Good Day Fishing With Jonnie Walker It was almost as though the history was palpable, those clues and cues that this would be, to me, more than a fishing trip. It was a fishing book brushed open, the stories of the beginnings of charter boat captains in southwest Florida unfolded.

October Is a Month of Change  October is a month of transition with many species of fish on the move. Snook will begin to move into bays as water temperature cools towards the end of the month.

Bounty of Bonefish is a Big Thrill GREEN TURTLE CAY-- The last time I went bonefishing in the northern Bahamas, it took me two days to catch and release one small fish on fly rod. Staggering around the mud-covered, holey, limestone bottom of the ''Marls'' on the western shore of Abaco, it was difficult just to shuffle along without falling..

The Straw as a Mackerel Lure It's that time of year! Huge schools of Spanish mackerel have invaded our coastal waters. Time to break out the the spoons, jigs and straws! Straws? Yes. For years Florida anglers have fashioned a very effective mackerel lure using a small treble hook, a length of leader, and an ordinary drinking straw.

Make It Snapper Fall is typically a good time of year to catch snapper in South Florida, and the four tropical storms that roughed up the region's waters over the past month have made bottom fishing better than usual. The snapper bite has been good since Tropical Storm Fay slogged through the region and it has remained strong in the wake of Gustav, Hanna and Ike

Getting 'Fizzical' To Save Fish. Most anglers probably know that many fish caught from deep water can suffer from an over-inflated swim bladder, a condition called hyperbuoyancy. The air bladder inside the fish that inflates and deflates to give the fish neutral buoyancy can expand suddenly when a fish is brought to the surface after being caught.

The Monofilament Monster Over the years monofilament and more recently the new superlines have been great innovations. These are products that have enhanced the fish catching ability of  anglers throughout the world. Unfortunately, millions of fish, birds and  wildlife have been injured, maimed and destroyed  as a result of the improper handling

Fin Clips Keep Tabs On Redfish Ever wonder what those redfish fin clip kits you see at area bait and tackle shops are for? The program is a partnership between Mote Marine Laboratory and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to study redfish as a test species for large scale marine restocking efforts.

Are Anglers Up To The Challenge? It just might be the test that determines who is the best flats angler on Tampa Bay. The 24th annual Photo All-Release Challenge, hosted by the Coastal Conservation Association and West Marine on Sept. 26-27, requires all anglers to fish with artificial lures provided by the tournament.

Newcomer Fishing On Our Florida Suncoast One thing is as certain in Florida as the sun rising in the morning -- New residents keep a'comin'. They settle in, acclimate to our benign weather, get the kids registered at the local school and, almost invariably, take up fishing.

Hurricanes Could Cause an Early Kingfish Season Ladies and gentlemen, and all fans of the mighty king smoker, we may be in for an early kingfish season. Bust out those kingfish rigs - or whatever it is you use to try to tame a king mackerel - just in case.

Shark Fin Profits Outweigh Fears of Prosecution Substantial profits in the shark fin trade have outweighed fears of prosecution for those involved in the illegal business, according to Palau President Tommy Remengesau.