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.
News this winter about huge disparities in grouper catch estimate models for the Gulf (Florida versus feds) didn’t exactly build anglers’ confidence in fishery management. So, you mean to tell me we should let these eggheads start studying, and regulating, more fish? Jack crevalle, even? If your reaction to this month’s “On the Conservation Front” piece is “Gimme a break!” well, I get it. At the same time, let’s agree that it’s important to document the basic life history details of fish, and establish metrics for assessing their abundance and exposure to overfishing. We’re encouraged to see a fishing guides’ group, the Lower Keys Guides Association, devote money toward formal studies of crevalle. I was also encouraged to see Juan Levesque, a Tampa Bay area angler with a doctorate in…
This isn’t the first time I’ve written about the National Marine Fisheries Service (NOAA’s) inability to accurately estimate the number of fish in the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean. And it certainly won’t be the last. But, if you want to see an increase in the number of gaffer mahi in the spring off the east coast of Florida, or get a chance to catch, and keep, a rusty belly gag grouper in the Gulf this year, then you better become acquainted with the people and process that could make it happen. Managing federal waters, extending nine miles from the coast in the Gulf and three miles in the Atlantic, a select group of council members appointed by state governors busily try to make sense of staff-driven, computer-modeled data.…
If you’re looking for a slice of old Florida, where cypress heads are as abundant as the wildlife and where you can immerse yourself in nature, but still have all the modern conveniences, Fisheating Creek Outpost is your place. Camping, fishing, hunting, swimming, and hiking are just a few of the outdoor opportunities found here. A gem tucked along U.S. Highway 27, the Outpost is located within the 18,274-acre Fisheating Creek Wildlife Management Area in Glades County. The creek is a 50-mile tributary on the west side of Lake Okeechobee; it courses through a vast ecosystem of marsh and scrub habitat where wildlife thrives. The name is said to be derived from what the Creek/Seminoles called it, Thlothlopopka-hatchee, meaning, “The creek where fish are eaten.” There’s evidence folks have been…
From bayboats sneaking out to bluewater targeting mahi on calm days, to massive center consoles pulling triple-tier dredge teasers in pursuit of blue marlin, outriggers emerge as indispensable tools that enhance any offshore angler’s ability to attract fish to the boat. Their primary benefits become evident in their ability to position fishing lines and teasers in undisturbed water away from prop wash, and also reducing the risk of tangling when maneuvering to hook multiple fish or trolling in windy conditions. Outriggers for small- to midsize center consoles span a wide range with pole lengths available from around 15 to 25 feet. The simplest telescoping aluminum outriggers, featuring push-button locks and stainless eyelets, stand out as the most budget-friendly option. A pair of fifteen-foot telescoping aluminum outrigger poles can be purchased…
On one hand, anglers have been complaining that goliath grouper are ruining inshore wreck and reef fishing. It’s a common refrain: Can’t get a snapper or grouper to the surface before a goliath grouper helps itself to the catch. On the other hand, in 2023 when the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) opened a limited lottery for keeping a goliath, only 26 tag holders out of 200 were successful at catching one. There’s a tight slot limit on goliaths: 24 to 36 inches. It’s obvious that many of the goliaths (fully protected since 1990) robbing anglers on the reefs are way bigger than that. Might it be that anglers aren’t fishing where the slot-size goliath are? Captain Tim Simos, in Fort Pierce, suggests that might be the case.…
I can’t think of a finer way to get started in saltwater fly fishing than going after Spanish mackerel in the spring. As these migratory fish work up the Florida coastline with warming waters, fly fishers can find them by boat and on foot. Spanish aggressively strike baitfish flies and put up a scrappy fight. You can cast suitable patterns on a 6- to 8-weight rod at any budget, with floating or sinking fly lines. Hundred-foot casts are never needed! If you can eke out a 40-footer, you are in the game. RING THE DINNER BELL If fishing from a boat, you can run on plane in search of baitfish schools and mackerel on the feed along the beach or in any number of Florida’s larger bays. Dipping terns, gulls…
