[Okeechobee, FL.–] In all his years of hunting alligators in and around Lake Okeechobee, captain Bobby Stafford had never seen anything like it: more than two dozen of the reptiles– several …
Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Symposium Set for Nov. 11th & 12th
29 Aug 20112:41 PM
The Fourth International Bonefish and Tarpon Trust Symposium will take place on November 11th and 12th, 2011 at the International Game Fishing Association Hall of Fame in Dania Beach, FL. Representatives from Guy Harvey Outpost will be in attendance.
Held every third year, this Symposium promises to be the largest and most informative to date. Two full days of presentations on cutting edge scientific research of bonefish, tarpon and permit from fisheries scientists around the world is scheduled, as well as panel discussions, fly casting seminars and tying clinics by some of the world’s noted flats anglers. On the final night an “Evening with the Legends” banquet will be emceed by author and angler Andy Mill, participants include; Joan Wulff, Bob Popovics, Lefty Kreh, Flip Pallot, Chico Fernandez, Sandy Moret, Rick Ruoff, Mark Sosin, Ralph Delph, Steve Huff, Bill Curtis, Stu Apte and George Hommell.
Leading up to and as part of the Symposium, Bonefish and Tarpon Trust will be auctioning multiple guided days of fishing and special one of a kind fishing adventures with expert guides who have donated their time to benefit BTT. For more information on these auctions and to submit your bids please go to the “Symposium Auctions” button on the BTT web site.
Space is limited, so be sure to register early. All interested anglers are welcome. For more information and a complete schedule of events, please visit the BTT web site, or call 239-283-4733.
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![](mailto:?subject=Bonefish & Tarpon Trust Symposium Set for Nov. 11th & 12th&body=<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/vaughfred-bonefish.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-830 " title="Bimini Bonefish" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/vaughfred-bonefish.jpg" alt="" width="495" height="329" /></a>Fly fishing guru Vaughn Cochran and Bimini Big Game Club guide "Eagle Eyes" Fred enjoy a bountiful day bonefishing on the Bimini flats.
The <a title="2011 BTT Symposium" href="http://www.tarbone.org/component/content/article/318.html" target="_blank">Fourth International Bonefish and Tarpon Trust Symposium</a> will take place on November 11th and 12th, 2011 at the <a title="IGFA web site" href="http://www.igfa.org" target="_blank">International Game Fishing Association Hall of Fame</a> in Dania Beach, FL. Representatives from <a title="About GHO" href="http://www.biggameclubbimini.com/aboutus.htm" target="_blank">Guy Harvey Outpost</a> will be in attendance.
Held every third year, this Symposium promises to be the largest and most informative to date. Two full days of presentations on cutting edge scientific research of bonefish, tarpon and permit from fisheries scientists around the world is scheduled, as well as panel discussions, fly casting seminars and tying clinics by some of the world’s noted flats anglers. On the final night an “Evening with the Legends” banquet will be emceed by author and angler Andy Mill, participants include; Joan Wulff, Bob Popovics, Lefty Kreh, Flip Pallot, Chico Fernandez, Sandy Moret, Rick Ruoff, Mark Sosin, Ralph Delph, Steve Huff, Bill Curtis, Stu Apte and George Hommell.
Leading up to and as part of the Symposium, Bonefish and Tarpon Trust will be auctioning multiple guided days of fishing and special one of a kind fishing adventures with expert guides who have donated their time to benefit BTT. For more information on these auctions and to submit your bids please go to the <a title="BTT Symposium Auctions" href="http://www.tarbone.org/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=26&zenid=b7til449h12ti6cs07e6lv3gb5" target="_blank">“Symposium Auctions”</a> button on the BTT web site.
Space is limited, so be sure to register early. All interested anglers are welcome. For more information and a complete schedule of events, please visit the <a title="BTT web site" href="http://www.tarbone.com" target="_blank">BTT web site</a>, or call 239-283-4733. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/bonefish-tarpon-trust-symposium-set-for-nov-11th-12th/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Where Has Amanda the Loggerhead Sea Turtle Gone Since Juno Beach Release 2 Weeks Ago?&body=<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/turtle.jpeg"><img class=" size-medium wp-image-2782 alignleft" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/turtle.jpeg?w=242" alt="turtle" width="242" height="300" /></a>
Amanda’s zig-zag route might look like she’s one confused sea turtle, but experts say the 300-pound loggerhead knows what she’s doing. "Her path is what we expected. She’s making a loop to get her bearings,” said Charlie Manire, director of research and rehabilitation at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center.
Since being released into the Atlantic Ocean from the LMC in Juno Beach on June 11, Amanda as of Tuesday has criss-crossed her way a little bit north and a lot south. That’s close to 180 miles, or about 14 miles a day.
She was last detected swimming a few miles off Delray Beach, according to seaturtle.org.
Amanda swam north about 5 miles, and then headed about 10 miles out to sea.
She then headed south and swam around between Juno Beach and West Palm Beach, less than 10 miles offshore.
For the past few days, Amanda has been meandering south, Mani-re said.
“She’s probably following a food source. She’s going where the crab, lobster, conch and shrimp are,” he said.
Amanda will teach researchers a little more about where sea turtles travel, how deep they dive, water temperatures and how fast they swim, thanks to a cell-phone-sized tracking device attached to her reddish-brown shell.
The gadget is designed to fall off after a couple of years, Manire said.
Researchers check her whereabouts daily and post Amanda’s location on marinelife.org.
While the location function of the device is working, the satellite programming to transmit depth and water temperature is not activated yet. It should kick in within about a month.
Amanda arrived at LMC on Dec.
28. Divers rescued her about a mile offshore from the Lake Worth Inlet. The turtle suffered from trauma to both of her front flippers, Manire said.
LMC is a nonprofit organization that rehabilitates and researches sea turtles. About 50 injured sea turtles are released into the Atlantic Ocean annually, as well as about 2,000 hatchlings.
The organization also counts sea turtle nests on the 10-mile stretch of beach from Juno Beach to the Martin County line.
About 225,000 visitors come to the center on U.S. 1 annually, according to LMC.
This article appears courtesy of Bill Dipaolo and the Palm Beach Post https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/where-has-amanda-the-sea-turtle-gone-since-juno-beach-release-2-weeks-ago/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Win a LunkerDog Charter from Guy Harvey Outpost&body=Guy Harvey Outpost is giving away a day's fishing charter with Captain Jeff on the <a href="http://www.lunkerdog.com/">LunkerDog</a>. To kick things off <a href="http://www.guyharveyoutpost.com/">Guy Harvey Outpost </a>is sponsoring this Friday's <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1450883485177344/1458800584385634/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity">Happy Bait 2014 LIVE </a>from the <a href="http://piraterepublicbar.com/">Pirate Republic Bar & Grill</a>. Join us 6pm this Friday, August 29th for fun with Reel Guys: Peter Miller (<a href="http://bass2billfish.com/">Bass 2 Bills</a>), <a href="http://rickydfishing.com/tag/ricky-deboliac/">Ricky Beboliac</a>, Ben Begovic, Lil G, Mitchel Vitale, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGzo5m4bOH8">Cris Bait Em Up</a>, Certified Lunker, Cliff Jensen and much more. Plus goodies from Guy Harvey Outpost.
<a href="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/2014hb4-lunkerdog-event.jpg"><img class="wp-image-2196 size-large" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/2014hb4-lunkerdog-event.jpg?w=660" alt="Run That Dog!" width="660" height="880" /></a>
Who knows maybe Capt. Jeff will give away some secret Tarpon tips. So Run That Dog down to the Pirate Republic Bar & Grill. Bring your gear and get Certified too.
The Charter is a full day charter with Capt. Jeff on board the Zinn Dog, his custom built sportfish boat. Fishing will take place from Ft Lauderdale. Full Day 8 hour offshore trip on the ZINN DOG 6 person max. Winter trip for sailfish, Spring and Summer dolphin, tuna or swordfish.
https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/win-a-lunkerdog-charter-from-guy-harvey-outpost/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Bimini Fishing Forecast – March&body=FORECAST BY: <a title="About Capt. Billy Black " href="http://guyharveyoutpostnews.com/2011/01/10/capt-billy-black-joins-big-game-clubs-offshore-charter-operations/" target="_blank">Captain Billy Black</a>, <a title="BBGC web site" href="http://www.biggameclubbimini.com" target="_blank">Bimini Big Game Club</a> Offshore Fleet
For offshore anglers headed to <a title="Islands of the Bahamas web site" href="http://www.bahamas.com/out-islands/bimini" target="_blank">Bimini</a> during the month of March, you will be in for some great fishing. The <a title="Wikipedia entry for wahoo" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wahoo" target="_blank">wahoo</a> bite has been superb and will continue into March with fish averaging in the 40-60 pound range. It appears that the <a title="Wikipedia entry for blue marlin" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_blue_marlin" target="_blank">blue marlin</a> bite is starting early as a nice 250 pound blue was caught mid-February and several <a title="BBGC’s Captain Skipper Gentry Lands Blue Marlin" href="http://guyharveyoutpostnews.com/2011/02/15/bbgcs-captain-skipper-gentry-lands-blue-marlin/" target="_blank">others have been caught since</a>. Additionally, <a title="Wikipedia entry for blackfin tuna" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blackfin_tuna" target="_blank">blackfin</a> and <a title="Wikipedia entry for yellowfin tuna" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellowfin_tuna" target="_blank">yellowfin tuna</a> will begin migrating through the area. And if that wasn’t enough you may also catch a few <a title="Wikipedia entry for dolphin (mahi-mahi)" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolphin_fish" target="_blank">dolphin</a>!
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/BiminiBigGameClub"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-518" title="Heading to the Stream!" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/cginchannel1.jpg" alt="" width="550" height="412" /></a>
For the blackfin, use artificials with a strip bait or ballyhoo behind them. Smaller baits work better for the blackfin. If you are high-speed trolling for wahoo, use artificials with a heavy trolling lead (12 to 24 ounces), 20 feet in front of the lures to get them to the proper depth. Suggested tackle would be 50 pounds and should be ok for the smaller blue marlin.
As far as “best spots”, anywhere off the western shore north or south of the island. You may want to “fish into the wind” as an overall strategy. Remember, you cannot catch a fish if the baits are not presented properly so make it a point to check your baits often especially the deeper ones.
Catch em’ up…and we hope to see you in Bimini soon!
Capt. Billy Black's forecast appears in the March issue of <a title="Coastal Angler Magazine/Flahama on Facebook" href="http://www.facebook.com/CoastalAnglerMagazine.Bahama" target="_blank">Coastal Angler Magazine's Flahama edition</a>. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/bimini-fishing-forecast-march/){kind=link}
 Bait Box for Sailfish&body=<img class=" size-medium wp-image-3352 alignleft" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/1916104_202726822733_7371996_n.jpg?w=300" alt="1916104_202726822733_7371996_n" width="300" height="200" />By Sue Cocking, Guy Harvey Outpost Staff Writer
scocking@guyharveyoutpost.com
Miami-based charter fishing captain extraordinaire Ray Rosher -- a Guy Harvey Outpost Outfitter--didn't reach the top of the industry by following the leads of others. Rosher-- whose teams have won top honors in just about every billfish tournament circuit from South Florida to the Bahamas, to the Caribbean and beyond--is an innovator who's not afraid to try something unorthodox to reign atop the fleet.
"Don't be afraid to try new techniques," he advised. "I've had more success doing things a little unconventional."
With sailfish season hitting its stride along the Florida east coast and Keys, captains and anglers might want to consider changing things up from their usual practices.
For example, Rosher says, many fishermen believe that the only consistent method of catching and releasing sailfish between Miami and Jupiter is to drift waters with a drastic color change-- usually 80 to 200 feet deep-- using live bait on kites-- typically goggle eyes (big-eye scad); threadfin herring; or sardines.
But Rosher said winning tournaments in the Pacific waters of Cabo San Lucas, Mexico taught him a thing or two about the effectiveness of dead-baiting.
Trolling a dead bally hoo on a spinning outfit behind a Mylar dredge, Rosher has enjoyed days of multiple hook-ups amid a fleet of live-baiters off Miami.
"That stuff about 'they won't eat dead bait when there's live bait around' is baloney," he said. "Don't get pigeonholed thinking you have to catch sailfish in Miami on a live bait."
Referring to his dredge/dead bait set-up, Rosher said, "I don't care what [sailfish] think it is when they're five feet away. It's too late; he's got a bait swimming by him and he eats it."
The captain points out that live baiting for sailfish generally works well between Jupiter and Miami because of steeper, narrower bottom contours that funnel the fish through predictable corridors as they feed into the northbound Gulf Stream current. In the Stuart-Fort Pierce area, he said, trolling dead baits is preferable because the gradually-sloping bottom necessitates covering lots of ground to locate fish.
In the Keys where waters tend to be clearer and calmer and currents less consistent, fishermen look for showers of bally hoo being harassed by sailfish near shallow reefs such as Conch Reef and American Shoal.
"Fish that might be out in 100 feet of water come into the reef to feed," Rosher said.
The 2015-16 sailfish season has been a roller coaster ride so far, ranging from days where it's difficult to get a bite to double-digit releases. The onset of cold fronts to the north usually propels pods of sailfish south.
And if this year is anything like past sailfish seasons, Rosher predicts a consistent push of fish into South Florida and the Keys well into May.
BOOK YOUR OWN SAILFISH CHARTERS with Guy Harvey Outpost Outfitter Capt. Ray Rosher by calling GHO Reservations at 800.513.5257, or email sales@guyharveyoutpost.com.
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Sue Cocking chronicles the Guy Harvey Outpost travel and adventure experience in regular blog posts on GuyHarveyOutpostNews.com/. For 21 years, Cocking covered the full spectrum of outdoors adventure opportunities in South Florida and beyond for the Miami Herald, including fishing, diving, hunting, paddling, camping, sailing and powerboat racing. She is a certified scuba diver and holder of an IGFA women's world fly fishing record for a 29-pound permit.
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Share your photos, videos and experiences with Guy Harvey Outpost by hash tagging #OutpostAttitude to all of your social media posts. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/thinking-outside-the-live-bait-box-for-sailfish-2/){kind=link}
![](mailto:?subject=Hunting Not Always Ducky on Lake Okeechobee&body=<img class=" size-medium wp-image-3060 alignleft" src="https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/lakeoduck.jpg?w=225" alt="LakeODuck" width="225" height="300" />By Sue Cocking, Guy Harvey Outpost staff writer
scocking@guyharveyoutpost.com
[Okeechobee, FL--] A blast of cold weather and flocks of ignorant ducks from the north are high on the holiday wish lists of duck hunters on Lake Okeechobee when phase two of the harvest season opens Dec.12.
The first phase Nov. 21-29 found hordes of hunters and plenty of birds flying over the marshes of the Big O on the first cool front of the fall season. But after numerous rounds of sky-blasting from legions of 12-gauges, the ducks learned to cruise the stratosphere as they made their way south across the 730-square-mile lake.
Still, the skittish birds and constant bursts of small-arms fire were no excuses for not bagging a limit of six, according to Sam Heaton of Jensen Beach, FL. In a half-day of hunting on the north end of the lake, Heaton managed only three ducks-- two ring-necked and a gadwall.
It wasn't for lack of preparation; Heaton had scouted the secluded lily pad slough weeks before the season opened aboard his 15 1/2-foot Gheenoe-- a flats boat/canoe hybrid powered by an outboard with an extra-long shaft. A veteran hunter, fisherman and all-around outdoorsman, he had discovered plenty of ducks alighting, feeding and hanging out in the area. All he had to do was set out some decoys, conceal his camo-painted boat in a nearby stand of cattails, cradle his 12-gauge, and watch for the flare of approaching duck wings.
He was armed with a variety of duck calls ranging from quacks to whistles and had his trusty yellow Lab named Finn aboard to fetch fallen birds. But none of it seemed to matter when his quarry flew in. He fired and missed at least four times.
"Son of a gun," Heaton muttered. "This is the worst I've ever shot."
Finn, waiting impatiently for something to do, whined in agreement.
"I know, I know, buddy," Heaton soothed the dog, stroking its ears.
When Heaton shot his first 'ringer', Finn literally leapt into action -- bounding over the gunwales into the marsh and swimming straight for the floating duck. He quickly returned with it clamped in his jaws, looking immensely pleased with himself.
Over the next four hours, Heaton shot one more ringer and a gadwall-- both retrieved by Finn. As the sun rose higher, the birds mostly flew by high out of range. Despite the futility, several nearby hunters blasted at them anyway, prompting them to reach new heights. By late morning, fewer and fewer flocks appeared.
"We need some more ducks. These ducks have been shot hard this weekend," Heaton said.
Around noon with no more prospects on the horizon, Heaton decided to pack up his decoys and head back to the boat ramp. He had enough duck breasts for hors d'oeuvres and was buoyed by hopes of a new wave of targets during phase two of the season which runs through Jan. 31.
"We'll get more ducks since the weather is getting cold up north," he said.
Here is Heaton's recipe for grilled duck breast:
Butterfly duck breasts. Prepare a mixture of sour cream, chives, garlic, cilantro, and red pepper flakes, ladle it onto the breasts, then roll each one up in a slice of apple-cured bacon and secure with a toothpick or skewer.
Cook on the grill until the bacon is sizzling. Dive in.
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Sue Cocking chronicles the Guy Harvey Outpost travel and adventure experience in regular blog posts on GuyHarveyOutpostNews.com/. For 21 years, Cocking covered the full spectrum of outdoors adventure opportunities in South Florida and beyond for the Miami Herald, including fishing, diving, hunting, paddling camping, sailing and powerboat racing. She is a certified scuba diver and holder of an IGFA women's world fly fishing record for a 29-pound permit.
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Share your photos, videos and experiences with Guy Harvey Outpost by hash tagging #OutpostAttitude to all of your social media posts. https://guyharveyoutpostblog.com/hunting-not-always-ducky-on-lake-o/){kind=link}
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