Shrimp season

Shrimpers enduring abysmal season in Biscayne Bay

Shrimpers suggest a warm winter and after-effects of the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf are causes for this year’s dreadful season.

Everglades National Park

Park visitors fear regulations could limit access

The first public hearing on the future of Everglades National Park aroused many as the proposed plan seemed like a list of restrictions.

Susan Cocking | In My Opinion

Fakahatchee not quite a river of tears, but it is painful

Jeff Ripple’s 2004 book, Day Paddling Florida’s 10,000 Islands and Big Cypress Swamp, doesn’t have much good to say about paddling the Fakahatchee River.

Fishing

South Florida fishing report

IslamoradaSportFishing.com reported offshore boats working the Humps were having plenty of action from amberjacks. Along the reef, sailfish were available in good numbers and eating live ballyhoo, and kingfish were eating slow trolled deboned ballyhoo. On the bottom, anglers were doing well on large mutton and yellowtail snappers. Fishermen working the edges of Florida Bay and into the Gulf were catching Spanish mackerel, but not in the numbers they had months ago.

On participant sports

New races show great creativity

The popularity of participant sports such as marathons and triathlons have been increasing for years, but that hasn’t stopped organizers of these events from taking a more creative approach to competition.

Fishing

Offshore catches surprising

Despite a tough winter season of fishing, a recent trip for captain Jimmy David and his customers yielded nice returns.

Outdoors notebook

NOAA Fisheries is seeking public comment on a proposed framework that may, or may not, open a limited harvest of red snapper in the South Atlantic this summer.

Outdoors notebook

The Happy Hoofers chapter of the Florida Trail Association will meet Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Fern Forest Nature Center, 201 Lyons Rd., S., Coconut Creek. Guest speaker is Carmel Severson of Pro Panther. Call Kay at 954-609-4727.

Fishing notebook

Freddy Caimotto from the Snook Nook Bait and Tackle in Jensen Beach reported large snook have been a sure bet at night for anglers casting 2-ounce pink Flare Hawks with a blue tail. Best action has come off the Jensen Bridge catwalks, Stuart Causeway rocks and sea walls and on the Roosevelt Bridge on the outgoing tides. Day fishermen have had snook success using live pinfish on the bottom.

Fishing

Lake Istokpoga gaining notoriety as a trophy catch locale

Some call it the “Rodney Dangerfield” of Florida bass lakes, getting little respect compared to its larger neighbors, fish-rich Okeechobee and Kissimmee. But 28,000-acre Lake Istokpoga has caught a lot of anglers’ attention recently with some outstanding catches.

Pilates can prevent injuries and improve lap times

Have you ever injured yourself while competing in a race or while training for an event?

Sailing | Bacardi Cup

Miami Olympians rally to take first in Star class

Miami Olympians Mark Mendelblatt and Brian Fatih captured first place in the Star class of the 86th Bacardi Cup.

Outdoors notebook

The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council voted Friday to recommend ending the seasonal closure of vermilion snapper to recreational anglers. A scientific stock assessment showed that the tasty pink snapper found on deep reefs off South Florida and elsewhere are not overfished — allowing for an increase in annual catch limits, and no need for the Nov. 1-March 31 closed recreational season adopted in 2009. The council, meeting in St. Simon’s Island, Ga., voted to forward the recommendation to the Secretary of Commerce for review. If approved, the amendment could take effect in time to avoid the November 2013 closure.

Fishing | swordfish

New rule could provide opportunities for new entrants into the commercial swordfish fishery

For about $20, South Florida recreational swordfish anglers could become commercial fishers under a new rule amendment proposed by NOAA Fisheries.

Outdoors notebook

Brazilian team holds small lead in 86th Bacardi Cup

With one race left in the 86th Bacardi Cup, the Brazilian team of Lars Grael and Mario Lagoa saw their weeklong lead slip to only two points Friday as a Miami team worked its way up from the bottom of the fleet to the runner-up position.

In My Opinion

Houseboat makes fishing aficionados’ lives easier

Spending a day fishing the remote back country waters around Whitewater Bay north of Flamingo in Everglades National Park often yields superior catches of tarpon, snook, redfish, trout, and even largemouth bass. But just reaching those bountiful fishing grounds is time- and fuel-consuming, and once you get there, you’ve got to try to locate the fish — which easily can take all day.

OUTDOORS

South Florida fishing report

Captain Raul Montoro of Shallow Tails Guide Service out of Miami reported he is finding plenty of permits on the deeper edges of the shallow grass flats in South Biscayne Bay. The permits are eating well-placed silver dollar size blue crabs. … Plenty of lemon, black tip and spinner sharks are on the prowl on the flats for those looking to bend a fishing rod.

In My Opinion

Sailors try to tame waters that refuse to be conquered

Biscayne Bay, Shangri-La for sailors, welcomed the world’s best skippers and crew to its warm waters with a postcard day, and they blew kisses of homage into the irresistible breeze.

Brazilians on top after second day of Bacardi

After three races in two days, the Brazilian team of Lars Grael and Mario Logos held onto the top spot Tuesday in a fleet of 56 Star sailboats competing in the 86th Bacardi Cup on Biscayne Bay.

BIG PINE KEY

Pelican and gull found in Keys with beer cans around their necks

Maya Totman, director of the Florida Keys Wildlife Rescue, has helped many birds that have been injured by unnatural causes, including getting caught in fishing line and lobster traps, swallowing plastic bags and being hit by cars.