South Florida Boat Show

South Florida Boat Show returns after short hiatus

After the sprawling, glitzy Miami and Palm Beach international boat shows in February and March comes the smaller, revived South Florida Boat Show from Friday to June 2 at the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Outdoors notebook

Southeast Florida anglers have less than one week to catch a snook for dinner before the annual spawning closure that begins Saturday and ends Sept. 1. The harvest season in Gulf waters, including the Keys and Everglades National Park, has been closed since the deep freeze in 2010. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commissioners will decide at their June meeting in Lakeland whether to reopen the Gulf to snook harvest on Sept. 1. Also closing Saturday are the recreational and commercial harvest seasons for greater amberjack in Gulf state and federal waters. Both seasons will reopen Aug. 1.

Swamp Apes group gives war veterans missions in the Everglades

When 30-year-old Iraq war veteran Jorge Martinez left the Marine Corps, he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. The vet wanted to readjust to civilian life and get involved in social activities, but being amid large crowds made him uncomfortable.

Fishing report

Fishing out of Bimini, captain Jimbo Thomas, friends and family fished aboard the Thomas Flyer north of Great Isaac’s in 2,500 feet of water and caught seven yellowfin tuna up to 50 pounds, blackfin tuna up to 38 pounds and dolphins up to 30 pounds. Thomas reported that dolphin were actually a nuisance because they were stealing many of their live baits that were intended for the tuna.

Pedraza excels at nationals

Fort Lauderdale open-water swimmer Joey Pedraza likely qualified for the USA Swimming National Team after placing second in the 5K and fifth in the 10K events during the Open Water National Championships in Castaic, Calif.

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?

Spotlight on | Diving

Chinese continue their winning ways at FINA Diving Grand Prix

A dominating, attention-to-detail Chinese squad won all eight events Sunday at the FINA diving competition in Fort Lauderdale.

Saltwater Shootout

Anglers weigh in but no winner yet

Out of 137 teams, Penny-less came up as the top boat in the Mercury/SeaVee Saltwater Shootout held at Hillsboro Inlet Park on Saturday.

Diving | FINA USA Grand Prix

Four-time Olympian Troy Dumais advances to final

Four-time Olympian Troy Dumais placed second in the FINAUSA Grand Prix 3-meter springboard semifinals with 468.90 points.

Diving

Burke dives into finals in her first international meet

Amanda Burke advanced to Fina 3-meter springboard final, scoring a 297.70 for second place behind China’s Liu Jiao.

In my opinion

Bimini waters teeming with fish

Many South Florida anglers with small boats yearn for the adventure of fishing the bountiful waters of Bimini about 50 miles away. But crossing the Straits of Florida to fish in a foreign country — even a small and friendly one — an be daunting to some.

OUTDOORS

South Florida Fishing report

Captain Bouncer Smith Of Bouncers Dusky out of Miami Beach Marina reported that despite zero current outside the reef offshore of Government Cut, his clients landed five cobias, four gray groupers two big mutton snappers, kingfish and bonitos. Most of the action took place over artificial reefs with live baits. … Captain Paul Roydhouse of FishHeadquarters.com out of Fort Lauderdale reported that during day trips fishing between 100 to 200 feet of water offshore of Port Everglades, his clients have been doing well on kingfish, blackfin tuna and a few sailfish on the top and some nice snappers and a few groupers.

Stolen bike doesn’t stop cyclist’s charity

Hector Picard is a double-arm amputee who has not let his disability stop him from competing in more than 73 triathlons in the past four years, including the rugged Ironman Triathlon.

Boat Rentals

Web rentals surfacing

BoatforRent.com and Cruzin.com want to alleviate the cost of boat ownership by bringing online-based rental options to the area.

Fishing | Grove Slam

O-Sea-D grabs largest dolphin

Jorge Villar, aboard O-Sea-D, caught the winning 32.51-pound dolphin in 1,000 feet of water off Key Largo in the Grove Slam.

Outdoors Notebook

Red rules under review

NOAA Fisheries hasn’t decided yet whether to open another red snapper mini-season this summer in the South Atlantic like it did last year.

Conservation

Divers play tag to save turtles

The 10 scuba divers who plunged to a reef about 70 feet deep off Jupiter on April 19 had a mission: try to find a hawksbill sea turtle for marine scientist Larry Wood to tag.

Fishing report

Kandi Molitor from the Juno Fishing Pier reported pier fishermen are catching pompano on sand fleas, jigs and clams; Spanish mackerel and bluefish on live greenies, spoons and jigs; look downs and snook on live shrimp; and a few cobias. … Captain Freddy David of Frick & Frack charters out of Haulover Marine Center reported that his clients fishing offshore of Haulover Inlet have had up to 17 sailfish releases in a day. Along with the sailfish there have been kingfish to 45 pounds, lots of big sharks and a few blackfin tuna.