Upon encountering great floating masses of sargassum during his first voyage to the West Indies, Christopher Columbus feared the weed was so thick and tangled as to forever ensnare his ships. For ages, the Sargasso Sea has been shrouded in both myth and mystery, fascinating scientists who are intent on unlocking its secrets and striking fear into most others. According to some romanticists, the Sargasso became known as a sort of marine hell, where ships and crew meet a cruel fate. While ea...

The billfish is fixed at the apex of the oceanic food chain. Composed of sailfish, marlin, spearfish, and swordfish, they roam the pelagic waters of the Atlantic and are easily recognized by their long, spear-like beaks. Noted for their speed, size, and acrobatic jumps, billfish have for centuries inspired a broad spectrum of society. Even in antiquity, Aristotle, who assiduously studied the swordfish, named this gladiator of the sea xiphias—the sword.The Billfish Story te...

In this hands-on, how-to guide to fishing North Carolina’s Outer Banks, expert fisherman Stan Ulanski combines his enthusiasm, his experience, and his scientific expertise to show anglers how to catch more fish.Focusing on the essential but often misunderstood links between recreational fishing and the biology, geography, and natural history of the region, Fishing North Carolina’s Outer Banks fosters an understanding of the aquatic environment of one of the nation’s prime ...

Coursing through the Atlantic Ocean is a powerful current with a force 300 times that of the mighty Amazon. Ulanski explores the fascinating science and history of this sea highway known as the Gulf Stream, a watery wilderness that stretches from the Caribbean to the North Atlantic. Spanning both distance and time, Ulanski’s investigation reveals how the Gulf Stream affects and is affected by every living thing that encounters it — from tiny planktonic organisms to giant bluefin tuna, from...

The California Current--part of the large, swirling North Pacific gyre--flows slowly southward along the west coast of North America, stretching nearly 2,000 miles from southern British Columbia to the tip of Baja California in Mexico. To a casual observer standing on the shore, the vast current betrays no discernible signs, yet life abounds just over the horizon. Stan Ulanski takes us into the water on a journey through this magnificent, unique marine ecosystem, illuminating the scientifi...

This Periplus Nature Guide provides an excellent introduction to 68 of the most commonly encountered tropical reef fishes. Written by Dr. Gerald Allen, international authority on reef fishes, it features stunning color shots by some of the world's best underwater photographers.

A Silent Spring for our era, this eloquent, urgent, fascinating book reveals how just 50 years of swift and dangerous oceanic change threatens the very existence of life on Earth. Legendary marine scientist Sylvia Earle portrays a planet teetering on the brink of irreversible environmental crisis. In recent decades we've learned more about the ocean than in all previous human history combined. But, even as our knowledge has exploded, so too has our power to upset the delicate balance of th...

Come explore the geology of Florida’s Gulf Coast beaches, from a bird’s-eye view down to a crab’s-eye view. You'll journey from Panhandle sugar-sand beaches to southwestern shell beaches, taking a fresh look at the ever-changing landscape. With Tonya Clayton as your guide, you'll learn how to recognize the stories and read the clues of these dynamic shores, reshaped daily by winds, waves, and sometimes bulldozers or dump trucks.This dynamic tour begins with a broad description of Fl...

Southern Africa has some of the best whale and dolphin watching opportunities in the world, with over half of the world’s species being found in our waters. Watching Whales & Dolphins in Southern Africa is an essential guide to watching the region’s 12 more common species. In addition to species accounts and charts that aid identification, this guide provides detailed information on cetaceans – their evolution, senses, behaviour, classification and anatomy. Multiple, clear images, both pho...

Migratory songbirds are disappearing at a frightening rate. By some estimates, we may have already lost almost half the songbirds that filled the skies only 40 years ago. Following the birds on their 10,000-kilometre migratory journey, Bridget Stutchbury looks at the most threatening factors in their extinction, from pesticides, still a major concern decades after Rachel Carson first raised the alarm, to the destruction of vital habitat; from the bright lights and structures in our cities—...

Fishing from beach or rocky coastline presents challenges not faced by anglers who head out to sea. Written to open new frontiers to the old hand and provide advice to novice surf fishermen, The Complete Book of Surf Fishing will be a boon to all coastline anglers. Author and licensed charter captain Al Ristori covers the basics of traditional surfcasting, with well-illustrated instruction on casting big rods in big water. He covers the gamut of tackle that does duty in the surf-c...

In this new Second Edition Cory Routh covers everything you will need to know for safe, fun and successful kayak fishing. Kayak Fishing gives you a quick, clear understanding of the essential information you'll need to get started in the growing sport of kayak fishing. Learn how to choose the right kayak for fishing. Full-color photographs throughout. Learn which PFDs and paddles to select. Kayak safety and self-rescues. Basic paddle strokes and maneuvering. Basic and advanced kayak riggin...