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

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.

On-board with us, this last week of October was Dennis and his son Matthew from Houston Texas.

The first day of there fishing trip we start out on Lake Okeechobee, unexpectedly the bite slowed down so we decided to pull-out and head for the Everglades. The two were very excited to see just how good the Everglades could be.

The Everglades has really been dependable and it did not let us down this time. The O’Neils managed to catch 20 or more fish in just a few hours of fishing which lead to a fantastic finish for day one!

On day two we went to Miami for the exotic Peacock Bass.  We started our morning off by throwing artificial baits but it really wasn’t that productive, so we went to pitching shiners and we started picking off the fish. We moved around to a couple of different areas and picked away at the fish, we also managed to catch a Snook. Which is always fun to watch the customers light up as the fish is dancing on top of the water.

By the end off the trip they caught over seventeen fish up to five pounds.

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

On August 2, Brian Hoover and his father caught went fishing in the Florida Everglades.  In a short four day trip they boated 14 large-mouth bass, most around 3lbs.  Hoover’s are locals of Fort Lauderdale and will be back for another adventure.

Really apprecaite these guy coming out with me and I look forward to the next time!

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

July 1, 2009-Lake Okeechobee with Bryan Johnson from Flintville, Tennessee.

 The spawning largemouth bass on Lake okeechobee has been and still is great this year. With the past years not being the best for the big bass on Okeechobee to spawn, they now seem to have the best options of spawning grounds in a long time.

This past week there was lot of bass on there beds still, today we saw some nice pairs and a lot of buck bass by themselfs. We were able to catch quite a bit of  fish just site fishing today. It sure is nice to see all the wonderful stuff that has happen to the lake with a huge spawn and new grass it is awesome fishery once again. Water is up again, so it is much safer for the weekend fishermen. I think the water managers should hold the water level right here for the best long term results. With the lake continueing to raise, look for the bass to move back in the heavy cover and thicker grass.

There is also a lot of bluegills and shell crackers on the beds right now.

 The future fishing on Okeechobee is going to be out of this world once again. 

 Thanks to all of you for letting us be a part of your adventure. 

From Staff Writer Capt Mark Shepard (marks@bassonline.com )
BassOnline.com / 888-829-BASS

Central Florida Bass Fishing

If you are a largemouth bass Fisherman you mite want to head for Lake Toho in Florida for some amazing bass fishing at this Nationally ranked largemouth bass fishing lake.

Florida is one of the best states in the US for bass fishing  and is ranked as the “Fishing Capital of the World” addtional is know as the “Bass Capitol of the World.”  There are more than 7,500 freshwater lakes and rivers that hold good populations of large mouth bass, infact it is hard to pick just one location in florida. It is a rough decision because there are so many lakes that hold good populations of bass and are easy to access and fish.

We have compiled a list of the lakes the Florida Fish and wildlife conservation commission (FWC) has listed as holding very good populations and sizes of largemouth bass. This list is a good guide to use to plan for your next large mouth bass fishing trip to Florida. Our focus is on the top ten areas in and around Lake Tohopekaliga that hold good population of Largemouth bass. We hope this information will help you plan a fishing trip to lake Tohopekaliga (called lake Toho by locals). You can also visit our Interactive map to get more detail information.

Absent from this list is Lake Kissimmee, a longtime favorite of many Florida fishermen because of its large bass. The lake has a healthy population of 13- to 14-inch bass, and some real monsters said Marty Mann, a biologist with the FWC’s Kissimmee office.
Lake Kissimmee is the best in the Kissimmee chain for speckled perch (black crappie), bluegill and shellcracker (redear sunfish), Mann said.

New on the best-bass lakes list this year is Crescent Lake near the St. Johns River northwest of Daytona Beach. FWC biologists using electric stunning methods for sampling fish there turned up “good numbers” of 8-plus-pound bass. Fall and early winter tend to produce the best bass fishing at Crescent Lake.

Other top 10 bass lakes designated by the FWC are:

• Rodman Reservoir, east of Gainesville and south of Palatka. The state’s largest bass of 2000 – 15 pounds, 17 ounces – came from the reservoir. Most big bass are caught in the “stump fields” along the river channel. Limited-consumption mercury warnings apply for women of childbearing age and children under 10.

• Lake George, east of Ocala and northwest of Deland. One of the many natural lakes along the St. Johns River, Lake George is the second-largest lake in the state, behind Lake Okeechobee, and is a favorite for those who enjoy wade fishing with plastic worms or top-water lures. Limited-consumption mercury warnings apply for women of childbearing age and children under 10.

•Lake Tarpon, north of Tampa near Tarpon Springs. Lake Tarpon anglers often catch 20-plus bass, most of them 12 to 16 inches but some up to 10 pounds. Flipping and pitching along bulrush edges and canal banks can be productive, as can fishing humps and eelgrass beds offshore. Limited-consumption mercury warnings apply.

•Lake Tohopekaliga, also known as Lake Toho, just south of the town of Kissimmee. This lake has produced a documented 17.1-pound bass. And this is the lake that produced Dean Rojas’ record-setting string of five bass that weighed 45 pounds, 2 ounces in January 2001. Plans to drawn down Toho for shoreline restoration have been postponed until the fall. Limited-consumption mercury warnings apply.

•Stick Marsh/Farm 13, near Fellsmere west of Vero Beach. The re-flooded farm fields have become a hot bass-fishing spot, and FWC sampling in 2002 confirms “good reproduction and growth” of bass. Anglers find fish near stumps, submerged canals and hydrilla domes. All bass must be released.

• Lake Walk-in-water, off State Road 60 east of Lake Wales. Anglers frequently catch 25 bass, with several in the 4- to 8-pound range, by drifting live shiners over hydrilla domes on the northern half of the lake. A three-bass limit and 15- to 24-inch slot limit apply, as do limited-consumption mercury warnings.

•Lake Istokpoga, between U.S. 27 and U.S. 98 south of Sebring and east of Lake Placid. This lake is known for large bass, with regular catches of 8-pounders and some between 10 and 13 pounds, the FWC said. Live shiners and pitching soft plastics in bulrush patches around the lake’s two islands can be productive. A 15- to 24-inch slot limit and three-bass bag limit apply, as do limited-consumption mercury warnings.

•At 730 square miles, Lake Okeechobee is the state’s largest lake and borders western Palm Beach and Martin counties. (If you can’t find Okeechobee, just look at a map of Florida and find the big blue area in the middle of the state. ) Anglers find fish on bulrush at Eagle Bay Island, Kings Bar and Little Grassy Island on the north end and in eelgrass near South Bay on the south end. Plastic worms and spinnerbaits usually are productive. All bass 13 to 18 inches must be released. A limited-consumption mercury warning applies for women of child-bearing age and children under 10.

• Everglades Water Conservation Areas 2 and 3, off U.S. 27 in western Broward and Dade counties. The best bass fishing tends to be in the spring, when falling water levels force bass to move from shallow marshes into canals. The L-67A and L-35B, accessible from Everglades Holiday Park and the Sawgrass Recreation Area off U.S. 27, are two popular fishing canals. Because of mercury, no Everglades bass longer than 14 inches should be eaten. Limited consumption is advised for the smaller bass.

Hope this helps you make a decidtion to come fish one of these great rated fisheries.

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