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Getting out of Dodge, with El Chico

November 18, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

Getting out of Dodge, with El Chico

A Guest Blog by Rickie Dee

So,

instead of that left turn to Mecca, where I really shouldn’t go…

my trusty driver made a right, and we now traveled down a road to nowhere, to sight see

Getting out of Dodge3

I thought why not, since…gas is .39 cents a gallon

Killing time is one of my daily occupations, when not flying; while on rotation in the arid Middle East

I always wanted to see an image of rolling desert sand, and

since I’m housed at Gitmo, aka fortified / machine gun / dual high walled / wired; Compound, smack in the middle of busy Riyadh,

solitude and rolling sand was easy to discover on its outskirts

Getting out of Dodge4
We found a small Oasis, though no water was present,

only reptile footprints; but rattlesnake were the prints that worried me most, ok scorpions too.

I found there is a certain quietness in the desert, only the wind knows sound

Getting out of Dodge
With the sun beginning to angle over my shoulder; we decide to head back, darkness would soon fall

then suddenly, remnants of a small; but Lost City appear, since the area was not fenced, I walk

Abandoned mud houses, certainly built many years ago; remain standing despite the monthly whipping of flying sandstorms

 

Getting out of Dodge2
safe and sound back in Riyadh, I eat a sizzling shrimp fajita at El Chico, a Saudi wanna be Mexican restaurant

No pork, no beer, no music plays there, and yes

Women not allowed, unless they are on the other, quiet walled section of El Chico

I only sat amongst Men, how exciting…

lime did accompany the Shrimp and a bottle of water washed it all down

American Express was not accepted

 

Rickie Dee is a fly fisher and photographer who searches for adventure around the planet.

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.

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Forsooth, A Poem

November 9, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

A Guest Blog by Nick Colantonio

 

Fly fisher Nick Colantonio, well-known in certain elite angling circles as the Comatose Angler, sent me this lovely poem he had adapted to fit his needs:

 

From Costa de Cocos, 2013

On Chetumal’s distant shore

I took a reed and scratched into the sand

… Sweetheart I love thee …

a WAVE

came by and washed away the fair impression.

Cruel wave, frail reed, treacherous sand,

I will trust you no more, but with giant hand

pluck from  Xcalac’s shore her tallest palm,

set it afire, and write in blazing letters across the sky

… SWEETHEART, I LOVE THEE …

And I’d like to see any god-damn wave wash that out.

 

*Adapted from a poem in the Minnesota Technilog, circa 1963

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Eating Cannonball Jellyfish from Mosquito Lagoon

November 4, 2013 by · 4 Comments

Eating Cannonball Jellyfish from Mosquito Lagoon

A Guest Blog by Dave Caprera

OK, last time I collected ‎30-40 fiddler crabs and made a bisque.  The picture of the crabs in the pot caught some of you unaware*.  Well, I have upped the ante and gone one better.  The cannonball jellyfish, Stomolophus meleagris, are now in large numbers in the lagoon.

cannonball jellyfish

A cannonball jellyfish

Two days ago I collected four specimens and started reading.  (I actually collected eight and threw four back.) There are about a dozen species of jellies that are eaten, almost entirely by Asians.  One is the cannonball.  (Its name is well deserved, it is round, about ‎8 inches in diameter, and weighs around ‎1 pound.  Ready! Load! Fire!)

You can buy them dried and salted.  They are salted because they do not keep fresh for very long.  But there is little literature on preparing fresh jellyfish.  The following is my recipe for their preparation.

1.  Catch jellyfish.  The cannonballs are among the strongest of the swimmers.  Don’t worry, you are up to the task.  They do not sting per se, but their mucous is found to be irritable to some.  Didn’t bother me.

2.  Rip the cap off.  No one told me how to clean them.  At first, I cut them carefully.  Then I figured it out.  Think of them as a mushroom.  Separate the cap from the stem.  Throw the stem away.

3.  Scrape off the scum.  Ah, this is the yucky part.  They are slimy.  Using a knife edge, scrape away.

4.  Brine for ‎24 hours in the fridge in a salt water solution.  Rinse.  Brine again.  Rinse. Rinse again (you are getting rid of the salt.). The brine cures them and assists in the slime removal.  Scrape again.

5.  At this point you should have firm, clean jellyfish filets.  Drain.  Now cover with boiling water for ‎15 minutes.  Magic!  They shrink in half.  They also soften up.  Rinse immediately in cold water.  Now you can slice ‎in 1/4 inch lengths.

6.  There are two “common” recipes.  Both served cold.  The Chinese use soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil and sugar.  Toss and sprinkle with toasted sesame seeds.  The Vietnamese use “fish sauce”, vinegar, oil, red pepper flakes and sugar.  They toss with cucumbers, cilantro and shredded carrots.  Variations are numerous.  Both are good.

7.  Eat.  I am not kidding.  This is good shit, almost zero carbs, high protein, low calorie.

cannonball jellyfish

Does this look like dinner to you?

Tune in next time for my dog whelk scungilli.

*This was not posted on this blog, unfortunately.

Dave Caprera, a retired attorney, now makes his home in New Smyrna Beach.

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.

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First Aid Kits for Paddlers

October 23, 2013 by · 1 Comment

First Aid Kits for Paddlers

A Guest Blog by Kristen Beck

If you intend to paddle along on the Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure, you must consider first aid kits. You need to think about your safety and rescues. If you are out paddling you are in the wilderness, even on the Indian River Lagoon. In general it takes one hour for every quarter mile you are away from a trail head, boat landing, or somewhere that an emergency vehicle could meet you, to get an injured party back. It could take longer depending on mode of injury or degree of incapacitation. I highly recommend that you take a first aid and safety course. A wilderness first aid course is excellent but a basic course is better than nothing.

A good first aid kit doesn’t need to break the bank. Put together a dedicated kit that becomes part of the essential gear that you never leave without- paddle, life jacket, first aid kit- you need them all. If you have it you might not ever need it, but that one incident when you need it and don’t have it will suck, so pack it!

Here are some tips on how to make your own first aid kit for the wilderness. You may want to increase the amount of supplies depending on how many will be traveling with you. Encourage your paddle buddies to carry their own kits.

Storage

You will want something lightweight and waterproof. Ziploc bags are great for keeping items clean and organized, but they are NOT waterproof. Invest in a dry bag and mark it with a huge red cross, so anyone will recognize it as a first aid kit. Dry boxes are good but I find a medium size dry bag works best.

Size

How big of a first aid kit you create depends on a few things. Is it just for you or for a group traveling together? Are you simply hiking and camping or will you be partaking in other adventurous activities like rock climbing or rafting? If so, you may want a larger first aid kit as serious injuries need more attention.

What to Pack

Here is a suggested list. You can always add or subtract items depending on your personal needs.

Basic components:

  • Small gauze pads
  • Large gauze pads
  • Hand sanitizer
  • At least 2” gauze roll – 1 or 2 rolls
  • Triple antibiotic ointment
  • Povidone/iodine solution
  • Chemical heat and cold packs
  • Baby wipes
  • Scissors
  • Tweezers
  • Latex gloves
  • Hydrogen peroxide bottle
  • Bottle of clean water
  • Maxi pads – 3 or 4
  • Emergency space blanket
  • Clean trash bags, 3 or 4, can be used as poncho, shelter, and to retain body heat
  • Duck tape – 1 full roll, replace as you use it. DO NOT waste your money on water proof bandages. They do not stay when wet, and paddling is a wet sport
  • Waterproof tape

Medications

  • Antacid
  • Antihistamine (Benadryl, etc.); allergic reactions, insomnia
  • Anti-inflammatory (Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen); inflammation, pain
  • Hydrocortisone cream (soothes allergic skin)
  • Potable Aqua (iodine water treatment)

Make sure your kit is accessible!!! Do not pack in the very rear hatch buried under everything. I like to have mine visible in a day hatch or on the deck where I can get to it quickly. If you are ashore taking a hike take it with you. That is when you will most likely need it.

Be sure to inspect your kit often, preferably before every trip. Make sure the gear is clean and supplies are in good condition. Replace expired medications as needed and add items that would have been helpful on your previous trip Also be sure to tell others you are traveling with where your first aid kit is, in case you are incapacitated. Encourage your friends to take a first aid and safety course.

If you aren’t comfortable making your own fist aid kid, pre-packaged kits are available online for purchase.

Tell people where you are going, when you are leaving and when you expect to be back. Take a cell phone with you- you can turn it off so you don’t disturb the wilderness setting but will have it if you need it. Most paddling locations here in the area you will get some coverage but you may have to move around. Have the appropriate numbers programmed into your phone; know where you are- when you call for help you need to be able to give the 911 operator your location.

Be prepared and you will have a better outdoor experience!

Kristen Beck, Director
A Florida Outdoor Center- Connecting people with nature thru outdoor activities and bringing nature in to those who can not get out.
www.AFLOC.org
772-202-0220
facebook at www.facebook.com/kayakkristen

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.

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Bonefishing Crooked Island, Bahamas

June 2, 2013 by · 1 Comment

Bonefishing Crooked Island, Bahamas

A Guest Blog by Michelle M. Yelton

bonefishing crooked island bahamas

Guide Shakey shows off a bonefish.

Shakey. The name, not the fly-fishing. The fishing is spot on.  Standing atop a powder white flat seasoned with a gray-toned rock bottom, Shakey points his finger with the confidence of a military sniper and commands, “ten o’clock, 30 feet, cast it now.”

To the untrained eye, even donning a pair of polarized lenses, one might think Shakey is off.  But, he couldn’t be more precise.  Hidden in clear sight is a bounty of bonefish.

To someone listening in, one might mistake Shakey for an intense gym trainer.

“Cast it again! Now, now! Go! Aww, shit, you missed it.  Dropped it too hard. Try again, man.”

It’s no wonder these stunning fish, nearly transparent and adorned with sterling silver tiger stripes, are also known as the “ghosts of the flats.” It’s the unlikely scenario where camouflage meets pristine beauty giving fly fisherman and guides the challenge of first spotting, then landing one.

But after 18 years as a fly-fishing guide on the Crooked Island of the Bahamas, make no mistake, Shakey’s eyes and judgment are not a reflection of his nickname.

Born Elton McKinney, Shakey remembers the first time he witnessed the sport of fly fishing.

“In 1994 this guy came to the island to fly fish, and I thought it was the craziest thing I’d ever seen,” Shakey recalls.  “But after watching him a while, I asked him to teach me.”

That was just the beginning.  His family thought he was foolish for spending gas money to boat around the islands looking for bonefish, but Shakey knew he discovered a gem that could profoundly impact his town’s economy.

“I told them to relax; that this was my money and my time. Knowledge is power and I just keep pushing on.” 

And he was right. Before guiding for bonefish, Shakey and his father hauled in bonefish commercially. Once Shakey realized the fish had more potential as a tourism draw, he took action to stop that practice.

“After I started guiding I told my old man, ‘We aren’t hauling no more bonefish,'” said Shakey. “And he wasn’t happy about that. Then, I went to the police and told them these fish mean more to us than the nets, and the police agreed with that.”

Shakey and his team of seven anglers guide all year round.  While prime season is October through May, the fishing is still worthwhile the entire year.  Trips can be booked through Crooked Island Lodge.

Lodging
A group of four-room bungalows that a few yards from the beach complete with restaurant, gift shop and bar make up Crooked Island Lodge. Built in the late 1960s, the rustic and serene lodge offers the only commercial lodging option on the island. Accommodations are air-conditioned and comfortably simple, yet a good night’s sleep is never a challenge with the rocking cadence of ocean waves right outside your window. Maxing out at 12 rooms, action and adventure are only found on the water. On land, it’s all about relaxation whether it is lying beachside underneath shaded hammocks or strolling the immaculate shoreline.

Activities
In addition to the excellent fly-fishing, there are a variety of incredible spots for diving, deep sea fishing, swimming and snorkeling.  Better yet, hire a guide boat or rent kayaks and head across the bay to the old, abandoned lighthouse.  While there, learn how to catch conch or spear fresh lobster, and watch in awe as the guide transforms it into a gourmet seaside meal with just a knife, some foil and a hand-built fire. For an added treat while fly-fishing, ask Shakey to make the dolphins jump.

Dining
Meals are cooked to order three times a day at Crooked Island Lodge, and lunch coolers are packed for excursions. Dinners are the highlight of the dining experience where everyone is served the same meal, which is always a surprise of freshly caught seafood. The food is divine.

Local Tips
UV tops and pants recommended to fight the daytime sunrays, especially if going out on the water.  Pack some lightweight, long-sleeved shirts and pants or bug spray to ward off the mosquitoes and sand fleas while on land.

How to Get There
Bahamas Air flies to Crooked Island early on Saturdays and Wednesdays, which requires an overnight stop in Nassau the night before. Likewise, Pineapple Air flies in early on Mondays and Fridays.  Otherwise, hire a private charter and fly straight to Crooked Island Lodge, which has its own seaside runway.  Travelers on charter boats often make pit stops at Crooked Island Lodge where they can find food, drinks and wireless Internet.  Anchor in the bay and use a dinghy to come ashore.

Learn More
To learn more about fly-fishing in Crooked Island, Bahamas, contact The Granddaddy Fly Fishing Experience at info@granddaddyflyfishing.com or 828-288-1221 or visit their website at www.granddaddyflyfishing.com.  Additional information about Crooked Island Lodge and Crooked Island, Bahamas can be found at http://crookedislandlodge.com/.

North Carolina resident Michelle Yelton works for a public relations firm. She enjoys fishing in the Bahamas.

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.
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How the Redfish Told the Story

April 12, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

hot the redfish told the story

How the Redfish Told the Story

– Guest Blog by David Caprera

“So I was cruising the bank of South Cedar Island looking for some breakfast after a late night at the Oyster Bar.  Maybe some shrimp cocktail or a mullet on toast.

“Along comes one of those crazy kayaking fisherman.  And a fly fisherman, they’re the worst.  All pompous and snooty with their Sage Rods and Abel Reels; ‘Hey look at me guys, I’ve got $1000 in fancy gear.’ Well, of course I hear him coming from a quarter of a mile away, banging his paddle on the side of the kayak and all.  Now normally I would just swim away but this morning I wanted to teach him a lesson.

“I continued feeding as he paddled to within about 60 feet.  For fun, I ducked down to the bottom and sat in the mud for a minute, just to piss him off, but then popped back up. He proceeded to cast, too many backcasts, but after an eternity he threw a fly into my part of the ocean.  It landed with the usual alarm bell plop to make sure that it was a fake.  One of those black rabbit worms that look like nothing I would ever want to eat.

“I tailed on his fly and he strip struck me.  At least he wasn’t as stupid as some of those northern trout fishing types, lifting their rod tip.  And this is where it gets good.

“I grabbed the rabbit tail between my lips, carefully avoiding the hook and proceeded to swim around like I had been fooled. After a minute or so, I had had enough exercise for the morning so I swam toward the kayak to within about 15-20 feet. The fisherman was holding his rod tip high creating a large bend in the rod. With utmost precision I brought my head to the surface, took aim, executed a perfect bow and arrow cast, and hit the fisherman with his own fly square in the forehead.

“Yeah, I really did.”

David Caprera was an attorney in a former life. He amuses redfish and sometimes humans in his spare time now. This is his second guest blog for the spotted tail.

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.

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The Art of Fibbing

April 2, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

The Art of Fibbing- A Guest Blog By Tammy Wilson

 

the art of fibbing

Any angler worth their salt knows the value of a good fib. It’s the difference between a skunking and an 8-pound bluegill, after all. It’s how a 10-inch brook trout becomes a 20 incher over the course of an afternoon, and a world record over the course of a lifetime. It’s what makes a slot sized redfish a trophy bull when the story is retold over the campfire.

There’s a definite art to the yarn, and some folks don’t give that fact enough credit. Some don’t understand the fine nuances, the unspoken rules or the definite boundaries that go along with a really great fish story. Amateurs may delve right in with stories of a 700 pound black drum that got away down at the inlet when any seasoned story teller will readily admit it’s a known fact black drum don’t grow over 539 pounds.

An experienced angler knows to truly appreciate the one that got away. The one that was caught and witnessed or photographed or seen by the angler is a fish with a diminished potential for growth. The lost fish, on the other hand, has an uncanny almost otherworldly ability to morph into astonishing sizes. Some of these growth spurts take only mere hours, while some grow indefinitely, depending on how many times the incident is rehashed squared by the amount of single malt scotch gone from one’s flask.

Before mastering the distortion of truth, it’s equally important anglers keep buried in the recesses of their brains an entire library of excuses and be able to conjure seven to nine of them up at any given time. Fast thinking and the ability to keep said excuses neatly organized depending on method and location of fishing is crucial. One simply cannot have caught any trout on the stream because the tide was all wrong, after all.

The invention of the digital camera has really taken away from the art of fibbing in a drastic and sad way. The ability to CPR (catch, photograph, release) a catch has taken imagination right out of the fishing tale. Immediate proof with the ability to instantly show off one’s catch on the World Wide Web if one chooses has cut into the fine moral fabric of the fish tale. It’s why in most cases, the dog ate my camera, the batteries were dead, I left it in my car and I hit the wrong button.

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.

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Celebrating World Water Day by Reducing Water Use in the United States

March 20, 2013 by · Leave a Comment

Celebrating World Water Day by Reducing Water Use in the United States

by Danielle Nierenberg, Co-founder of Food Tank: The Food Think Tank (www.FoodTank.org)

Water Conservation Hard Hat Label (Photo credits: www.myhardhatstickers.com)

The United States is one of the world’s biggest users of water. Many Americans use as much water as approximately 900 Kenyans. As a result, water resources in the U.S. are shrinking. In the last five years, there have been water shortages in almost every part of the country. The worst drought in at least 25 years hit 80 percent of the country’s farmland in 2012. Even worse, the damaged land won’t fully recover this year. At least 36 states are expecting local, regional, or statewide water shortages, even without drought.

The Natural Resources Defense Council expects water scarcity to affect the American South, West, and Midwest the most. Fourteen states in these regions already have “extreme” or “high” risk of water scarcity. Arizona, Florida, Idaho, Nevada, and Texas face the most danger because they are expected to see some of the largest increases in population by 2030. Water scarcity is about more than lack of water, it’s about lack of drinkable water. It is estimated that as many as 53.6 million Americans have contaminated tap water.

But as eaters and consumers, we can profoundly reduce water waste and water consumption through the food choices we make. Recent research from the Barilla Center for Food & Nutrition (BCFN) shows that a healthful diet and environmentally sustainable diet can go hand in hand.

Here are five steps to save water in the United States:

Eat a little less meat. Switching from a meat-centered weekly menu to a diet rich in vegetables and grains could save 2,500 liters of water a day! Eating grass-fed and locally-raised meat, eggs, and dairy products can also save water.

Steam veggies instead of boiling. In general, steaming vegetables uses less water than boiling. According to a study in the Journal of Food Quality, steamed vegetables are more nutritious. For example, boiling corn on the cob in a large pot may use 6-8 quarts of water, whereas steaming only uses 1-2 quarts. If you must boil, save the water for your garden, soup stock, or use it to clean pots.

Provide support for small-scale, family farms. Agricultural subsidies in the United States disproportionately support large-scale agribusinesses over the small-scale producers. They are more likely to be engaged in sustainable food production, and may be challenged by drought or commodity price fluctuations. Changes in government support services could reduce this deficit and improve food and water security.

Streamline water use in home gardens. During the summer months, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reports that nearly 40 percent of household water is used for watering lawns and gardens. National Geographic suggests incorporating native plants into your garden that are adapted to the local climate and often require less water. Manually watering plants, instead of using automatic sprinklers, cuts water use by 33 percent, according to a report by the EPA. Consumers can also buy self-watering planters, or construct rain barrels that can save you up to 1,300 gallons of water.

world water dayReduce food waste. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization reports that nearly one third of all food produced for human consumption is wasted throughout production, storage, transportation, consumption and disposal. Learn about your food’s shelf life and how long you can store food in your freezer. Other ways to reduce food waste are only buying what you plan to eat, using leftovers to create new meals or donating food you can’t use to soup kitchens.

It’s more important than ever that this World Water Day Americans find ways to save every drop.

The Earth flag is not an official flag, since ...

Danielle Nierenberg is a food and agriculture expert and co-founder of Food Tank: The Food Think Tank (www.FoodTank.org).

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Trash Fishing

February 4, 2013 by · Leave a Comment
Trash Fishing

Guest Blog by Tammy Wilson  

I recently spent the morning with a friend at the wildlife refuge. We had gone to watch the sun rise, and maybe try a little fishing before we began our business for the day. The sun never really came up, it just illuminated the thick gray clouds that blanketed the sky. Twenty-knot winds made any type of fishing other than trash fishing pretty much out of the question. We got out at several places and watched the fish we’d try to catch had either of us remembered to bring a rod. We found lots of trash. I don’t think it was a coincidence that where we saw fish, we saw trash.

We loaded up on trash fish. I was doing quite well with slot size beer cans. The numbers were there even if they were of no size. Meanwhile Rodney was struggling with a giant cast net for what seemed like an hour. He finally landed it and since there was no size or bag limit we decided to keep it all. I scored high on a sun bleached Florida Gators cup, and Rodney kept pace by finding three glass bottles hiding in the overgrown grass not ten feet from a sign announcing a certain group’s dedication to cleaning up that stretch of road three times a year.

A massive tire showed itself, but neither of us could reach it with our gear. We made a mental note of where it lives though and won’t go back under gunned next time. That tire is going to be ours, oh yes it is. Not sure how we’ll score that on the official score board, that’s going to be a team effort.

At another spot we spied the mother lode, a whole school of beer cans. Unfortunately, a very large, very fat alligator and a school of baby tarpon guarded them. Neither of us was feeling that froggy at the moment. Next time, though, when that alligator is gone, and after I’ve caught one or two of those tarpon, those cans are MINE!

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Enjoying Life on the Indian River Lagoon

December 26, 2012 by · Leave a Comment

A Guest Blog by Rodney Smith

Enjoying Life on the Indian River Lagoon

 

Enjoying Life on the Indian River Lagoon

James Smith with some fine Indian River Lagoon crab claws.

My oldest son, James, has been getting on me to write a blog entitled “Enjoying Life on the Indian River Lagoon (IRL) Coast.” As much as I write, you’d think it would be an easy task, but at the end of the day, I felt like the task of writing a blog was about as exciting as being flogged with a soft-shell blue crab. Useless!

But then again, James reminded me why I should be communicating more frequently with other folks who also love and cherish the Indian River Lagoon coast. So, to restart my blog I have a question for you:

Why do you love the IRL coast in winter?

Please answer at irlcoast@gmail.com . If I get feedback on this question I’ll know some of you out there are reading this blog, and this will help me judge my course, blog-wise, moving into a new year!

Funny what a difference a month can make. It’s been the opposite of what you would typically consider standard conditions; in mid-November water temperatures along the entire Indian River Lagoon coast were in the mid-sixties in the north-central inshore ocean waters, well below normal. It looked like we were in for a long winter, but the weather flipped between Thanksgiving and Christmas and ocean temperatures rose nearly ten degrees.

The mild late fall weather guided thick schools of Atlantic menhaden toward the beaches along the north-central IRL coast. This, along with a steady stream of late season mullet still lingering near ocean inlets, attracted a smorgasbord of gamefish.

Because of the mild weather, tripletail, cobia, king mackerel and shark could be caught not far from where the Atlantic Ocean met the beaches. Tarpon by the hundreds flocked to Sebastian Inlet, snook packed the Ft. Pierce area and flounder and red and black drum roamed the beaches and inlets. Large schools of pompano, pushed south by the early cold and dirty water surged north, creating plenty of happy anglers from Sebastian to Hobe Sound.

Yes, December can be a fickle weather month along the Indian River Lagoon coast; tropical one day, winter-like the next. But as I found from going back to my twenty years of journals on the outdoor history of the IRL coast, much of the time the fishing and catching are above par this time of year.

If you’re interested in learning more about what to expect each month of the year along Florida’s IRL coast, check out my book Enjoying Life on the Indian River Lagoon Coast.  It touches on a wide range of topics, from shrimping and crabbing, to fishing for snook, tarpon, pompano, spotted seatrout and a large number of ocean pelagics. This book is jam-packed with useful information concerning the IRL coast for every month of the year.

Visit rodneysmithmedia.bigcartel.com for more information, or to order.

Rodney Smith is a writer and author, and currently director of Anglers for Conservation. He lives with his family in Satellite Beach.

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