| The Hidden Treasures of Lake Tarpon If you didn’t know it was there, you’d pass right by it. Lake Tarpon is not only one of Florida’s top bass lakes, but has the distinction of occupying a huge 2600 acre chunk of densely populated Pinellas County real estate. Yet, most in this saltwater oriented community are totally unaware of what lies just beyond view in the heart of a bustling urban area. Lake Tarpon is located about 10 miles West of Tampa, and straddles two Pinellas communities. |
| Conservation Zones Spared Conservationists are hailing a decision by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) to deny a request to allow longline fishing boats into conservation zones off South Carolina, Georgia and Florida that have been closed to the destructive commercial fishing gear since 2001. |
| Fishing in the Sun is Fun – But Take Care! Living here in the Sunshine State is a sheer joy, especially for those of us who are addicted to fishing. Yet, most of us don’t realize, or aren’t aware of how very much stronger the Florida sun is – especially when compared to other regions of the country. According to highly regarded Tampa dermatologist Dr. John Millns, an avid fisherman himself, most of us could be doing damage to their skin. This is because the amount of ultra-violet light here in Florida is five times greater as compared to northern locations like Chicago, Detroit or Toledo. |
| Dreaming of a redfish rendezvous..... It is that time of the year again when those bronze tails school up and can be seen pushing across the grass flats; rooting and feeding along the way. The push of the water they leave behind can be seen a quarter of a mile away. This visual is exactly what can keep an angler awake all night before their fishing outing the next morning |
| The Etiquette Of Catching Bait Each morning bait fishermen head for a popular place were locals gather to catch white bait. In some areas, such as those around Anclote Key on a weekend morning there will be as many as 30 boats packed into a small area. As more anglers hit the waters each year, these venues become more crowed, and with it elevated tensions and emotions. It’s really not very pretty. I have observed a lot of very unhappy, yelling and screaming anglers out there lately. |
| Hot Weather Bass Fishing Flippin' and pitchin' heavy vegetation is an often overlooked tactic for hot weather largemouths. The heat of summer can bring some of the toughest bass fishing of the year. But, according to many experts, much of that toughness is caused by anglers themselves. That's because far too many believe that all the bass are deep. They aren't. |
| Jump-starting Fishing Newbies Each and every day, folks pour in to the Sunshine State from every corner of the nation and the world. Some are tourists, but many will become permanent residents. And a large number of these new arrivals will undoubtedly take up fishing. And why not? Florida is one of the most diverse and productive fishing venues in the country. However, before these arriving anglers can become productive, they need to get past a brief learning curve. |
The Chokoloskee Island Fishing Experience
The State of Florida, with its vast coastlines, wonderful climate and impressive fisheries, claims to be the “Fishing Capital of the World”. However, the crème’ de la crème’, the best the State has to offer, are the waters surrounding Chokoloskee Island in the western side of Everglades National Park. It is rich in history, rich in opportunities, rich in diversity and rich in experience. |
| My Incredible Shrinking Tackle Box It all started a couple of years ago on a trip with Frank Sargeant. The Tampa Tribune’s esteemed Outdoors Editor jumped aboard the waiting flats boat with a teeny, tiny box, housing but three or four of his favorite lures. Then I followed, huffing and puffing, heaving aboard my gargantuan container with virtually every lure known to man.. |
| Little Known Statute Gets Pier Anglers in Trouble A specific Florida fishing regulation – which disallows pier anglers from continuing to fish once they clean their catch – is now being vigorously enforced. The concept corresponds with the rule for boaters, where they must return to shore with their fish in a whole condition before they can be cleaned. Once an angler cleans his or her catch, there would be no good way to determine whether any of the fish is of legal size – and which species fillet are in a cooler. |
| Catching Bait – Not Really ‘Brain Surgery’ Despite a devastating red tide infected 2005, anglers can rejoice in a gradual return to normal. And among the most encouraging signs of the renaissance are the vast schools of baitfish percolating across our local waters. They are called many names – whitebait, greenbacks, pilchards – even “crickets” by some of the more freshwater oriented fishers. |
| Choosing the Right Fishing Rod You have a friend who caught his first largemouth bass last month He hasn't quit talking about it since - and he's bugged you to death until you agreed to take him fishing. Although you offer to let him borrow one of your good bass sticks, he insists on bringing his own rod and reel. He shows up with a cheap discount store combo. It has a tiny, plastic ultra-light reel mounted on a rod that resembles a willow switch with guides on it. |
| Boat Protection During Hurricane Season It’s time to think about the “what if” regarding hurricane season and our area. This season has been predicted to be active. The question for many Floridians who live near the coast on both sides of the state is just how intense this year’s hurricane season will be and how severely it will affect our state? For those who have boats, there is an added concern that exists beyond family, home and business. |
Tampa Bay Security Zone Restrictions Reduced by USCG |
| Fishing Clearwater’s Bountiful Intracoastal The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a boating highway that rings the Florida Peninsula, making it possible for most vessels to safely traverse a virtual kaleidoscope of Sunshine State landscapes. After several years of existence, several waterway locations have become extraordinary habitat for many of our favorite target species. |
| Fish ‘smell-o-vision’ Several years ago we were heading offshore to one of my super-special, super secret grouper loaded hole. Conditions couldn’t have been better. The moon was in its second quarter, air temperature; a balmy 76 degrees, seawater; 74 degrees. To cap it all off I had two of my favorite (and late) fishing cronies aboard -- Peterson and the outrageous Billy Ray Conner, both outstanding grouper diggers and fun guys with whom to spend the day. |
| Grouper Digging Fun “Look, it’s like a lake,’ said Fred as he and Paul swung their 22-foot open fisherman around the south end of Anclote Key and into the perfectly flat Gulf of Mexico. “It’s too slick. Can’t catch anything on day’s like this, especially with these bath water temperatures.’ “Let’s shoot for 70 feet,’ said Paul, “got some hot numbers due west of here.’ |
| Good Line Control, the Secret to Success with Artificials Why do the same people consistently catch fish with artificial lures and flies? It can’t be luck. Have you ever shared a boat with a companion who constantly out fished you, even though you both used the same equipment? What are some of the variables that you could improve and move you closer to being one of the ten percent who catch ninety percent of the fish? Is there any single factor that is more important than others? |
| Overcrowding Common Problem in Bass Lakes When Arlie Fortner took over the management of quail operations and fishing lakes at Old Spring Hill Plantation in Barbour County almost four years ago, he realized quickly the main 85-acre lake needed to be put on intensive care. Catching bass wasn't the problem. It was the size of those bass that indicated the need for significant action. |
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