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Ocean City, Maryland

 The White Marlin capital of the World.

End Of The Road

Historic Highway Leads Anglers to a Winter Wonderland.

FG Knot

FISHERMEN ARE ALWAYS INNOVATING and adapting tactics and techniques in their never-ending quest to beat game fish with the greatest efficiency and effectiveness. For light tackle anglers targeting big game, rigging of leader and mainline becomes one of the most important considerations influencing the outcome of any encounter

Fooling Florida's Favorite Demersal Delicacy

THE AVAILABLE FISHERIES ACROSS FLORIDA’S GULF AND ATLANTIC WATERS undoubtedly vary from one region of the peninsula to the next, but a commonality across the state’s tropical latitudes is the presence of live reef. While grouper and snapper remain top targets along these dynamic ecosystems with tremendous biodiversity, there is perhaps no demersal species anglers would rather throw on ice than the heavily pressured hogfish.

Lost & Found

WHILE MANY COASTAL FLORIDIANS stick to the state’s sensational saltwater fisheries, I prefer the freshwater game. In fact, I’ll take the peace and quiet of a secluded sweetwater hot-spot over the chaos of a dozen center consoles harassing a single frigate bird any day of the week. However, during a recent outing deep into an urban canal system, things quickly went from calm to catastrophe.

Without A Hitch

AS AN AVID ANGLER ONE MUST BE PROFICIENT in a variety of facets to overcome the numerous obstacles that inevitably arise along the road to angling glory. Meticulously maintaining a vessel, tackle, gear and accessories is a massive undertaking, with anglers often failing to provide the same attentive service to their trailers.

Divers Down

WHETHER LOBSTERING IN ISLAMORADA, scalloping the Big Bend, spearing off Palm Beach or diving the USS Oriskany in Pensacola, the Sunshine State offers many ways to enjoy the underwater world. However, it’s critically important helmsmen know what is legally required of them to maintain safety for all.

Float Plan

Maritime Law of a Different Sort

Cilantro Lime Swordfish

Fresh…Fast…Fantastic!

In The Best Light

Deciphering Lumens vs. Watts

The Perfect Pop

Insight to Setting Release Clip Pins

Saved By The Switch

Emergency Engine Cut-Off Devices

Menhaden By The Millions: Little Fish Create Big Controversy

AMONG THE MYRIAD OF BAITFISH SPECIES that fuel the food chain, perhaps Gulf and Atlantic menhaden play the most essential role in their respective habitats. Distinguishable by their olive-green backs, yellow-tinted fins and silvery sides with a series of dark spots, menhaden make for outstanding live, dead and cut offerings. However, their tremendous value extends far beyond the realm of sport fishing.

Without A Hitch: Snag-Proof Soft Plastics

AS THE CORNERSTONE OF LIFE among inshore ecosystems, seagrass beds are critical to the health of Florida’s widespread estuarine habitats. Supporting as many as 40,000 fish and 50 million invertebrates, seagrasses are flowering plants that have roots, stems and leaves that can grow in mud, sand and fragmented shell bottoms.

Marlin Metrics

How to Catch a Blue Marlin from a Center Console.

Deep Color

Queen Snapper Shine  Bright In The Twilight Zone.

Sentinels Of The Sea: Revitalization of Data Buoys Enhances Marine Forecasting

CONSIDERING FLORIDA’S ever-changing weather patterns, mariners must remain diligent and always be on top of the current and forecasted conditions. Fortunately, NOAA’s National Weather Service provides updated marine forecasts with access to near real-time reports to ensure safe navigation amid the fluctuating conditions encountered throughout our year-round boating season.

Familiar With The Fine Print: The Real Deal Behind Boat & Engine Warranties

BUYING A BOAT IS AN INCREDIBLY EXCITING experience. However, the process can be understandably stressful and it’s important prospective buyers are aware of every last detail involved in the transaction. Hull, engine and equipment warranties are among the many factors of the purchase that need to be carefully scrutinized, with new owners often finding out the hard way that what once seemed like a glorious guarantee ends up being too good to be true. 

Friends With Benefits: Making the Most of the Buddy System

FISHING IS THE ULTIMATE THRILL and my life’s one true passion. But on hot summer days when even the slightest breeze is hard to come by and the sweltering sun is already unbearable by 9:00 a.m., sitting on a skifff or hours isn’t always appealing. On such days, I like to substitute rods and reels with Hawaiian slings and lobster nets to escape the heat and explore the underwater world.

Ceviche Stuffed Avocados: Beat the Heat With This Cool Summer Treat

A TRADITIONAL DISH originating along the northern coast of Peru, where the Pacific Ocean has provided its bounty for millennia, ceviche is a refreshing summertime treat that’s surprisingly easy to prepare. The ultimate no-cook cuisine comprising raw fish, shellfish and/or crustaceans, this ancient seafood salad is light, bright and tangy, utilizing acidic marinade to cure the delicate ingredients. 

Spinning Reels That Do More

West Coast Anglers typically look at spinning reels with disdain and give them derogatory nicknames like coffee grinders or egg beaters, and much more prefer conventional reels like the Avet or Talica that can freespool with the best of them. Though, spinning reels have been relied upon in Florida’s waters due to their incredible versatility and increased casting ability compared to any other reel design.

Fit To Be Tied

WHETHER YOU’RE NOVICE OR PRO, fishing fundamentals trump luck or skill and the basics begin with knot tying and leader construction. From inshore shallows to offshore depths, whether sight fishing, botom fishing, trolling or live baiting on a drift, leader systems often incorporate a double line tied into the main running line. Though, the knot you choose ultimately influences the overall breaking strength and durability of your entire terminal presentation.

Walk The Line- How to Fish Topwater Lures Like a Pro  

AMONG THE WIDELY VARYING artificial offerings available to entice shallow water game fish, topwater lures elicit the most intense surface strikes that are quite possibly the pinnacle of adrenaline-filled inshore exploits. And although the strikes are predictable when ambush predators are nearby, anglers must be dedicated in their efforts and fish a topwater with purpose to achieve the most effective presentation, not simply fan-casting a flat and ripping the lure back to the boat.

Channel Surfing

THOUGH I HAVE LIMITED EXPERIENCE, I really enjoy the serenity of flats fishing in Everglades National Park. With endless terrain to explore, I’m curious if there are maintained channel markers or aids to navigation in the backcountry.

Beacons Of Bait

BAIT FISHING IS JUST THAT. Even for the most experienced anglers, climbing the food chain can be challenging. It seems absurd, but it is truthfully harder to pattern sardines than it is to catch sailfish. Fortunately, making bait can be simplified by understanding how various forage species relate to their surroundings.

The Fresh Squeeze

IT SHOULD COME AS NO SURPRISE, but similar to the prized tarpon, permit and bonefish that frequently feed atop crystalline shallows from Biscayne Bay to Key West, lemon sharks also enjoy foraging the flats as winter fades and water temperatures stabilize.

Welcome To Jamrock

A SPEAKER IS A SPEAKER, RIGHT? Try installing and operating an automotive speaker in the marine environment and you’ll soon learn why this couldn’t be further from the truth. The unforgiving and corrosive climate is simply no match for inferior electronics.

Small Craft Caution

IT’S TRUE THAT FLORIDA often provides temperate weather and welcoming seas, while also offering access to countless miles of navigable shallows leading to the open ocean. However, there are certainly times when traversing expansive bays and narrow inlet mouths can be downright perilous for anglers attempting to make way in any sort of vessel, let alone a poling skiff or bay boat.

Spring Forward

BUSINESS CAN BE CRAZY, but there’s no end to the stress I’ll submit myself to ensuring that my wife lives a happy life. Flying across the country for a mere 24 hours was not out of the norm. Truthfully, I enjoyed my time on the road and maximized every second by sneaking in a fishing trip whenever I could.

Gemstones

Sweet Meat from the Perfect Crab