Innholdsfortegnelse for August/September 2025 i Florida Sportsman

Where are the Hidden Gems for Florida anglers and hunters? You’ll find out in this issue! Could be you’re also wondering: Who are these people writing about them? Florida is a huge state with diverse geography, complex climate and labyrinthine waterways. It would be impossible for a team of writers based in one office to fully cover it all. Readers familiar with Florida Sportsman recognize we’ve always maintained a list of Field Editors. These are steady hands who contribute articles and guidance for their respective areas of the state, specifically for our popular Action Spotter departments. Yes, they are paid for their work at FS, though none are full-time employees (Rick Ryals, in Northeast Florida, is pretty close—he hosts our Action Spotter Podcast, Florida Sportsman Live! Radio and is among…

One has to really want to get to Shell Mound. And that’s a good thing. Located in Levy County, this natural area is part of the Lower Suwannee and Cedar Keys National Wildlife Refuge and has served as a gem of a location for fishing, birding, hunting and camping for many years. As its name suggests, the park—five acres in size and at an elevation of 28 feet—was created by the accumulation of centuries of discarded oyster, clams, and other marine shells. Archeologists estimate that indigenous people populated this area as early as 2,500 BC, slowly bolstering the coastal landscape with an estimated 1.2 billion oyster shells. Their product became a handy refuge from hurricanes and a vibrant habitat for Florida’s first people to live, work, and play as well…

I remember the first time I caught a yellow perch in Florida. Bright red fins, yellow and green bodies, voracious appetite for the rosy-red minnows from a nearby bait shop—this Dead Lakes population represents the southernmost outpost for a species that lives across the northern United States and into Canada. The Dead Lakes in Florida’s Panhandle, due north from Apalachicola, are in a rural area but aren’t hard to get to, yet most Florida anglers have no idea such a beautiful (and delicious) species can be found in the Sunshine State. Florida’s rivers and lakes are loaded with gems like this. Let’s get to know a few of them. CHAIN PICKEREL State record 6.96 lbs., Lake Talquin Related to northern pike, the smaller chain pickerel tolerates a wide range of…

Florida has an incredible diversity of habitats and whitetail deer have adapted to thrive in nearly all of them; scrubs, piney flatwoods, palmetto sprawl, river marshes, prairies, suburb and golf course edges, cypress heads, bay and titi thickets, hammocks, and more. Perhaps the most beautiful habitats to find them are the hardwood creek bottoms. It is not the aesthetic aspect that steer deer into these zones but rather food, cover, and freedom from social pressures. Other environments may hold more deer or higher proportions of bucks, but creek bottoms supply their wants. Happily, people who hunt the bottoms receive the incidental pleasure of the remarkable beauty and rich diversity of life. These bottoms are found along nearly all of the natural creeks and streams of Florida. The water level rises…

This hot weather has got anglers seeing red! This time of year, in the 10,000 Islands and Everglades City region marks the time when large concentrations of the ever popular redfish move into the area to spawn and feed. Redfish or sometimes referred to as spot tails or puppy drum are common all year in the region, however during this time period it is common to encounter large schools in our inshore and nearshore waters. Many of these fish are of spawning size. Redfish are extremely adaptable and tolerant of a wide variety of changing water conditions. Redfish are known around the world as a premier inshore gamefish, as well as for their spectacular table fare. Redfish are a long-lived fish, with reports of individuals living as long as 50…

By September, a very slow change begins to take place as summer transitions to fall. After months of intense heat, Gulf and Atlantic waters see some churning and disturbances that can turn into a tropical mess. Unsettled weather and peak rainfall can also trigger some fishy action both inshore and offshore. Dropping atmospheric pressure usually prompts a feeding response at the beginning and tapering off near the bottom of the drop. The ensuing rise of pressure can also trigger a bite, but it’s usually not as aggressive or prolonged. The 54th Annual Old Salt Loop Billfish & Offshore Tournament runs August 4th through the 9th. Big fish will follow the Loop Current to within about 70 miles of our Gulf shores, bringing billfish closer to anglers for some world-class fishing.…

The largest river in Florida, the St. Johns River is also our longest river, stretching 310 miles from its headwaters in Indian River County north to its mouth in the Atlantic Ocean near Jacksonville. In its heyday, bass anglers couldn’t find a better place to fish for big bass, according to professional anglers like Cliff Prince, of Palatka. “I’ve been fishing tournaments on the river for 30 years and I’m not sure what has happened, but since Hurricane Irma in 2017 there’s very few bass over eight pounds being caught and there’s virtually no eelgrass on the St. Johns from north of I-4 all the way to Jacksonville,” Prince said. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has acknowledged the issue and has been actively trying to regrow eelgrass…

Hopefully you’re able to harvest your own bay scallops in Florida but if not, they are often available at your seafood market. Being a small scallop, they can dry out and become rubbery if over cooked. Dishes that have some moisture to them tend to compliment the scallop. If you are using frozen bay scallops thoroughly thaw and remove excess water before cooking. My quesadillas use a mixture of ricotta and cheddar cheese; the result is a cheese sauce-like consistency so make sure there is an ample supply of napkins for the diners. The delicate sauce consistency is balanced by a robust roasted corn and avocado salsa. This is enough for six quesadillas; double, etc., as needed. SALSA INGREDIENTS 1 ear roasted sweet corn Canola spray½ cup sliced green onion¼…

East of I-75 between Fort Myers and Bonita Springs in Florida, the Estero River begins its journey toward the Gulf of America. The Estero River starts humbly as a small creek fed by drainage areas and local runoff water sheds. Running slowly during the dry season from December till May, it is a lazy river. During the summer, it is an important escape for the massive amounts of afternoon rains we get regularly. As it begins to meander through neighborhoods and wooded areas, it grows as it flows under a canopy of trees. As the river widens and then crosses under the Tamiami Trail, it changes character. Here begins the start of tidal influence from the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve. Those that have spent time fishing, kayaking, and boating this…

Blackfin tuna are certainly gems of Florida’s Atlantic and Gulf coasts. In the 5 years since bag limits were put into place in Florida waters, 2 per person or 10 per vessel, these small, wide-ranging members of the tuna family seem to have responded by growing larger and more abundant. In June of 2024, angler Robert Kowalski put a 50-pound, 1-ounce blackfin tuna on the deck of a Miami charterboat, setting a new International Game Fish Association all-tackle record for the species. The previous mark, 49 pounds, 6 ounces, had stood since 2006; that was also a Florida catch, from Marathon in the Florida Keys. Blackfins aren’t limited to Florida waters, but it’s here where not only records are set, but where the fish are surely at the apex of…

Fishing with topwater frogs is a longstanding technique for drawing aggressive strikes from freshwater fish, but what about 30-pound redfish? James Cordiano and Captain Isaiah Michael discovered that Drave USA’s Jump Frog 65 resembles a swimming crab, and they’ve had great success catching bull reds ever since. “It looks just like a crab swimming sideways,” said Cordiano, owner of Drave USA lures. “The wake it makes perfectly mimics the way a crab’s claws cut through the water.” Their technique matches the hatch. During strong tidal periods throughout the year, crabs take advantage of the moving water to head to sea to spawn. When they’re moving through east coast inlets, redfish switch to surface feeding on the drifting snacks. “It’s so much fun,” said Cordiano. “It’s best at night when the…

Late summer and early fall fishing in the Florida Keys can be downright tough, especially when compared to the spring fishing that we just went through. The large biomasses of fish that congregated during the last few months have now dissipated or migrated away. You pair that with high water temperatures, and it can make for challenging day on the water, especially inside the reef. The inshore rock patches that produced a strong bite in the winter and spring are now barely producing; the high-water temperatures are to blame. At this time of year, I prefer to fish deeper water outside the reef, to find lower water temperatures. I also take tackle and bait to fish several different scenarios. In case plan A fails, you go to plan B, C…

As we slide our way through summer and start to see glimmers of fall (fish patterns, it’s still hot!) along the Southeast Region, expect to adjust your game to match the conditions. Late summer brings sweltering humidity and near-daily afternoon thunderstorms. Play your cards right and you can dodge the precipitation and get into some fish. August and September are sleeper months for mahi. While the spring and early summer get most of the hype, late summer and into fall can quietly produce some nice fish. West winds this time of year tend to blow all the weeds out deep, often well over 1,000 feet, which I think helps our cause as so many fish pass us far deeper than many realize. Also, tropical depressions looming around the Caribbean often…

Our Big Bend is hoping for a storm-less hurricane season and there are all sorts of critters to catch in the Gulf. Big Bend specialties in August-September are scallops that have grown to full-size, offering meat three times the size of small scallops. They’re collected in water as shallow as knee-deep, out to 10-foot depths. Deeper water makes for a tough day; that’s the equivalent of swimming to the bottom of a swimming pool, before starting a search. Clear water certainly helps, too. It’s much easier to wade around with sunglasses, or snorkel in 4 to 5 feet at low tide where your flippers never leave the surface. Scallop season now lasts through Sept. 24. It’s prime hurricane season, but maybe Florida will actually escape this year, after absorbing four…

August and September may well be the most weather-dependent months of the year for anglers. IF we get our first northeaster of the coming fall, or God forbid the big storm visits us, all the shrimp, pogies, mullet, and every other bait fish will head to the closest inlet to start booking their way south. Without a weather shift, August will be just another super-hot month. Offshore, successful fishing will depend on what happens to the water. It will mostly be slick, but historically we often see thermoclines chill down the water dramatically. It’s easy to tell what the water is like on the surface, but the bottom temp is another matter. Cold water on the bottom not only changes the water temperature, but the clarity goes from 30 feet…

Fishing in the Panhandle this time of year can be two different stories, with the dog days of summer still upon us in August, the first cold front will inevitably show up in September and soon after start the fall transition. By mid-August, both fish and fishermen are happy to embrace the cooler temperatures and shorter days. Across the board if you are fishing in August, you can expect a grind but while it may be hot, you will start to see way fewer people out on the water which means more opportunities for you! Inshore, we will still be in the summer pattern until those first few cold fronts hit. Deeper edges off grass flats will be holding trout. Residential docks, especially deeper ones, are good for redfish. And…

QUANTUM MERIT COMBOS Available at tackle shops any day now, the new Quantum Merit spin combos match precision engineering and IPX6 water-sealing technology with rub-your-eyes, “can’t believe the price” value. The reels are graphite body and rotor but frankly feel as rigid as metal. Drags are CFX200 carbon fiber, field tested extensively. The rods feature single-piece HD304 stainless steel guides. The combos are available in lengths and capacities to suit just about any coastal saltwater application in Florida, from a 7-foot light combo suitable for 1 ⁄ 16-ounce lures ($109.95) to a 10-foot, heavy action two-piece surfcasting rod ($159.95). Quantum has been busy developing saltwater spinning tackle for wide users, from the pros to the joes. The Merit combos, as backups or primary weapons, will probably generate excitement among both camps.…

NIGHT FISHING during the Florida summer is becoming less of an option and more of a necessity during the recent trend of incredibly hot summers. If you love fresh trout, flounder, and reds as much as I do, and the daytime temps are unbearable, then you need to start loading gear in the boat about the same time you would usually be desperately trying to rehydrate after a long day in the sun. Now, I have lived on the banks of the St. Johns River for almost 50 years. The funny thing is, I think I have more questions about night fishing now than I did when I first started. For example, just about all the inshore saltwater fish feed at night, but why are they so much harder to…

It’s not often that Florida’s Wilds get a win. It’s even rarer to get several, in a row. The winning streak for advocacy began in early 2025, when the Legislature passed the State Park Preservation Act. It was followed closely by a bill to prohibit oil drilling along the Apalachicola River. And then on the heels of these legislative wins, the public stood up to stop a land swap involving state-owned lands in the Guana River Preserve in St. Johns County. For anyone interested in preserving Florida’s natural lands and waters, reflecting on these recent successes reveals key components: The issue needs to be local and personal. You need an organizer. You need the expertise of established non-profit groups with extensive institutional knowledge. You need public support. And finally, if…

Ochlockonee Bay is one of North Florida’s well-hidden gems. Travelers on U.S. Highway 98, the east-west coastal thoroughfare in the Florida Panhandle, will pass through several small towns on their trip. But, early on, they will move through Panacea and immediately cross the E.N. Walker Bridge. It’s known locally as the Panacea Bridge because no one remembers that Walker was a Florida Senator in 1916 who became famous for developing Florida’s first housing development at Wakulla Beach. As drivers cross the bridge, they get a view of two things, water and trees. Neither is particularly impressive, which explains why Ochlockonee Bay is truly a “Hidden Gem.” The view from the Panacea Bridge reveals a bay that is about a mile wide and six miles long. There are no visual references…

Sharks are apex predators and keystone species that play critical roles in maintaining the health of our oceans and thus should be treated with respect. However there’s a public image problem. A few species have reputations as potential man-eaters—and in Florida a great many are derided by anglers as fish-eaters, plucking snook, snapper and other potential catches off our lines. What is often overlooked—besides the value sharks provide to the environment—are the incredible angling opportunities sharks provide to the sportfishing community. The 10,000 Islands region of Florida, at the footsteps of Everglades National Park and Florida Bay, is a major nursery and breeding grounds for numerous species of sharks. Our fertile waters offer an abundance of biodiversity that provides the perfect environment for many species of sharks that claim this…

There’s never been a better example of “hiding in plain sight” than the “hidden gem” my buddy Jack Garnett takes full advantage of every summer. In fact Jack doesn’t have a secret spot. He’s got a truck, a kayak, a cellphone, a few spinning rods, and a fantastic pair of long-range binoculars. Every fishable morning from late May until the first strong fall nor’easters finally send our bait, and hungry predators, headed south, you’ll find Jack studying the surf off Ponte Vedra Beach. Now, the very first time I fished with Jack was nearly 20 years ago, and he was running a state of the art twin engine Donzi. We were 50 miles off Saint Augustine catching mahi and wahoo. Like all bluewater boats, the big Donzi was expensive to…

August and September in South Florida may be only a day apart on the calendar, but they often feel worlds apart on the water. August is typically the hottest month of the year, while September can bring the first signs of fall, including slightly cooler mornings and changes in fish behavior. After 10 a.m., the bite tends to slow down, as fish retreat deeper into the cooler layers of the water column till the following day. If the daytime heat becomes unbearable, consider switching gears. Grab your dive gear and head to your favorite lobster spot and raise the dive flag. A great way to cool off and to add a few spiny lobsters to the days catch. The South Florida spiny lobster season reopens on August 6, 2025. High…

Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain. You can set your watch to afternoon thunderstorms, and if you play it right you can find productive timeframes that can be patterned. Most anglers prefer to be off the water during the midday heat, and that is understandable. Those that fish during the heat of the day will need good tidal movement, otherwise the bite will be tough. Fishing just before or after our rainstorms is one pattern many anglers will try to follow. As the oppressive afternoon heat begins, so does our westerly sea breeze. Thunderstorms build inland and move toward the Gulf as this sea breeze feeds them with moisture. As the storms pass, the rainfall cools the surface temperature and adds more oxygen to the water. This…

Norm Channell moved to Brevard County in 1964 at age 13 and never wanted to leave. “I loved fishing with my dad in the ocean at Cocoa Beach,” said Channell. “One day I looked at the Indian River and asked Dad if there were fish there and he said, ‘Oh yes.’ I remember seeing gin-clear water for years, trolling Trout Touts across the flats and catching seatrout after seatrout.” Fast forward 60 years. Channell is still chasing fish in the lagoon, but he’s had to adapt to changing times. He and fishing buddy Saul Hornung go fishing together weekly since retirement, and they’ve noticed the loss of seagrass coverage affecting redfish behaviors. “I remember seeing schools of redfish pushing across a grassflat, stopping to stick their tails out of the…

The months of August and September represent a tipping point between the sometimes-oppressive heat of summer and the faint hint of change in September. Both months have their fishing possibilities. August 1 sees the opening of greater amberjack season in the Gulf. To make a trip offshore worthwhile for a limit of one fish, it might be better to target several other fish along the way. The best amberjack fishing spots are typically in waters 75 feet deep or more. One of the best wrecks for AJ’s, the Empire Mica, was a British Tanker sunk during WWII. According to divers, the wreck has disintegrated significantly over the years and anglers are reporting numerous undersized fish before catching a keeper. There are numerous other wrecks such as the Gilmore, Franklin County…

Across two tough, windblown April days, Keys’ anglers went all-in on the hunt for big bull sharks. “The flats lit up with lemon sharks, blacktips, and even a hammerhead or two. But bull sharks? Almost nonexistent,” said Krissy Wejebe, tournament director and daughter of the late Jose Wejebe, one host of the popular TV series, Spanish Fly. “We learned that pressure systems can drive them deep and change their feeding behavior. Who knew?” Only bull sharks qualified for release points during the 2nd Annual Spanish Fly Shark Tournament. Teams were required to clearly photograph catches for identification before releasing them. “Spirits were high despite a tough forecast of 20- to 25-knot winds for both fishing days,” Wejebe said. “Mother Nature didn’t make it easy, but the camaraderie and love for…