Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2019 i Florida Sportsman

Pardon me for bragging on our content, but Capt. Mark Krowka’s article on sight-fishing for permit (p.36) may be may be the best you’ll ever read, anywhere, on the subject. A Florida Keys guide of four decades, holder of dozens of tournament titles, Krowka’s ability to see fish and intuit their behavior is peerless. Fortunately for the rest of us, Krowka also has a gift for describing what all this looks like when it goes down: how permit appear in the tide, what the mud looks like, how the school reacts to a potential threat or opportunity. I’ve been thinking a lot about vision lately. As I reflected on Krowka’s story, I thought about another angler in the Florida Sportsman circle. George Tice was profiled in our “I’m a Florida…

BEST BET In the shallow water it’s still mostly about tarpon. Having a chance to fish the worm hatch for tarpon is a dream come true for most shallow water anglers, but it can be a tricky thing to line up. We can predict the moon phases and tides, but if the weather isn't right, it won’t happen. However it works out, if you book in trips in May, you should see some tarpon. If the tarpon start wearing you out, you can always change it up and look for the grey ghost, bonefish. Peak of Spring All the factors come together in May for the Florida Keys fishery. Anglers from around the world have taken notice and schedule their trips with their favorite guides a year in advance, in…

BEST BET Grouper season is here. May 1 marks the opening of season, after a four-month spawning season closure. Natural and artificial structure such as the Princess Anne off of Palm Beach or the Amazone between Stuart and Fort Pierce are hot spots for targeting big grouper. If I plan on targeting large grouper, I make sure big baits like grunts or large sardines are on hand. Spot On Tarpon are making their way north up the coast on their annual spawning migration. Intercepting schools of these large fish along the beach can make for some very visual and exciting fishing. One thing tarpon don’t care for is the midday heat. Once the sun is high in the sky, tarpon tend to shut down, become lethargic and not eat until…

BEST BET Catching isn’t always about keeping. It’s sometimes about winning! Just ask Gainesville’s Ed and Marcia Ellett—they’ve each won a boat/motor/ trailer in the CCA Florida STAR Tournament. The 101-day event begins on May 25 and multiple species are eligible, including specially tagged redfish. And May is perfect month to catch any species you can imagine on our Big Bend. Taylor’s Other Coast Taylor County’s coastline is long, stretching from Steinhatchee north to the Aucilla River. However, with Steinhatchee holding most of the cards regarding marine services, the northern half of the county, above Keaton Beach, gets less attention when it comes to fishing. Keaton Beach no longer has a marina and with the exception of a few small stores, an R/V park and rental homes, it’s a pretty…

BEST BET Plan a panfish trip to Lake Talquin. Take crickets and cane poles, fly rods and popping bugs and streamers and fish the shorelines of the coves with overhanging vegetation. Keep an eye out for mayfly hatches and have the mayfly imitations already rigged up. Lake Talquin has periodic mayfly hatches that are well worth fishing. Predicting when they happen can be a challenge but some of the fish camps and bass anglers can be helpful in spotting them. Fishermen can also keep a fly rod or cane pole rigged when fishing for other species in case they spot a hatch. From a distance a hatch looks like a small haze over the water near tall vegetation. This can be an island or a stretch of shoreline. Binoculars are…

“What a way to start the day, a grouper on each rod!” Hank and I have been fishing partners for more than 50 years. We have worn out four different boats and are now working on number five. Hank—Henry J. Andringa—is a retired judge whom I have known for all practical purposes all my life (including playing baseball in the pastures using dried cow dung as bases). We scheduled vacations together around the opening of gag grouper season on the west coast, and that day was soon to arrive. But wait a minute! A little subtropical storm arrived and put things in a bit of a mess. Extreme rainfall, tannin-colored water, and weeds galore were all anticipated, but they would not hold us back. We would give it the old…

Panhandle, Capt. Chaz Heller: “Cast ¼-ounce jighead tipped with live shrimp under docks along the Intracoastal.” Northwest, Bill Greer: “Cast a spoon along the marsh grass and oyster bars.” Big Bend, Capt. Tommy Thompson: “Noisy topwaters walked alongside rock and shell bars on rising tide.” Southwest, Capt. Ralph Allen: “Throw whitebait into potholes during low water.” 10,000 Islands, Capt. Steve Dall: “Paddletail swim-baits in baitfish and gold hues around outside points.” South, Capt. Alan Sherman: “Bounce a jig with a 4-inch white Gulp! shrimp along channels and downed trees.” East Central, Bill Sargent: “Wade and work gold spoons along the edges of sand holes." Northeast, Capt. Rick Ryals: “Work exposed oyster bars during the lower third of the tides, with live shrimp on a ¼-ounce jig.”…

3 packages instant ramen, flavor packets discarded 1 tbsp. canola oil 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 tbsp. sesame oil 2 cloves garlic, minced 1 tbsp. ginger, finely diced ½ cup soy sauce ¼ cup light brown sugar Juice of 1 lime 2 tsp. Sriracha sauce 1 cup vegetable stock 1 head broccoli, cut into florets 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced 2 green onions (scallions), thinly sliced Cook the ramen noodles according to the package instructions and set aside. Heat the oil in a large skillet and cook the shrimp until firm and pink. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Remove shrimp from skillet and add sesame oil. Bring to medium heat and add garlic and ginger. Cook for about a…

Charlotte Beach Public Boat Ramp 4500 Harbor Blvd Port Charlotte, FL 33952 Concrete, 2 single lanes, 30 parking slips for trailers. Fee (honor system machine) Laishley Park Boat Ramp 100 Nesbit Street Punta Gorda, FL 33950 Concrete, Single Lane, 45 Parking Slips. Free El Jobean Boat Ramp 4224 El Jobean Rd Port Charlotte, FL 33953 Concrete, Single Lane, 15 Parking Slips. Fee (honor system machine) Ponce de Leon Boat Ramp 3400 Ponce de Leon Parkway Punta Gorda, FL Concrete, Double Lane, 20 Parking Slips for Trailers. Free Gulf Coast Marine 4240 El Jobean Road (adjacent El Jobean Ramp) Port Charlotte, FL Fuel/Repairs/Boat Rentals Tiki Bar and Bait Shop: (941) 629-9666 TNT Bait & Tackle 14369 Pambar Ave Port Charlotte (941) 625-5367 Open 6 a.m. weekdays, 5:30 a.m. weekends Fishin’ Frank’s…

Complete regulations are found at myfwc.com (state waters), safmc.net (South Atlantic federal waters) and www.gulfcouncil.org gulfcouncil.org (Gulf federal waters). Carefully review the rules and pay attention to area closures. There are a few protected areas along the coast where bottom fishing is prohibited. The Oculina Closed Area, in about 200 feet of water off Melbourne, and several patches of reef along the Florida Keys, are notable examples. Anglers are strongly urged to download the Fish Rules app. The developer promises quick updates, very useful as published seasons may be subject to change. Governing agencies may adjust seasons to ensure catch limits aren’t exceeded. ATLANTIC COAST Following a 4-month January through April spawning season closure, May 1 begins the season for “shallow water grouper” on Florida’s Atlantic coast. That term is…

May is the time of year in coastal Florida when every boat seems well-suited for offshore waters. The persistant easterly winds of spring finally lay down, and we're still some weeks away from the afternoon thunderstorms. That means all-day excursions in search of migratory fish such as tripletail, dolphin and cobia. Skiffs and bay boats often get in on the action. Remember to double-check your safety gear and VHF radio. Also file a float plan with the folks expecting tonight's fish dinner.…

BEST BET The Atlantic grouper season reopens May 1. May is not known to be the best time to fish for groupers but since the fish have been protected since Jan. 1 and their spawning season is over there is a very good chance that a few large black, red and gag groupers will be holding in some of your favorite grouper holes. You might also want to check out your hogfish spots because the Atlantic hogfish season reopens May 1. Moons in Spring Every year starting on a late April full moon or early May full moon thousands of adult mutton snappers converge on specific areas offshore of South Florida, the Florida Keys, Bahamas and many areas of the Caribbean to spawn. Large 8- to 20-pound male and female…

BEST BET Our best bet this month is to target tarpon in Boca Grande Pass. The big pass is many things, but there are some things that it is not. It is probably the place where more tarpon can be found at one time than at any other place in the world, and it is probably also the spot where more tarpon have been caught than at any other single spot of similar size. But it is not a secret spot and it is not a good place to fish with light tackle. Deep water, strong currents, a plethora of other boats and a cadre of lurking sharks combine to dictate the use of heavy tackle to control big tarpon and get them boatside as quickly as possible for release.…

BEST BET Unless we got a late killer freeze, snook should be reliable at night around the bridges at New Smyrna Beach, Port Orange, Daytona and Ormond Beach. As a rule, the New Smyrna and Port Orange spans are best because of their proximity to Ponce Inlet and its tidal changes. The better daytime spots for the snook will be around the mouths of Tomoka River, Spruce Creek at Port Orange and maybe Bulow Creek south of Flagler Beach. May is the last month you can go home with a keeper-size snook. The summer closure begins on June 1 on the Atlantic side of the state. Get Some Some of the biggest dolphin are taken in May and June out of Ponce inlet, Port Canaveral and Sebastian Inlet. By now…

BEST BET The best bet this month will be hitting the wrecks and reefs for a mixed box. Triggerfish may be a little overwhelming but at least everyone gets to keep one per person! Small cut squid and mackerel will be the best bet and with any luck the smaller cut baits will keep the bigger red snapper somewhat at bay. I definitely recommend having two spinning rods handy. One for cobia with a 60-pound fluorocarbon leader tied with either a circle hook for live bait or a bucktail jig. The second rod should be fished as much as possible out the back with a steel leader, stinger rig and either live bait or dead cigar minnow. If the action is slow at one spot try moving to another one…

The Florida Sportsman: …enjoys and respects Florida’s Outdoors …includes fishermen offshore, inshore and freshwater …and boaters, divers and hunters …fights for benefits of all sportsmen …strives to protect fish and wildlife …employs traditional and fair methods …teaches youngsters to cherish the outdoors …joins others to foster sound public policy …sees value in sharing knowledge and is willing to help others …finds a sense of adventure and fun on the water or in the woods. Are You a Florida Sportsman? Are you someone likely to be found casting inshore, poling a flat, fishing offshore, climbing a tree stand or diving a coral ledge? Is this you? Do you care about the resource? Do you teach others to cherish the outdoors? Do you dream of new adventures on the water or in…

Behind the scenes at Florida Sportsman Watermen is an advisory panel of experts who bring unique viewpoints on how to address Florida’s water woes. The panel represents organizations with a mix of constituencies, priorities and geographies. The primary purpose of the Watermen Panel is to work with the magazine editors and the host of the TV show to determine critical issues to cover, help provide access to expert opinions on selected issues and to help give direction on the production of the show, documentary and town hall meetings. The advisory panel for season one of Florida Sportsman Watermen includes representatives of Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, Bullsugar, Captains for Clean Water, Florida Wildlife Federation, Friends of the Everglades, Apalachicola Riverkeeper, Miami Waterkeeper and St. Johns Riverkeeper.…

• Conservation, data collection and education, plus prizes and scholarships valued at nearly $500,000, makes CCA Florida STAR the state’s can’t-miss summer-long fishing competition.• Saturday, May 25 to Labor Day, September 2, 2019• 101-day competition offers prizes in 17 divisions including tagged, non-tagged, inshore and offshore species.• Largest family-friendly saltwater fishing competition in Florida• Amazing prizes for anglers of all ages and skill levels• STAR uses the social media-based event to educate the public on the importance of protecting Florida’s marine resources.• “Catch, photo and release,” format uses a smart phone app to document the catch. No need to harvest or transport fish.• Anglers have their shot at brand new boat, motor and trailer packages, cash, marine electronics, Yamaha motors, all-terrain vehicles, scholarships and much more.• Entry is only $40…

Most Florida offshore anglers are familiar with speed jigging, a technique of Japanese origin popularized by Shimano some 13 years ago with the introduction of the Butterfly Jig series. Slow-pitch jigging, a system developed by Japanese angler Norihiro Sato, may resemble speed-jigging in some respects, but is totally different in many other ways. Both methods have proven very useful for Florida ocean waters, but the slow-pitch technique, the more recent of the two, warrants a closer look. A quick review: In speed jigging, the lure is dropped deep below the surface, then retrieved vertically very quickly along with continuous rod pumping. The goal is to make it appear that the jig is attempting to flee from predator fish. Speed-jigging is very effective for tunas, amberjacks, wahoo and others. Also labor-intensive…

How much weight do you need to reach and hold bottom? It will depend on the depth and the current. For waters in which up to 10 ounces will suffice, a sliding egg sinker on the fishing line may be all you need. If more weight is required, but you still want to keep the free-sliding feature, you can build a sliding sinker rig with two heavy-duty swivels. Thread the eye of one swivel on the fishing line, then tie the line to the eye of the second swivel. Add a short piece of monofilament to the free-sliding swivel, and use that to carry a bank sinker, ball weight, stick weight or other weight. That’s how Capt. Dennis Forgione and a lot of other skippers in the Miami-Palm Beach area…

We welcome your fishing and hunting photos for publication in the Action Spotter and in our online community galleries at www.floridasportsman.com. Send digital pictures, 600 KB to 1 MB in jpeg format. For smartphone photos, email the Actual Size—highest resolution. Images must not have appeared or submitted elsewhere. Send photos to: photos@floridasportsman.com. Include names of people pictured, hometowns, location of catch and any key details, such as weight of big catches.…

BEST BET The nearshore permit bite should be strong all month, so take advantage of it by hitting the many public wrecks and reefs in the region. Focus on those that have a bit higher relief such as The Kidd to find the most active populations of permit. It is hard to beat the tried and true choice of blue crabs as a bait selection when targeting these drag screamers, so call around to area bait shops to see who has an ample stock of them. Hunting in Shallows The 10,000 Islands are a fascinating area to fish for shark because there is an abundant population of these predators. At the apex are the bull sharks and these are easily the most famed shark of our region for their voracity,…

BEST BET You can spend all day tossing lures for trout for a family fish fry or you can haul in a cobia large enough to feed the entire neighborhood in a single cast. These migrating fish will show up in good numbers on the Suncoast this time of year. A minimum sized cobia of 33 inches to the fork typically runs around 16 pounds or so, with firm, mild white meat that is great on the grill, blackened, fried, baked, or smoked. Bluewater Days It's time for blackfin tuna. Hot spots for these fish off our coast include the Peaks, the Mexican Pride, and the Blackthorn/ Sheridan wrecks. It used to be that shrimp boats around day break culling their catch would produce all the blackfin tunas you wanted.…

BEST BET May is almost always the best month to catch cobia in our waters. There will be some on the rays and bait pods along the beach, but some of the inshore wrecks will also hold good numbers of the brown bombers. No Equal If you’re an offshore fisherman, you’ve waited all year for May. If you’re a freshwater fisherman, you can stack up some great numbers of quality fish during May, and if you’re an inshore fisherman, reds, trout and flounder are all within a well-placed cast. Every calm day is an excellent day to miss work. If you can get a ride to the Gulf Stream, there’s still wahoo to be caught, despite the fact most of the 70-plus-pound giants have pushed back north for the summer.…

BEST BET Atlantic blue marlin are the summer headliners of today's big-game fishing circuit in The Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean. In recent years, many boats have converted from pulling lure spreads to primarily pitch-bait fishing, which is dropping a rigged bait back to fish spotted working a teaser array in the wake. Spreader bars outfitted with "mud flaps" (shaped like small tunas), plastic ballyhoo or other teasers are often fished somewhat deep off a heavy rod or outrigger. The crew watches for fish moving in on the "dredge," then instructs the angler to move into action. Legendary Waters Years ago, the month of May was ruled by the big daddy of gamefish, bluefin tuna. The Bahamas bluefin fishery is not as healthy these days, but there is general consensus…

Entering the fifth year, the CCA Florida STAR Tournament has a solid list of accomplishments checked off. Running from Me morial Day weekend through Labor Day and covering the entire state of Florida, there have already been thousands of participants, tens of thousands of fish logged, hundreds of prizes awarded, and even tons of trash cleaned from our waterways. The STAR tournament stands alone, and things are just getting started. “I can tell you this: It sure hasn’t felt like five years,” says tournament director Leiza Fitzgerald, who has led the charge since day one. “Time has flown by, and it has been a lot of fun. We’ve had a couple hurricanes, water quality issues, and other things that could have been a deterrent for recreational anglers and limited their…