The recreational harvest season for vermilion snapper reopened this week throughout the South Atlantic after a five-month closure, and nobody could be happier than captain Kenny Hawkins, owner/operator of the 40-passenger party boat Sea Legs III based in Hollywood.
Two huge swordfish were caught within a week of each other in the Florida Keys. Mike Driskell from Little Torch Key fished aboard the 61-foot Mystique owned by Katherine MacMillan 30 miles south of Marathon with captain Billy Rabito Jr. of Marathon and landed an estimated 683 1/2-pound swordfish that ate a five-pound bonito. The giant swordfish was landed after a two-hour battle on an electric reel. Fred Beshara from Ohio fished with captain Kenny Spaulding of Islamorada in 1,850 feet of water and landed a 520-pound swordfish.
Nearly seven years ago, scientists from Nova Southeastern University Oceanographic Center sampling sharks caught on charter boats off Fort Lauderdale stumbled on a startling discovery: some of the sharks that looked like scalloped hammerheads were actually a different, unidentified species.
About 50 anglers took part in an event that helped raise funds for the U.S. team. Julian Cruz won the first-place individual award.
• The recreational harvest of vermilion snapper — a tasty deepwater species — reopens Sunday through Oct. 31 in state waters in the Atlantic, which extend from shore out to three miles. The fishery has been closed since November to help boost the stock.
A fleet of the most advanced racing yachts, helmed by the most decorated sailors, is fighting its way to Brazil, then on to Miami.
Fort Lauderdale’s Evan Dehart outran a field of 5,246 to win the men’s race, and Marlene Persson, 41, won the women’s race.
An often-overlooked spot on Yucatan’s Caribbean coast is a great place for a relaxing spring fishing vacation — and plenty of bonefish.
• The Florida Trail Association will host the Ocean to Lake Outdoor Festival from Friday through Sunday in Jupiter. Headquarters is the Jupiter Community Center. Activities include paddling the Loxahatchee River, bird-watching, butterfly walks, hiking and a presentation by photographer Clyde Butcher. For more information, go to www.floridatrail.org or call 352-378-8823.
Captain Alan Zaremba reported good action from peacock and largemouth bass in the C-2, C-4, L-4 and C-8 canals. The bass are eating Clouser Minnow flies and poppers. John Machin and Paul Proctor from England teamed up to release 46 peacock bass to 6 pounds, 35 largemouth bass to 6.5 pounds and a few Oscars all on fly in three days of fishing. Greg Nelson and his son Riley from Longwood teamed up to release 72 peacock bass to 5.5 pounds all on fly in two days of fishing.
Hunters are taking to helicopters to track and shoot wild pigs that are proving a nuisance to ranchers and farmers. Not everyone agrees that this is a good way to hunt.
What began as a record 13-pound, 1-ounce lead in day two of the Bassmaster Elite Series tournament on Lake Okeechobee dwindled to 10 ounces Saturday for California professional Ish Monroe.
It was a good weekend of fishing off Miami as 246 sailfish were released in the two events of the 30th annual Yamaha Contender Miami Billfish Challenge held at the Miami Beach Marina.
• The Hollywood Hills Saltwater Fishing, Science and Social Club will meet Wednesday at 8 p.m. at Boston Johnny’s Bar & Grill, 2120 N. Dixie Hwy., Hollywood. Come early for happy hour, followed by a presentation by Dr. Greg Schor Haskin on tournament fishing. For more information, email professoro@bellsouth.net.
Captain Bouncer Smith from Bouncers Dusky Fishing Charters reported offshore fishing has been spectacular even though the seas have been rough. Fishing offshore of Government Cut with large pilchards and threadfin herring, his clients have had encounters with a whale shark that produced cobia and dolphin, have had shots at bluefin tuna, released an estimated 100-pound white marlin and have had plenty of sailfish and blackfin tuna action.
Hunter’s patience, persistence bags first turkey of the spring season during a Hendry Country hunt.
The species has been around since before the dinosaurs, but the arrival of humans has put their continued survival at risk.
The 2008 Bassmaster Classic champion, Alton Jones of Woodway, Texas, has a wide lead going into Sunday’s final of the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series opener on the St. Johns River in Palatka.
A white male died Thursday morning when he drove his van into a private lot and for unknown reasons backed up and then accelerated forward into a canal in Islamorada, said Joe Sanchez, a spokesman with the Florida Highway Patrol.
Two weeks remain in the regular lobster season, and there are plenty of the delicious crustaceans left if you know where to look.
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