Is Your Palmetto Boat At Risk Under a New Florida Law?

Is Your Palmetto Boat At Risk Under a New Florida Law?A new Florida law took effect in July in order to assist county and local officials as well as the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission with maintaining Florida waterways. If Palmetto boat owners’ vessels meet certain unsatisfactory conditions, authorities are now able to issue non-criminal citations to those who allow their boats to become “at risk” of becoming in a state of disrepair.Your vessel is deemed “at risk” if it’s observed in these conditions:Your vessel is taking on or has taken on water without a means to drainYour vessel has spaces that are designed to be enclosed, but instead they are not being sealed off and remaining exposed for an extended period of timeYour vessel has broken loose or appears to be on the verge of breaking loose from its anchorYour vessel has been left unattended or stored aground and is being prevented from getting underway, is tilted from water intrusion...
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Attention Lobster Lovers: 6 Tips for Hunting Season

Attention Lobster Lovers: 6 Tips for Hunting SeasonGrab your nets and tickle sticks Palmetto boaters! August 6 kicked off lobster season, which runs through March 31. Whether you’re new to the sport or an avid lobster hunter, here are some tips for navigating lobster season:1. Know the regulations. Six lobsters can be captured per person, per day during the season. However, depending on the location, there may be designated harvesting times. Make sure to view the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission regulations for spiny lobsters before beginning your hunt.2. Get equipped. From the novice to the seasoned hunters, all you need is a mask, snorkel, tickle stick, gloves, a net and a cooler.3. Scout out the location. Lobsters can be found among ledges, patch reefs, holes, coral heads and even shallow water just 3 feet deep. Just look for their antennae, and you’ll find them in no time.4. Master your method. Once you spot lobsters’ antennae, be careful not...
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Top Things to Do in Bradenton, FL

Top Things to Do in Bradenton, FLFlorida’s Bradenton area is popular amongst older travelers, but the city has much to offer young adults, especially golfers. Next time you’re planning a golf getaway with your friends, consider a trip to the Gulf Coast. Here are some of our top things to do in Bradenton when you are visit Riviera Dunes Marina.Where to stayInstead of splitting a hotel, rent a beach house. The cost is affordable when you divide it among multiple friends, and there are usually several amenities. Anna Maria Island has gorgeous white-sand beaches and clear, blue water. Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach are great options, too.AirBnB has a large presence in the area, so that’s a fantastic place to start your search. Rental services, like Island Real Estate, can also help you find lodging.Where to playBradenton has many golf courses to choose from, but IMG Academy Golf Club is a unique option. IMG is a world-renowned boarding school and...
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Top Ways To Clean Up The Beaches Around Palmetto

Top Ways To Clean Up The Beaches Around PalmettoIt’s not unusual to find balloons, plastic bags, and paper napkins littered on the beach. Beach clean-ups are often done by locals and environmental groups, but unfortunately, trash can travel from miles and miles away. If you are looking to enjoy a nice relaxing day at one of the beaches around Palmetto though, then keeping it clean is the number one priority.Keeping beaches clean is everyone’s responsibility. Here are five ways you can keep the beaches around Palmetto clean for all to enjoy!1. Don’t bring plastic shopping bags, plastic straws, plastic water bottles, or Styrofoam plates to the beach. Many animals will mistake plastic items for food and will eat them. This can result in starvation, because the animal’s stomach is filled with plastic that can’t digest. In addition, since plastic never degrades, we need to reduce the amount of plastic that we throw away.2. Don’t release balloons into the sky. When...
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Florida Is Number 1 For Fishing and Boating Spots

Florida Is Number 1 For Fishing and Boating SpotsThere are now nine locations in Florida recognized as ideal places for outdoor summer fun for the entire family.Florida topped the Take Me Fishing 2016 “Top 100 Family Friendly Places to Boat and Fish in the U.S.” list. Florida was in the top four locations, with nine total locations on the list. The top four locations are: Everglades National Park, Bahia Honda State Park, Blue Springs State Park, and Lake Kissimmee State Park.The other five Florida locations are: Suwannee River, Harris Chain of Lakes, Lake Osborne, Lake Okeeheelee and Katheryn Abbey Hanna Park.Recreational boating, combined with saltwater and freshwater fishing, contribute more than $20 billion annually to Florida’s economy. Fishing and boating are wholesome activities that bring families together and get more people outdoors. Overall, they’re fun hobbies that positively impact both the community and the economy.More than 100 state parks in Florida offer fishing as a family-friendly, year-round activity. Visit FloridaStateParks.org...
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Speedboat Tennis: The Newest Sport

Speedboat Tennis: The Newest Sport Recently, Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt came together to promote a new tennis concept called FAST4.     The result of a gimmick show turned out to be fantastic footage of the two tennis stars hitting tennis balls back-and-forth from speedboats. Watch the video above to see the awesome clip! Now that is something we would love to see on the Manatee River. ...
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Sarasota Boat Owner: When To DIY and When to Hire a Professional for Repairs

Sarasota Boat Owner: When To DIY and When to Hire a Professional for Repairs If you’re a handy Sarasota boat owner, you probably take care of a lot of your own maintenance and repairs. However, there are jobs that are best left to seasoned professionals. So, how do you make the decision? Start by evaluating the job that needs to be done and ask yourself, “Can I do this? Am I capable?” If the answer is no, pay a professional. If the answer is yes, make sure you’re up for the challenge. However, there’s an overarching question that overrides whether you want to do a job. Can you afford to pay a professional? If you don’t have the cash, it looks like the job is up to you. I can service my trailer without a problem. I know how to replace brakes, how to inspect and diagnose the hydraulic system, and how to service bearings. But I always pay a professional to do these...
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