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01 September 2011
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Jim Bandy, Chairman of the Board, SGF
Snook and Gamefish Foundation is proud to introduce Capt. Jim Bandy as the newly elected Chairman of the Board. Bandy had previously served on the board as Treasurer for the past two years.
Bandy enters at what he and most board members feel is a critical time for the foundation, and he’s up for the challenges he faces.
“It’s an honor to be in a position to have any kind of truthful effect on how we manage fisheries in this state and beyond,” Bandy said. “That’s why I originally volunteered with the foundation years ago – I’ve always felt that, as a user of the resource, I have a responsibility to help ensure there is a future for our fisheries.” With the Angler Action Program becoming a successful project of the SGF, Bandy sees the importance of continuing the effort.
01 July 2011
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JJ Grey - Sponsoring raffle to win a free cabin to hear him play as you cruise to Cozumel. Raffle benefits Snook Foundation.
A special charity raffle to benefit the St. John's Riverkeeper, and the Snook Foundation
being offered by JJ Grey & Mofro gives the winner a free cabin on board The Rombello Cruise, setting sail on September 29, 2011 and making its way to Cozumel with live music by JJ Grey & Mofro and other top bands all along the way.JJ saw it as a great way to help a cause that affects Florida's ecosystems to the core - and impacts tourists and residents alike, whether they are angler/water enthusiasts or not.
The Carnival Inspiration sets sail from Tampa, FL making its way to Cozumel and returns on October 3, 2011. Starting now you can purchase raffle tickets and get your name entered into the drawing. 100% of the net proceeds will benefit the Snook Foundation and St. John's Riverkeeper., 2 organizations that are key players in preserving Florida's habitat, waterways and fisheries for present and future generations.
Get tickets Click Here - just $5 each
In addition to the cruise cabin, more prizes will be offered!2nd Place: Signed Georgia Warhorse poster
3rd Place: Signed Georgia Warhorse t-shirt
Deadline to enter is July 31, 2011. The winner will be notified August 5. Airfare / travel costs are not included, but your cabin / passes aboard the ship are. Don't delay. You don't want to miss this chance to sail the high seas with some Front Porch Soul!
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04 May 2011
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(Click Image To Enlarge) Snook eggs at 6 hrs. of life. photo: Matt WittenrichMAP Microscope Need
Scientists at Mote Aquaculture Park are seeking $3,000 to complete the funding needed to acquire a specialized camera, compound microscope and computer software package to study the way larval snook feed.
Carole Neidig, senior research biologist at Mote Aquaculture Park, explained, " This will help us determine the best diet to feed larval snook in a hatchery situation, and may give us better understanding o f the feeding mechanisms of wild larval snook."
The cost of the needed equipment has been partially covered by a grant and only $1000 more in funding is needed to acquire it. To donate,[click here.]
OR, Bid on a COOL TRIP to Mote Aquaculture Park - and Fish in the MAP Big Snook Pond
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23 February 2011
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Many anglers still feel that one is plenty! (photo: William Gates)
While some anglers voiced concern about the wisdom of doubling the bag limit in northern Florida counties, FWC commissioners Bryan Yablonski, Kathy Barco, and Rodney Barreto argued convincingly today to honor FWRI scientists' recommendation for historic Red Drum rule changes. In a lively debate they convinced Dwight Stephenson and 'Aligator' Ron Bergeron to swing the vote to allow an increase in bag limit for northern Florida regions, a statewide vessel limit of 8 fish, and other changes.
"Government has a tendency to keep what it gets, even if it has gotten too much," said Yablonski. "We don't want to do that." The draft rule proposed by the Commission will have a final public hearing in April. A statewide 8-fish boat limit and off-the-water possession limit changes are also part of the draft proposal.
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22 February 2011
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Ray Marinec caught both Bass and Snook from Lake Seminole (photo 2009 Best Shots)Trophy Bass making a comeback around the state.
The pre-spawn period for Florida large mouth bass can produce some of the most exciting fishing of the year – and 2011 has certainly started out exciting. Since bass tune into environmental triggers such as day length, lunar cycle and especially water temperature, timing of the actual spawn can vary. However, once water temperatures rise above 58 degrees, the bedding process will begin and continue in some areas until temperatures are in the mid- to upper-70s.
A couple days before full or new moons in late February, March or early April are often premier spawning times for Florida bass. Remember, even within a lake, triggering water temperatures can vary significantly based on depth, sun exposure and currents, so not all of the bass spawn at the same time.
Around the state, individual anglers, guides and tournaments statewide are reporting incredible catches.
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06 January 2011
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- Please try out the Beta Version of the New Angler Action Survey, now recording data on 6 species of inshore gamefish!
- Your results will not be saved so you are free to input an imaginary trip.
- Please send feedback to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
- Here's the link: www.angleraction.org
- If you would prefer not to register, just use the login/password, test test
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22 December 2010
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You can be proud of what you've been able to accomplish this year by your support of the Snook Foundation. Watch the video and be ready for a great New Year!
"The future of fisheries lies in the hands of informed anglers"
Our fisheries depend on the coastal marine environments that produce all of our most-prized fish. Snook Foundation members and supporters have continued to lead the way in local battles to protect and restore these systems.
Together we are pioneering a way for anglers to make the most of their time on the water. Your participation in the Angler Action Program" by simply recording data from each fishing trip you take, is contributing to a truer stock assessment potential for the benefit of all.
New in 2011...
- The New Angler Action Program is expanding to include more inshore gamefish. Redfish, Trout and Snook are now all included in your online trip recorder, Angler Action - Where Anglers Count
- Watch for new Member Services. Here's the link to Become a Member now
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(Click Image To Enlarge)Red Drum slot is 18-27inches, bag one per day. No closed seasonRed Drum, Permit, Snook and Spotted Sea Trout
FL Slot
Permit 11-22" in all FL waters except SPZ
in SPZ minimum 22"
Red Drum 18-27"
Snook Atlantic 28-32" Snook Gulf 28-33"
Spotted Sea Trout 15-20" plus one over 20"
Slot for Permit is 11-22 inches unless in Special Permit Zone - then minimum 22 inches. Bag one in SPZ, Bag 2 elsewhere and one can be over 22 inches. (photo courtesy Capt. Van Hubbard)
FL Bag Limits
Permit - 2 per Harvester per day with one over 22", in all waters but SPZ (1 per day in the special permit zone where minimum length for harvest is 22")
Red Drum - 1 per Harvester per day
Snook - 1 per Harvester per day
Spotted Sea Trout - 4 per harvester per day South Region; 5 per harvester per day N.E. and N.W. Regions
Texas Regs click here
(Click Image To Enlarge)Spotted Sea Trout slot 12-20inches. You may keep one over 20 inches plus bag that varies by region, in season only.
FL Season & Special Zone info:
- Permit: May 1- July 31 closed season in Special Permit Zone (SPZ); SPZ lies in S. FL waters south of Cape Florida on Altantic of Cape Sable on the Gulf coast [more info]
- Red Drum: Regs may change in Nov. 2011 [more info] No gigging, spearing, snatching. No Harvest in Federal waters.
- Snook: $10 snook stamp required when saltwater license required. Season open Atlantic only Sept. 1, 2011. State regulations apply in federal waters. Illegal to buy or sell snook. Snatch hooks and spearing prohibited. More about Snook Regs
More about Snook ID How to Measure
- Spotted SeaTrout:
Season closed Nov. & Dec. Southern Region
Season closed February in N.E. and N.W. Regions
Snook slot limit is 28-32inches, on the Atlantic coast, and 28-33 inches on the Gulf Coast, with a one-fish bag limit, in season only. Spotted Sea Trout Regional definitions:
Northeast Region means all state waters lying north of the Flagler-Volusia County line to the Florida-Georgia border, and adjacent federal Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) waters.
Northwest Region means all state waters north and west of a line running due west from the westernmost point of Fred Howard Park Causeway (28E9.350’N 82E48.398’W), which is approximately 1.17 nautical miles south of the Pasco-Pinellas County line to the Florida-Alabama border, and adjacent federal EEZ waters.
South Region means state waters lying between the Flagler-Volusia County line on the Atlantic Ocean and the southern boundary of the Northwest Region on the Gulf of Mexico in Pinellas County and adjacent federal EEZ waters. )
05 May 2010
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Chico Fernandez is a renowned fly fishing instructor, and author who developed or helped develop many of the modern saltwater flyfishing techniques and fly patterns in use today.
Practice makes perfect,
and fishing with a master fly angler such as Chico Fernández could affect your game for years to come.
When saltwater fly-fishing notable Chico Fernández is in the boat you will find yourself in the hands of a master, learning and enjoying, making it fun and while it's never easy you will learn solutions and techniques from perhaps the best teacher in the world .
05 May 2010
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Background
On Tuesday, April 20, an offshore oil-drilling platform, Deepwater Horizon, exploded in the Gulf of Mexico near Louisiana. The rig, owned by Transocean Ltd, was under contract to British Petroleum (BP).
Submerged at the bottom of the Gulf, the rig continues to discharge up to 5,000 barrels (210,000 gallons) per day. BP, the United States Coast Guard and the Minerals Management Service are the lead response agencies on the oil spill.
Volunteer Involvement
Preventative beach cleanup can harm nesting shorebirds. Preventative Beach Cleanups have already been initiated in some parts of Florida, and with World Oceans Day approaching, many regularly scheduled cleanups may need to gear up to cope with the potential challenges of incoming crude oil. Care should be taken to protect both humans and wildlife from toxic oil. Steps to prevent harming nesting shorebirds and disturbing other spawning and nesting creatures unnecessarily can be planned in advance. (Many shorebirds nest April-August, and Snook spawn May-October).
Volunteers are encouraged to get involved through an agency such as one of those listed below in order to achieve the best result of your efforts on behalf of the environment. One well-intentioned volunteer agency recently suggested moving beach litter above the high water line to make cleaning up oil that may come ashore easier, but this is contra-indicated and if a 'wrack line' of natural debris is moved, it should be timed to occur only just before oil reaches the shoreline. See FWC Best Practices
Natural beach debris should be left on the beach in areas of active nesting as long as possible but removed immediately prior to beaches becoming oiled. Once oil is present, volunteers SHOULD NOT attempt to clean impacted beaches or to rescue oiled wildlife on their own. If you smell oil, go inside. The EPA Hotline number to report an oil smell is 1 800 424 8802. Remember, Oil is Toxic.
03 May 2010
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Boatowners in oil-affected areas can consider these opportunities and precautions.
Vessels of Opportunity
“Vessels of Opportunity”
is a program where eligible vessels are recruited and compensated for
assistance in the clean-up efforts. For
more information about the program call 281-366-5511.
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29 April 2010
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Anglers gather in the River Palm Chikki getting ready to make history.In April, 2010, the Snook
Foundation had a sort of “ribbon cutting” ceremony for what promises to be one
of the single most important occasions for inshore anglers. In the presence of
an enthusiastic group of anglers eager to become directly involved in all
facets of fisheries management, the Angler Action Program (AAP) was launched
during the first ever Snook Foundation Funament at the River Palm Fish Resort
in Jensen Beach, FL.
“What happened here this weekend can’t be overstated,” said Mike Readling, Vice Chair of the Snook Foundation. “This weekend was all about anglers who want to do a service. There wasn’t a cash prize, there wasn’t a competitive format requiring the transportation of fish. There was just a lot of fishing, learning, and good times.”
13 March 2010
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First Snook caught and recorded.
Seasoned anglers know you don’t have to catch a lot of fish to have a successful fishing trip. There is the joy of simply being outside, of exploring new water and of the camaraderie between kindred spirits. Sometimes you can even get a little business done.
The Snook Foundation Meet-and-Greet March 5-7 in Port Isabel, Texas, arrived on the heels of a slump in catching for the normally-bounteous Lower Laguna Madre at the southern tip of Texas. And while attendees enjoyed good catch-and-release sport on ladyfish, trout and redfish with local guides, White Sands Marina showed that only 11 spotted seatrout and one redfish were brought to the cleaning table there over the weekend.
12 March 2010
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Editor's Note: The opportunity is laid out on a silver platter for the newly elected Cape Coral City Council to adopt two critical measures that will assure the future of fishing to it's residents and visitors. Will they act? The problem is that the Cape has not yet agreed to even consider these recommendations, the result of nearly two years of study by area stakeholders and scientists.
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03 March 2010
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Call to Action
Produced by FishBuzz.TV
The numbers are staggering…They began with high temperatures that never made it to 40 degrees in South Florida. That translated to lows that, in many places, came dangerously close to single digit temperatures. The north winds blew, bringing with them terms unfamiliar to many native Floridians. Wind chill. Frost warning. Severe Winter Weather Warning ...
- Please show your support - [ Join the Snook Foundation ]
If this movie player fails, please [ Click Here ] to view alternate player
- Please show your support - [ Join the Snook Foundation ]
But, while we Floridians were hovered over space heaters, there was a change happening in the waters around our homes that would prove devastating. The water was getting cold and, thanks to the loss of habitat in areas throughout the state, the fish were going to have nowhere to go.
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28 January 2010
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Fish kill in Flamingo included many snook of all sizes.
Reprinted with permission Anna Maria Island Sun
Habitat is critical to the recovery of the fishery that is essential for tourism, both of which support guides, boat builders and all business that line Florida's coasts.
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27 January 2010
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Snook Foundation to Work with State on Data Collection
When Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Coastal Fisheries Division biologists announced they would scope changes to snook regulations this year, it marked the first time in nearly a decade-and-a-half the state has engaged the public on the subject of snook. The Snook Foundation opposed changes to Texas' current 24-28-inch reverse slot until there is a more complete picture of the life histories of Texas' three snook species.
