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.

TURKEY CREEK – Boating and fishing activities at Hillsborough County’s Edward Medard Park will be impacted by low water levels due to a rehabilitation project to refurbish the Medard Park Reservoir.

The boat ramp will close Monday to motorized vessels. The reservoir will remain open to canoes and kayaks until Monday, Nov. 23.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has suspended bag and size limits for largemouth bass, bream, and black crappie caught by pole or rod during this time. Anglers must still adhere to all other sportfish regulations, including those regulation concerning legal methods of take.

After Nov. 23, the reservoir will be closed to all fishing or boating activities because of the low water level. No Trespassing signs will be installed around the top bank of the reservoir and no one will be allowed to enter the reservoir area during construction.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District will refurbish and fortify the Medard Reservoir embankment to protect against erosion. To prepare for the repairs, the district is lowering the level of the reservoir by 12 feet. Construction should begin in January and is expected be complete by May. Boating will resume again after the project is completed and water levels are restored naturally by rainfall.

For more information about the Medard project, call the district’s Operations Department at (800- 423-1476 or (352) 796-7211.

Other amenities at Medard Park such as camping and picnicking will remain open during the project. For information on Hillsborough County Parks call (813) 635-3500 or visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/parks.

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

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) staff will introduce a concept for a new black bass management plan on Oct. 26.

Reporter: Press Release

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Press Release:

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) staff will introduce a concept for a new black bass management plan on Oct. 26 at the Florida Freshwater Fishing Coalition meeting in Orlando. The plan addresses the long-term needs of this group of sport fish, which includes Florida largemouth, shoal, spotted and Suwannee basses.

Black bass are the most popular recreational fish in the world. In Florida, they provide 822,000 anglers over the age of 16 with 14.7 million days of healthy outdoor recreation and generate more than a billion dollars in economic impact for Florida, according to the 2006 National Survey of Hunting, Fishing and Wildlife-Associated Recreation.

The FWC seeks public input at the unveiling of the draft plan. The meeting starts at 9 a.m. in the Orlando Bass Pro Shop’s conference room during the inaugural meeting of the Florida Freshwater Fishing Coalition. FLFFC is a partnership of freshwater fishery organizations and anglers, representing a cross-section of businesses, nonprofits and individuals, who have a stake in ensuring the future of Florida’s outstanding freshwater fisheries. Collectively, they want to learn about and discuss lake management issues, fisheries data and research, so they can provide an informed voice to achieve the coalition’s vision. Their mission is “To serve as a coalition of freshwater fishery organizations and anglers to protect our rights by providing representation in Florida government on pertinent issues that affect recreation and conservation.” For more information, visit www.FLFFC.org.

“The FLFFC is ecstatic to be able to discuss Florida’s black bass management plan with the FWC at our inaugural meeting. The FLFFC and its partners are faced with many issues, including access, habitat protection and water quality,” said Todd Kersey, FLFFC President. “We feel developing a plan to protect the most popular fish in Florida will go a long way in helping these issues and preserving the state’s title as “Fishing Capital of the World,” which is critical to Florida economy.”

The FWC’s Black Bass Management Plan will ultimately provide the blueprint to ensure Florida’s recognition as “The Bass Capital of the World,” said Darrell Scovell, FWC’s director of the Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management.

If you’re interested in representing a fishery-dependent business or organization or are an avid angler with time to commit to helping the coalition, please visit www.FLFFC.org to reserve a seat and to provide input and guidance to the FWC on this comprehensive and innovative new plan. During the afternoon session, FWC staff will host a round table forum to solicit stakeholders’ thoughts, reactions, ideas and suggestions to help craft the final draft that will be presented to FWC commissioners in December.

The public also may provide input at www.MyFWC.com/fishing. Sign up for the FWC’s stakeholder newsletter “FWC 4-1-1” by selecting “Contact FWC” and then “FWC 4-1-1” from the left-side pop up menu.

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

National Hunting and Fishing Day occurs on the fourth Saturday in September (Sept. 26) and recognizes the contributions anglers and hunters make to fish and wildlife conservation. Since 1972, every president has formally proclaimed National Hunting and Fishing Day. This year, country music star Luke Bryan is the honorary chairman, and the official Web site (NHFday.org) offers great tips on getting started fishing, shooting or hunting and on where to go.

 Hunting and fishing as active outdoor recreation are recognized for the traditional values that they have contributed to our society since Colonial days. More than a century ago, hunters and anglers were the first to recognize that development and unregulated uses of wildlife were threatening the future of many species. President Theodore Roosevelt, a very active hunter and angler, was a vocal proponent and supported their call for the first laws to restrict commercial harvest of wildlife.

They urged sustainable use of fish and game, created hunting and fishing licenses, and lobbied for taxes on sporting equipment to provide funds for state conservation agencies. These user-driven actions were the foundation for some of the most dramatic conservation successes of all time. Populations of largemouth bass, white-tailed deer, wild turkey, wood ducks and many other species began to recover from decades of unregulated exploitation. Sportsmen and women have also contributed countless hours to clean up, protect and enhance millions of acres of habitat for the use and enjoyment of everyone.

In 1971, U.S. Sen. Thomas McIntyre of New Hampshire  and U.S. Rep. Bob Sikes of Florida introduced an identical measure in the House and Senate authorizing National Hunting and Fishing Day. In early 1972, Congress unanimously passed both resolutions, and soon after that,  President Nixon signed the first proclamation of National Hunting and Fishing Day.

This day is considered by many to be the most effective grassroots effort ever undertaken to promote these outdoor sports and conservation. In modern times, this celebration of the enjoyment and health benefits that hunting and fishing bring to participants is especially important. The country is being swept by messages of how being disconnected with nature and spending too much time indoors are affecting the health of the nation. From unprecedented rates of obesity and associated increases in heart disease and diabetes, to a virtual epidemic of attention deficit disorder and increasing prevalence of asthma and allergies among children, research is showing that active, nature-based recreation can significantly contribute to the cure.

Not only is the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) a supporter of National Hunting and Fishing Day but it is also a major promoter of the Get Outdoors Florida! coalition (GetOutdoorsFlorida.com).  Get Outdoors Florida! is working to address these health issues that are described as “nature deficit disorder.”  Besides that, by getting outdoors and engaging in activities such as fishing, hunting, hiking and wildlife viewing, research shows that youth develop greater self-confidence, a sense of responsibility and better social networking skills.  That’s the old type of social networking ─ being face to face with people and with the quiet of nature to facilitate calm conversations in a relaxed setting, rather than the frenetic action of an electronic game or Facebook exchange.

The FWC and most conservation agencies in the United States generally adhere to the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation, which is the envy of almost every other country in the world and key to habitat and species conservation. While celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day, it may be worthwhile to consider the conservation model’s seven basic principles, which enable you to have such great hunting and fishing opportunities:

1. Fish and wildlife are public resources. Throughout the U.S., wildlife is held in common ownership by the state for the benefit of all people.

2. Markets for trade in black bass and other wildlife and sportfish are carefully restricted, removing a huge threat to sustaining those species.

3. States allow sustainable use of sport fish and wildlife by law, not by market pressures, land ownership or special privilege. The public has input into how these resources are allocated.

4. The democracy of hunting is emphasized. In the European model, wildlife was allocated by land ownership and privilege. In North America, anyone in good standing can participate.

5. Hunters and anglers fund conservation, including protections for wildlife species that are not harvested, by purchasing hunting and fishing licenses and paying excise taxes on recreational equipment.

6. Many fish and wildlife species are an international resource. Species, such as migratory fish transcend boundaries, requiring cooperative management.

7. Science is the proper tool for developing fisheries policy. This is a key concept of fish and wildlife management emphasized by Theodore Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold and many other conservation leaders.

We hope you find an opportunity this Hunting and Fishing Day to celebrate the conservation successes brought about by hunters and anglers.  However, more importantly, we hope you find a way to take a youth with you to have a wonderful, fun and healthy day enjoying Florida’s tremendous fishing, hunting and wildlife-viewing opportunities.

Instant licenses are available at MyFWC.com/License or by calling 888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356). Report violators by calling *FWC or #FWC on your cell phone, or 888-404-3922. Visit http://www.myfwc.com/Fishing/ for more Fish Busters’ columns.

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