Contest Inside
Summer 2021
Fishing Reports Florida Florida Keys Montana Cabo Costa Rica Bahamas New York
Shawna Whitsett
Mariah Medina
Allison Helen Hendricks
Southerland Outdoors Gale Force Twins Tiffany Ann's Swordfish Readers Features
Fish Australia with Anne- Marie
Heather Smith NWA Editor Heather Smith Outdoors
On the Cover - Heather Smith -editor at NWA Mariah Medina pg 3 Journey with Rex Hannon pg 13 Bikini Contest winners ph 20 Fishing Australia with Anne Marie ph 31 Tiffany Ann Sword for Grandma ph 42 Big Sky Fishing with Allison Helen Hendticks pg 48 Fishing Reports pg 58 The Helm Key West pg 110 Readers Features pg 120
In this Issue
On The Cover Mariah Medina
Have a Great 4th of July and and enjoy your Summer
Florida Fishermen Magazine
My name is Mariah! I was born and raised in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado! I came to visit Florida one time to fish, and I was hooked! Moved to florida in 2020, and bought a boat and have been fishing for a year and loving it! Lots to learn, but the adventure never stops.
Mariah Medina A New Love "Fishing"
My favorite thing about fishing is the excitement of all the new species! I love to be a part of such a large body of water and be able to bring home dinner and know where it came from. The art of releasing fish back is also so involved and makes you appreciate nature. Growing up in Colorado my hobbies involved the mountains or lakes. Now that I am in Florida my hobbies besides the obvious, fishing, is to be on a boat, go to the beach, enjoy the sunshine, go to local restaurants, and build trucks! Currently on my 2020 F250 build and its HUGE!
FFM - So what's on your Bucket List
Mariah - I have so many fish on my bucket list; wahoo, hog fish, marlin, rooster fish, another giant goliath grouper, and a sword fish are next and always on my mind!
The biggest fish so far would be the 300lb goliath grouper, or the 13-14ft bull shark. Crazy strong fish. My favorite seafood is either Tuna, Grouper, Mahi or snapper. Being new here, I am adding more and more to my favorite list.
I wouldn't have experienced all this without my amazing sponsors; White Water Life and Ocean Eyes Polarized have made so many trips possible.
Mariah I think I am setting a good for women and even children to get involved in fishing. I am learning, and because I am no expert, I am able to help and teach women and young adults by showing them how I learned in a short amount of time. I feel like it can be intimidating, but I have had some amazing captains be so patient and show me! That's why I started a youtube. I like to be passionate. It doesn't matter the age, gender, experience, just make sure you do it with your heart.
. FFM - This is a tough one , how do you think we can get more women and children fishing?
Fishing has brought so many friends into my life. It is such team sport at times. From all the fishing chicks to the amazing captains and husbands behind the scenes, it will turn strangers into family real quick.
Connect with Mariah on Social Media
I have to give a huge shout out to the captains that CONTINUALLY always help, take me out, show me and want me to be the best I can be; Christain Sommers in Naples, FL, Mike DeSimone with White Water Life, Lawrence Aliseo with G-Rod Sportfishing, Kevin Rowley with Tight N Up Charters, and Keith Sutcliffe with Ocean Eyes Polarized. These are just the FEW that continue to help make dreams come true. I haven't met a captain I haven't liked since being here
My favorite Online fishing magazine would of course be Florida Fisherman Magazine. They always produce the best quality in every day fishing.
Sea Clearly
A Journey of a thousand miles begins with one step
By Rex Hannon
It's been said that a journey of 1000 miles begins with one step. And if you're really lucky, sometimes that journey can be life altering. The global pandemic that held the world in its grasp had just began to subside, and I was in need of finding something that made me feel like things could finally return to some normalcy., if at the very least a new normal. I made a few phone calls, confirmed the reservations, and found myself heading back to the place that has become like a second home, a place that restores whatever everyday life steals from my soul., the little fishing village of Xpuha Beach, on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico
I arrived to less than optimal conditions. To say that the weather was unkind to this region in 2020 would be very much an understatement, many areas that hadn't seen a hurricane in two decades had as many as four target them .. Twenty mile per hour winds were common, and almost always from the North or East. The fishing suffered accordingly. I had made plans to spend a few days fishing with friend Will Robins, the owner / operator of Fly Fish Costa Maya in Chetumal, Mexico. I had forged a friendship with Will through the shared passion of Flats Fishing, and in particular being passionate about the pursuit of Permit and Triggerfish. When I reached out a few days after settling in, we discussed the weather conditions and decided our best option would be to target "Triggers" on a very shallow reef a few miles walk from where I was lodging. With our best laid plans, and hoping for the best but expecting much less, we agreed to meet in several days ..
The drive from Chetumal to Xpuha is a gruelling 4 hour trek, and Will arrived just after sunrise. The day had dawned to partly cloudy skies, but the winds relented a little, still challenging conditions for sight fishing. We began the several mile walk first along the secluded beach, then through some roughly cleared jungle, then over a mile and a half of loose rock and broken coral reef. This walk does have some very interesting sights along the way. There is an ancient Mayan Ruin that overlooks the rough, wave pounded rock lined shore and a natural freshwater spring that flows into the crystal clear waters of the Caribbean Sea. Upon arrival at our chosen location, we were greeted with the large, black tails waving in the slow rollers of a half dozen Triggerfish ..
as just the beginning of an amazing adventure. With our quarry still several hundred yards away, we split up to begin our stalk without impeding their early morning search for a meal, and give us the best chances of doubling up. The first Trigger was now within casting distance of Will, and a few seconds after his offering hit the water he was stuck to one of the reef warriors. Almost immediately after the hook up, I noticed the unmistakable image in the shallow water of the Black Tailed Devil, a large Permit cruising among the school. Without a thought, Will deliberately pulled the hook of his fish, and I released my cast to within the hula hoop target just beyond and ahead of the fish. The cast was true, and the first strip caught the Permits attention. The second strip and pause brought the fish to within inches, only to then turn away as if uninterested. The next strip brought about the same results, strip approach and only to turn away, this continued until after several tense minutes it lost interest and slowly swam away .. That is typical Permit behavior .. That is a typical result .. Permit fishing is very trying on your resolve and patience.
We continued our stalk and were rewarded after several minutes with another sighting of a lone cruising Permit, this time Will received the cold shoulder as we watched the second fish swim away without a hook set. After just an hour on the reef, a hooked Trigger and two quality shots at tailing Permit. The several hundred yard long ragged coral reef gently fades into a two foot deep flat surrounded by a man made break, and was the perfect environment for feeding Triggerfish. Will targeted an above average size fish, only to have the hook pull a few second after the strip set .. I watched in amazement as after winning its freedom, the fish immediately returned to the exact spot as before. I released the thirty foot cast and just after entering the water, the unfazed Trigger pounced on the Merkin and a solid hook set found its home. but, as if it possessed some special powers, the Trigger was rewarded a second time after breaking my light tippet.
Rex Hannon
The heat of the late morning now upon us, we decided to head back for some lunch and to rehydrate. We made the return walk mid afternoon, and after stalking the reef and searching the Flat, we caught and released several Triggerfish and saw a few more Permit, only to have similar results to the morning session. The "World Record All Tackle" Gray Triggerfish is 13.9 pounds. I caught / took pictures / and released a Triggerfish from this secluded reef that would seriously threaten that record that day with Will, and caught another in that range a few days later. I can honestly tell you my life changed forever on that day. I was able to find something positive that far out weighed all the negative that these trying times brought about and consumed most of our lives. I found something in that moment in time that allowed me to see a brighter future instead of a bleak past . That day on a remote reef with a friend and a few fish I took that first step on the journey to a better tomorrow ..
Winner Best Bikini - Allison
Winner Best Fish - Jillian
Winner Funniest Picture -Caine
Congrats to the winners And Thank you all for participatimg The reasom for the contest was ignorance , a woman decided to make derogatory comments about someone fishing in a bikini It is supposed to be about is all supporting each other. We are Anglers not the fashion police . The beauty of Social media is ... If you don't like what you see MOVE ON .. To stop and take the time to offend someone , well lets just say you must have some issues . New World Angler supports ALL Anglers regardless of age, sex, color, or clothing . .. Don't Like it .. MOVE ON
New World Angler
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Happy 4th of July , Have a Great Summer tap or click the arrow to shop for a Reel that will never let you down
Fishing Australia with Anne Marie
What do you love most about fishing? Fishing relaxes my soul and brings me peace and happiness. I love the thrill of sitting in the boat with the anticipation of a fish pulling on the other end of my line. I love being outside and even more so being out on the water. Australia is known for its fantastic fishing, we have thousands of kilometres of fish-rich coastline that rims our country. We have the cool waters of the south to the warm Top End in the north and the world's largest fringing and barrier reefs. Saltwater fishing in Australia is particularly rewarding and we are so lucky to have it all on our door step, how could you not love it.
Annemarie Fishing
What got you into fishing? My Dad introduced me to fishing when I was a young girl and from there the addiction started. I was only allowed days off school to go fishing, I have loved it ever since. I still get to go out fishing with him sometimes.
What do you do when you are not fishing? When I am not fishing, I am spending time with my family or working. I like to keep fit and healthy and usually weight train 5 times per week.
Where is your favourite place to fish and what is your favourite fish to catch? My favourite place to fish is definitely out on the ocean I usually only fish/crab/prawn in our local estuaries when the ocean is too rough to go out on. I believe we have over 4000 species of fish in Australia, it’s hard to pick a favourite fish, but I love catching reef fish like Red Emperor, Coral Trout and Nannygai. The Spanish Mackerel can be fun when they are on too.
What’s your favourite rod and reel combo that you use? I have a Shimano Stella 14000 with 80lb Dog Tooth braid on a Daiwa Saltiga PE8 jig rod as my main bottom reef combo and then I have a few backups with Saragossa’s on a few different rods.
What fish is on your bucket list? Mahi Mahi! I have never caught one, but would love to. I know in some places they catch heaps of them but they are not common here where I fish. They look like such an amazing looking fish. Maybe one day!
What is the worst thing that has happened to you out fishing? The worst thing was getting a 9/0 TruTurn hook in my arm and having to leave the days fishing half way through the trip to come home and get it cut out. There was a cobia hooked at the side of the boat and I leant over to tail grab it to bring it inside the boat, not remembering that it had a second hook down further on the same line. The cobia decided to take off as soon as he seen me lean over and pushed the hook into my arm. It takes us approximately 2 hours to get back to the boat ramp from our fishing spot, so it was a bit of a long ride home. I think I was more upset about having to come home early then I was about the hook. The fish were on the bite that day, so we still managed to get a good feed and got the cobia before we came home, so it wasn’t all bad.
Follow Anne Marie on IG
A Huge shout out to Anne Marie fo being the first in Australia to join us here at New World Angler Thanks Anne Marie
Tiffany Ann's "Sword for Grandma"
March 5, 2021, a day never to be forgotten. The day my grandmaw became my fishing angel and blessed me with the biggest fish I’ve ever caught. My grandmother had been in the hospital for a few days after having a massive heart attack at age 79. Leaving her and the rest of my family wasn’t an easy decision, but she would have not wanted me to miss it for the world. Paw paw told me Grandmaw would want you to go... go and make her proud. With 19 grand-babies she always bragged on every single one of us and loved them more than life itself. So, not in good spirits. I went just knowing in itself it would make her proud, but for high hopes she would come out of this and would be okay and well when I got back to Alabama
Come morning of March 5, 2021 we set out in some pretty rough water. We only had that day to make something happen because the next day a storm was rolling in so the wind and tides were rough enough to make you sick. But there was no turning around... we had to make it happen for Grandmaw or I would have felt a hundred times worse for being there. We had been fishing all day and nothing. No bites, no hook sets, just rough seas and high hopes for that big bite. It wasn’t looking promising but my Captain, Danny Ramos, with BlueDream Fishing out of Miami, Florida and his deckhand Jonathan Lorenzo was not giving up and neither was I. I said loud and clear, “We have to catch a fish for my grandmaw. We can’t go home empty handed.
We got this!” Literally minutes after, boom... big hit and hookset... It’s on!!! Boy was everyone excited! After two hours and twenty minutes of fighting this ocean monster, I was looking at what was the biggest fish I’ve ever put my hands on. It took four of us to pull it up into the boat weighing in at 330 lbs. Tears of joy and emotions of knowing how ironic it was... knowing Grandmaw had a hand in it, I balled my eyes out. Captain Danny Ramos screamed in joy “ This one is for you Grandma.” We hugged and celebrated the huge accomplishment we just landed. While we were fighting this fish, my grandmother was fighting back at home.
Contact Capt Danny Ramos at Blue Dream Fishing just Tap the logo
Minutes after we docked and unloaded the fish I received a call from my sister. A call no one wants to receive. My grandmother Mary Ann Ingram had just passed. She’s gone to Heaven and I can hear her now, “My Tiff Tiff, she’s a star.” However, Grandmaw just didn’t know it but she was the star... the star in everyone’s eyes. She was loved by so many and she never met a stranger. Her smile was contagious as she lit up every room she walked into. She will and always will be my fishing angel. Mary Ann, shine bright up there and I’ll see you soon. Your grand daughter, Tiffany Ann.
Check out my Instagram for more action and video of this amazing experience. IG: @tiffany_an89 Charter with BlueDream Fishing www.bluedreamfishing.com Thank you and God Bless to all and to all the fishermen!
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Blue Dream Fishing Charters
Fly Fishing Big Sky Country with Allison Helen Hendricks
It's a sound that haunts me. It comes and goes, flows so pretty, knows it's bows and swings so low . It's love, it's life, it's perfection wrapped up in my very own time and bow. It swishes, it sways and it runs out its time too. It's all the smells, times, places and things that always come back. The love of my life right there in my hand, in my heart, in my life.
There was a bend in a bayou years ago. I saw something bigger than my leg, and it stayed with me for years. I spent hours by that bend in the bayou. Watching, breathing and observing, but never did I catch him.
It's these things in life that I've followed the most. Falling down embankments, off boats, down bayous, into the gulf, into the deep blue sea, wind burns, sun burns, strip burns so bad on my fingers over the years that I've had to have small surgeries 5 and 6 times, blisters so deep from rowing 1200 miles a summer that I thought I could see my bone, stingray burns, the smell of sunscreen and bug spray that never leave my nose . And I've followed them with grace, a smile on my face and have never ever regretted a thing about it. I've traveled and lived for them, about them, with them, in them. I've lived more, worked more and have loved more in these bodies of water than most I know. And I've traveled everytime to do it. However, some think your life ends as a traveling fly fishing guide when you pull out of this industry, but I know different now
Fly casting is magical,. My life across this country as a guide and a writer, has now turned truly unreal to come home to my family too.
I've been a traveling fly fishing guide cross country for over 10 yrs....now that I really think about it. And when you're in that life, traveling all the time, fishing at insane ours, working odd jobs to fit your fishing life, writing, doing trade shows cross country too....and just trying to survive; there is literally nothing better. Of course it feels like that at the time, but there is light, love, laughter, joy, hours of YOUR fishing and real time on the other side too.
This is the first year that I gave everything up. I never thought that you could have a family and feel the same way about life .....like the cross country guide life. I was so wrong and so right at the same time. Now I get to work a job I enjoy in medicine, come home at a normal hour...rather than 3am just to leave at 4am to guide. Enjoy the holidays, enjoy a family at home with normal hours and fish for myself as much as I want. And although I've loved putting people on fish for as long as I can remember, NOT putting people on fish now, is music to my ears.
To say I'm blessed, is a true understatement. I was able to accomplish my goals as a guide, travel and work with amazing people in our industry, have my work family at my restaurant night jobs and fish my life away too. And I got to write about it at the end of the night as well. The nice thing now though, is that I can do it from an actual home, with my amazing, cute family and do everything together too. Part of me wanted to write this article just for my other cross country guide friends so that they would know they have something to look forward to. I also wrote it for all of us fishy people out there to make sure there is more hope out there now to understand that there are other fishy people out there as well. But ultimately, I'm writing, because you can do literally anything you want...in the fishing industry and in the world, and have a family too. And I'm so happy to be able to have experienced all of the above...and now finally come home.
So do you remember what I was rambling on about in the beginning? It's a sound that haunts me. It comes and goes, flows so pretty, knows it's bows and swings so low. It's love, it's life, it's perfection wrapped up in my very own time and bow. It swishes, it sways and it runs out it's time too. It's all the smells, times, places and things that have always come back. It's the sound of the fly line forming its loop that I've followed all over this entire country....to experience that grace. From Indiana to Idaho. From Oregon and Washington, to Florida. From Florida to Texas to Wyoming.....and now to settle in Montana. This is what I always follow. It allows be to be with God, hold my father's hands still, and has shown me to not only the love of my life, but now my very own family in my very own home in one place as well. And to my friend from all of those years ago, who sparked my interest into fly fishing as an adult, I thank you. And for all of these things, I am literally and truly, and finally, forever blessed.
By Allison Helen Hendricks
Inshore- Snook are stacked around the passes right now we are seeing plenty of these guys around the dock lights, bridge lights and in the early morning around structures as the sunrises. During the day, plenty of snook action around the bridges, docks, piers, jetties and grass flats and islands of the bays. Look for them along the beaches moving parallel to the beaches in those swash channels too. This time of year, the passes and beaches are where you can find plentiful snook. There’s still active fish in the bay bust most are slot size and under while the slot size and larger move into the passes and along the beaches.
Redfish bite is hot right now around the passes near the docks, bridges, and sandy edges. We are seeing a great redfish bite around the dock during the day especially when you ‘chum’ a bit with some fresh dead shrimp. The bottom is the best place to find them foraging for chunked dead bait or those shrimp or smaller crabs. Plenty of black drum mixed around in these areas foraging on the bottom too. The back bay has plenty of redfish action too around the flats, mangrove shorelines and oyster bars.
Mangrove snapper are prolific around virtually any structures. We are seeing them around the rock piles, bridges, jetties, docks, seawalls and virtually anything holding growth and attracting bait. Trout bite is steady at this time around the passes at night on bridge lights and dock lights. During the early morning hours just after sunup look from them around the beaches and flats. During the day look for them on the deeper flats, edges of shallower flats and in those potholes and cuts of the local grass flats too.
Tarpon showing up in droves to your local passes, shallow sand bars, and moving up and down the beaches. There are some great tides through the weekend that should get the tarpon actively feeding. Those large new moon tides should flush some bait, crabs and white bait that should get big schools ready to chew.
Pompano bite still around local passes, around the local bridges and along the beaches. Look for them in that sandy bottom area especially near the structures or channels where they can easily find bait to ambush. Sheepshead are spread out and picky in the warmer waters, but still, plenty around the area. However, they get much less aggressive as waters warm, and they spread out in quite smaller numbers. Mackerel still biting in the earlier morning hours along our local passes, jetties, and beach fishing piers. Look for these guys where bait is congregating, and water is moving.
Near Shore & Offshore- ( Notice ) Red snapper bite is FIRED up offshore right now. They are open and in full swing for EVERYONE off the west coast of Florida in the Gulf of Mexico in federal waters. The private recreational anglers from private boats are governed under the FWC private rec season of June 4th until July 28th with the likelihood of a possible longer season with added days in the fall. The federal for hire anglers aboard the charter boats and party boats with federal fishing permits have a little longer season to start with a June first opener that runs until end of day August 2nd, but there is no shot at the feds being able to even if our quota is not filled add more days in the fall. This is the benefit to private rec anglers and their state managed seasons if the council will act on the state data calibration issues that Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas are having. Luckily, Louisiana and Florida have state systems that closely align with their federal data counterparts. Florida private rec anglers will actually gain access and lengthened seasons if the council takes an equal approach only penalizing the states with currency so off base it requires a more aggressive currency exchange ratio. State management has worked for private rec anglers and all the states have spent a lot of money and time developing their own state data collection systems and they have all been peer reviewed and approved. However, we have five state data ‘currencies’ that are all having to be measured against the federal data ‘currency’ that sets the ABC or acceptable biological catch. This is the main issue; you cannot bring us currency to Europe and use it you must go to an exchange and they use a ratio to turn your USD into Euros it is the same issue hear. Just like the old saying you cannot compare apples to oranges. Well, the federal quota is set in oranges while each state has their own data collection system that measures in apples, pineapples, bananas, pears, and blueberries. So, we have to get all those customized data collection streams to common currency through calibrations to ensure that the quota is not overfished. Well currently its being exceeded by a great deal and the council is struggling to find a data calibration solution.
Back to fishing, these red snapper are biting best in our area beyond around 140-160ft of water. The deeper you go the bigger and more prolific they become. We fished as deep as nearly 300ft of water recently and the red snapper only got bigger and more concentrated as we got into deeper waters. Big dead bait chunks are the hot bite right now for the red snapper like the bonita, mullet, mackerel or virtually any large oily fish are great options to fillet and then strip out to make great red snapper baits. Also, large squid strips or octopus tentacles are great options too. We are seeing big red snapper on whole threadfins and even double threadfins as well. These guys are super aggressive, and we do not normally have the break off issue so typically 60-80lb leader is sufficient when targeting the American red snapper offshore.
Gag grouper are biting extremely well right now too for us out in deeper waters. We are seeing a few here and there near shore and actually more inshore around Tampa bay. However, the bulk of the fish and especially the truly large gag grouper are well offshore due to the warmer water temps. When waters are hot gags are in deeper cooler waters. When the water cools down and gets colder they come in shallower. Right now, the best areas to start looking for gag grouper is out there around 140ft of water or more where we are targeting the red snapper. Also, the gags are super aggressive as of late loving the biggest live baits. We are seeing them fired up on the monster squirrel fish or big white grunts and even porgies too. The bigger and friskier the live bait the more likely a bit ole gag will eat it up while offshore fishing with heavy tackle and big patience! The trick to gag grouper fishing is having an exceptionally large reel with minimal 45lbs of drag ore more and at least 80-100lb test and a very large live bait requiring an 8-10ot hook or more. Really that 2-3lb bait and that 12-14ot hook and 125lb leader and that big 9ot equivalent reel is what will get you that trophy gag grouper.
Mangrove snapper fishing is going well for us right now too we are seeing active mangrove snapper around 70-100ft of water nearshore and virtually all over the offshore waters. Great time to target mangroves if you can get past the red snapper or stay inside of them in shallower waters under 110-120ft of water. However, while out deep targeting them at night and avoiding those high-water column ‘Christmas tree’ shows of red snapper is a great way to get on a good bite of mangrove snapper. We are catching them most often on that threadfin chunk with around 60lb leader out deep and 40lb leader in closer. However, fishing beyond 100ft of water you do not want to lighten up your leader more than around 60lb, so you have that shot at a gag if he happens to take your smaller chunked threadfin while the gags are open.
Yellowtail snapper are biting well for us right now too especially while fishing out deeper for these bigger American red snapper. Around 120-160ft of water and beyond the yellow tail start to get prolific and like the red snapper, the deeper we got the likelihood of bigger yellowtails become more and more common. Lane snapper in closer in the near shore waters are super-hot right now with some bigger more consistent fish around 80-100ft of water but were seeing them as deep as 120ft of water in good numbers and as shallow as 60ft in decent numbers too.
Pelagic action is super crazy right now. The opportunity for passing chicken dolphin schools is ever present. Plus, we are seeing sailfish out there fairly often plus plentiful kingfish and blackfin tuna. Wahoo are also around this time of year as well. It is imperative you remember your flat line and do not forget to set it and watch for it while tearing up the red snapper and gags this summer especially when fishing beyond 120ft of water. Those mahi mahi will also swim nearshore too with some decent schools spotted as shallow as around 35-40ft of water.
Montana Big Sky Fishing report
Fishing Report Montana, there's nothing like it. Big skies, big fish, gorgeous rivers, amazing mountains and so much more. What we like to talk about though most, is fishing of course.
Everything is very blown out right now, but big bugs are on the rise. Most creeks, streams and rivers are seeing salmon fly hatches, blue winged olives, pmd's, a few yellow sally's, but you can always consistently catch fish if you use nymph rigs too. What seems to be working in the murky waters are san juan worms, bigger stone fly patterns and lightning bug patterns as well. Most nymphs that have a little flash on them with an egg dropper pattern works well too. Streamers that have been working in the slower moving waters, back water and eddies are, sparkle minnows and any other bright colored streamer. Run them low and slow, or fast and erratic and you're sure to be effective. We are also seeing lots of hoppers as of late, so don't forget to add your terrestrial patterns in your fly box. For still waters, streamers and balanced leeches are your best bet. If you start seeing them eat on top, always match the hatch.
Rivers are big this time of year, so stay safe out there. Don't forget to bring your bear spray, as there are always an abundance of black bear and grizzlies out. And if you're wading, watch out for moose, wear your wading belts and watch for snakes too. So, good luck and tight lines out there!
Match the Hatch
Written by, Seth Neumann @seth_neumann and, Allison Helen Hendricks @flycastergal
Summer time is officially here in Key Largo and the mahi and grouper bite is hot. Although these fish are caught with very different techniques they are both very sought after in the months ahead. With grouper season opening May 1st until the end of the year and the mahi Summer time is officially here in Key Largo and the mahi and grouper bite is hot. Although these fish are caught with very different techniques they are both very sought after in the months ahead. With grouper season opening May 1st until the end of the year and the mahi migrating in to the Florida East Coast, the Florida Keys offers a variety of fishing here in the Summer. Whether it’s reef fishing closer inshore for grouper, or heading off shore for Mahi, we’ve got you covered.
Upper Keys Fishing Report with Heather Born
Dolphin are also known as Mahi Mahi. They are consistent here in the Keys from April - September. I like to head off shore 7+ miles, 300 - 1000 feet, and start looking for any frigate birds, weed lines, or floaters. Mahi’s main target are flying fish, so keep your eye out for those as well. Often Mahi will hang around any floaters - wood pallets, buckets, rafts, doors, literally any type of debris. Baitfish tend to gather under as shelter, and that’s where those Mahi tend to feed. Mahi tend to travel in school’s, so when there is one, there is usually more. It’s always a great idea to throw out a few chunks of bait so the school stays frenzied up, and the bigger fish will usually come up from below. One rule is to always keep one mahi in the water when catching a school to keep the school around. I like to troll rigged ballyhoo with a pink and black skirt around 6-8 knots for Mahi. I prefer 30-50 pound tackle, because the majority of dolphin we’ve seen this summer are usually less than 30 pounds. Although you might get lucky and come across the occasional bull weighing in at 50 pounds.
Not up for a full day of trolling? Hit the nearshore and offshore reefs and you’ll come across a great chance to catch a red or black grouper. Make sure you target those good grouper spots which can be found just a few miles from shore anywhere from 120-160 feet of water. I’ve come across many good grouper spots heading in from a day of mahi fishing. Mark any spots for good grouper bottom. These fish are normally found around a structured, rocky bottom or on a nice ledge. Red and Black grouper are my favorite to catch. Blacks are on the larger side and average around 10-20 pounds here in the Keys. Red grouper are normally smaller in size, but just as tasty. Before my grouper trip I like to go out and catch pinfish for bait. It’s what I prefer for grouper fishing and have had great success. I drift instead of anchoring for grouper. This allows me to cover more area drifting over ledges and rocky bottom. When it comes to lines I prefer to use anywhere from a 50-80 lb braided line, with 60 lb flourocarbon leader and a 6/0 size circle hook.
Link to Heather's Real Estate Office
The Florida Keys offers a variety of fishing here in the Summer. Whether it’s reef fishing closer inshore for grouper, or heading off shore for Mahi, we’ve got you covered.
Tight lines and Happy Catching this Summer.
Hooked On Upper Keys Real Estate Heather Born
Click this link for Daymakers Website and to make your rsservation
DayMaker Charters Fishing Report With Capt Patrick Price . Youtube Link
Nicoles Fishing Bed and Breakfast
Summer Florida Freshwater Fishing With Rick Southerland
The best action in Florida in the summertime is early in the morning or late in the evening. With the water being warm, the fish are very active during these times. You can actually see them jumping and chasing baitfish. This is prime time to hook up with some nice fish.
We went out early to enjoy these feeding frenzies. I took a guy who has never caught a largemouth bass in his life. Surely we can get him his first bass. I tied him on a Junebug Zoom Speedworm also known as the Florida swim bait. I Texas rigged it with a 1/8 once Woo Tungsten bullet weight. The rod was a Masuta medium heavy 7ft worm rod with a Quantum Smoke reel. This set-up is a go to for beginners to pros. It’s weedless and easy to use. Just cast it out, let it drop, then slow roll it back in
We were filming the Southerland Outdoors Show live when after a couple of casts with the speedworm he yells, “I got one!!!” Full of excitement, he reels in his very first bass all the while being filmed live. What an excellent experience and to catch your very first one live was epic for him.
I was catching them using the Z-Man Jackhammer in JuneBug color with a Gambler Kamoto trailer on Atko Floro 15lb line. Using the Quantum Acurist cranking rod and a American Tackle ProStaff reel. I was using the bladed jig aka chatter bait under docks and running the hydrilla edges. Letting it drop slow and reeling it in slow to where I could feel the tops of the hydrilla was key, and I was able to put some nice fish in the boat.
Our next stop was at Lake Panasoffkee. Aka Lake Pan is a central Florida secret that is becoming more and more known for its incredible catch ratio and giant largemouth bass. We fished our team tournament classic there. It was an overcast day with occasional showers. We went out to locate some of these monsters. Unlike most lakes, Lake Pan is shallow in the middle and deeper on the edges, so we started right in the middle. Not having prefished it, we were definitely winging it. We found some eel grass in the middle. No fish. We found hydrilla. No fish. So where were they? We found a patch of hydrilla that was in the eel grass and BAM!!!! A nice 5lber!! There they are!! They weren’t in just the hydrilla or just in the grass. It had to be the combination. With 22.11lbs we ended up placing 3rd place. Look for patterns using vegetation. Sometimes it’s the perfect combination that they are looking for.
Next lake was Lake Henderson. Filled with lily pads, hydrilla, boat docks, and grass, Lake Henderson has it all. So with all the different targets, how were we to find them??? We used the KISS system. Keep It Simple Silly. When it’s really hot outside what do you do? You either stay inside in the air conditioning, or you go in the shade where it’s cooler right? Well so do the bass. With water temps rising in the mid to high 80’s, bass are gonna either go deep to the cooler “air conditioning,” or in the shade. That shade could be covered boat docks, lily pads, or other vegetation. We found them in all the above at Lake Henderson. We caught them using ATKO hollow bellied frogs in the lily pads. We caught them under docks using the Southerland Outdoors Pop Pop Pro popper. We caught them using Rapala deep diving crank baits. So keep it simple and find cooler water and you will find fish. Most importantly, get out in the outdoors. Southerland Outdoors
Gianna Helena Charters attracts a varied clientele. Families and children are most welcome and encouraged as are the Ol' Salty Dogs. "Family time with Dad"
Gianna Helena Charters Montauk NY with Kim Kudla
On a recent trip back from California a daughter came back to spend quality time with her 85 year old Dad who loves to fish. In a time of phone-gazing and social media, just being on the water, no personal electronics is key. We all need this and it is beautiful. Catching fish was optional. That being said, the action was non stop! Bluefish, Fluke and Schools of Striper. \ Dad hooked a big one! As a team, passing the rod back and forth, together they landed this 35lb+ Jumbo Montauk Striper. This is amazing family time that is better than therapy. Gianna Helena Charters takes pride in creating lasting memories and a fun, safe environment where families, women, children and friends alike are introduced to the joys of inshore and offshore fishing.
As mentioned above, "catching" fish is optional. But you won't be disappointed. Some of our clients are experienced fishermen. We have many first timers. All of them get to enjoy the day making memories and creating "Fish Tales". Currently the weather has been great, calm seas, fishing for Fluke (some doormats), Striper (some hogs) and, if you want a great fight, you might want to hook those Blues! When you are ready to experience the great Montauk fishery contact Captain Lou at www.giannahelenacharters.com in Montauk, NY. Kim Kudla
My Islands Adventure Charter with Captain Tim Hoban and Ashley
Offshore- We are now in our rainy season so you better get your fishing in early, storms are popping up around 2pm. The dolphin bite has been spotty and in deeper depths of 400-600ft. The typical fishermen trolls with some fresh cut Bonita strips, but our killer slam has been slow trolling with our kite and live goggle eye. The Sailfish bite is strong this month. We’ve been catching them with both our kite and live goggle eye as well as freelining a dead sardine or live goggle eye in depths anywhere from 100-250ft. There has also been a nice current the past week. Blackfin Tuna and Bonita have been running thick around 200ft therefore plenty of sharks! Reel ‘em in fast! Lots of Kingfish are showing up in their usual depths of 150ft along the ledge. Legal size Mutton snappers have been caught more North in front of Singer Island, FL anywhere from 90-120ft depths. We hope everyone has a safe and plentiful weekend! Bring your rain gear, smiles and enjoy the beautiful waters of Sou
My Islands Adventure Charter with Captain Tim Hoban and Ashley Video Fishing Report
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you need any extra information, special considerations, or a customized experience! For specific charter pricing and seasonal discounts, please submit your contact information. It will help us if you are detailed in your request. One of us will get back to you within 24 hours. If you prefer to call, we’d love to hear from you. Call Us: 1-(866) 373-2905
Cabo San Lucas Weather Conditions Air: HIGH 85 °F / LOW 79 °F Water Temperature: SEA OF CORTEZ 68°F | PACIFIC 78 °F Sea of Cortez Seas: 1-4FT Sea of Cortez Swells: 2-3FT Pacific Seas: 2-5FT Pacific Swells: 2-4FT Humidity: 47% Wind: 5-10 mph Fish Available in Cabo: Striped Marlin, Dorado, Tuna, Roosterfish, Wahoo Early June was great for our local fishermen. Striped Marlin fishing abound in Cabo! Some of the best fishing you will see remains on the Sea of Cortez side. Planning ahead allows both Los Gringos Charters' clients and Captains to be on the same page. We suggest first-time Cabo anglers allow our Captains to guide your adventures. Some anglers target dinner fish (dorado, wahoo, yellowfin tuna) and fill their plates with Cabo's finest. As Summer weather arrives we can see dinner fish increase in numbers potentially see blue and black marlin numbers increase. Do you have the sportfishing itch? Striped Marlin is your best chance to scratch that itch until the Black and Blue Marlins return. The best chance for you and your family to land a huge black or blue marlin is during the months surrounding the Bisbee's Black and Blue tournaments. Book Top Bisbee's Tournament Captains today through Los Gringos Charters.
video by Jacki Shea
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Happy July 4th! The palm beaches inshore fishing offers a plethora of species to target snook, tarpon, sharks, and jacks provide explosive action. Snook fishing will be fantastic, anglers can target the along beaches in inlets and inside the ICW. The snook will school up in local inlets, along deep channels and beach fronts. Live bait schools are prevalent just about everywhere you look. Greenies, bait of choice for snook but pinfish and mullet will get the bite as well. DOA lures work great for the snook along the beaches, nothing beats a DOA C.A.L. 3” shad tail in bayou tiger or pearl color. Rapala twitchin mullet baits also a great bait while fishing the beaches or drop offs were snook are lurking. The average size of the snook ranges from 5 to 30 pounds
Summer Fishing Report with Phlats Fishing Charters
Silver king action will be explosive. The tarpon can be found lurking along the beaches and near deep channels. Tarpon school up, early morning risers get the best shots at bigger fish, as they are less spooky. The fish on the beach range from 50 to 130 pounds. The silver kings in the inlet and Icw are willing to devour any greenie in there path, but don’t shy away from artificial baits. The DOA bait busters and DOA terror eyz in root beer or pearl provoke drag screaming action.
The ICW will offer great fishing for big jacks, sharks, bluefish and even some big triple tail. Docks, seawalls, and mangrove shorelines great areas to locate fish. Look for bait fish in the area as tell tale sign, predator fish are near by. Live baits and Rapala skitter walks or DOA Terror Eyz will get your drag screaming. Well that is the fishing report hope you all enjoyed. Get out there and get your drag screaming. Tight Lines! Capt. Craig Korczynksi PhlatsInshoreFishing.com 561-644-4371,visit us on Facebook, Instagram.
Summer 2021 : Capt. Rich Doherty!Fish Responders Charters! Covering West Central Gulf, Homosassa to Tarpon Springs in Florida
.!Thank you Mother Nature, the winds have calmed down and the winter tides have come back to normal! Over the past few weeks the water temps have been right on and the moon phase has been getting these fish very active on the outgoing tides on the flats. It still has been a great trout bite moving into deeper channels throwing a “Papaws” 1/4 oz jig w/ an oversize paddle tail around weeds and sand spots. !Once tide becomes slack I’ll put the Power-Pole down in two feet of water in a channel and throw to Reds moving across the flats.
Rich Doherty Fish Responders Charters
My go-to weapons of choice are MirrOlures mirrodine c-eye, skin series in pinfish pattern. Throw out in front of these tailing reds, let it sit, twitch and hold on! The same goes for Zman scented jerk shadz in pearl rigged with Eye strike Texas jig weedless in shallow water. !I’ve also been picking up some great snook in the transition areas in the channels chasing bait fish from deeper water up onto the flats.!Late morning/afternoon with the incoming tide I’ve had luck throwing mirrodines up tight or under mangroves to shade and twitching back to sun and hold on! They’re hitting once the shade transitions into the sun with the flash of the mirrodine.!Overall the fishing has been great. This Bay Slam was picked up the other morning doing everything I’ve out lined in report!!Capt. Rich Doherty!Fish Responder
Kyndal
Laura Cherie - New World Angler
Laura Cherie NWA
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The Plantation on Crystal River
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Rosemary White Marketing Manager at Plantation On Crystal River, Ascend Hotel Collection
Amazing activities on the water right out back We promise you won’t ever run out of ways to have a good time at Plantation on Crystal River. Because we're located right on the estuary, you can explore over 40 named springs, head out to catch snapper, snook, redfish, or scallops, as well as enjoy boating excursions and plenty of watersports. Can't say enough great things about the adventures at Plantation on Crystal River! Michael R.
The Pinnacle of Crystal River Resorts Paradise Awaits in Kings Bay Find your enchanted getaway in Central Florida. Plantation on Crystal River is for nature lovers, water lovers, golf lovers, and adventure lovers. Our rooms and suites deliver breathtaking water and garden views from private patios. Gold villas are available for extra space to swing, and our full-service marina has everything you need to gear up before hitting the open water.
The fishing is so good in our neck of the woods, we were featured on Reel Time Florida Sportsman – Crystal in the Rough. In this episode, Capt. George Gozdz finds a new and exciting way to target grouper in the Crystal River shallows. Reel Animals with Capt. Mike Anderson and Flats Class TV with Capt. CA Richardson are others that base shows out of Plantation.
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Gale Force Twins
Gale Force Twins Growing up in South Florida, we discovered our love and passion for the water. At an early age, we started fishing off the docks of Islamorda wanting nothing more than to go deep sea fishing. We attended the University of Miami, earning degrees in Microbiology and Immunology while competing on the track and field team as pole vaulters. The two of us spent our summer breaks and long weekends working on a busy fishing charter boat out of Key West. It was there that we finished our sea time, honed in on our skills and earned our USCG 50 Ton Captains Licenses. With that we started our own business, Gale Force Twins LLC.
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Upon graduating, we left the academic world to pursue careers in the sportfish industry. After a few years of running our own charter business. We began vlogging our adventures as female captains on the water. The response was exponentailly positive. We now film, edit and produce educational yet entertaining videos on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Although each video is unique they all share the same goal: to Educate, Explain and Entertain. We take pride in keeping our pages family friendly while we take our viewers with us to experience the variety of fishing opportunities that the world has to offer.
When we are not filming and fishing on our own we are chasing bigger fish in tournaments up and down the East coast of the United States and beyond. Tournament highlights include winning Top Lady Angler in the Custom vs. Production Shootout, 2nd Largest Kingfish and Big Fish Bonanza in the Jimmy Johnson along with placing in many Florida Keys competitions, just to name a few. Our work has allowed us to explore such exotic destinations as Costa Rica, Hawaii and the Bahamas experiencing many different styles of fishing. You can follow our adventures on our Youtube channel, Gale Force Twins, and sign up for our blog at GaleForceFishing.com/subscribe. You can also check us out on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube under @GaleForceTwins. We hope this blog inspires you to explore new places and get out on the water! Our Mission Our mission is to educate, explain and entertain!
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