Florida Sportsman...

With all the online forums, Facebook, print magazines and newspaper columns, you’ll see some very good anglers, hunters and divers. Many post and publish pictures and small reports, columns and articles and love the attention received after a good adventure. Some wish to inform others just to lend a hand and make friends, or are after the “hero” aspect of the game, and then there are those that just like to read, and check out pictures of what’s going on in our state.

The man I am introducing as a new contributor to Inshore Insider tends to fly under the radar a little, but is one of the best there is at conquering our outdoor paradise.

Nathan Austin resides in Sarasota, an outdoorsman’s paradise. Being lucky enough to be born and raised in our beautiful state, he had the opportunity to put the time in to become a true Florida sportsman; a very accomplished one at that. There's not much Nathan doesn't do. Come to think of it, I can’t think of anything he hasn’t done or tried when it comes to hunting, fishing and diving. In the winter months, you'll find Nathan in the marshes, as he is an avid and accomplished duck hunter. Come spring time he'll be on the boat catching snook, redfish, and trout on our bountiful saltwater flats. From late April until July, you will find him in Boca Grande Pass putting on a Tarpon clinic for all to see-literally. When tarpon season winds down it's off to the Keys for lobster season, to dive the waters for those tasty bugs. Next, it’s time to get a few hog hunts in before alligator season starts in August. When he's tagged out on the gators, it'll be just in time for stone crab season in October. Then it's back to the marsh to repeat the cycle. Not many do it better, Nathan has skills; but you won’t see him bragging and like I said, he tends to fly right under the radar.

Here at TBII, we're proud to have Nathan's contributions and look forward to bringing you his reports as quickly as he will write them up.

With that being said, we received a nice waterfowl report from Nathan. Hopefully this is the start of many more great reports.

 Duck and Cover

The 2010-2011 waterfowl season has officially ended. It was a great season; lots of birds were harvested. My friends and I, along with my son Eathan, my most important friend, had some bumps in the road along the way. Waterfowl season has two phases. Phase I kicks off on the weekend before Thanksgiving, and ends the Sunday after. Phase II begins the second Saturday of December and ends the last Sunday of January. Waterfowl only runs 60 days per season; this is the same for each state, however the season dates are different per state. Over the past 60 days I managed to hunt 25 of those days. I drove all over the state from Sarasota, to the east coast, and finally south to Okeechobee. I have been on the road 150 hours logging 8000 miles. Like Phil Robertson, the “duck commander” said; “What a man will do for a duck”. Out of the 25 days hunted I averaged 4.37 birds per hunt; which put me just under 110 birds harvested. The best part of this season is my oldest son Eathan (E-man), has really taken a place by my side in the duck blind. Only a father understands what this means. I can’t wait for the upcoming year when I will get to spend the sunrises with both my boys in the marsh.

Now that waterfowl season has ended, it’s time to get back on the water to start fishing. I have the next couple of months to mess around with snook, Reds, and Trout before I gear up for the famous Boca Grande Tarpon.

Nathan Austin