2023 International Game Fish Association Fishing Hall of Fame Inductees

February 17, 2023 Boat Lyfe

Dania Beach, Fla. – In recognition of their extraordinary contributions to recreational angling around the world, The International Game Fish Association (IGFA) named five angling greats to the 2023 class of the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame. This year’s inductees include IGFA World Record consummate and tournament champion Roberta G. Arostegui; fly-fishing adventurer and trailblazer, Kay Brodney; conventional and fly-fishing […]

Guide Spotlight: Tyler Kapela of Hit and Run Fishing Charters

February 15, 2023 Boat Lyfe

NAME: Tyler Kapela LOCATION: St. Petersburg, Florida SPECIALTY: Tarpon, inshore/nearshore BOAT SPECS: Contender 25 Bay AFFILIATIONS/SPONSORS: Pelagic Gear pro team captain, Contender Boats pro team, BKK Hooks pro staff, Cast Fishing pro staff, Captains for Clean Water ambassador MEDIA AFFILIATIONS: Emcee, Pelagic Gear international offshore tournament series; host, North American Fisherman TV (NBC Sports Network […]

Guide Spotlight: Jason Sullivan of Rising Tide Charters

February 2, 2023 Boat Lyfe

NAME: Capt. Jason Sullivan LOCATION: Everglades National Park SPECIALTY: Light tackle and fly fishing for tarpon, snook and redfish. BOAT SPECS: 17.8-foot Hell’s Bay Boatworks Professional 15-foot Glades jon boat SPONSORS & AFFILIATIONS: Orvis, Simms, Hell’s Bay Boatworks, Daiwa, G Loomis HOW DID YOU GET STARTED? I have always wanted to be a fishing guide, […]

FSF Hall of Fans Nov/Dec 2022

December 5, 2022 Boat Lyfe

Part of the joy associated with fishing is sharing the story behind the catch. This section is dedicated to our fans who have gotten out on the water, put it all together and have a trophy to show for it. Our mission is to make you, the reader, the best angler you can be, and […]

It’s the Habitat, Stupid

November 23, 2022 Boat Lyfe

Southwest Florida’s Rookery Bay restoration project will help restore tidal flow to vital juvenile fish habitat. Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve There’s a simple truth that most anglers understand intuitively: a fishery is only as healthy as the habitat that supports it. This holds true in both fresh and salt water, from trout to […]

15,000 Redfish Released into Florida’s Indian River Lagoon

November 11, 2022 Boat Lyfe

The redfish released by CCA Florida into Florida’s east coast waters aren’t all that small; in fact, they’re larger than traditional stocked redfish in most southern states. The 4- to 6-inch drum have a better shot at surviving predation and growing to maturity. More than 50 onlookers gathered an at nondescript boat ramp in Cocoa […]

Watkins Wins His Third, Takes NPFL Kissimmee Crown

November 6, 2022 Boat Lyfe

Taylor Watkins takes home the final NPFL Shield of the 2022 Season with the win on Kissimmee. With a 28-pound, 11-ounce giant bag on day three, Taylor Watkins becomes a three-time NPFL Champion with his win on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes. Watkins weighed in 23-pounds, 12-ounces on day one and 17-pounds, 7-ounces on day two to […]

The Best Lens Colors for Different Fishing Conditions

October 25, 2022 Boat Lyfe

Whether you’re an angler who fishes recreationally or someone who does it for a living, success on the water is all about preparation and having the right tools for the job. An avid angler doesn’t look at sunglasses as a fashion statement; they see them as a tool in the tackle box that can give […]

Enter Florida’s Goliath Grouper Lottery

October 14, 2022 Boat Lyfe

Goliath grouper can grow as big as a refrigerator. Anglers catch them in all different sizes. For those lucky enough to receive a permit and tag in 2023, keeper goliaths will have to measure somewhere in between 24 and 36 inches. More than 30 years have gone by since anglers in Florida have been able […]

Biggest Vermilion Snapper in 35 Years is New World Record

October 12, 2022 Boat Lyfe

The 9.26-pound vermilion snapper, also known as a beeliner, caught by Jacob Felts is the pending world record. Jacob Felts When Brian Stone and seven friends headed out of Keaton Beach, Florida, long before dawn on Oct. 7, the plan was ambitious. They were going to run for a few hours to deep water to […]

Snook Granted Additional Protection in Charlotte Harbor

October 10, 2022 Boat Lyfe

Fishing for snook in Florida is an absolute blast. Alex Suescun In the sometimes confusing and changing world of Florida gamefish regulations, anglers need to pay attention to updates to stay legal. Due to an executive order issued by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on September 1, anglers in the Charlotte Harbor […]

Fishing From a Stand-Up Paddleboard

October 5, 2022 Boat Lyfe

Of all the ways to target different species of fish, none seems as unique as stepping on a paddleboard. Here’s why. The concept of minimalism simply means restricting yourself to the basic necessities and being as streamlined and efficient as possible, and this becomes particularly apparent in paddleboard fishing. Fishing from a boat allows for […]

Monofilament vs Fluorocarbon: How to Choose the Right Leader Material

September 29, 2022 Boat Lyfe

One of the questions we are asked very frequently goes something like this: “So, which is better, monofilament or fluorocarbon?” Unfortunately, the answer is more complex than many of you may think. Like so many other aspects of tackle, proper leader selection is a result of several different factors. If you’re looking for a “yes […]

Sailfish Caught on Kayak Near Beach

September 19, 2022 Boat Lyfe

Chuba needed help getting the kayak, and its outsized cargo, on the beach. Corey Chuba Navarre Beach, Florida, near Pensacola on the panhandle, has become a mecca for kayak fishermen. Its artificial reefs hold plenty of fish, and when billfish migrate to the area in September, you have a shot at catching a fish half […]

Popular Baitfish Successfully Grown at Fish Farm

September 15, 2022 Boat Lyfe

This croaker was raised from an egg in captivity in early 2022. Nicole Kirchhoff Many snook, redfish, grouper, and trout anglers believe a 4- to 8-inch croaker is the most productive live bait available, particularly in the surf, around jetties, and over shallow grass flats. Farther north along the Atlantic coast, anglers use croakers to […]

The Best Lures to Throw During the Mullet Run

August 29, 2022 Boat Lyfe

One of the most popular species to target during the mullet run are full-grown tarpon. Spotting them along the beach is much easier than actually landing them. Ben Holtzclaw There are 78 species of mullet and each one has a unique appearance and behavior. Imitating them, some of the most common backwater baitfish, is key […]

The Best Permit Fishing Records of All Time

August 26, 2022 Boat Lyfe

For some anglers, a permit is a dream catch. The hard-fighting fish is tough to handle no matter its size. Below, check out the top current world records for this bucket-list species. There’s just something about sight casting to a large permit cruising crystalline water. Swimming just below the surface in the flats or other […]

Rare Redfish Hybrid Caught in Florida

August 19, 2022 Boat Lyfe

Have you seen a drum like this? The fish looks similar to a redfish, but it also has characteristics of a black drum. Capt. Billy Rotne Captain Billy Rotne, of Ponce Inlet Charters, positioned his friend within range of a school of black drum and redfish mixed together in Florida’s Indian River Lagoon. In front […]

Florida Updates Redfish Regulations

July 29, 2022 Boat Lyfe

Redfish are a popular Florida inshore species. State regulators approved changes to the redfish regulations to help support the population. Alex Suescun Fisheries management and controversy seem to go hand-in-hand. The real problem is that in many cases, the management process creates winners and losers. While this is an unfortunate reality, I always hope that […]

One Redfish Limit Returns to Southwest Florida

July 27, 2022 Boat Lyfe

Redfish were protected in Southwest Florida after a red tide caused a massive fish kill in 2018. In September, anglers can once again keep one for the table. Bob McNally At its May meeting, Florida’s Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) made some significant harvest changes to the state’s popular red drum (redfish) fishery. (“Harvest” […]

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