Redfish are not something we usually talk about in February. It is usually rat red season, meaning there are hardly any redfish around of legal size — just babies from 10 to 16 inches, although often there are a lot of them. They form schools and roam around on the flats and in the creeks.
Has the FWC become a subsidiary of Chik-fil-A? That’s one possible explanation for why they seem to be set against us bringing home any trout,…
Last week I was having a discussion with a non-boater about the location of a newly proposed oyster reef construction project in the Harbor. S…
We have so much going on with our fisheries and fishery management. It’s challenging to educate ourselves and address all of them. How do we a…
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I had our RV out on the road this past week. For the first time, I put myself and the RV in a situation I never want to be in again. By taking…
When people ask me where I work, I tell them I work in private homes and on a farm just off Gasparilla Island. I’m usually asked that while we…
As I write this, we’re only halfway through February, but it seems the March winds have already shown up. I dislike wind as much as you, proba…
It seems strange to be talking about catching Spanish mackerel in the middle of February. It seems more like a discussion to be having in late…
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Redfish are not something we usually talk about in February. It is usually rat red season, meaning there are hardly any redfish around of lega…
We have the ability to help our devastated fish stocks and make a positive impact that could have rebuilt our fish stocks already. The science…
Love is in the air. With Valentine Day approaching, it is a good time to see some of our avian species that have great love for their mates. H…
Birds have caught a lot of fish for me. Well, maybe not literally caught them for me — though I do remember once when a two-pound saltwater ca…
Keeping fish for dinner has become controversial. It wasn’t too many years ago that most anglers planned to put what they caught on the table.…
When you buy something that is sold to you as new, you expect a certain level of customer service if and when we need it. You hope you never h…
While we are occasionally blindsided by people who don’t appreciate or understand what we do, we are more often delighted by the people who ge…
We have been a champion of 8 weight rods for both freshwater and saltwater fly fishing, but lightweight rods used for trout in mountain stream…
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Have you ever been fishing and had just crazy little things go wrong? If you fish enough, you have. I’m not talking about forgetting to put th…
I am exactly 19 days out from fishing my first professional bass tournament. I have spent four days on the St. John’s River trying to pay atte…
Recently I have been enjoying some wild game. One of the things I’ve been eating is wild duck. I think of ducks as basically flying petite fil…
For the last several years, many anglers have expressed concern for the health of area seagrasses — and in many regards, rightly so. When seag…
There are three kinds of boaters on Charlotte Harbor: Those who have run aground, those who will run aground, and damned liars. Pretty much ev…
What season is this? Is it winter, spring or fall? The weather doesn’t know what it wants to do and it has made the last couple months very st…
There are radically opposing views regarding some of the challenges we face around our waters. Reality and the best answers are usually discov…
I love most things about life in Southwest Florida. Really, I smile at the start of almost every day. But there are a few things that don’t ma…
I would have to guess that I have probably caught more mangrove snapper than any other saltwater fish species. That’s mostly due to my habit o…
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I grew up with black-and-white TV in my youth, but I could always look outside to find bright colors and bizarre shapes. Nature seems to have …
Have you caught a jack crevalle? If you have, you know what great sportfish they are. They are strong, fast and spirited, and they never give …
My editor said he’s heard enough about our problems — tell me something good this week! Except for a few cold days, our conditions have been m…
There are a ton of gadgets in the fishing world. Retailers call them “accessories,” and their manufacturers are forever unveiling new and exci…
Most shark fishermen will tell you that summer is the time to target these toothy predators. So why would some crazy local guide be writing a …
When you’re planning a fishing trip, how much attention do you give to moon phase? Most anglers don’t really seem to notice, but those who hav…
I am not by nature blessed with a lot of patience. But bass fishing has taught me one thing: Being impatient can cause you some heartache and …
When thinking about kayak angling in Southwest Florida, nearly everyone thinks of salt water. But there may come a day when you feel like an e…
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Did you miss the Radio WaterLine show on Saturday on 92.9 FM? I sure did! I’ve been doing a fishing radio show on Saturday mornings for almost…
With red tide giving us a much-needed reprieve in Southwest Florida, it’s a good time to think about the future. Red tides have occurred in Fl…
At times, I think we are going a little overboard. We have come up with numerous plans to protect out RV whether on the road or at home parked…
If you are a part-time beach dweller enjoying Southwest Florida for a few months a year, or a vacationer just trying to make a quick escape fr…
The seagrasses in most of Lemon Bay and Charlotte Harbor are gone. It’s a problem because most of our gamefish require lush grassflats to hide…
I am not a professional prognosticator, and I can’t read your palm. But I do believe I have a pretty good sense of which way the wind blows. T…
We’re having an odd winter, even for Florida. Temperatures have been mostly springlike, with just brief interludes of chillier weather. While …
Fish and game recipes are great, but it’s hard to make a dessert with tripletail or venison. Since most of us like a bit of something sweet to…
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Lemon Bay Park is a 210-acre site hidden on the back streets of old Englewood, and it is a true gem in the community. Black mangroves, scrubby…
It’s easy to tell when sheepshead season arrives here in Southwest Florida: Air and water temperatures drop into the 60s and there is increase…
To Our Hunting and Fishing Friends:
Coming soon to our Manasota Key beaches: The Gulf of Mexico. Like it or not, if we don’t add more sand periodically, our beachfront homes and …
Coming soon to our Manasota Key beaches: The Gulf of Mexico. Like it or not, if we don’t add more sand periodically, our beachfront homes and …
Fish slime is slippery stuff, as can be attested by anyone who’s had a wiggly fish squirt from their grasp. But it turns out that fish slime a…
One of the comments we at Fishin’ Frank’s hear all the time is, “I’m from Up North and I have no idea how to fish here.” If you resemble that …
I look for things. It’s what I do. If we go for a walk together, you’ll probably have to slow down or else leave me behind. I can walk faster …
