Pinfish have got to be one of the top live baits for use in Charlotte Harbor. Part of this is the fact that they’re everywhere: On the grassflats, under the piers, on the reefs — anywhere there’s a bit of cover. Every single tarpon, redfish, snook and grouper out there has eaten pinfish. Sna…
“Why are there so many rabbits in my neighborhood?” It’s a question that’s been showing up with increasing frequency over the last couple year…
Pinfish have got to be one of the top live baits for use in Charlotte Harbor. Part of this is the fact that they’re everywhere: On the grassfl…
Our country is a pacesetter in many global industries, but we’re not among the world’s leaders in the building of commercial sea-going ships. …
I was pleased to be able to make the annual Key West trip with my brothers this year. My youngest brother gets a deal and it allows the three …
In the field of law enforcement or armed security guard service, the legal “duty to train” is well established in case law. The courts have lo…
The Coreopsis genus includes 45 species of wildflowers in North America. There are 15 species in Florida, 11 of which are considered native. T…
By JoEllen Wilson
Being a fishing guide has its ups and downs. Fortunately for me, there have been way more ups than downs during my tenure as a captain. I feel…
Provided by the FWC
I was on the phone talking to my Grannie about Florida history while writing this column. My family is from Hardee County, and DeSoto before that.
Did you know there are more than 800 fish species in the world that can purposefully make sounds? Fish make sounds for many reasons, including…
Provided by the FWC
I have been emphatically reminded lately of the importance of trailer and vehicle maintenance, and I’m not talking about changing your oil. Ge…
There is nothing more fun than getting those violent strikes that almost rip the rod out of your end. Getting into a bunch of aggressive bass …
Last week, a joint project of the Coastal Conservation Association, Duke Energy and FWC released 10,000 juvenile redfish in Placida. The fish …
By Elaine Allen-Emrich
Most anglers today understand the importance of catch and release. The conservation message has become deeply embedded into our minds, which i…
I spend a little time in the outdoors, both afoot and afloat. In a handful of decades of mucking around out in nature, I’ve encountered variou…
To survive as fishermen, we need to remain positive and optimistic. Like most of you, I’m extremely concerned about our water quality and fish…
To the uninitiated, summer in Florida might be perceived as just a hot, sweaty dash from one air-conditioned space to another. This is an unfo…
For beginning birders, just identifying what they spot can be challenging enough. But once your eye becomes accustomed to what it sees, silhou…
I don’t know if everyone else has noticed how much life is in the Harbor this year. There’s a lot of bait of all sizes — everything from tiny …
You hear it all the time: “That guy has no clue how to fish.” “I saw some moron out there casting a topwater plug to a bunch of mullet.” “I ca…
When I go out on an educational trip, I always talk with them the day before and come up with a detailed plan. Once I have a solid understandi…
In my line of work, I talk to a lot of people who spend a lot of time on the water. Some are charter captains, commercial fishermen, law enfor…
Hey, shooters! Target shooting can be a little boring when you’re just punching holes in paper, so let’s take a look at some of the shooting s…
Finally! The carport, shed or whatever you want to call it that I have been planning on putting up for the RV and the boat is going to happen.…
Every kayak, SUP or canoe paddler enjoys that moment right after they launch and take a few strokes. A sense of peace and calm replaces the ha…
What is a successful trip? We are all unique, so we all have different answers. On my charters, I try to encourage communication — especially …
All over Florida, a record number of green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) continue to nest this season. As of Aug. 3, Mote’s Sea Turtle Program …
During a recent conversation with a guy who is not a fisherman, I mentioned that I’d been fishing the morning prior and had caught a couple of…
With July behind us, local Eyes on Seagrass volunteers have completed their seagrass surveys in upper Charlotte Harbor. This was the first yea…
“Why don’t I ever see anything cool out in the woods?” If you’re asking this question, that’s great. It means that you’re willing to make some…
Last week I was sitting on the dock at Whidden’s Marina talking to Wayne. I told him I wanted a black drum and he said that someone had told h…
Fisheries, like everything else we humans get our sticky little fingers into, requires management. It would seem by now they would have figure…
Since I have been bass fishing in Florida, I have caught bass flipping every type of cover you can find. Lately, the best thing I have found t…
Don and I are getting up there in age — olderish, as some may say. In this Florida heat, we are warned not to spend too much time outside. But…
We’re now in the meat of hurricane season. Yes, it officially began two months ago — but June and July are historically not very busy months f…
Do I really have to say anything about it being hot? I actually had to make a couple clients sit down and drink water last week. It’s hard to …
Tarpon fishing the U.S. 41 bridges over the mouth of the Peace River at night can be a blast. It’s easy, it’s usually peaceful, and you’re nev…
Every angler needs a line cutting tool. Many of us store our favorite pearly white line cutters behind our lips, but using your teeth to cut l…
I guess we fall into the “overprotective” category of kayak anglers. Our kayaks are now more than 10 years old and have had a lot of use. Back…
Pretty much every local angler I’ve talked with agrees that our trout numbers are not what they used to be. Some folks tell me they’ve noticed…
Here we are in the depths of summer. The temperature is in the mid 90s most days, unless there are all-day storms to keep us cooler (but also …
Bivalves are mollusks that have a two-part hinged shell which hides the soft-bodied animal inside. Clams, oysters, scallops and mussels are al…
Most anglers who spend any time fishing in fresh water are familiar with gar. It’s pretty common to see these fish floating just under the sur…
I attended a meeting for commercial fishermen last weekend on the East Coast. They came from the Panhandle to Key West, so we had input from a…
Fishing and worms go together like bread and butter. Or, as Forrest Gump said, like peas and carrots. Only a fly fisherman might scoff at the …
We have kept our RV on the side of the house since we bought it. By now, the grass under and around it has all died off. But with that, the di…
One of the most important (but least appreciated) aspects of a good three-dimensional yard wildlife habitat is the ground surface. Most people…
I have an iguana problem at my house. A few months ago, I found one sitting on my dock, right where I rest my beverage. I thought, “He’s in my…
Welcome to the Gunshine State! I love to refer to Florida this way, especially during the summer when sunshine is secondary to torrential rain…
We have a long history of hating big predatory animals. Given our dependence on farm-raised food, it makes a lot of sense. For a homesteader i…
