By Bob Wattendorf, Jason Dotson, Marty Mann and Allen Martin
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

The prespawn period for Florida largemouth bass can produce some of the most exciting fishing of the year – and 2011 has certainly started out exciting. Since bass tune into environmental triggers such as day length, lunar cycle and especially water temperature, timing of the actual spawn can vary. However, generally, once water temperatures rise above 58 degrees, the bedding process will begin and continue in some areas until temperatures are in the mid- to upper-70s.

Action normally starts in southern Florida and proceeds northward, with some bass spawning as early as December or as late as June. A couple days before full or new moons in late Februrary, March or early April are often premier spawning times for Florida bass. Remember, even within a lake, triggering water temperatures can vary significantly based on depth, sun exposure and currents, so not all of the bass spawn at the same time.

Last month in the “Fish Busters’ Bulletin” Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) freshwater fisheries biologists identified sites they predicted would be great bass fisheries in 2011. Many of those predictions are becoming a reality. Individual anglers, guides and tournaments statewide are reporting incredible catches. Throughout Florida, there is an upsurge in bass fishing, with anglers catching both big trophies and large numbers of quality-size bass. Anglers are releasing many of those fish and applying to our “Big Catch” angler recognition program (MyFWC.com/Fishing) to memorialize their catch.

Check these examples:

Lake Tohopekaliga – Gerald Swindle won the Toho Bassmaster Southern Open in January with a total of 80 pounds, 13 ounces during a three-day tournament. To accomplish that, he averaged over 5 pounds per bass in his five-fish bag limits each day, coming close to the all-time record of 85 pounds. Bobby Lane, who came in second, also exceeded a five-pound per bass average, limited out and recorded the big fish of the tournament at 11.5 pounds. Under FWC requirements, all bass must be live-released after a permitted tournament, except for the few that can’t swim away. Those are donated to charity or used for research.

Lake Kissimmee – Tom Rewis and Doug Chance combined for a five-bass stringer that topped 40 pounds to clinch first place in the Capt. Tony Strickland Memorial Bass Tournament on Lake Kissimmee in early February. That is more than an average of 8 pounds per bass, with their largest being 10.71 pounds – and it was not big enough for first place. The team of Dustin Bozeman and Chris Maxwell took that award with a 10.76-pounder.

Del Milligan (renowned outdoor writer with TheLedger.com) pointed out, “Whether it’s Florida, Texas or California, the 40-pound mark is hallowed ground. Rewis and Chance produced one of only three five-fish limits of 40 pounds or more that I’ve heard of in Florida.” Milligan predicted, “The only thing that hasn’t happened is a 14- or 15-pounder, and I’ll wager that happens within the next few weeks.” (more…)

To conserve and improve Florida’s premier freshwater fisheries for residents and visitors, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has been working with the public to develop a long-term Black Bass Management Plan. The FWC seeks public review and comment on the first draft of the Plan to contribute your input, go to MyFWC.com/BassPlan_survey.

Conserving and managing freshwater fish in Florida represents more than good fishing and eating. The economy benefits as well because Florida produces many of the world’s best bass fisheries. Bass anglers spend more than 14 million days each year here and generate $1.25 billion for the state’s economy. (more…)

Published on: April 19, 2010

For 30 years, I’ve had the opportunity, challenge and pleasure of working with some great fisheries biologists and a cadre of supporting scientists, technicians and staff dedicated to conserving Florida’s unique fisheries resources while providing quality recreational fishing. Mostly unbeknownst to the angling public, the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management, first within the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission (GFC) and more recently in the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), has had a stellar series of division directors guiding the way.

The first trained fisheries biologist, and subsequently the first division director, was Jack Dequine, who was hired in 1943. Jack is still an active member of the Florida Chapter of the American Fisheries Society.

A true Southern gentleman, Jerry Banks, was at the helm when I was hired in 1979. He passed the torch to Smokie Holcomb. Smokie was known for his hands-on knowledge of fisheries and helping pioneer lake restoration work as well as having a compassionate understanding of anglers’ needs.

Around 1996, Jerry Shireman took over from Smokie. He brought his experience as leader of the Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences program at the University of Florida to state government. In 2000, Ed Moyer, became fisheries director. Among Ed’s notable accomplishments was opening of the state-of-the-art Florida Bass Conservation Center. He was here when the residents of Florida overwhelmingly voted to merge the GFC, Marine Fisheries Commission and elements of the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) related to marine fisheries into a new constitutionally authorized FWC.

In 2004, the FWC realigned and redistributed the resources and programs that were first brought together when the FWC was created. Part of that initiative resulted in the Division of Fisheries, which previously included its own research, habitat restoration and boating access staff totaling 170 employees reorganizing into a streamlined force of 69 employees focused on direct fisheries management and hatchery production. Other employees were mostly moved into the new Division of Habitat and Species Conservation, the Florida Wildlife Research Institute, or Office of Boating and Waterways. As the first director of the new Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management, Darrell Scovell brought a wealth of experience to the new challenges.

Darrell Scovell, Director of the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management, during the past six years worked diligently to develop stakeholder relations.Before acquiring an advanced fisheries degree at Auburn, Darrell had served as an officer in the U.S. Navy. When he was hired by the GFC in 1978, he was initially on the Lake Okeechobee Fisheries Utilization and Management Program where his economic expertise was a plus. That started a 32-year career during which he had major impact on commercial fisheries and aquaculture programs before becoming director.

When April ends, so will Darrell’s distinguished FWC career.

“Throughout his career, he has influenced and inspired many of us within the FWC family with his conservation ethic, honesty, and compassion,” said executive director Nick Wiley in an e-mail to employees.

Recently, Darrell has paid special attention to two initiatives while balancing and maintaining the Division’s other core functions. First, he encouraged expansion of the conservation education model developed at the FWC’s Joe Budd Aquatic Education Center, which documented actual stewardship behavioral changes and angler recruitment. His support for the Get Outdoors Florida! Coalition, Florida Youth Conservation Center Network and internal education and outreach programs promises to be a lasting legacy.

Second, he recognized the teamwork necessary to manage the state’s three million acres of freshwater fisheries. Internal coordination with research biologists, habitat restoration managers, law enforcement, the new aquatic plant management section (first returned to the FWC in 2009), outreach personnel, boating access planners and regional staffs within FWC are part of the coordination challenges. When you add that DEP is the agency primarily charged with water quality, and various water management districts and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulate water quantity and schedules (which are vital to fisheries conservation), you get an idea of the complexities the division director faces. Recognizing these needs and the importance of getting public support from anglers, fishing-related businesses and waterfront landowners, Darrell initiated an effort to create a Florida Black Bass Management Plan.
Tom Champeau and son Kyle show off a nice bass.

Stepping up to become the new division director is Tom Champeau. Currently regional director for the Southwest Region, Tom began his employment in Florida in 1981, coming from the University of Michigan with a fisheries degree, and served as a fisheries biologist for 28 years. In announcing the appointment, Wiley described Tom as “passionate about the future of freshwater fisheries management in Florida and having many strong relationships with people in this arena.”
Tom was critical in initiating the Black Bass Management Plan concept and can be expected to aggressively pursue its completion and implementation.
Tom recently acknowledged his main accomplishments are enjoying 28 great years of marriage, raising their children to be good citizens with an appreciation for nature, and helping make his community a better place.
Professionally, Tom indicated his primary responsibility as division director will be to enable and support staff in efforts to ensure that fish and wildlife resources are protected and managed for sustained benefits for all Floridians. He specifically stated that he looks forward to working with stakeholders and helping build partnerships to make FWC’s work more relevant to a wider segment of the population.
“It is a great honor to be entrusted with this responsibility, and I look forward to helping ensure Florida’s reputation as the Fishing Capital of the World!” Tom said upon his appointment.
So the time is right for everyone who is interested in Florida freshwater fisheries to provide input and support these efforts. Here are two important opportunities.
First, provide input for the newly proposed Black Bass Management Plan. In Florida, black bass annually provide more than 800,000 anglers with nearly 15 million days of healthy outdoor recreation and generate more than a billion dollars in economic impact. Although the FWC and its predecessor agencies have zealously managed these fish to ensure their survival and sustainable use, it is time to pull together all the loosely connected pieces into one cohesive management plan.
For additional background visit MyFWC.com/Fishing, and select Black Bass Management Plan proposal. Then fill out a survey to provide the FWC with your opinion about how to ensure quality bass fishing in Florida.
We have also has teamed up with partners in the angling industry to create a 5-year freshwater fishing license promotion. A 5-year license costs just $79, plus a convenience fee. For most anglers, that amounts to barely a dollar per fishing trip, or about one quarter per hour, for healthy, relaxing recreation. Long-term licenses are also convenient and lock you in at the current price thus potentially saving you more money. Remember, your entire fishing license fee goes to FWC for conservation. In addition, every paid license (a 5-year license counts for each of the five years it is valid) holder helps recover federal excise taxes you pay on fishing tackle and motor boat fuels to support Sport Fish Restoration and boating access projects in Florida.
As if that isn’t enough, if you upgrade now to a 5-year or lifetime freshwater fishing license, you will receive a free bonus package by mail with tackle and accessory samples, magazines and coupons from fishing-related companies. The box of goodies comes in the mail absolutely free of charge and has you covered hook-line-and-sinker, literally.
Go to MyFWC.com/Fishing for details, including the opportunity to see all of the content and to verify the offer is still valid (current expectations are it will last until early June 2010). It’s a great deal for you and the future of freshwater fisheries conservation in Florida.

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

Florida, the bass usually begin spawning in January or February but this year they started at least a month late, said Mike Allen, a fisheries professor with UF’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences.

Largemouths are the state’s most popular freshwater game fish. To spawn, male bass make shallow nests in the sand, court females, and then protect the eggs and hatchlings for several weeks.

Males guarding nests are notoriously aggressive, striking anything that moves. The fish are easy to catch, but it’s commonly believed that spawning-season fishing reduces bass populations. Allen’s latest study suggests that notion is rarely true.

The findings were published in the current issue of the journal Transactions of the American Fisheries Society.
“We found that in most cases, spawning area closures won’t improve bass populations, for a couple of reasons,” he said. “One is, there’s a lot of catch and release nowadays. The other is, if you lose some nests, the ones that are left have higher survival rates.”

Catch and release is the practice of setting fish free, rather than keeping or “harvesting” them. In 2008, Allen and colleagues published a study showing that the percentage of largemouth bass harvested by anglers had fallen by half since the 1980s.

When nesting male bass are harvested — or if they’re released after a long delay — their nests are likely to be invaded by predators such as bluegill, which gobble up eggs and hatchlings.

However, the young bass that survive face less competition for food and shelter, giving them a better chance at reaching adulthood, Allen said.

The study used mathematical models to predict changes in two types of bass populations. One was typical of southern states, with fast growth rates, early maturation and high natural mortality. The other had the opposite qualities, typical of northern states.

Allen and biological scientist Daniel Gwinn, the study’s other author, gathered data on anglers catching bass during spawning seasons in three states. The researchers plugged the data into mathematical models representing several types of restricted and unrestricted fishing.

The results showed that prohibiting bass fishing during spawning season would only boost populations in waters where very high percentages of spawning bass are caught.

“Those conditions are pretty rare,” Allen said.

To test his findings in the field, Allen is collaborating with researchers from the Illinois Natural History Survey. They’ll catch nesting bass in two Florida lakes and four Canadian lakes to see if it influences the number of young that reach adulthood.
If there is no decrease, some officials might want to reconsider their policies, Allen said.

Wildlife managers in some northern states prohibit bass fishing during spawning, arguing that it protects bass populations. Local anglers don’t always agree, he said.

In Florida, no spawning-season restrictions on largemouth bass are likely, Allen said. But the study may have implications for proposed fishing restrictions on other species.

“This research shows that protecting fish just to let them spawn won’t improve sustainability,” Allen said. “If overfishing happens, we will need a larger closing to reduce annual fishing-related mortality — closing over a longer time or a larger area.”

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

Florida Largemouth Black Bass

10/29/2009 – Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and the University of Florida need assistance with a statewide largemouth bass research study. This year-long project is an interactive way for the public to help biologists obtain critical information necessary to manage the largemouth bass fishery for quality and trophy-sized fish.

From this study, biologists hope to learn how frequently bass are caught and harvested. They also hope to learn more about the size range of fish caught.

Beginning this month, biologists are tagging largemouth bass 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 and reward value.  Anglers should carefully examine all bass caught in Florida lakes for reward tags, as biologists will tag fish in numerous lakes throughout the state.

Biologists encourage anglers to remove these tags by cutting them as close to the fish as possible and then treat the fish as they would normally. Once anglers remove a tag, they should immediately report it to the FWC Angler Tag Return Hotline at 800-367-4461 or e-mail TagReturn [at] MyFWC [dot] com.

Anglers participating in the study will receive a reward for each largemouth bass tag they return to the FWC. When reporting the tag, anglers should provide the following information:

• the species of fish,
• tag number, fish length,
• date and time of capture,
• name of the lake where the fish was caught, and
• whether the angler kept or released the fish.

Anglers should mail the tags to:
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Attn: LMB Tagging Study
601 W. Woodward Ave.
Eustis, FL 32726

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