While styles run the gamut among today’s premier sporting artists, there is little disagreement as to the first and best game fish painter of all time. Over the course of more than 40 years, Stanley Meltzoff (1917–2006) established a reputation for astonishing underwater realism that has never been equaled. 

He painted virtually all of the world’s great saltwater game species, and his art dominated the sporting press for decades. If you picked up an outdoor magazine or tournament program from the eras of Kennedy to Reagan, you’ve undoubtedly seen his work. Those were oil paintings—not photographs—and no other artist has ever done it better.

A cold-related die-off of manatees in early 2011 set the stage for a third straight year with high numbers of deaths for the species. Biologists with the research arm of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) documented 453 manatee carcasses in state waters in 2011.

Beavertail Skiffs has been quietly building some of the best flats boats on the market for several years.  Their newest model, the BT3, has come closer to perfection than almost any other 18 footer I’ve ever seen. 

Beavertail actually started out building duck hunting boats in Minnesota before jumping into the saltwater market.  I bought one of their ultra-light B2 models in 2007 and considered it the best possible rig for the type of shallow water fishing that I do here on Pine Island and after more than 600 charters I had no intention of giving it up for something new.

Largemouth bass angler Rick Clark of Crystal River, Florida, recently went on the fishing trip of a lifetime to Northern Michigan, guided by none other than BoatUS Angler member and outsized television fishing show personality Mark Zona. Clark’s girlfriend, Layne Lowrey, also of Crystal River, won the fishing trip in a contest for members of BoatUS Angler, and gifted the prize to Rick, proclaiming herself the “best girlfriend ever”.
 
Of course Rick agreed (as would any wise angler), and while fishing with the “Awesome Fishing Show” host in the backwoods near Traverse City, Michigan, Clark said he learned three important things:

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on Thursday in Key Largo approved St. Augustine's proposed boating ordinance for the anchoring and mooring pilot program coordinated by the FWC. However, the approval was contingent upon the city changing the length of stay for anchoring to 30 consecutive days in any 45-day period.

Local governments for the five communities participating in the pilot program are responsible for soliciting public input for their ordinance-development process. Since the June Commission meeting, when the final participant was selected for the program, FWC staff has been attending the sites' public-input meetings to provide information on the pilot program.

Thanks to successful spotted seatrout management, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted Nov. 16 to increase both commercial and recreational fishing opportunities for the popular fish.

"What we are trying to do is be fair in a fishery that is in abundance, and in some cases, way in abundance," said Chairman Kathy Barco. "We are dealing with a success story."

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) moved Nov. 16 to prohibit the harvest of tiger sharks and three species of hammerheads from state waters in an effort to further
protect these top predators that rely on Florida waters to survive. The action was taken during the first day of the Commission’s two-day meeting in Key Largo.

“Sometimes the appropriate measures of conservation are the problems we avoid, not the problems we have to fix,” said Commissioner Brian Yablonski.

Pictured above: USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 7 Commander Alexander Ilnyckyj (L) and District Commodore Woody Simpson (R) with “Flotilla of the Year” Award

Will your GPS work when you need it? This action alert is about a matter that could have repercussions for all recreational anglers and boaters. As a result of a new proposal to use radio bandwidth right next to the existing GPS service, the future reliability of the GPS system across the United States is now in question.

CCA's partner Boat US is mounting a campaign to contact the Federal Communiications Commission (FCC) during a short 30-day public comment period, to help them understand the public’s need for continued, reliable GPS signals for safe navigation on boats, in cars, and for so many other daily uses. Clicking the link below will take you to a page on the Boat US website where you will be able to send a message to the FCC voicing your concerns:

The member-only Freedom Boat Club will donate their boats and captains on June 28,2011 to Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast. They will be the first local nonprofit group to benefit from free boat rides being offered by the company at their newest location, Marina Jack, in Sarasota.

“We are very eager that we are able to provide this unforgettable experience on the water to local children, their mentors and additional local charities,” said Bob Daley, CEO, Freedom Boat Club. “Our goal is to give back to the communities in which we serve and use our resources to help improve the lives of others.”