Written by FWC
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Trout

LEE COUNTY

Officer Art Morrow was conducting vessel safety checks at the Matlacha Community Park
Boat Ramp when a vessel with fishing poles and tackle approached the dock. Officer
Morrow made contact with the operator and a fisheries inspection was conducted. Eight
spotted seatrout were found in a live well. The subject was cited for possession of four fish
over the legal bag limit. Investigator Larry Jernstedt and Officer Greg Stanley assisted.

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Posted in Research N Action

Making your Fishing Trip Count

After you log in at www.angleraction.org, record your fishing trips as often as possible. Once you start this positive habit, you'll find many rewards!

Tips for getting started, and Opportunities to win prizes:

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Written by FWC
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Snook & Redfish

LEE COUNTY

While patrolling Fort Myers Beach, Officer Demian McColgin observed a subject fishing
with a cast net underneath a bridge. As the fisherman prepared to leave, Officer McColgin
conducted a marine fisheries inspection and found the individual in possession of snook and
several undersized sheepshead. The subject was cited for the violations.

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Written by FWC
Posted in Library

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Which species of grouper are managed in the Gulf of Mexico?

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Written by FWC
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Redfish

BREVARD COUNTY

Officer Cody Loeffler conducted a fisheries inspection on five subjects in a vehicle
preparing to leave Merritt Island Refuge. In plain view Officer Loeffler could see several
redfish. After all subjects claimed their catch, Officer Loeffler issued one subject
a notice to appear for possession of over the daily bag limit and oversized redfish.
Another subject was issued a notice to appear for possession of over the daily bag limit
and undersized redfish. A third subject was issued a notice to appear for over the daily
bag limit of redfish.

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Written by FWC | 13 April 2012
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Snook

CHARLOTTE COUNTY

A sheriff’s deputy contacted Lieutenant Mike Frantz concerning someone bow fishing in
the lakes of Rotonda Trace. Lieutenant Frantz arrived to find the fisherman had a 22-inch
snook in his bucket. The snook was bleeding from a hole just behind its head, and the
fisherman admitted to taking the snook by an illegal method. The snook was too small and
the season was closed to harvest. The fisherman received three citations.

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Written by FWC
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Snook

BROWARD COUNTY

RPS Officer Eric Alford was watching a subject in a remote location along the south fork
of the New River when the lone angler caught a large snook. The angler, whose tail gate
was open on his SUV, ran to his vehicle throwing the fish, rod and reel in the back, jumped
in and sped away. The fish was never taken off the hook as the angler tried to make a fast
get-away. Officer Alford, who watched the whole incident, was in disbelief and followed the
suspected violator. After the vehicle was stopped, a measurement of the snook revealed it
was four inches over the legal size limit. The subject was cited and the snook was returned
alive to the water.

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Written by FWC
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Redfish

PENSACOLA AREA RPS

RPS Lieutenant Dan Hahr and RPS Officer Alan Kirchinger were on patrol in Mulat Bayou
near Archie Glover Boat Ramp when they observed a vessel occupied by three juveniles
and a young woman. The subjects were fishing, but also passing around a bottle of Jim
Beam whiskey. The officers met the subjects at the boat ramp where they observed that
the operator was displaying signs of impairment. Officer Kirchinger conducted field sobriety
tasks and arrested the juvenile operator for boating under the influence. He was also cited
for possession of an undersized redfish and for possession of alcoholic beverages by a
person under the age of 21. The two other subjects were issued notices to appear for
possession of alcoholic beverages by a person under the age of 21.

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Written by FWC
Posted in Increase Release Survival

Best Practices for Catch & Release FishingCatch and Release

These tips are based on research on bonefish, but can be applied to many species of fish.

 

 

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Posted in Fishing

ALEXANDRIA, Va.Ethanol; Boater's Friend or Foe

Ever since E10 gasoline (gas containing 10% ethanol) became widely available several years ago, the nation's largest recreational boat owners group, BoatUS, has received hundreds of calls and emails complaining about boat engine problems. The majority of complaints concern older outboard motors, those made before about 1990. BoatUS' Seaworthy magazine asked Mercury Marine's Ed Alyanak and Frank Kelley, who between them have over 60 years of experience, to find out what's made these decades-old outboards more susceptible to ethanol's well-known problems and what owners can do.

 

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Written by Sam Root, SaltyShores.com
Posted in Fishing

Technology sure has change things these days for the fisherman. I’m not even going to bring up all the new fancy 3d/hd/gps/depth finder, gear, lure etc that are on the boats when you’re fishing. I’m talking about all the things you look up in you phone these days are quite amazing compared to a couple years ago.

 

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Written by FWC
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Snook

BROWARD COUNTY

Officer Matt Cushing was conducting boating safety and resources inspections when
he stopped a boat in the Intracoastal Waterway near Exchange Park. After conducting
a boating safety inspection, several violations were noted. Officer Cushing asked the
occupants if they had caught any fish. One subject admitted to catching some jacks.
The officer asked to see the jacks and one subject opened the cooler. Officer Cushing
noticed some jacks, mangrove snapper and the tail end of a snook. The snook was
undersized and the subject admitted to keeping it because it was the first one he ever
caught. He was cited and the snook was seized as evidence.

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Posted in Fishing

 

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) spread out the opportunities this year so more people will be able to head for their favorite lakes and rivers or saltwater destinations on designated days. 

 

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Written by Staff
Posted in Research N Action

(Click Image To Enlarge)New ways to log on AnglerAction.org start April 1st! 

April marks the start of  Angler Action's 3rd year of recording your fishing trip and catch information.

The progress of the program has been impressive and Anglers can look forward to great rewards, starting with a personalized new online log [angleraction.org] April 1st, and free phone apps for both iphone and android platforms (available in May)

Check out these fisherman-friendly features:

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Written by FWC
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Trout

ESCAMBIA COUNTY COPS

Lieutenant Keith Clark attended a meeting of the Pensacola Recreational Fisherman’s
Association and spoke on the recent recreational rules changes regulating gag grouper,
red grouper, red drum, and spotted seatrout. Lieutenant Clark provided fishing regulations,
Boat Smart booklets, and fish identification pamphlets to the group.

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Written by Staff
Posted in Partner News

You can be the new height of envy courtesy of Gause Built Custom Boats and SGF.Gause 17' Flats Skiff

How to Get a Chance to Win;

1) Join Snook Foundation

         Associate Level, Guide Level, or above

                You'll get two chances for each $50

[www.snookfoundation.org/membership.html]

2) Make Donation

        $30 per entry

                You'll get two chances for each $50

[www.snookfoundation.org/support/donate.html]

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Written by FWC
Posted in Library

Every day, improperly discarded monofilament fishing line causes devastating problems for marine life and the environment.  Marine mammals, sea turtles, fish and birds become injured from entanglements, or might ingest the line, often dying as a result.  Human divers and swimmers are also at risk from entanglements and the line can also damage boat propellers.

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Written by FWC
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Redfish

BAY COUNTY

Officer Jim Moore worked with Department of Environmental Protection Park Patrol Officers
at the St. Andrews State Park jetties targeting redfish violations. Several size and bag limit
cases were made this week on subjects who were hiding oversized redfish in the rocks.

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Written by John Kumiski
Posted in Fishing

Capt. John Kumiski, Spotted Tail Adventures

Clearly personal preference is at work here.

 

 

 

"The habitat where I usually fish affects my lure choices. The point to take, however, is that a large number of different baits are not necessary. If you can cover the water column effectively you will catch your share of fish."

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Written by Terry Gibson
Posted in Fishing

For some reason, the clear shallows of Tampa Bay don't get the fanfare of other stellar flats fishing destinations, such asCapt. Jon Brett, Fishbuzz TV Everglades National Park. But some of the best inshore fishing in the world is hidden in plane sight of this major metropolitan area. You can stay and dine in style in St. Petersburg, Tampa proper or Clearwater, just a few minutes from flats teeming with redfish, speckled trout and snook, among many other species.

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Written by FWC
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Snook

BROWARD COUNTY

Officer Joshua Varnadoe was on night patrol in the vicinity of a spillway structure in Ft.
Lauderdale when he observed an individual fishing inside a no trespassing area. He
conducted surveillance on the subject and then made contact. The subject was found in
possession of three undersized snook. The subject was issued a notice to appear citation
for possession of over the bag limit of snook and a citation for no fishing license. All three
undersized snook were released alive into the water.

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Written by FWC
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Snook

MARTIN COUNTY

Officers Doricchi and Fowler were dispatched to a report of a subject in possession of
undersized snook. A 20-year-old Georgia resident was found to be in possession of a
22" snook and did not have a valid fishing license. After much discussion the officers
decided, based on the circumstances, it would be much more beneficial to educate the
young man about the situation and issue a warning for the undersized snook and an
infraction for not having a fishing license rather than arrest him for the violation.

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Written by FWC
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Trout

BAY COUNTY

During surveillance in Warren Bayou, Officer Neal Goss observed three individuals fishing
from a vessel. One fisherman caught a fish and yelled over to Officer Goss and asked
him what type of fish it was.

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Written by FWC
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Redfish

PASCO COUNTY

Officer Scott Smith was on land patrol near a popular fishing spot when he observed a
local resident fishing from his dock. He watched the subject for several minutes and then
approached the individual and noticed he had three redfish lying on his dock. The individual
stated that he had not caught any other fish, but Officer Smith located two more redfish that
had been placed in a crab trap tied to the dock. The subject was issued the appropriate
citation. Officer Paul VanOst had issued a citation to the same subject several months ago
for similar violations.

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Written by FWC
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Snook

MARTIN COUNTY

Officer Reno Doricchi was conducting fisheries inspections in Stuart when he observed
a man fishing from the old Roosevelt Bridge. He approached and asked permission to
inspect the fisherman’s cooler. The cooler contained a few grunts and a sheepshead on top
of packed ice. A 19-3/4" snook was buried in the ice under the grunts and sheepshead. The
subject was cited for possession of snook out of season.