CATEGORIES

Saved By The Switch

Emergency Engine Cut-Off Devices

After Hours

Tips for Surviving a Night in the Everglades.

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. 

Gemstones

Sweet Meat from the Perfect Crab

The Search

Distant Shoppers Proceed with Caution

Maximum Security

Modern Vessel Monitoring Systems

Inseparable Duo

Live Killifish Attract Fat Flounder

On a Mission

KAYAK FISHING IS NOT WHAT IT USED TO BE Barely a decade ago only the bravest paddlers and watermen would venture outside protected bays and rivers, with shallow water redfish and black drum, seatrout and flounder the primary inshore species targeted from the stealthy crafts. Today, boundaries have all but been eliminated with a new breed of fearless fishermen rewriting the book on what’s achievable from just a few feet of cockpit space.

Concerning Curiosity

THERE’S A CERTAIN EXCITEMENT THAT COMES with every trip offshore, whether it’s the final day of a high-pressure tournament or a casual weekend outing. In any event, the best of the best do everything possible to put themselves in contention with trophy game fish every time they hit the water. However, there are times when not everyone on board knows the methods to my madness.

Whole Pompano

A DELICATE AND SUSTAINABLE FISH with flaky white flesh, the Florida pompano is a favorite of locals and visitors alike. With a diet rich in shrimp and sand fleas, the texture and flavor is unmatched. Though trimmed fillets pair well with sauces comprising white wine, shrimp and crabmeat, my favorite method of preparation enhances the sweet, mild flavor by simply roasting the fish in its entirety.

Maintain The Flow

TODAY’S FISHING VESSELS ARE INCREDIBLY COMPLEX pieces of machinery. Among the numerous components that must remain functional to ensure safe operation, marine hoses, fittings and clamps are some of the most integral to keeping your hopes afloat. Though a broken or damaged hose won’t always lead to catastrophe, it certainly requires immediate attention. The best remedy is routine maintenance.

Southport 33 FE

WHILE THE NEWEST OPEN PLATFORMS continue to follow the latest trends, Southport Boats has broken free from the cookie cutter center console and delivered a truly unique vessel in the 33 FE. While they aren't the only boatbuilder to add comfort and style to a bare bones deck layout, Southport goes above and beyond to eliminate the sacrifice boaters must often make between family enjoyment and fishability

Cutting Edge

Essential Approaches To Eliminate Bite-Offs

Sea-Lion 3410 CC

ATTRIBUTES SEA-LION BOATS provide keen offshore anglers, few hold more value than the safe, smooth and dry ride afforded by this stunning 34-footer. Designed for the utmost versatility and performance for fishermen and families alike, this sleek craft is built to stand up to rough seas with comfort and speed while putting your mind at ease with a trouble-free boating experience.​​​​​​​

Synthetic Sea Legs

IT’S AN UNFORTUNATE CONTRAST, but cruising open water without a care in the world can be quite unsettling for some. Seasickness is an unfavorable condition that occurs when the motion of a rocking boat disrupts fluid in the inner ear. Though it was once the case that homeopathic remedies and prescription drugs were the only ways to prevent mal de mar, Seakeeper has revolutionized the boating experience with gyro stabilizers fit for any vessel.

Even Coverage

WHILE THE INNER WORKINGS OF OUTBOARDS demand routine maintenance and at times professional service to ensure peak performance season after season, the lower unit’s skeg also requires specific care and is often one of the last elements to receive any TLC. For the most part, this critical component doesn’t need much love, but if there’s noticeable damage as a result of a soft grounding or paint wear from routine use there are several remedies one can use to bring their outboard back to its original condition. 

Caught In The Act

TO COUNTLESS HARD WORKING AMERICANS, fishing is much more than just a hobby—it’s a passion. This is especially true in Florida, where we don’t have to winterize boats and can enjoy the outdoors year-round. While I try my best to fake the flu when conditions warrant a mid-week trip to offshore, like so many others I often cannot fish until the weekend. And although fishing provides a much needed escape and has a way of clearing the mind of all worries, it’s not always such a lighthearted affair.​​​​​​​

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.

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.