How shallow can you go?

Anglers who enjoy stalking spooky game fish in ultra-shallow water understand the importance of a high-performance technical poling skiff. Without these high-tech modern marvels, it would be almost impossible to reach the remote-shallows where game fish flourish and fishing pressure is virtually nonexistent.

A clear view of thermal imaging reveals this mythical technology’s darkest secrets.

As avid anglers and boaters who enjoy the benefits of fishing under the cover of darkness, in years past we could only imagine what it would be like to have the supernatural ability to pierce the pitch black with our naked eyes.

An education in boat designs

If you’re in the market for a boat, new or pre-owned, there are many important factors you should carefully consider before making a final purchasing decision. While price, size and layout are considerations, one issue that shouldn’t be overlooked, and surely one of the most important is hull design.

Outboard Engine Overview

With the latest technological advancements available to outboard propulsion manufacturers, anglers have the ability to reach the fishing grounds faster, more reliably and more efficiently than ever before. A number of the latest innovations include; trolling throttle adjustment, adjustable maximum tilt angle, oversized mounting brackets, multiple water intakes, and numerous corrosion fighting features geared toward keeping your boating experience hassle free.

A Guide To Fly-Fishing Florida’s Fall Mullet Militia

Imagine the sight of tens of thousands of shimmering finger mullet patrolling the waters in hopes of escaping the wrath of countless hungry and aggressive game fish. From only feet from the wash to a mile or more offshore, during the heart of the fall bait run the once blue water takes on the appearance of a stained river, interrupted only by huge eruptions and fountains of skittish baitfish scattering in every direction from seemingly endless predator pursuits. And then just as fast as it started, it will all be over as the masses of helpless baitfish continue south on their annual migration.

Special Report

International industrial fishing fleets and ineffective fishery management could be the death knell for popular recreational fisheries in Florida and beyond.

When you ask Florida anglers, or anglers anywhere in the U.S. for that matter, to list the things they feel are responsible for negatively impacting their sport, commercial fishing is usually at the top of the list. Most feel the U.S. commercial fleet and the state and federal agencies that are suppose to regulate them have done great harm to fish stocks and habitat, and to a large degree that perception is well founded.

From coast to coast, these menacing monsters mean serious business!

It’s early morning on Santa Rosa Sound with the sun just barely peeking its fiery head above the distant horizon. The water is slick-calm, and my charter has already boated a half dozen keeper trout.

With a little know-how and a bit of specialized tackle, South Florida anglers can expect delicious results from an overlooked deep-water dweller.

With the fall season being a transitional period between summertime’s blistering hot fishing patterns and the changes that come with winter, dolphin are now scattered, kingfish are here and there at best, solid numbers of wahoo continue to be elusive and sailfish are far from abundant.

A Corrosive Combination!

Are you taking evasive action to protect your big-game tackle against the harsh effects of salt and grime? If not, you’re asking for trouble!

Due to the extremely corrosive properties of abrasive sand crystals and grimy saltwater, the ocean is one of the harshest environments on the planet. It’s often said that there is only one thing that saltwater’s acidic tendencies won’t corrode – saltwater.

Red snapper in your sights? Put your game face on for greater success!

Some anglers call them sows, some call them mules and others call them donkeys. Call them what you want – boating a slob red snapper is going to get you an “at-a-boy” from your buddies on the boat or even strangers back at the dock, not to mention a delectable meal on the dinner table.

Dazed and confused chasing dolphin for hours on end? Keep your strategies straightforward for sweet summertime success.

Couple increasing recreational fishing with a depleting fishery, and what South Florida anglers are left with is a situation where it is becoming more challenging than ever to put together a respectable catch of everyone's favorite blue-water game fish - dolphin.

Whether fun fishing or competing in a prestigious tournament, anglers of all skill levels are constantly on the hunt for that special edge – an edge that may very well be right under their nose.

With so many options, selecting the proper marine electronics for a new install or modern retrofit can be a seriously daunting task. Unlike a piece of terminal tackle which can be easily altered, such as scaling down to a lighter leader, switching to an alternate color trolling lure or tying on a different size or style hook, the installation of fish-finding and/or navigation equipment is generally a one time shot, so it’s important that you get it right!

A guide to fish olfactory.

It was a brutally hot summer afternoon with very little to show for our angling efforts. Locating weedlines and debris in the Gulf Stream can be a hit or miss proposition and thus far on this particular day, we missed. The stiff winds and choppy seas were doing their best to hide any flotsam, but we eventually stumbled upon what appeared to be a distinct current-edge with a few large Sargassum mats thrown in the mix – an offshore anglers dream come true.

Where brilliant bonefish continue to humble even the finest fly-fishermen.

Our guide, Bert Adderley, gently tapped me on the shoulder. “Bonefish,” he said softly, “There must be a hundred of them.” I stared into the opening between the mangroves where Bert was pointing and saw nothing.

Fortunately, directly overhead, a gap in the clouds allowed the brilliant sun to shine through. Along the bottom, about two-feet under the rippled, crystal-clear water, I could suddenly make out dark shadows with the occasional brilliant flash swimming steadily towards me over the cream-colored coral sand.

A pair of inshore guides combine efforts to prove cooperation and common courtesy among professionals…yields rewarding results.

There was absolutely no moonlight as I approached the ramp on the serene Banana River. Nearby causeway lights glistened over the smooth adjacent waters, and one of the two lights that normally illuminate the small ramp was burnt out, leaving us in a somewhat darkened state. As my boat floated off the trailer and alongside the ramp, the luminescent glow of small baitfish appeared from nowhere to signal the presence of the abundant life residing in the lagoon.

Punta Gorda Perfection

What happens when you put two of the finest redfish anglers, alone, on a stationary school of 800 hungry redfish? You get a three-day clinic performed by teammates Andrew Bostick and Mark Sepe during the first stop of the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup in Punta Gorda, Florida.

In its sixth-year, the Redfish Cup showcases the country’s top 49 redfishing duos as they compete in four events from Florida to Texas before the 2008 season culminates in October with the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup Championship in Biloxi. The series has created the sport’s first true professional tour with a full schedule of TV coverage beginning Saturday July 5, at 8:30 a.m. on ESPN2.

For an exciting change of pace, try your hand at bagging a few ‘bugs.

While Caribbean spiny lobster cannot be targeted with rod and reel, it is an undeniable fact that they are an extremely important species to Florida’s recreational and commercial fisheries. In fact, if measured by total annual dollar value – approximately 20 million – the spiny lobster fishery is the most lucrative commercial fishery in the entire state! Think about it; who doesn’t love lobster? Cubera snapper and goliath grouper both relish a live lobster snack, and what angler doesn’t enjoy freshly grilled, fried or baked lobster after a long day on the water?

Wonder what goes into manufacturing the tackle, gear and accessories we all use today? Anglers often take for granted the tremendous effort it requires to engineer, design and build all of the equipment and countless components which combine to enhance our boating and sport fishing experiences. You name it, and somewhere in Florida is a team of dedicated professionals investing long hours to produce the assortment of fishing gear we so cherish. We wanted to learn more about these people and about the products they specialize in and know that you, too, will be fascinated with what we discover in our ongoing quest to find out “how it’s made.”

Step up to the plate and hit one out of the park!

In the sport fishing community there are various awards that recognize amazing angler achievements. One such award is the Grand Slam. To receive this notable accolade, anglers must catch a particular trio of three species in a single day – three species which typically have somewhat similar feeding or behavioral characteristics. The recognized Florida Grand Slams include; Panhandle Grand Slam (seatrout / redfish / cobia), West Coast Grand Slam (redfish / snook / tarpon), East Coast Grand Slam (seatrout / redfish / tarpon), and the South Florida Grand Slam (bonefish / permit / tarpon).

New Gulf Reef Fish Gear Requirements...Know the law!

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) reminds anglers that new rules went into effect June 1, 2008 requiring all persons fishing from a vessel in the Gulf of Mexico off Florida for any reef fish species to carry and use non-stainless steel circle-hooks when fishing with natural baits. Gulf anglers also must carry and use a dehooking device and a venting tool. Reef fish species include all snapper, grouper, sea bass, amberjack, gray triggerfish, hogfish, porgy and tilefish.

From slow-trolling dead baits to kite-fishing with frisky gogs, a Sailfish Alley veteran recaps South Florida sailfishing.

It was a beautiful fall day in the early 1980s when I saw my very first sailfish. I remember the light northerly breeze as we trolled across the crisp four-foot seas. We had already boated nearly a dozen gaffer-size dolphin. I was ecstatic. This time though as the right rigger popped, I noticed not a neon green shape behind the baits but rather what looked like a black bill slashing through the spread. I dropped back my ballyhoo and locked up the size 20 Penn International the moment it got engulfed. The energized fish vaulted into the air and put on an aerial display more amazing than anything I’d ever seen. From that very moment, I was hooked!

Hit the Pipe

The Gulfstream Natural Pipeline – Diverse, dynamic and demanding, it’s one of the Gulf Coast’s premier offshore arenas.

Traversing approximately 690 miles of fragile Gulf bottom, the Gulfstream Natural Gas Pipeline’s sub-surface journey begins in Mobile, Alabama and ends in Tampa Bay, Florida. Delivering approximately 1.1 billion cubic feet of natural gas every day - roughly one quarter of all the natural gas consumed by the state of Florida - the Gulfstream Natural Gas Pipeline was a project most thought would never be constructed, let alone completed in one year!

You’ve made the commitment to never hit the water without your camera, so you should, at the very least, have some basic photography skills. Armed with the knowledge, you too, will be shooting unique, memorable images in no time at all.

We all fish for different reasons, but one thing we have in common is that when we land a trophy fish, we want to capture the moment with a great photograph. Today, most anglers own digital cameras, and while snapping a picture is not a difficult task, capturing an exciting and dramatic image requires more skill than just pushing a button. To get a great photo, a once-in-a-lifetime kind of photo, you need some knowledge of photography, lighting and a well-understanding of your camera’s custom features.

Floundering Around - Tips, tricks, tactics and techniques for bagging Northwest Florida’s favorite flatfish.

Flatties, flatfish, fluke - call them what you want, flounder are at the top of many anglers and restaurants list for tastiest table fare. These odd looking bottom feeders are voracious ambush predators that camouflage into the bottom substrate and wait for the opportune moment to strike. When a baitfish or crustacean swims too close, the patiently waiting flounder opens its gapping mouth and instantly swallows its prey whole. These tenacious fish are not easy to catch as strikes can be barely detectable - even for the veteran angler. Although I rarely set out to specifically target flounder on my charters, I will share a few techniques and tactics that work for me. I will also pass along some tips and tricks from several local guides along the Panhandle who were kind enough to divulge their special secrets as well as some of their favorite flounder hot spots. Get out your little black book and get ready to take a few notes, as the following information will surely help you put some tasty flounder filets on your dinner table.

All offshore anglers residing in Southeast Florida - including myself - are spoiled rotten. I can not think of any other stretch of coastline in the United States where anglers can battle so many different glamorous species less than a mile from shore. To prove the point, blue water enthusiasts north of Sebastian are forced to routinely make the 35- to 70-mile run to fish the same blue-water that we reach within minutes, and that is just one of many examples. During the winter however, these same anglers to the north lay claim to better fishing for trophy wahoo and back-straining grouper, and I am not one to disagree.

Breakfast Broadbills - Are you ready?  The conclusion of a two part series.

In the Nov/Dec 2007 issue - Breakfast Broadbills Part I - we delved deep into the buzz and hype surrounding the new and exciting daytime swordfishery occurring right under our noses. Topics included various rigging techniques, bait selection and the ongoing debate over manual vs. electric equipment – which is surely one that will go on for quite some time to come. Join us now as explore what steps to take for getting there, getting hooked up and getting the fish in the boat!

Blast-Off Bulls

Florida’s Space Coast - When it is time to take-off, will you be ready?  

At times, when the wheel of fishing fashion stops at a new, hot shallow-water destination, it’s reassuring for Florida flats fans to know that the mainstays of the Sunshine State still keep their glow alongside the new kids on the block. The current shallow-water buzz is about the big “dumb” reds being explored, caught and released by intrepid flats guides in the coastal marshes outside New Orleans, Louisiana and Biloxi, Mississippi. Many outfitters claim these Cajun spot-tailed whoppers have never seen a lure or fly. So, while a new challenger enters the redfish ring for a shot at the crown, my money is still with the reigning champ – Florida’s Space Coast. For me, this historic area’s convenience, prolific guide availability, and triple threat habitat of the Indian River Lagoon, Banana River Lagoon and Mosquito Lagoon clinches the deal.

Spring Structure – it’s productive and it’s exciting!

Before we get into the nitty-gritty of fishing springtime shallow-water structure, let’s take a moment and clarify what we are trying to accomplish when we head out on the water for a day of inshore fishing. I can tell you that when I leave the dock, I want to catch big fish and catch as many of them as I can, no matter what the conditions. Do I always succeed in putting together solid numbers? No, but I always manage to catch my fair share. I believe much of this success can be attributed to sticking with a simple formula.

Pandemonium

What can only be described as “controlled chaos,” the largest and richest tarpon tournament series in the world is heating up in West Central Florida.

With only a few weeks to go before the first event of the 2008 Miller High Life Professional Tarpon Tournament Series presented by Century Boats, tarpon fishing is heating up in Boca Grande Pass and surrounding waters, great news for anglers looking forward to another adrenaline-filled season!  

129-square miles of angling bliss

When you think about world-famous fishing destinations within close proximity to Florida, some of the areas that come to mind may be places like Everglades National Park, Indian River Lagoon or the fertile Florida Keys. One particular locale that often flies below the radar, yet definitely deserves recognition at the top of the list is Charlotte Harbor. As a pristine destination for countless numbers of redfish, snook, sea trout and tarpon, Charlotte Harbor and its surrounding waterways are quickly becoming a go-to getaway for many Florida anglers.

Not For Human Consumption: a local guide puts revolutionary new soft-plastics to the ultimate test.

In the complex world of saltwater fishing, nothing may be as simple, fun and exciting as fooling an intelligent predator into wildly striking a piece of plastic. It doesn’t matter if you troll for offshore pelagics in the Gulf Stream, deep-jig for wreck dwellers, or prefer the solidarity of fishing the flats; you have undoubtedly reaped the rewards of fishing with modern soft-plastic lures.

Florida’s Panhandle – where Lemonfish reign supreme!

It’s springtime; you’re perched high atop a cobia tower scanning the emerald green water searching for signs of life. Out of the corner of your eye you spot what you’ve been looking for – a formation of three brown silhouettes cruising just below the surface. Your head turns and your heart starts racing as you notice the size of the center fish; it’s a monster well over 70-pounds! You maneuver to within casting range and toss out a lively eel. You watch as the mammoth ling turns on your squirming offering. The fish eats and you feed him line. Seconds seem like hours as the anticipation builds. Finally, you lock up and slam on the breaks. As you set the hook you hold on in anticipation of the muscular cobe which is about to test your tackle, your skill and your endurance to their very limits.