Tag: fishing

Reading about fishing: Author favorites Robert Fritchey, Hart Stilwell

It’s a new year, but I’m stuck reminiscing about old observations. I’ve read several older books about fishing; it’s amazing that it took me 70 years to discover that I didn’t invent the...

Merritt ‘Babe’ Darna 1938-2024

Merritt “Babe” Neel Darna, a member of one of Boca Grande’s legacy families, died December 24, 2024. Babe was born on May 16, 1938 to Alfonso and Edith Darna on the remote barrier island of...

SW Florida Fishing: It’s trout time around the harbor

BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE Not only have the holidays brought great weather, they have also brought great fishing! The back country fishing has been outstanding this past week! Large speckled...

SW Florida Fishing: The spirit of Christmas … on the water

BY CAPT. JOE LECLAIR If you believe in the true spirit of Christmas then you know about all thingsred and green, silver and gold,happy days, warm nightsand the wonderful smells of the holiday...

SW Florida Fishing: This nice holiday weather is a call to fish

BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE The holiday season is in full swing here in Boca Grande and the fish have been biting! The cold weather and fronts have got the backcountry fish fired up and on the...

SW Florida Fishing: It’s in the family blood…

BY CAPT. JOE LACLAIR With plenty of time to tie up some new bugs, I get excited to try new things. The files these days have better quality hooks, readily available materials and the world of...

SW Florida Fishing: Record setting year for G.I.F.T.

BY CAPT. WILL WATERHOUSE A record setting year all around for the 29th annual Gasparilla Island Fly Fishing Tournament presented by Gasparilla Outfitters. This year the tournament hosted...

Out-of-date data and a disconnected state affects our fisheries’ management

Wasting grouper stocks with discards In my lifetime of fishing, I could never have considered the challenges we face today because of mismanagement. I completely agree we need to manage our...

SW Florida Fishing: More than some fish…

BY CAPT. JOE LACLAIR Over the last couple weeks we have been cleaning up from Hurricane Milton, elected a new president and catching fish. Fly fishing for snook, tarpon and redfish has been...

Go deeper this Thanksgiving week

Strong fish stocks – reds, snook and trout We might need to search a little deeper this year for reasons to celebrate Thanksgiving. If we are reading this, there is already a lot to...