. It’s our community and we all benefit from supporting our local businesses. They’re here for us all year long and our personal convenience depends on their sustainability. Tell them Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine sent you. By the way, if you see something here that you wish could be under the tree with your name on it, just take out a marker and circle it. Then leave this page open for your friends and family to see. Yes, crude but effective. Happy Holidays from all of us at Coastal Angler/The Angler Magazine.

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By James Bradley

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TIPS FROM A PRO

NORTH CAROLINA

BRANDON LESTER

hen water temperatures dip into the 50s, I like to take a few days to leave my bass fishing gear at home and go crappie fishing. Most folks equate crappie with spring, but I’m here to tell you the winter bite is as good as it gets. Not only do crappie taste better when you pull them from cold water, they seem to run larger than they do when they’re up on the banks in the spring. And when you find them piled up, it can lead to a cooler full very quickly. Crappie stack up in large schools this time of year. If you know what to look for, it’s not hard to catch them. Finding good cover is always the ticket when it comes to crappie, and this is especially true during the winter months. On many reservoirs, boat docks are prime crappie cover. It seems like there are a few magic docks that always hold fish, and I also like to hunt them down with my Raymarine electronics. With the SideVision mode, it’s just a matter of idling around potential holding water and looking for them. They will be in big winter schools, so I might cruise past 50 docks before hitting on the mother lode. Once I see them on the SideVision, I’ll drop an Aqua Vu camera down to make sure they are crappie and see how big they are. I’m looking for depths of at least 20 feet beneath a dock. For obvious reasons, these deep-water docks are floating docks, and that’s something you can look out for. I have found them around docks with 60 feet of water under them, and the fish will be suspended 8 to 15 feet from the surface. If your lake or river has mostly fixed position docks with poles, crappie will get on them as well. The best way to narrow the search on

permanent docks is to look for the ones right on the edge of a creek or river channel. With a good map card like Navionics platinum these places are easy to find. If you can find a dock that has a little brush on it, you can almost bet there will be crappie around. Once you find crappie, cast exactly where they are or just beyond. Winter crappie have a very small strike zone. Count your bait down to the desired depth, and reel just fast enough to maintain that

By Carlos Hidalgo

enhaden are one of the most important baitfish on the Atlantic coast. Bunker, as menhaden are commonly called, are thin when looked at from the top but very wide from the side. Small bunker, referred to as peanut bunker, are easy to mimic with Flat Wings, Hi-Ties or any number of specialized patterns. Flies that represent big bunker, however, pose challenges. Think of casting a wet mop head, and you’ll get the idea. The other problem is that flies compress when stripped through the water. A fly with a wide profile on the tying vise can end up looking like a strand of spaghetti in the water. Capt. Chris Newsome grew up fishing the lower Chesapeake Bay in Virginia, where bunker make up as much as 80 percent of striped bass diets. As a fly fishing guide, Chris needed to come up with a large bunker fly that was easy to cast and kept its wide profile. The idea of how to accomplish this came to him one night when he was woken up by his crying young daughter. Instead of tying bucktail and saddle hackles directly on the hook, Chris thought to tie the material onto small pieces of wire, which would then be tied onto the hook. Since the fly is made up with a relatively small amount of material, it’s easy to cast. The angle of the wires ensures the fly keeps its wide profile in the water. The fly has been very effective for stripers and can be used for any gamefish that feeds on wide-profile baitfish.

Wired Bunker Fly

depth. My favorite jig head is a 1/32-oz. ball-shaped jig head with a good sharp Mustad hook, but I will go up to a 1/16 oz. if the wind is blowing or I’m fishing deeper than normal. The natural bait is going to be larger this time of year, so soft-plastic minnow imitations in the 2-inch range with a straight tail will work. I use a S721 MHX rod built with supplies from Mud Hole Custom Tackle, including a Winn grip. It is 6 feet long, super-sensitive, and has the perfect action for controlling small baits. I team it with a 1,000-size spinning reel and 4-pound Vicious Panfish line in fluorescent green. The green line helps detect light strikes.

Get more tips from Lester at

FISHINGMAGAZINE.FISHING

Hook – Tiemco 600SP, size 2/0 to 6/0 Thread – Danville flat waxed nylon, 210 denier Wire – Malin Hard Wire, size 1/0 Tail – bucktail topped by four saddle hackles tied flat Wing – four saddle hackles surrounded by bucktail tied onto ½-inch wire pieces Belly – long, thin bunches of bucktail tied onto ½-inch wire pieces Eyes – 3-D prismatic, 3/8” to 3/4” Glue – Beacon 527 Place a piece of wire in the vise and tie a thin bunch of bucktail onto it. Make several of these units. Next, tie several components made up of four saddle hackles surrounded by bucktail onto pieces of wire. Flashabou can be tied onto each component. Begin by tying a thin amount of bucktail topped by four saddle hackles tied flat onto the back of the hook. Move the thread up the shank and tie a wing component (one with hackles) on top of the hook and a belly component (one with just bucktail) on the bottom of the shank. Keep moving the thread up the hook shank and tie at least two more wing and two more belly units. Bend the wire pieces until satisfied with the fly’s profile. Glue each tie-in point, and finish by gluing eyes onto the sides of the fly. Contact Capt. Chris Newsome at 804-815-4895 or chris@bayflyfishing.com. Check out his website BayFlyFishing.com. Contact Carlos at cah6620@gmail.com if you would like to submit a pattern for consideration in this column or if you would like to order my book, “South Florida’s Peacock Bass.”

COASTALANGLERMAG.COM ••THEANGLERMAG.COM DECEMBER 2017 2017 NORTH CAROLINA COASTALANGLERMAG.COM THEANGLERMAG.COM DECEMBER NORTH CAROLINA COASTALANGLERMAG.COM ••THEANGLERMAG.COM DECEMBER BLUE RIDGE 1 11 COASTALANGLERMAG.COM THEANGLERMAG.COM DECEMBER 2017 BLUE RIDGE COASTALANGLERMAG.COM • THEANGLERMAG.COM DECEMBER 2017 2017 WEST COAST FLORIDA

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WIDEST SELECTION OF KAYAKS & ACCESSORIES ON THE OUTER BANKS

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Wilmington/Morehead City edition

Swansboro/emerald Isle Well, December is bringing to a close another great fishing sea- trout crazy. son along the Crystal Coast. Fortunately, for those of us who are true fishing addicts, there are several species that winter over in our area and can be pursued with success if fishermen take the time and effort needed to both locate and entice them to bite. With a little luck, anglers heading out to fish this December along the coast can expect a chance to hook-up with both speckled trout and redfish. Other species that can be targeted near shore include; bluefish, albacore, sea bass, grey trout, and even a few flounder. Aboard Fish’n4life we’ll be targeting speckled trout and redfish along the surf, around inlets and inlet structure, and up local rivers and creeks. The tributaries off the Newport River, White Oak River, and New River will hold fish. These fish will be willing to bite the right baits during the right weather. It’s important for anglers to concentrate their efforts on mild weather days. Small scented baits, like Berkley’s assortment of three- to four-inch Gulp baits will no doubt be some of the best baits onboard during the winter months. The incredible scent absorbed into their biodegradable bodies is released over 400 times faster than scents in plastic baits. Another pair of excellent soft baits are Bett’s Shrimp and Halo Shad. Working these baits slowly through your favorite fishing holes creates a scent trail that quickly turns these cold, lethargic fish on to feed. While scaling down your bait it’s also important use a lighter jighead. A good rule to follow, in slow currents, would be to use a 1/16-ounce in less than five feet of water, a 1/8-ounce in five to ten feet of water and 3/16-ounce or better in depths over ten feet. Areas of strong current will call for slightly heavier jigheads. It’s important to work your baits slowly above: David Knox from Greenville caught with slight twitches and this big citation flounder this November long two- to three-sec- while fishing aboard Fish’n4life Charters ond pauses to get that with Capt. Jeff Cronk just outside of Bogue hang time which drives Inlet.

Mild weather days with light winds will offer up the chance to sight cast to redfish in both the shallow mud flats of the backwaters and the sand flats and shoals around the inlets. When attempting to locate these fish in the backwaters there are a few tips to remember. First, dark, muddy bottoms absorb the sun’s radiation much faster than sandy or light-colored bottoms. This type of bottom can usually be found up creeks and farther up rivers. There’s also a better chance of fish in one of these areas above: Rebekah Stanton, an ECU student, if deeper water is caught this doormat on a Bett’s Bucktail with nearby. This provides Berkley Gulp Shrimp while fishing with Capt. Jeff a place for the fish to Cronk recently. retreat to in extreme cold weather. Another factor is protection from the cold winds. You will often find redfish utilizing bays and creeks that are blocked from northerly winds. A cold wind can quickly bring down the water temperature in the shallows which can shock or kill the fish. Finally, the presence of bait is always important. If you can locate an area that is holding mullet, shad, or mud minnows during the winter months, there will almost always be predators present. These are the types of backwater places on which fishermen should concentrate their fishing efforts during mild weather. FORECAST BY: Capt. Jeff Cronk Fish’n4life Charters Carolina Fishing TV www.nccharterfishing.com Ranger/Yamaha/PENN/Berkley Pro-Staff Cell 336-558-5697 Home 910-325-8194 jcronk@ec.rr.com

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december 2017

wilmington/Morehead city 1

11/14/17 3:45 PM

What’s on Your Christmas List?

Hopefully the angler/hunter in your house is on Santa’s good list this year! So let’s try to help Old Santa out and make sure that the outdoor enthusiast on your list gets some great gifts and not just ties and socks for Christmas! Let’s start with the stocking stuffers first. What better way to fill up anglers or hunter’s Christmas stockings than with gift cards. You can never go wrong giving this gift. It allows the individual to purchase what they want. Several stores have great gifts for the outdoors such as Bass Pro Shops, Cabela’s, Academy Sports, A.K. McCallum and Riverside Bait and Tackle. Please don’t forget to shop at your local hunting and fishing stores for gift cards. Another great gift card is for gas or food from fast food chains. It’s always great to grab a biscuit and coffee and fill up the truck before the hunt or fishing venture for the day. Another great stocking stuffer is a gift certificate for your local marina. Get them a certificate for a tune-up for their hunting or fishing boat. Looking for a proven all-around hunting jacket for a great Christmas gift? Look no further than the Canebreak 1/4 Zip Jacket from Heybo. Patrick Pope, Pro Staff/Social Media Coordinator of Heybo told me that when it comes to all around hunting jackets, the Canebreak 1/4 Zip is as versatile as it gets. If you are headed to the deer stand, hooking up the boat to go chase ducks, fishing or going in search of that big gobbler, this foul weather technology designed jacket will keep you warm and dry. It features a magnetic call pocket, zippered hand pockets both up high and down low and adjustable watertight cuffs. This awesome jacket is offered in Mossy Oak Bottomland and Realtree Max 5 Camo. This is a great jacket for the outdoors enthusiast. They will thank you for it on Christmas morning! You can go to www.heybooutdoors.com and look at all their fantastic line up of shirts, jackets, hats and so much more. Another gift idea would be a great rain suit. Compass 360 makes a great rain suit. The Storm Guide Competition Jacket and the Storm Guide 360 Bibs are a great combination. This outerwear is designed to be 100% waterproof, windproof, wrinkle-resistant, breathable and incredibly comfortable. What I really liked about the bibs was how they thought of the fisherman trying to get the bibs on over clothes and shoes by installing knee high adjustable zippered leg openings. Go to www.compass360gear.com to check out this outerwear and much more for your shopping list for Santa. There are some product reviews to help make it easier for you to choose what gifts to purchase: All fishermen need a good pair of sunglasses and my personal choice is the Flying Fisherman’s Moray Sunglasses. New for 2018, a sporty frame equipped to take your fishing game to the next level. Morays are available in different colors and all will be polarized, AcuTint lens coloring system to eliminate the glare off the water. Call 305-852-8989 or visit their website at www.flyingfisherman.com. Check out the G-Force Conservation Culling System from TH Marine. This cull system includes six non-penetrating cull buoys along with a quick balance beam and buoy holder. Go to 2 wilmington/Morehead city december 2017

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www.thmarine.com and check out this great product as well as a lot more for the angler in your family. Rapala has a great product to check out. The Rapala 50-pound High Contrast Digital Scale has a fish-friendly gripper and reverse image LCD for enhanced viewing, even on bright sunny days. It is easy to use directional pad operation, eight storage locations for easy culling, tare weight, memory back-up. Also, there’s quick reference for min and max, as well as bin and total weights. The scale runs on two AAA batteries. If you have that fisherman in your house that loves to fish all year long, then the Freedom Tackle Turnback Shad is the right lure for that individual for Christmas! According to Tom Chopin of Freedom Tackle, this is the perfect vertical jig for open cold water. The lure features a full metal body that swings freely on the metal line tie shaft. With a jerk in the rod the lure will dart off in random directions, turn around and swim back the other way! This lure also has glass beads on the metal shaft to offer a visual and audio attraction. Go to www. freedomlures.com to check their complete line of great products. Please remember it’s not what’s under the Christmas tree that matters, but who gathers around it…… From my Family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you on the water in the New Year, Hal Abshire Tournament Angler

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december 2017

wilmington/Morehead city 3

11/14/17 3:45 PM

Wrightsville Beach

In December another fish I really like to hunt for on sunny, warmer and light wind days are schooling redfish. I find these schools on oyster rocks/flats, sand bars in the surf and shallow flats on the ICW. In December the reds are not hard to catch when you find them, but some times finding them can be a challenge. My “go-to” bait for the winter redfish are scented grubs like the Berkley Gulp Jerkshad or Firetail shrimp...redfish love these things. Rigging the grubs with 30or 40-pound mono or fluorocarbon and a darker colored jig head like red or brown should get the redfish to bite for you. Not too far from Wrightsville Beach in historic downtown Wilmington runs the Cape Fear River and in the Cape Fear there are some cold weather biting striped bass. These fish are not the easiest to catch, but they fight very well, especially in cold water. Working drop-offs and grass lines on the edge of the river is where you can find the stripers. Using swimbait lures and Berkley Power Bait, Berkley Havoc Grass Pig lures and Berkley Gulp Jerkshad should put a few Cape Fear stripers on you line. Rig these lures on swimbait hooks for weedless fishing (there are lots of snags in the river). Don’t forget that the Cape Fear River striped bass fishery is closed; catch and release only! Tackle run down: PENN Battle II & Conflict II Spinning reels in sizes 2000, 2500 and 3000 for the redfish, speckled trout and striped bass. Rods: PENN Battalion 6’6” & 7’ med/light and medium action. Line Spiderwire Ultra-cast in eight-, 10- and 15-pound or in 8-, 10or 12-pound test for speckled trout fishing. Thanks for reading! Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and good winter fishing to you!

Where has this year gone? It’s December...really? Christmas is just around the corner! Hey, but there is still fishing to do around Wrightsville Beach! And, as late as this season has run on water temps, I’m betting on a good bite well into December. In December I catch some of the biggest speckled trout of all year, but you need to know which lures work better for bigger trout. Hard baits like MirrOlures have put some big trout in the boat for me and for many other anglers over the years. MirrOlure’s 52M, 52MR and TT series are great big trout baits. Try these lures in these colors: 11 (redhead), 11FGO (fluorescent orangehead), 21 (blackback), 26 (redback), 51 (white/white), 704 (pink/yellow), 808 (black/gold/orange), CFPR (chart/pearl), HP (hotpink) and the Capt. Jot custom color only available at Tex’s Tackle; and for great night fishing, PD (purple demon). The 52 series MirrOlures are good for deeper waters and/or higher current areas. In shallower waters I use 17MR’s and 22MR’s and go with lighter colors for clearer water and darker colors for stained or brackish waters. Good looking scented lures that have been working very well for me are the three-inch Berkley Gulp Shrimp and five-inch Jerkshad. All the colors have worked well for me, but here are a few that I like for trout: in the shrimp pattern, sugar spice glow, pearl white and pearl white/pink; for the jerkshad, pink shine, pearl white and chart pepper neon. All of these baits have Gulp’s great scent, great action and come in a lot of great colors too! Don’t forget the good ol’ five inch pearl white jerkshad as well. The grub (soft plastic) has been around forever in the fishing world. These days they come in so many different colors...here are few that work well for me when trout fishing: Saltwater Assassin four-inch sea shad pattern in the colors chicken on a chain, rainbow trout, copperhead, green moon, sweet pea, pink diamond and silver phantom/chart. I rig all these grubs with 1/8-ounce, 1/4-ounce and 3/8-ounce jig heads in gray, red or brown. Don’t forget that I rig all of my speckled trout lures with fluorocarbon leaders; trout have very good eyesight and later in the season like December the water can get very clear! Get yourself a good spool of fluorocarbon like Berkley Pro Spec or Berkley Vanish; both of these work great in 20-pound test.

Forecast by: Capt. Jot Owens Penn Tackle Elight Staff •Ranger Boats Pro Staff www.captainjot.com • 910-233-4139

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above: Capt. Jot Owens with a very nice Cape Fear River striped bass that hit a Berkley Havoc Grass Pig lure. The striper was tagged and released in good health. 4 wilmington/Morehead city december 2017

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december 2017

wilmington/Morehead city 5

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Atlantic Beach - Inshore & Nearshore Well, looks like it’s time to get ready for Santa, but don’t put up the fishing rods just yet, since we’re still seeing some decent fishing in the area. Speckled trout fishing has been pretty much the name of the game this month. The crowds seem to be gone after the Thanksgiving holiday but the ones that’re still fishing are seeing pretty good action. Some anglers have been fishing around the Haystacks, Radio Island, Bogue Sound, Shackleford Banks and the Cape Lookout Rock Jetty and are catching limits of fish. But it’s that time of the year when trout will start moving to the back of the creeks in deeper water for the winter. If you can find a creek with decent water depth there’s a good chance of finding a few fish. The water has gotten cold, so the fish are feeding different now; you have to fish slower. What we’ve been seeing over the last two weeks, Mirrolure’s in the 17MR and 18MR size along with live mud minnows have been working well. If you like to wade fish, walking the beach from Oceanana Pier back toward Fort Macon park and fishing the beach at Radio Island might give you chance of catching some trout. Also, there are still some gray trout around...a good number of fish have been hanging around the Radio Island area as well as around the Cape Lookout Rock Jetty. I’m also sure you could pick up a few drifting the Turning Basin area on the bottom. It’s that time of the year when we’ll start to see good redfish action along Shackleford Banks, Shark Island and the Cape Lookout jetty. When looking for them along the surf zone in the winter it’s all about finding good weather windows. You need a light wind out of the north to really be able to find them. The water is as clear as it’ll get, so if the sun’s out and the wind’s down, if you run across a school it’s pretty hard to miss them. Berkley Gulp baits and Z-Man baits are what we have the best luck with when fishing for the surf zone redfish. We’re still seeing schools of fish in some of the

above: Jim Heidenreich with a 5.25-pound speckled trout caught on a MirrOlure 17MR in the marsh area around Morehead City.

creeks in the backwaters but it’s been hard to get them to bite. So, live mud minnows have been helping anglers in catching these fish. Also, you might run across some black drum if you’re fishing the docks in the creeks or at the Cape Lookout rock jetty. Fishing bait shrimp on the bottom will usually get the best results. There are still some sea mullets around to catch...good places to look is around the 18 and 19 buoy near the Coast Guard Station in 30- to 40-foot depths. Also the Dead Tree Hole can produce fish this time of the year. Fishing Sam’s Gitter’s Spec Rigs on the bottom with bait shrimp and Fishbites have been working the best. Also, you’re more than likely going to run across hog- above: Sean Williams with a nice catch of fish, pufferfish and a few speckled trout; the largest weighed in at gray trout while fishing 5.48 pounds. They were caught while wade fishing from the beach. for the mullets. First of the month, you can still catch some king mackerel, you’ll just have to run north, when I say north I mean up off Hatteras Island. Yeah, it seems like a long ways when you think about it, but boats do it a lot this time of the year. That’s where the fish are, so that’s where you have to go to get action. Not saying you might not pick any up over on the east side of the Cape but I haven’t heard of much action. We have had tons of albacore around this fall, and we still are seeing a few schools around the beaches to catch. Most have moved south but if you get along the beach and see birds working the water, there’s a good chance it’s a school of albacore feeding. We’re still hearing of a few flounder at the artificial reefs like 315, 320 and 330. I’d say by the middle of December most will have moved on offshore. Jigging two-ounce Spro Bucktails tipped with four-inch Berkley Gulp Shrimp is still working the best on the ocean reef fish. Also, you might pick up some keeper sea bass while jigging for the flounder at the reefs. The crew from Chasin’ Tails Outdoors wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Stay safe over the holidays. We are open all winter long, so stop in and see us...there are always a few fish around to catch! FORECAST BY: Capt. Matt Lamb Chasin’ Tails Bait & Tackle Chasin’ Tails Charters Atlantic Beach, N.C. 252-240-FISH www.chasintailsoutdoors.com

Capt. Matt Lamb

above: Allen Darst with a huge one that topped the scales just under 7 pounds. Fish was released ALIVE behind the shop to swim another day. This monster was caught on a 17MR MirrOlure in the Rainbow Trout color. 6 wilmington/Morehead city december 2017

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december 2017

wilmington/Morehead city 7

11/14/17 3:45 PM

Flying Around With Captain Lee

Wow, time flies...what happened to 2017? It hasd gone by in the flash of an eye! This November we saw a big improvement in the speckled trout fishing, both in the size and numbers of fish caught. It should be heating up even more with the temperatures falling. Speckled trout fishing and flounder fishing in November were great, with multiple slams (flounder, trout and drum) on many of the trips last month. Trout should be moving into the deeper holes at the end of the month but you still will find them in the shallows with current. I look for areas with seams and back eddies and work MirrOlures on the swing there. Most strikes will come at the end of the swing. When fishing grubs, I fish the lightest lead head I can fish, popping them off the bottom with a sharp snap. Your bite will come on the fall and only be a small “tick”. As a rule, you will catch more on grubs but the bigger ones come on MirrOlures. Don’t over look the jetties and the wall, there is some great fishing there...and nighttime can produce some big fish. Also, the flats at Topsail Island will hold them on the higher tides. Flounder will have moved to the ocean for the most part, but some will still be found on the inside. Falling tides in the creek mouths is where I like to look for them. Mud minnows on the bottom or Gulp rigged on a worm hook work well and will produce a nice dinner here and there. Red drum will still be on the inside flats...fish slower for them. Bait, cut mullet, live mud minnows and dead sticking Gulp are your best bets. On warm days they will be more active and, in the middle of the day, topwaters and gold spoons are very effective for them. This is also the time they move into the ocean. With the clear water you should be able to find them in the surf. The same baits as above will work well but I like to use MirrOlures like the Catch 2000 or the MR 17. The red (#26) and the PIN colors are very effective for them. You will find the stripers in the Cape Fear River. Trolling with deep diving baits are a great way to find them. When fishing in the shallower water and small creeks I like small swim baits, big grubs, Rattletraps and MR17 MirrOlures. On the high tides, I fish next to the steep banks, as the water falls, I move to the mouths of the creeks. With the waters getting cold, fish with a partner. If something were to happen, your odds are better of surviving a unsuspected dive over the boat. As always, be safe on the water,

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above: Mike Hoffman of Wilmington with a nice pair of trout...one a grey and the other a speck.

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kayak Fishing

‘Tis a Kayak Christmas!

Well, it is just after Thanksgiving and I am sure we are all feeling full. But wait, Christmas is just around the corner Turkey’s gone, tree’s up, candles in the window. I’ve wrestling lights outside on the bushes and trees. Wait what do I get for my favorite kayak fisherman. Well, I have already had that question a few times even before I saddled up to a 15-pound bird and stuffing. By now, all the new latest and greatest that every kayak fisherman wants is out. What I like to do is to think logically...what is something that I would like to add to my own kayak. I am fishing all the time, so I feel I have a good grasp on what people may want. So what if my favorite person is looking for a fish finder? Well, you might need a bit more info than that to get them what they want. I really like the Raymarine Dagon Fly series, a great product at a great price. If they are interested in another manufacturer, that’s great but it depends on how you attach it to the kayak. For me, my go-to, no- fail product is Scotty’s 141 Transducer mount with gear head attached. All you need is their universal fishfinder mount and a battery and there you have it, a mounted fishfinder for your techie fisherman. If you want to keep your fisherman safe, make sure he or she has a good fitting and functional life jacket. There are a lot of companies now that are designing life jackets for fishing. If you think a life jacket is the right gift, I would suggest a gift card. To me, a life jacket is a very personal choice; they all have different cuts so you might pick out a great one for you loved one but it might not fit as well as another brand. It is something that should be tried on and if you are in the right

offshore/bottom Finally Starting To Cool Down, Bottom Fishing Heating Up

Traditionally, December has always been the apex of the bottom fishing, with the week of Christmas being the best of the best. This year however, the water temps have been warmer than I can remember, and the bait has just now started to stack up in all the same old places. The sabiki could be your best friend on days like these. It’s one thing to try and fill the live well with one or two cigar minnows or sardines at a time, and a completely different animal if you can consistently have a “full house” of six minnows per drop. When you have two dropping sabikis and one person standing in the center, using the dehooker properly, you can load up the live well in a hurry. Sure, there is a downfall to fishing live cigs and sardines, which is that most everything down there can and will give it a go, but there are times when a live sardine rings the dinner bell like nothing else, maybe other than a big ol’ fat cig. Now, with the red snapper season open, there is NOTHING that calls to the gags and big snappers like a live cig or sardine on a Decoy Jig. They (gags and snappers) readily identify with both crabs and sardines or cigar minnows. That’s truly a “Happy Meal” in the eyes of a gag grouper or red snapper. NOTE: If you are getting pounded by the pinkies, grunts and seabass and feel like the gags are there, just drop the sabiki back in, wherever you are, and jig up a few grass grunts. Replace the grass grunt for bait. This instantly eliminates the trash bites and gets only the largest seabass and grouper bites, or a cobia.

shop they will help adjust it to make sure the fit is correct. It is also getting cold out; it’s Christmas, that’s what happens this time of year. But here in the south it does not get so cold that you have to stop kayak fishing. A option to keep your favorite kayak fisherman on the water is a good set of dry pants and dry top. This will protect from the colder weather and most important keep angler dry and protected from the cold water. I personally wear an Immersion Research Zypher top. It is breathable and warm with adjustable neck and wrist gaskets. For the pants, I use IR’s Arch Rival waders. These are dry pants that have latex booties welded into the pant legs. Now you have dry pants and dry feet when getting in and out of the kayak. I am a huge proponent of safety gear while you are on the water. the right gear makes for a fun and safe day on the water, doing what you love. Other than what I have mentioned here are rods, reels, baits, tackle, paddles, kayaks. Sorry to have to stop the list here, but I only have so many words before the editors have at my article. One last thing...Merry Christmas and tight lines. article BY: Chris Tryon Hook Line and Paddle Canoe and Kayak Outfitters, Wilmington, NC Phone 910-330-6999 • email: hooklineandpaddle@yahoo.com

The by-catch of gags and snappers out there on these big schools of bait (depending the water temps by the publishing of this issue) is cobia on the bottom. Just because the water temp on the surface is just under 68 degrees, doesn’t mean the cobia aren’t on the bottom out there. If it’s 67 degrees or so, it could still hold the cobia on the bottom. Again, depending on the water temps, there is no better time of the year to light line kings if you’re in 67- 68 degree water or better. The light line can be a complete pain in the azz, because it is constantly going off, and holding up the bottom fishing. It’s a “bird in hand” to take a couple boxes of frozen cigar minnows with you, as you have instant bait when you get there, but I strongly suggest you jig up some live ones if they are there. The always present grass grunts are on almost every stop, but like I said, sometimes there’s NOTHING that rings a gag’s dinner bell like a live sardine. These huge schools of bait are typically inside of 20 miles now, and I would be careful of running over the fish, as they can easily be closer to the hill than any other time of the year. This is absolutely my favorite time of year as it can be chilly on the hill, and T shirts out there by lunch and back chilly in the afternoon. Get out there and enjoy the best fishing of the year, and based on the current water temps, January could easily be the best fishing of the winter months this year. As always, take the younger anglers with you and share the experience with them. These kind of days make the memories that nobody will ever forget.

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FORECAST BY: Capt. Tim Barefoot, Barefoot Fishing www.circlehookjig.com • www.barefootfishing.net

december 2017

wilmington/Morehead city 9

11/14/17 3:45 PM

southport-ocean isle

ever experience! The month of December leaves only one species to be targeted consistently in the Gulf Stream: wahoo! Putting out a spread of high-speed lures and covering ground is your ticket to putting a few of these supercharged reel screamers in the boat and steaks on the grill this time of year. No matter what you are in the mood to fish above: Matt Biles of Kannapolis enjoyed one for, don’t let the of the warm early November days and catching this mahi on an charter offshore with Capt. Butch month of December and the coolFoster of Yeah Right Charters. er temperatures allow you to stay inside and have cabin fever set in when there are fish that are wanting to feed and ready to give you a pull on the line! Another benefit to fishing this time of the year is that you will often find you are the only one enjoying a day on the water in your desired location and not having to fight the summer crowds. It’s that time of the year to break out the artificial lures and employ your special techniques to put fish in the boat, bragging rights in the tackle shops, and a few good fillets on the table! We look forward to seeing you on the water!

Fishing in December leaves many anglers with the idea that it is just that, fishing, and that the catching aspect is very limited. However, with the right tactics employed at the correct locations, one may quickly find that a cool day fishing has turned into a day of catching! Perhaps the most likely candidate to target in Southport/Oak Island this time of the year is the speckled sea trout. As the water temperatures get cooler, most species have migrated south or offshore, but speckled trout move into the backwaters of the Intracoastal Waterway and will usually be enticed by an artificial bait. Betts’ Halo Shrimp rigged with a piece of fluorocarbon leader and tipped with a line of Pro-Cure Inshore Angler Scented Super-Gel, bounced slowly along the bottom in these creeks will often find the “thump” that only a hungry speckled trout can deliver and you’ve been waiting to set the hook on! Be sure to fish the down-current side of oyster beds on a falling tide; many times a “gator” trout will be lying in wait at these ambush points and a Betts’ Halo Shad with Pro-Cure scent is nearly always sure to get a strike! Nearshore action in the winter can be slow at best, but there are a few lingering fish to target and if you’re willing to put the time in, the catch can be quite rewarding. On the nearshore artificial reefs, a modified Carolina rig deployed with a cut croaker will end up with a rod tip buried and a citation-sized “bull” red drum fighting on the other end of the line! A little further offshore, fishermen will be on the lookout for the birds diving and the large schools of bait stacked up around the Frying Pan Shoals in hopes of being the first to spot a bluefin tuna exploding bait pods on top of the water. If the bluefin do show up, you can bet that one key bait of choice will be horse ballyhoo rigged behind a Deep-Six lure by South Chatham Tackle, being trolled around these bait pods. Be sure to check out South Chatham Tackle’s website as they carry a large selection of bluefin tuna landing accessories that are second-to-none! Even further offshore, the long awaited “knot-head” black sea bass should be once again showing up in our waters. Using cut squid on a two-hook bottom fishing rig will allow anglers to quickly fill their limit of black sea bass, along with vermillion snapper, gray snapper, and various other bottom fish species. Anchoring up on rocks and ledges in the 35- to 50-mile range in the winter months usually leads to some of the best bottom fishing of the year with larger fish biting and they are hungry! Make sure above: Lynn Widener of Greensboro landed this to stay up-to-date Almaco Jack when she went offshore aboard the with the NOAA Yeah Right II recently. Fisheries regulations and species-specific season closures this time of right: The “lite line” was the trick to hook this year. Also, the king mackerel should be making their winter migration large king mackerel for offshore by now and will be congregating in large schools around the Mike Molinini of Southwarm water pockets spawned by eddies from the Gulf Stream. These port aboard the Yeah schools of king mackerel can be hard to target, but once you are on one Right II recently. of the them it is literally some of the best king mackerel fishing you will 10 wilmington/Morehead city december 2017

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FORECAST BY: Capt. Chris Foster Yeah Right Charters www.yeahrightcharters.com boat: 336-239-5429 office: 910-845-2004

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11/14/17 3:45 PM

target the blackfin. I still say that, for the most part, the many available colors attract us fishermen more so than the fish, but face it, we all have our favorites. I always like to have a blue/white combo out there and I tend to prefer a darker combo like blue/black. Lots of guys rely on a red/black and The end of the year is upon us. I, for one, am going to be very happy to for years I counted on either orange/black or purple/black. All that said, I see 2017 slide into my wake! There have been lots of changes for me this have caught about the same amount on crystal sea witches, pink sea witchyear and some fairly rough waters but as always we found a way to get through it. The fishing has been tough this year, the mahi run just never “got right” and the wahoos this fall were not as consistent as they should have been. However the blue marlin bite was as good this year as any I can remember. I guess it’s like everything else in fishing, you never really know what you are going to find out there from day to day. December is here, we’re all a little heavier from eating too much for Thanksgiving, and Christmas will certainly be here before most of us are ready. Amid all the chaos don’t forget to watch for a good weather window to get back offshore one more time. The weather has been strange this year and the water temps have stayed up well into November. We have been fishing 80+ degree water as of writing this. The wahoo run has not been as consistent as hoped, with limits for everyone day after day, but what we have had has been a nice class of fish. I see no reason we should not have some wahoo to chase right on through the end of the year. There should be some blackfin around and some mahi showing up occasionally. The fun part is that we have seen an excellent sailfish run with boats getting multiple fish a day, and there above: Bradley Blier of Clinton found the action exciting while aboard the Savanna were even a couple of blue marlin caught over the last week. Leigh with Capt. Troy Pate. This time of year we will generally run a wahoo-specific spread with most all baits rigged on #9 piano wire. The primary exceptions es and even good old naked split bill ballyhoo. Whatever you like the most will be a naked ballyhoo on a circle hook out there waiting for a sail, and is what you will ultimately run the most and consequently is what you will then sometimes we’ll add a mini green machine or something similar to probably catch the most on. The key is proper rigging and presentation, and very, very sharp hooks! If you get a good window to get offshore just make sure you have everywww.ecoviewwindows.com | 910-795-7518 thing ready. Wire rigs ready with plenty of extra wire waiting to go into service in the event of an epic day. Sharpen your hooks to perfection to ensure you penetrate that jaw. Have good line on good operational reels...a wahoo will test your tackle. Get at least one bait down deep, that’s where they will give the most action. I love my planer rod...that said, I do not recommend trying to fish with two – if you are fishing it right you will not have time to properly run two (quick hint – you don’t see the charter fleet running two!) and they are a bad tangle waiting to happen! Lastly, please be extremely careful with these fish, the serrated razors found in a wahoo mouth can be SolarFlect™ Low-E Multiple Pane Vinyl Frames a life threatening end to your fishing day. Insulating Glass Glass Plan ahead, be prepared and have fun! FORECAST BY: Capt. Troy Pate 252-917-0445 • capttroypate@aol.com

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december 2017

Aboard the Savanna Leigh

at the Capt. Stacy Fishing Center Atlantic Beach wilmington/Morehead city 11

11/14/17 3:45 PM

Morehead City Tides

Wrightsville Beach Tides Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina 34.2133° N, 77.7867° W DeCemBer 2017

Morehead City, North Carolina

Fri 01 Sat 02 Sun 03 Mon 04 Tue 05 Wed 06 Thu 07 Fri 08 Sat 09 Sun 10 Mon 11 Tue 12 Wed 13 Thu 14 Fri 15 Sat 16 Sun 17 Mon 18 Tue 19 Wed 20 Thu 21 Fri 22 Sat 23 Sun 24 Mon 25 Tue 26 Wed 27 Thu 28 Fri 29 Sat 30 Sun 31

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4:52 AM 5:41 AM

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11:15 AM 12:09 PM 12:11 AM 1:03 AM 1:54 AM 2:45 AM 3:38 AM 4:36 AM 5:44 AM 12:32 AM 6:56 AM 1:29 AM 8:02 AM 2:29 AM 9:01 AM 3:29 AM 9:53 AM 4:23 AM 10:42 AM 5:09 AM 11:27 AM 5:51 AM 12:11 PM 12:08 AM 12:48 AM 1:26 AM 2:03 AM 2:38 AM 3:13 AM 3:51 AM 4:37 AM 5:39 AM 12:29 AM 6:51 AM 1:21 AM 7:58 AM 2:21 AM 8:59 AM 3:27 AM 9:57 AM 4:27 AM 10:54 AM 5:22 AM 11:51 AM

High

Low

High

Sunrise Sunset

5:13 PM 11:18 PM 6:59 AM 5:01 PM 6:03 PM 6:59 AM 5:01 PM 6:30 AM 1:03 PM 6:53 PM 7:00 AM 5:01 PM 7:20 AM 1:55 PM 7:46 PM 7:01 AM 5:01 PM 8:13 AM 2:46 PM 8:41 PM 7:02 AM 5:01 PM 9:08 AM 3:37 PM 9:39 PM 7:03 AM 5:01 PM 10:05 AM 4:33 PM 10:39 PM 7:04 AM 5:01 PM 11:02 AM 5:35 PM 11:36 PM 7:04 AM 5:01 PM 11:57 AM 6:39 PM 7:05 AM 5:01 PM 12:50 PM 7:39 PM 7:06 AM 5:01 PM 1:46 PM 8:32 PM 7:07 AM 5:01 PM 2:46 PM 9:19 PM 7:07 AM 5:02 PM 3:46 PM 10:03 PM 7:08 AM 5:02 PM 4:38 PM 10:45 PM 7:09 AM 5:02 PM 5:23 PM 11:27 PM 7:09 AM 5:02 PM 6:05 PM 7:10 AM 5:03 PM 6:31 AM 12:53 PM 6:44 PM 7:11 AM 5:03 PM 7:09 AM 1:31 PM 7:24 PM 7:11 AM 5:04 PM 7:48 AM 2:07 PM 8:04 PM 7:12 AM 5:04 PM 8:28 AM 2:43 PM 8:46 PM 7:12 AM 5:05 PM 9:09 AM 3:19 PM 9:29 PM 7:13 AM 5:05 PM 9:51 AM 3:57 PM 10:14 PM 7:13 AM 5:06 PM 10:33 AM 4:40 PM 10:58 PM 7:14 AM 5:06 PM 11:16 AM 5:30 PM 11:43 PM 7:14 AM 5:07 PM 11:59 AM 6:25 PM 7:15 AM 5:07 PM 12:45 PM 7:21 PM 7:15 AM 5:08 PM 1:39 PM 8:15 PM 7:15 AM 5:08 PM 2:44 PM 9:08 PM 7:16 AM 5:09 PM 3:50 PM 10:01 PM 7:16 AM 5:10 PM 4:50 PM 10:55 PM 7:16 AM 5:11 PM 5:44 PM 7:16 AM 5:11 PM Tide Tables provided by SaltwaterCentral.Com

34.7200° N, 76.7283° W

Day

High

5:13 AM 6:03 AM

Low

11:37 AM 12:30 PM 12:23 AM 1:13 AM 2:05 AM 2:58 AM 3:55 AM 4:56 AM 6:01 AM 1:06 AM 7:11 AM 2:12 AM 8:23 AM 3:15 AM 9:30 AM 4:10 AM 10:30 AM 4:59 AM 11:22 AM 5:43 AM 12:09 PM 6:23 AM 12:50 PM 12:31 AM 1:07 AM 1:44 AM 2:21 AM 2:58 AM 3:37 AM 4:19 AM 5:07 AM 12:02 AM 6:01 AM 12:57 AM 7:01 AM 1:55 AM 8:07 AM 2:54 AM 9:14 AM 3:52 AM 10:17 AM 4:48 AM 11:17 AM 5:43 AM 12:13 PM

High

Low

deCeMber 2017

High

Sunrise Sunset

5:31 PM 11:34 PM 6:55 AM 4:55 PM 6:22 PM 6:56 AM 4:55 PM 6:53 AM 1:22 PM 7:13 PM 6:57 AM 4:55 PM 7:44 AM 2:14 PM 8:06 PM 6:58 AM 4:55 PM 8:36 AM 3:07 PM 8:59 PM 6:59 AM 4:55 PM 9:30 AM 4:01 PM 9:56 PM 7:00 AM 4:55 PM 10:25 AM 4:57 PM 10:55 PM 7:01 AM 4:55 PM 11:23 AM 5:55 PM 11:59 PM 7:01 AM 4:55 PM 12:24 PM 6:54 PM 7:02 AM 4:55 PM 1:26 PM 7:53 PM 7:03 AM 4:56 PM 2:29 PM 8:50 PM 7:04 AM 4:56 PM 3:29 PM 9:42 PM 7:04 AM 4:56 PM 4:24 PM 10:30 PM 7:05 AM 4:56 PM 5:13 PM 11:13 PM 7:06 AM 4:57 PM 5:57 PM 11:53 PM 7:06 AM 4:57 PM 6:38 PM 7:07 AM 4:57 PM 7:01 AM 1:30 PM 7:16 PM 7:08 AM 4:58 PM 7:37 AM 2:07 PM 7:54 PM 7:08 AM 4:58 PM 8:13 AM 2:44 PM 8:30 PM 7:09 AM 4:58 PM 8:49 AM 3:20 PM 9:08 PM 7:09 AM 4:59 PM 9:26 AM 3:57 PM 9:47 PM 7:10 AM 4:59 PM 10:03 AM 4:34 PM 10:28 PM 7:10 AM 5:00 PM 10:43 AM 5:13 PM 11:13 PM 7:11 AM 5:00 PM 11:26 AM 5:55 PM 7:11 AM 5:01 PM 12:14 PM 6:41 PM 7:12 AM 5:02 PM 1:08 PM 7:31 PM 7:12 AM 5:02 PM 2:07 PM 8:23 PM 7:12 AM 5:03 PM 3:07 PM 9:18 PM 7:13 AM 5:04 PM 4:07 PM 10:13 PM 7:13 AM 5:04 PM 5:05 PM 11:08 PM 7:13 AM 5:05 PM 6:01 PM 7:13 AM 5:06 PM Tide Tables provided by SaltwaterCentral.Com

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11/14/17 3:45 PM

By Nick Carter

(An abbreviated excerpt from “Flyfisher’s Guide to North Carolina & Georgia”)

FISH & FISHING

f it weren’t for the East Fork of the French Broad, it’d be easy to say public access to trout water on private property was a thing of the past. This medium to large flow runs roadside and is hemmed in by private holdings, yet it is one of North Carolina’s most popular delayed harvest streams. It draws anglers from North Carolina and from across the nearby borders with South Carolina and Georgia because it is heavily stocked and offers easy access to easy wading. Somehow, someone convinced property owners along East Fork Road southeast of Rosman, N.C. to allow anglers to fish the creek. There are small signs that read “Public Access For Fishing Only” and remind anglers to respect the access landowners have generously provided. Those are signs a lot of us would like to see a lot more of, but slobs tend to ruin such things. The East Fork French Broad is a shining example of

ait fishing tends to breed a passive attitude, because most anglers believe they only have to put a bait in the water and wait for results. The serious bait fisherman is aggressive. Catching fish demands work whether you choose to present an artificial lure or a natural bait. Successful anglers vary their technique constantly, rarely remaining glued to a single method. To catch fish on bait, the key lies in getting your offering where your quarry can sense it. Fish feed either by probing for food or waiting in one spot where the food will come to them. The more you know about the species you seek and the way it feeds, the easier it is to choose the right bait and present it effectively. Start with the most common bait your target species feeds on at that time of year, and load up with a couple additional types just in case.

MARK SOSIN You want the freshest bait available, and it is important to change it frequently so it gives off a strong smell and stays lively. Once you select the bait, presentation becomes key. With live bait, you want it to swim and thrash. Hook it either in the lips or in front of the dorsal fin. Be sure to use a small enough hook so the bait can move about easily. If you want a live bait to swim toward the bottom, hook it behind the dorsal fin. The basic rule of bottom fishing is to use the lightest sinker that will take your bait to the bottom. Lighter sinkers allow the bait a more natural action. There’s an important difference between waiting for something to happen and making it happen. The successful bait fisherman works continuously to make something happen.

what can be achieved with strict management and landowner cooperation. This creek, where it runs through a rural setting of valley farms and fields, is typical of a lower elevation trout stream, with long slow runs, big bend pools and extended stretches of shallow riffles. There are also three significant sets of cascading falls with large holes at their bases. Easy access and easy wading in pretty water kept brimming trout does not go unnoticed. On weekdays or in nasty weather, it might be possible to have stretches of the creek to yourself, but count on sharing water during the October into June delayed harvest season. The standard colorful and flashy DH flies would suffice to fish this creek with a 4- or 5-weight. But the trout see a lot of flies. This means they sometimes reward anglers who fish something natural, like caddis, quills and other mayflies that come off in spring. And don’t hesitate to try something completely outlandish. There are some larger fish in the creek, and big Western flies sometimes get noticed by trout that aren’t quite sure what they’re supposed to be eating. There are about 5 miles of water managed as delayed harvest from Glady Fork down to the confluence that forms the French Broad proper. Not all of this is accessible to the public. East Fork Road runs east off of U.S. 178 south of Rosman. East Fork Road crosses the Middle Fork of the French Broad and then the East Fork. Public access begins at this first bridge over the East Fork and continues upstream. There are, however, several posted parcels within this stretch that should be avoided. Just get in the vehicle and find another pullout like the one marked by this GPS waypoint: 35.133958, -82.794207. There is plenty of river that is not posted. For GPS coordinates to access points and detailed maps of all North Carolina’s and Georgia’s best trout water, check out “Flyfishers Guide to North Carolina & Georgia.” It is available at fly shops, on Amazon, and signed copies are available from the author by emailing nsc8957@ gmail.com.

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By Tobin Strickland, CAM Special Correspondent

here are several factors that cause cold numb feet during winter fishing. Lack of insulation layers and quality, too many socks causing constriction of blood flow, the wrong size footwear for winter application, and often overlooked, the proper ‘installation’ method of putting those items on in such a way that even the best gear can cause poor circulation. First, tight over-the-calf socks constrict blood flow. “Half-fold” the tops down the lower shin to allow better circulation. Secondly, pick footwear sizes for winter fishing and hunting that will give plenty of room for sock layers (and neoprene wader boot bottoms). Thirdly, use high quality merino wool sock layers with good loft. I’ve recently found Fits Brand socks (fitssock.com) and they contain a higher percentage merino wool than the competition, and they’re manufacturing process creates more loft. Loft equates to insulation. Use one liner sock like the Fits ‘Film’ liner and one thick merino wool sock. Finally, don’t hurriedly cram your feet into the boots. Make sure to bend your toes back and forth after putting on sock layers. Similarly, after the boots are on, walk around and bend the toe sections of the boots to loosen scrunched-up materials and layers inside the boots before lacing up. Following these simple steps will give your feet more blood flow and allow your feet to stay warmer longer. Tobin created TroutSupport.com - Tech Support for speckled trout and redfish anglers.

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EXPERT ADVICE

Gifts for Anglers Choosing Sunglasses As A Gift DAVID MANEY, FOWLER’S SUNGLASSES

hoosing a pair of sunglasses as a gift for someone else can be a tricky endeavor. On the one hand you have your opinion of what you think they will like and then there’s the issue of the fit and their face shape that can make all the difference in the world in their overall happiness with the pair that you’ve selected. Obviously, the best way to ensure your selection is exactly what they’re looking for is to have them help you. Go to your favorite sunglass seller, and let your friend try numerous pairs on. Then, once you know their favorite, the task is easy and foolproof. But if you’re not able to put that together prior to a purchase, the next best alternative is to make sure the company you’re buying the sunglasses from has an honest, no-loophole return policy. Yes, save your receipt. I also recommend including a small note with the sunglasses saying: I hope these fit, and are what you wanted. The store name here said you can exchange them if you like. At Fowler’s, we make sure our customers have an easy and helpful exchange process. The right pair of sunglasses can be a gift that is appreciated for many, many years, and we make giving the perfect gift a little bit easier. For more information contact David Maney at 888-3409021 or www.FowlersSunglasses.com

Sunglasses for Anglers

Since 1955

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www.FowlersSunglasses.com

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Gifts for Anglers

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT XTRATUF LEGACY 2.0 Engineered to withstand the world’s toughest conditions, the Legacy 2.0 is a hardcore fishing boot 50 years in the making. The latest addition to XTRATUF’s iconic legacy collection features an advanced new outsole that surpasses the SRC slip resistance rating, a textured heel for easy on/off that won’t get caught in gill nets, and a contoured topline binding so it does not rub harshly against calves. Acid- and chemical-resistant uppers along with shin and bib guards keep fishermen protected while a Polyurethane insole ensures comfort for long days on deck. All boots within the Legacy collection are 100 percent waterproof with unique performance features. Each boot is made with XTRATUF’s signature triple dipping technique, which creates a seamless barrier that is highly resistant to many organic and inorganic acids, chemicals and contaminants. The latex neoprene is ozone resistant and is softer, lighter and far more pliable than ordinary rubber. Cushioned insoles with arch support help fight fatigue and stress on the legs and back. All XTRATUF Legacy boots come with a non-marking, slip-resistant Chevron outsole that provides unparalleled traction on any surface in the most extreme conditions.

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CANGL_NAT3-NAT18.indd 17 hft_coastalangler_1217_M-REG109350.indd 1

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THIS SEEMS TO BE THE PLACE WHERE ALL THE FISH HANG OUT. I THINK I’LL DROP IN.

12”

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CANGL_NAT3-NAT18.indd 18 Coastal Fishing Ad_US-8.125x10.875-CoatalAngler.indd 1 17-MCJT512 GPSMAP 1224xsv

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