Outdoors

OUTDOORS

South Florida outdoors notebook

 

To our readers

This page is a regular weekly feature focusing on Florida outdoors adventures and upcoming events. If you would like to add to this listing, email scocking@MiamiHerald.com or fax to 305-376-2295.


•  Canoe, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards and other human-powered craft are eligible to compete in the Miami Paddle Challenge on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Matheson Hammock Park, 9610 Old Cutler Rd., Miami. Entry fee is $50. Proceeds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Visit http://www.miamipaddlechallenge.com.

•  Help celebrate National Public Lands Day on Saturday by volunteering at South Florida’s state parks. Events will be at Barnacle Historic State Park in Coconut Grove, Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound, Hugh Taylor Birch State Park in Fort Lauderdale and Oleta River State Park in North Miami. Visit www.FloridaStateParks.org.

•  The IGFA will conduct the School of Sportfishing Oct. 2-23, with sessions on trophy snook and tarpon, bottom fishing wrecks and reefs, conquering sailfish and successful swordfishing. For more information, call Jeff Mackin at 954-924-4340 or email jmackin@igfa.org.

•  Make plans to compete in the Miami Swordfish Tournament Thursday through Sunday. A kick-off party will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. at Monty’s in the Grove. Fishing is at night Friday and Saturday out of Miami Beach Marina, with an awards party to follow on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Texas De Brazil. Entry fee is $500 per boat with four anglers. Call Bric Peeples at 305-282-1006 or visit miamiswordfishtournament.com.

•  Celebrate National Public Lands Day on Saturday by volunteering with staff at Everglades National Park to clear trails and remove invasive plants. The event will begin at 8:30 a.m. at the Shark Valley entrance off U.S. 41. For more information, call Laurie Humphrey at 305-221-8776 or email Laurie.Humphrey@nps.gov.

•  Islamorada’s Lorelei Restaurant and Marina will present the 15th annual Kids’ Fishing Derby on Sunday. The event is open to Keys residents ages 10 and younger. Entry is free. For more information, call Dianne Harbaugh or Kathy Lewis at 305-393-0626.

•  Diveheart, the nonprofit organization that trains disabled people to scuba dive, will hold a training workshop Monday through Oct. 6 in South Florida. Sessions and dives will be conducted by Force-E Scuba Centers and Pelican Dive Charteres in Pompano Beach and Boynton Beach. The fee for Diveheart instructor training is $395, $225 for the dive buddy certification course. For more information, call Willie at 561-307-8583 or email info@diveheart.com.

•  The Broward Sierra Club will meet Oct. 4 at 7:30 p.m. at Fern Forest Nature Center, 201 Lyons Rd., S., Coconut Creek. The meeting is free and open to the public. Call Barbara Curtis at 954-946-7359 or email legalbarb2@yahoo.com.

•  Compete for a $5,000 top prize in the Florida Keys Publix Mad Dog Mandich Fishing Classic on Oct. 5-6 in Islamorada. Entry fee is $400 per boat until Friday, $450 afterward. A captains meeting will be held Oct. 5 at Ziggie & Mad Dog’s Restaurant, Mile Marker 83, U.S. 1. For more information, call 305-667-0399.

Read more Outdoors stories from the Miami Herald

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There were no crocodiles in sight. There were several large iguanas, including this 4-footer hanging in some branches that overhung the river.

    Stand-up Paddleboarding

    Paddlers can stand up for a great adventure

    The Coral Gables Waterway offers some scenic views, especially traveling the canal by stand-up paddleboard.

  • Fishing report

    Captain John Barker of Blue Waters Charters reported finding plenty of action for his clients fishing in 140 feet of water offshore of Government Cut. Using live bluerunners and threadfin herring his clients caught big kingfish, dolphins and blackfin tuna on the surface baits and large mutton snappers on the bottom baits. … Fishing on the Dream Catcher with captain Steven Lamp out of Key West, Rick Berry of Key Largo Rods and a few friends fished the Dry Tortugas area and had plenty of action from blackfin tuna and bonitos that ate bucktail jigs and Mirrolures cast around the sterns of shrimp boats. The tunas were up to 26 pounds. The group also had a nice catch of red groupers to 12 pounds that ate jigs tipped with bonito strips.

  • Hydration, proper nutrition are the keys to rewarding venture

    Competitive sports are a great way to stay in shape and meet new people, but how do you survive events such as triathlons, marathons and adventure races if you are not a professional athlete?

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