Back in June, the Florida Sportsman Book division sent a copy of a new publication to the Spring Lake Live Liner Fishing Club. Vic Dunaway, senior editor of the Florida Sportsman magazine, wrote the book, titled Sport Fish of the Atlantic. In this book, Mr. Dunaway starts out with a twenty-page state-by-state synopsis of the local recreational fisheries and then covers 238 saltwater species of both game and bait fish that the recreational fisherman is likely to encounter while fishing the nearly 3,000 miles of shoreline from Canada to the Florida Keys by both their scientific names and regional nicknames. With accurate color plates by wildlife illustrator Kevin R. Brant, this book makes it easier to identify both the habitat and range of game and bait fish. Anglers, from flyrodders to those throwing jigs in the Point Pleasant Canal, will find the baitfish illustrations useful in “matching the hatch”, as well as identifying the sometimes-mysterious stomach contents of local game fish.

In addition to describing the range and habitat, the author also provides detailed description of each species (to augment the illustrations), and the average size, world record (as of publication date) and food value. A brief description of the “game qualities” of each species as well as a short dissertation on tackle, baits and tackle that are most frequently used to target them are included.

This book is a must-have in any saltwater angler’s personal library. The list price is $16.95 and is available from Florida Sportsman Books (561-219-7400 or on-line at www.floridasportsman.com/books) for $18.95 (there is a $2 shipping and handling fee.)

The ISBN number is 0-936240-17-2 and can be purchased from local bait and tackle stores as well as Barnes & Noble and on the Internet at www.amazon.com for $13.56 plus S/H. --Review by Vincent Gathmann