Florida is called the “Fishing Capital of the World” in part because it is the destination of choice for anglers from throughout the United States and numerous countries around the world.

With great natural resources and the efforts of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and responsible anglers, Florida is home to some of the highest quality, most diverse fishing in the world. The results are like a well-chummed fishing hole, attracting anglers who vote for their favorite fisheries with their best cast and hard-earned cash.

The latest national statistics showed Florida has 2.8 million resident anglers (versus Texas at No. 2, with 2.5 million) and Florida annually attracts 885,000 tourists who fish here (versus 395,000 who visit No. 2 North Carolina). As a result, Florida’s economy benefits by a billion dollars in direct sales (No. 2 Wisconsin receives $600 million from non-residents). And even though Texas has more inland water area (5,056 square miles vs. 4,672 for Florida) and people (22.9 million vs. 17.7 million from the 2006 Census data), Florida has more resident anglers and more than four times as many tourist anglers (885,000) as Texas (218,000).

With summer vacations in full swing (or cast, as the case may be), and gas prices restricting travel, Florida will likely see more anglers from neighboring states and those along the I-10 and I-95 corridors. Moreover, more Floridians are likely to stay within the state borders to conserve fuel and avoid paying for non-resident fishing license fees. A Florida resident freshwater or saltwater license costs $17 and is valid for 365 days from date of purchase. Since the average number of fishing trips per angler in 2006 was 17.2 days of fishing with many fishing trips lasting four or more hours, fishing remains an exceptional recreational value, even without catching dinner and bringing it home.

From April 1, 2007, to March 31, 2008, the state sold 201,768 non-resident fishing licenses with nearly 5 percent of that total sold to non-U.S. residents, especially Canadians. Of the U.S. portion (194,251 licenses), 26.5 percent were to residents of Georgia and 9.8 percent from Alabama. New residents and snowbirds, who have lived in Florida for less than six months or don’t claim Florida as their permanent residence, make up 7.7 percent.

Anglers can help maintain Florida’s standing by following sound conservation practices and encouraging others to as well by:

Five years ago, Lakeland’s Bobby Lane was just another small businessman. The 34-year-old Polk County man had landscaping business but always dreamed of cashing it all in and becoming a professional bass fisherman.

Lane sold his business in 2003 to follow his dream. He eventually worked his way up to the BASS Tournament Trail, and last week at a Bassmaster Elite Series Event on Lake Oneida near Syracuse, N.Y., clinched the coveted “Rookie of the Year” title after catching 12 pounds 4 ounces worth of bass on the first day of competition.

With the honor came a $25,000 check, not bad for a day’s fishing. He also qualified for the 2008 Bassmaster Classic, the “Super Bowl of Fishing,” which will be held this year on South Carolina’s Lake Hartwell.

The BASS tour is freshwater fishing’s oldest and most prestigious freshwater fishing organization. Originally headquartered in Alabama, the organization recently moved its opeations to Florida to be closer to the world’s best bass fishing. The organization runs several tournament series, for every level of fisherman, from weekend warrior to professionals such as Bobby Lane.

From Staff and Wire Reports
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Monster blue catfish was caught Monday in the Choctawhatchee.

By JIM SUTTON, The Times-Union
What’s 53-1/2 inches long, nearly 3 feet in circumference and weighs more than 60 pounds?

It could be a water heater or a world-record watermelon, but for a Panhandle angler this week, it was a state-record catfish.

James Mitchell was fishing the Choctawhatchee River on Monday when he hung a giant specimen of a blue catfish. The 64-pound, 8-ounce fish was weighed by state biologists who confirmed it as the biggest blue cat ever caught on hook and line in Florida.

Mitchell spoke by phone from his home in Caryville. The town is located about midway between Panama City and Dothan, Ala., and just west of Cypress Slough. The official 2000 census said its populated is 218. A more recent count in 2007 puts it at 232.

So fishing the local river might be a leading recreational outlet in Caryville. At least it is for Mitchell, who fishes it “pretty regular.”

He says that the river is “way down right now” which is both good and bad news. It’s bad because it’s hard to get into the Choctawhatchee or to navigate it without a small boat - which Mitchell has. The upside of the low water is that, with so much of the river nearly dry, the catfish all seek refuge in the holes where he’s finding them “pretty easy.”

A week before the big record fish, he’d caught one over 40. But that was a channel cat. A couple of days after, he brought up another over 40 pounds.

Details on the battle are sketchy. Mitchell told The Times-Union that he fought the fish for nearly 10 minutes. It was caught on a “big old live bream” and 50-pound test line. A subsequent release from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says the fight was over in a minute. But who’s counting?

Mitchell says he knew it was a big fish right off the bat. The FWC says it took Mitchell, his son and grandson to bring the fish on board.

The blue catfish isn’t an indigenous species to Florida. Their range is the Mississippi River. No one knows how or when they ended up in Florida. The blue cat is often mistaken for a channel cat, but lacks the mottled - or spotted - flanks of the channel cat.

Normally these fishing stories end in a gallon of peanut oil and beside a stack of hush puppies. But for now, Mitchell’s catfish remains on ice in a cooler at his place. He says his brother, Dewey, said it could be worth something.

“I might sell him,” Mitchell said.

From Staff and Wire Reports
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OKEECHOBEE — This small lakeside community and its even tighter-knit fishing community was shaken Sunday by news that one of its well-known anglers and business owners was suddenly gone.

Paul “Bubba” Helton, 57, of Okeechobee fell from his bass boat Saturday afternoon while returning to Okeechobee from across the lake. Helton’s boat was one of six that had spent the morning fishing and having lunch in Clewiston.

At about 3:30 p.m., Helton reportedly slipped from the deck of his 21-foot bass boat about 10 miles south of Indian Prairie Canal after stopping for a short break from the 30-mile boat ride.

“There was a little bit of a swell on the lake, and he stood up and slipped overboard,” reported Capt. Larry Wright who spoke to the three passengers on Helton’s boat. “They said he popped right back up, but showed no signs of struggling or distress.”

Helton was not wearing a life jacket. The depth of the water was about seven feet.

Wright said that he appeared to dive back beneath the waves, perhaps to retrieve his glasses from the lake bottom, thought the other boaters. But after a few minutes, Helton failed to return to the surface and the passengers took action.

One called authorities while the other two threw out anchors to stop the boat’s drift and then jumped into the water to physically try to help Helton. After hours of searching, they were unable to find him.

Law enforcement officials arrived about an hour later. Officials searched for Helton until darkness Saturday. His body was found Sunday afternoon at about 5 p.m. by an aerial search by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. He was found about a half mile from where the incident occurred.

The cause of death is unknown. An autopsy will be performed in Fort Myers.

Helton will be missed.

“He was like a brother to me,” said Red Altman of Okeechobee, a former fishing guide and bass tournament angler who worked on the lake for years along with Helton. Altman was best man at Helton’s wedding to Margaret over 15 years ago. “He moved to Florida from Tennessee 22 years ago and was a big Volunteers fan. I’m a Gator fan. It was about the only thing we didn’t see eye to eye on.”

Wright will miss Helton’s straightforward approach.

“We had our moments where we would bump heads, but it was over as soon as it began,” said Wright who guided out of and often helped man Garrard’s Bait and Tackle owned by the Heltons. “He was the kind of friend that if you called him at 3 a.m., he wouldn’t ask questions, he would just be there.”

Helton was often an outspoken critic of water management policies when it came to Lake Okeechobee’s water level and quality. He told Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers in June 2007 that in his opinion, the mismanagement of Lake Okeechobee that spring sent small businesses into an economic tailspin.

Altman said there will be a remembrance for Helton from 5-7 p.m. Thursday at Buxton Funeral Home, 110 Northeast 5th Street, Okeechobee. For directions visit www.buxtonfuneralhome.com or call (863) 763-1994.

From Staff and Wire Reports
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Today experience was a really cool one, the weather was anything but cool with water temps at 89 degrees. The cool part was fishing with the Crocker brothers, Ben and Jon.

Jon lives in Massachusetts and Ben in Africa, both are doctors and oh I almost forgot to tell you, they are twins. Ben was on his way from Africa to a training class and called Jon to meet him in Miami for a few days of RNR. 

Ben has fished in the Everglades before and really enjoyed it. Both brothers were good fishermen, as always it took them a few cast and bites to adjust to our fishing style. Unfortunately how many times has it happen, Ben’s first bite is his best opportunity at the biggest bass of his life. He had the fish on for a few minutes, then it gave him that traditional large-mouth bass wave as it shook loose and swam away. What a heart breaker, as everyone got to see the fish which was estimated to be in the 8lb class which only made things worse.

As all good anglers do, Ben had to just keep on casting in search of his next bite. His brother Jon on the other hand, proceeded to catch back to back a 4 and 5lb bass which for the moment made all of use forget about the monster that got away.

 I would consister the fishing a little slower then I like to see it, with the day high and bright, blue bird all day, water temps at 89 and no wind. We welcomed the rain shower as we were pulled the boat out of the ramp.

Overall, the day was a success, as we had 2 fish estimated over 8lbs on and several in the 5lb class and only two fish caught less then 2 pounds each, did I mention we also got to solve all of the world issues at the same time!…. lol 

If you are visiting South Florida for work or vacation and want to experience the best bass fishing that there is to offer then please give us a call. We can be reached @ (888) 629-BASS or email us fishing@bassonline.com

Good fishing,
Capt Todd Kersey
todd@bassonline.com
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 Today I took out Peter Balis from Ill. Peter wanted to see the Everglades and catch a big largemouth bass. So, out in the Everglades we went.

 What a great guy, we talked and fished all day (ya know that old saying time flys when your havin fun) it surly did today. By the end of the day, Peter boated between 15 to 20 fish with 3 of the bass being between  5 to 6lbs and lost a couple good ones also. It was a really good day for Peter and myself.

I am looking forword to taking Peter out again in October.

If you are visiting South or Central Florida for work or vacation and want to experience the best bass fishing that there is to offer then please give us a call. We can be reached @ (888) 629-BASS or email us @ fishing@bassonline.com Good fishing,
Capt Tony Masiello
tonym@bassonline.com
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