Tournament fishing has become an extremely popular attraction for the South Florida sport fishing community. Each year thousands of anglers participate in hundreds of different events with the hopes of placing or perhaps even winning a top event. The stakes are high and the competition can often be brutal. As tournament season is again upon us the popular question of what does it take to win?

While recently browsing the trolling lure isle at my favorite outfitter, I couldn’t help but notice the influx of interchangeable trolling lure systems. I found myself fiddling with the numerous style and multiple color head designs along with the seemingly endless skirt and body combinations. I quickly came to the realization that a trolling system with this much versatility had to have its advantages.

Making the MOST of your PIER FISHING EXPERIENCE

For non-boaters the multiple fishing piers lining our coastline are one of the only places where we can hope to tie into a big fish. Keeper size snapper and big cobia are just two of the prizes lurking in the shadows. The only problem is pier fishing can be very frustrating for those who aren’t familiar with how to fish them properly.

The largest and least explored island in the Bahamas, Andros 

Andros is by far the largest island in the Bahamian archipelago. The Island measures over 40 miles from east to west and more than 100 miles from north to south. Glancing at a chart, you will notice that Andros Island is really a collection of many smaller islands.

A look at the Gulf's mixed bag from the eyes of a veteran 

My busiest season is about to commence. Clients that Ive taken fishing each winter for years have pre-booked their trips with a world of enthusiasm and high expectations. Luckily for me, throughout the near shore waters of the Gulf of Mexico when the fishing is good, its often very, very good. And when its bad, it still better than most other places. Often, the most difficult decision I have to make during this time of year is choosing which species to target. So many excellent opportunities abound throughout the Gulf that resident and visiting anglers alike should both feel privileged to have such convenient access to world class fishing.

Natural Baits Part Two of a Two Part Series

In part one of this series we discussed a variety of artificial trolling lure designs and their effectiveness in the exciting big game, big dollar world of blue marlin fishing. Lets now cover another equally if not more effective way of inviting a blue marlin into your trolling spread. Dragging natural baits dates back to the origins of blue water fishing. Since long before big game trolling lures constructed of state of the art composite materials were even thought of, primitive blue water anglers have been pulling rigged ballyhoo, mullet, squid and a variety of other natural baits in their pursuit of mighty billfish.

Like bees to honey... inshore species SWARM neighboring power plants.

As compared to other parts of the Nation, winters in South Florida tend to be mild although they most certainly have a significant impact on our local fishery. Like snow birds, once temperatures drop to uncomfortable levels numerous species of inshore fish travel to seek warmth. This warmth often comes in the form of the warm water discharges found at the many power plants littering the States eastern and western seaboards. Power plant intake canals swallow millions of gallons of water which are used to cool oil, coal or nuclear powered generators.

Lurking in the shadows of Miami, packs of hungry tarpon are waiting for you...

Gorgeous moonlit nights and silvery kings dancing below the surface to the beat of the nightlife is what I consider prime time tarpon fishing at its finest. All of the major inlets in South Florida are notorious feeding grounds during the winter months for the mightiest of all inshore species, the tarpon. When the thermometer dips below average, fish ranging in size from 10 to 200 lbs. inhabit most canals, basins and jetties in the southern portion of the State.

Without hesitation I would say that chasing winter wahoo off Florida's southeast coast has to be one of my favorite types of fishing. Only a small percentage of the sport fishing community is aware that at particular times of the year the local wahoo bite can be outstanding. Actually, throughout the year anglers trolling around floating debris for dolphin or working one of the many reef lines for kingfish do occasionally run into one of these speedsters.