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.
Is it recreational fishing’s “dirty little secret?” That’s what a friend calls pooling bag limits. He’s referring to the practice of taking someone else’s catch to fill out your own bag limit and combining the total to supposedly legalize the take-home quantity. I’ve probably done it myself. But we should open this Pandora’s pooling box, think about it, and consider stopping it. While it’s true that Mr. Law is unlikely to catch you pooling fish into a combo bag, that’s not the point. A true sportsman abides by the law whether or not he’s under watch. He does the right thing voluntarily. The right thing in this case is clear. It’s simply wrong to allocate another person’s catch to your bag or by reverse, whether it’s frequently done or not.…
Miami Sea Buoy 25-46.10’N 80-05.00’W Haulover Reefs (NE Corner) 25-55.00’N 80-04.10’W Call it Miami’s 9-Mile-Miracle. From the red-and-white sea buoy outside Government Cut to the Haulover Artificial Reef Zone is a stretch of Atlantic Ocean which, December through February, produces fishing nothing short of epic. It’s one of my favorite places to fish in the state, both for the convenient access to big-water favorites like sailfish and dolphin, as well as the lively on-shore scenery and people. It’s a true study in contrasts—a wild ocean set against an urban backdrop. And, it’s easy to fish from a trailerable boat or one of the area’s many charter services. The sea buoy sits in 120 feet of water about 2 miles outside one of South Florida’s deepest, safest inlets, Government Cut. The…
During filming for last season’s Best Boat TV, I spent two days running the FX-21 in multiple weather and water conditions. Walking away from this shoot I was pleasantly surprised by the FX-21, not only for the value pricing relative to included features, but also the ride of this hull and the fun factor. Sea Born is clearly targeting the price-conscious buyer with this model coming in under $35K rigged as we tested her. In a bay boat field of much more expensive offerings, this makes owning a new boat in this class a reality for a much wider range of the market. The FX-21 was not a flimsy, stripped-down skiff by a long shot. She featured everything I would expect in a functional bay fishing platform. Port and starboard…
We have all been there. You just got a new fishing rod, or the latest and greatest lure on the market, and what do you want to do? Go fishing! What do you know? It’s blowing a sustained 15 knots (always seems to work like that, right?) but you’re like the rest of us, a stubborn fisherman, so you hook up the boat and head to the ramp. Here’s a couple tips for when you just have to go for it. SLOW IT DOWN Fishing areas of open flats in the wind can be difficult, at least used to be. Slowing down your drift is essential for dissecting a flat, and finding the fish. The days of drifting into the pothole full of redfish are gone, if you use today’s…
Peek into the rod box of a tournament pro and you may find upwards of 20 outfits, one for just about every application. The average angler doesn’t need that many, of course, but there are some things we can learn from the variety. One key distinction is retrieve ratio: How many revolutions of the spool for each crank of the handle. Bassmaster Elite Series pro Ish Monroe suggests two ratios will cover just about anything you want to do in Florida waters: 6.3:1 — Monroe, who notched a 2012 Elite win on Lake Okeechobee, said this medium speed is ideal for reaction baits like spinnerbaits, swimbaits, topwaters and bladed swim jigs. This provides sufficient speed to move those baits rapidly enough to entice strikes; even with the “burning” technique often…
Taking a new or used boat for a spin is not as easy as test driving a new car. If you’re just “tire kicking,” a dealer may be understandably reluctant to splash his inventory—particularly in salt water. One suggestion, if you want to familiarize yourself with one or more boats, is to ask the sales person to put you in touch with owners. Perhaps a local guide has one of the models you’re considering; a charter would be an excellent investment. Rental services and boat clubs are another good way to narrow your selection, as are in-the-water boat shows. Okay, so your demo is arranged and your deck shoes are laced up tight. Make the most of your time. Here are a few things to focus on: Number one, I…
