On just about every major body of water in Central Florida this weekend, the same scene will be repeated. Fishing boats, most of them small non-descript craft, will idle along the shorelines, past ...

Among our native fish species, two are standouts — bluegill, or bream, and redear sunfish, or shellcracker. Lake county anglers of all ages seek these panfish year-round. Bream are cooperative.

1. In Lakeland, crickets and grass shrimp are being sold like crazy as shellcracker have been hot. On Saddle Creek, look for catfish using chicken liver and cut bait. Bass have been hitting on darker ...

If bluegill and shellcrackers (collectively known as bream) routinely grew to weights of 5-6 pounds or more, we would have far less bass tournaments on the nation’s waters. Pound for pound, the feisty ...