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.
DIGITAL WEB EXCLUSIVE 10 EXOTIC FISH YOU CAN CATCH IN FLORIDA BY SHELBY BUSENBARK Exotic fishing spices up the freshwater scene, making for fun catches for all ages. Here’s everything you need to know about Florida’s non- native fishes, new and old. YOUTUBE HOW A LASER-ETCHED DASH PANEL IS MADE We join Dale Kalloway in the TRB Custom Bay to see how he designs and creates a laser-etched custom dash with flush-mounted accessories. PODCAST SHARING THE WATERS This month Capt. Rick explores a controversial topic: How is the post-COVID boating boom affecting popular fishing haunts? BECOME A SOCIAL STAR Send post-worthy pics: @floridasportsmanmagazine or #floridasportsmanmagazine GET YOUR MUG IN THE MAG Email your best catches or scenic shots to photos@floridasportsman.com…
Few months back I typed out a rough (and grammatically clunky) “things which Florida needs more of or less of” list. As some of you can tell, I’m getting around to explaining that list. Top of my original list was more kids on skateboards carrying fishing rods. I stand by that. Every time I see a kid on a skateboard carrying a rod, I feel the world tilting back in its correct balance. (When you see me on a skateboard these days, it tilts the other way.) Turns out, Florida, we need something else: Kayaks. We need more kayaks. As of this writing a sizable division of the plastic armada is berthed in my garage. It’s from a side project I’ve been working on, Kayak Fishing Fun. It’s an annual…
Watching the Sea Tow Foundation’s Sober Skipper PSA featuring young friends partying and having a good time and then driving their boat straight into another boat made me stop and think for a moment. A moment, like when I was in high school, leaving my driver’s education class having just watched an hour of mangled vehicles and bodies only to race out of the school parking lot in a car crammed full of classmates. It’s possible that all it takes is a moment to scare people with actors and gruesome stock videos to get them to take the message to heart. To change behavior. But, in the age of scroll, I’m not sure. What got me to stop for more than a moment wasn’t a video but a newspaper article…
Emerald waters, good fishing and good food: Bimini, Bahamas offers great opportunities for a hardcore fishing trip with the guys or a laid-back getaway with the family. The flats throughout the Bimini cays (and there are actually several islands here, though commonly referred to collectively) lend to great sightfishing for bonefish and permit. On a skiff trip with local guide “Bonefish Ebbie,” I saw the biggest school of bonefish I’ve ever seen, roughly 1,000 fish milling around in the shallows. The fish were willingly taking flies, too. Drop off the edge to the west of Bimini and you’re soon into the Gulf Stream, where pelagics are aplenty. Spring and summer are known for good dolphin and tuna fishing, and blue marlin are a definite possibility early in that timeframe. Come…
Today’s offshore tackle shops are a veritable Baskin-Robbins for fishermen, with lures stocked in at least 51 colors and styles. If you’re a new angler, how do you decide what to pick? Over the next three months, I’m going to give you tips on selecting offshore trolling lures. The lures we use in Florida waters for billfish, mahi-mahi, tuna and wahoo basically fall into three categories: lures that enhance natural trolled bait, lures that imitate natural bait, and lures designed to solicit a reaction strike (think high speed). This month, let’s look at lures designed to enhance natural trolled bait. These are the sea witches, small plastic squid skirts, tiny plungers, and small feathers. They’re among the most affordable lures you’ll find, often selling for a few dollars each. You…
The hollow-body frog is a staple on the Florida bass scene. As many of us transition between bass and inshore species throughout the year, why can’t some of our tackle transition with us? The frog being one of them. I first saw hollow-body frogs being thrown in the salt 15 years ago by anglers chasing redfish in the Louisiana delta and they were catching fish. I gave this a try on Florida snook and redfish and enjoyed the same results. Here’s why. There are two types of hollow bodies, the first being your standard “swooping keel” walking frog. This frog does just that, walks like a topwater plug. A stealthier presentation than its counterpart, this style works well in calm water and on spookier fish. The second is a concaved…
