Get Ready for Gag Grouper

Gag Grouper season opens July 1. Get the heavy metal ready.

Terry Tomalin of the Tampa Bay Times has all the details.

Offshore anglers have spent the months in port waiting for the chance to catch these prized bottom fish, once the mainstay for Florida's west coast charter boat fleets.
Grouper details

Scallop season set to open

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has announced the dates for the 2013 scallop season.

It’s that time of year again to unfurl the dive flag, put a mask on and head to the coast to collect some bay scallops. The recreational season is open in Gulf of Mexico state waters (shore to 9 nautical miles) from the Pasco-Hernando county line to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County starting July 1. The season will remain open through Sept. 24, with the first day of the closure on Sept. 25.

Dates for scallop season 

The State of the Everglades

 A story in the Fort Myers News-Press examines a stretch of U.S. 41 and changes that could help the Everglades.


 The largest dam in Florida has sprung a leak, finally.
Actually the “dam” is the Tamiami Trail, the “leak” a one-mile bridge that will soon allow water to flow south through the Shark River Valley for the first time in nearly a century. The new bridge is just west of Miami in the Everglades, just east of Coopertown.
“Floridians and Americans can see where the dollars actually go and how this works,” said Eric Eikenberg, director of the Everglades Foundation. “In our view, it’s the most important road project in the U.S Park Service. It’s the lifeblood of Everglades National Park, which is desperate for water.”
The stretch of U.S. 41 that connects Naples to Miami is widely considered one of the state’s biggest ecological travesties. Built in a era guided more by draining South Florida for development than preserving the Everglades, Tamiami Trail choked off the famed River of Grass, severing Shark River Valley and cutting off freshwater flows to the creeks, rivers and lakes that flow into Florida Bay.

Glades Water flow

Gotta Love Doonesbury

My professional life in a nutshell. Doonesbury nailed it in this June 24th cartoon. Enjoy.

June 24th strip

Bonefish Decline Examined

Susan Cocking of the Miami Herald looks at bonefish and the species is declining.

A decline in prey like shrimp and crabs is not the main cause of the drop in bonefish populations in Florida Bay, according to a one-year study conducted by Audubon Florida and funded by the nonprofit Bonefish Tarpon Trust.
The study by researchers Pete Frezza, Shawn Liston, Jerry Lorenz and Michelle Robinson suggests other factors — the diversion and quality of freshwater delivered to Florida Bay; toxins in bottom sediments; pollutants from farms and yards; increased boating pressure; mercury contamination; and ocean acidification — might share the blame for the decline of a sport fish that pumps $427 million annually into the Florida Keys economy.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/06/16/3453183/several-factors-suggested-for.html#storylink=cpy

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/06/16/3453183/several-factors-suggested-for.html

Picnic Island

Leaving the canoe launch creek.

Heading back to the launch.

It's been a while since I've been to Picnic Island. The tides weren't great, but I got out anyway earlier this week. Low wind. Not much water movement and it's too hot, even in the morning, for sight fishing with a fly rod. The reds and snook are either deep on the outside or camped under the mangroves to cool off. I can't say I blame them. Temperatures were in the mid 80s around 8, 8:30. Storms chased me off the water by 10:30.

Should Snook Season Re-open?

Neil Taylor weighs in. Good story. He believes snook season should stay closed another season instead of re-opening in the Gulf Sept. 1. I agree.
Snook season

Keys Tournament Info

The Del Brown Tournament is not that far away. Permit beware.  Thanks to Bonefish & Tarpon Trust for the info.
Tournament story

Beach Snook?

Got out reasonably early for snook on the beach at Honeymoon Island. A west wind, though light, ruined that plan. The wind was supposed to be out the south early, but the forecast was off. Didn't even take the fly rod out of the case.

Honeymoon Island beach on a recent weekday morning.

 

The Herald Weighs In

Miami Herald outdoors writer Susan Cocking chronicles last week's FWC meeting in Lakeland. Nice work.
The Herald's take

Weedon Island in June

Recently fished Weedon Island park on a windless weekday morning. The tide was lousy, but there were still plenty of snook stacked along the mangroves. Had as many shots as I wanted along the mangroves, but no takers emerged. I tried a Deceiver. A friend of mine tried a soft plastic on a spinning rod. Didn't matter. The fish would follow, but not cooperate.

Always good to have a map.

Early morning not too far from the canoe launch.

A big stingray greets us off the bat.

The FWC and Tarpon II

A soon-to-be illegal jig. Photo: Courtesy of the FWC.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission approved protective measures for tarpon and took the first step toward regulating how the sought-after fish can be caught in one of the state's most popular fishing destinations.
The FWC moved forward with a proposal that restricts jigging in Boca Grande Pass, one of the most famous tarpon spots in the world. The draft rule, which passed 4-3 during a public meeting in Lakeland on Wednesday, prohibits weighting a jg at the bottom of the hook.
The decision drew praise from conservation groups, who say the big fish in the Pass have been foul hooked and snagged with the jigging technique, which they say stresses the fish.
"Getting these important Boca Grande Pass gear restrictions brought to the table for discussion was a unique group effort not commonly seen in the world today," Save the Tarpon posted on its Facebook page. "A group of individuals from all over the world using nothing but their combined voices to make a difference. It's a beautiful thing. Again, thank you."
The heart of the debate centers on the Professional Tournament Tarpon Series, a big-money event that draws competitors from around the state to Boca Grande every summer. Save the Tarpon supporters say the PTTS competitors snag many tarpon and often mishandle their catch during the weigh-in process, accusations the PTTS denies and says lack scientific evidence.
The FWC is expected to vote on its gear restriction proposal in September.
"We're confident in the system and hopeful that the FWC arrive at a final decision based on the current evidence entered in the record, which fails to demonstrate any scientific, or biological impetus, that would necessitate restricting the rights of recreational anglers," the PTTS said in a statement. "Thank you to the hundred-plus supporters who were present at the meeting, and those who emailed and called to voice opposition to the rule, and the unjustified restrictions it will place on citizens and anglers in Florida."
In a related matter, the FWC formally approved tarpon and bonefish as catch-and-release quarry. Starting Sept. 1, the harvesting of tarpon will be prohibited unless the angler is pursuing an IGFA record.
Temporary possession allows for photography, measurement of length and girth and scientific sampling, with the stipulation that tarpon more than 40 inches must remain in the water.
The bonefish tournament exemption permit has been eliminated. This exemption allowed tournament anglers to temporarily possess bonefish for transport to a tournament scale.

The FWC and tarpon

The FWC commissioners met in Lakeland today to discuss tarpon fishing regulations, specifically the issue of catch and release and the gear used to fish for the silver king in Boca Grande.

Don't expect much to be decided today. After nearly four hours of public input, the commission was still mired in debate about jigging --- whether it's good or bad for conservation. The jiggers say there's no scientific proof that jigging hurts the tarpon; conservationists say it's a matter of common sense and erring on the side of caution.

In a related matter, the FWC will formally vote on tightening catch-and-release regulations for tarpon. Stay tuned.

An upate: The FWC approved its draft rule restricting jigging in the Pass. Just got official confirmation.

FWC meeting set

The Florida Fish Wildlife and Conservation Commission will meet Wednesday morning to discuss catch-and-release rules for tarpon and the appropriate gear for pursuing the silver king in Boca Grande. Terry Tomalin of the Tampa Bay Times wrote a story about some of the issues involved with tarpon, the Professional Tarpon Tournament series and those who oppose the big-money summer event.

A preview of the big day

Lefty's Low Elbow Revisited

I'm determined to get this motion down pat. Very efficient. Keeps the path of the rod tip straight. Helps maintain tight loops, too.

A Look Back at a Familiar Face

Tony Petrella passes away. A good guy. He had a fly named the Commissioner. I got in touch with him about how to tie it. Very helpful, a rarity these days.

The sad news

BTT and the FWC

In less than a week, the FWC will vote on proposed catch-and-release regulations for tarpon. Here's a preview of a few of the issues from Bonefish and Tarpon Trust.
BTT and tarpon

French Open

 I get it. This is an outdoors blog, but the fishing's been lousy. Too much wind, too much rain and not enough good opportunities to be on the water throughout much of May and part of June.
The French Open has kept me entertained. Roger Federer is one my favorite athletes of all time. The 17-time Grand Slam champ has the best balance of anyone I've ever seen in any sport. Nevertheless, exceptional grace was not enough to topple Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who won the quarterfinal 7-5, 6-3, 6-3.
There's still Wimbledon. I hope the FedExpress makes a longer run on grass.

Snapper Regs

Good story in the Tampa Bay Times. Can the Feds and the state get on the same page when it comes to what's best for anglers? Terry Tomalin weighs in.

The state of snapper

More yoga

The half-warrior pose. Great for the hip flexors and quads, which can tighten from too much time at the computer and not enough time on the water.  The hip flexors are important. One, they control, to some degree, how the foot lands. Two, if the hip flexors tighten, the hamstrings aren't far behind. The two balance each other.
The blocks help beginners maintain the pose correctly for longer periods of time. Thirty seconds is good for starters. A minute --- or longer --- is better.

Fitness for Waders

Normally you wouldn't think of fly fishing as a terribly taxing sport. That's probably true if you're younger than 40. When middle age beckons, the body just doesn't respond as it used to. Stay up too late and you're dog tired the next day. Jog a mile or two without stretching and you're sore. Recovery time and proper preparation is a must if you're even remotely active.
When I wade for a few hours, my plantar fasciitis rages. For a while, I simply avoided the issue. A few Aleve and I trudged on.
Now I have a solution. Yoga. I used to think yoga was for the Gumby's of the world, the ex-dancers with  exceptional flexibility. Now I realize the naturally stiff can benefit.
The pose is called Downward Dog, a stretch man's best friend uses after a long snooze. Here's a little instruction on how to stretch the hamstrings and calves.