Persistent cold fronts have been a problem for anglers these past few weeks. These fronts have been accompanied by lots of wind and some rain. But the good news is that the bait is still hanging on local flats. ...more

November 5, 2008

The first cold blast of the year arrived last week, quickly sending water temperatures down up to 15 degrees, so fishing took a three-day hit to wait out the winds and the return of some warm air. The pattern of periodic fronts will challenge anglers to pick and choose their fishing days carefully. Fish, particularly this early in the season, generally will be impacted negatively by sudden water temperature drops, adjusting to them gradually as the winter engulfs us. ...more

November 5, 2008

With so much rain soaking Highlands County, and the drought index relatively low at 333, the state is issuing burn permits, according to Tim Elder, Florida Division of Forestry forest area supervisor for Highlands and Glades counties. ...more

October 17, 2008

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Mark Cook. ...more

July 28, 2008

There's no fish - ever - that you can go out and catch for sure. But for the past several years, Spanish mackerel have been edging closer to the sure-thing category along Florida's west coast. Thanks to years of protection from gill nets, as well as modest recreational limits, there are now more and bigger mackerel than at any time in the past 30 years. ...more

June 6, 2008

Before the 1940s, Republicans in Florida were as rare as cold fronts in August. ...more

May 25, 2008

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Mel Berman. ...more

May 3, 2008

The cold fronts, which the weather reporters keep showing, never seem to get much farther south than Orlando. We may not see any freezing temperatures this year. And the chance of getting any appreciable rain also will not happen. I am supposing that we must have gotten at least one good freeze because I see that most of the citrus groves fruits are ready for harvesting. But if this climate warming continues will the growers, who depend upon the freezing climate and rain, be able to continue? Watering restrictions will include not only homeowners but the growers also? ...more

February 14, 2008

A day after tornadoes in five states killed dozens of people, Hillsborough County students crouched in hallways, heads tucked to their knees, practicing what to do should a twister threaten here. ...more

February 7, 2008

GO FISHING is a daily look at the area fishing scene through the eyes of local charter boat captains and fishing guides. Today: Mel Berman. ...more

February 2, 2008