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.
If you get into the sticky field of horse-trading, be mighty careful. You don't want to give away the great Secretariat and get a stubborn mule in return. Horse-trading (better known as compromising) is the name of the game now in Tallahassee as the Florida Legislature limps toward adjournment. Whether anything significant is accomplished to tame the gushers of pollution that besiege our waters is an unknown at this writing. We suggested that only the Shadow may know the inside doings. Our best bet to get the low-down may be to become a fly on the wall in some of the secret gatherings going on night and day in the capitol. Short of that difficult intelligence work, we urgently need once again to contact lawmakers to demand passage of a…
Stacey Johnson makes her home in Port St. Lucie, FL, but readily admits she is more “at home” anytime she slips below the waves with a speargun in hand. Stacey popped up on the Florida spearfishing community radar in July 2014. As a newcomer to the sport, she shot a 13.5-pound gag grouper out of Spring Hill, FL. The International Underwater Spearfishing Association recognizes Stacey’s gag as the world record for the Women’s Speargun category. Most fishermen, whether line or spear, spend a considerable amount of time at their passion before they ever get close to a world record. Stacey had been spearfishing for only five months when she achieved this feat. Stacey was born in California, but her family moved to Florida when she was a baby. She developed…
Asked: At the 2017 Miami International Boat Show Q What technologies have improved outboard fuel efficiency in recent years? Rob Paterson, BRP Product Marketing Specialist, Sturtevant, WI With our G2 engines, we worked with the University of Wisconsin and used a thermodynamics program actually designed for testing nuclear bombs to see what happens inside them! Using that technology, we were able to adjust cylinders and chambers—everything in the engine, air intakes, exhaust ports--to optimize the amount of fuel burned. So everything that goes in combusts, creating the most fuel-efficient engines. Jared Reichenberger, Mercury Brand Manager for Propellers, Fond du Lac, WI About 5 years ago, we had center console guys running to the Bahamas, curious about fuel economy and what props are best. This spun into our Enertia Eco project—resulting…
Icom IC-M93D Icom recently introduced a handheld VHF/GPS unit that’s small in size but big on features. The company bills it as the “world’s slimmest floating DSC radio.” Translation: This powerful device fits easily into a tackle bag, life vest pocket or other container. If you need to send a distress message, simply press the recessed rear panel button: It’s there where you need it, but unlikely to be pressed accidentally. The unit has a 2.3-inch monochrome screen, waterproof rating of IPX7, and a host of GPS features which enable backup navigation, if needed. Remember to register for a Maritime Mobile Service Identity (MMSI) for devices like this. Retail prices hover around $300. See www. icomamerica.com Taco Transom Cross Tie Cleat Headed to the Bahamas or Florida Keys for a…
Bonefish Boats Bohemian 17 The Bohemian 17 is a handsomely finished shallow water performance skiff. Though it’s not a newcomer to the flats boat market, every time I cross paths with one I find myself amazed that I don’t see more of them on the water. This hull design combines a bit more deadrise than typical poling skiffs with a V-pad stepped bottom to provide a smooth ride for anglers who need to cross lots of open water, while still delivering a 6.5-inch draft. Length overall is 17 feet, 3 inches. Beam is 6 feet. Fuel capacity is 25 gallons. MSRP is $40,270 w/70 hp Yamaha and trailer. See www.bonefishboats.com . Dusky 242 Bay Dusky Marine certainly established itself as a dependable South Florida manufacturer of rugged fishing boats in…
Picture a saltwater bream that weighs up to 20 pounds, with the same “never quit” attitude as a jack crevalle, and you’ll understand the appeal of Atlantic spadefish. Spadefish are widely distributed in ocean waters of the Gulf of Mexico and western Atlantic. Where I fish, in northeastern Florida, we find spadefish on pilings of the brackish creeks up any river, and the wrecks 40 miles off Mayport. One thing these fish really zero in on is the cannonball jellyfish—the odd “jelly balls” that delight grandkids on trips offshore. Though spadefish will respond to chum comprised of crushed clams, shrimp and other mollusks, nothing fires them up faster than jelly balls. The jellies—with their firm, mushroom-like form and short tentacles—are sometimes easy to find around inlets and tide lines. They…
