Florida freshwater anglers target at least 25 species of native fishes. Most are within a 45-minute drive of anyone wanting to wet a line. In addition to those, the free Florida Big Catch angler recognition program (BigCatchFlorida.com) features six species of exotic fishes from other countries and several fish species that expanded their ranges from farther north.Treasure Coast
Captain Rodney Smith and his wife Karen, along with the loyal cadre of Anglers for Conservation, have been helping teach kids to fish for over a decade.Editorial Staff
The American Sportfishing Association reports over 3 million licensed anglers statewide. As such, the fishing industry collects over $800 million annually, boosting our local economy and communities. Chances are you own a boat or know someone who does. With so many lines dropping into the water, our fish can take quite a beating during their lifetime. Big Bend Edition
In the wake of the BP Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, everyone’s talking about how we restore the Gulf Coast. But the Gulf of Mexico is more than what we can see from the shoreline. If we restore the coast without restoring the deep waters, we’re only addressing half the problem. Alabama Gulf Coast Edition
There was a time in the recent history of the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) on the east coast of Florida that the word algae was used in reference to the macroalgae that populate the Lagoon – a diverse group of alga species that you can see with your naked eye, otherwise known as seaweeds.Editorial Staff
Pat Hutchinson set a new IGFA Women’s 3-kg (6 lb.) Line Class World Record with a 13.61-kilogram (30-pound) blue catfish caught on the James River in Virginia. The record-setting catfish struck her cut bait, and after a determined 22-minute battle, Pat successfully landed the fish. She weighed it on a certified scale before safely releasing it back into the river.Editorial Staff