Managing Aquatic Plants in Lake Apopka is the focus of a public meeting in Winter Garden on Tuesday, Jan. 24 hosted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The meeting is from 6-9 p.m. in Tanner Hall, 29 W. Garden Avenue in Newton Park, Winter Garden,

The goal of this meeting is to solicit public input on managing aquatic plants in Lake Apopka in order to develop the 2012-13 aquatic plant management plan for the lake.

Input from a wide variety of user groups is important to create a balanced approach to managing aquatic plants in Lake Apopka and the FWC will consider all comments.

“We want to know what business and property owners, anglers, hunters, bird watchers, boaters and others who have a vested interest in the lake think about current and future aquatic plant levels and management options; now is the time to get involved,” said Nathalie Visscher, an FWC invasive plant management biologist.

Visscher will provide a brief update and overview on past and present aquatic plant management efforts. Dr. Michael Netherland from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will make a presentation on the role of aquatic vegetation in Florida waters and the complexities associated with managing invasive plants in a multiple use system like Lake Apopka.

After the presentations, the FWC encourages the public to comment and discuss the level, types and management of aquatic vegetation desired and key areas of interest and concern.

“This is part of an ongoing process to maintain a regular dialogue with stakeholders about aquatic plant management on Lake Apopka and we strongly encourage everyone interested in aquatic plant management efforts on Lake Apopka to attend this meeting and give us your thoughts,” said Visscher.

For more details about the meeting, contact Nathalie Visscher at             321-228-3364      .

If you are like most Florida anglers and boaters, you enjoy your time on the water. It’s an opportunity to get close to nature and break the routine of work, school or retirement. The peaceful challenge of trying to find, attract

and catch your piscatorial prey is made possible, in part, by the scientific management and conservation laws that sustain sport fish populations. The goal is for everyone to be able to share in the pleasure and to provide a sustainable harvest.

So when you see someone threatening those resources by damaging habitat, polluting the water, using illegal gear, taking more than the bag limit or keeping undersized fish, you probably wish you could do something. Well, you can. You have several options, but the newest, most real-time option is to silently send a text message to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Conscientious anglers and boaters can text Tip@MyFWC.com (standard usage fees may apply). (more…)

A hallmark of the long-term Florida Black Bass Management Plan, which the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved on June 9, 2011, will be a sensational new TrophyCatch angler recognition program. Florida intends to ensure that Florida is the undisputed bass fishing capital of the world.

Representatives of the FWC, the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, and several corporate partners will be in Booth 2266 at ICAST, to discuss how industry partners can participate in the ground floor of this innovative conservation program. TrophyCatch will be a full-fleged intiative to document largemouth bass caught throughout Florida that are heavier than eight pounds and encourage their release. Incremental rewards and recognition will be provided to anglers reporting bass in the 8-10, 10-12, 12-13 and greater than 13-pound categories. (more…)

Freshwater fishing opportunities April 2-3 in Florida

Spring is a wonderful time for freshwater fishing throughout Florida. For starters, the weather tends to be especially comfortable.

In addition, most sunfish – including bass, bluegill and redear sunfish – are in the shallows this time of year and fairly easy to locate. The stars must have been aligned, because this winter and early spring, freshwater anglers have been telling the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) that fishing is outstanding.

If having fun and the chance to catch a fresh meal are not enough incentives to go fishing this weekend, there are plenty of other reasons. According to a series of studies published in the June 2010 “Journal of Environmental Psychology,” being outside in nature makes people feel more alive. The research showed that the sense of increased vitality was more than just the energizing effects of physical activity or social interactions.

“USA Today” reported last month that doctors and pediatricians are even writing nature prescriptions for families as part of a program sponsored by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and National Environmental Education Foundation.  The scripts say: “Rx for healthy and active outdoor living.”  As with all prescriptions, the benefits of active, nature-based recreation, such as fishing, are well-documented.

If you are still hesitating, this weekend is the time to go.  Both residents and nonresidents in Florida can fish in public fresh waters across the state without a license during the weekend of April 2 and 3.  All other fishing rules apply.

The Florida Legislature and the FWC designated the first full weekend in April each year as Florida’s Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend.  This coincides with Children & Nature Awareness Month.

Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend is a great opportunity for experienced anglers to share their love of the sport with family and friends. It is also a perfect opportunity for those who don’t regularly fish to take a child who has asked to go fishing.

So pull out those old rods sitting in your garage, borrow one, or buy an inexpensive fishing kit and head to the nearest fishing hole. Just being outdoors, away from the TV and phone, and talking together while you await the next bite will make it a worthwhile family outing.

Also, join thousands of anglers who have taken the Anglers’ Legacy Pledge by visiting AnglersLegacy.org and entering partner code FLFWC. Anglers’ Legacy is about sharing, by making a promise to introduce somebody new to fishing, one of America’s most popular traditions.

The FWC and Get Outdoors Florida! (GetOutdoorsFlorida.org) encourage everyone, especially children, to connect with nature this weekend. Recreational fishing is the No. 1 gateway activity to increase your overall involvement in outdoor activities. This weekend, you can learn why Florida is the “Fishing Capital of the World.” Not only has fishing been great this spring, virtually every Floridian is within 45 minutes of a freshwater fishing opportunity.

Visit MyFWC.com/Fishing to learn about fishing regulations in Florida, places to go, or fishing tips for your adventure.

Written by :

bwattendorf

Hydrilla—the nine-headed marsh serpent

Bob Wattendorf

In classic Greek mythology, the Hydra was a marsh serpent that had nine heads to start with, but each time one was cut off, two more grew back. Hercules finally defeated the Hydra by cauterizing the necks as he slew the beast and accomplished his 12 labors. Hydra makes a rather fitting root word for Hydrilla verticillata, a submersed non-native plant that is native to India but first appeared in Florida in the late 1950’s and rapidly spread throughout much of the state.

Hydrilla has been described as “the perfect aquatic weed” because of its tolerance to conditions that prevent other native plants from flourishing, including its tolerance of low light, high turbidity conditions and a wide range of salinities and nutrient conditions. Moreover, it can spread through fragmentation, sexual reproduction (seeds), tubers that grow on the rhizomes (rootlike structures that anchor hydrilla to the bottom and allow rapid spread), or turions (buds formed in the juncture where leaves attach to the stems). (more…)