Offshore-How-To's Archives - Florida Sport Fishing

November 1, 201902002

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, 201904505

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, 201902143

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, 201902519

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 6, 201903323

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 18, 201903539

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, 201903152

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 7, 20190813

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 20, 201801676

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, 201801205

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

October 18, 201801096

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, 201801122

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, 20180859

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

August 10, 201801055

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

May 15, 201701333

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, 201702280

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 11, 20170716

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, 201701013

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, 20170894

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, 20170838

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, 20170724

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, 20170764

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, 201702445

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, 20170499

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, 201701573

African Pompano

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

May 1, 20170807

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, 201701928

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, 201703445

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 26, 201701171

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 25, 20170982

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, 20170646

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, 20170555

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, 201701262

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 18, 201701087

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, 20170716

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, 20170826

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, 20170808

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, 20170647

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

March 1, 20160981

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 23, 201501173

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, 20150608

Bait Wars

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

December 10, 201502765

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 2, 20150843

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, 20150403

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 19, 20150915

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, 20150929

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, 20150555

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, 20150586

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, 20150545

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, 201501342

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 2, 20150672

Chase the Rainbow

Daytime swordfishing has certainly taken center stage off the coast of South Florida during the last decade, but the nighttime fishery is still very p

October 29, 20150987

Don’t Be the Blind Squirrel

Waterworld, the 1995 movie starring Kevin Costner, wasn’t so far off as it really is a big, big ocean out there. If you don’t have a plan in place bef

October 26, 20150618

Sportfish Shootout

In only its short existence, sport fishing has seen some truly incredible innovations and developments in tackle and equipment that have propelled ang

October 20, 201501174

Beeliner or Bust

When glamour species such as mutton snapper and grouper aren’t biting, savvy Florida anglers target vermillion snapper. Unique to this fishery is the

October 2, 201501309

Mad for Mango

Around Florida, a number of angling destinations are simply legendary. Take Government Cut for example. Miami is well known for world-class sailfishin

October 1, 20150675

Life at Sea

On June 3, 2014, members from the Cooperative Science Service’s Dolphinfish Research Program were invited aboard My Three Sons. The goal, which was ac

September 28, 20150921

Never Fail Yellowtail

Based on sheer numbers, yellowtail snapper are by far the most popular of all snapper species. Prized for their flaky, white flesh and cooperative dem

September 21, 20150856

Better in the Bahamas

The Bahamas islands provide such incredibly diverse fisheries that there’s always something to catch. However, Florida fishermen heading across the ’S

September 15, 20150662

On the Line

Florida is rich in commercial fishing history, an industry that has helped shape many of the waterfront communities we call home today. Yet for a stat

September 10, 20150545

King of the Hill

Across the Gulf of Mexico and Eastern Seaboard, big game crews travel hundreds of miles and spend long hours on their quest for success in world-class

September 2, 20150743

Guts to Glory

Offshore anglers are outdoorsmen to the truest sense of the word. We’re not afraid to battle the elements or get our hands dirty, and we’re certainly

May 30, 20150647

Blue Marlin Cove Wahoo Classic

As the afternoon of November 6 arrived, the serene setting in West End, Grand Bahama was jolted to life. The roar of screaming outboards filled the ai

April 23, 20150963

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Live bait is the ticket to tuna success. There is no other way around it. While you can certainly catch blackfin on the world famous Florida Keys hump

April 16, 201501211

Bait Wars: Natural Ballyhoo vs. Soft Plastic Ballyhoo

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

March 17, 20150686

Smooth Sailing

Among the big game sport fishing community, most anglers are introduced to billfishing by way of the majestic sailfish. While they are targeted intent

March 10, 20150657

Sunburn Swordfish Tournament

Daytime swordfishing is an incredibly specialized fishery, and the crews out of South Florida have become adept at putting big fish in the boat. Make

December 2, 20140667

Slob Slayers

After a lengthy closure along both coasts, grouper fishing is a great option no matter your port of call. There’s no shortage of quality fish roaming

December 1, 20140974

Go the Distance

“Dude, you have some terrible luck. I’m actually a little scared to get in a boat with you.” This is the text I received from Captain Steve Papen afte

November 25, 20140601

Space Invaders

As the world’s top seafood consumer, it’s no surprise the island nation of Japan is home to a busy commercial fishing industry. In their quest to stay

November 19, 20140560

Probing the Depths

Focusing your efforts on specific points of structure makes all of the difference when attempting to minimize fuel consumption and put fish on ice. Th

November 18, 201401411

Serious Smokers

Kingfish are a staple around the entire state, with as many ways to catch these hard fighting speedsters as there are anglers who fish for them. While

October 30, 20140676

Tropical Tuna

With the coming months providing comfortable conditions for quick sabbaticals to the nearby Bahamas, anglers will be afforded exciting opportunities w

October 7, 20140972

Bigger is Better

Aptly named for the type of live bait they house, tuna tubes are common aftermarket accessories found in cockpits around the globe where live baiting

September 30, 20140600

The Ultimate Thrill

Although anglers hailing from ports along Florida’s East Coast typically encounter blue marlin as incidental catches, it’s really a shame these apex p

September 29, 20140645

Frustration to Fortune

Everyone knows trolling is deadly effective for a wide variety of pelagic predators that routinely chase down fast moving prey, most notably dolphin,

September 23, 20140805

Fishing for Science

Throughout Florida and the nearby Bahamas there’s an increasing trend in conservation initiatives promoting the health and well being of critical shar

September 17, 20140583

Virtual Fish Finding

Modern navigation and fish finding suites have come a long way, so much so that today’s multifunction displays coupled with the latest electronic char

September 16, 20140606

Flying High

In addition to holding the crown as Florida’s most available pelagic game fish accessible by anglers fishing nearly any craft, dolphin are also an exc

September 2, 201401052

Hi-Lo Heyday

Of all the the venues and approaches available to Florida anglers, bottom fishing is the most popular. Regardless if you are fishing a reef, wreck, st

March 31, 20140657

Trophy Hunting

Perhaps no species is as loved and as hated by fishermen as the controversial goliath grouper. Many resident and visiting anglers looking for a seriou

February 17, 20140741

The Skinny On Skinnies

You’ve surely heard about the elaborate multi-day excursions hailing out of San Diego on long-range vessels that reach distant waters so fertile you’d

January 29, 20140691

School is in Session

Considering the history of sport fishing, dredge teasers are a relatively new concept, yet in their short existence they’ve quickly become an influent

January 27, 201401070

Midnight Mules

With the increasing popularity of daytime swordfishing, the nighttime approach is in jeopardy of becoming a lost art. It’s a shame, because under the

January 21, 20140705

Jiggy With It

Metal jigs are nothing new. For as far back as I can remember, diamond jigs have been a staple in saltwater fishing. The craze started sometime after

January 20, 20140530

Let It Slide

While we all know trolling and anchoring are both extremely effective techniques for presenting live baits and artificial lures to prized game fish, d

January 17, 20140543

The Hunt Begins

Lunar phase is one of the most significant factors affecting game fish behavioral patterns. Along with the moon’s influential light, precise lunar pha

January 3, 20140830

Aquatic Parasites

“We were throwing a cast net on a school of pilchard and within our catch we found a juvenile mackerel. While analyzing the fish a small crustacean-li

December 2, 20130517

Propulsion Power

Studying and observing game fish might sound boring to you, but fish anatomy, physiology, ecology and behavior is actually very exciting. To me it is

November 29, 20130588

Big Ideas

For the majority of avid anglers, the absolute pinnacle is reached only after successful encounters with our sport’s ultimate adversaries—blue marlin.

November 26, 20130450

Grand Fashion

After a restless few hours of sleep in anticipation of what was going to be a long day trip to The Bahamas, I woke to my alarm clock buzzing and my fi

November 25, 201302667

Off The Grid

Around the Sunshine State and nearby Bahamas, anglers are fortunate to have some of the most productive bottom fishing north of the equator. If the co

November 21, 20130781

The Perfect Piercing

Although there are countless artificial offerings that masterfully mimic live forage, I will tell you for certain that nothing beats the real deal. Ev

November 20, 20130986

Secret To Ceros

As the winter season brings cooler air and dropping water temperatures to the Southeast, Florida Keys anglers highly anticipate the migration of prize

November 18, 201301400

No Name Knot

Advancements in tackle and technology continue to offer anglers a truly unfair advantage. But with all of the added innovations brought to us over rec

October 29, 20130677

Rodeo At The Rigs

We huddled around the center console as the stepped hull 36 Invincible plowed through the warm waters of the expansive Gulf of Mexico. We were on our

October 14, 20130837

Electrifying Results

When it comes to sport fishing, there’s not much that tops the actual strike. There’s really nothing more visually appealing than feeding a sailfish a

October 11, 20130569

Welcome Aboard!

“Good morning folks. Today we’ll be fishing a few reefs and wrecks about an hour away. We’ve had an excellent mingo bite over the last few days with s

October 10, 20130660

Amber Alert

Imagine a predator so strong and determined that even the most seasoned anglers are often brought to their knees after an intense battle. The culprit

October 9, 20130555

The Value of Local Knowledge

We’re all very fortunate to live in Florida. With well over 1,000 miles of coastline, hundreds of different species and so many exciting venues, there

October 7, 20130584

The Feel Factor

Florida is the undisputed fishing capital of the world, and with this bold statement comes a variety of venues and species to target. With such varian

Offshore-How-To’s