Florida Sportsman is the complete fishing magazine for Florida and the Tropics. Devoted to fishing, boating, and outdoor activities in the Sunshine State, Florida Sportsman is the authoritative source for Florida's most active fishermen.
Normally a department for environmental advocacy and investigative journalism, this month’s “On the Conservation Front” and “Openers” take a look at the lighter side of fish and wildlife law enforcement. Featured are some of the zany and ironic cases of 2016, with a special emphasis on circumstances that would seem improbable if not outright fictional had they not taken place in our gloriously weird Sunshine State. Hence, “Only in Florida.” Editor Jeff Weakley provides the back story, which is that Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) administers a Division of Law Enforcement whose 853 sworn personnel and support staff are vital to the protection of our state’s natural resources—of which citizens and visitors are also numbered. Officers daily (and nightly) hazard all kinds of conditions on our state’s lands…
Asked:On the docks at Sailfish Marina, Palm Beach Shores, at the close of the 80th Annual West Palm Beach Fishing Club Silver Sailfish Derby. [Also see “Tournament Insider,” this issue.] Q Tell us about your good luck charm. What brings you good luck? Capt. Will Sabayrac, Palm Beach, Goin Raptor (2nd place team at Silver Sailfish Derby) We put a lot of credit into this boat, we put a lot of credit into our bait, but at the end of day it’s like golf: It’s not the club, it’s the player. We’ve got a good team, and it’s not one thing, it’s that we try to do a lot of small things well. Chad Moss, Ft. Lauderdale, Sandbob Ladies! Cute ladies, attractive ladies, all ladies. And we also have a…
Sailfish 236CC The new Sailfish 236 CC combines the 30-year Sailfish legacy with a sixth generation Variable Degree Stepped hull. The 236CC should be ideal for both offshore and inshore fishing. An 8-foot, 6-inch beam makes her easily trailerable and a hard top frame integrated into the console creates generous deck space. Leaning post with built-in tackle storage and a second live well are among options. The 236CC features multiple rod holders, two 120-quart fish boxes, a 27-quart console seat cooler, in-deck bow storage, and fold-up aft seating. Each Sailfish is built using the company’s Sail-Tech construction techniques. Kevlar reinforced hull, carbon fiber prisma-beam supports in the deck, aluminum backing plates, chrome-coated stainless steel hardware and high-definition gel coats round out this package. See www.sailfishboats.com . SeaVee 270Z This offering…
Simms Challenger Boat Shoe Great arch support, study heel support and non-slip as advertised. Wear ’em on the boat, on the town, rinse and dry and do it again. That’s the new Simms Challenger Boat Shoe. The company strategically placed TPU reinforcements providing rigidity in key areas to maintain stability. Siped non-marking rubber soles include innovative built-in drainage in the footbed, midsole and outsole for quick water release. Suggested retail price $119.95, in Boulder white or Anvil gray. See www.simmsfishing.com . Lowrance Elite Ti 9 and 12 Standalone fishfinder/chartplotter combos are a good solution for bay boats and smaller center consoles where space is a premium. The 9-inch screen size has been tough to find for under $1,000, but that appears to be changing. Lowrance has added 9- and 12-inch…
On some of my earliest Tampa Bay explorations, I'd wade the Courtney Campbell Causeway flats at night with a cheap plastic flashlight hung across my neck and shoulder with a sling fashioned from an old electrical cord. Did it work? Yep. But was it convenient, efficient, comfortable? Not so much. Today’s illumination options offer a broad array of functionality; also a broad array of features and terms to get straight. Lumens — Measurement of the intensity of the light throughout the entire beam, on the highest brightness setting and powered by new batteries (more accurate measurement than “candlepower”). Beam Distance — How far the light will shine before brightness diminishes to the equivalent of a full moon. Light Emitting Diode (LED) — More efficient, brighter and longer lasting than incandescent…
I was gobbling my umpteenth piece when the mate informed me it was bonito. Not many of us treat our meat fish as we should, and there are steps you can take to improve the dinner you make for your family. First off, understand it’s the blood and body fluid that make fish taste “fishy.” Generally speaking, pelagic and other bloody fish such as red snapper taste stronger than deep water bottom fish whose flesh is firmer and carries less blood than most shallow water species. That doesn’t mean there’s not a lot you can do to make your fish taste better. For starters, you need to understand that fish bruise just like you do. Drop a fish to the deck, and you’ll often be able to see the bruises…
