In My Opinion

Marathon’s offshore waters yield bounty

The water was powdery blue-green as captain Jimmy Gagliardini cruised Marathon’s offshore waters on a recent weekday morning, trying to locate fish for Jason Casey and I.

ING Miami marathon and half marathon

A gift turns into a passion for first-time ING Miami marathon participant

Becca Goeckeritz of Salt Lake City got her first hand cycle as a present, and Sunday she will take part in her first marathon.

Fishing notebook

Freddy Caimotto from the Snook Nook Bait and Tackle in Jensen Beach said along the beaches a lot of cobias and one large school of bull reds was spotted that produced fish up to 20 pounds. Large croakers and a few pompano are being caught from the surf. Offshore, there have been sailfish, and around the bridges, big black drum, sheepshead and a few pompano are being caught.

Sailing

Miamians Mendelblatt and Faithtied for regatta lead

You would never know by their performance in two days of racing that the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta is not that big a deal to Miamians Mark Mendelblatt and Brian Fatih.

Rolex Regatta gets underway on Biscayne Bay

U.S. sailors took the top spots in four classes in Monday’s opener of the Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta on Biscayne Bay.

Competitors ready for Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta

The U.S. Sailing Rolex Miami Olympic Classes Regatta, a key steppingstone to the Summer Games, runs Monday to Saturday.

In My Opinion

Trek to highlight need for wildlife corridor

Tampa wildlife photographer Carlton Ward Jr. returned home from a shoot in Africa a few years ago and was disappointed to find that formerly open lands in his home state had become suburbs.

Fishing report

Captain Bouncer Smith of Bouncer’s Dusky out of Miami Beach Marina said deep-water bottom fishing produced catches of black belly rose fish and golden tilefish in 620 to 1,000 feet of water. Over the artificial wrecks, amberjack, black and gag grouper and mutton snappers are available. With more wind, sailfish and dolphins are biting outside the outer reef, and around Government Cut, tarpon to 110 pounds are eating large slow drifted live shrimp.

Outdoors notebook

•  Olympic gold medalist Magnus Liljedahl and other Olympic class sailors will speak at an open house at 5 p.m. Friday  20 at the MCA Academy, 2911 Grand Ave., Coconut Grove. It is free and open to the public. Call 305-442-2283 or visit www.mcaacademy.com.

South Florida

South Florida: Just one stop on an around-the-world run

From the deserts of Africa to the jungles of South America, a Danish long-distance runner is determined to finish a run around the world. This week, he’s making his way through South Florida.

Watching here is purely for the birds

Birdwatchers can take a free guided tour at Stormwater Treatment Area 1 East, which is now a wetland that has become a magnet for birds.

NOTEBOOK

Sailfly event a test of patience

O Yo Ho Ho, co-owned by Islamorada residents Al McLeod and Bob Lodge and skippered by captain Charlie Scoble, won top honors in the 2012 Islamorada Sailfly Championship that concluded Thursday. The one-of-a-kind tournament, launched in 2001, awards trophies for releasing Atlantic sailfish on fly rod. The crew on Yo Ho Ho bested a fleet of 20 boats in catching, billing and removing the fly from a sailfish. The runner-up team on Challenger, skippered by captain Robbie Dixon, released a sail after a 30-minute fight, but was unable to bill it. The 2012 Sailfly marks the fourth victory for Scoble as captain and the second for anglers McLeod and Lodge.

Fishing notebook

Jamie Owens from the party boat Atlantis out of Haulover Marina said anglers on all of the party boats are catching a lot of kingfish in the 5-to-10-pound range by drifting dead Spanish sardines hooked to a three hook kingfish rig in 80 to 160 feet of water offshore of Haulover Inlet. Anglers fishing the bottom are catching almoco jacks. Blackfin tuna are being caught by jigging vertical jigs.

Belle Glade

Second suspect arrested in slaying of fishing champ Jimmy McMillan

Detectives arrested a second man Tuesday in connection with the fatal shooting of popular Belle Glade grocery store owner and bass fishing champion Jimmy McMillan.

FISHING

Chokoloskee offers fishing cornucopia

Conditions in the varied and bountiful fishing grounds of the Ten Thousand Islands can change with the season, tide, weather and more, keeping even seasoned guides wary of getting shut out.

Sailing | fort lauderdale to key west race

Competitors ready for latest edition of annual race to Key West

More than 45 sailboats as large as 90 feet long are expected at the starting line of the 37th annual Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race on Wednesday afternoon. Their crews are hoping for strong northerly winds to push them quickly along the 160-mile course.

Belle Glade

19-year-old charged in slaying of bass fishing pro Jimmy McMillan

Former high school football player Corey Graham Jr. told his father he robbed and then shot the store owner because he needed the money.

Running | Everglades Ultras

Race site is largest state park in Florida

As many as 100 runners are expected to compete on unique courses through the 80,000-acre Fakahatchee Strand.

Sailing

Boats set for annual race to Key West

More than 45 sailboats as large as 90 feet long are expected at the starting line of the 37th annual Fort Lauderdale to Key West Race on Wednesday afternoon. Their crews are hoping for strong northerly winds to push them quickly along the 160-mile course.

OUTDOORS NOTEBOOK

Some new fishing regulations in effect for South Florida

A reminder to anglers from federal and state fisheries managers: A shallow-water grouper closure is in effect in federal and state Atlantic waters through April 30. Recreational and commercial harvest are prohibited for: gag, black, red, scamp, coney, graysby, yellowfin, yellowmouth, tiger, rock hind and red hind grouper.