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A life-giving vein for the estuarine system it feeds; Little Manatee River, from its origin, lazily flows toward its final destination - Tampa Bay. Tucked away under an ancient oak canopy along the Little Manatee's mangrove-laden banks, sits a "Coastal Crib." One that beckons to those who enjoy the serenity...

Win this Float Tech jacket - a $270 value - by simply going to the GAFF Forums and posting in this thread. If you're not already a registered GAFF poster, simply sign up for your free account and post away. The GAFF Forums are a great place for the latest saltwater...

In an effort to bring our readers another noteworthy destination, a place worth staying, relaxing and experiencing what the coastal lifestyle we enjoy offers, we shook the wintery grip January held on North Florida and headed south. Facing the Atlantic Ocean, shielded by tropical flora, 82.1 miles north of US1's origin...

List of Ingredients: 2 oz lemon juice 2 oz heavy cream 1/2 lb (2 sticks) butter 20 Count Jumbo Shrimp Deveined 2 TBSP Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) 1 Cup Chopped White Onion 1/2 Cup Chopped Green Onion 10 oz Chicken Stock 6 oz Chopped Pancetta 12 oz mushrooms, sliced 1 TBSP Capers 1 TBSP Minced Garlic 1 lb Angel Hair Pasta...

Keep your rigging simple and you'll be on the water quickly and often. Some have called me "hardcore" and some call me a "die-hard," because of the way I have taken to kayak fishing. I have been kayak fishing for quite some time, and a couple of years ago I...

Even the most experienced outdoor enthusiast may feel their heart skip a beat when they come upon a snake. Although a snake sighting may be rare, if you spend time hiking, camping, fishing or hunting, you are likely to come in contact with one sooner or later. Avoiding Snakes...

As a professional fishing guide in the backcountry and flats around the Florida Keys, I've noticed some of my clients come more prepared than others. Experience and casting ability are important, but skill is no match for the elements. Whether you fish with a guide 100 days a...

Smack. Slap. That's the way my morning began at the end of a long, dark road, on an eastern edge of Tampa Bay. No-see-ums started nipping necks and legs as we loaded our gear into the boat. Looking back, that was the only negative thing that day held in store...

A recent class field trip with my seven-year-old son opened my eyes to an amazing non-profit organization deserving of space on our pages. Tucked beneath the dense coastal foliage in Panacea, Florida, and bordered by the St. Marks National Wildlife Refuge, rests Gulf Specimen Marine Laboratories. Their mission: Giving people...

Like a conch hidden in its shell from the flood-tides of tourists traveling to the southern most tip of the United States, located in Key West, Florida, is a haven for vagabond soles with a fixation on relaxation. An establishment where culinary color is not just found in the fine...

Chokoloskee, Florida - 2008 Winds fifteen, gusting to 20, NNW; extreme low, full moon tide at 6:30 A.M.; temperature under the chickee at the water's edge: 48-degrees. The old houseboat tied up in the little marina was not floating; indeed, it was resting on a mud flat. Two small jon...

Situated on the northern boundary of the Gulf of Mexico, in Franklin County, Florida, occupying a portion of this region referred to as "The Forgotten Coast" is the town of Carrabelle... a small community offering more than meets the eye. Simply put, Carrabelle is a good example of the Florida...

We've all heard the cliche about other fish in the sea, Cobia, or lemon fish, or crab crunchers, or ling and all the other tongue-in-cheek pet names (some too crass to mention here) are all allusions to the journey-proud pelagic hailed by scientist as Rachycentron canadum. Cobia is an...

Part I: The Pole "Just off the bow... 2 o'clock," I whispered. I could see tails rising from the shallow water covering the flat - my angler couldn't. The glare from the morning sun was directly in his eyes. I needed to reposition the skiff so my angler could see the...

Here at GAFF we try to give the viewer a little something special, something unique, something informative and something for everyone. After all, this isn't your run-of-the-mill saltwater magazine. In holding true to this philosophy, the crew here at GAFF will be providing our special group of readers with destination...

In our search to provide our viewers "sweet accommodations in cool locations," we sought a well-kept secret - one worth revealing. A place where legends of fish and Florida's history are found. We located it, just beyond Matlacha, Florida, situated on a Channel Island, sits a Coastal Crib. Few places left...

Using freshwater shiners for grouper fishing? Are you kidding - why would you want to do that? And then the real question of - Well...does it work? These are the responses I typically get from avid fishermen. The idea of using live freshwater shiners for saltwater...

It's almost that time of year again. Inshore water temperatures will be down in the lower 50s--too low for a good grouper bite. That leaves you with just three options: Stay home watching TV and doing honey do's, run way off shore to deep water in search of grouper, or...

All four of my kids went to their grandfathers on Saturday, so my wife and I decided to take advantage of the opportunity. We got up before sunrise to rig up for snook and reds, and readied the offshore gear so we could live bait and high speed troll as...

Like smugglers under the cover of darkness, we turn off the navigation lights as we search for the cut through the mangroves that will eventually lead us to our booty. As midnight approaches, the temperature is still hovering well above 90 degrees as the sweat rolls down our unshaven...