This memoir captures the essence of light tackle fishing in its prime from Palm Beach to the Florida Keys, from the Everglades to the Ten Thousand Islands. In short, the best snook-fishing spots on the planet. Author chronicles his fishing adventures from Sanibel to the tarpon capital of the world—Boca Grande—to rivers like the Manatee River and the Little Manatee in Manatee County, the Myakka River in Sarasota County, the Peace River, and the Caloosahatchee River, which teemed with fish. Colorful characters like Fat Wally, Dick Clevenger, and Frank the Net (as rugged and eclectic as his ’66 International Harvester) take the author under their wings and show him where the fish are. Others, like Dennis Hart, Walt Winton, Mark Riehemann, Pete Stroble, and Ray Moss (a.k.a. Fertile Myrtle), become lifelong friends. In addition to being an immensely entertaining read with a colorful cast of characters, this book has a strong environmental message and is a cautionary tale about the loss of over seven million acres of pristine wetlands, the explosive growth of the sugarcane industry, the abomination of large-scale citrus farming, the foolhardiness of removing the oxbows and dredging Kissimmee River, and the damaging effects of damming and diking of Lake Okeechobee.

FIELD & STREAM, America’s largest outdoor sports magazine, celebrates the outdoor experience with great stories, compelling photography, and sound advice while honoring the traditions hunters and fishermen have passed down for generations.

FIELD & STREAM, America’s largest outdoor sports magazine, celebrates the outdoor experience with great stories, compelling photography, and sound advice while honoring the traditions hunters and fishermen have passed down for generations.

FIELD & STREAM, America’s largest outdoor sports magazine, celebrates the outdoor experience with great stories, compelling photography, and sound advice while honoring the traditions hunters and fishermen have passed down for generations.

A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.

Fall under the spell of Florida’s natural environment In this captivating collection, Florida’s most notable authors, poets, and environmentalists take readers on a journey through the natural wonders of the state. Continuing in the legacy of the beloved classic The Wild Heart of Florida, this book features thirty-four pieces by a new slate of well-known and emerging writers. In these pages, New York Times bestselling author Lauren Groff describes the beauty of Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park. Environmental writer Cynthia Barnett listens to seashells on Sanibel Island. Legendary journalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas records the sights and sounds of the Everglades in the 1920s. Miccosukee elder Buffalo Tiger relates traditional stories of his community’s deep relationship with the land. Presidential inaugural poet Richard Blanco muses on the shifting vista of the ocean in “Some Days the Sea.” These writers and many others recount memories of how their lives have been enriched by the state’s varied and brilliant landscapes. Some tell of encounters with alligators, pythons, manatees, turtles, and otters, while others marvel at the unique character of flowing springs and piney scrub. Together, they highlight the need to protect pristine ecosystems and restore ones that have been damaged due to development. The Wilder Heart of Florida will inspire readers to explore and celebrate the Florida wilderness.

Accompanied by "Florida highways official detour bulletin, " Feb. 1942-