AS SEEN IN THE NOV/DEC 2007 ISSUE

Like my buddy, after a night of partying, I woke with a splitting headache, but I didn’t care. The weather finally calmed and after multiple days of rough seas, the sun was finally shining and the ocean was calm. It was another day in paradise, or so I thought.

On any other occasion, I would have rolled over and hit the snooze button on the annoying alarm clock, but after being landlocked at the resort for the past three days, I was anxious to get out and wet a line. I woke my less than ambitious friend and advised him to be ready in 15 minutes.

AS SEEN IN THE MAY/JUNE 2006 ISSUE

I don’t care how prepared you may be, anyone who spends any length of time on the water is eventually going to come face to face with some sort of trouble. My day came in August, when I got the bright idea of entering a grouper tournament with my father and brother. I attended the captains meeting the night before the big day, and was somehow elected to organize the Calcutta, and hold on to the thousands of dollars of prize money. I remember joking with fellow competitors that I was planning on leaving the money at home. There would be no need to bring the cash to the awards ceremony because the winner already had it.

AS SEEN IN THE WINTER 2004-05 ISSUE

For years I’ve been a dedicated sailfish angler, that is, until a close friend took me down to Islamorada to wade the bay side flats for tarpon. As soon as I released my first ‘poon, I was hooked on silver kings. Watching those prehistoric monsters leisurely roll has become an addiction. My newly set goal was to catch & release a triple digit fish, as my largest tarpon to date was an estimated 50 pounds.

AS SEEN IN THE 2004 FALL ISSUE

Trust me when I tell you, I know what lives in the dark, stained water behind my house. Aside from the usual schools of fleeing mullet, there’s an endless variety of marine critters that routinely visit my dock. I’ve spotted snook, a variety of jacks, sea trout, catfish and even porpoises. These creatures I don’t mind, but there are other denizens that I am a bit more, let’s say, concerned with. Stingrays that are pretty freakin’ big are frequent visitors, trailing stingers large enough to drive a good size hole through any aggressor.

AS SEEN IN THE SUMMER 2004 ISSUE

Thank God. It’s finally that time of year and the big game tournament trail is in full swing. I have been fishing marlin tournaments since I was only 10 months old and still enjoy it to this day. They tell me my first event though, was not a very pleasant one. The seas averaged 10' to 12'. I’m sure I got tossed around the cockpit during that rough ride. I have spent many hours waiting for that one big blue marlin bite. I remember plenty of times sitting around watching the lures in the water and never even seeing a fish, but when one of those beautiful marlin did pop up in the spread, it sure got my heart pumping!

AS SEEN IN THE SPRING 2004 ISSUE

I have a problem…I am an addict!  What is my addiction, the thing I need to function, the fix that returns me to my sanity?  I’ll tell you—fishing.  The one thing in my life that I cannot live without is fishing.  I don’t know how or when I got my first tastes of this seductive sport, and it doesn’t matter.  I was hooked.  It doesn’t make a difference whether I’m out fishing on the ocean, in a stream, or on a lake the solitary high is mine.  Some experts say that most addicts crave this solitary high and don’t care what is happening around them.  They are only content when they are involved with their sickness.  I agree because I am the happiest person in the world when I am fishing.
 

AS SEEN IN THE NOV/DEC 2005 ISSUE

It all started on a typical day just a few years back. That’s when I came face to face with El Diablo, the meanest, most determined fish I’ve ever seen.

Friends were visiting from out of town so my brother Greg and I decided to take them offshore for a fun filled day of fishing and diving. My daughter Brandy also graced us with her presence. After packing the boat with a truck load of gear and a shopping cart full of food, we made our way to a lively reef line we often visit.

AS SEEN IN THE SEPT/OCT 2005 ISSUE

One of the most persistent superstitions among fishermen, and professional anglers in particular, is the belief that having bananas aboard a boat is extremely unlucky. Bananas have been blamed for boating accidents, breakdowns, illness, poor catches, and more.

AS SEEN IN THE JULY/AUGUST 2005 ISSUE

So here it was, the time of year when my family and friends all get together and head down to the Florida Keys for lobster mini-season. When I say family and friends, I’m talking about fifteen adults and eleven kids all under the age of 10.

AS SEEN IN THE MARCH/APRIL 2005 ISSUE 

As a teenager growing up on the edge of the Panhandle, my only passion was fishing. While most kids in the neighborhood dreamed of shiny new bikes or sleek skateboards, my only desire was to land a monster shark. I wanted to catch a man-eating beast that would make Jaws look like a big fat sissy. For years all I could talk about was shark fishing. The thought of landing such a giant absolutely consumed my mind.

AS SEEN IN THE WINTER 2003/04 ISSUE

The time has finally come. Im going to buy a brand new boat. Now dont get the wrong idea, I know boats. I grew up with boats. I remember my parents taking me on vacation when I was about 8 yrs. old to the Florida Keys. Dad spots this 17 footer on the side of a building lying on the ground, full of water. He stopped to look at that wreck every day we were on vacation.

AS SEEN IN THE FALL 2003 ISSUE

I cant believe I am doing this, dragging myself out of bed at like 4:00 AM on a Sunday morning to go fishing. All my buddies tell me its the thing to do, a great time, gotta try it, youre missing out, etc. etc. etc. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah I keep saying, but here I am, standing nude in the kitchen before the world is even awake, waiting on the damn coffee.

AS SEEN IN THE SPRING 2003 ISSUE     

It was a flat calm Tuesday night as we headed offshore in search of the almighty swordfish. Recent reports indicated a solid bite of quality size fish in the 100 to 300 lb range with most hits occurring in 1200-1500 of water. We had all been planning this trip for quite some time and after numerous cancellations due to poor weather or having to work late, we finally hit it off.

AS SEEN IN THE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2007 ISSUE

Last year, I took on an angling adventure unlike any other. Why I even considered it is still somewhat of a mystery to me. Maybe it was because we had a spell of rainy weather earlier that season and consequently, I lost a number of trips. Either way, I did it. And trust me when I tell you; I’ve kind of regretted it ever since.

AS SEEN IN THE JULY / AUGUST 2007 ISSUE

It all started longer ago than most folks my age care to remember. We were a dating couple on our first long weekend away together, and it was Mary’s plan to take her 20 foot inboard boat after the “big ones” some 30 miles offshore in The Keys.

AS SEEN IN THE MAY/JUNE '07 ISSUE

I used to think boat shows were the most exciting events on earth. I mean, where else can you see hundreds of brand new boats of all shapes, sizes and colors in one place? Where else can you touch and feel all of the latest gear, gadgets, marine electronics and accessories under the same roof? Add in all of the eye candy, and I used to think spending a day at a boat show was like spending a day in heaven. I don’t think that any more.