Today NOAA reopened 8,403 square miles of Gulf waters to commercial and recreational fishing. These waters extend from the Louisiana state water line to due south of the Alabama/Florida state line. This is the eleventh reopening in federal waters since July 22.

This reopening was announced after consultation with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and under a reopening protocol agreed to by NOAA, the FDA, and the Gulf states.

Picture a super-streamlined ship gliding up a canal. Underwater thrusters ease the ship to a stop at the cargo dock and machines approach the vessel to off-load merchandise and materials. Instead of using cranes to haul off containers, however, whole sections of the ship disengage and move up conveyors to land-based transportation systems. If there isn’t new cargo to haul, the ship shrinks to a quarter of its original size and sails away. Sound farfetched? Actually, the concept was conceived decades ago by a Florida designer named Jacque Fresco. 

I absolutely love technology. In my life I have watched everything from party line telephones become cell phones to small black and white television screens become plasma screens. It’s been a wonderful ride so far, and it just keeps getting better. All parts of our lives are inundated by new technology that improves exponentially every ten years, sometimes even daily. Boats and fishing have seen technological advancements in spades.

When I learned how a fish finder actually works I was amazed. It was so simple it was absolutely brilliant. Sonar can’t pass through air so when a sonar signal hits a fish’s air bladder it reflects back to the transducer. The bigger the fish, the bigger the air bladder, and thus the bigger the reflected signal. Bear in mind, however, that anything with a different density from water will show up. Seaweed, trash, or just about any submerged object will give a reflection.

I’ve seen fishing line used for everything from holding up a radio antenna to tying back a ponytail. When it comes to uses like those there’s not a lot of picking and choosing. If catching a fish and actually putting it in the cooler instead of passing on the story of the one that got away, you absolutely have to give some thought to the high tech string you wrap around your spool. Surprisingly to some, you should probably give it a lot of thought.

You may have found something you really like and have used in the past and continue to use, but technology doesn’t slow down for anyone and constant improvements are being made. It might be time to take a look at one of your main tools of the trade.

If your boat trailer is going to spend the off-season outside exposed to the elements, Boat Owners Association of The United States has five tips to protect your investment and eliminate problems down the road:

Kids love boating. And, few things compare to seeing a child's face light up as they enjoy the marvels of a day on the water. On longer trips, however, smiles can turn upside down when kids become bored on the boat. Here's a list of fun activities that will keep small children engaged and entertained while you reach your destination. Electronic babysitters such as DVDs and hand-held games are great, in limited doses, but do you really want your young sailors stuck in the cabin with their faces glued to a screen? Draw them out with activities that relate to their nautical surroundings.

Capt. Tom Henry was a popular and accomplished charter boat captain for two decades when he was fatally injured in a freak accident in the Jupiter Inlet.

Henry, 61, of Jupiter, died from injuries suffered when he fell off his charter boat, the Waterdog. The boat was coming from offshore with a charter party aboard and a mate who eventually grabbed the wheel and took control of the 48’ boat after it did two 360s.

Henry was pulled out of the water by Palm Beach County lifeguards and taken to St. Mary's Medical Center. The mate and five clients who were aboard were not hurt, according to reports.

Professional photographer Stuart Browning happened to be on the jetty and captured the event, which should serve as a grim reminder of how fast things can go wrong on the water…

Although you would have thought fishing would have been a strong suit for Ponce De Leon, it appears that isn’t the case. Although it was justifiable, he was worried more about water than fishing when he breezed into the Dry Tortugas and noticed a distinct lack of water, and a whole lot of turtles…thus, the Dry Tortugas were named.

Nowadays, we prepare with plenty of freshwater, and modern technology has helped, so even though the islands seventy miles of the coast of Key West have no fresh water, we confidently head out this time of year for some of the best fishing available anywhere.

Ever wonder what Florida’s west coast looked like before developers manicured the beaches with resorts, condominiums and luxury homes? If so, you might enjoy a voyage to Cayo Costa State Park off the coast of southwest Florida. This 7-mile long, pristine island is a rare gem accessible only by boat. 

Cayo Costa sits due south of Boca Grande Pass in Lee County, sandwiched between the Gulf of Mexico and Pine Island Sound. Virtually untouched white, sandy beaches wrap the island for over 9 miles. Unspoiled red-mangrove forests blanket the coastline on the bay side, a truly idyllic spot for fisherman and kayakers.

The number one question asked of many professional photographers is: How do you take such gorgeous pictures? The short answer is: Take a lot of pictures. With pricy film and developing costs out of the equation, taking loads of pictures with today’s digital cameras is cheap. Pros throw away dozens of shots for every stunning image they keep. But beyond that, what can amateurs, and more specifically, boaters, do to improve their photos?