Today I had the pleasure of fishing a afternoon trip with Frank and his friend John from Westerly, RI on the Lake Ida chain.
We only had a couple of hours due to the plane being delayed, so when they got there we went right to the hot spots. They fished hard and caught fourteen fish up to 4 pounds, both peacock bass and large mouth bass.
We had to be back at the ramp by four thirty, so in what became a very short day of fishing I think we had a pretty good day!
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 me…
See the list below for Florida freshwater fishing records for the entire state of Florida. The fishing capital of the world, these records include all freshwater species for which records are currently kept by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. It should be noted that these are hook and line fishing records only and do not include other records that may have been set by snagging, spearing, trolling, or netting.
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.
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.
The best locations for catching catfish occur all over the state of Florida.
By Bob Wattendorf:Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
The Apalachicola River offers excellent fishing for channel, flathead, and blue catfish. Angling for big channel cats is best from April into early July; flathead fishing picks up in April and runs into the summer months. Small catfish can be caught year-round, but the spring and summer months are best.For all species, anglers should try the area from the Jim Woodruff Dam south to Owl Creek. Target deep holes with structure, old creek channels and the mouths of tributaries. Live bream fished on the bottom work well for big flatheads, while stink baits or night crawlers (also fished on the bottom) should do the trick for channels. Try fresh cut bait, such as mullet, if pursuing blue catfish.
The Choctawhatchee River provides outstanding fishing for channel and flathead catfish. Channel catfishing is best from late May through early July and October into November, if the water remains warm. Small catfish can be caught year-round. Concentrate on the Alabama line south to West Bay and around the mouth of Holmes Creek and other tributaries. Most of the larger catfish are found in the northern portion of the river within deep bends and holes or where large woody debris is present. Try live bream on the bottom for flatheads up to 30 pounds. Stink baits or night crawlers fished on the bottom will do the trick for channels.
The Escambia River generates quality opportunities for blue, channel and flathead catfish. Fishing for channel catfish and big flatheads peaks from April through October. The best stretch lies from the Alabama line to the I-10 Bridge. Savvy anglers will fish live bream on the bottom for big flatheads and stink baits or night crawlers for channel cats.
The St. Johns River and Dunn’s Creek yield superior bullhead, channel catfish and white catfish. Prime locations include Dunn’s Creek to Lake Crescent, Murphy’s Creek from the St. Johns River to Dunn’s Creek, and the river from Palatka to Little Lake George. Try the hole on the north side of Buffalo Bluff Bridge, but bring plenty of hooks and weights because there are many snags.
The Ochlocknee River offers excellent fishing for bullhead, channel, flathead and white catfish. The best angling begins in April for flathead catfish and mid-May into early summer for channel cats. Both channels and flatheads will continue to bite until the water turns cold in October or November. Small catfish can be readily caught throughout the year, but fishing slows down in colder months. Catfishing is good throughout the entire river but especially in the Talquin tail race area for whites and flatheads. Try deep rivers bends with structure further downstream for flatheads as well.
The Clermont Chain of Lakes offers anglers superb opportunities for channel and white catfish.Anglers should concentrate on offshore open-water areas, particularly near drop-offs or around bottom structures. Canals and channels may also be attractive to catfish during times of flow. Cut baits or stink baits should work well for both species.
Haines Creek, near Leesburg, provides good angling for bullheads, channel catfish and white catfish. Most of the larger channel catfish are landed from mid-April through June and October and November as water temperatures begin to drop. However, small catfish of all species are readily available year-round, in flowing water. The creek between Eustis and Griffin lakes offers the best catfishing on the system, particularly below the lock and dam.
The Upper Kissimmee Chain of Lakes affords great bullhead, channel catfish and white catfish angling opportunities. Big channel catfish experience peak spawning periods between April and June and are hungry right afterwards. Bullheads primarily spawn from October into November but may spawn year-round.Water flow will concentrate catfish and make them easier to locate and catch. The best sites include C-31 (East Lake Canal), C-35 (Southport Canal), C-36 (canal between Lake Cypress and Lake Hatchineha), C-37 (canal between lakes Hatchineha and Kissimmee), below the Kissimmee River structure (S-65), around the mouth of and in Shingle Creek, and in the lake proper around fish attractors. Catfish are often found near drop-offs or around bottom structure in the canals.
Southwest Florida Lakes offer many excellent opportunities for channel catfish and bullhead, including: lakes 2-5, B and Picnic at Tenoroc Fish Management Area (Polk County); lakes LP2 West, Haul Road Pit and Pine East at Mosaic Fish Management Area (Polk County); lakes 1 and 3 at Hardee Lakes Park (Hardee County); Lake Manatee (Manatee County); and ponds managed under the Tampa Bay Urban Fishery Program, particularly Dover District Park and Stephen J. Wortham Park.
Joe Budd Pond (Gadsden County), a 20-acre impoundment provides excellent channel catfishing. Fish can be found throughout the lake, particularly around the fishing fingers and along the dam. This site is only open to the public on weekends, beginning the first Saturday in July through the Labor Day weekend (including the Labor Day holiday). Fishing worms or night crawlers on the bottom are all that is needed for great catches. Fish can be caught from shore or from a boat. Gasoline motors are not permitted. Fish are typically nine to 14 inches. A harvest limit of six channel catfish per person, per day is strictly enforced.For more detailed information on these catfish hotspots, visit www.myfwc.com
This week a team from Florida Gulf Coast University planted 360 shoots of the aquatic grass vallisneria, also known as tape grass and eel grass, in shallow water on the southwest side of the 1,500-acre lake near Immokalee. Over the summer, the team will plant several thousand vallisneria shoots in the lake.
Later this year, the state will plant bulrush in the same area.
“The lake is imperiled,” research associate David Ceilley said. “The EPA and the state have recognized that it needs to be fixed. What we’re trying to do is jump-start restoration of the lake.”
Lake Trafford, a popular fishing spot for Southwest Floridians, including Lee County residents, started going downhill decades ago when its water became choked with the exotic pest plant hydrilla.
As the plant died naturally, it sank to the bottom, rotted and became muck.
Hoping to solve the hydrilla problem, officials sprayed it with herbicides in the 1970s. Tons of dead plant material rotted to increase the muck layer until it was 6 feet thick and smothered the lake’s bottom vegetation.
As muck rots, it depletes the dissolved oxygen in the water. High winds stir up the muck, and trapped nutrients become suspended in the water, sparking algal blooms. The algae suck more oxygen from the water, and fish suffocate - rotting fish also add nutrients and remove oxygen.
Over the past 12 years, the lake has experienced several major fish kills.
In November 2005, a $10.3 million project got under way to remove the equivalent of 30,000 dump-truck loads of muck from the lake. The demucking project is being paid for by Friends of Lake Trafford, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Collier County, state monies, and the Big Cypress Basin, which is part of the South Florida Water Management District.
Most of the muck has been removed, but dredging has been temporarily stopped because water levels in the lake are too low for equipment to work.
Removing muck leaves a nice, clean lake bottom, but nice, clean lake bottoms don’t support much life. Muck is gone, plants are going in Plants set in de-mucked lake bottom
To be healthy, a lake needs vegetation, and vallisneria is one of the most important freshwater plants in North America.
Found in many freshwater bodies of the contiguous United States and parts of Mexico and Canada, vallisneria is food for fish, turtles, manatees and birds. It provides habitat for small fish, crabs, shrimp and clams and traps nutrients to help prevent algal blooms.
“We have the opportunity to re-establish native plants that are good for the environment,” said Clarence Tears, director of the Big Cypress Basin, which is putting up $25,000 for the tape grass project. “If we don’t establish native plants soon, exotic vegetation, which often grow faster, can take hold.”
To keep grazers such as turtles from eating the newly-planted vallisneria, the FGCU team covered 12 plots of 30 plants each with inverted 3-foot-diameter plastic wading pools, whose bottoms had been cut out and replaced with wire mesh.
“The idea is to get dense plots established and protected, then remove the covers and monitor the sites,” Ceilley said. “With the muck gone, the water quality will improve, and we expect nothing but improvement over time.”
In addition to FGCU’s vallisneria efforts, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will plant $250,000 worth of bulrush just shoreward of the vallisneria.
Lack of rain has dropped Lake Trafford’s water levels to about 3.5 feet below normal for this time of year, and state biologists are waiting for water levels to rise before starting to plant.
“Bulrush is an emergent plant - it grows up out of the water,” said biologist Jon Fury. “Vallisneria doesn’t grow up out of the water. Both are good for fish and wildlife habitat.
“Small invertebrates attach themselves to the bulrush. The invertebrates attract small fish, which attract bigger fish. We’ll plant it in the littoral zone, the shallow areas, where we find most fish reproduction and recruitment.”
“Places like Corkscrew Sanctuary will benefit,” Ceilley said. “But the primary mission is to restore recreational Florida bass fishing in the lake. That’s an important resource for this area. As a fish guy myself, I’m all for that.”
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