Posted in Fishing

Here's all you need to know about 2012's snook season

License Requirements:  Snook permit and recreational fishing license

Allowable Gear: Hook and line only

	Atlantic (state and adjacent federal waters)	Gulf of Mexico, Monroe County, and Everglades National Park (state and adjacent federal waters)
Closed Harvest Season	Dec. 15 - Jan. 31; June - Aug.	Catch and release only through August 31, 2012
Size Limit	Not less than 28"  total length (TL) or more than 32" TL	Catch and release only
Bag Limit	1 per harvester per day	Catch and release only

See our article concerning Gamefish Measuring and Care

• Anytime you fish for snook, redfish, trout, tarpon, bonefish or permit,  you can contribute to Angler Action data , even when your catch is 'zero'. 
  
• See what other anglers are catching -  Best Shots click here

Why Keep a Record of your catch at Angler Action?
You can help build a brand new, real-time, data record by simply logging the general size and location of your catch. This angler owned data record assures statistical integrity and provides a voice that asserts trust in our fishery leadership.
Be a part of improved fisheries management. Log your catch at www.AnglerAction.org. 
 

Written by Capt. Chris Myers | 17 January 2012
Posted in Fishing

This week we fish with Capt. Chris Myers and learn his pro tips on how to manage your line.  Want fewer wind knots? Capt. Chris has the secrets

Video courtesy of http://www.floridafishinglessons.com

Register your Grand Slams in Florida

The Grand Slam Club celebrates the variety of Florida sport fishes and the achievement of anglers catching a particular set of three species in one day.  There is a different slam for each of the state's four geographic regions, and red drum is included in three of them.

Regional grand slam fishes

North Florida- Red drum, spotted seatrout, and cobia

West Coast- Red drum, snook, and tarpon

East Coast- Red drum, spotted seatrout, and tarpon

South Florida- Tarpon, bonefish, and permit

The Grand Slam program is conducted in collaboration with the International Game Fish Association (IGFA) and requires anglers to fill out an application.  For more information on this program, visit the Grand Slam and Fishing Records page.

 

Why Keep a Record of your catch at Angler Action?

You can help build a brand new, real-time, data record by simply logging the general size and location of your catch. This angler owned data record assures statistical integrity and provides a voice that asserts trust in our fishery leadership.

Written by FWC
Posted in Increase Release Survival

Have you ever wondered why there are seasons and size and bag limits for the fish you catch?

Ever wondered how those decisions are made? Photo: FWC

    This article provides answers to those questions as it describes the methods used in science-based management. It also highlights the management process used to conserve Florida’s fisheries resources.

 

Read more...

Written by Capt. Ron Presley , Florida East Coast Fishing Examiner
Posted in Increase Release Survival

Management of red drum in Florida has been labeled by FWC as a success story. In the late 1980s red drum were Redfish management regions for 2012determined to be overfished and several emergency closures were established to reduce fishing pressure. In 1989, the slot  limit of 18-27 inches, the bag limit of 1 per person, and a closed season from March-May were put in place. Since then, the only major regulation change has been the elimination of the closed season. 

 

Read more...

Written by Doug Olander (Editorial reprinted with permission, Sport Fishing Magazine)
Posted in Increase Release Survival

During a recent trip... I became an outlaw.

Doug Olander, Editor-in-Chief, Sport Fishing Magazine (www.sportfishingmag.com)

 

 

During a recent trip off the coast of Louisiana, I became an outlaw. Anglers in the Gulf of Mexico must by law carry a venting tool; they use this to poke a hollow needle through the abdomen of barotraumatized fish (those “inflated” by pressure changes when reeled up from deep water) before releasing them. 

We began the day following the letter of that law, with experienced hands carefully inserting the needle and trying to gently push trapped gases out of the fish.

The fact is, no matter how carefully one does this, some fish still float away to die. Some dive down a bit but then bob back up, helpless from air still trapped inside them. And those that don’t die immediately could well expire afterward from infection or damage to internal organs from the needle.

Read more...

Written by Staff | 19 December 2011
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Trout

PINELLAS COUNTY

Officer Bryan Beeler was conducting fisheries inspections in the area of Structure C of
the Pinellas Bayway when he encountered a fisherman in possession of four undersized
spotted seatrout. The appropriate citations were issued and the fish were seized.

Read more...

Written by Staff | 19 December 2011
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Trout

ST. LUCIE COUNTY

While on water patrol, Lieutenant Douglas Rogerson was advised by the U.S. Coast Guard
that a vessel they were boarding had spotted seatrout in a live well. The boarding officer
believed that trout season was closed and wanted to verify this with FWC. Lieutenant
Rogerson arrived to observe nine trout in the live well. Several fish were still alive and were
released back into the water. The others were retained as evidence. The subject was cited
for possession of spotted seatrout out of season. 

Written by Jason | 18 December 2011
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Snook & Redfish

LEE COUNTY

Officers Stuart Spoede and Gregory Bryson were on land patrol when they approached an individual to conduct a marine fisheries inspection. The officers determined the individual was in possession of several saltwater fish including redfish, snapper, and sheepshead, most of which were under the legal size limit. The subject had previously been cited for possession of illegal snook. The appropriate citations were issued.

Read more...

Posted in Fishing

The Angler Action Online Trip Log is always improving.  Please tell us how you would like to see it work better in 2012.

Take a minute to answer 6 short questions and get in on a drawing for a top lures!    (If you've never logged a fishing trip yet, click here to get started.  Then return to take this Poll.)

Take Poll

Written by Staff | 14 December 2011
Posted in Fishing

How to tie the Reverse Albright Knot

     One thing you can’t buy is a good knot.

 

Rigging expert Larry Mastry, of Mastry’s Bait and Tackle located in St. Petersburg FL, demonstrates how to tie the reverse albright knot.

Reverse Albright Fishing Knot from FishbuzzTV on Vimeo.

 Click Here to See the Five Strongest Fishing Knots courtesy of 'Field and Stream'

Confused?  See the diagram below from ScientificAnglers.com

Unwind 2-3 feet of fly line from the plastic spool it came on (make sure you unwind the end marked “this end to reel”).

Start by doubling back a couple of inches of fly line and hold the loop with your left thumb and forefinger. From the right, insert about 10 inches of the backing through the fly line loop.                                 

                                  

 

 

 

While holding the loop, pinch the backing between your left thumb andforefinger, and use your right hand to wrap the backing tag end back over both strands of the fly line and the backing.

Start next to your fingers and working toward the loop end, make 10 to 12 fairly tight wraps.

 

 

Push the tag end of the backing back through the loop on the side opposite where it originally entered so both backing strands exit on the same side of the loop. Pull on the standing part of the backing to remove the loop you where holding in your left hand. Pull both ends of the fly line backing.

 

 

 

 

 

 Pull gently on both ends of the fly line loop with your left hand; squeeze the knot with the fingers of your right hand and work it down to the loop end, but not off the fly line. Moisten the knot. Hold the standing and tag fly line strands in your left hand, and the tag and standing backing strands in your right hand. Pull as tight as possible. Clip off the tag end of the fly line and the backing.

You’re now ready to wind the line over the backing onto the spool.

Here’s where a friend can help by inserting a pencil through the hole in the line spool and holding it while you wind the line onto the reel spool under slight tension. Once the line is fully transferred to the reel spool, you should have approximately 3/16 inches between the line and the outside rim of the spool. As a final touch, put the pressure sensitive label, “Fly Line Marker,” on the reel spool so you can always tell what line is on that spool.

 After you've mastered the craft, remember to log your catch at AnglerAction.org

 

Why Keep a Record of your catch at Angler Action?
You can help build a brand new, real-time, data record by simply logging the general size and location of your catch. This angler owned data record assures statistical integrity and provides a voice that asserts trust in our fishery leadership.
Be a part of improved fisheries management.

Written by Staff | 14 December 2011
Posted in Fishing

How to tie the famous Gartside Gurgler Fly

with Chris Hargiss from Fishbuzz TV

 

Gartside Gurgler Instructional Video Click HereThis fly is a versatile top water pattern that can be used on almost any fish (saltwater or fresh). The gurgler can be tied with many different color schemes and materials.  Thin foam makes for a better diving fly while thick foam is excellent for creating bugs that push lots of water.  A weed guard is always good to have when tying this fly.

 

Read more...

Written by staff | 10 December 2011
Posted in Fishing

Capt. Danny Barrow with one of the many thousands of snook he's had the pleasure of catching.

He just might be.  This week we go Spillway Snook Fishing with Capt. Jon Brett of Fish Buzz TV,  fishing the Lake Worth area with Capt. Danny. Both Jon and Danny are on the board of Directors of the Snook and Gamefish Foundation.

 

 

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West Marine has opened the largest boating store in the world in Ft. Lauderdale, "the yachting capital of the world.".  The 50,000 square foot store is something you have to see to believe!  Every square inch is filled with top on-the-water gear, equipment, electronics, radar.... you name it.  Check out West Marine's awesome new store in Fort Lauderdale Florida!

The celebration started with  BlueFuture™ Day -  all about  West Marine's commitment to conserving marine habitats and to the sport of boating. Seminars and events included demonstrations featuring green products that are both effective and better for the environment, Angler Action seminar with Captain Danny Barrow and a kid's fishing clinic with Don Dingman of the show "Hook the Future."   

See Photos

Written by UF Students | 02 December 2011
Posted in Research N Action

(Click Image To Enlarge) Grad students at UFL are requesting your input to develop a vision for the Florida Gulf Coast Snook Fishery.  The snook in this photo was photoshopped by professor Kai Lorenzen (far right).  It was the largest hatchery-raised snook recaptured in a Snook Shindig Research Tournament.

Take UF Snook Survey [Click Here]

We are graduate students at the University of Florida. As part of a Fisheries Management class, we are working on a project to develop a management vision for the Florida Gulf Coast snook fishery.

The vision will be based on stakeholder consultation regarding management options and quantitative modeling of biological and economic outcomes.This survey will allow us to characterize fishery stakeholders and management preferences. It takes approximately ten minutes to complete.

Editor's note: SGF is pleased to partner with UF in promoting participation in this survey and commends Prof. Kai Lorenzen for his leadership in progressing fishery management concepts.

Read more...

Written by Jason | 01 December 2011
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Trout

COLLIER COUNTY

Close to midnight, Officer Nathaniel Douglas initiated a fisheries inspection off U.S. Highway
41, west of State Road 29. Officer James Futch arrived to assist. Three subjects were in
possession of seven spotted seatrout out of season, resulting in one misdemeanor citation.
Under Miranda Warning, one of the subjects stated that earlier the same day he caught
three of the seven trout on the Barron River in Everglades City and provided a written
statement that he was unaware of the closure.

Written by Jason | 01 December 2011
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Snook

PINELLAS COUNTY

RPS Officer Josh Allison observed a subject cast netting. The subject caught several fish
over the period of an hour and placed them in a bucket. Officer Allison made contact with
the subject and a resource inspection revealed that he was in possession of several mullet
and a small snook. A citation was issued for possession of snook during the closed season,
possession of undersized snook, and snook taken by illegal method.

Read more...

Written by Jason | 01 December 2011
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Snook

CHARLOTTE COUNTY

Officer John Hoover was on foot patrol at the El Jobean fishing pier, when he encountered
an individual fishing with a cast net. A fisheries inspection revealed a 19-inch snook. The
subject admitted to catching the fish with the net and was issued a notice to appear for
possession of snook out of season, possession of an undersized snook and taking snook by
an illegal method.

Read more...

Written by Capt. Chris Myers
Posted in Fishing

Reel Fishing: How to tie the essential leader to braid and Leader to Lure knots See Capt. Chris Myers at Mosquito Creek Outdoors in Apopka regularly.  Chris shares his experience fishing the famous Mosquito Lagoon for the past twenty years.  Book a sight fishing trip with Chris at http://floridafishinglessons.com/

with Capt. Chris Myers of Central Florida Sight Fishing Charters

See how to Tie the Double UNI and Canoeman Loop here!

Read more...

Written by Brett Fitzgerald | 22 November 2011
Posted in Fishing

You are the answer.Is this you? --It should be. Join today. Be a part of the next level of fisheries conservation. Photo credit: Capt. Jason Stock, Sarasota FL.

It’s been a wild few years in the world of fisheries management. At the national level, there is a paranoia that our government wants to eliminate recreational fishing. At the state level, our species-specific management seems to frequently chop from the recreational angler’s slice in order to keep the pie from imploding. And locally, habitat degradation continues to confound the entire mess.

What’s the everyday angler to do? How can one become part of the solution?

Simple.

There are two easy steps you can take right now, today, that will improve the future of fishing.

First, go Fishing.

Read more...

Posted in Fishing

Reel Fishing; Three of Florida's best tell where and how to slam your way to a trio of local gamefish.

Capt. Rick Murphy, Capt. Ed Zyak and Capt. Jay Withers share tips on targeting slams in their respective regions.

Each region of the state has its own definition of what a Slam is, the parameters being defined by the types of fish that generally inhabit that area.  The East Coast Slam and the Everglades Slam, for example, both include snook, trout and redfish. Those three species are most available all year long along the East Coast and throughout Everglades National Park, though still difficult to catch in one day. The West Coast Slam, on the other hand, includes snook, redfish and tarpon. West Coast anglers who catch a seatrout, in addition to the three Slam species, can boast a Grand Slam

The trick to all three Slams is finding the areas that have good seagrass, mangroves and a ready supply of small fish, crabs, and shrimp. Find some snook and cover the area sufficiently with your baits.  Snook are the bell weather fish. If an inshore area is healthy enough to support juvenile snook, it will be healthy enough to sustain more than 200 other species of game and forage fish, marine animals, plants and sea grasses.

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Posted in Fishing

The FWC Commission Ruled on the Trout Fishery Today in Key Largo:

• There will be no commercial seine netting by-catch allowance for trout.

• The commercial season will be extended for hook and line and cast net trout fishing.

• The commercial hook and line and cast net limit has been upped to allow 150 trout with two commercial fishermen together in one boat.

• No year round sales of trout, (30 days after seasons' end sales acceptable).
  
  
• Season extensions:  no more closed season for recreational anglers;  extended commercial seasons from 3 to 5 months in the SW, SW and SE and 3 to 6 months in the NE.

 

Written by Brett Fitzgerald | 16 November 2011
Posted in Fishing

Brett Fitzgerald, Communications Director for SGF, read many of the comments received in the Trout Poll as part of his public comment.The FWC Commission voted today on a number of rule changes for Florida’s spotted sea trout fishery. Most of the rules involved massive increases in commercial take, from year round sales, to boat limits of 150 fish (with 2 commercial anglers), to being allowed bycatch in seine nets.

We at the SGF felt that most recreational anglers were unaware of the latter three items on the table, so we created a poll that over 3,400 of you took the time to complete. The overwhelming results of that poll were clear: roughly 95% were against the extended season and increased boat limit, and over 98% were against the allowance of seine nets.

The results and comments were presented to the Commission prior to the vote; along with the specific ask to follow the will of our members.

Read more...

Written by staff | 04 November 2011
Posted in Partner News

(Click Image To Enlarge) Bid on this custom casting rod by Jack Phillips' , available now in the SGF Silent Auction (click here for details)

Expert Rod Crafter, Jack Phillips invites you to a Saturday morning Rod Crafter's Club

The next meeting of the newly-formed club will be November 26th.  Plan to enjoy coffee and donuts at 9am ("scrumptious Saturday"), courtesy of Mosquito Creek Outdoors.  Sharpen your rod crafting skills and pool your knowledge with other builders.  Novices are welcome and will receive plenty of help getting started in the craft.

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Written by staff | 02 November 2011
Posted in Partner News

(Click Image To Enlarge) George Poveromo finds the big ones - inshore as well as offshore!

On December 7th, at West Marine's Cruising for a Cause Grand Opening in Ft. Lauderdale,

Meet George Poveromo, the producer and host of the immensely popular VERSUS television series, George Poveromo’s World of Saltwater Fishing, will be working with the Snook and Gamefish Foundation to promote the Angler Action Program, where anglers count for the future.  George represents our sponsors Sufix line, Trigger X, and Starbrite.
Get tickets click here.

Read more...

Written by Jason | 31 October 2011
Posted in Regs and Enforcement

Snook

CHARLOTTE COUNTY

Officers Brian Norris and Jason Cooke were conducting fisheries inspections at the El Jo Bean Pier when they observed several people leaving the pier with fishing gear in a stroller. One of the individuals observed the officers and quickly transferred the fishing gear into some nearby bushes.  When the officers stopped the individuals, the subject who had concealed the fishing gear admitted he hid the gear because he did not have a fishing license.  Among the fishing gear stashed in the bushes, the officers located several snook fillets and issued the appropriate citations.  While attempting to identify the subject, he provided the officers with a false name.  The officers determined the man’s true identity and realized the individual had been cited at the same location a few weeks prior for the possession of an approximately 300 pound goliath grouper.  

Read more...