Red tide is once again blooming off the Southwest Florida coast. This current bloom first surfaced in Collier County a few weeks ago, and since then has expanded along the coast.
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Despite the fact that 5:30 sunsets make me contemplate hanging myself — the sun should set at 9 p.m. every day — this is one of my favorite ti…
Here in Southwest Florida, we don’t get too many leaves changing or frost on the car in the mornings when fall arrives. But we do see water te…
It’s king mackerel time. The southbound migration of the Gulf of Mexico stock of king mackerel flows through the coastal waters of Southwest F…
Dry firing is the act of shooting your firearm without live ammunition in it. This may be done to test the trigger pull or to function check t…
I remember camping on the Peace River in Brownsville, just north of Arcadia. We would always fish for catfish and use chicken livers as bait. …
The oceans are full of all sorts of life. Some creatures are beautiful and majestic. Some are not. Parasites rarely make anyone’s “favorite sp…
We’ve been getting a lot of questions in the shop lately from anglers who are new to fishing in this area. That’s pretty normal for this time …
In late October as many human “snowbirds” return to Florida from their northern summer retreats, a massive movement of birds also occurs, ofte…
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If you regularly bottom fish in the Gulf of Mexico, I have a question for you: How many red grouper are you seeing lately compared to what you…
Here we go again with red tide. Calling all drama queens: The sky is falling! It’s the end of the world!
If you do much fishing, you’ve probably seen fish feeding at the surface of the water. Sometimes the signs of surface feeding fish are subtle.…
Hello there, ladies and gentlemen — are you ready to fish? Well, the song actually asks “are you ready to rock” (Cheap Trick, “Hello There,” 1…
There is nothing more exciting than going to one of the great bass capitals of the world. Lake Guntersville is one of those lakes, and after g…
As I write this, we’re feeling the effects of a cold front roaring through. The temperature has plummeted from the low 90s to the mid-80s (it …
Man, I hope you have been out on the water getting in on the great fishing we’ve had lately. The tides have been moving a lot of water, and th…
As kayak anglers, we need terminal tackle that packs small and will draw strikes from any gamefish we expect to encounter. Jigs work well for …
Driving a vehicle that has some weight to it — while also towing a boat — can make driving in the mountains an adventure to say the least. Des…
Key lime pie is a staple in my family. I learned how to make it from my great-grandmother when I was around 7 years old. The only thing that I…
How do we deal with balancing responsible fishery management and its massive economic impacts? Both are necessary, yet the solutions to one mu…
Halloween is a big event in Punta Gorda’s historic district. Many residents of that old neighborhood go all-out in decorating their yards and …
How often do you use jigheads? I use them a lot. They’re by far my favorite way to rig a soft plastic lure (as opposed to swimbait hooks, Texa…
I’m probably alone in this, but I don’t like getting seasick. By admitting this fact, I’m also admitting that I’m prone to seasickness, which …
Frank W. Hommema, Sr. of Port Charlotte, Florida, passed on Monday, Oct. 21, at the age of 82. Frank was born in Chicago, Illinois, Oct. 19, 1…
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Red tide is once again blooming off the Southwest Florida coast. This current bloom first surfaced in Collier County a few weeks ago, and sinc…
During your walks in October and November, you may see some bright pinkish flowers that are about 3 feet high and have flower heads several in…
We’ve always had a contentious relationship with wild predators. Our ancestors on the African plains succeeded in developing suitable defenses…
One of the most fun things in fishing is watching a big fish blow up on a topwater lure. It’s an incredible sight. When they’re really getting…
Everybody always wants to learn fishing secrets. I’ve stockpiled a few in my time, and I’ve got some I’ll be happy to share.
We’re fortunate to have a large number of fish species in the waters of Southwest Florida. It’s hard to know exactly how many varieties live i…
All systems were go as we took off from our designated meeting site. Our new good friend Mike joined us for a day of birding Lake Ackerman, Pa…
A few months back, Charlotte County Sea Grant agent Betty Staugler asked me to preview and critique an online class. The class was going to be…
My wife and I have been on some kind of a roll lately when it comes to catching quality bass. For whatever reason, the last 15 months have bee…
In the Sept. 26 edition of WaterLine, I wrote about possibly making a trip north to Georgia soon to see the grandkids and possibly do a little…
It seems like the fishing is on fire right now. How many times have you heard us say that October is the best month for fishing in Southwest F…
Back in 2008, we discovered a treasure of pristine water just minutes from North Port to explore and fish in our kayaks. It was undiscovered b…
Of all the creatures in natures’ menagerie, spiders and their relatives probably evoke more fear and loathing than any others, even including …
Do you have treefrogs at your house? Almost all of us do, especially if you have garage or porch lights that stay on all night. Go out and tak…
Between the magazine, Radio WaterLine, speaking at seminars, and my side gig as the Fish Coach, I spend a lot of time on angler education. Ove…
Here’s a little-known fishing tidbit: The FWC stocked 27,000 sunshine bass in the canals of Gulf Cove in May 2019. Sunshine bass look like str…
Autumn is here in sunny Florida. We do not get to see the fall changes in leaves that delight many northerners with the burst of yellow, brick…
We visited the East Coast this year for our annual Florida Outdoor Writers Association conference. I signed up for the last seat on an airboat…
For the first time since we have gotten into the RV way of life, we are heading out of state with the RV. We have decided on Lake Guntersville…
Last week I went to a local supermarket not knowing I wanted to cook for dinner. I grabbed a cart and went on my usual route through the marke…
Meet one of the strangest creatures in the sea. Tunicates are invertebrates, meaning they lack a backbone. Invertebrates are a very large and …
I am truly lucky — I live on a saltwater canal. With 190 miles of saltwater canals in Charlotte County, so do a lot of others. But most of tho…
By STEVE REILLY
Provided by the FWC
Provided by Mote Marine Lab
I’m starting to get excited. It’s almost that time of year for the return of those notorious bait-stealing fish we call sheepshead. I know it’…
I’m sure you have noticed I haven’t been excited about fishing recently. The last few years haven’t been inspirational for me around here with…
