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.
Why run a story about a fish we aren’t legally permitted to catch or even target? I’m referring to smalltooth sawfish, a “hidden gem” featured by writer Natalie Van Hoose in this issue’s On the Conservation Front department. Two reasons. One, as Natalie reminds us, anglers are uniquely positioned to contribute to sawfish recovery by reporting encounters with this wide-roving but endangered species. We’re out there on the bays and reefs, exercising our freedoms, enjoying the myriad fish that inhabit Florida waters. Personally, I think it’s a small “ask” to suggest we give back by calling in sightings of sawfish. I spotted one mid-August a few years ago off Stuart—it looked like a whole section of reef moving beneath our skiff, 16 or 17 feet long! Amazing! For me, it’s…
Do cobia spawn off Florida’s estuaries? The state wants to know and will pay you to help find out. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is on the tail end of its second season (March through September) of a three-season project to better understand the reproductive habits of cobia off the lower peninsula of Florida. Unquestionably, this information is needed. Limits have been tightened in recent years, as fishery managers attempt to address reports of declining catches. Based on conversations I’ve had with anglers and captains from the Panhandle, Tampa Bay, the Keys, Canaveral and Jacksonville, cobia stocks do seem to be in trouble. Scientists say we don’t know enough about the species. Earlier this year, Ryan Rindone, lead fishery biologist for the federal Gulf of Mexico Fishery…
Sand dunes, boardwalks and an emerald green Gulf, what are you waiting for? Pack your tent and sand spikes and head for the Florida Panhandle. Earlier this year, my wife Chris and I spent five days visiting three campgrounds along the Emerald Coast. From our home it was a 500-mile, 8-hour drive and well worth it! HENDERSON BEACH STATE PARK The closest campground to Destin is Henderson Beach State Park. The quiet, 60-site campground is nestled in scrub oaks and slash pine—right across Hwy 98 from a Walmart Supercenter and Home Depot. Even though the campground is bookended by condos, rest assured that you will find a private and clean camping experience. For those prioritizing surf fishing from your campsite, of the three campgrounds we visited while on the Emerald…
Competitive bass anglers typically choose a rod first, reel second. The rod is the main focus, matching the required power, action, and line material suitable for specific lures and presentations. Tournament sailfish teams go at it the other way around. The emphasis is on the reel. This deviation stems from the fact that it’s somewhat of a passive fishery; there is no need to experiment with a variety of baits and lures to determine the fish’s preference for the day. We know sailfish are actively feeding on live bait (hopefully somewhere within the tournament boundaries) and we need multiple rods rigged in similar fashion to catch multiple fish simultaneously. In this case, the first step in assembling the ideal outfit involves selecting the proper reel. In 2011, Shimano introduced the…
There are not many fish found inshore more unique than a flounder. A Jedi when it comes to stealth and camouflage, gluing themselves to the marl until they erupt on their prey, this special fish calls for some special tricks when it comes to catching them on lures. I recently spoke with Captain Sam Vigneault of Next Gen Fishing Charters (772-321-6657) in St. Augustine, who really appreciates catching flounder on fake baits. He broke down the do’s and don’ts for these flatfish. “My favorite bait for flounder is a white, 3-inch Gulp! Swimming Mullet for a few reasons,” said Vigneault. “First, being that it’s a curly tail, it doesn’t take much movement of the bait to get the tail action going, which is what you want when fishing a slow…
After a hurricane, your first thoughts are home, family and friends—but real soon your boat climbs up the worry list. Last year, following Hurricane Ian in late September, I was among the hundreds if not thousands of anxious Southwest Florida boat owners unable to immediately assess our vessels. At first, I was limited to newspaper photos of my marina—Gasparilla Marina. I saw sheds and garages reduced to piles of rubble, boats upside down and on their sides, peeking from beneath layers of splintered wood and jagged metal. When word came that we were finally able to enter the marina, I reluctantly drove to Placida to see what became of my 28-foot World Cat. The property was a beehive of activity, with scores of workers removing debris, and cranes and bobcats…
