and I usually was. ...more

May 18, 2008

The Suncoast Tarpon Roundup, the nation's oldest tarpon tournament, announced a few months back that this year's event would finally go to an all-release format, and the rules have now been released, affirming that dramatic change. ...more

May 11, 2008

We are in the middle of the best time of the lunar cycle, which is the best time to be on the lake fishing for our favorite fish. The new moon occurs tomorrow at 12:18 p.m., which means the effects of the moon on aquatic life will be in favor for the angler during the daytime. ...more

May 3, 2008

The forecast looks very good for the next four days, with the full moon happening on Thursday morning at 3:30 am, a Lunar Eclipse occurring just four to five hours before that, and the weather warming up slightly with light winds shifting from east to south at five to 10 mph. ...more

February 19, 2008

The great fishing conditions of the last three days now moves off into the nighttime –– literally –– as the daytime majority feeding migration becomes the nighttime majority feeding migration. To replace it is the start of a new daytime feeding migration, which happens at every first-quarter moon event. That will occur tonight at 3:33 a.m. The daytime fishing and angling will suffer somewhat for the next three days. The best period of the day is on the tail end of the remnant of the last feeding migration – 4 to 7 p.m. The morning bite will be weak at best, although the largest fish of each kind are known to ignore what the masses follow as a rule, so there is a remote chance of catching a larger-than-normal fish. ...more

February 13, 2008

Reef anglers, already concerned because of a threatened reduction in gag grouper harvest, are likely to see their opportunities further reduced when the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission meets Feb. 6-7 in Panama City. On the agenda is a rule that would match state regulations to pending federal rules on red snapper harvest. ...more

January 23, 2008

It's the day after the 11:37 a.m. New Moon, and because of the late morning lunar timing, the intensity and duration of the nighttime feeding migration diminishes significantly with many fish participating in the daytime feeding migration. This is good news for the daytime angler who has been dealing with the majority of lunar events happening at night during the fall and early-winter seasons. Another benefit to the lunar timing is the fact that virtually all day, the fish will be feeding on and off instead of migrating in one major and minor feeding pattern. ...more

January 9, 2008

For the next three days, you can forget about getting out on the lake early. Instead, spend time preparing for a mid- to late-afternoon bite. This is the week where you get out of bed early to set up the boat, rig up your gear and jump in the tow vehicle when you get out of work and be on the lake just as the bite starts. Since the last quarter moon on last Saturday, the early morning bite steadily decreased and the beginnings of a late afternoon bite formed. Now, with the recent semi-cold front that came into our area Monday night, the already formed late-day feeding migration will increase in duration and intensity. The National Weather Service is also predicting a steady increase of 10 degrees over the next three to four days, and this will also help make conditions perfect for the afternoon angler. ...more

December 5, 2007

Ever heard stories of freshwater anglers catching 50, 80, even 100 bass in a day from public lakes around Florida? Catches such as those seem impossible today given all the fishing pressure, but this time of year a few savvy anglers pull it off regularly. ...more

November 2, 2007

Gene Turner of St. Petersburg is a legend in the lore of kingfish, mostly because without his booming voice during the 1970s, there would be few kings today. ...more

October 28, 2007