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!