Indholdsfortegnelse for April 2025 i Florida Sportsman

If our editorial staff had the power of Executive Order, we, too, would be setting about re-naming a few places. Frankly, Gulf of Mexico was never really on our target list, but thanks to Presidential Executive Order, it’s officially Gulf of America on our NOAA charts, so that’s how we’ll refer to it. Just so you know: We won’t be changing references to “Gulf of Mexico” which may appear in Florida Sportsman archival articles, books, or sun-bleached fish measuring stickers dating back to Y2K. Mostly it’s just “The Gulf” to us, anyway. What are some geographic and institutional names around Florida we think should be changed? Managing Editor Ed Killer and I laid out the map and went to work. We began with plans to better reflect modern priorities for…

REGULATOR 35 LOA: 35'1" • BEAM: 11'9" DEADRISE: 24 degrees WEIGHT: 16,500 lbs. FUEL: 405 gal. POWER: Triple Yamaha Offshore 350 EVERY SO OFTEN a boat comes along that can truly be called a “game changer.” Such is the case with the Regulator 35, the latest offering by the Edenton, NC boat builder. This Yamaha-powered center console outfitted with the latest Seakeeper technology to provide the smoothest of rides includes a 405-gallon fuel tank, pressurized center transom livewell and up to 49 rodholders. The split forward seating with walkthrough to the bow allows for more leverage when fighting tuna, kingfish or sailfish. Miami Boat Show MSRP $674,995. BLACKFIN 262HB LOA: 26'3" • BEAM: 9'2" • DEADRISE: 17 deg. WEIGHT: 6,300 lbs (dry w/power) • FUEL: 100 gal. • POWER: Mercury V6 350 hp THE…

For a quarter century now, the State of Florida and the federal government have been partners in trying to fix the largest wetland in the western hemisphere and largest tropical wilderness in the United States—The Everglades. And if we’ve learned anything along the way about Everglades restoration it’s that few things are more expensive, more time-consuming or more complicated. However, a recently introduced plan could go a long way to shortening the timeline for something that seems to be moving at a glacier’s pace. “Rescue the River of Grass,” a project announced in mid-February by the Stuart-headquartered non-profit Friends of the Everglades, aims to fix that. The plan is simple: Buy agricultural land south of Lake Okeechobee to store water and treat it before it’s sent to the Everglades. Show…

The tarpon fishery of Southwest Florida is known around the world among anglers these days, but it wasn’t always that way. Reportedly, the first tarpon caught on rod and reel was captured in 1885, shortly after the Fort Myers area was developed as a source of phosphate for fertilizers. That 93-pound fish was caught by a young New York architect named William Halsey Wood in what is now known as Tarpon Bay, on the south end of Sanibel Island, on a live mullet. His line was reportedly “27 thread”—if this was the typical Cuttyhunk linen used at the time, it would have tested somewhere around 81 pounds. Catching a tarpon that size on a 5-foot bamboo rod and a reel with no drag but a leather thumb stall—and a direct…

Spring fishing in the Florida Keys is in full swing. Tarpon, permit, snappers, mahi mahi and many other species of fish are migrating through the area this time of year. Some gather in large biomasses in order to spawn and those large gatherings give anglers many opportunities to catch a fish of a lifetime—something the Florida Keys are known for producing. In April, permit immediately comes to mind because on a light tackle boat like I captain, we don’t get many shots at permit throughout the year. The shallow water guides get more permit action on the flats, but in April the fish mostly leave the shallows. That’s when they gather in large numbers over wrecks and rock piles where they spawn. Permit are in my opinion one of the…

We start to see the first glimpses of summer this month, but we are still holding onto the last few cool mornings of winter, which I’m not complaining about! The time has changed, days are longer, water is warming, and the fishing is good. We begin to see tarpon this month, both big and small, that inhabit the region. The large migrating fish made a big push through our region last year in April, then seemed to taper in the following months. Will it repeat itself? Who knows, but it may be worth an early morning run down the beach looking for rollers. The juvenile tarpon begin to push their way back up into areas such as the Earman River in North Palm Beach or the South Fork of the…

Locals are happy that last winter’s cruel weather is behind them now and hurricane season is still in the future. Coastal waters have reached the magic 70-degree mark, ushering in action from fish both local and migratory. On our Big Bend coast, one can make long drifts over grass bottoms—sometimes up to a mile—while slinging corks, jigs and spoons. A real grab-bag of fish species uses these grass meadows, from (increasingly rare) cobia and kingfish down to the usual seatrout, Spanish mackerel, flounder, seabass, bluefish, pompano, sharks and ladyfish. So, it’s best to keep those reel drags well-oiled and set correctly. We use spin tackle with 12-pound line, with rods from 7 to 8 feet long that will cast a long ways. With a little luck, floating grass that fouls…

April can be one of the best months of the year for fishing. It’s not too hot, it’s not too cold and there are lots of fish available. Along the coast, large schools of baitfish are moving closer inshore, and this draws Spanish mackerel, kingfish, cobia and a variety of other fish with them. Although some game fish numbers are declining, Spanish mackerel are thriving. Find a large pod of small baitfish and Spanish mackerel will usually be feeding on them. They are often aggressive feeders and catching them can be relatively easy. The mistake anglers sometimes make is using lures that are too large. When feeding on a school of baitfish, Spanish often key in on that size and reject any lure that’s much larger, although they do seem…

The call to action this month is simple enough: Sign a petition to help restore clean water flow to the Everglades and Florida Bay and in the process all but stop harmful discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries. Turning signed petitions into action is a tougher task—but it’s a battle worth the time and effort of all Floridians. I believe and support the people behind Friends of the Everglades, a non-profit started by Marjory Stoneman Douglas in 1969, and their recent campaign launch aptly named “Rescue the River of Grass.” Why now? The money is available. In 2014, 74.96% of Florida voters approved Amendment 1 which has been generating over $1 billion a year from real estate sales for public land acquisition. Why else now?…

TURKEY JERKY BONE COLLECTOR SEASON 16, EPISODE 9 Bone Collector documents the culture of the hunter; the brotherhood of sportsmen that have true passion for the game, the land, and the lifestyle. With world-class production and marketing teams behind it, Bone Collector brings a fresh, honest and youthful approach. Hosts Michael Waddell, Nick Mundt, and Travis “T-Bone” Turner will travel across the globe in the enthralling, always entertaining “warts and all” style that viewers have come to know and love. Hunts of all kinds will be represented—bow, muzzleloader, shotgun, and rifle. In this episode of “Bone Collector” titled “Turkey Jerky,” viewers are in for a treat with Jack Link’s Jerky Turkey Camp! The episode features a star-studded lineup including Michael Waddell, Luke Bryan, Troy Link, Jimmy John, Jamie Fitzgerald, and…

Permit can be considered a Jekyll-and-Hyde game-fish. Location, water depth and a few other factors determine which fish you’re gonna get. Anglers who stealthily stalk this wary, prized fish on the shallow flats deal with a lot of Mr. Hydes. Conversely, anglers who prefer to target them out in deeper digs—wrecks, reefs and along some Florida beaches—enjoy the mild-mannered Dr. Jekylls, and the catching is easier. This latter group is fond of saying, “They’re just jacks!” No big deal. Just the opposite applies to dedicated flyfishers who try to fool them with feathers and fur in water barely deep enough to cover their backs. Fooling and landing one in that way is a big deal indeed, though in recent years, honed techniques and innovative fly patterns have lowered the degree…

As we move into April in South Florida, I hope you took the time to make sure fishing rods, reels, tackle, and boats were in tip top condition. This is the time you’ll encounter the biggest and meanest fish during the entire year. The spring migration of baitfish and predators have been pushing north for summer. Almost every fish that swims in the ocean or through our bays are bigger, stronger, and ready to do battle with any hook that snags their lip. In the ocean, I’m talking king mackerel, sailfish, mahi mahi, cobia, and amberjacks that can exceed 50 pounds. Big blackfin tuna to 30 pounds, yellowfin tuna to 80 pounds, or migrating bluefin tuna to 200 pounds are all possibilities this month. Add to that list of fish…

Many anglers ask: “When is the best time to fish in Southwest Florida?” There are really two answers to this question: April through June and the last two months before cold fronts arrive regularly. That being said, it’s getting pretty good right now. Weather patterns occasionally cool the area in April, but the hardcore cold fronts are now gone. Water temperatures are now steadily at or above that magic 72-degree mark, so fish are happy. Spring has sprung and we have an abundance of fish to target. Winter resident fish are still around, and an entire push of migrating fish from the south now move back into the area. Options are endless for inshore and offshore fishing, as our weather patterns become more predictable. Fish begin to fatten up and…

April brings a significant water temp increase to the Indian River Lagoon—and the flats come alive. It’s the tail end of our dry season, and this means clearer water. Wading along mangrove shorelines or drifting across grassy flats, one can witness the volume and diversity of bait expanding in springtime. Mojarra, threadfins, mullet and juvenile croakers spread through the lagoon, especially around Sebastian Inlet. Big snook start coming out of the deep tributaries and the ocean to meet them. Spoil islands between Palm Bay and Vero Beach become hot spots this month. Their oystery bottoms create an intricate reef for small baitfish to hide and their deep current-carved holes and spits create havens for low-light predators like snook and trout. Most spoil islands along the ICW are accessible only by…

April is here with plenty of fishing opportunities. Warm weather begins to make its presence felt when March rolls around. However, it’s not until April that we truly experience the full transition to the warmer season. We can expect a few more cold fronts this month, but the water temperature will be suitable with inshore and surf fishing firing off and near-shore and offshore action closely behind. Trout are going to be a top target this month. They’ll move from their winter homes back to the flats and will be actively looking for food. These transitions are largely impacted by water temperature and food and can change with a good cold front. If you’re fishing one of those days after a cold front, you might want to try transition areas…

For Central Florida anglers, tuna fishing and crossing the Gulf Stream are nearly synonymous, yet we have a tuna (other than bonito) that can be targeted in nearer waters on the west side of the stream; the blackfin. Many of us have sojourned to the Keys and know how the Islamorada Hump consistently holds schools of blackfin and skipjack. In the 1990s, I would tow my boat down a few times a year and, through trial and error, discovered reliable ways to catch tuna on the Hump. Halfway up the state, however, we do not have a singular, reliable site to concentrate blackfin. They are here, nonetheless. Outside of the Keys, blackfin are caught primarily by trolling or chunking. When trolling, they can be picked up incidentally in a general…

This time of year, the 10,000 Islands is a premiere springtime fishing destination recognized for hosting two world renowned game fish that arguably compare to two 1980’s heavyweight fighters. What makes this special event even better is, you don’t need to scalp a ticket or subscribe to an app to participate. The first of these two heavyweights is the cobia. The cobia (or sometimes called ling) is an extremely powerful and resilient sport fish known for possessing incredible stamina. Cobia make for outstanding table fare and can be prepared in a variety of ways. They are a pelagic species ranging throughout world’s tropical and subtropical oceans. They grow rapidly and adapt to a wide range of temperatures and salinities. They are often in small schools during their annual migratory routes.…

Many native Floridians are happy to see winter make its way out of the Sunshine State. After months of blustery cold weather, the beginning of spring a couple of weeks ago reminds us that some great fishing is just ahead, if not already happening. April can be outstanding for just about all species that inhabit the region. In the Tampa Bay Estuary alone, over 200 different species of fish reside. Pelagic species like cobia and king mackerel, along with tarpon, grouper, snapper, tripletail, and on the flats, sheepshead, permit, pompano, trout, redfish, snook, and so many more are available at one time or another. Snook are fired up by warmer conditions as baitfish begin to flood onto the flats and inside the bays. Threadfins, pilchards, pinfish, and glass minnows provide…

When the good Lord decides my time here is done, I sure hope it’s not in April. Not only is fishing better in April than we’ve seen since fall, but just the fact that the unbearable winter is essentially over is cause for celebration. It’ll be hard to find a parking space at most freshwater lake boat ramps on April’s weekends. The speckled perch have moved into the lily pads to spawn. Floating across the beds, dropping minnows or jigs into the holes in the pads, always brings me a smile. The same lakes that hold specks are giving up the biggest bass of the year. Bass fishermen need to decide whether they want to catch the most bass of the year by throwing their favorite artificials or hunt the…