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The big fish are showing up from Key Largo to Key West

There are no guarantees in fishing, but catching Spanish mackerel in South Florida during the winter is as close as an angler can get to a sure thing.

Despite some obstacles, Joe Hector of Extreme Kayak Fishing says his hugely popular Sailfish Smackdown tournament will be held no matter what.

Big kingfish can be caught year-round in Key West, but January is when anglers catch the biggest kings, and more of them.

According to Capt. Casey Hunt, one of many experts on the Nautical Ventures Weekly Fisherman radio show that airs from 6-8 a.m. Saturday on WINZ 940-AM and live-streams on the Nautical Ventures Facebook page, big kingfish are moving out of the Gulf of Mexico toward the Keys. And the fishing should remain excellent through February.

The grouper season in South Florida closes for four months on January 1, so time is running short to catch one of the hard-fighting, great-tasting fish.

For more than 30 years, Sailfish Boats has thoughtfully designed, expertly engineered and masterfully crafted our premium lineup of fishing boats. Our boats have always been designed by anglers for anglers – equipped with more standard features to withstand the rigors of inshore and offshore environments. Today’s Sailfish acknowledges that anglers demand more from their boating investment by offering the premium family, entertainment and comfort features to complement the brand’s strong fishing heritage.

If you are new to boating, finding a boat that makes sense can be overwhelming. With so many boats out there, it’s hard to know what is the best choice – as well as if you can even afford one. Many first-time boat buyers have a misconception that boating is not affordable, however, with the Nautical Ventures financing option, buying a boat can be just like buying a car and in many cases, just as affordable.

Fishing has been practiced throughout the world for tens of thousands of years. Though it was once used primarily for survival and basic provision, fishing has since become a beloved pastime enjoyed by millions of Americans every year. Today, fishing is a sport, an art, a hobby, and a resource. Fishing offers the opportunity for peaceful time to yourself or a unique bonding experience with someone you care about.

The Hobie Outback is one of the Worlds top selling kayak for many reasons. With 17 years of history behind this model, the Hobie design team has continued to push the boundaries making old options the new standards. While the classic Outback was a legend, the all-new Outback is truly legendary. If you’re an avid kayaker or just getting into the sport, here are the top 3 reasons to buy the new Hobie Outback:

 Big game fishermen around the globe have, for over a hundred years, held a special place in their hearts for Palm Beach.  The beautiful scenery, picturesque sunsets, and endless beaches provide an ideal backdrop for world-class fishing.  Thanks to a perfect location on the Gulf Stream, Palm Beach plays host to some of the biggest sailfish, jack crevalle, and yellowfin you’ll ever see. Because of its reputation for great weather and even better fishing, Palm Beach is also home to some resident experts.  You never know who you’ll you meet at the pier or in the local watering hole. 

Have you just purchased your boat and have questions on what accessories are essential to fun on the water? Our Nautical Ventures boating team has put together their Top 5 ‘Must Have’ Boating Accessories for your consideration. This list does not include a Coast Guard Kit which is required for everyone’s safety. This Coast Guard Kit includes: 1 Approved Type 1 PDF or Personal Floatation Device per person, an approved sound producing device, visual distress signals such as flares, a first aide kit and a VHF radio.

Have you just purchased your fishing kayak and have questions on what accessories are needed to get started? Our Nautical Ventures kayak fishing team has put together their Top 5 ‘Must Have’ Fishing Kayak Accessories for your consideration.

If you love to fish, you need your own fishing kayak. These sleek boats are ideal for hours of fishing fun: comfortable, customizable, and offer little or no ongoing expenses for fuel or maintenance. If you're new to the idea, though, you might not know what to look for. Here are a few tips for buying a fishing kayak.

Palm Beach is a haven for those who love their water sports. Residents and visitors to the area enjoy easy access to the water with their choice of marinas. In North Palm Beach, you'll find Soverel Harbour, Old Port Cove, and North Palm Beach Marinas. Or maybe you hail from Lake Park and Riviera Beach, with the Lake Port Harbour Marina and the New Port Cove Marine Center. Farther to the south, in West Palm Beach and Lake Worth, there are the Palm Beach Yacht Club, Palm Harbor Marina, and the Loggerhead Marinas. 
 

World-renowned fishing boat icon, Blackfin Boats, has reimagined their legendary boat line to be both solid and fast, for the most versatile experience possible. Designed with yacht-like features and constructed using advanced carbon fiber technology and an innovative grid system, the Blackfin 272CC provides a smooth, dry and comfortable ride for its passengers.

Blackfin 212 CC Boat – Fishing Forward, Family Friendly.

 

Blackfin Boats is a 35-year old fishing boat icon whose world-renowned heritage earned them an early day reputation, “Overbuilt by any standard except the seas.” Blackfin’s reimagined, legendary boats are built to be both solid and fast, for the most versatile experience possible. Their starting model, the 212 Center Console, is built on the same principals as its bigger brothers.

Ocean Kayak was born in 1971 by necessity. In need of a way to store scuba equipment while on his surfboard, Ocean Kayak Founder Tim Niemier, carved out two places, one for him to sit and the other to store his dive gear. Mr. Niemier is credited with introducing the sit-on-top kayak design that water lovers all around the world use today. Ocean Kayak is also recognized as one of the largest sit on top kayak manufacturers, selling tens of thousands of kayaks all over the world.

The Solo Skiff can go anywhere. From backwater bone flats to fishing off the beach, the Solo Skiff does it all. Sit, stand or kneel, its stable platform provides you with comfort no matter how you fish. Punch through a wave? No problem. Paddle through mere inches of water? No problem! Everything is central, ergonomics are easy to manage- turnaround, and it’s there.  Add a motor and it becomes a fishing kayak on steroids.

Boating Industry recently recognized Century Boats as a 2016 Industry Mover & Shaker, a recognition given to only six select group of marine professionals for raising the high bar in the marine industry. Of particular note is Bryan Lucius, President of Century Boats, who brought back this company from the edge of extinction. 

Back in the day buying a boat was easy. If you fished, you bought a fish boat. If you skied, you bought a ski boat. For pleasure cruising, a cruiser and so on. These days, builders have combined many features into many varying designs, new technologies have blurred the lines between dedicated specialty boats, and many brands offer hybrids that appeal to boaters looking to broaden their boating horizons and that of their family. 

Cape Horn Boats are made by fisherman for fisherman. They value quality over everything, from painstakingly hand-building every aspect in-house to outfitting each boat with only the best materials available. Their line-up of vessels is continuously recognized for industry-leading dependability and customer satisfaction, a feat that can only be achieved by a company committed to producing the finest boats in the world. When it comes to South Florida, Nautical Ventures is your Cape Horn boat dealer for Palm Beach. Here’s what we like about the Cape Horn Bay Boat model: 

No one knows fishing quite like Cape Horn, and it shows. From bow to stern, every detail in each Cape Horn boat is engineered and tournament-tested for one purpose–to fish. Their unsinkable boats boast the most rigid type of composite construction, providing an ease of ownership and peace of mind that allows you to focus on the task at hand... fishing. When it comes to South Florida, Nautical Ventures is your Cape Horn boat dealer for Palm Beach. Here’s what we like about the new 24 XS Cape Horn model: 

Cape Horn Boats are made by fisherman for fisherman. They value quality over everything, from painstakingly hand-building every aspect in-house to outfitting each boat with only the best materials available. Their line-up of vessels is continuously recognized for industry-leading dependability and customer satisfaction, a feat that can only be achieved by a company committed to producing the finest boats in the world. When it comes to South Florida, Nautical Ventures is your Cape Horn boat dealer for Palm Beach. Here’s what we like about the new 24 OS Cape Horn model: 

No one knows fishing quite like Cape Horn, and it shows. From bow to stern, every detail in each Cape Horn boat is engineered and tournament-tested for one purpose–to fish. Their unsinkable boats boast the most rigid type of composite construction, providing an ease of ownership and peace of mind that allows you to focus on the task at hand... fishing. When it comes to South Florida, Nautical Ventures is your Cape Horn boat dealer for Palm Beach. Here’s what we like about the 31XS Cape Horn model:

No one knows fishing quite like Cape Horn, and it shows. From bow to stern, every detail in each Cape Horn boat is engineered and tournament-tested for one purpose–to fish. Their unsinkable boats boast the most rigid type of composite construction, providing an ease of ownership and peace of mind that allows you to focus on the task at hand... fishing. When it comes to South Florida, Nautical Ventures is your Cape Horn boat dealer for Palm Beach. Here’s what we like about the new 32 Cape Horn model: 

Cape Horn is a family-owned and operated business steeped in tradition. Born from the need for a fishing boat that was powerful enough for tournaments yet comfortable enough for family outings, Cape Horn quickly evolved into a passionate family tradition. 

Century Boats has a Passion for Perfection. That’s one of the reasons Nautical Ventures is so passionate about Century Boats. Here’s how they build every Century Boat.

Recreational fishing and boating organizations supported a final House bill for including provisions reflective of the recommendations of the Commission on Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management, also known as the Morris-Deal Commission, named after co-chairmen John Morris, the founder of Bass Pro Shops, and Scott Deal, president of Maverick Boats.
 

Recently a new bill was passed by the U.S. House of Representative as part of the SHARE ACT – Sportsman’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act. The new bill, called the “Preserving Public Access to Public Waters Act,” S. 2807, will safeguard the role of state fisheries management agencies and help prevent unwarranted fishing closures.

Ryan Jones grew up near Oklahoma City, where he was honing his kayak fishing skills for over 15 years.