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Specializing in Florida Bass Fishing on all of the Florida Freshwater Lakes.

FWC Press Release:

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) waded through numerous high-profile issues during its meeting in Apalachicola Wednesday and Thursday.

The meeting opened with a presentation of the 2009 Louise Ireland Humphrey Achievement Award to former FWC Law Enforcement Director Julie Jones. In September, Jones was appointed executive director of the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Commissioners recognized national-award-winning artist Elam Stoltzfus of Blountstown. The FSU graduate has already won 35 prestigious awards in his brief career as a film producer. He heads up the media company Live Oak Production Group.

In a vote of interest to sportsmen, commissioners gave a thumbs-up to revamping deer hunting zones and dates to align them with the rut – the period of peak deer activity associated with the breeding season.

Commissioners also gave final approval to new rules to clarify regulation of nuisance wildlife and nonnative wildlife. In addition, they approved new hunting and fishing regulations for public lands and created a special two-day, youth spring turkey season for supervised kids, under age 16. The rule package included substantial increases in a variety of hunting opportunities on public land.

In other action during Wednesday’s session, commissioners directed staff to proceed with developing new rules to tighten regulation of reptiles of concern. Proposals include extending amnesty to pet owners who turn over reptiles of concern to licensed individuals and incorporate changes to the required permanent identification of the animals. Chairman Rodney Barreto urged staff to develop the strictest rules possible.

In addition, commissioners directed FWC staff to continue work on a series of rule proposals on captive wildlife regarding Critical Incident/Disaster plans, hobbyists and labeling on wildlife shipments. A draft rule also was approved, updating the process by which counties notify the FWC regarding local zoning and building codes for proposed facilities housing Class I or Class II wildlife.

Commissioners received an update on the fox or coyote enclosure permit process on Wednesday. The report included the results of recent FWC investigations into the operation of enclosures where hunters pursue foxes or coyotes with dogs. Commissioners decided to temporarily prohibit the chasing of foxes and coyotes in enclosures while staff drafts rules guiding such enclosures in Florida.

On Thursday, the meeting began with the Commissioners recognizing retired general counsel Jim Antista. Antista began working as general counsel with the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) in 1990. He represented the GFC and FWC in a variety of complex legal cases, including such things as litigation involving high-water lines and boundaries between state-owned submerged lands and private lands; drafted legislation to modernize penalties for violating fish and wildlife rules; principally drafted the implementing bill creating the FWC; and more.

Thursday’s agenda included a staff report regarding several technical problems in the FWC’s licensing system. Commissioners directed staff to change the current first-come, first-served selection of participants for quota hunts in favor of a less technology-dependent random selection method for the first phase of the permit-issuance process.

Another staff report focused on an initiative to establish youth conservation centers around the state to offer children opportunities to connect with wildlife and nature through many types of outdoor recreational activities.

Also on Thursday, the Commission approved rules to prohibit all harvest of lemon sharks from Florida waters and extend the expiration date of the moratorium on new spiny lobster commercial dive permits from July 1, 2010 until July 1, 2015. These rules take effect on March 23.

In addition, commissioners proposed a draft rule that would include all species of bonefish found in Florida in the FWC’s bonefish management rules, extend Florida bonefish regulations into adjacent federal waters, and require that bonefish be landed in a whole condition.

Another proposed draft rule would allow all ballyhoo endorsement holders to sell their endorsement to other commercial fishers from July 1 – March 31 each year, limit any one entity from holding more than two ballyhoo endorsements at any one time, prohibit leasing of the endorsement, and allow only one endorsement per saltwater products license and one saltwater products license to be associated with a single endorsement.

The FWC also approved a draft rule to allow oyster harvesters to stow hand tongs on their unmoored vessels from sunset to sunrise so that they can transit to oyster bars before dawn and begin harvesting oysters at sunrise.

Final public hearings will be held in April on the FWC’s proposed draft rules for bonefish, ballyhoo and oysters.

The FWC also proposed a draft rule for weakfish, also known as gray seatrout or yellow-mouth trout, that would apply Florida’s weakfish management rules only in state waters of the St. Marys River in Nassau County, provide that all weakfish-like fish (including weakfish, sand seatrout and their hybrids) would be considered weakfish in this management area, and reduce the daily recreational bag limit for weakfish from four fish to one fish and establish a commercial weakfish harvest limit of 100 pounds per vessel per day or trip (whichever is longer) in the weakfish management area. A final public hearing on the proposed weakfish rule amendments will take place in June.

In other marine fisheries action, the Commission discussed Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean red snapper and other federal fishery management issues.

The next FWC regular meeting will be in the Tallahassee area April 28-29

Florida Fish Busters’ Bulletin

December 2009
Bob Wattendorf

FWC needs your input on the draft black bass management plan

Black bass are the most popular recreational fishes in the United States, but do you know what they are? In the Sunshine State, black bass include Florida largemouth, shoal, spotted and Suwannee basses. We are fortunate to live in a state known as the Garden of Eden for these feisty sport fish.

Scientists specializing in fish species will tell you they aren’t real bass at all, but rather members of the sunfish family that include crappie and bluegill. But anglers who have tussled with a Florida largemouth bass will insist they are the “reel” basses.

In Florida, black bass annually provide more than 800,000 anglers with nearly 15 million days of healthy outdoor recreation and generate substantially more than a billion dollars in economic impact for Florida. So although the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has always zealously managed these fish to ensure their survival and sustainable use, it is now time to pull together all the loosely connected pieces into one cohesive management plan.

Darrell Scovell, director of the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management, announced the framework for such a plan at the first public meeting of the rapidly evolving Florida Freshwater Fishing Coalition (FLFFC.org), in October in Orlando. The FWC’s Black Bass Management Plan will ultimately provide the blueprint to ensure Florida’s recognition as “The Bass Capital of the World,” according to Scovell. The meeting drew representatives from 17 fishery-dependent type organizations, businesses and groups who actively participated in the discussion and commended the FWC for its outreach effort.

Tom Champeau, an FWC fisheries expert and director of the South Region, introduced the concept at the meeting. He emphasized that the prominence of our bass fisheries cannot be taken for granted. Participation in freshwater fishing has been affected by societal changes related to urbanization and changing demographics. Freshwater fishing license sales have shown an overall decline since the 1980s, although sales have stabilized over the past 10 years. Development of land and water resources to support our current and projected population growth threatens lake, river and associated wetland habitats. The uncertain impacts of climate change on freshwater habitats and bass fishing require investigation and adaptive management.

To protect our valuable bass fisheries, the FWC plans to engage more stakeholders through a year-long process to develop a long-term (2010-2030) management plan for Florida bass species. This plan will provide strategies and programs to manage for high quality fisheries and increase opportunities for anglers to pursue trophy Florida bass.

“The FLFFC is ecstatic about being involved at the grass roots level in discussing Florida’s black bass management,” said Todd Kersey, CEO of the FLFFC. “The enthusiasm of the participants shows how important this is and the desire to see all aspects of management – from aquatic vegetation control, to habitat enhancement and stocking, to regulation management and enforcement – included in the plan.”

That is just what the FWC biologists wanted to hear, not only from the FLFFC, but from all of the nearly 1 million anglers who enjoy fishing in Florida for black bass. The plan will include all those aspects and more, but the final product depends on good, solid science, knowledge of local fisheries – including the constraints and opportunities – and what you, the public, want your fisheries resources to be. From creating relaxing, low-pressure aesthetic fisheries where natural scenery is the major draw, to fast-action schooling bass in the small to average size range, to limited-entry trophy bass fisheries, FWC biologists are willing to work with local communities to design a management plan that, with adequate funding and public support, can provide the sustainable fishing opportunities you want.

To see a draft of the plan and the PowerPoint presentation given at the FLFFC meeting, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and select Black Bass Management Plan proposal. You’ll also have the opportunity to fill out a survey to provide the FWC with more information about what you think is important to having quality bass fishing in Florida. Make your voice heard, fill out the survey today.

Published on September 1, 2009

“Don’t release exotic pets!” That’s the message behind a colorful new poster available through a joint effort between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Florida Outdoor Writers Association (FOWA). The 20″ x 36″ poster, titled “Some of Florida’s Exotic Freshwater Fishes,” displays 17 species of nonnative fishes currently established in Florida. These exotic species were introduced by man from foreign countries, and with a couple of exceptions, are unwanted residents in the Sunshine State.

There are 34 reproducing exotic fishes established in Florida, according to the FWC’s Division of Habitat and Species Conservation. The poster depicts the most widespread or commonly caught species. Wildlife artist Diane Rome Peebles produced 15 of the illustrations used in this poster. The other two illustrations were created by well-known wildlife artist Duane Raver. University and federal government researchers familiar with each species advised the artists to help create attractive, detailed and accurate depictions.

The new “Exotic Freshwater Fishes” poster was designed as a sister-publication to the FWC’s “Freshwater Fishes” poster.

“The FWC actually initiated this project several years ago,” said FWC biologist Paul Shafland, who along with biologist John Cimbaro created the poster’s design. “Without FOWA’s generous funding, it would not have come to fruition at this time. We are very grateful for their contribution.”

FOWA provided $2,500 for printing of 9,300 posters, which are being made available to the public at no cost. The FWC hopes to convey a simple message.

“It is illegal to release any nonnative fish or any other nonnative organism in Florida,” said Scott Hardin, the FWC’s exotic species coordinator. “The only way to really stop exotics is to let people know they should never release them.”

Moreover, some people consider releasing exotic pets inhumane because most will die shortly after being released. However, those that survive could have detrimental environmental effects.

The FWC has a three-pronged approach to exotic fishes: prevention of illegal exotic fish releases through education, development of specific regulations, and law enforcement; assessment of those exotic fishes already present in Florida to understand what their effects really are; and management aimed at reducing the abundance of these unwanted residents. One management approach is to encourage people to fish for exotic fishes they can eat.

There are two exceptions: the butterfly peacock bass, which was purposefully released by the FWC to eat other exotic fishes, while increasing recreational angling opportunities in metropolitan Southeast Florida canals; and the triploid grass carp, which have been introduced to eat exotic vegetation.

The exotic fishes poster is online in a reduced, printable size at MyFWC.com/images/Conservation/FW_Exotics_Poster_Small.jpg or a full-size poster is available at any of the FWC’s regional offices. More information about exotic species in Florida is at MyFWC.com/Nonnatives. In the meantime, the FWC is reminding Floridians: “Help protect our natural resources – Don’t release exotic pets!”

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

Economic Impact of Sportfishing
Thursday, August 27, 2009
By wowmynews

As anglers, I doubt we even realize the impact we have on our nations economy. Hopefully this will give you some insight on the positive cash flow we create by just doing what we are so passionate about.

In the past I’ve designed a couple of websites for tournament anglers and in the process I wanted to collect data to present to potential supporters and sponsors to make them aware of impact and participation. I recently “re-discovered” that data and thought you might find it interesting. So below is some of the numbers I collected from various sources that paint a pretty good picture of how fishing has evolved in to a money making, national past time.

Right now, the only ripple of interest to your angling friend is the one made by the fish as it surfaces at the end of the line. But all around, the money spent to buy tackle, gas for the boat and film to record the one that didn’t get away, is having a tremendous, positive impact on the economy. On average, an angler spends over $1,200 every year on the sport. Hidden, but none-the-less real, is a multiplying factor that effectively triples what you spend as the initial expenditure ripples through the economy. Take for example the $10 plunked down by an angler for a new a lure. It spreads outward just like the ripples made after the lure hits the water. That revenue helps the store’s owner pay her rent, bills and employees. These individuals then use part of that money for other goods and services and the rippling effect further spreads and repeats. Of course, ten dollars isn’t very significant by itself, but when 44 million anglers spend $41.5 billion in a year, the result in jobs, wages, and other economic effects is an extraordinary pillar of America’s economic health. More focused on playing the fish at the end of the line, your typical angler gives little thought to how his hobby is helping provide his fellow Americans a boatload of benefits. The 1.1 million jobs, $7.3 billion in tax revenues, and $30 billion in wages generated by recreational fishing are many times greater than those created by corporate giants like Ford, Microsoft or Nike. Generating more than $116 billion in total output, this remarkably simple activity of dipping one’s line in the water provides nine times the economic benefit of commercial fishing. ‘

“I like to fish because it is totally relaxing. I love the water. I can concentrate and forget all my worries. I count my blessings while fishing.’ George Bush, president.”

Participation:

44.4 million Americans ages 7 and older fish2 (An estimated 50 million fish including all age groups). One out of every six U.S. residents 16 and older fish. 1 25 percent of U.S. males fish, and 8 percent of U.S. females fish. 1 Excluding those who fished the Great Lakes, freshwater anglers account for 82 percent of all anglers. Anglers spend an average of 16 days fishing and take an average of 13 fishing trips annually. Anglers 16 and older took 365 million freshwater fishing trips in 2001 totaling 467 million days. Including saltwater anglers, 437 million fishing trips totaling 557 million days were taken. From 1991 to 1996, freshwater fishing days rose 13 percent. The average number of freshwater fishing days per angler increased from 14.3 in 1991 to 16.7 in 1996. Between 1980 and 1995, the number of Americans who fished increased 16 percent. Residents of the South provided the biggest increase in fishing (21 percent) in the United States between 1980 and 1995. The number of males fishing increased 14 percent from 1980 to 1995.

Popularity:

Fishing ranks as the 4th most popular participation sport in the nation. It ranks ahead of bicycling, bowling, basketball, golf, jogging, baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, football and skiing. Only walking, swimming and camping are more popular. More Americans fish than play golf and tennis combined. More Americans fish than play soccer and basketball. The number of youths ages 12 to 17 who participate in freshwater fishing increased 10.9 percent since 1991 to 4.5 million. During the same period, the number of youths ages 12 to 17 who play baseball decreased 15.4 percent to 4 million. Basketball, softball, tennis and volleyball participation declined between 2 and 46 percent. Fishing ranks as the 2nd most popular water-related outdoor sport in the United States. Swimming ranks 1st. Freshwater fishing ranks as one of the top-five participation sports in 7 states. Fishing in general (both freshwater and saltwater) ranks as one of the top-five participation sports in 18 states. Fishing is the No. 1 participation sport in Minnesota, Florida, New Jersey and North Carolina.

Women and Minorities:

11.9 million women 7 and older fish. That’s more than the number who participate in jogging, basketball, volleyball, softball, golf or tennis. Freshwater fishing is the 10th most popular participation sport among women. 2 26.8 percent of all anglers are female 2 (representing 8 percent of the U.S. female population). 5 percent of all anglers are black (representing 7 percent of the black population). 5 percent of all anglers are Hispanic (representing 7 percent of the Hispanic population). The number of women fishing increased 19 percent from 1980 to 1995 compared to 14 percent for males. The region that experienced the largest increase in the number of females fishing was the Northeast. Women spend on average $246 per year for trip-related fishing expenses and $70 per year on fishing equipment for a total of $3 billion. Hispanics fish at lower rates than African-Americans and women, but they spend, on average, more money – $434 per angler for trips and $154 for equipment. Hispanics spent a total of $696 million per year on fishing trips and equipment. Fishing equipment expenditures among African-American anglers increased 43 percent between 1991 and 1996. African-American anglers spend on average $324 per year for trip-related fishing expenses and $128 per year on fishing equipment for a total of $814 million. African-American anglers spend more days fishing (22 vs. 18) and take more trips (18 vs. 14), on average, than all anglers. 64 percent of African-American anglers live in the South compared to 39 percent of all anglers. 43 percent of female anglers live in the South. 16 percent of African-American anglers live in the Midwest. 26 percent of female anglers live in the Midwest. 43 percent of Hispanic anglers live in the South. 38 percent of Hispanic anglers live in the West compared to 20 percent of all anglers. The number of days fished by African-American anglers increased 72 percent between 1991 and 1996 compared to 22 percent for all anglers. The number of days fished by female anglers increased 15 percent between 1991 and 1996. The number of days fished by Hispanic anglers remained constant between 1991 and 1996, but fishing trip expenditures increased 50 percent during the same period. 1.9 million persons 16 and older with disabilities took 33 million fishing trips in 2001, fishing for 41 million days.

Why People Fish:

33 percent of anglers fish to relax. 25 percent of anglers fish as a way of spending time with family and friends. 65 percent of non-anglers and 88 percent of anglers say that being asked by a child would make them want to go fishing or make them want to fish more often.

What People Fish For and Where They Fish:

Bass fishing is the most popular type of fishing in the United States. 38 percent of all freshwater anglers in the United States fish for black bass. 28 percent of freshwater anglers fish for trout. 28 percent of freshwater anglers fish for panfish. 27 percent of freshwater anglers fish for catfish. Bass are sought on 36 percent of all freshwater fishing days. 92 percent of freshwater anglers fish in their state of residence. 23 percent of freshwater anglers fish out of state. 85 percent of freshwater anglers fish in flat water, including ponds, lakes and reservoirs. 44 percent of freshwater anglers fish rivers and streams.

U.S. Anglers by Age Group:

17 percent of 16-to 17-year-olds fish, comprising 4 percent of all anglers. 13 percent of 18-to 24-year-olds fish, comprising 9 percent of all anglers. 19 percent of 25-to 34-year-olds fish, comprising 19 percent of all anglers. 21 percent of 35-to 44-year-olds fish, comprising 27 percent of all anglers. 17 percent of 45-to 54-year-olds fish, comprising 20 percent of all anglers. 16 percent of 55-to 64-year-olds fish, comprising 12 percent of all anglers. 8 percent of 65+ year-olds fish, comprising 9 percent of all anglers. Fishing among 35- to 44-year-olds increased 60 percent between 1980 and 1995. It was the largest increase of any group.

Economic Impact of Fishing:

Anglers spent $35.6 billion in 2001 to pursue their sport. They spent $14.7 billion for fishing trips, $17 billion for equipment, and $4 billion for licenses, stamps tags, land leasing and ownership, membership dues and contributions, and magazines. 1 If hypothetically ranked as a corporation, this revenue figure would put sport fishing at 32nd on the 2002 Fortune 500 list of America’s largest companies. Total economic output generated by freshwater fishing in 2001 exceeded $74 billion, including the impact on retailers, suppliers of goods and services to retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers, plus the indirect and induced impacts resulting from these activities. Including saltwater fishing, economic output reached $116 billion. The average angler incurs $1,046 in fishing-related expenses. Freshwater fishing expenditures in 2001 generated more than $19.4 billion in wages. Including saltwater fishing, $30.1 billion in wages were generated (up 23 percent since 1991). 683,892 full-time jobs exist due to freshwater fishing. Including saltwater fishing, the total exceeds 1 million (up 16 percent since 1991). $2.07 billion was spent on fishing tackle in 2001. Fishing tackle ranks 4th in terms of consumer expenditures for non-team sports equipment. Golf equipment ranks first followed by exercise equipment and firearms for hunting. Florida anglers spend more than $4 billion annually on fishing and related equipment. California and Texas anglers spend more than $2 billion. Angler expenditures exceed $1 billion in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Carolina and Wisconsin.

Economic Impact of Fishing:

U.S. Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census. 2001 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-associated Recreation. National Sporting Goods Association. Sports Participation in 2001. Future of Fishing project conducted by Responsive Management of Harrisonburg, Va. American Sportfishing Association. The 2001 Demographics and Economic Impact of Sport Fishing in the United States. Participation and Expenditure Patterns of African-American, Hispanic, and Women Hunters and Anglers. Addendum to the 1996 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. Black Bass Fishing in the U.S. Addendum to the 1996 National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation. 1980-1995 Participation in Fishing, Hunting, and Wildlife Watching. National and Regional Demographic Trends. Sport Fish and Wildlife Restoration Web site, restorewildlife.org.

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

Source:  Copyright 2009, National Public Radio
Date:  June 23, 2009
Byline:  Greg Allen
Original URL:Audio

 Residents of the towns that line the southern rim of Florida’s Lake Okeechobee know about the benefits and risks of living next to one of the nation’s largest freshwater lakes.

Many have relatives who survived the massive flood of 1926 — and another, two years later, when a Category 4 hurricane blew through the area. Old mud dikes failed, killing at least 2,500 people.

In 2005, the failure of levees in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina hit led authorities to re-evaluate the 143-mile Herbert Hoover Dike that surrounds Lake Okeechobee. The results were alarming. The report uncovered erosion problems that, if left uncorrected, could lead to a failure of the old earthen levee.

Stuart Appelbaum with the Army Corps of Engineers says the corps moved quickly to address the problem.

“Best thing we’ve done is manage the risk by lowering the lake a bit,” he says.

For the past three years, the corps has made sure the lake’s water level reaches no higher than 15 feet, well below capacity. At the same time, the corps is working to strengthen the 80-year-old levee that 40,000 local residents depend on for safety.

‘The Dike Is Eroding Itself From The Inside’

On a few sections of the dike, rehabilitation work is well under way. A key portion is on Lake Okeechobee’s southeast rim, near Belle Glade, the town hit hardest by the 1928 flood. This area is still considered the highest risk, and the corps is working here first to strengthen the levee.

Huge shovels, trucks and other heavy equipment dig a deep trench 70 feet down through the center of the dike. They then fill the trench with a concrete mixture to create what’s called a “cutoff wall.”

Mike Rogalski, who’s in charge of the project, says that when the lake level rises, water seeps through the levee, washing away material.

“It’s essentially that the dike is eroding itself from the inside,” he says. “What this cutoff wall does is cuts off all those paths of erosion.”

The massive project is expected to cost $1 billion and take at least 20 years to complete. After a year of work, just about two-and-a-half miles have been strengthened.

To ensure that the dike remains safe while the work is being carried out, a team of inspectors constantly monitors the dike, shoring up sections that it finds weakened by erosion.

“When the lake levels reach a certain point during the wet season, you’re going to do daily inspections,” Rogalski says.

Boosting Morale For The Residents Of Pahokee

On the southeast rim of Lake Okeechobee, Pahokee’s several thousand residents sit in the levee’s shadow. It’s literally in their backyard.

Pahokee Mayor Wayne Whitaker says the work under way has already helped restore confidence in the dike and his community.

“There was some industry back in the day that wouldn’t come to Pahokee or the Glades area because they were scared of the dike,” Whitaker says. “People actually thought the dike was going to break at any time. But this rehab is really going to help the morale of everybody.”

The concerns surrounding the lake and the dike now are less about safety and more about something that up until now has been plentiful: water. For decades, water seeping under Lake Okeechobee’s levee has kept irrigation ditches full and the water table high. That’s been a boon to farmers in the area.

If the corps is successful in stopping that seepage, farmers are concerned that a safer levee may come at a cost — leaving them with drier and less productive fields.

Till next time tight lines and good fishing…..

From Staff Writer BASSonline / fishing@bassonline.com
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS