(Sep. 29, 2008 - Okeechobee, FL)… Boater Alex Picos of Davie, Fla., won the Walmart Bass Fishing League Everglades Division Super Tournament on Lake Okeechobee with a two-day catch of 10 bass weighing 38 pounds, 14 ounces. The victory earned Picos $3,560 plus a $628 Ranger bonus.
Picos said he used a shad-colored soft-plastic jerkbait to target bass hugging isolated grass on the main lake.
Rounding out the top five boaters are Brandon McMillan of Belle Glade, Fla. (10 bass, 38-08, $2,095); Rene Gonzales of Lauderhill, Fla. (10 bass, 37-14, $1,396); Steve Fairtrace of Okeechobee, Fla. (10 bass, 36-10, $978) and Bryan Honnerlaw of Moore Haven, Fla. (10 bass, 35-10, $838).
Greg Sorrell of Fort Myers, Fla., took home the Boater Division Snickers Big Bass award, earning $465 for an 8-pound, 8-ounce bass that he caught on a trick worm on an 18-foot ledge.
Raymond Riendeau of Saint Cloud, Fla., earned $2,095 as the co-angler winner thanks to 10 bass weighing 29 pounds, 1 ounce that he caught while fishing a soft plastic frog near isolated grass.
Rounding out the top five co-anglers are Brock Stanaland of Jupiter, Fla. (seven bass, 24-14, $1,047); William Wood of West Palm Beach, Fla. (10 bass, 24-02, $700); Robert Wood of Jupiter (nine bass, 23-11, $489) and Ernie Johnson of Okeechobee, Fla. (nine bass, 22-10, $419).
Stanaland earned $116 as the co-angler Big Bass winner after catching a 5-pound, 3-ounce bass that he caught on a white soft-plastic frog.
It’s so great to see really good catch results on lake Okeechobee once again, the lake is on it way back!
Freshwater fishing is one of the many outdoor recreational activities encouraged by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).
The FWC views outdoor recreation as a tremendously beneficial opportunity that should be available to all residents and visitors, and it strives to provide quality fishing, hunting and wildlife-viewing opportunities.
Cheryl Charles, president of the Children and Nature Network, points out, “People throughout the world are increasingly connected by a resonance and passion, to create a new common sense for the good health of children today and generations to come.”
Dr. Andrew Lepp, assistant professor of recreation, park and tourism management at Kent State, said the benefits from outdoor recreation are varied and plentiful. Outdoor recreation has psychological benefits, including the prevention or reduction of stress and improved self-esteem, confidence and creativity. Lepp also contends it adds to spiritual growth and leads to an increased sense of exhilaration, adventure and challenge from life. Getting outside provides physical benefits, such as aerobic, cardiovascular and muscular fitness, as well as improved functioning of the immune system.
It even offers benefits for the social life. The great outdoors affords social benefits, such as bonding with like-minded people who also enjoy outdoor activities, and feeling an increased pride in your community and nation.
The economy benefits from all of this activity as well. Outdoor recreation creates job opportunities for others, which leads to economic growth and preservation of the natural areas needed for outdoor recreation increases property values. The workplace wins because people who regularly participate in outdoor recreation tend to be more productive at work, Lepp said.
The list continues with positive outcomes for the environment. People who participate in outdoors activities usually have increased environmental awareness. This awareness translates to increased involvement in environmental issues.
Specific activities such as fishing can add to the enthusiasm and provide a fun challenge to become increasingly skillful. In Florida, the abundance of natural waters (7,700 named lakes, 12,000 miles of fishable rivers and canals) means the opportunity is available to everyone. From digging worms and making your own cane pole, to casting a lure, you develop a connection with nature that comes naturally and has been an American tradition since long before Mark Twain’s tales of the adventurous Huck Finn.
Every year the FWC works with the Florida Disabled Outdoor Association at its Sportsability event, and this year we joined them at the Family Café event in Orlando. These opportunities reinforce the pure fun of experiencing nature, and we redouble our commitment to making fishing accessible for everyone.
Clay Dyer - a professional bass fisherman who was born without lower legs, no arm on the left and a partially developed arm on the right - inspired hundreds of individuals with physical and mental challenges during his motivational presentation at the Family Café event. Clay is a hero and inspiration to virtually everyone he touches with his life story, which he calls “The View from Down Here is Just Fine.” He is also a spokesperson for the C.A.S.T. for kids program.
The FWC is doing its part by teaching kids to fish, sponsoring Becoming an Outdoors-Woman events, helping create bank-fishing access and building accessible boat ramps, courtesy docks and fishing piers. Most importantly, the FWC is dedicated to conserving and enhancing fisheries habitat and fish populations for everyone.
We invite you to get outdoors and take someone with you, so you can enjoy all the benefits of getting back to nature.
Instant licenses are available at MyFWC.com/License or by calling 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356).
Report violators by calling *FWC or #FWC on your cell, or 1-888-404-3922.
Only two months ago at the start of August, Lake Okeechobee was still below the “11 ft above sea level” mark … and at the tail end of its record-setting 511 day streak below that level. The Lake looked like it was rising out of the cellar just like it did in 2001 (when it rose gradually through the summer and crested at 15 ft near the “wet season’s” end in mid November).
That scenario changed when Fay hit and the Lake topped the 15 ft mark by early September in record-setting speed.
Just like that it looked like the Lake “hopped tracks” over into 2004 chart-topping territory.
But those fears were premature … at least for now. Lake stage has crested, and as of yesterday, it officially dropped a notch below 15 ft, down to 14.97.
There are many people with special interest that would like to see the lake reach 16 ft, as anglers, outdoorsmen and true conservationist of the lake. We would love to see the lake stay between 12ft and 14ft, which is also recommended by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission.
The self-interest opinions of where the Okeechobee lake level should be are not what we need, very few of those opinions have any real interest in whether the god gifted natural lake comes back to it’s old form as a world class fishery.
While there’s a stir regarding the sell out of U.S. Sugar and the economic impact that area will face, which is a feasible concern. Just maybe we should for once turn our focus to the lake and ask a couple of difficult questions, “what does it need?, what’s best for the lake?, what is the future?”
The lake has taken abuse for many years, while providing a huge economic impact to one of the largest industry in Florida, “fishing.” The Outdoor recreation industry supports more jobs then Disney World and bring some 5 Billion dollars to our states economy, Lake Okeechobee has always been a big part of that number. This alone deserves our attention, respect and continued support of all parties as it is a Worldwide land mark and a gift for our state. “Let’s start treating it like one!”
Paul Shafland, director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Exotic Fisheries Lab, captured this year’s “Pass It On” Award.
September 2008
The award was given by the Florida Outdoor Writers Association (FOWA) and Bass Pro Shops.
He bagged the honor at FOWA’s annual conference Sept. 13.
The “Pass It On” Award is an achievement award created by Bass Pro Shops to recognize individuals who have gone the extra mile or devoted their lives to introduce others to the joys of the outdoors.
“Recognition by Florida’s premier professional outdoor writers makes this especially meaningful,” Shafland said. “They are my professional peers, and that makes this award a high honor.”
Shafland began his devotion to the outdoors 34 years ago when he started working as a biologist at the then-Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission, now FWC.
“I’ve always been interested in fishing, and that developed into a strong professional desire to understand and help manage Florida’s native and nonnative fisheries.”
Shafland said he is particularly passionate about enhancing Florida’s freshwater fisheries, especially the urban-based butterfly peacock bass fishery.
During his career at FWC, his most notable contribution has been introduction of butterfly peacock bass in South Florida waters. In 1984, in an effort to fight an exploding harmful nonnative fish population, Shafland and his team got approval to introduce the bass. While the butterfly peacock bass is a nonnative species, it was released in South Florida only after extensive research determined there would be no ill effects on native fish populations. The plan was to use the species to prey on undesirable nonnatives and produce desirable fishing opportunities. It is the only nonnative fish legally and intentionally released by the FWC.
In the 24 years since the release of the butterfly peacock bass, exotic fish populations in South Florida have declined, and the butterfly peacock bass is one of the most popular sport fish for freshwater anglers. Anglers spend millions of dollars annually to catch this fish.
“I appreciate everyone — especially the thousands of anglers, young and old — who have made Florida’s urban-based butterfly peacock fishery the success it is,” Shafland said.
The St. Johns River, always beautiful, especially sparkles on a fresh fall day when the temperature finally dips into the 50s after a long, hot summer.
Thursday was such a day in Jacksonville and the river, indeed, sparkled.
The sight was a vivid reminder of why we must protect the city’s greatest natural resource, the St. Johns River.
As you know, battle lines have been drawn over a proposal by the St. Johns River Water Management District to withdraw hundreds of millions of gallons of water a day from the river to quench the thirst of overdeveloped Central Florida.
One of the first fights in that battle is over a withdrawal permit the district wants to give Seminole County.
That permit has been challenged by the Riverkeeper organization and the city of Jacksonville. A hearing is set for next Wednesday.
It’s important that none of the parties challenging the permit get cold feet. Even if the challenge is dismissed, that order can be appealed, which would delay the permit.
Delay is important for two reasons.
First, the district is in the process of conducting a two-year scientific study of what the environmental effects of withdrawing water from the river would be.
Beginning to withdraw water before knowing that impact would be ridiculous.
Second, delay is important because the focus of the debate is beginning to shift more toward where it should have been all along - - conservation.
The argument for withdrawal is this: Our main source of potable water is the Floridan aquifer, which is stressed because of the demands of growth.
For growth to continue, more water will be needed and the aquifer can’t provide it.
“It doesn’t have to be that way,” said Cynthia Barnett, a writer for Florida Trend and the author of Mirage: Florida and the Vanishing Water of the Eastern United States.
Barnett was one of the speakers at a forum on water issues sponsored by the Urban Land Institute that was held this week in Jacksonville.
Instead of finding more water to meet demand, a better approach is to reduce demand, and that can be done, Barnett said, even with a growing population.
A study just released by the U.S. Geological Survey backs that up.
The study found that between 2000 and 2005, water use in Florida decreased 9 percent while the state’s population increased 12 percent.
How could that happen? Conservation.
Barnett suggested a number of ways to reduce water use: low-flow toilets, use of gray water to flush toilets, more efficient ways of irrigating farmland, changing landscaping habits, better reuse of water.
“I would argue we are in control of this,” Barnett said. “A region can prosper while using less water.”
That’s certainly a better course than risking the health of the St. Johns River.
WOW…is the first words that come to mind when describing this trip, I think the picture puts it all in perspective!
Dave Harmond from Palm Beach had family in from England for the pass two weeks and have been Florida fishing with very little success. Dave got referred to us and called wanting to get the family out “catching” fish, as they were leaving town the following day.
Dave brought his father, brother-in-law and his two kids out on two of our boats for a super-half (6 hours) day of fishing. I explain to Dave about the fishing conditions and what was going to be needed, he then explained to me that his dad and brother-in-law were avid fishermen, but the rest of the family had never fished at all.
With that in mind I decided to take the kids and brother-in-law, while Capt Tony took Dave and his father. The day started out right on time and quite well for Tony and his crew with about 10 fish in the boat with in the first hour are so. Mean while I realized it was not going to be as easy with my crew, giving credit to those guys they were much more experienced and the technique we were using was a little difficult for beginners to pickup on right away. But as I have away said, this is what being a excellent fishing guide is really all about, so I continued to support them as I nodded my head and laughed as another fish got away.
I then decided to yelled out, let the challenge begin. They replied, what are talking about? A friendly competition among us, as I explained and the youngest that had never caught a fish in his life, but is very active in Football (Soccer in England) said okay. The game worked, there competitive spirit seem to take over and at the same time take the focus away from needing to catch a fish, to wanting too.
I think sometimes we can just simply try to hard and goof things all up. It seem like just minutes passed by and they started catching bass, one by one, we worked together. Wouldn’t know it, that Trever the youngest, would catch the most bass and anchors his 10 bass with a 7lb large-mouth bass, the biggest fish of his life and the day.
When it was all said and done, both boats boated over 50 bass a combination of largemouth and peacock bass and again I thing the picture is worth a thousand words.
If you are visiting South or Central Florida for work, vacation or bachelor party and want to experience the best bass fishing that there is to offer then please give us a call. No groups to big or small!
A complex and vastly expensive schedule of projects to help the St. Johns River’s health in Northeast Florida is expected to be endorsed today by state and local agencies, utilities and representatives of business and citizen interests.
Taxpayers and utility customers will spend more than $600 million for projects that could take 15 years to complete, including more than $160 million in work that is already finished. But that figure understates the final cost of the effort, because prices for many projects simply aren’t known yet.
Not committing to such a schedule isn’t an option.
Help for the river is required by rules of the decades-old federal Clean Water Act. Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection is managing the plan, the first of its type in this part of the state.
“Monday is a key milestone,” said Greg Strong, the department’s Northeast Florida director. “Really what’s happening is, I think … stake-holders have put aside their personal interest for the greater good.”
The plan’s projects, from regulating fertilizer use to retiring failed septic tanks and upgrading sewage plants, would be carried out in communities along roughly 100 miles of the northern end of the river, which empties into the Atlantic Ocean at Mayport.
The work list is designed to cut roughly one-fifth of the nitrogen flowing into the river, although the amount varies by location. South of Black Creek in Clay County, the plan would also remove about one-sixth of the phosphorus. An oversupply of those chemicals has fed an eruption of algae, which harms grass beds and areas where fish live.
The state’s plan is essentially a quota system on pollution. It estimates how many tons of nitrogen and phosphorous the river can absorb and remain healthy, then allots those amounts among communities and some large companies.
The work plan depends on accurately projecting how much cleaner each project will make the river.
“The whole thing is about the science,” said Neal Shinkre, a St. Johns County utility manager who sat on a committee overseeing the plan. “The science has been questioned all the time, by all of us.”
Shinkre said he felt comfortable with the projections partly because the work plan has been examined and critiqued by a wide mix of groups that will have to carry the costs, including his own agency.
“I think our job is to make sure we’re fair, not only to ourselves, but to the public,” he said.
Parts of the pollution cutback are still being planned. Clay, St. Johns and Putnam counties, for example, are all expected to work with the St. Johns River Water Management District on algae-reduction projects that haven’t been sketched out yet.
Utilities and others that do more to clean up than they’re required can also sell credit for that extra work to another polluter. Jacksonville officials have been interested in buying credits from JEA, for example, hoping they could save millions of dollars on a series of expensive storm water projects.
Both air and water temperatures are still in the high 80’s, the largemouth bass bite has been good to excellent from Lake Toho all the way down to the Kissimmee River. Because of moving water, the key as guides has been setting up on the outflow of the canals that connect the lakes.
Great numbers of bass are being caught over last week, although the size has dropped a bit in Kissimmee. We recommend setting up on the outflow points of the canals and working spinnerbaits, senkos or even crankbaits along the moving water.
When we find running water near any vegetation, you should find bait and bass. The flowing water is also creating bait schools, which in turn brings schooling bass to the surface early in the morning or later in the day.
While it is too early to really concentrate on crappie, the tasty panfish can be caught at the crack of dawn and will readily take a jig tipped minnow working around lily pads or submerged grass.
While this season is already setting up to be a good one, the additional water will help all of the Florida fishing!
By Bob Wattendorf, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
“A picture is worth a thousand words” is an aphorism that we’ve all likely heard and understood. When you see a cute photo of a child and proud parent displaying even the smallest of fish, you get a sense of the power of images to convey not only thoughts but feelings.
Unfortunately, some of those same photos we are so proud of can accidentally convey the wrong message. Especially when they are published, they can proliferate unsafe or illegal practices. In other cases, they may simply fail to reinforce important safety and conservation messages that could otherwise positively affect the future of our fisheries.
For those reasons, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has recently taken a more proactive stance by developing “Image Guidelines for Fishing and Boating Scenes,” with examples of the good, the bad and the ugly (See MyFWC.com/fishing/pdf/photoguidelines.pdf). These guidelines are supported by a candid research document that cites many important studies explaining the rationale behind commonly suggested catch-and-release fish-handling suggestions (See MyFWC.com/fishing/pdf/photoguidelines_notes.pdf).
The FWC realizes that promoting Florida fishing and boating includes not only an obligation to portray the fun, excitement and camaraderie in a positive fashion but also to reflect safe and sustainable use of Florida’s natural resources. We are proud that so many fine publications print this Florida Fish Busters’ Bulletin each month, and we encourage them and all of their contributors to review these photo guidelines and use them when possible to strengthen both the appeal and important messages that their photography conveys.
The following photography tips and guidelines are just a summary of the full document, which we believe will be helpful to every angler. Next time you go fishing or boating bring along a camera to capture the memories, and remember these tips to help produce a great photo and remind you of what it takes to be safe around the water and to help ensure fish for tomorrow’s enjoyment as well.
Subject Matter Tips
1. Photos of anglers should reflect good taste and safe, legal and conservation-minded fishing practices.
2. Emphasize the fun of fishing with big smiles and natural settings. Avoid trash in the background, excess blood and tobacco or alcohol.
3. Ensure appropriate boating safety equipment is evident in the photo. For instance, life jackets should always be on children in a boat.
4. Photos should depict safe boating practices, including avoiding overloading small vessels, use of kill switches, etc.
5. Fish that are illegal to harvest, due to creel or size limits, should be shown in the water. For instance, undersized sailfish jumping or a goliath grouper alongside the boat about to be released. Gaffs should not be used on fish that may be released. Tarpon that are out of the water should have a “legally harvested” tag showing.
6. If you have to remove fish from the water, try holding your breath while the fish is out of the water as a reminder to release it quickly. Large fish should never be suspended by the jaw, not even to weigh them, if they are going to be released. To protect the slime layer, use wet hands to handle fish. Similarly, if a landing net is needed, use a rubber-coated net. Never touch the eyes and gills. However, holding and supporting the fish horizontally with a thumb (depending on the species; be careful of sharp teeth) or lip-grip tool in the mouth and using the other hand to help support and control the fish can keep it from thrashing around or getting loose. Properly used, hemostats, needle-nosed pliers or dehooking tools can be useful for backing the hook out, but cut the line if it is deeply embedded.
Photography Tips
1. Digital or film - Digital cameras work fine for most applications. However, if you plan to print the image, a minimum resolution of 2 megapixels (good for a 4″ x 6″ image) is needed.
2. ISO - ISO refers to the light-capturing quality of film, but a similar setting is available on many digital cameras. Lower numbers (25-100) require more light, but capture much greater detail.
3. The rule of thirds applies - When composing photos, it is often best not to center your subject, but place it so the focal point is about one-third of the way from an edge.
4. Closeup - For many fishing shots, you’ll want to come close to filling the frame with the fish, the angler and the fish, or a scene including the tackle and fish.
5. Smiles - When photographing anglers, it’s all about the fun of fishing that should be reflected in the anglers’ smiles and body language. Mix the direction up with anglers sometimes focusing on the fish, rather than the camera.
6. Lighting - Natural light, especially early morning and late afternoon, tends to provide the most dynamic effect. When using a flash, ensure you are close enough for the power of your flash and be aware of the redeye effect. To avoid shadows on someone’s face, for instance from their cap bill, consider using your camera’s fill flash.
If you get a great shot that you’d like to share with us and maybe see published, send it to me at Bob.Wattendorf@MyFWC.com, and include a completed photo-release form (see MyFWC.com/Fishing/pdf/PhotoRelease.pdf).
Instant licenses are available at MyFWC.com/License or by calling 1-888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356). Report violators by calling *FWC or #FWC on your cell phone, or 1-888-404-3922. Visit MyFWC.com/Fishing/Updates for more Fish Busters columns.
Today I had the pleasure of taking Jim Hammer out fly fishing for peacock bass. We started off in some remote canals fishing against the sides of the canal banks, it was a little slow until the sun started rising. As we moved around a lot by the end of the day, we had 22 peacock bass on flies.
What a good day it was!
If you are visiting South or Central Florida for work or vacation and want to experience the best bass fishing that there is to offer then please give us a call. We can be reached at (888) 629-BASS or email us fishing@bassonline.com
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