Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2022 i Florida Sportsman

Maybe it’s because I love being either first on the water, or the last to leave in the evening. Maybe it’s because it takes me less than 10 minutes between when I decide to go, and when I’ll be on the water. The truth is, as much as I love the blue water, paddling my kayak at low tide in 8 inches of water is almost a religious experience for me. You see, I can remember a time when a 24-inch redfish was a trophy in Northeast Florida, and you never saw them swimming with their backs out of the water. When new regulations brought the red-fish back, kayaking for them became the rage. Once redfish came back, the ones cruising in shallow water were about as smart as a…

BOAT RAMPS Ten Foot Hole: Battery Park, Apalachicola St. George Island Boat Ramp: N.E. side of fishing bridge St. George Island Boat Sand Ramp: N.E. side of Franklin Blvd. Franklin County Seafood Landing Park: 628 Highway 98 West. LODGING St. George Inn: 135 Franklin Blvd, St. George Isl. 850-927-2903 Island Suites: 116 West Gorrie Dr. St. George Isl. 850-653-6027 Buccaneer Inn: 160 W. Gorrie Dr. St. George Isl. 800-847-2091 Gibson Inn: 51 Ave. C, Apalachicola, 850-270-2190 Collins Vacation Rentals: 60 E. Gulf Beach Dr. St. George Isl, 877-875-9062 Resort Vacation Properties: St. George Isl. 877-272-8206 MARINAS Scipio Creek Marina: 301 Market St. Apalachicola, 850-653-8030 Water Street Hotel And Marina: 329 Water Street, Apalachicola, 850-502-5154 Apalachicola Marina Inc: 247 Water Street, Apalachicola, 850-653-9521 BAIT AND TACKLE Fisherman’s Choice: 330 U.S. 98,…

BAHAMAS ENTRY PROCESS: “Click2Clear” is a new initiative which replaces the current EDI system being used to submit and clear declarations. The advantage is that once registered and all questions and information filled, you are assigned an online permit that you print and present while clearing customs. However, you’re not required to use the new service and can submit paperwork in person as usual. Search Click2Clear or go to the registration page via bahamascustoms.gov.bs COVID 19 PROTOCOL: We were also required to acquire a health visa due to Covid 19. The cost is $40. This is the website where after uploading a negative PCR Covid test you’ll receive the visa to be printed: travel.gov.bs…

This one’s a neoprene bootie style designed for kayak anglers moving in and out of the boat in pursuit of fish. The NRS Backwater Wetshoe provides ankle security as well, protecting you when wading, portaging, launching and landing. A side en try zipper makes it easy to slip on, whether you’re barefoot or wearing a wetsock. The high-top, low profile design provides maximum warmth and protection during long days on the water. Durable 3 mm neoprene insulation through the instep and front of ankle provides support. MSRP $74.95.…

“PEDALS, MOTORS, TRACK MOUNTS, ELECTRONICS...THESE ADVANCEMENTS HAVE BEEN HUGE FOR HARDCORE KAYAK ANGLERS.” The diversity in kayaks available to recreational users has exploded in recent years. Kayaks are available in usable platforms as simple as a molded seat and paddle to more advanced setups with pedal drives, motors, elevated seats, track-mounting systems, electronics … literally anything you can imagine. These advancements have been huge for hardcore kayakers looking to begin careers as tournament anglers and eventually excelling at high competition levels such as the Hobie Bass Open Series, Kayak Bass Fishing Trail and Pro Series. It doesn’t matter if it’s a freshwater lake in the middle of the country, inshore waters along the coast, or miles offshore in the blue water, just about any fish that can be caught from…

TROLLING IS A VERY EFFECTIVE tactic for saltwater fishing from a kayak. Gabe Schilke, fishing off Navarre Beach, Florida, caught this big blackfin tuna while trolling on his Hobie Mirage Outback. “I have a Garmin Echomap. It has Down Imaging and GPS with maps. I was using a Rapala X-Rap 12 in white. A half to three quarters of a mile off the beach.” “I was trolling only one rod and I believe I was going about 2.5-3 mph. I hadn’t tried another other baits yet because the reports I had gotten said the tuna were caught on the same size/color lure I was using. The X-rap was diving about 5-6 feet deep. There had been action on the surface all day, birds were working bait and I even saw…

There are five entrances to the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge: Main Entrance – Suwannee Canal Recreation Area & Okefenokee Adventures Concession (Folkston) Secondary East Entrance – Kingfisher Landing (Between Folkston and Waycross) West Entrance – Stephen C. Foster State Park (Fargo) Secondary West Entrance – Suwannee River Sill (Fargo) North Entrance – Okefenokee Swamp Park (Waycross) I used the west entrance. The refuge website is www.fws.gov/ refuge/okefenokee/. The phone number is (912) 496-7836. Additional maps can be found on the FWS website, including an Okefenokee Canoe Brochure and Map showing the entrances and the paddling trails. A very handy trip planner can also be found there. Backcountry travel in the swamp requires a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Permits are issued by phone on Tuesday, Wednesday, and…

REDFISH RUNNING THE INLETS Chris Saccucci, of Fort Pierce, caught and released this stud of a redfish on the Fort Pierce Inlet south jetty. He was fishing a live croaker on the incoming tide, allowing it to drift with the current along the rocks. “Don’t need much lead—the croaker naturally tries to dive on its own,” Saccucci pointed out. CATCH MORE ONLINE Fish and hunt smarter and more efficiently. Check our daily "feed" to get on the best bets and top seasonal picks for all regions of Florida. And be sure to share your pictures and stories with us! SEND US YOUR PHOTOS 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…

Nature’s Alarm Clock Chimes Keep your eyes to the sky. Take a deep breath of that fresh air. Soak it all up because it’s finally May, the perfect month in the Ten Thousand Islands. Spring is in high gear and depending on how the weather plays out the first few weeks in May are both warm and dry. And when it seems the land can't get any more crisp and windy, at just the right moment the heavens crack open and the summer afternoon rains make their presence known immediately with booming rumbles and purple clouds off on the eastern horizon. When I say keep your eye to the sky, there is a neat thing to observe. Little, pale-white, cabbage-palm-loving butterflies and swallow-tailed kite birds fill the air, and that…

Howl at the Moon, and Bait If you were in the West Central Region back in February, chances are you experienced air temperatures from the upper 30s to the upper 80s. While these may be some extremes for that time frame, consider what you were wearing at the time. Since fish don’t have the option of wearing clothing and only have body fat as insulation from the extremes, their habitat might be the only thing that dictates where they are at the time to be comfortable. That pertains to everything from the bottom of the food chain to the apex predators that are looking to eat. Anticipating a warmer than normal summer ahead, I’ll focus on baitfish movement. The mouths of the bays, particularly in and around the passes, will…

Offshore Heats Up; Cue Tourney Season By late April and into May, some of our better offshore catches should be kicking in with the consistently good weather and prevailing easterlies. This time of year also signals the start of the East Central Florida offshore tournament season. Dolphin, or mahi if you wish, will be a top trolling target when the east winds stack up the weedlines outside Ponce, Canaveral and Sebastian. These concentrations of sargassum as well as Gulf Stream eddies with color and temperature breaks will be active feeding zones. Unfortunately, the recreational catches and commercial landings have been in an alarming decline over the last seven years, but there’s still a decent possibility of some big bulls for tournament-goers and schools of smaller fish for eating. With the…

Hold Up, Wade a Minute Anglers should be grateful for months like May. The weather is close to perfect and the fishing choices are numerous. The water temperature and the food supply for most of the gamefish are ideal. With all the fishing conditions just right, now is the time to hit the grassflats throughout Northwest Florida. They are extensive and some of the healthiest habitat we have. Speckled trout are definitely one of the most popular species sought on the flats, and maybe even in all of Florida. They are relatively easy to catch, don’t require expensive tackle and are typically close inshore. When you couple this with being good to eat, it’s easy to understand the trout’s appeal. Some of the most notable grass flats in Northwest Florida…

Northernmost Bahamas Hooray, hooray, it’s the month of May! That means the seas are starting to lay down and the fish are biting, especially in the Bahamas. Some 115 miles due east of the St. Pierce Inlet, a storied destination is waiting for adventurous Florida anglers to plan a trip to Grand Cay. Grand Cay and the neighboring Walker’s Cay are part of the Abacos Islands. Heading across from Martin County, you know you are a little better than halfway when you pass Matanilla Shoal, the northeast tip of the Little Bahama Bank. After checking in with the Bahamas at a port of entry (Walker’s and Grand both have offices, but it is recommended to make an appointment in advance as they are not always open), this long shoal is…

The world’s largest ray, the manta, with a wingspan of up to 29 feet, is easily recognizable, but when it comes to details regarding its status off the Atlantic coast, surprisingly little is known. In 2018, NOAA Fisheries listed the species as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, so I expected to find out quite a bit about the ray’s population status while following up with Calusa Horn, NOAA’s lead biologist for manta rays. What I found was, not so much. When I asked Horn what the estimated population was, she didn’t know. Same thing when I asked if the Atlantic population was stable or possibly declining. Hmmm? So, if not NOAA, then maybe the MMF, the Marine Megafauna Foundation and their Florida Manta Project would know more. Unfortunately, they…

GILL XPEL TEC Covering up is the way to go in the Florida summer sun, and Gill has rolled out an XPEL Tec Collection which includes a sun hoody, long-sleeve sun shirt, two styles of shorts, gloves, and sun gaiter. The XPEL Tec, as Gill describes it, is a plant-based fabric treatment that arms textiles with a protective shield from water, blood, oil and other muck, without changing the breathability or feel of the fabric. Shown is XPEL Tec Hoody, MSRP $54.95. SUZUKI DF250 SS Suzuki Marine engineered the new DF250 SS V6 4-Stroke to deliver extra kick for performance bass and bay boats. The DF250 SS is the first SS Series outboard to feature compatibility with the Suzuki Precision Control (SPC) electronic shift and throttle system that will integrate…

I was on the beach soaking baits for pompano, whiting, or whatever else would bend a rod. Another fellow was about 50 yards to my right when I heard that telltale Pow! followed by choice words. The disgruntled angler was shaking his head and winding in his limp line. He dug around in his bag and then trudged my way. “Pardon, would you have a couple 4-ounce sinkers I might buy from you? I’m down to 1-ounc-ers,” he said. I had plenty, and handed him two pyramid sinkers. “I heard your snap-off,” I said. “Yeah, that’s the second time for me today,” he said. “It’s been happening when I'm trying to reach out farther, or there's a strong headwind to deal with." I asked what pound-test line he was fishing…

The answers I received on an informal survey indicate that we’re lucky people err on the side of caution. Here’s what you need to know. Soon it’ll be time to dust off your flippers, check your masks for dry rot and your snorkels for leaks. You’ll also probably need to hit your dive flag with some bleach if it’s been sitting deep in a so-called dry storage compartment since last August. As for those of you for whom this doesn’t seem to apply, meaning you don’t dive, please don’t stop reading. This seminar is primarily for you. “You simply won’t ever be able to forgive yourself if you run someone over,” warned Brian Rehwinkel, Boating Safety Coordinator with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). “A citation is one…

In Florida, seagrass acts as a vital nursery for an estimated 70 percent of the fish that anglers catch, including species such as spotted seatrout, grouper, and tarpon. Seagrasses can adapt to moderate changes in their environment, decreasing their growth rate and leaf size in shady conditions, and turbocharging in response to nutrients. Too much shade or nutrients, however, can prove lethal.…

BRING: • EPIRB • Backup handheld VHF • Backup handheld GPS • FLIR Night vision • One gallon of water per person per day • Don’t overpack with food, ice, water and supplies Make sure to visit a local food shack for fresh conch salad, as well as don’t leave the country without a loaf of Bimini bread. Bahamas fishing regulations state that boats may keep up to 18 pelagic species on board at any time, and that yellowfin tuna must be a minimum of 27 inches to keep. Fish brought back to the U.S. must conform to U.S. regulations—which limit anglers to no more than 3 yellowfin tuna, minimum size 27 inches (curved fork length). Yellowfin must remain in whole condition.…

THERE ARE A FEW SUREFIRE WAYS to ensure safety when on a kayak outing. First, always wear a PFD. Second, make sure your phone has a full charge when you leave the dock. Third, tell someone where you’ll be and when you expect to be back—even communicate with your peeps during the day to simply check-in. But there are other factors out of our control that may create chaos, possibly life-threatening danger—so being prepared at all times is an important part to being a dedicated kayak angler. When dealing with fickle weather, wind and especially cold water—you can’t be too careful. As an example, this past November, I ventured out on a near freezing river and had something gone wrong during those river runs, Lord knows what could have happened.…

I LIKE TO TOSS THE JIG AHEAD OF MY PATH SO THAT WHEN IT REACHES THE DESIRED DEPTH I WILL BE RIGHT OVER TOP OF IT, READY TO WORK IT BACK UP. Vertical jigging has been a technique used around the world for decades, but only in the last 10 to 15 years has both speed and slow-pitch jigging really become popular fishing methods in Florida. When I first started kayak fishing offshore, I didn’t use livebait. During that time my friends and I would sometimes out fish the powerboat fleet from our little plastic boats with nothing more than a few metal jigs. It was more of a kayak technique back then and we rarely saw a powerboat angler vertical jigging. Times have definitely changed and with the insurgence…

Tarpon on the Flat, Grouper in the Sack This is it! It doesn’t get any better than this. The spring spawn season is here, and you should be too. May is the most coveted month to fish the Florida Keys. The incredible weather and crystal-clear water conditions make this small island archipelago one of the top destinations on the planet. That paired with world-class fishing, you can’t possibly make a wrong decision on which Key or which direction you choose in the morning. If the flats and the skinny water is your thing, one of the most sought-after species: the tarpon a.k.a. silver king are beginning to show up in big numbers. By this time of the year, these giants have pushed into the shallow water making them the ideal…

Don’t Stop, from the Beaches to the Bahamas May is probably the best month in our region to target slammer dolphin. Unfortunately, the landings of these big fish are down considerably, but your chances of catching a 20-pound fish are now. But, if you’re really interested in an offshore trophy, you may want to start thinking about jumping across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas for 50-plus pound yellowfin tuna. Given our location in the state, it’s a hop, skip and a jump to our friends in the 242. Bimini is 61 miles from Lighthouse Point and West End only 67 miles from Palm Beach. Want to go check out the new Walker’s Cay? Only 108 miles from Palm Beach. Summertime weather patterns tend to really kick in this month…

Rugged, Fishy and Quiet May is my favorite month to fish the Big Bend and Taylor County’s rugged, fishy and mostly quiet shorelines. Taylor County is bounded by the Steinhatchee River to the south and the Aucilla to the north. The Gulf shoreline and coastal creeks are perfectly suited for inshore angling as the many creeks drain onto the shell bars which hold bait and predators, mostly redfish and spotted seatrout. A bit farther out, in four to six feet of water, you’ll find lush grassflats that hold species like cobia, Spanish mackerel and bluefish. Mixed with the grass, expect to find grouper and black sea bass over shallow rock piles. Successfully fishing along the Taylor County coasts depends on your knowledge of the creeks, their ancient channels, as well…

More May, Please May is the best month of the year in Northeast Florida, and I’m not sure any other month has as many reasons to call in sick. If I could take back all the lies I’ve told to get out of school, work or social commitments in May, let’s just say I wouldn’t change a thing. I know we’re supposed to work in May, there’s just not enough time. If you are a bluewater troller, it’s time to be sitting on go. Have a list of excuses for your absence right next to the weather report. A May day on a blue water rip off our coast will make more memories than every day at work put together. I know most of the 80-plus pound wahoo have left…

The Month of Best Bets May, the month many anglers consider the golden month. If you like variety and endless options, clear your calendar, this is the time you need to be fishin. Inshore, the flats will be heating up for big spawning speckled trout and all sizes of redfish, Spanish mackerel and bluefish are crushing bait schools throughout the bay. And the action doesn’t stop there. The beach bite will be going off with pompano, whiting, redfish, Spanish and bluefish. If you’re looking to fish the nearshore wrecks, amberjack and king mackerel, while following bait schools, should be available in big numbers. Season for greater amberjack opens May 1 for the entire month. If you like bent rods and sore arms, load the livewell up with hardtails or any…

The first time I saw a tarpon eat a fly it blew my mind,” Sandy Moret told me at the beginning of our interview. That tarpon bite was almost five decades ago and since then Sandy has caught countless tarpon, bonefish and tarpon on fly. But what I wanted to talk to Sandy about wasn’t the fish he’s caught, but the anglers he’s reeled in, and the bay he’s helped try and save. “In a lifetime of talking flies and fishing I’ve always included time for conservation,” Moret said. “And in particular, water degradation and what it has meant to Florida Bay.” Not long after starting the Florida Keys Fly Fishing School in 1989, and then his fly fishing shop, Florida Keys Outfitters, in Islamorada, Sandy got involved with advocacy…

It’s hard giving away something as delicious and hard-won as a fresh scamp or yellowmouth grouper. But that’s what researchers are hoping some fishermen will be willing to do in the coming years. The scientists with NOAA Fisheries are now looking for public-donated, freshly caught scamp and yellowmouth grouper. The samples will be used during the very first targeted stock assessment of these two near-identical species. Both are thought to be doing poorly in the South Atlantic states down to Key West, while in the Gulf of Mexico, a plethora of habitat out to the 450-foot depths, much of it far offshore, seems to have kept stocks relatively stable. Yet, much needs to be learned about these two prized fish with such a great reputation on the table. Scamp (Mycteroperca…

SUMMER IS PRIME time for ocean kayaking in Florida, when day after day presents light and variable winds affording safe and convenient beach launching. Be aware of the twin likelihoods of afternoon thunderstorms and also the potential for strong winds rising after midday. The months of October through April make for difficult planning, as tropical systems and cold fronts whip up strong winds and heavy surf. In any season, best to travel with a buddy boat and carry good safety equipment.…

LOADING ANY BOAT should be done with the boat in the water. You can monitor the trim as the boat gets loaded, and you don’t have to drag a loaded boat over the abrasive ground to get it floating. I load the in-the-boat stuff first. This includes the extra paddle and fly rod, the first aid kit, the gallon water jugs, the sleeping bag, tent, sleeping mat, clothes pack. The solar charger gets slid toward the back, and the tarp/groundcloth gets jammed in any last space there. If there’s any extra space, one or both of the Crocs go in (I’m wearing the waders while I do this), but there’s usually no room for them. The hatch then goes on. My boat has two straps that hold the hatch on.…

Winner, Winner, Fish Dinner I love being a South Florida resident during the month of May. Having spent a good portion of my working life on the high seas off Miami and taking a beating from the high winds of March and April, it’s nice to finally get an opportunity to head offshore in my 24-foot Pathfinder and not get beat up. May’s friendly winds not only make fishing offshore comfortable but allows a real chance at catching some top-notch offshore fish in the process. The great fishing isn’t limited to offshore because the inshore and freshwater fishing can be awesome this month as well. Let’s start offshore and work our way in. Blackfin tuna, besides making great sashimi and seared tuna, is one of the toughest fighting fish you…

Backcountry Slams, Beach Bites & Nighttime Snapper It doesn’t matter if you are fishing back bays, nearshore or offshore, it is all going to be good. Large schools of threadfin herring can be found just off the beaches. These large schools of bait bring predators with them. Along the beaches and in our back bays there will be plenty of whitebait, pinfish, crabs and mojarra, so there’s an abundance of forage for fish to find. Players such as permit, cobia and sharks can be found in nearshore waters. Meanwhile, backwater trips will be full of snook, redfish and trout; backcountry slams will come often. Offshore guys will continue to catch an array of good-eating fish with only bad weather keeping the boats at the dock. Tarpon will be thick now…