Leah Brown of Bradenton with a big Barracuda she caught that ate her Amberjack that she was fighting. Then we used the piece of Amberjack that was left and caught a 6 ft Blacktip Shark.The party also caught more Amberjacks, Mangrove Snappers, Gag and Red Groupers in about 125 ft using live and cut baits offshore of Anna Maria Island. Fishing with Capt Larry McGuire Show Me The Fish Charters.Operating out of the Cortez Fishing Center—Bradenton.

The July 4th holiday is expected to bring record numbers of boaters, sailors and anglers to the water. Along with hot dogs and apple pie, alcohol will be on hand for many on this national day of celebration. Boat Owners Association of The United States(BoatU.S.) has three tips that can help ensure it's also a safe holiday for everyone aboard.

• Designated drivers are good - but don't forget your guests. "To use a designated skipper would seem like welcome advice," says BoatU.S. Director of Damage Avoidance Bob Adriance. "However, having a designated skipper aboard may suggest to everyone else that they are free to drink as much as they want, and that's the trouble."

The BoatU.S. insurance claims files don't lie -- statistics show that sober boating guests are much more likely to be injured on a boat than the captain and regular crew. Adding alcohol to the mix only increases the risk for injury.

Adriance says guests' lack of basic boating skills are the main reason. "Someone who boats infrequently may not be familiar with wakes, docking, or boarding, which increases their chances of falling overboard," he said. "Boat operators need to really ask themselves, how much attention can I devote to watching inebriated guests while trying to safely make my way home?"
 

Andy Thornal Company, one of CCA Polk County's long time supporters and sponsor, is having a cost-free Fly Fishing July! If you fly fish, it's a time to practice up, or if you were always wondering what fly fishing was all about, now is your chance to find out. From casting to rigging to tying your own flies, you will be able to do it all. Please see the information and schedule attached and below.

As Allen of Thornal's has indicated, if you are interested, you should call and make reservations. Those of us who fly fish know that Allen stocks everything you need, so you should act now and get your reservation. We can guarantee that you will not have a better time while enjoying the sport. Have fun!

Orvis will sponsor a $15 gift certificate to all who participate in the course that have reservations. We will provide all of the gear or bring your own - Please call or email to reserve your place as classes are limited. Call (863) 299-9999 or toll free (800) 499-9890

Two new ideas are going into action right now, including something called an "air bubble curtain" and a barge blockade at Destin Pass. The state of Florida is placing barges there to act as huge booms in the water. The idea is to keep the oil away from the shoreline and help funnel the oil toward skimmer boats so they can collect it. Other ideas involve the use of an air bubble curtain as an underwater barrier. Okaloosa County wants to create a wall of bubbles at Destin Pass to help shield the coast from oil.

I am not sure if these aforementioned techniques are from the BP suggestion website, created shortly after the spill to collect any and all ideas that may help them, but hundreds and hundreds of ideas have poured in from people across the globe, some suggesting the use of explosives and others want to try magnets. Suggestions are pouring in from auto mechanics to physicists to marine engineers and mining workers. I have a suggestion: don't drill so deep that you can't reach the well in a crisis!

See suggestions below:

• Magnetic plug: Powerful fixed magnets to hold magnetic particles in the pipe
• Screw top: Fit a threaded sleeve around the pipe, then screw on a closed valve.
• Big shot: An explosively inserted copper plug, shot from a crude cannon
• Freeze out: Wrap the pipe with a heat exchanger, then pump in cryogenic fluid to form an ice plug
• Snap shut: Use explosives to pinch pipe closed
• Burn, baby, burn: Inject oxygen before oil exits and create a giant acetylene-like torch
• Inflatable collar: Insert another pipe into the fractured pipe with an inflatable collar, then inflate to create a seal
• Bubble curtain: Use perforated hoses to create a bubble curtain around the oil slick and contain it for pumping to the surface
   

Florida residents' worst fears have come true—large pools of black sludge are invading the coastal beach's once-white sands. Officials closed the beach to visitors for the first time Thursday because because of oil contamination. Oil from the Deepwater Horizon disaster continues to wash ashore along the Alabama and Florida coasts.

Health advisories warning people not to swim or fish have been posted for a total of nearly 40 miles of Florida Panhandle beaches, stretching from the Florida/Alabama border through Pensacola Beach and across a stretch of beaches further east in Walton and Okaloosa counties, including the popular tourist spot of Destin.

I haven’t seen anything on network television about this, I haven’t seen any telethons, I still have not seen any PSAs about helping the Gulf states in their time of need. I would like to see ALL of the Gulf states band together and assure that modern equipment is obtained for the area, and require that all the platforms in the Gulf maintain booms around them until their well heads are brought up to modern, international standards. I’ll bet that pricey remote controlled shut-off valve is looking like a bargain to BP now… I am disgusted!

Read about how we never learn

As summer heats up, Florida parks and pristine beaches are open for enjoyment. Get out and do some snorkeling; it's fun, easy, and can be inexpensive for a family of four! If you want to give it a try, here are a few things that you should know... and some of my favorite places to go!

Selecting a Mask and Snorkel

When selecting a mask, fit, and comfort are important. You don't want a mask that leaks constantly because it doesn't fit your face. So you need to go somewhere where you can try on the masks, most likely a scuba shop. Google 'Divers Equipment and Supplies' and you will come up with lots of places to shop in Florida. You can also look for the dive flag, usually prominently displayed on the front of scuba shops, around your town. I bought my mask from a dive shop in New Jersey 15 years ago and it is still going strong. Try to avoid the cheap Walmart stuff; you get what you pay for.

To try on the mask, move the strap out of the way, brush your hair out of the way, and just push the mask firmly onto your face. If it remains there unsupported, then it is making a good seal. Once you have determined which masks fit properly, other considerations are comfort, field of vision—some masks permit more view to the sides than others—and, of course, the cost. Get a snorkel also, and maybe a spare strap to hold it to your mask.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place 6 (6-inch round) gratin dishes on a sheet pan.

To make the topping, place the butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment (you can also use a hand mixer). With the mixer on low speed, add the garlic, shallot, prosciutto, parsley, lemon juice, Pernod, salt, and pepper and mix until combined. With the mixer still on low, add the olive oil slowly as though making mayonnaise, until combined. Fold the panko in with a rubber spatula and set aside.

Preheat the broiler, if it's separate from your oven.

Place 1 tablespoon of the wine in the bottom of each gratin dish. With a small sharp knife, remove the white muscle and membrane from the side of each scallop and discard. Pat the scallops dry with paper towels and distribute them among the 3 dishes. Spoon the garlic butter evenly over the top of the scallops. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the topping is golden and sizzling and the scallops are barely done. If you want the top crustier, place the dishes under the broiler for 2 minutes, until browned. Finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and a sprinkling of chopped parsley and serve immediately with crusty French bread.

Lightly season the fillets on both sides with 2 teaspoons Essence (recipe follows).

In a shallow bowl, combine the instant flour and remaining tablespoon of Essence. One at a time, dredge the fish in the flour to coat both sides, shaking to remove any excess.

Over medium-high heat, warm enough clarified butter to come 1/2-inch up the sides of a large, deep saute pan or skillet to 350 degrees F. Add the fish in batches and cook for 2 minutes on the first side. Carefully turn with a spatula and cook until golden and cooked through, 2 1/2 to 3 minutes.

Remove and drain on paper towels. Add additional clarified butter, as needed, for the remaining fish. Arrange 2 fillets on each of 4 dinner plates and serve with the Dilled Tartar Sauce (recipe follows).

On a couple trips recently Ray Ribaric and I braved the  windy weather finding action mostly around structure.  We fished docks and pilings in and around Sarasota Bay as well as Longboat Key.  Moving from dock to dock we eventually got on some fish. Sheepshead, black drum, flounder and trout made it to the live well. One big red was caught and released after a photo that measured at 27.5 inches. Using light tackle and live shrimp for bait made for some great light tackle action.

Tony Davis of Anna Maria Island with a nice sheaphead he caught.On this trip we caught lots of snapper and catch and release grouper.We were offshore of anna Maria Island in about 40 ft using live shrimp and sardines.