What is Geocaching you ask? Well, basically it is a high tech treasure hunt that utilizes GPS (global positioning system) enabled devices. You know that voice in your car that tells you when to make a turn and how far you are form your destination? That is utilizing GPS technology. Geocaching is using hand held devices that assists you to navigate to a specific set of coordinates where someone else has hidden a geocache. The geocache itself need not be anything elaborate and quite frequently is nothing more than a waterproof container such as Tupperware or old used 35mm film canisters, which are called micro-caches. The may contain nothing more than a pencil and paper for you to record your name and the date you found the treasure or they may contain a various assortment of goodies. The rule of thumb when taking something from a geocache container is to place something else of equal or greater value in return. You can then go home and comment on your find and log it in your account on a geocache-listing site. It is at these listing sites that you can obtain the list of coordinates of geocaches that are in your area. Geocaching is a worldwide adventure so even if you are traveling you can enjoy the thrill of the hunt.

Geocaches can be anything form amo boxes to Tupperware to used film cannisters!

I started with the Garmin eTrex and now have both this DeLOrme PN40 and a Garmin Oregon.

If you have any preferences on which handheld GPS unit you feel is best for newbies up to advanced please feel free to voice your opinions here as enquiring minds need to know!

 Lets get one thing straight, I am not a glutton for punishment so I did do my share of homework for this trip and acquired a friend or two in the area over the years so my trip was thought out carefully. Here is what I discovered. Firstly the flight from my home in South Florida, despite being as geographically unpleasant as you can get, (figure anywhere from 12-16 hours for the entire trip) was not as bad as I had thought. I was able to cash in some frequent flyer miles and actually got a flight that was cheaper than my usual flights for hunting and fishing in Minnesota and Wisconsin. I also realized that Wisconsin seemed to be a heck of a lot colder to me than Anchorage, but I’m sure that can change at anytime, but I feel its close, and preparing one is the same as preparing for the other. I was also able to track down decent arrival and departure times at both ends so I wouldn’t be asking friends to pick up and deliver at the airports in the wee hours of the night. Rental cars are always an option but I was doing this on the cheap as a scouting mission and had my friend play tour guide. Always try to get a local to show you around as it can make a great deal of difference in what and how you see the sights. Being a member of a hotel rewards club is a big plus too as I had a VIP room at the Sheraton in Anchorage for the cost of much less expensive hotel.

View Near Beluga Point

In the winter you must remember that you are limited to about 5 hours of daylight and much of the time it is fairly gray. This did not stop me in the slightest as I made the most of what light I had for hiking and sightseeing and used the darker hours for enjoying some of Alaska’s fine dinning and local flavor. I did find Anchorage to be a bit dreary this time of year but I did not travel 4000 miles to go to a mall or sit around the hotel bar. I will say that waking up every morning at 3am thinking I was on Miami time and then sitting near the window from 8am till about 11am wondering why the sun wasn’t coming up was not a great use of my time.

 There are some great places within 45 minutes to an hour of Anchorage that are incredibly pretty and worth the trip evening in the dark days of winter. Taking a run along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail is great anytime of the year and aside from the views of Cook Inlet there is some amazing tidal action pushing ice around is worth the effort. If you are on your own without the benefit of a local these are all places that are easy to find. On the old Seward Highway on the way for cocktails at the Ski Resort of Alyeska there are some incredible views from Beluga Point, even when there are no whales passing by it is a great spot to just take in the beauty that is Alaska. This is about 7 miles south of Anchorage.  Keep your eyes peeled to the rocks along the highway, as I was lucky enough to see 5 Dall sheep just foraging around about 150 yards away. Again, this is just a short trip from downtown Anchorage and beautiful even in the winter.

Alaska Dall Sheep along Seward Highway

Also not far from Anchorage is a great hiking area known as Flattop Mountain located in Chugach state park and featuring panoramic views of Anchorage, and the surround areas.  Although it may be a great spring and summer hike, it loses none of its beauty in the winter and is among Alaska’s most climbed mountains. If you don’t mind driving a bit further you can venture to an area know as Hatcher Pass, found close to the cities of Palmer and Wasilla. Hatcher Pass is know for at one time and to an extent currently active gold mining area, but during my trip the snow covered most of those sites and was taken over by skiers, snowboards and other using this are for winter recreation when I was there. Snow shoes or cross country skis were definitely the order of the day for my trip Also in the area is the Matanuska Valley Moose Range, so keep your eyes open for Moose and other views of incredible wildlife.

During the darker periods of the day I concentrated on enjoying some of the local cuisine and was able to add some much needed calories by means of Pizza at the Moose’s Tooth Brewery, See a movie after dinner at the Bear’s Tooth theater pub and grill, and when a vehicle wasn’t available I took the 7 block walk from my hotel (Sheraton) to enjoy some food and music at Humpy’s Great Alaskan Alehouse. The bottom line is that if you account for potential weather conditions and have an idea of the things you want to see and do, you can do it, and I did this in just 6 days!

Moose can be seen frequently in and around Anchorage

In the South Florida Region where I live, theBig Cypress National Park holds some of the best hiking and most incredible habitats in the state.  Depending on small changes in elevation you will come across a variety of different environments includingCypressstrands, hammocks, sawgrass prairies and of course the vast swamp known as theEvergladesencompassing it all. The trails are all quite passable during the dry season and go through many WMA’s (Wildlife Management Areas) as well as utilizing the tops of levees used to control water flow. The open prairies give way to dense tropical foliage and then back to prairies and swamp depending on the elevation of the area.

Open Prairie on Florida Trail, It can get very Wet

You can easily access some of the best parts of the Florida Trail from Miami and Fort Lauderdale merely by heading about 45 mins west on either I-75 or US 41, this should take you to the North or South Section of the Big Cypress National Preserve which boarders the northern part of Everglades National Park. My Favorite part of the Trail can be accessed off of I-75. This part of Big Cypress has an abundant amount of wildlife that includes Whitetail Deer, Black Bear, Various Bird life, many American alligators and even the endangered Florida Panther.  Big Cypressis in fact BIG! With over 730,000 acres of subtropical terrain including hardwood hammocks, sloughs and cypress swamp to name a few of the types of terrain possibly encountered.  You need to determine what you are seeking to determine what time of the year would be best for your hike. If it’s in the wet season, bring plenty of insect repellent.

Central Florida Hikes also offer a great deal of variety in habitats from the vast prairies inhabited by the generations of Cattleman and Ranchers that have worked this part of the state to the hardwood hammocks and the rivers such as the St. John that cross the state. One of my favorite hikes along the Florida Trail is found in the WMA of Three Lakes, found about 45 minutes fromOrlando, Get off at Yeehaw Junction on the Florida Turnpike and you are just about there!

The Florida Trail Covers Alot of Ground!

This area is surrounded by many lakes such as Lake Kissimmee and during the wet season can make for a very interesting slog through parts of the trail. This part of the Florida Trail passes through many palmetto prairies and pine flat woods transition frequently into open scrub, a favorite area of the feral hog. The marshy areas in this region are also an incredible area for bird watching hikes as it is a vital wintering spot for both Sand hill Cranes and Whooping Cranes. The three lakes WMA is a great place for a quick overnight or weekend hike and has quite a few sections that will loop around so you won’t need to double back. Each loop is about 5.5 to 6 miles in length and maps can be had from each of the trailheads.  The North and South loop trails are found within the adjacent Prairie Lakes Unit. Wildlife consists of feral hogs, Whitetail deer, Wild Turkey and birds of prey such as the Bald Eagle and the elusive Caracara.

Deer in Velvet Antlers on Florida Trail

As you move more towards the Northern regions of the state the flat prairies begin to turn into more hilly terrain and Pine forests become more of the norm. The hills may hide numerous ponds and lakes with small rivers cutting gullies and ravines into the landscape. This part of Florida is well known for its underground rivers and aquifer. Sand dunes and scrub are abundant in this area.  The Ocala National Forest has abundant rolling hills featuring open forests of longleaf pines and oak trees and many areas of scrub, sand dunes and wiregrass. This is perfect habitat for the eastern diamondback rattlesnake, indigo snake and gopher tortoises as well as deer, hog, black bears and armadillos.  If you are hiking this area during the hunting season be sure to wear blaze orange for safety.

Use the numerous signs to figure out where you are as this part of the Florida Trail is well maintained, but remember you may be passing through floodplain forests, which could make following the trail a bit more difficult. Towards the extreme North section of the Florida Trail, it will go along Cross Florida Greenway through the Rodman Campground and along the Cross Florida Barge Canal, which was originally a project to connect the Gulf of Mexico to theAtlantic Ocean before it was cancelled for environmental reasons.

The Outdoors Guy in Three Lakes WMA doing a Steve Irwin Imitation

The section of the Florida Trail that cuts into the Florida Panhandle (upper northwest part of the state) offers some of the highest elevations inFloridaand allows hikers to roam along the edges of theGulf of Mexico. The estuaries and frequent transition from high forest and woods to low marshy areas make this a great area to view wildflowers and many other types of incredible Florida plant life. The parts of the Florida Trail in and around Apalachicola are perfect for shorter day hikes and passes through some astonishing terrain. The St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge is worth the effort but permits are required for overnight camping.

Just a bit north of the Wildlife Refuge is the Sopchoppy River. This river flows through the Apalachicola National Forrest and the Bradwell Bay Wilderness through the town of Sopchoppy.  Bradwell Bay is not a “Bay” in the common sense; it is more of a recess land surrounded by hills and is mostly swampland. This is a beautiful area but keep an eye on water levels or it can be a very wet hike.

Big Deer Near Mason, TX are common

If you’ve ever driven between Austin and San Antonio in Central Texas you have undoubtedly passed some high rugged hills, gorgeous canyons and several rivers while going through some of the most charming and picturesque towns Texas has to offer. I flew into San Antonio and after a quick stop at Bass Pro Shops, (c’mon, did ya think I wouldn’t stop at one of my happy places first?) I began heading north along US 27 and passed towns and cities such as Kerrville, Bandera, Fredericksburg and finally my destination of Mason. A good friend worked it out so I could spend time at a beautiful ranch just outside of Mason, complete with pool, tennis court and cabins with breathtaking views, and enough Deer,Turkey and Hogs to make even me drool with envy. Due to the unusual 105-degree summer heat wave, I spent a good portion of the middle of the day in a nice air conditioned truck traveling to some of these quaint towns and was amazed at what they had to offer, and the incredible friendliness of the people.

Bandera, known as “cowboy capital of the world” was great, it reminded me of what I had always imagined Texas to be when I was young, but had only experienced Houston and Dallas.  Main Street was store after store of the old west, with Arkey Blues Silver Dollar saloon becoming my favorite watering hole. From Bandera we move up towards Fredericksburg with its rich German heritage that can be felt at the many Bistros and restaurants that line its main drag. When in Fredericksburg Brats and Beer are a must.  Fredericksburg is also the birthplace of World War II hero of the Pacific Admiral Chester Nimitz as well as the National War of thePacific Museum.  Just about 15 miles north of this city is Enchanted Rock, a large granite dome that is visible for miles around and a favorite spot for hikers and rock climbers. But the little town of Mason soon became one of my favorites.

Great Window shopping In Mason, TX

Mason, Texas, as many of the other towns in the hill country has a rich history and storied past. A drive along any roads in this area will eventually bring you by some historic marker signifying and event or place of interest such as an original homestead or the site of an Indian massacre. If you pass any of these markers and have the time it would be well worth the effort to get out of the car and think about what you are looking at. Keep yours eyes peeled if you are hiking a bit off the road as I have found several Native American arrowheads in this area. If you are taking this drive near dusk or dawn have someone on Deer patrol as I have literally seen hundreds of deer in just a day or two in Mason County.

The town of Mason itself is not huge but it is the county seat and has several stores and restaurants that are well worth the visit. If you are looking for a great breakfast (or any meal for that matter) a stop at the Willow Creek Café is a must. I highly recommend anything on this menu and you are also sure to get a bit of the local flavor as it seemed to me this was the local’s place of choice. For lunch you can always get your fill of genuine Texas BBQ at Coopers. The food is great and served on a piece of paper, by the pound and carved as needed. I seriously over ate here. I hope to try out some of the other fine restaurants on my next trip to Mason.

 The Eckert James River Bat Cave is an amazing sight, but make sure you get there before dusk or you may miss the excitement. This cave is home to a very large population of Mexican free tail bats which exit the cave every evening to forage for insects and mosquitoes. It is certainly a sight to see as wave after wave of these critters swarm out of the cave to feed. From mid-May to mid-October the Bat cave is open to the public Thursday through Sunday evenings from 6-9pm. There may be a small fee and there are benches as you await the bats.

The more time I spend in the Hill Country of centralTexas, the more I learn that each and every area of this great country has something special to offer. Mason, Kerrville, Bandera and Fredericksburg were once just places I would pass through to get to somewhere else, the have now become my destinations. Since these areas are largely based on hunting economies, many of the ranches in this region are opening resort like amenities to hunters and adventure seekers, and I hope to be able to tell you more about them in the coming months. For now, when you are passing small towns on your way to another destination, stop and enjoy the local flavor and meet the people. You never know what wonderful things you may encounter along the way!

One of the first thing hunters need to do is to decide how they are going to hunt this season, and if you are planning on being one of the growing number of bow hunters heading into the woods this year, you will have to take even more time for preparation. Practice, practice, practice; and look over your equipment to replace anything that may be worn or troublesome before it causes you aggravation. You need to get out and shoot at least once or twice a month, I prefer shooting outdoors, but if you can only get to an indoor range, so be it, but remember, there isn’t any wind indoors. The key to successful bow hunting is knowing what your comfortable distance to your target is and being able to accurately judge that distance accurately. At the range you will have your distances marked for you but remember that you are shooting flat. If at all possible try shooting from a tree stand outdoors to more precisely simulate your hunting situations. A rangefinder is of great help if you are having trouble correctly judging distances. When you are sighting in your bow get a good idea of how small corrections on each sight pin changes your shot. I have gone back to using only one pin that is sighted in for 20 yards which is an easy shot for me and I am very accurate with only slight trajectory changes from this one pin. After 30 yards, I am hesitant to take a shot in wind beyond 20 yds as my average ability could make this an irresponsible shot. One or two pins should cover most situations with dedicated practice. If you don’t have a range finder, count out the comfortable yardage from your stand and place a marker there for some idea of distance when hunting.

The Outdoors Guy in a stand set in August for a November Hunt

Whether you are hunting with a gun or a bow, it is important to practice from where you will be hunting, this means the tree stand or the ground blind, not in the exact spot you will be hunting. I tend to frown from practicing in the exact spot you plan to hunt as even though it may be a while before you use that spot to hunt, why take the chance on polluting the area with scent, or giving the critters something to get nervous about. If you do go to place your tree stand or ground blind in the woods, (and perhaps place a trail cam), then bring along your weapon by all means, and make certain you have adequate shooting lanes and are comfortable with the stand, Also remember that the prevailing winds may be a bit different by the time hunting season rolls around, so take that into consideration when placing your tree stand or ground blind. If you are hunting on public land and must remove your blind each time you hunt, try marking your trail with tape, reflecting tacks or something that will assist you to find your spot. Also become proficient in setting up your ground blind or tree stand in the dark. This you can do in your backyard or a local park, the quicker and quieter, the better.

I have recently begun hunting with my Ruger Super Red hawk .44 cal handgun with leupold scope, and god only knows that I need lots of practice with this. I will try to get to the range a few times a month before season opens to know what my comfortable shooting distance is and how many yards out I feel I can take a responsible shot. I’ve used the term responsible shot a few times in this article, there is nothing sensible in taking a shot that requires more luck than skill. If you aren’t reasonably certain you will make a clean kill, don’t take the shot, there is no feeling worse when hunting than wounding an animal that you will not be able to harvest. If you are planning on hunting with a rifle or shotgun, practice at the outdoor range and know the distance and comfortable range for the weight of the bullet you will be using. The folks at Bass Pro Shops have helped me a lot with instruction on various techniques for using my Ruger Super Red hawk, and I now feel comfortable out to 35 yds. Funny, all I had to do is ask for some assistance at the range, don’t be afraid to ask for help!

Game Cameras are working for you 24/7

It is so important to do some serious scouting well before the season opens not only to familiarize yourself with the area so you can easily and safely get to and from your stand but to also learn what animals are frequenting the area. In addition to placing a few inexpensive trail cameras in the area, you may want to take some walks or sit in an area that you have found deer sign so as to actually see some of the deer moving about. This is done well in advance of the season as we do not want to pollute the actually area we would like to hunt. Take a leisurely walk through the woods and look for deer scat, deer scrapes and converging game trails. These are usually great spots to place a trail camera. My good friend and hunting buddy Dave Sumner, owner of Turkey Dave’s Footrests and Flirty Girty Panfish jigs in Wisconsin always has a hot cup of coffee ready in the early morning hours when I visit. This and an extra set of binoculars and then we are off to ride around the local farms and fields in order to see what the coming dear season may hold for us, (before he kicks my butt in a “friendly” round of golf). The point is; do your homework, see where the deer want to be, and with the camera, when they want to be there. Look for a good tree or area for your tree stand or ground blind and perhaps cut some shooting lanes.

OK, so the key tips for a successful deer hunting season are practice, practice, practice, make sure you are skilled enough with your weapon of choice and the maximum comfortable distance for taking a shot whether it be bow hunting or rifle. Familiarize yourself with the area you wish to hunt, including scouting possible locations for a tree stand or ground blind. Place trail cameras at those areas in which you have found substantial deer activity, such as deer scrapes, game trails and bedding areas, this includes scouting the area from time to time with binoculars in advance of the hunting season. If you put the time and effort into preparing properly, you will not only give yourself the best chances for harvesting a great buck, but you will more than likely have a nice end of summer and be ready for an even better fall!

It takes between 50 and 65 days after the mother turtle deposits her eggs in a beachside nest that the hatchlings will emerge by breaking out of their thin eggs buried below the sand and make their struggle to the surface and then onward to the water. This is an especially perilous point in their survival because in addition to the natural predators such as Gulls and Raccoons, man has made it increasingly difficult for the newly hatched turtles to find their way to the ocean. The baby turtles emerge under cover of darkness and are naturally attracted to lights, as it is their instinct to move towards the lighter horizon of the ocean and away from the darkness of the beach and sand dunes. Their ability to get from their nest to the relative safety of the ocean is critical for their survival.

Many of the beaches that have been the natural nesting grounds for Sea Turtles are not close to street lights and developments which interrupt the hatchlings dash for safety causing them to scurry towards the street lamps and lights from windows and other light sources. Those hatchlings that are deceived by the artificial lights are either gobbled up by predators or die from exhaustion and dehydration when the sun comes up. It takes very little light to confuse and mislead the baby Sea Turtles and that is why the Florida Power and Light Company along with Florida Fish and Game and other associations such as the Marine Turtle Trust Fund raise money and awareness through articles such as this to explain how people can help this particular circle of life continue successfully.

Rush to the Sea (usually takes place at night)

It is especially important for those residents of coastal communities to understand how their behavior affects those of the hatching Sea Turtles. Regrettably, even the lights from beach fires can mislead the turtles so it is essential that we learn how to reduce the artificial beachfront light without severely inconveniencing the public or compromising their safety. In Florida during the period between March and October if beachfront residents cannot completely turn off their porch lights or eliminate light from their windows there are actions that can be taken to keep their effect to a minimum. Dark blinds can help for windows facing the beach and some streetlights that are not essential can be turned off during this period. It does not take a lot of light or even direct light to cause problems for the hatchlings. Some people have apply dark tinting to their windows and turn off pool lights while setting their security lighting systems on motion sensor mode. Its not rocket science; any type of light, direct or indirect can affect the bay turtles march to the ocean.

If you have any questions about the baby Sea Turtles March to the sea, you can just ask it as a comment here or request a pamphlet (where much of this information came from) by visiting www.fpl.com or www.myfwc.com. If you want to witness this miracle for yourself, it is best to do it with a group or tour that has experience in this type of hike or adventure with as little affect on the Turtles as possible.

Noah van Hochman (the Outdoors Guy) with a Wisconsin Summer Trout

There is nothing better during the dog days of summer than to grab a rod and head off to your favorite stream in pursuit of Trout. Although I would much prefer to be in some of the high mountain streams in Montana, I do fairly well on my trips to the Driftless area of Wisconsin and some of the small creeks there. There are some things I have learned in other areas that serve me well whenever I am in pursuit of the tasty Trout of summer!

Remember that trout like cooler water and the hot summer sun can warm up a shallow stream to the point where the Trout may get a bit stressed out. The warmer water and anglers mucking up the stream can really do a number on the fishing. Trout prefer water temperatures of between 50 65 degrees (depending on the type of Trout as well) so you may think about fishing at higher elevations after a period of very high Temperatures. The streams at higher elevations may be a bit smaller but hey will also be a bit cooler as well. If you are fishing in an area that doesn’t vary much in altitude try and think like a Trout, where would you find the cooler water? Look for deep pools and holes in the bottom that may be a bit cooler than the shallower areas. Keep a thermometer in your vest for just such an occasion.

Time of day is also very important in pursuit of summer Trout. Not only is it a bit cooler during daybreak and dusk but also the fish tend to feed more voraciously at these times. So, if a nice vacation of sleeping in with breakfast in bed at your favorite bed and breakfast, forget it, you are here to fish! Think about what kinds of food the trout may be eating and then figure out what time of the morning these little Trout tasty treats are fluttering or hopping about. This plays out in the last hour of sunlight as well and is my personal favorite time to fish. Yeah, I am the guy that likes to sleep late! But if you get the chance to stand on the bank or wade a shallow pool when the Trout are rising to feed on a recently hatched insect population, I guarantee you that it is something you will never forget.

I'm fishing a hole in the shade

So what have we learned about summer Trout fishing? The key is to look for cooler water! Remember that you are not immune to the effects of the sun either and should take necessary precautions yourself, this means drink plenty of water and use an appropriate sun block, and for those of us who have grown just a tad taller than their hair, a cap and a high SPF lotion for our heads as well. You should also consider using the cool water as a climate control system as well; cool water and thin waders can keep you at optimum temps or even a pair of shorts and old sneakers will do if you don’t think hypothermia will kick in. Finally, a light shirt and breathable vest and you are ready for a summer Trout adventure.

Those who have made hiking trips of more than a few days understand that it is not all a bed of roses, for all the talk of beautiful sunsets and sunrises, the waterfalls, spectacular views and great experiences along the trail, there are the also the tales aching knees that no aspirin can cure, the insects that make you want to jump off a cliff and the mornings that you just can’t seem to get out of your sleeping bag. I remember a trek in the Himalayas on the route to Everest base camp, I wouldn’t have traded it for anything, but along the way, at times I just wanted to survive it. For everything that is worthwhile, it seems you always have to take the good with the bad. I’ve read somewhere that the vast majority of those who being a thru hike finish it. This is not a camping trip, it is a hiking adventure. For those merely taking a week out their busy schedules to hike a portion of the Appalachian Trail, it’s still hard! Its not like you can check into a motel 8 if the weather turns bad, be prepared, always be prepared.

When preparing for your Appalachian Trail adventure, don’t go into it without training. Spend a few weeks walking on relatively flat ground with a light pack to get the feel of it. Adjust the straps and other components to give you the most comfortable positions. As you get closer to your hike add some weight to the pack and find some hilly areas to walk. By the time you are ready to go you should feel comfortable with a full pack and able to walk uphill relatively easily. If you are not prepared and push too hard early in the hike you may develop overly sore muscles and blisters, which can make the adventure feel like a trip through purgatory. Start your trip easy to ensure that you have enough left in the tank to finish.

As you get more acclimated to the trail and you own abilities, you can gradually increase the pace, but here is a good piece of information, if at all possible, hike with other that are of your own level. No one wants to fall too far behind or have to slow down too much to wait for others. It’s always a great idea to set goals for the day and adjust these goals depending on conditions, such as weather, injuries or the all too frequent, unexpected incident. Realize that you may have to hike through inclement weather and sore muscles.

The Appalachian Trail is a spectacular hike, not only will you get the chance to see magnificent scenery but an abundance of wildlife as well. It’s a smart idea to become familiar with the flora and fauna of the area you will be covering and what types of creatures to avoid. If you really want to see some incredible wildlife then you must be on the move at the same time they are, most commonly early in the morning and first light. Yes, there is a chance that you will see bears, but for the most part, they will leave you alone if you do the same to them. Just don’t startle or surprise them on the trail and don’t leave food open in and around your tent, that’s like a neon deli sign to a bear. Many people carry bear spray, but I feel its just extra weight and fairly unnecessary if you just use common sense, and can run faster than those you are hiking with, Just Kidding!not really).

Typical Portion of the AT

This is a hike that you want to have fun with, don’t be concerned with anyone’s habits but your own. Find a good pace and enjoy it. Before you set out on your journey do some research and find out where the shelters are along the trail in the areas you will be hiking. Although occasionally crowded and musty they can be a great port in a storm. Check by distance and elevation on the Appalachian Trail where these shelters are located to find them. You can also find via the Internet, food re-supply locations, but make sure you know how far off the AT they are. All in all, prepare well and you will have a great Hiking trip!

To start off, ask yourself the question, “am I experienced enough to fish offshore and is my boat adequate for the adventure?” If you are not sure, then do not go offshore, or at least not without an experienced person on board. It is also a very good idea to carry a PLB or personal Locator Beacon, this is a device that when activated will send a signal to the search and rescue teams to come and get you, immediately. The great thing about fishing off the coast of Florida is that you really don’t have to go that far to catch a variety of species such as Sailfish, some Tuna species, King Mackerel, Dolphin and Wahoo to name a few. While there is a resident population of these species present pretty much year round, some times of the year are better than others. I’ll give a brief rundown of the usual suspects.

Sailfish can be had pretty much year round, but the best fishing is usually in the winter and early spring. When South Floridians feel those cold fronts of November and December you can be certain that the Sailfish wont be far behind. You don’t have to run as far offshore as one may think for them, as although they can be caught in almost any depth, they are typically caught between 90 and 200 feet of water. The simple way to catch them (remember this article is for the offshore newbies) is trolling with rigged ballyhoo, place a skirt in front of this and troll a few rods at varying distances behind the boat and you’re in business. When you get a bit more experienced you can also drift live bait such as Pilchard and Goggle eyes and if you really get going you can learn to fish with a kite to dangle your bait on the surface making it an enticing treat for a variety of game fish. Have a pair strong gloves and a pair of pliers to remove the hook while the fish is still in the water and pull him along until he regains strength and watch him swim away. This of course is after you all lean over and take pictures!

If possible try to leave the Sailfish in the water when unhooking him

Dolphin, also known as Mahi Mahi can be caught year round as well with the best fishing taking place in spring and early summer. The methods used to catch Dolphin are pretty much the same as for sailfish or any of the other species we will mention with the subtle differences primarily coming in depth, color of skirts and thickness of leader or wire line. If you are not skilled at rigging, a newbie to this type of fishing can just purchase rigged ballyhoo at the bait shop and be done with it. Slip a skirt over the rigged bait and go for it! Don’t forget to buy some non rigged bait as well because small to medium sized dolphin travel in schools and if you troll one up, keep him in the water for a bit and look for some of his friends to be lurking near the boat. If so, tie a hook to the end of a line, place a chunk of bait on the hook and you can limit out in just a matter of minutes. Dolphin are usually found in deeper, cleaner blue water, and although they can be caught blind trolling along currents and just about anywhere, they do prefer weed lines and flotsam. Larger dolphin can be caught with live bait under the weed lines and around floating objects trees, cargo pallets and even abandoned crab trap buoys.

King Mackerel or Kingfish as they are sometimes called are another year round resident but as with most of our South Florida Game fish, some seasons are better than others. They can be caught using the same methods as Dolphin or Sailfish but require a wire leader as they can bite through most lines like they were butter. King Mackerel are predominantly found in 60-200 feet of water and tend to hang around structures or changes in the bottom contours which cause current variations. In Summer months when trolling seems to work best you may try using a planer or trolling weight to get your baits down a bit further, but during the spring there is nothing more fun than drifting live baits while listening to some tunes and munching on some chips. If you have trouble finding live bait (pilchards, Pinfish, etc.) dead ballyhoo will produce as well. Wahoo can also be caught in the same areas you fish for all these fish; they are incredible fighters and one of the tastiest fish in the ocean. You would need a bit more expertise to actually target them with bigger rods and lures. To target Wahoo, many anglers do what is know as High Speed trolling, in excess of 12 knots with lures covering the surface and deeper into the water column. Wahoo seem to be most active around the full moon.

As for Tuna, most of the species that you will catch in the areas you can safely fish will be Blackfin Tuna; they are tasty, great fighters and can be part of a mixed bag while fishing for the above-mentioned species. For the bigger Yellowfin Tuna, well, if you are reading this article, you are probably not ready to go out on your own, as they require long-range trips, better equipment, bigger boats and a good crew. But the thrill is amazing as line rips off the reel and you are holding on until that initial run has subsided. When fishing the far offshore trips there is also the possibility of running into a big Blue Marlin or a White Marlin, but that’s for another story!

So, You have some basic information now on how to fish for some of South Florida’s favorite offshore game fish. Keep in mind that in most parts of South Florida the depths you will fish may be only 2-5 miles from shore. Pick out your favorite rods in the 20-50 lb class grab a friend and some rigged baits and head out for a great adventure! A friend once asked me when is the best time of day to catch Sailfish and the others, my reply was quite simple, “anytime you can get out there!”