Fish Busters’ Bulletin

April 2010
Bob Wattendorf

Spring is here, and the bass are on their beds.  The males have been fanning out beds on firm lake bottoms with plenty of nearby vegetation.  If they are successful in their amorous intents to entice a female to join them, they’ll soon be spending time guarding the nest and fanning tens of thousands of eggs to keep them oxygenated.

This annual ritual is dependent not only on the sexual appeal of the individual bass, but also on the quality of the environment, the vagaries of weather, and impacts of man.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) fisheries biologists are charged with sustaining fish populations while providing recreational opportunities for more than 1.4 million anglers, who enjoy more than 24 million bass fishing trips a year in Florida and bolster the economy by $1.4 billion.

The FWC faces a huge challenge that requires different approaches in many of Florida’s 7,700 lakes, which comprise 3 million acres of water, plus 12,000 miles of rivers, streams and canals. FWC biologists work with many partners to ensure water quality and healthy populations of bass. The FWC also conducts major habitat-enhancement projects and controls the spread of nonnative plants.  The FWC’s two freshwater fish hatcheries provide quality, disease-free, genetically appropriate bass for stocking when needed.

These biologists modify fishing regulations when necessary to ensure quality bass fishing now and in the future.  Wildlife officers enforce the rules. Outreach efforts help reconnect Floridians of all ages with nature to lead happier, healthier and smarter lifestyles, following the advice of the Get Outdoors Florida! Coalition and the Children and Nature Network.

Biologists from the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and the University of Florida are conducting a statewide largemouth bass research study.  Scientists hope to learn how frequently bass are caught and harvested and more about the size range of fish caught. Results of this study will help them manage the fishery for quality and trophy-sized largemouth bass.

Bass in 30 lakes throughout the state have been tagged with small, yellow tags along the back of the fish, just below the dorsal fin. These tags carry a printed telephone number, e-mail address, tag number (e.g., LMB 0001) and reward value.

Anglers should carefully examine all bass caught in Florida lakes for reward tags, as biologists have tagged fish from lakes throughout the state. To claim their reward, anglers are encouraged to report these tags to the FWC Angler Tag Return Hotline (800-367-4461). The FWC is also working with BountyFishing.com to gain additional information about big bass being caught throughout Florida and is monitoring results from all permitted bass tournaments.

With all of this going on, the FWC has decided it is time to have a long-term management plan for black bass (largemouth bass, shoal bass, spotted bass and Suwannee bass).  To learn more about the plan, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing.  You can help by completing the online survey.

Don’t forget, your fishing license fees and excise taxes paid on fishing tackle and motorboat fuels fund all of these efforts. The funds are returned to the FWC from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service based on the number of paid license-holders in Florida.

To thank anglers for their contributions and to work with industry partners, the FWC is offering a special 5-year freshwater fishing license bonus program.  Until 3,000 boxes filled with free tackle, publications and fishing accessories are distributed, anyone buying a 5-year freshwater fishing license will receive the bonus automatically in the mail. A 5-year license costs just $79, plus a convenience fee, but in return you know the fees won’t increase while you have your license, and you don’t need to worry about renewing for five years.

Five-year licenses are available online at MyFWC.com/License and via the toll-free phone number, 888-347-4356. In addition, they may be purchased at any license agent, such as retail stores that sell fishing supplies and bait-and-tackle shops or at county tax collectors’ offices.

For information about local fishing opportunities, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing, where you can also verify that you will be one of the first 3,000 and see all of the bonus package contents.

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

What a day on Lake Okeechobee, the weather was pretty good a little windy but the fish were biting. Today I fished with Mitch Lohnert and Mike Downey I had great time with them they are good fishermen.

Today we got to enjoy some site fishing, we also caught bass on swim baits and flipping craws. With lots 1 to 3lb bass and some big ones it was a great day on the lake.

I sure hope to fish with them again some time.

We got alot of good fishing to do this year and alot of adventures back into the back country with the high water. will I hope to see soon.

Till next time tight lines and good fishing….
From ProStaff Writer Capt Mark Shepard  marks@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

March 31, 2010,

I took out Jean and his two best buddies form Canada. Three great guys that like to really enjoy fishing together It was another great day in the Everglades.
The guys boated around 40 fish, all on artificial baits.

I can wait to  fish with these guys again!

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

On March 31

I took out Don Osborne and Dave from Texas out for a awesome day of peacock bass fishing. Let me tell you it was a fun day, we fished all day. We caught a few on artificial lures and the majority came off of
live bait.

I can’t wait until the water warms up, we should be done with cold fronts. Fishing on this day continued to get better day by day, by the end of the day we caught a load of peacock bass.

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

March 30, 2010. Today, I took out Jim Butler and his 14 year old son Eric Butler from Rockaway, NJ out on the Maitland Chain of Lakes for a 6 hour fishing trip due to the mild post cold front conditions. This is a great chain of lakes to fish when this happens, we planned on going to the Butler Chain and would have definitely caught fish there, I felt that switching up and putting them on better fish that would bite better at this chain of lakes that I know very well would be a hit.

The morning started a little slow with the cool temp, but as the sun came up and warmed up the water a little the bite turned on. Eric who is just getting into bass fishing did a fantastic job with setting the hook and even caught a few fish off beds today using a white ”Bitters Bat” soft plastic bait. Jim caught the first bass on a Junebug Bitters Vibe a plastic lure similar to the zoom speedworm. As the artificial bite slowed a little the shiner bite turned on. Eric and I made Jim set the hook on a shiner bite which produced a 3 pounder. Eric is trying to get his father more into fishing and Jim wanted Eric to catch all the fish. We felt that Jim should catch some too!

Although a little slow today we still managed to catch 12 bass and missed 2 on the artificial. The wind was blowing from the west at 15-20 mph constantly and I have a big fish stretch that runs South to North and we had an Osprey diving on our shiners so we made a few moves that paid off. Eric caught the biggest bass so far in his life today and although it was almost 5 pounds I am certain that he will catch many more and bigger ones the next time he is down here. The kid has talent and patience and plans to join a bass club in New Jersey soon.

To Jim and Eric, it was a pleasure fishing with you both and hope to fish with you again.

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