The BoatUS Foundation for Boating Safety and Clean Water launched a free interactive boating safety course approved by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The course meets state requirements, can be taken at the student's own pace, and is recognized by the U.S. Coast Guard as exceeding minimum National Recreational Boating Safety Program standards.

Levin Capital Strategies, a top 10 shareholder of MarineMax, Inc., is calling on the company's Board of Directors to initiate an immediate review of strategic alternatives, including engagement with The Donerail Group following its $35 per share all-cash acquisition offer.

Garmin Ltd. reported record fourth quarter and full-year 2025 revenue of $2.12 billion and $7.25 billion respectively, with a 17% dividend increase and new $500 million share repurchase program. The company launched the GPSMAP 9000xsv chartplotter series and announced a collaboration with Truemed for HSA/FSA purchases.

Yamaha Pro Takahiro Omori secured his first Major League Fishing Bass Pro Tour victory at Lake Hartwell, earning $125,000 and defeating Jacob Walker by 2 pounds, 10 ounces. The Tokyo native relied on shallow-water fishing in the Tugaloo River throughout the four-day event, avoiding forward-facing sonar technology used by competitors.

Coach John Owen's Murray State College Aggies have won two back-to-back Junior College National Championships and multiple Oklahoma School of the Year titles in just three years. The program, which started with zero students in 2022, now has over 40 athletes and benefits from St. Croix Rod and SEVIIN Reels scholastic programs that provide quality gear and industry relationships.

The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and Utah Trout Unlimited selected five conservation projects funded by the Utah Cutthroat Slam fishing challenge, including eDNA sampling, beaver relocations, aquatic monitoring, and habitat restoration efforts to support native cutthroat trout populations across Utah.

NOAA's Damage Assessment, Remediation, and Restoration Program restores habitats and recreational access after environmental disasters. Projects in Charleston, Delaware, and New Jersey have rebuilt fishing piers, boat ramps, and trails while restoring marshes and oyster beds through partnerships with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission released a new report on shell recycling programs that support oyster reef restoration and coastal resilience. The report, developed with state and regional partners, provides practical guidance on program models, curing standards, permitting frameworks, and performance metrics for expanding shell recycling initiatives along the US Atlantic coast.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is hosting a free Pond Management workshop on March 26 in Warrenton for landowners interested in building or maintaining private ponds. Participants will learn best practices from MDC fisheries experts covering site selection, construction, fish stocking, habitat management, and maintenance.

Adam Manzato pleaded guilty to importing, possessing, and offering to sell Chinese and dwarf snakehead fish after conservation officers discovered seven live snakehead at homes in St. Thomas. The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters emphasizes that early detection and enforcement are critical to preventing the establishment of this invasive species in Ontario waters.

The Lancaster Fly Fishing Show returns March 14-15 at Lancaster County Convention Center, featuring instructors Joe Humphreys, Mac Brown, Jason Randall, George Daniel, and others. The event includes seminars, fly tying, casting demonstrations, and theater presentations with admission starting at $20.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will host an online meeting on February 26 at 6 p.m. featuring DNR fisheries biologists Kyle Broadway, Craig Roberts, Nate Thomas, and Max Wolter discussing walleye stocking strategies, habitat, and management in northwestern Wisconsin.

Washington and Oregon fishery managers approved the 2026 Columbia River recreational spring Chinook salmon fishing season, forecasting 147,300 upriver fish. Ryan Lothrop of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife stated the forecast is improved and above the 10-year average, allowing additional early-season fishing opportunities while maintaining sustainable management.

Nebraska Game and Parks Commission is stocking 12-inch rainbow trout into ponds and lakes across the state beginning in mid-February. Fisheries outreach program manager Daryl Bauer encourages anglers to enjoy the open water fishing season. The agency is also surveying trout anglers to inform future management decisions.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has submitted an Exempted Fishing Permit to NOAA Fisheries to test improved state-led data collection for Atlantic red snapper and allow a 39-day recreational season in 2026. Public comments are being accepted through March 10, 2026.

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will host six virtual fisheries management discussions March 9-11 via Zoom, covering five district areas plus statewide and aquatic habitat programs. Each session includes a 30-minute presentation and Q&A. Registration is required at Calendar.OutdoorNebraska.gov, and all sessions will be recorded.

The Gulf Council is accepting applications for its Red Drum Advisory Panel and Coastal Migratory Pelagic Advisory Panel. Advisory Panel members serve three-year terms and are compensated for travel expenses. Applications must be submitted by March 3, 2026.

Vermont Fish and Wildlife certified a 28.5-pound Freshwater Drum caught by 10-year-old Grayson Carey as a new state record. Carey's catch during the Lake Champlain International Father's Day Derby earned over $26,000 in prizes and surpassed the previous record set in 2016.

The Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission has initiated a benchmark stock assessment for Atlantic migratory group cobia to be completed in 2027. The assessment will evaluate stock health along the Atlantic coast from Georgia northward, with data submissions due by March 20, 2026, and public data workshops scheduled for spring 2026.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announced a new minimum length limit for spotted bass at Table Rock Lake, lowering from 15 inches to 12 inches effective April 30. This change aims to improve populations of all three black bass species, as spotted bass now comprise 38 percent of the lake's black bass population.

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife announced that more than two dozen Eastern Washington lakes open March 1 for fishing, offering opportunities for rainbow trout, bass, yellow perch, burbot, cutthroat trout, brown trout, crappie, walleye, and bluegill. WDFW statewide inland fish program manager Steve Caromile notes early spring is an excellent time for lake fishing, though anglers should exercise caution regarding thin ice conditions.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks permitted 28 ice fishing contests for winter 2025/2026 and 46 open-water contests for 2026. FWP uses a permitting process to balance recreation with conservation, requiring applications for larger tournaments to minimize fish mortality and regulate harvest while creating family-friendly community opportunities.

Full-time guide Lee Pitts shares his "old school" approach to catching crappie on Weiss Lake without forward-facing sonar. Using Bobby Garland baits, float rigs, and traditional electronics, Pitts relies on reading water conditions, understanding crappie behavior, and mastering casting techniques to achieve consistent success.

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) announces the March 1 opening of catch-and-keep trout fishing at four state parks: Bennett Spring, Montauk, Roaring River, and Maramec Spring Park. MDC will stock approximately 600,000 trout annually across the parks, with daily limits of four trout and possession limits of eight.

The Bass Fishing Hall of Fame is committing $65,000 this year to scholarships and conservation grants. The Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation and Tennessee B.A.S.S. Nation have recently received funding to purchase habitat structures, with the Hall expecting total contributions to exceed $160,000 over seven years.

The Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies applauds the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's announcement of $1.2 billion in Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration apportionments to support states, commonwealths, and territories in conservation and outdoor recreation efforts funded by excise taxes on hunting, shooting, boating, and angling equipment.

Okuma Fishing Tackle has promoted John Bretza to Vice President of Product Development after nearly three decades with the company. Bretza will continue leading product strategy and development across all fishing categories, leveraging his extensive experience in sales, marketing, and product innovation to advance Okuma's position as a leading fishing tackle manufacturer.

Whitewater Fishing launched the Beacon ¼ Zip Shirt in response to customer demand for a hooded alternative to their popular Beacon Technical Hoodie. The new midweight shirt features 288g polyester with fleece lining, UPF 50+ protection, and flatlock seams, available in Storm and Dropoff colors at $79.99 MSRP.

Savage Gear has introduced the Sucker Prop, a topwater lure engineered for maximum surface disturbance to trigger strikes from aggressive musky and pike. Featuring a precision-engineered rear propeller, lifelike sucker profile, integrated squeaker, and 3X heavy-duty hooks, the lure is available in eight colors with an MSRP of $34.99.

Savage Gear has introduced the Slim Jig Minnow, a versatile freshwater flat-fall jig featuring thru-wired construction, a built-in steel rattle, and high-quality treble hooks. The lure delivers fast drops with controlled flutter and can be rigged in reverse for forward-facing sonar presentations, available in six colors starting February 2026.

Savage Gear introduces the Tough Frog in two sizes and expands the Tough Toad line with a new 4-inch XL size. Both lures feature the brand's exclusive ToughTec soft plastic formula for durability and buoyancy, designed for bass fishing in heavy cover with realistic frog profiles and proven kicking action.

Savage Gear has introduced the Sucker Flanker, a new crankbait designed for trophy musky fishing. The lure features a realistic sucker profile, replaceable bill system for customizable depth and action, and aggressive sideflash action to trigger predatory instincts. Available in February 2026 in two sizes with eight color options.

Whitewater Fishing introduced the Beacon ¼ Zip Shirt, a hoodless version of their popular Beacon Technical Hoodie. The midweight shirt features 288g polyester fabric with UPF 50+ protection, fleece lining, and a quarter-zip design for easy layering, priced at $79.99.

Smith River permit lottery results are now available through MyFWP, with successful applicants receiving email confirmation to print as proof. Unsuccessful applicants can purchase Super Permit chances through March 15 for $5 each, with one winner allowed to launch on any date. Floaters should note new requirements including packing out human waste and registering via phone two days before launch.

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reminds anglers to remove fish houses from ice before statutory deadlines ranging from February 20 to March 31, depending on location. Lt. Col. Robert Gorecki emphasizes proper cleanup and timely removal to end the season positively, warning that violations may result in prosecution and confiscation.

Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit appointed Mitch Feathers as Operations Manager, where he leads the Outboard Operations and Outboard Demand Planning teams. Feathers, a five-year Yamaha employee, reports to Supply Chain Director Corey Turnbow and will oversee sales order management, customer service, demand forecasting, and production planning.

MyOutdoorTV is hosting "Zona's Awesome Fishing Sweepstakes" running through March 8, offering winners a dream fishing trip for two with legendary bass fisherman Mark Zona on Lake St. Clair, Michigan. The free-to-enter sweepstakes features Mark Zona, host of Zona's Awesome Fishing Show, and is presented by MyOutdoorTV, Outdoor Sportsman Group's premier subscription streaming platform.

MyOutdoorTV premieres new episodes of Dropped and Wardens every Friday. Dropped follows brothers Chris and Casey Keefer and cameraman Jason Brown surviving 30 days in remote wilderness locations. Wardens chronicles Conservation Officers protecting wildlife across America's most remote regions.

The Coastal Conservation Association of California (CCA CAL) announces its 2026 STAR Tournament running May 23 through September 7, with early registration by May 22 earning a $25 AFTCO gift certificate. The expanded tournament now includes surf perch and offers a new Mako 17 Pro Skiff, $50K in prizes, and $15K in youth scholarships, with entries submitted via the Fishing Chaos app.

BASS brought its Bassmaster Elite tournament series to Wind Creek State Park on Lake Martin, with 21-year-old Elite Series rookie Fisher Anaya from Eva, Alabama winning the four-day event with 54 pounds, 6 ounces and a $102,000 prize. The tournament kicked off Lake Martin's 100th anniversary celebration, showcasing the lake's abundant spotted bass population and supporting the central Alabama community.

A drawdown of Marsh Lake in the Lac qui Parle Wildlife Management Area is planned for spring and summer 2026 to improve fish and wildlife habitat. Water levels will be lowered from 938 feet to 936 feet, with area wildlife manager Walt Gessler noting that a previous 2019-2020 drawdown successfully increased emergent vegetation and improved water quality.

The numbers attached to the latest federal offshore oil-and-gas plan are big enough to make anyone along Florida’s coast uneasy.

The Gulf of America Outer Continental Shelf covers roughly 160 million acres, and federal estimates peg it at nearly 30 billion barrels of undiscovered, technically recoverable oil, along with more than 54 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. Add in the recent passage of the so-called “Big Beautiful Bill,” which mandates decades of future lease sales, and it’s easy to see why Florida anglers, charter captains, and beach towns are asking the same question:

How close is this coming to Florida shores, where there currently are zero oil wells in the Gulf?

So far, the answer remains reassuring—especially for Florida.

Despite the sweeping scale of the new leasing mandate, no new federal oil and gas leases are allowed anywhere near Florida’s Gulf shoreline, including the Panhandle. The same protective buffer that has been in place for years still applies, and it keeps drilling far offshore and well out of sight.

For all practical purposes, Florida’s Gulf coast remains protected by a roughly 125-mile offshore exclusion zone. That setback applies to the entire state—from the Keys north through Tampa Bay and all the way west to the Alabama line.

In federal leasing terms, Florida is treated as a single, continuous coastline. There is no special carve-out for the Panhandle and no exception for high-energy oil states nearby. Whether you’re fishing off Naples or walking the sand on Pensacola Beach, the same rule applies: no leaseable federal blocks inside that buffer.

That distance isn’t accidental. It reflects decades of political compromise, tourism economics, and environmental caution focused on protecting Florida’s beaches, fisheries, and coastal economy. The Eastern Gulf of Mexico—everything east of that line—has been repeatedly withdrawn from leasing under a series of congressional and presidential actions, including the September 8, 2020, withdrawal that still stands.

The new round of lease sales required under the “Big Beautiful Bill” does expand drilling opportunities elsewhere in the Gulf. But critically, it does not reopen Florida’s withdrawn areas.

The result is that Florida’s offshore waters remain entirely off-limits, regardless of how many lease sales are scheduled elsewhere.

Some of the newly proposed Gulf leases begin as close as 3 to 10 miles offshore—but those are off Texas, Louisiana, and parts of Alabama—all of which already have lots of wells. That’s why oil platforms can be visible from beaches west of the Florida line while Florida’s own Gulf horizon remains clear.

Some producing leases sit within single-digit miles of shore. And, it also has to be noted, these rigs provide astoundingly good fishing for everything from grouper and snapper to tuna, wahoo and even marlin—they function as artificial reefs, holding fish year around.

From a fisherman’s perspective, skepticism is healthy. Offshore drilling accidents don’t respect state lines, and currents don’t stop at political boundaries. The memory of Deepwater Horizon still looms large across the Gulf, including Florida waters that were affected despite being far from the wellhead.

But based on the lease maps released so far, the immediate fears don’t line up with the facts.

Nothing in the current lease notices brings drilling closer to Florida beaches. Nothing reopens the Eastern Gulf. And nothing suggests rigs creeping toward the Panhandle or central Gulf coast under this plan.

That doesn’t mean Floridians should tune it out. Presidential withdrawals can be reversed. Laws can be amended. Lease plans evolve. But as of now, the protections Florida has relied on for years remain firmly in place.

The Bottom Line 

If you fish Florida’s Gulf waters, guide tourists, or simply care about clean beaches and healthy fisheries, here’s the clear takeaway:

The newest Gulf oil leases still stop far offshore from Florida—about 125 miles away—and that applies everywhere in the state, including the Panhandle. 

The scale of the leasing program is real, and it’s wise to keep a close eye on it. But at this stage, the concern that Florida’s beaches or nearshore fisheries are about to be ringed by drilling rigs is not supported by the actual lease boundaries.

— Frank Sargeant