Fishing Archives - Florida Sport Fishing

January 1, 20200775

The Razor Gang

The naming conventions for sailfish, swordfish, red snapper and yellowtail are undeniably accurate, although the widely recognized king mackerel is no

November 29, 20190786

Tag Team

As one of the most mysterious and valiant predators encountered in the pelagic realm, swordfish have fascinated civilizations since the earliest explo

November 1, 20190658

Puncture Perfect

Successful offshore endeavors can require substantial collections of specialized gear, with the greatest emphasis often placed on items with exorbitan

November 1, 20190437

Chasing Silver

As tropical weather patterns disrupt the Atlantic basin, water temperatures will begin to fall and prevailing southeast winds will gradually veer to t

June 21, 20190555

Plastic Assassins

Trolling is a broad description used within the sport fishing community and there are many presentations that can be accomplished while a vessel is in

May 1, 20190376

Picket Fence

While trolling has its time and place, for many South Florida fishermen launching kites is the preferred tactic no matter the season. It’s certainly t

April 29, 20190484

Creatures of Contradiction

Occurring in what is arguably the widest ranging habitat of any species in Florida, and doing so while blending into their surroundings with unparalle

March 21, 20190361

Florida’s Living Fossils

Florida’s widespread fisheries and diversity of species that exist are unrivaled in comparison to nearly any location around the world. Among many of

March 13, 20190480

End of the Line

Florida’s massive fishing and boating industry comprises many knowledgeable and capable captains and mates that are committed to keeping their clients

March 8, 20190397

Imitation Crab

As manufacturing materials and processes continue to evolve, leading lure designers are mastering new ways to mimic live forage in precise size, shape

March 6, 20190534

Gears in Motion

With manufacturers incorporating advanced technologies in the design and development of modern fishing reels, anglers have more at their fingertips th

February 27, 20190595

The Escapist

Among the many marvels of nature within the Sunshine State and its surrounding waters, none are more iconic than the Florida Everglades. Spanning roug

February 18, 20190659

Winds of Change

There’s no doubt that kite fishing is a highly effective tactic for catching pelagic game fish when they are concentrated in a specific depth, contour

February 5, 20190435

Strength in Numbers

Ever since anglers began presenting artificial lures, the goal has been to fish the most lifelike offerings possible. Lure manufacturers continue to i

January 23, 20190338

Species Spotlight: Wahoo

Predators While wahoo are generally near the top of the food chain throughout their range, they are still susceptible to predation by a variety of lar

January 7, 20190233

Elective Insomnia

While nearly every pelagic game fish will attack a live goggle eye, these highly regarded baitfish are notorious for leading anglers down long, sleepl

December 21, 20180256

Riding The Wave

Their significance to sport fishing is indescribable, to the point one could argue the prosperity of the entire industry hinges on the miniscule halfb

December 20, 20180365

Supernatural Strip

Few fish generate the excitement level of a lit wahoo. These revered pelagic predators are natural born killers with a camouflage coat of armor that a

December 5, 20180280

Safe Travels

Few things are better than a day on the water, right? The sun and wind in your face, water lapping calmly against the hull. It’s peaceful. Relaxing. S

November 13, 20180107

New Wave

Evolution takes place as a result of advances made over time. As boaters, our daily pursuits are fueled by technological innovations. With impressive

October 18, 20180196

Standing Ovation

Fishermen are optimists, there’s just no other way to describe us. Every time we step onto a boat there is a renewed sense of hope that it will be a g

October 17, 20180135

The Hills are Alive

From backcountry to blue water, the islands that make up the Florida Keys yield access to some of the most productive fisheries in world. Among the mo

October 2, 20180127

Party Boat Policies

At the most basic level, party boat operations run a daily schedule of excursions, departing and returning midday, then heading out again after a quic

September 21, 20180131

Promising Penetration

Fishing tackle changes as often as the tide, thanks to the advancing technology and innovative new products that drive the evolution of the sport. But

September 17, 2018076

Monarch of the Sky

When it comes to locating prime stretches of fertile water in the expansive open ocean, fishermen have many tools at their disposal. However, nothing

August 28, 20180127

Making a Monster

Of the hundreds of articles I’ve written over the years, this one is the most heartfelt. What you are about to read is not fiction. Good and bad, it i

August 22, 2018075

Beacons of Bait

Bait fishing is just that. Even for the most experienced anglers, climbing the food chain can be challenging. It seems absurd, but it is truthfully ha

August 17, 20180134

Secrets of Sargassum

Excluding fragile coral reefs, aging shipwrecks and massive seamounts, the ocean is a rather featureless expanse. Off the coast of Florida and across

August 14, 2018043

Sea of Change

The profound effects we have on the environment are savage and it’s imperative we look to implement sustainable and ecologically responsible choices i

August 10, 20180115

Chopping Block

With a focus on the future of fishing, and many anglers adapting to widespread catch and release practices, heading out for a day on the water is no l

August 9, 20180175

10 Tips to Increase Casting Accuracy

Though touring bass professionals claim baitcasters offer greater sensitivity and increased cranking power, it’s no secret many Floridian’s prefer fix

May 15, 20170201

Guatemala Gone Wild

Distinguished by its active volcanoes providing the highest elevation in all of Central America, vast rainforests, ancient Mayan ruins, Spanish Coloni

May 15, 20170147

Bait Wars: Flying Fish

With countless natural and artificial offerings available to Florida anglers, and numerous different baits effective for various species across a wide

May 15, 20170102

Gearing the Future

Shimano is recognized worldwide as the leading manufacturer of the smoothest, fastest and most powerful saltwater fishing reels in existence, but it’s

May 15, 20170282

Stitching for Success

Over the years not many pelagic species have undergone such intense angling pressure as swordfish, yet through sustainable and restricted commercial a

May 12, 2017093

Defining Moments

Imagine the National Football League team you play on is so exceptional that the Vince Lombardi Trophy is presented well before the Super Bowl is even

May 11, 20170108

Trollers Guild

Most don’t realize how lucky we are to live where others vacation, but the true locals are fully aware of the world-class fisheries that make th

May 11, 20170124

Lost At Sea

The sequence of events that led to the situation you face isn’t going to change anything at this point. The only thing that matters is that you are no

May 11, 20170102

A Day in the Fields

If you like emerald water loaded with life and a tropical vibe, The Bahamas is the place to be and be seen. Florida anglers residing along the southea

May 11, 20170113

Sneak Attack

Along the Gulf Coast of Florida, headboats depart from nearly every major port on an assortment of trips targeting a variety of species. The goal with

May 11, 2017079

Coast-To-Coast

Here in Florida, we’re familiar with the clusters of thunderstorms coming off Africa that turn into the tropical depressions finding their way across

May 11, 2017088

Gateway to the Gulf Stream

Home to the longstanding Pompano Beach fishing rodeo, highly competitive Pompano Beach Saltwater Circuit, Merritt’s Boat and Engine Works, Lindgren-Pi

May 11, 2017099

Women on the Water

Introducing your wife to fishing and spending quality time together on the water can really bring the two of you closer, providing every couple with m

May 11, 20170120

Good Fleas

I remember as a kid scanning the shoreline looking for the signs of sand fleas, leading to happy digging in order to uncover the small crustaceans. No

May 11, 20170200

Line-Winding Machines

More than 40 years ago, Willie Strohmeyer, owner of the New Jersey-based contract manufacturer and engineering firm Triangle Manufacturing, was approa

May 10, 2017097

Brave New Lures

Technology grows with leaps and bounds, and finds its way into our daily lives at every juncture. Everything from vehicles parking themselves to Amazo

May 10, 2017075

Empty Coolers

This past summer and fall the tackle shops in my hometown were experiencing a ballyhoo shortage and at times they were even completely out of stock fo

May 9, 20170227

Boot Camp

Although Florida’s subtropical climate and temperate weather year-round provide incredible opportunities under comfortable conditions, there are

May 9, 20170159

African Pompano

Displaying a tropical distribution throughout coastal waters worldwide and an incredible transformation from juvenile to adult, African pompano are so

May 1, 20170105

Island Style

Among tropical enthusiasts in search of their next Caribbean getaway, Puerto Rico is often overlooked in favor of more trendy and exotic boutique dest

April 27, 20170208

Fish Forensics

Have you ever wondered why cubera snapper are so well equipped to crush and inhale spiny lobster? Why marauding wahoo prefer to maim fast food by cutt

April 27, 20170270

Top-Shot to Success

While countless contraptions have come and gone over the years, few innovations have revolutionized the recreational sport ﬁshing industry quite like

April 27, 20170112

Bimini’s Delightful Duo

Located just off the coast of South Florida, Bimini is widely accessible and has a longstanding history rich with offshore heritage dating back to a t

April 26, 20170111

Fresh Meat

Moments after the float landed next to a log protruding from matted vegetation, it disappeared into the dark tannic water almost as if someone threw a

April 26, 20170195

Expedition Everglades

I beat the alarm to the punch, as is often the case when a remote fishing expedition is about to commence. Waking before the 4:45 a.m. alarm helped ta

April 26, 20170116

Full of Bull

The St. Johns River inlet in Mayport, FL is a deep water pass located on the outskirts of Jacksonville that has long been used for the transit of comm

April 26, 20170123

Mile Marker 79.8

For the fortunate travelers who’ve had the opportunity to experience the Florida Keys, it’s no surprise this narrow outcropping of coral islands exten

April 26, 20170148

Mullet Pancakes

Cast nets are a great tool for acquiring bait in large quantities, but like many aspects of sport fishing there’s no set standard and you’ll need to f

April 25, 20170135

Circle-Hook Success

Although it took a considerable amount of time for circle-hooks to be accepted throughout the angling community, they have since proven their effectiv

April 25, 2017087

Feeding the Food Chain

Florida is widely considered the Fishing Capital of the World, and for good reason. No other state can boast the number of days fished by anglers, rev

April 25, 2017071

Just the Tip

I’ve always been a fan of sharpening my hooks to a needlepoint tip, but now that I mostly fish with circle-hooks I was wondering what’s the proper sha

April 19, 20170298

Bait Wars: Jigs

With countless natural and artificial offerings available to Florida anglers, and numerous different baits effective for various species across a wide

April 19, 20170114

Ocean City, Maryland

Not to be confused with the beach boardwalk town of the same name in New Jersey, Ocean City, Maryland is a quintessential eastern shore community and

April 18, 20170117

Small Talk

I’m no expert on the flats and regretfully, I’ve yet to master the long rod. I can barely drive a streamer into the wind more than a couple of b

April 18, 20170124

The Edge of the Dredge

Each and every year sport fishing sees increasing participation across fisheries worldwide. With intense competition, tournament crews that find conti

April 18, 20170109

Science of the Strike

There’s not much that tops the sight of a tuna clearing the water as it attempts to engulf a frisky live bait splashing on the surface, or the u

April 18, 2017095

End of the Road

It’s a typical winter in Fort Kent, Maine where the streets are salted and outside air temp reads a bone chilling 37 degrees. While this small t

April 17, 20170116

First Coast Fast Lane

I’m soaked to the bone as I stare off into the trolling spread. It’s cold, windy and the weatherman was wrong like usual as the occasional 4-foo

April 17, 20170116

Pulling the Plug

Heading miles out into the Gulf of Mexico often leads to a successful day of fishing, with countless world-class species patrolling these rich waters

April 17, 2017090

Drainage District

Area anglers know South Florida’s widespread canal system as the home of sought-after freshwater species like largemouth bass and butterfly peac

April 17, 20170312

Code Red

While Florida’s East Coast is currently dealing with water quality issues stemming from the diversion of tainted water to protect sugar cane cro

April 17, 20170114

Ice Picks

When it comes to rigging offshore baits so they swim and perform as if they were alive, there are some guys who are good, there are some guys who are

April 17, 2017075

Proficient Portage

In a perfect world, every angler would be able to simply jump on a boat, load up the livewell and head out for a productive day on the water. However

April 17, 2017076

Make or Break

Florida’s inshore waters offer anglers countless opportunities to successfully pursue a bevy of prized game fish. Though, hooking and landing th

May 14, 20160116

Killer Counterparts

It’s May and that means countless crews will be heading over the horizon with one goal in mind—to find and capture dolphin! It is a fact that no other

March 1, 2016098

Bloody Decks

Spring has sprung, and that means East Coast anglers are spooling up for explosive yellowfin tuna action across the ’Stream. Departing major ports fro

December 31, 2015096

Dominate the Shallows

What qualities define the best Big Bend backcountry boats? The question likely has as many answers as there are Gulf Coast fishing fanatics since all

December 28, 2015095

Riders of the Storm

We’ve all seen Discovery Channel’s hit series Deadliest Catch, where heroic commercial fishermen battle gale force winds, mountainous waves and bone-c

December 23, 20150132

Trash to Treasure

Very few offshore anglers intentionally target grunts. Rather, the small statured rockpile and reef residents most often referred to as trash fish are

December 21, 2015065

Bait Wars

With countless natural and artificial offerings available to Florida anglers, and numerous different baits effective for various species across a wide

December 16, 2015095

Synthetic Sensations

Along the inshore estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico there are numerous venues that harbor healthy populations of seatrout, redfish, tarpon, snook and mo

December 14, 2015085

Four Pound Test Favorites

If you’re a lunker lover looking to turn pro, the last thing you want to hear about is an ultralight spinning reel loaded with hair-thin line. No way

December 10, 20150196

Broomstick or Bust

Pound for pound, heavyweight gag grouper are some of the strongest fighting fish an offshore angler will ever encounter. Few denizens of the deep have

December 8, 2015074

Ready When You Are

Across the state’s varied inshore habitats, trolling motors are critical to successful outings chasing everything from tarpon to redfish. Purists clai

December 7, 2015078

Venice, Louisiana

Growing up with a dad and mentor that had a severe case of fishing fever was pretty special, but only in recent years has it really set in just how tr

December 3, 2015070

Strategic Scoop

The latest high performance offshore center consoles are outfitted with impressive baitwell systems capable of housing multiple forage species in hund

December 2, 20150114

High Times Mackerel

For most anglers it all starts at the local pier. Accessible, available and affordable, Florida’s fishing piers are the breeding grounds for future fi

November 30, 2015065

Buck Rogers Meets Big Game

With technology advancing at a rapid pace, the face of saltwater fishing will change in a big way. The next generation of recreational sportfishing ve

November 26, 2015087

Pop Culture

Across Florida’s numerous inshore venues, fishing with a popping cork is one of the most fundamental and productive tactics for catching seatrout and

November 25, 2015097

Amazonia

Tropical birds flushed from the impenetrable overgrowth as we eased along the heavily vegetated lowlands. Looking like something from a prehistoric ag

November 23, 2015099

No Assembly Required

Walk into any tackle shop and you’ll see that big game skirted trolling lures are now available in a bewildering range of shapes, designs and material

November 19, 20150123

Wide Open

When it comes to the world’s top angling destinations, the Florida Keys rank high on the list of entertaining options. Driving down the nostalgic Over

November 16, 2015095

Sword City

If you’re fortunate to have tried your luck daytime swordfishing, then you know exactly what it is about this crazy fishery that drives us to deplete

November 15, 2015087

Challenge Accepted

Across inshore and near-shore fisheries statewide, goliath grouper are some of the largest and most powerful predators anglers will ever encounter. Kn

November 11, 2015088

Gulf Coast Open

The southwest coast of Florida is home to numerous events for competitive anglers looking to test their skills, but in its 5th year the Gulf Coast Ope

November 9, 20150101

Creek Wars

With most of the hype usually centered around big money inshore fishing leagues with professional teams of two fighting tooth and nail for notoriety a

November 9, 2015082

In The Midst of Mayhem

In his initial experiments, Ivan Pavlov, a Russian physiologist known primarily for his work in classical conditioning, rang the dinner bell and watch

November 8, 20150134

Wahoo Warfare

High speed trolling in hopes of tempting an apex predator is a science, and don’t think otherwise. The artful tactic of presenting an appealing spread

November 4, 20150181

When a Fish Trap Isn’t a Fish Trap

I’m interested in setting a pinfish trap, but unsure of the rules and regulations that might apply in the Gulf of Mexico. The Florida Fish and Wildlif

November 3, 20150100

Forgotten Florida

When it comes to forgotten coastal towns in Florida, Steinhatchee is one for the record books, with human habitation dating all the way back to 1200 B