Last year’s Atlantic hurricane season saw the formation of just nine tropical storms—the fewest since 1997. And with news headlines focused on the Gulf oil spill, marina operators in the Gulf and Atlantic seaboard are questioning whether boaters are distracted or have simply forgotten about making annual storm preparations for the upcoming hurricane season, which began June 1. Adding to the operators’ worries are forecasts warning that 2010 could be a much more active hurricane season with as many as 18 named storms. On Florida’s east coast, Sebastian River Marina & Boatyard owner Doug Hillman is concerned. “Unfortunately, some of us have short memories,” said Hillman, who recalls the last significant storm that struck his region five years ago. “There doesn’t seem to be a sense of urgency this season.”

FWC is once again adjusting licensing requirements for shoreline fishermen in the state of Florida. As of July 1, you must still be licensed but it will no longer cost anything. The nine dollar fee will be going away.  Although the legislature removed the fee for a shoreline fisherman, they retained the license requirement, according to them, to prevent a federal licensing fee from taking place in Florida a little further down the line.

Now that doesn’t mean it won’t cost anything, because you will have to pay the vendor, whether it’s online or at your local bait and tackle store. Residents can get the license on the phone, or on the internet for $3.33 and $2.31 respectively. For internet sales go to www.fl.wildlifelicense.com. Telephone sales can be reached at
888-fish-Florida (888-347-4356). Remember, you must be a Florida resident, and this is a license for shoreline only. If you’re fishing from a boat, a structure (such as a pier), or a structure accessible by boat only, you’ll require a regular saltwater license, and that will cost you $17 as a resident. That same $17 will buy a non-resident a three day license. Thirty dollars will buy a non-resident a week, and a year will cost $47.

 Although when my children were young and thought I was superman, I have never believed in any way that I was particularly super in any way. In spite of that, I am sitting upright in a hospital bed as I write this article and the word “kryptonite” keeps running through my head. I believe I have found my own private little killer weakness and it goes by the name of vibrio vulnificus and it’s not a person of Italian royality. I assure you this exquisite little pain causer is extremely good at what it does, and what it does is make you very, very sick.

 In my case it caused an infection in my lower left leg that resulted in a condition called cellulites. In other cases it can cause serious gastrointestinal tract infections, causing a variety of conditions from nausea to diarrhea, and worse. In cases where it enters the blood stream, as it often does, it has recorded a fifty percent mortality rate, and is responsible for ninety five percent of the seafood-related deaths in the U.S.

Oil Spill and Fishing Pine Island Sound When I was a kid, I grew up watching TV shows like, “Lost in Space,” “Star Trek,” and “Buck Rogers in the 21st Century.” I read books like “War of the Worlds” and saw the future through the eyes of their creations. As Boomers we saw these works of fiction become reality. Today many fictional things of the 50s and 60s are now reality. Space stations, space ships to the moon, mini discs, and cell phones are real.

But the one thing that seems to elude us is a clean, cheap power source. It is said that “If man can imagine it, he can do it.” So why is clean, cheap power not part of today? Why do millions of gallons of oil have to be drilled from a mile down in the ocean where we do not have the technology to make a timely repair? Why do we in the 21st Century still depend on fossil fuel? It seems ironic, doesn’t it? As a million gallons of oil disgorges into the Gulf of Mexico each day and billions of dollars are being spent for cleanup and in litigation, I wonder how far we could have advanced in alternate renewable energy with that money.

Of course summer gets hot on Florida’s Gulf coast; but we have plenty of fish and no oil, except in our frying pans! All the media hype is about the terrible oil spill this and that. Yes, this is a disaster “anywhere it hits”, but so far Florida is only affected by all this sensation driven, negative press. Our beaches and waters are beautiful and full of fish. Fishing is great and Tarpon are in full swing from Boca Grande to Tarpon Springs. Snook are starting to drop into the Gulf Passes and look to be in good shape. Spanish and King Mackerel are still available and some will be here all summer. Permit, Cuda, Goliath Grouper, and much more are on the wrecks and reefs. Grouper are open and Red Snapper are finally also open this month. Don’t let our crazy media wreck your summer fishing plans. Take advantage of the great deals and get out and enjoy Florida’s fabulous fishing.

Really nice American Red Snapper caught and released by Thomas McGuire left and assisted by his Dad Tom McGuire from Palmetto Fl. Also pictured is Thomas McGuire with his first Amberjack caught on the same day using a live Pinfish in about 150 ft offshore of Anna Maria Island. This was a special day for it was a graduation from high school gift for Thomas from his dad and Captain Larry McGuire. We also caught large Gag and Red Grouper and more Amberjacks until a shark frenzy started up around the boat.

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Late last Friday, Florida Gov. Charlie Crist signed the Jobs for Florida Bill, CS/SB-1752, which contains the Florida boat sales-use tax cap legislation, bringing about what some industry insiders are calling “a major victory for Florida’s struggling marine industry.”

Many boaters say that wearing a life jacket makes them hot or uncomfortable. There is a type of life jacket however, that solves these problems—an inflatable life jacket. And in an effort to get more boaters to voluntarily wear a life jacket, the National Safe Boating Council, in partnership with the Canadian Safe Boating Council, are having the first-ever Inflatable Life Jacket World Record Day on Thursday, May 20 at 11:00 AM EDT/8:00 AM PST. At the appointed time, participants at locations across North America will simultaneously activate their inflatable life jackets to claim an unprecedented World Record.