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.
The very word "modernization" has a historically happy and positive ring to it, right? It exudes the notion of change and progress. So with that positive thought in mind we heartily endorse and support a new bill introduced in both chambers of the U.S. Congress that may help recreational fisheries management in a number of ways. Titled the "Modernizing Recreational Fisheries Management Act of 2017" (to be better known as the Modern Fish Act), the proposed law gives long sought emphasis to noncommercial family level angling. What a breath of fresh air this bill offers after a half century of dominance by for-profit special interest takers by the ton at the expense of the general public, and the well-being of the resource itself. Ever since the Magnuson Act was enacted…
Eric Estrada’s first real stab at painting aquatic life was a tailing redfish. His friends all raised the question of, “Why are you going to paint a fish?” “This drove me to want to paint on canvas,” said Estrada, 32, of Miami. He did this not because it was easy, but because it was a challenge to overcome, much like the painstaking effort it takes to become a great fisherman. Estrada’s mother had taught him to fish in the Florida Keys. His father, an artist, had taught him to capture those moments. Another prominent figure in Estrada’s development was the Miami graffiti artist known as “Meer.” Eric became Meer’s apprentice at the age of 16, getting paid to spray high-end boats in the yard. At Miami’s Art Basel festival in…
Asked: At Big Toho Marina, during the FLW ICAST Cup tournament in July Q Tell us about your hangups. One night I was out tarpon fishing by myself at Big Pine Key, and I hooked a big fish, maybe 200 pounds, on light gear. I fought it for hours, and then it got around a bridge and started wrapping the pilings. Well, one of my buddies had come out in his boat. He put his friend on my boat, and together we drove around and around those pilings—at one point I had to get out on the piling, and walk around it. Eventually we caught the fish. Capt. Mickey Gibbs, Dade City, fishing guide I had two guys on the boat, and we were coming through a cut, and I…
Daiwa Tactical Backpack This is the pack to have if you’re hiking the remote beaches of Northeast Florida, the piers of the Panhandle, or anywhere in between. Daiwa’s Tactical Backpack is built on a rigid frame with easy-access three tray stack, plier holder, sunglass case holder and other accessories, with Delran corrosion resistant zippers. Suggested retail price is $149.99. See www.daiwa.com/us Rapala X-Rap Mag 40 Don’t miss the full-moon wahoo bite this month, or those last few months of grouper season. Rapala introduced a 40-foot diver in the popular X-Rap Magnum series. It’s a 7-inch lure weighing 3 3/ 8 ounces and designed to run up to 13 knots. Like others in the X-Rap series, it has the translucent body, internal scales, holographic foil and 3D eyes. Hooks are 5/0…
Suzuki DF350A Dual, contra-rotating props are the first thing you notice about the new Suzuki DF350A, but there’s a lot more innovation packed into the company’s new flagship V6. The propeller configuration, Suzuki engineers say, was selected to minimize the size of the gears, affording greater thrust and speed by way of a sleek, hydrodynamic gearcase. Added benefits include elimination of steering torque and improved performance in reverse gear. Topside, engineers wrested 350 horses out of a 4.4 liter, V6 powerplant through a class-leading 12.0:1 compression ratio. Helping garner those numbers are beefed-up pistons; dual injectors; and a unique, louvered, moisture-blocking, direct air-intake. The DF350A is available in 25- and 30-inch shaft models at 727 and 747 pounds, respectively. Mounting bolt positions match the DF300, making repower to 27-inch centers…
As co-host of the Florida Sportsman Best Boat television series, I step on boats every day that have little more than a hull and engine. Rod holders are a plus, and if we have them, I’m convinced we can catch fish trolling on any given day, with just a few simple modifications. No Outriggers The most obvious reason for outriggers is to spread your baits farther apart. But the dropback—releasing some line at the strike—is just as important. You see, dolphin, tuna, cobia and billfish aren’t equipped for chopping up their food. They take their prey whole, normally swallowing it head-first. Giving a little slack to a fish allows it time to grab your bait and turn it before swallowing it. That’s why every line I pull behind a boat…
