A catfish club may want to give away a donated rod, tackle bundle or guided trip to raise money for its next community fishing day. But running a tournament does not automatically give an organization permission to sell raffle tickets. … Read the rest
Author: Hank Whitman
Florida Fish Attractor Maps for Catfish: Field Guide
Florida publishes the locations of underwater fish attractors, including brush and artificial structures in public lakes. Those points can help catfish anglers choose somewhere specific to investigate instead of drifting across featureless water. But a marked attractor is a habitat … Read the rest
Florida Catfish Fishing Near Alligators: Safety Tips
An alligator approaching your catfish bait is a reason to stop fishing, not a challenge to land the fish first. If you can retrieve your line without getting closer to the animal, do so and move away. If the alligator … Read the rest
Florida Catfish ID: Channel, Blue, White and Bullheads
A whiskered fish from a Florida lake or river is not automatically a channel catfish. The quickest useful check is the tail: a deep fork suggests channel or blue catfish; a more modest fork can point toward a white catfish; … Read the rest
Deep-Water Fishing Techniques for Better Bites
Deep-water fishing techniques are not about lobbing a bait into the abyss and hoping a bass feels charitable. Recent tournament results showed a sharper pattern: deep fish may be suspended, tracking bait, and forcing anglers to cast, count, control, and … Read the rest
Catfish Bait Innovations From Fish Research
Catfish bait innovations are not just about stronger stink, bigger chunks, or the latest tub of mystery punch bait. The useful lessons from fish-behavior research point toward better bait sizing, scent timing, durability, and disciplined rig management. I look at … Read the rest
Fall Fishing Fitness: Stronger Anglers Now
Fall Fishing Fitness is not gym vanity; it is practical boat control, cleaner casting, steadier footing, and fewer sore-drive-home miles after a long day on the water. Fall fishing asks a lot from an angler. Decks get wet, banks get … Read the rest
Camp Blanding Fishing Permit Rules Changed in 2026
A valid Florida fishing license used to be the main paperwork question for anglers heading toward Magnolia or Lowry Lake. Since September 1, 2026, that is no longer enough: the new Camp Blanding fishing permit requirement adds a separate access … Read the rest
If You Had to Bet on One Catfish Bait in Florida, Start With the Species
Choosing the best catfish bait Florida anglers can use this fall is a lot like handicapping a betting market: there is rarely one automatic winner. The better play comes from understanding the matchup—species, water, forage, current and temperature—before deciding where … Read the rest
September Lure Selection for Bass Success
September Lure Selection is where bass fishing starts to feel like interval training: fast bursts, smart recovery, and no wasted motion. September can bring surface feeding, shad movement, wind-driven banks, and cooler water that pushes bass toward creek mouths, secondary … Read the rest