THE OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE WEST PALM BEACH FISHING CLUB Pottlitzer’s Prize Palm Beach Patterns Dolphin A Seasonal Playbook for Saltwater Angling off Central & Northern Palm Beach County by Tom Twyford, WPBFC President ew places offer the incredible variety of saltwater fish and year-round fishing access that Palm Beach County has to offer. There is literally Fsomething to fish for everyday of the year. The Gulfstream plays an influential role. Nowhere off the entire eastern seaboard does this life giving, warm water current come any closer to the U.S. than off our shores. Our sub- tropical climate, a continental shelf that begins to abruptly widen off Jupiter and a safe deep-water inlet play supportive roles. It is no wonder that the Palm Beaches has been the scene of many groundbreaking innovations in our sport. Having processed countless fishing contest, tournament and All Time Club Record entries over the past 26 years at the West Palm Beach Fishing Club, I have been in a unique position to observe very distinct seasonal fish- ing patterns, along with the environmental factors that trigger the arrival or departure of fish off our coast. The following is by no means a definitive guide to fishing the Palm Beaches (there are no absolutes in fishing), but rather a solid template for what kind of fishing to anticipate as the season progresses. I hope this angling playbook aids ocal anglers are still talking newcomers to the area, or helps expe- Labout the fish WPBFC member rienced anglers plan specific trips, or Jay Pottlitzer landed earlier this at the very least, serve as a reminder year. Here’s how he caught the fish of of the fantastic fishing we are blessed a lifetime and landed in the WPBFC with off Palm Beach County. All Time Club Record Book. It was a clear day in mid-May. Reports of an JANUARY improving dolphin bite prompted Jay and Diane DiMarco to venture off- The sailfish sector of the Gulfstream shore Jupiter Inlet in search of mahi. is at its best this time of year. Finding Before long they found themselves pods of bait, a clean water edge or a over 20 miles out and battling gaffer temperature break will lead you to the dolphin they had hooked while troll- fish. Kite fishing is the technique of ing. That was when the real fire drill choice, allowing anglers to effectively began. “There were some other free concentrate their efforts in very swimmers around. Diane’s fish was specific depths over the narrow ready for the gaff when the big fish shelf. Live goggle-eye, small blue A Year In Review... first swam into view. So I told her to runners and sardines are among • KDW Classic & Derby Results be patient while I baited a pitch rod. the best baits to use. Deploying a I had a Penn Torque spinning reel drift anchor will help you stay in • Club & Member News outfit rigged with braided line and a the strike zone longer. The Jupiter • New Club Records & Fishing 60 pound fluorocarbon leader ready to Ledge, the zone east of the Break- Contest Standings go. I pitched a fresh squid out, then ers and the Bath & Tennis Club I gaffed her fish, and it wasn’t long on Palm Beach, and the waters off • Club Outing Reviews before I saw the line on my pitch rod Boynton’s Martini Glass water tow- • Membership Roster screaming towards the bow. I didn’t er are historically productive areas • Foundation News really know how big it was until the for sails. Depth is key. Be sure to fish went airborne and began grey- monitor radio chatter (VHF 19 is & Much More! 2013 • VOL 79, NO. 1 hounding continued on Page 12 continued on Page 46 events calendar december 26 TIGHT LINES no meeting due to Board of Directors: november 1 Holiday Break Pete Schulz, Chairman start of club's annual Winter Chester Brewer Fishing Contest competition Capt. Barry Brimacomb Robert L. Broadway november 6 Donn Colee Inshore Meeting, 7:00 pm C.N. “Butch” Farrell “Fall Fishing Techniques for january 8 Dr. Thomas P. Floyd Spanish Mackerel & Pompano” Silver Sailfish Derby John Jolley Capt. Joe Massaro Captain’s Meeting - 6:30 pm. Sandra Kaupe jigbycaptjoe.com @ the WPBFC clubhouse. At Daniel Kleiser least one crew member from each Robert Oglesby Join In The Fun! boat must attend. Suzanne Ross John Taylor Saturday january 9, 10 & 11 Bud Tyska 77th annual Silver Sailfish Derby William Watson November 16, 2013 out of Sailfish Marina. David Webb West Palm Beach Fishing Club Robert L. Weigt Tournament fleet limited to 60 boats annual Awards, BBQ Call the club for official Derby entry Staff: & Auction form @ (561) 832-6780 or President Our biggest party of the year - download online at Thomas L. Twyford, Jr. Great fun for the whole family! westpalmbeachfishingclub.org at FOP Lodge #50, WPB Operations Manager 5:30 pm - 9 pm january 22 Joella S. Callaway Offshore Meeting, 7:00 pm “Dead Bait Trolling Tactics & Office Assistant november 28 Jean Pfendler Bait Rigging Tips for Sailfish” no meeting due to Capt. Patrick Price Thanksgiving holiday daymakerfishing.com december 4 february 5 Club Social Meeting, 7:00 pm Inshore Meeting, 7:00 pm “The Good Old Days: Reflections “Tactics & Patterns for Fishing From Fishing in & around Palm Inshore Waters” West Palm Beach Fishing Club Beach 50 Years Ago” P.O. Box 468 Capt. Craig Korczynski West Palm Beach, FL 33402 a gathering of various 'salty' characters phlatsinshorefishing.com Telephone: (561) 832-6780 Fax: (561) 832-2137 Websites: www.westpalmbeachfishingclub.org www.kdwclassic.com Find us on Facebook Copyright 2013 West Palm Beach Fishing Club. All rights reserved. 2 West Palm Beach Fishing Club club news Clubhouse Gets a Facelift ne of the Fishing Club’s ongoing challenges is maintaining our Guy Bartels & 72-year-old clubhouse. Thanks to the generous support of club O crew replace member Guy Bartels the building got some long overdue attention earlier & repair this year. Bartels and a crew of five of his best carpenters from Yellowfin damaged Builders donated their time and materials to replace rotten siding, doors and siding & trim. Only identical wood siding was used in order to doors. maintain the building’s historical integrity. Longtime club member Mike Davidson of CKG Painting and his crew followed up with a fresh coast of paint for the building and outside patio area. The unassuming wood frame facility was built in 1941. Through the years the building has become a repository of local sport fishing and boating memorabilia, which includes a significant collection of trophy game fish mounts. The WPBFC clubhouse is among a very few special buildings that provide a physical link to the city’s past. The WPBFC was added to the City of West Palm Beach’s Register of Historic Places in 1998. Then Mayor Lois Frankel wrote at the time “The West Palm Beach Fishing Club is a historical resource of national significance. This landmark exhibits this community’s commitment to promote tourism and recreation, as well as conservation. It is identified with the Great Depression Era, World War II and the Post-War Mike Davidson (top photo) and his crew period, and with the development of tourism for the City of West Palm Beach.” dressed up the clubhouse with a new Thank you Guy and Mike for helping the WPBFC maintain this very special coat a paint. piece of West Palm Beach history for the enjoyment of future generations. Broadway Joins Board Go Fish! The West Palm Beach Fishing Club Board of Di- Bob Broadway rectors is happy to announce that club member Bob Saturday, Broadway of West Palm Beach was appointed to the board late last year. Broadway replaces outgoing November 16, 2013 board member Bob Callaway of Jupiter, who stepped West Palm Beach Fishing Club's down after more than 20 years of service. 79th annual Bob Broadway has been a Fishing Club member for 25 years. He is an instrumental club volunteer at Awards, BBQ & Auction important events like the Palm Beach County KDW Tickets are now on sale Classic and the annual Awards BBQ & Auction. Bob is for our annual 50/50 currently the Vice President of Corporate Strategy at 'Go Fish' cash raffle. Bethesda Healthcare Systems. Like Callaway, Broad- Here's your chance to win way brings a great deal of business and non-profit experience to the Fishing $5,000...the odds are great! Club board. Broadway is the immediate past chair of the South Florida Fair's Only one hundred Board of Directors and a past president of SunFest. "We are thrilled to have such an experienced and well rounded business mind representing the interests $100 tickets will be sold. of the Club. Bob has been a community leader for quite some time and we are Too much? Share the expense fortunate to have him so actively involved," said Pete Schulz, Chairman of with a friend & split the the Board of Directors. There are currently 17 individuals who volunteer their winnings! time to serve on the WPBFC Board of Directors. Club By-Laws allow up to 20 Call the Club to buy yours today! individuals and no less than 14 to serve. ** winners need not be present Tight Lines Bulletin - 2013: A Year in Review 3 Club Embroidery Available WPBFC Items to be Included at Zeidel’s in Museum Exhibit Old fish mounts, tro- Members often ask if phies, photographs the Fishing Club sells and memorabilia from embroidered shirts the archives of the West and apparel featuring Palm Beach Fishing the WPBFC’s iconic Club will be featured in navy blue burgee.