With a weak full moon occurring tomorrow at 7:15 p.m. the stronger of the two daily feeding migrations will be exactly at that same time. ...more

November 1, 2009

As is the case each and every year, people had to say goodbye to those they loved in 2008 and those they only knew of through mainstream media outlets. ...more

December 28, 2008

It's a Web site that can be useful to teachers writing lesson plans, scientists tracking water quality, real estate agents selling waterfront properties and anglers looking for a good fishing hole. ...more

September 17, 2008

LAKE PLACID — Anne Reynolds, a white-haired lady in her 60s, speaks softly when asked about the younger version of her painted on a downtown Lake Placid mural. "That's me, 1966, when shortly after arriving as Charles Reynolds' bride, I was elected the first president of the Lake Placid Arts and Crafts Fair." Reynolds' home, a two-storied, New Orleans style red brick with black, wrought iron balconies, perches on a high bluff, Bear Point, offering a panoramic view of what used to be Lake Childs, now Lake Placid. The 12-acre property boasts heavily mossed, native-Florida trees and foliage. A golf cart ride downhill leads to a rectangular, green building, once a garage, now a lab. David Butler, archaeologist and professor at Rollins College, comes here, often bringing students, and studies findings from the Blueberry site — more about that later. The samples are sealed in labeled, plastic bags and piled around the musty, somewhat mystical room. ...more

July 6, 2008

The idea of banning outboard motors in the Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve has not gathered steam on a local task force considering the possibility of Hillsborough County designating its first pole-or-troll zone. ...more

June 28, 2008

Since we've just moved out of the full moon phase and are looking to the last quarter moon phase (which occurs this Thursday at 12:10 p.m.), the peak feeding period of the day happens from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. ...more

June 22, 2008

The last quarter moon phase will arrive Wednesday, but instead of the usual affect –– a terrific late afternoon bite –– we'll see the start of an exceptional early morning bite because the distance from the moon from the earth is greater than in recent months. Expect the afternoon bite to diminish quickly each day and be non-existent by Wednesday, replaced by the rapid improvement of the early morning bite. To take full advantage, be on the water by 6 a.m., working areas of proven migration. Remember, the vegetation uses oxygen at night during the summer months which means the larger fish will be on the outside edges and covering more distance in their search for food. As the water heats up during the day, be expecting to move into the vegetation, as these areas start to produce oxygen and shade resulting in the food chain moving into the area. ...more

May 25, 2008

Weather conditions are perfect for this time of year. With all the rain we've received recently, our lakes' influents are flowing again and this causes fish to move into these areas. Moving water is full of oxygen and food, so all types of fish will move into the area to take advantage. Also, when you factor in the warmer water temperatures than is usual for this time of year, the angler realizes all fish are feeding more often due to an increased metabolism. The daily feeding-migration routes extend into the influent areas which have been mostly dry over the last year, which all but ended the migration into these areas. Be looking to see fish start using these sections of their daily trek. ...more

February 23, 2008

"It's just a little bit short of being in the absolute middle of nowhere," captain Artie Price says as he cranks the big Chevy engine on his airboat. ...more

February 8, 2008

TABLE CONVERSATIONS: After a lengthy holiday hiatus, my Table Conversations food podcast is back. This week's guest: James Oseland, editor in chief of Saveur magazine. The January-February issue features the 10th annual Saveur 100 list, an eclectic collection of what it describes as "our favorite foods, restaurants, drinks, people, places and things." ...more

January 8, 2008