Optimal surf trout fishing conditions occur when the water is clear and green to the beach, with calm seas and light winds. These conditions often follow several days of stable weather. Early mornings, especially during an incoming tide, are ideal
Target Surf Trout Now Read More »
The Gulf Council will meet at the Council Office, in Tampa, Florida located at 4107 W Spruce Street, Suite 200, Tampa, Florida on June 3 – 4, 2025. The meeting will convene each day at 8:30 AM, EDT and is
Spanish Mackerel On Gulf Council Agenda Read More »
A few years back, after countless hours on the water and more than a little luck, I stumbled onto something unusual—something that felt like the edge of a mystery waiting to be unraveled. It had to do with flounder feeding
Catching Surface Feeding Flounder Read More »
Bonefish—revered by saltwater anglers as some of the fastest, most elusive fighters in the ocean—are often associated with the tropical flats of Florida, Belize, and The Bahamas. But did you know these legendary fish occasionally turn up in Texas? While
Rare Encounters With Texas Bonefish Read More »
Spring marks the start of something special on the Texas Gulf Coast: reefs come alive, baitfish like sand eels swarm the shallows, and hungry speckled trout move in. Matching the hatch with soft plastic baits is key—and while traditional swimbaits
Sand Eels For Specks Read More »
Commercial shrimp season for both Texas and federal waters in the Gulf of America will close 30 minutes after sunset May 15, reopening on a still-to-be determined date in July. While July 15 is the statutory opening date for the
Gulf Shrimp Season Closes May 15 Read More »
For many anglers this spring has flat-out been terrible.The winds have been brutal-blowing 30 plus miles an hour for days on end and it makes fishing for specks particularly difficult. Yet, experienced anglers know that some of the best trout can
Tips For Catching Specks On Windy Days Read More »
We anglers certainly overthink things at times, and choosing jig heads to match up with swimbaits and paddletails might be an example. After all, we all know that most fishing tackle is designed to catch the fisherman, not the fish.
Choosing the Best Jig Head for the Job Read More »
The sheepshead is among the tastiest fish around, they fight great, and in many areas at many times of the year they’re quite plentiful. Added bonus: since they stick so close to structure like rocks and pilings they’re often available
Five Tips for Catching More Sheepshead Read More »
The Billfish Foundation’s (TBF) International Tagging Initiative provides vital tagging equipment to regions with little or no billfish data, aiding in the expansion of scientific research and promotion of responsible fishing. Over the years, TBF has supplied kits to Asia,
Billfish Foundation Helping Tagging Around the Globe Read More »
Pan-Seared Sheepshead Recipe Pan-Seared Sheepshead Ingredients: 2 sheepshead fillets (about 6–8 oz each) Salt and pepper (to taste) 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter 1 clove garlic, minced 1 lemon (half for juice, half for slices) Fresh herbs (like parsley
Delicious Recipe – Pan Seared Sheepshead Read More »
Jetties — those long, rugged granite outcroppings pushing into the Gulf of Mexico — are some of the best fishing spots on the Texas coast. Built originally to stabilize shipping channels and break the force of waves, they’ve evolved into
Targeting Texas Jetties Read More »
Florida has always been looked at as the state that foreshadows saltwater fishing regulations for Texas. It has been written what happens in Florida will happen in Texas in 5-10 years-especially for trout. Let’s take a look at how speckled
TX Vs. Florida: Which Has Strictest Trout Regs? Read More »
Bonefishing is more than just a sport—it is a storybook of memories, traditions, healthy competition, and importantly, change. But what happens when the only data we have to understand these changes are just the stories themselves? How do we track
Keys Bonefish Survey Results Released Read More »
The Billfish Foundation (TBF) and BFD (formerly Bluefin Data) have teamed up to create an exciting new opportunity for the future of billfish and pelagic species conservation. Together, they’ve integrated BFD’s electronic logbook application, VESL, with TBF’s Tag & Release
Pelagic Groups Simplify Reporting Read More »
Bank fishing for redfish is a rewarding and accessible way to catch these powerful inshore fighters without needing a boat. Whether you’re wading the flats, casting from a marsh bank, or fishing along a jetty, here are five practical tips
Bank Fishing Tips For Redfish Read More »
In the heat of July 1916, Americans fled the sweltering cities for the cool comfort of the New Jersey shore. What awaited them, however, was not relief—but terror and many believe it was the work of a bull shark. On
Was the Bull Shark Behind The Real “Jaws” Attacks? Read More »
After hearing public comment and recommendations from its Reef Fish Advisory Panel, the Gulf Council took final action on a Framework Action to increase the lane snapper minimum size limit. The Council chose to modify the commercial and recreational minimum
Gulf Council Makes Move On Lane Snapper Read More »
The Gulf of Mexico is home to some of the most iconic billfish species in the world: sailfish, blue marlin, white marlin, and broadbill swordfish. These sleek, powerful predators are prized by anglers and play a vital role in the
A Look At The Gulf’s Four Billfish Read More »
In 2018, an idea began to emerge in Okaloosa County, Florida which would lead to offshore changes that only a few could imagine at the time. Captain Kelly Windes, a former county commissioner, was suggesting the creation of the first
A Device That Aggregates Fish Read More »
