OUTDOORS

Tough episode for wildlife wrangler Puig

Wildlife wrangler Manny Puig was bitten by a Western diamondback rattlesnake during the taping of the TV show `Savage Wild.' 1257660061

FISHING

Warmer weather disrupts mullet run

Unseasonably warm weather disrupted what one South Florida fisherman calls `happy-bait' season. 1257659827

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Captain Dave Kostyo of Knot Nancy Fishing Charters out of TNT Marina in Keystone reported mullet were migrating through Haulover Inlet and large tarpon were exploding on the helpless mullet, and along the beaches there was sporadic action on Spanish mackerel, offshore a few kingfish on the reef and dolphins migrating south on the edge. . . . Captain Ryan McBride of Conched Out Fishing Charters out of Fort Lauderdale says sailfish have been his main target from Palm Beach south to Fort Lauderdale. McBride reported the sailfish have been chasing ballyhoo schools and small bonitos and tunas, and his clients have averaged three to six bites from sailfish per four-hour charter.

Pinellas County offers model for protecting marine habitat

ST. PETERSBURG -- In his 13-year career as a light-tackle fishing guide in Tampa Bay, captain Rob Gorta has caught and released redfish up to 42 inches. The 38-year-old former U.S. Coast Guardsman has appeared on several popular outdoors TV shows, helping famous hosts such as Mark Sosin, Shaw Grigsby and Byron Velvick to big catches.

The IGFA has begun a new session of the ``School of Sportfishing'' through Dec. 15. Instructors include captains Ron Hamlin, Tony DiGiulian, Karl Anderson, Josh Brown and Bouncer Smith on topics such as billfishing, wahoo, marine electronics and more. All classes are held Tuesdays from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Fee is $100 for IGFA members; $150 for nonmembers. Reservations are required. E-mail jmackin@igfa.org or call 954-924-4340. To register online, go to igfa.org/sosform.asp.

FORT LAUDERDALE INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW

Yacht offers big cut in fuel consumption

A 78-foot motor yacht, one of the many watercrafts on display at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, is said to cut fuel consumption by 40 percent.

FISHING

Snake Bight proposal is made

Everglades National Park officials have proposed a pole-and-troll zone in Snake Bight -- a popular, shallow-water fishing area in Florida Bay near Flamingo, and they want to know what anglers think about it.

Miamian endures `toughest' Ironman race

John Marshall, 39, of Miami finished the Ford Ironman World Championship Triathlon on Oct. 10 in Kona, Hawaii. It marked his second time competing and completing the most prestigious ironman.

Tasty sub -- for just $2 million at boat show

If you are going to kick out $35 million for a superyacht at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show that runs Thursday through Monday, what's another $2 million for a two-passenger submarine on the deck?

South Florida fishing report

Captain Lou Brubaker out of Islamorada reported catches of 25 or more Spanish mackerel in less than two hours fishing the Gulf, along with tripletail that are holding next to buoy markers.

Upcoming outdoor events

The ``Florida Sportsman Magazine Radio Live'' program will broadcast its final show Saturday on WMCU (1080 AM). Co-host captain Alan Sherman said the long-running, live radio fishing show fell victim to the faltering South Florida economy.

Guy Harvey inducted into Game Fish Association Hall of Fame

The man credited with popularizing sport fishing art and putting the proceeds to work for worldwide fisheries conservation was honored by a large crowd of his peers in a gala ceremony Tuesday night in Dania Beach.

Guy Harvey to join fishing Hall of Fame

Renowned marine wildlife artist and conservationist Guy Harvey will be inducted into the International Game Fish Association Hall of Fame on Tuesday in Dania Beach.

Fly-fishing's last frontier provides thrills

Inside every nymph-casting, freshwater fly-fisherman lurks the desire to catch something bigger than a 12-inch brown trout. If he or she is honest, like captain Bill Baldus, the fly-fisherman will admit that catching big fish on fly in saltwater is an ultimate goal.

AMBERJACK

Harvest closed in Gulf

NOAA Fisheries on Saturday shut down all recreational harvest of amberjack in Gulf federal waters -- more than nine miles from shore -- through the end of 2009. The agency issued a news bulletin saying recreational fishers have met their annual quota of 1,368,000 pounds, so no amberjack can be harvested through Dec. 31. The federal closure also applies to charter and headboats fishing in Gulf state waters.

LEMON SHARKS

Protection urged for species at public workshop

The majority opinion at a recent public workshop was for lemon sharks to be included among a list of protected species.

Wild rides on water and land

FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. -- Floating down the Upper Gauley River toward the inaptly named Pillow Rock, the lyrics of an old punk rock song reverberate through my helmet-clad brain: ``This ain't no party; this ain't no disco; this ain't no foolin' around.''

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Captain Charlie Conner of FishTales Charters out of Port St. Lucie reported a bounty of baitfish in the river, and the fish are gorging on these baitfish. Lots of sea trout are biting on the grass flats, and the big news is that pompano have moved into the river and can be found in three to six feet of water along the edges of the flats. The pompano are eating live shrimp, pompano jigs and sand fleas. Some big snook are holding around the docks, and in the inlets, snook and large tarpon are biting at night, redfish have been in the Round Island south to Midway Road and loads of ladyfish and jacks are available.

ARTIFICIAL REEFS

Artificial reef a novel way to create life after life

An artificial reef off of Key Biscayne acts as a final resting place for loved ones, and a source of new corals and other marine life.