Hook choice in GT fishing is a technique decision, not a preference. Single hooks belong on jigs and stickbaits. Trebles belong on poppers. Get it backwards and you will lose fish you should have landed. This breakdown covers both hook types, recommended models, and the size ranges that matter.
The leopard coral grouper, Plectropomus leopardus, is a Near Threatened Indo-Pacific reef predator with a documented maximum size above 20 kg. Knowing where they hold on the reef, how their ambush feeding behavior shapes presentation choices, and how protogynous hermaphroditism affects conservation decisions is what separates anglers who catch them consistently from those who do not.
Captain William Toney has fished the spring-fed flats of Homosassa, Florida his entire life. This article covers the species, waters, and seasonal patterns that define the Nature Coast inshore fishery, along with what sets Toney apart as one of the most knowledgeable and experienced inshore guides working Florida's Gulf Coast today.
Explore the world of fishing with In The Spread, where expert videos guide you from beginner basics to advanced tactics. Elevate your skills, understand fish behavior, and join a community of top fishermen eager to share their passion and insights. Transform your fishing adventures with knowledge, and make every catch memorable.
Most anglers use the terms interchangeably, but deep sea fishing and offshore fishing cover very different water. One starts where the reef line ends. The other begins where the ocean floor drops away into the abyss. Knowing which you're actually doing changes everything about how you plan, what you bring, and what you're realistically going to catch.
Greater amberjack are pure structure fish. They stack on wrecks, reefs, and ledges from 80 to 240 feet of water and stay there until something makes them move. Understanding where they hold, what triggers a bite, and how to keep them out of the structure once hooked is what separates a productive amberjack trip from an expensive spool of lost braid.
As spring approaches, inshore fishing thrives with sheepshead, trout, and redfish, while live shrimp bait reigns supreme. Warm days bring trout to the flats, and the woods offer serene hunting for small game and deer, making now the ideal time for both fishing enthusiasts and hunters to enjoy the natural bounty of the Big Bend area.
Giant trevally are among the most physically demanding fish you can target on rod and reel. This breakdown covers the exact rods, reels, line weights, leader setups, lures, and techniques needed for GT popping and jigging, plus where to find these fish and when they feed most aggressively.
February on Florida's Big Bend offers a narrow but reliable daily window when spotted seatrout feed actively on shallow limestone flats. Captain William Toney explains the thermal cycle that drives trout movement, the post-front patterns that stack fish on hard bottom, and the slow presentations that produce consistent catches in cold water.
Stickbaits are among the most effective lures for targeting yellowfin tuna, giant trevally, wahoo, and other pelagic predators in open water. This breakdown covers how to choose floating vs. sinking models, which retrieve techniques produce the most strikes, and how to fight large fish on heavy spinning tackle without breaking gear.
The live versus dead bait question is really a conditions call. Speed, local forage, and what the fish are actively eating on a given day should drive your decision. Get those variables right and the wahoo will tell you what works. Here is a practical breakdown of which baits produce, when, and why.
Crossing a state line on a redfish trip means new slot windows, new bag limits, and sometimes new gear rules. The rules change often enough that last season's numbers may not be accurate today, so staying current with each state's wildlife agency is part of being a responsible angler.
Wahoo depth is never a fixed number. Season, water temperature, thermocline position, current, and baitfish distribution all determine where these fish hold and how deep you need to go. What follows breaks down those variables and explains the techniques experienced captains use to get baits into the strike zone wherever wahoo swim.
Redfish are one of the most rewarding inshore targets in North American saltwater fishing. Understanding how they use tidal habitat, what they eat, and how to read the flat before you cast separates consistent anglers from occasional ones. These are the strategies, lure selections, and live bait tactics that produce in real conditions.
Broadbill swordfish are among the ocean's greatest travelers, crossing entire basins between tropical spawning grounds and temperate feeding zones. Their migrations are driven by temperature, prey, and biology refined over millions of years. Understanding where they go and why is what puts you on fish.
Redfish, spotted seatrout, snook, tarpon, flounder, and cobia occupy some of the most varied coastal habitat in North America. The Gulf of Mexico inshore fishery runs from the Florida Panhandle to the Texas Laguna Madre, and each section fishes differently. Knowing which region matches your target species changes everything.
Big blue marlin fishing is defined by the places that consistently produce heavyweight fish. Ten destinations worldwide have the combination of deep water, rich bait systems, and low enough fishing pressure to grow and hold fish in the 400-to-grander class. Here is how to tell them apart and when to be there.
Krill are among the smallest creatures in the ocean and among the most consequential. Commercial harvests in Antarctic waters now remove up to half a million metric tons annually, and krill populations in key regions have declined by an estimated 70 to 80 percent since the 1970s. The ripple effects reach every level of the marine food web.
Not every hook is built for the depths where broadbill swordfish live. J-hooks, southern tuna style hooks, offset hooks, and circle hooks each perform differently at 1,200 to 1,800 feet. Knowing which one to run, in what size, and with what bait is the difference between consistently landing fish and consistently losing them.
Redfish, snook, tarpon, and seatrout share Florida's inshore waters with flounder, pompano, and black drum, from Mosquito Lagoon to the Florida Keys. Knowing which techniques work for each species, which tides to fish, and how seasonal patterns shape where fish hold is what separates consistent anglers from everyone else.
