| A Fish Called Ethel When Mark Stevenson pulled a 17.67-pound largemouth bass from Lake Fork on November 26, 1986, he had no idea he had just set in motion a chain of events that would touch millions of lives, change careers, make fortunes and inspire conservation efforts. The fish Stevenson named Ethel after a close relative played a big part in making bass fishing what it is today. This is her story. Brandon Smith of Leander caught this 14.25-pound largemouth April 20 from Falcon International Reservoir. With him is his father, Myron Smith. . |
| Fish a Local Pond With the, “dog days of summer,” upon us, where can we have some consistent fly rod action? Most of my articles deal with saltwater fishing, but we are fortunate to have a variety of freshwater ponds and lakes throughout Florida that all seem to harbor an assortment of panfish and bass. Even if never stocked, they all eventually contain cooperative, scrappy panfish that are not especially selective when it comes to supplementing their diet. |
| A Good Idea Getting Better I am a big fan of the "new" artificial soft baits. From peeler crabs to big artificial minnows, tiny worms to the ones that look like small eels or snakes. And I'm also a big believer in the fact that the new odiferous models really do catch more fish more often than the non-flavored variety. Some of that's probably from the power of suggestion, but I know that any critter - man included - is either enticed or turned off by the olfactory senses. That's also why I know these new baits are either a blessing or a curse, sometimes on the same fishing trip. |
| The love-hate of bait and/or artificials Not long after I started fishing, a buddy of mine suggested that I try a lure he called Love’s. I thought odd name for a lure, but that was okay, because at the time I thought the lure looked odd. Now given others I’ve seen on the market, I see that they are comparatively normal. So I ventured off to some grass flats at Ft. Desoto, waded out and caught my first trout, which measured 16”. Ever since then I have been “hooked” with the lure of artificials. (Sorry couldn’t resist.) I now own a lure collection that rivals smaller tackle shops. |
| The New Science of Aging: Live Long, Fish Long I suspect that you, like me, have a passion for your fishing. If you didn’t, you wouldn’t be viewing this web site. If I were to tell you that there’s a good chance that you could fish into your 80’s and beyond, feeling as if you were in your fifties, would that increase the passion? It should according to Dr Harry Lodge and his star patient and co-author (“Younger Next Year”) Chris Crowley. They claim that new research is revealing that up to 50% of what we experience as “aging” (illness and injury) is preventable through exercise, nutrition and strength training. |
| A whale (shark) of a tale from Mexico Whale sharks have been gathering for their summer plankton feast near Mexico - the largest aggregation of this species known to science - but more than four times the usual crowd has dropped in for dinner this year, said Mote Marine Laboratory scientists who have studied this group of sharks since 2003. Past surveys have shown that an estimated 1,400 whale sharks - Earth's largest fish - visit Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea waters near Isla Holbox, Mexico, to feed from May to September. |
| Summertime Fishing: All About Beaches and Passes PLACIDA, FLORIDA - If ever there was a area that deserves the mantle of ‘fishing paradise,’ one would have to include the rich beaches, passes and mangrove lined islands in this part of Southwest Florida. At its vortex is famed Boca Grande Pass, a venue renowned for its incredible late spring and early summer run of tarpon. But now, with the warmer waters of mid summer days, anglers can now focus their attention of some of the best catch and release snook action anywhere in the state. |
| A Few Fresh Ideas For Possibly Helping Our Fishery As a new arrival to Florida in 1969, I remember walking down Tampa’s main drag, Franklin Street, thinking to myself, “what a nice sleepy little town. “ The entire area (later to be known as Tampa Bay) appeared to me at the time to be a typically quiet, low population Florida west coast community. Now let’s jump ahead 38-years to 2007 The Tampa Bay population has exploded to about three million residents, and that once sleepy little Tampa village has become a major city of more than one million. |
| Fishing Awareness Last week, I had the occasion to be back on the beautiful coast of the Gulf of Mexico. While there, I once again confirmed my theory that fishing is more mental for me than physical. When I loaded up my gear, headed down to a nearby lake or to the surf for some "serious fishing" I wound up with repetitive motion soreness (casting and cranking), tangled line, and zero results. If, however, I took minimal gear (whatever fit in a shirt or cargo shorts pocket), it seemed I was landing fish with surprising frequency. |
| The Kayak As a Fishing Machine With prices at the pump bound to again start pushing ever upward, people powered paddle craft look ever more attractive. They have become the fishing platform of choice for many Sunshine State anglers. And apparently, the clear paddler’s preference is the kayak. Why kayaks and not canoes? Neil Taylor of Clearwater, one of a growing legion of kayak guides, sites the fact that, first and foremost, they are very affordable and convenient to use. |
| Walking the Dog: A Pier Tactic for Snook At Night One night I was on the fishing Pier with a few friends fishing for snook. We were using the typical live shrimp on trollrites casting out and reeling in slowly working both sides of the pier. No one was producing any strikes. Vinny, who is a night time regular on the pier had his rod in his right hand holding the rod over the rail and walking one step at a time with the pier railing like he is on a tight rope for a circus act. |
| The Evolution of the Sport of Angling The earliest fishing attempts were basically commercial fishing, i.e. sustenance fishing. Early humans fished exclusively for food, using fish hooks made of bone and crudely woven nets. We don't really know at what point people started fishing for fun and recreation, but we can guess towards the early Egyptians. These people were perhaps the earliest sporting anglers. We know that fishing was a large part of their culture. We also know that the pharaohs hunted lions from chariots, apparently for sport. |
| Secrets To Securing Your Boat Ever heard of the thieves that would steal anything that wasn't nailed down? While you work hard to buy and maintain your dream rig, there are some among us who would like nothing better than to raid your rod lockers, make off with your trolling motor, electronics, outboard, trailer - or maybe all of it. |
| Does Fishing Really Have To Be That Aggravating? Some of our most treasured moments are those serene, relaxing days on the water – wetting a line – away from the pressures and cacophonies of everyday life. Yet, somehow, this is no longer the all too brief peaceful Shangri-La most of us seek. A case in point are the confrontations between guides netting bait at the Skyway and the anglers fishing above. |
| A Dirty Dozen For Your Vessel - Part 1 Paradise Marine in Gulf Shores, Alabama takes care of a tremendous number of boats. Consequently, they see plenty of service and maintenance items that most of us might think aren’t really all that important. We would, of course, be wrong. Paradise has assembled a series of things that can sometimes be taken for granted and overlooked for annual service. We’re not talking about dings in the gel coat, torn upholstery, broken livewell pumps and stuff like that... |
| The Dirty Dozen, Part - 2. Paradise Marine down in Gulf Shores, Alabama takes care of a tremendous number of boats. Consequently, they see plenty of service and maintenance items that most of us might think aren’t really all that important. We would, of course, be wrong. Paradise has assembled a series of things that can sometimes be taken for granted and overlooked for annual service. In yesterday's feature article, we began sharing a “Dirty Dozen” items that our friends at Paradise Marine Center in Gulf Shores, Alabama identified as being the dozen most commonly ignored items that come back to “bite” boaters. Today, items 7-12 of the “Dirty Dozen”. |
| Non-Native Aquarium Fish Found in Florida Waters The NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Sciences reports that the non-native aquarium fish, Red Sea Bannerfish, has been found living on Paul's Reef off Palm Beach, Fla. The Red Sea Bannerfish (Heniochus intermedius) is native to the Red Sea in the Middle East, but is sold in the U.S. as a saltwater aquarium fish. It is one of several exotic aquarium fish species that have been photographed or captured in recent years living on reefs off southern Florida. |
| A Redfishing Trip to Remember Over the years there are a few fishing adventures that trigger some great memories. One of them occurred in the mid 90s in the productive environs of Charlotte Harbor. My host that day was one of the top Boca Grande/Charlotte Harbor fishing guides, Captain Chris Mitchell. Making the mandatory bait stop, Chris had a bit of difficulty locating the size and quantity of live pilchards required for working those pristine back bay areas. Chris said he was seeing bait but, for some reason, they seemed "spooky" |
| A Tarpon Surprise There's one, 9 o'clock!!" "Oh yeah, I see it... there's two over there, 11 o'clock, about a hundred yards!" Chrystal and I didn't expect to be where we were on this fine spring morning. Our original plans were to get an early start, launch the kayaks and prowl around some flats and oyster bars looking for a good pull. We had no idea we'd be marveling at rolling tarpon! |
| Hurricane Pass - and the club of the same name Fishing is one of the most unique of pursuits. It knows no economic or ideological boundaries. People from just about every walk of life --rich and poor, conservative and liberal -- can all come together sharing their common love of angling. And here in Florida, with our abundant waters, the appeal of fishing is irresistible. |
| Bigger Isn’t Always Better Summer’s oppressive heat makes fishing an early morning or evening event, provided late day thunder storms are not on the horizon. Why not do some fly fishing in a cooler, more comfortable setting? Can you leave giant tarpon and lunker snook to pursue trout in a size that some Floridians refer to as bait? Will a 12 inch trout that slaps a tiny dry fly give you the same thrill as larger saltwater prey? Many of our members are transplants from northern states where trout streams were in their back yard. |
Kayak Fishing for Fun and Profit
Even though prices at the pump have become more affordable, thousands of anglers are still getting the itch to abandon their power boats in search of fishing alternatives. |
| Snooking by the Dock’s Early Light To say that Capt. Pat Damico is an early riser, understates the lengths to which he will go on his mission of catching lunker snook under the docks light of Pinellas County. |
| 12 "killer" flats fishing tips Since the Florida net ban of 1995, our grass flats have become popular hangouts for a growing legion of Florida anglers. It's an easy day of fishing, often a short boat ride from the ramp. And one can get into some spectacular species in a matter |
FWC acts to rebuild Gulf red snapper stocks |
| Seeing Red Can Be a Good Thing Last week, while I was out king mackerel fishing, I happened to notice a huge, surging, wake full of tails breaking the surface with a red tint to it. I shouted to the captain "Look over there at 1 o'clock is that what I think it is"? |
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