Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer Capt Mark Rogers (markr@bassonline.com)
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

Good morning Lori,

I have attached a couple of pics to go with the testimonial below.

For Spring Break 2010 my husband and I took our son and one of his friends to Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades to fish.

This was our first guided fishing trip and the BASSonline staff made our three day experience unforgettable.  Lake Okeechobee is a beautiful lake and the fishing is awesome!  Capt. Mark Shepard is great and he taught us a lot. He really knows his stuff and worked hard to put us on our largest fish to date!

We will definitely be back.

Many Thanks!
The Noffsinger’s

***********************************************************

Thanks Gary,

Bass Online looks forward to fishing with you and your family in the future!  Great way to spend time with the family and have allot of fun.

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer BASSonline – fishing@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

April 21, 2010
Contact: Gabriella B. Ferraro, 772-215-9459

Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will stock 150,000 Florida largemouth bass fingerlings in Lake Trafford, the largest lake south of Lake Okeechobee.  The 1,500-acre freshwater lake is an important resource for boating, fishing and wildlife-viewing.

Over the past few years, the lake has been the focus of a multimillion-dollar, multi-agency restoration project.  So far, participants have dredged the lake of 8 million cubic yards of muck that, in the past, triggered algal blooms and fish kills.  To date, the FWC has contributed over $3 million for dredging and re-vegetation of Lake Trafford.  Dredging could be complete by 2011.

As part of the restoration, the FWC will restock the lake with native largemouth bass on Thursday, April 22.  The agency will stock an additional 50,000 advanced fingerlings about four weeks from now. These fingerlings are from the Florida Bass Conservation Center in Richloam.

“We are working to re-establish a self-sustaining, healthy fish population in the lake,” said FWC freshwater fisheries administrator Barron Moody. “We anticipate that this stocking, and a similar effort planned for next year, will bring about the return of largemouth bass fishing to the lake.”

An 18-inch-minimum-length regulation for largemouth bass specific to Lake Trafford is in effect in anticipation of these stockings and to protect the fish from premature harvest.  For complete freshwater fishing regulations, go to MyFWC.com/Fishing.

Fishing license sales help pay for stocking and other bass conservation efforts. Currently, the FWC is offering freshwater anglers a special value-added bonus package when they upgrade to a five-year or lifetime freshwater fishing license.  For details, visit MyFWC.com/License.

In addition, the FWC is seeking angler input on the proposed draft Black Bass Management Plan. To learn more and complete a survey, go to MyFWC.com/BassPlan_Survey.

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer BASSonline – fishing@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

Silver Division, Saturday April 17^th, 2010. We hosted a field of 36 boats and saw a bunch of great bags of fish.5 Fish per Team

First Place went to the team of Jared McMillan and Chris Kelly of Belle Glade with a total weight of 25.76 pounds. They were fishing the South East

side of Lake Okeechobee with a variety of baits.

Second Place went to the team of Jim Ashbaucher and Joe Lamanna of Naples with 24.33 pounds

Third Place went to the team of Jeff Justice and Leo DeVaga of Dania with a 24.03 pound sack of fish

Fourth Place went to the team of HB Chambliss (Labelle) and Andy Matusevich (Ft. Lauderdale) with 23.87 pounds and the 1^st Big Bass at 6.57 lbs.

Fifth Place went to the team of Bob Campbell (Naples) and Moses Wilson (Clewiston) with 23.80 pounds and 2^nd Place Big Bass at 6.39 lbs.

Jared McMillan (L) and Chris Kelly (R) Silver Division Winners April 17, 2010

Gold Division, Sunday April 18, 2010. We hosted a field of 21 teams fishing for the Cash. 5 Fish Per Team

First Place and 1^st Place BIG BASS went to the team of Andy Matusevich (Ft. Lauderdale) & HB Chambliss (LaBelle) with a total weight of 32.20 pounds

And the BIG BASS of 9.72 lbs. Awesome Fish Guys. Fish Caught on the Southeast side of Lake Okeechobee, mostly with the new Gambler bait the “BIG

EASY” in multiple colors.

Second Place went to the team of Val Osinski and Skip Reed of Boca Raton with a total weight of 24.73 lbs, I bet they used the “Big Easy” too.

Third Place went to the team of Jeff Justice and Danny Shelton of Dania with a total weight of 21.46 and the 2^nd Place big Bass weighing in at 6.28 lbs

Fourth Place went to the team of Keith Perron and Howard Kleman with a total weight of 21.26 lbs.

Fifth Place went to the team of Jeff & Jared McMillan with a total weight of 19.96 Lbs.

Andy Matusevich (L) & HB Chambliss (R) Gold Division Winners 32.20 Lbs and 9.72 LB Big Bass (Far Left)

Gold Division Winners (L to R) Jeff Justice, Danny Shelton, Skip Reed, Val Osinski, HB Chambliss, Andy Matusevich, Howard Kleman & Keith Perron.

Congratulations to all the anglers and we look forward to Seeing everyone again next month for Silver, Gold and Super-Bucks Tournaments.

SUGAR FESTIVAL TOURNAMENT

SUNDAY APRIL 25, 2010

$1000 Guaranteed First Place

Team Entry $100.00 (includes Big Bass)

Safe-Light to 3 PM and weigh-In at Roland Martin’s Marina

10% off rooms at the Marina for Tournament Participants Call (863) 983-3151 for Reservations

See You All at the Ramp !!!

Chris “Flippin” Fickey

Tournament Director

(941) 232-9539

chris.fickey@bassbustersflorida.com

www.bassbustersflorida.com

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer BASSonline – fishing@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

Published on: April 19, 2010

For 30 years, I’ve had the opportunity, challenge and pleasure of working with some great fisheries biologists and a cadre of supporting scientists, technicians and staff dedicated to conserving Florida’s unique fisheries resources while providing quality recreational fishing. Mostly unbeknownst to the angling public, the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management, first within the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) and more recently in the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), has had a stellar series of division directors guiding the way.

The first trained fisheries biologist, and subsequently the first division director, was Jack Dequine, who was hired in 1943. Jack is still an active member of the Florida Chapter of the American Fisheries Society.

A true Southern gentleman, Jerry Banks, was at the helm when I was hired in 1979. He passed the torch to Smokie Holcomb. Smokie was known for his hands-on knowledge of fisheries and helping pioneer lake restoration work as well as having a compassionate understanding of anglers’ needs.

Around 1996, Jerry Shireman took over from Smokie. He brought his experience as leader of the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences program at the University of Florida to state government. In 2000, Ed Moyer, became fisheries director. Among Ed’s notable accomplishments was opening of the state-of-the-art Florida Bass Conservation Center. He was here when the residents of Florida overwhelmingly voted to merge the GFC, Marine Fisheries Commission and elements of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) related to marine fisheries into a new constitutionally authorized FWC.

In 2004, the FWC realigned and redistributed the resources and programs that were first brought together when the FWC was created. Part of that initiative resulted in the Division of Fisheries, which previously included its own research, habitat restoration and boating access staff totaling 170 employees reorganizing into a streamlined force of 69 employees focused on direct fisheries management and hatchery production. Other employees were mostly moved into the new Division of Habitat and Species Conservation, the Florida Wildlife Research Institute, or Office of Boating and Waterways. As the first director of the new Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management, Darrell Scovell brought a wealth of experience to the new challenges.

Darrell Scovell, Director of the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management, during the past six years worked diligently to develop stakeholder relations.Before acquiring an advanced fisheries degree at Auburn, Darrell had served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. When he was hired by the GFC in 1978, he was initially on the Lake Okeechobee Fisheries Utilization and Management Program where his economic expertise was a plus. That started a 32-year career during which he had major impact on commercial fisheries and aquaculture programs before becoming director.

When April ends, so will Darrell’s distinguished FWC career.

“Throughout his career, he has influenced and inspired many of us within the FWC family with his conservation ethic, honesty, and compassion,” said executive director Nick Wiley in an e-mail to employees.

Recently, Darrell has paid special attention to two initiatives while balancing and maintaining the Division’s other core functions. First, he encouraged expansion of the conservation education model developed at the FWC’s Joe Budd Aquatic Education Center, which documented actual stewardship behavioral changes and angler recruitment. His support for the Get Outdoors Florida! Coalition, Florida Youth Conservation Center Network and internal education and outreach programs promises to be a lasting legacy.

Second, he recognized the teamwork necessary to manage the state’s three million acres of freshwater fisheries. Internal coordination with research biologists, habitat restoration managers, law enforcement, the new aquatic plant management section (first returned to the FWC in 2009), outreach personnel, boating access planners and regional staffs within FWC are part of the coordination challenges. When you add that DEP is the agency primarily charged with water quality, and various water management districts and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulate water quantity and schedules (which are vital to fisheries conservation), you get an idea of the complexities the division director faces. Recognizing these needs and the importance of getting public support from anglers, fishing-related businesses and waterfront landowners, Darrell initiated an effort to create a Florida Black Bass Management Plan.
Tom Champeau and son Kyle show off a nice bass.

Stepping up to become the new division director is Tom Champeau. Currently regional director for the Southwest Region, Tom began his employment in Florida in 1981, coming from the University of Michigan with a fisheries degree, and served as a fisheries biologist for 28 years. In announcing the appointment, Wiley described Tom as “passionate about the future of freshwater fisheries management in Florida and having many strong relationships with people in this arena.”
Tom was critical in initiating the Black Bass Management Plan concept and can be expected to aggressively pursue its completion and implementation.
Tom recently acknowledged his main accomplishments are enjoying 28 great years of marriage, raising their children to be good citizens with an appreciation for nature, and helping make his community a better place.
Professionally, Tom indicated his primary responsibility as division director will be to enable and support staff in efforts to ensure that fish and wildlife resources are protected and managed for sustained benefits for all Floridians. He specifically stated that he looks forward to working with stakeholders and helping build partnerships to make FWC’s work more relevant to a wider segment of the population.
“It is a great honor to be entrusted with this responsibility, and I look forward to helping ensure Florida’s reputation as the Fishing Capital of the World!” Tom said upon his appointment.
So the time is right for everyone who is interested in Florida freshwater fisheries to provide input and support these efforts. Here are two important opportunities.
First, provide input for the newly proposed Black Bass Management Plan. In Florida, black bass annually provide more than 800,000 anglers with nearly 15 million days of healthy outdoor recreation and generate more than a billion dollars in economic impact. Although the FWC and its predecessor agencies have zealously managed these fish to ensure their survival and sustainable use, it is time to pull together all the loosely connected pieces into one cohesive management plan.
For additional background visit MyFWC.com/Fishing, and select Black Bass Management Plan proposal. Then fill out a survey to provide the FWC with your opinion about how to ensure quality bass fishing in Florida.
We have also has teamed up with partners in the angling industry to create a 5-year freshwater fishing license promotion. A 5-year license costs just $79, plus a convenience fee. For most anglers, that amounts to barely a dollar per fishing trip, or about one quarter per hour, for healthy, relaxing recreation. Long-term licenses are also convenient and lock you in at the current price thus potentially saving you more money. Remember, your entire fishing license fee goes to FWC for conservation. In addition, every paid license (a 5-year license counts for each of the five years it is valid) holder helps recover federal excise taxes you pay on fishing tackle and motor boat fuels to support Sport Fish Restoration and boating access projects in Florida.
As if that isn’t enough, if you upgrade now to a 5-year or lifetime freshwater fishing license, you will receive a free bonus package by mail with tackle and accessory samples, magazines and coupons from fishing-related companies. The box of goodies comes in the mail absolutely free of charge and has you covered hook-line-and-sinker, literally.
Go to MyFWC.com/Fishing for details, including the opportunity to see all of the content and to verify the offer is still valid (current expectations are it will last until early June 2010). It’s a great deal for you and the future of freshwater fisheries conservation in Florida.

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From Staff Writer BASSonline – fishing@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS