The Sunshine State of Mind 

As we grow up, we are all shaped–to some extent–by our experiences as children. There are too many people who never get to know the wild places of our beautiful and vastly diverse state. I consider myself very fortunate and blessed in many ways. I was born in Tampa in 1959 and shortly after, my family moved to Southwest Florida. As a young boy my first memories are of fishing with my dad, cane pole in hand, on the headwaters of Turner River.

My family owned and operated Turner River Jungle Gardens, complete with a Seminole Indian village, offering airboat and swamp buggy rides to tourists looking to see the wildlife of the Everglades. The business eventually closed and we moved to Naples, Florida, where I spent my free time fishing for snook from the Naples Pier or bass fishing the many freshwater canals Collier County has to offer. In many of the places I fished, one could catch largemouth bass, redfish, tarpon and snook, all in the same body of water and on the same gold Rapala stick bait. These places still exist and hold fish today. My experiences shaped a lifelong love of the outdoors that led me to become a charter captain, and eventually to a very rewarding career as a wildlife and game fish artist. 

In 1994 we moved to Sarasota where I attended the Ringling College of Art and Design, graduating with a BFA degree as an Illustrator. My wife Lynn and I still live and run our art business here and enjoy the clear water and beautiful beaches of the area. The fishing here is fantastic as well. I truly love the “Glades,” but unlike the dark waters and mysterious mangrove coastlines of the Everglades, west central Florida offers clear-water flats fishing and great offshore opportunities. Fishing Sarasota and Tampa Bay can produce snook, tarpon, redfish, trout and flounder all year long, as well as nice gag grouper in the winter months. Offshore, we have huge numbers of red snapper, grouper, cobia, mangrove snapper and kingfish; further offshore blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish, dolphin and wahoo are plentiful in the summertime. 

Living in Sarasota allows me to be anywhere in Florida in a half-day’s drive. We travel to some 30 art shows and tournaments a year and I try to get in some local fishing as time allows. Of course, being a game fish artist has its own rewards, and fishing and diving are an important part of my research and work.

Florida offers many fishing opportunities to anyone wishing to enjoy what nature has to offer. From a kid with a cane pole on a lakeshore, to a sportfish boat 100 miles offshore, we have it all. Take advantage of what your area has to offer. You can’t catch ‘em sitting on the couch. 

Tight Lines, 

Steve Whitlock

On the offshore side…I’ve been taking advantage of the Mangrove Snapper bite. The last two weekends my fishing partner and I limited out on fat mangs.  We’re fishing off Sarasota in 100 plus feet, working the bottom around one of many artificial reef systems.  We begin by netting a baitwell full of white bait  and pinfish and heading out the pass by 8 am.  As soon as we set the anchor and get settled the chum bag goes over the side.  It doesn’t take long and the Amberjack show up, mixed with snapper in the 2-3 lb range.  We start by bottom fishing, using only as much lead as needed and 4 ft. of 25 lb. test Fluorocarbon  leader.  Leave the heavy leader for the grouper; snapper are very wary creatures, especially in the daytime. As the bite picks up we switch out bottom gear for some fun on 2o lb. spinning tackle, a small circle hook and a 4 ft. section of 20 lb. fluorocarbon leader, baited with a chunk of sardine. It’s on…watching 5 lb. Mangroves eat your bait in 100 plus feet of water is pretty cool.  We were even catching and releasing American Reds on the flat lines.  You never know what the next bite may be so keep your eyes open for Cobia, Kingfish and other species that will wander up your slick.  Get out and enjoy what the water & weather have to offer.  You can’t catch’ em sittin’ on the couch!

Tight lines, Steve

Local Game Fish artist Steve Whitlock was recently recognized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission for his highly realistic illustrations of Florida fish and wildlife. At their annual meeting in Cleweston on December 9th, 2009 Steve was presented with a beautiful award for “Fostering an appreciation for Florida’s fish and wildlife resources through game fish and wildlife art.”