This is the time of the year that thunderstorms sweep in upon us. Often the waterways become very choppy and if you have a small boat, you are in trouble. Most anglers we know, have cell phones or some type of communication for help.

It must be those who do not know the waterways that are going aground at low tide.  If you have a new boat or do not know the area, I suggest you take a native along on your first trip to guide you. There are so many island around the coast that one needs to take it easy on their first outing and learn which direction to go.  I talked to one person that was lost in the island inlets for a whole day.  It seemed every direction he went was the wrong way.

Cruise around to learn the depth and shallows of the water,.  Find out where the bridges are, if there are any places in the area to get fuel. Find a spot to buy bait.

The question that has been going around since the early 90s is: "Should boat operators be licensed?" We still have not heard anything about this.  Some think if you need to be licensed to drive a car, why not to drive a boat. Would you drive the highways when nobody has a drivers license? To our knowledge Alabama is the first state to require licensed boat drivers. Spend days learning to handle your new boat and become familiar with all before taking a trip out in the Bay. Learn the waterways and your boat before departing and always take along a buddy. I heard of piracy on the waterways this week. Keep your boat in a lighted place. Guard your cast nets, as someone is making a collection of them.

It is the time of the year to go swimming. If you are watching your weight or trying to lose weight so that you will look good in your swimming suit, I will tip you off on what fish to eat to keep your weight down.  One can catch lean or fat fish in the waterways. Lean fish has a fat content of not more than five percent. The king of the waterway catches this week is the redfish, a lean fish. Sheepshead are a very ugly fish, some call them a convict fish, because of their stripes, but they are a lean fish and have white meat. Your flounder is a lean fish, and most well known as always on the menu in seafood restaurants. One can have it stuffed, broiled, baked or fried. I have known people, who say they don’t like fish but have eaten flounder with out a complaint. Snapper are also a lean fish. At fish fries one has mullet and it is full of fat content. It has a higher fat content than any other fish that swims in the waterways. A pompano has the reputation of an epicurean’s delight, but if serving this delicious fish, remember it has a very high oil content. Those who love king mackerel must be warned that they too have a high fat content, as does the Spanish mackerel.  If you eat these fish, best to watch your cholesterol.  We suggest to lower the fatty content, try mixing your lean and fat fish together for a meal.

Your fatty fish will never freeze well, but your lean fish may stay in your freezer up to six months.

Sea trout have been boated in the grassy flats.

If fishing along seawalls, piling, ledges or bridges you may hit a Spanish jack, tarpon, sheepshead, jack, mackerel, cobia and in the deep sea reefs you might find a sailfish, dolphin and white marlin. Grouper are usually caught from 18 to 50 feet. If your depth finder shows six to 12 foot depth you are in a good spot to catch a variety of fish such as snook, redfish, sea bass, drum snapper, yellowtail, pompano and in deep sea the king mackerel, tuna, blue marlin or the big amberjacks.

There should not be too, much traffic on the waterways now until fall, as the hot weather has got the best of the winter visitors and all of their boats are going into dry storage until next fall.

Tampa Pro Bass Circuit is now in full swing, they started the first of May.