When artist and Florida native, Richard Powers, offered to donate an original piece of artwork to raise money for Anglers For Conservation and the Hook Kids on Fishing programs, we were overwhelmed with excitement and gratitude. This month's recycled cover shot (originally aired June/July 2001) is the image Richard used as the theme for his donation of "Angling For Memories". To bid on Richard Powers' artwork or learn more about Anglers For Conservation go to anglersforconservation.org.

Best Days to fish in June: 1-16, 23-26, 29-30
Best Days to stay home in June: 17-22, 27-28

Best Days to fish in July: 3-13, 21-22, 25-27, and 30-31
Best Days to stay home in July: 1-2, 14-20, 23-24, and 28-29

FISHING REPORTS, Tides, weather, buoy conditions ... find it all RIGHT HERE!!

Inshore: By June summer has fully arrived to all of Florida, affecting anglers and their fishing opportunities statewide. The days start earlier and last longer. The sun has a dominating effect on water temperatures, fish and anglers as we go through the period of the year for us when the days are longer and hotter, and the nights muggy and hot as well. Here are a few summer tips for those anglers looking to increase their catching success. A rule of thumb is fish shallow early and late, fish deeper or shaded water during the heat of the day. For an example, redfish feed on top of shallow flats at sun up. This is when the water is coolest the majority of the summer. These fish will often move along the deeper outside edges of these same areas by mid morning.Redfish, snook, juvenile tarpon, and spotted sea trout will frequent areas near docks, boats, bridges, mangrove shorelines and under cut areas holding baitfish and providing shade. Because warm water temperatures speed up the digestive system of tropical and semitropical game fish, they will feed more frequently during the warmer months. However, the windows of opportunity will often decrease if the water gets too hot, and especially if the water’s supply of dissolved oxygen drops, a frequent byproduct of the hotter days. Tarpon, sharks, large jack crevalle and king mackerel will also be on the prowl along coastal beaches. Bait pods will attract these and other game fish. Watch the water's surface for flipping baitfish, and also keep an eye above for diving pelicans and terns. These are strong indicators of bait pods.

Offshore: Summer can have the opposite affect on ocean predators. King mackerel will move into the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico’s shallower inshore waters as we move into the warmer months. This will often make it much easier for anglers fishing from piers, jetties, small boats, and even kayaks and canoes at times, close to shore and within easy reach of these high speed pelagic game fish. Barracuda, spectacular light tackle gamesters, will also be increasingly available for anglers fishing near buoys, channel markers, bait pods, inlets and bays as the warm temperatures push up and over 80 degrees. Barracuda play an important role in our overall ecosystem so show some respect towards these amazing predators. Watch out for their sharp teeth and use a dehooking device to release them quick and safely. In light of the fact that other pelagic offshore game fish, such as, dolphin, sailfish, and wahoo will also move closer to our coastlines June is a great month to head offshore and hook yourself the catch of a lifetime!

Freshwater: This is the time to fish cover for bass. Places where lily pads, bullrushes, and cattails provide protection from the sun and cooler water often attract bait and produce more catching opportunities. Of course, with the return of afternoon thunderstorms, smart anglers will also focus their attention towards areas of flowing water when available. Freshwater springs can also be a strong hold for summer bass. Fishing a rigged, weedless soft plastic bait, like the ever dependable purple or black rubber worm (try the one with the red tail), in thick cover or deep, cooler water can be deadly for bass. On those rainy days catfish and gar fishing is a nice break from the normal. Fish a cut bait near the surface under a float for gar. Fish the bottom for catfish.

Boating: A recent article by Bob Adriance in BoatUS Seaworthy magazine made a few powerful suggestions concerning boating safety including, "Boating is supposed to be fun, so we do not want to unduly alarm our guests. However, every skipper should take a few minutes before they leave the dock to share these tips with crew." Before each trip the crew needs to be reviewed on the ins and outs of boat safety. This means they need to know where to find, and when and how to use certain tools, like fire extinguishers, flares, anchor, engine and fuel shutoffs. Of course, understanding how to use boat electronics like the VHF radio, GPS, chart plotter or loran could be critical in an emergency, and knowing the whereabouts of life jackets, and man overboard gear, as well as knowing how to use them could save a life. When underway captains should be using a lanyard attached to the boat's kill switch. This way the boat stops if they should be accidentally throw away from the helm.

The next time you go out to eat take a reusable container with you so you can take home leftovers without using foam or plastic throwaway trays. This way we can save our planet by disposing of less trash in our landfills. .  

Should boat operators be required to have a state issued boating license, like a drivers license? No Yes Yes, only if operating a sail or motorized vessel Yes, as above, with only a written test Yes, as above, also with a practical test Results Polls Votes 227