CCA Florida is partnering with Tampa Bay Watch to install a series of new oyster shell bars on the shoreline of Shultz Preserve in Tampa Bay and we are looking for volunteers.

Recreational anglers targeting Red Drum in northern Florida can soon take home more of the popular fish, thanks to a change approved Nov. 16 by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). The decision came during the first day of the two-day November Commission meeting in Key Largo.

Thanks to successful spotted seatrout management, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted Nov. 16 to increase both commercial and recreational fishing opportunities for the popular fish.

"What we are trying to do is be fair in a fishery that is in abundance, and in some cases, way in abundance," said Chairman Kathy Barco. "We are dealing with a success story."

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) moved Nov. 16 to prohibit the harvest of tiger sharks and three species of hammerheads from state waters in an effort to further
protect these top predators that rely on Florida waters to survive. The action was taken during the first day of the Commission’s two-day meeting in Key Largo.

“Sometimes the appropriate measures of conservation are the problems we avoid, not the problems we have to fix,” said Commissioner Brian Yablonski.

Remember the Clean Boating Act of 2008? The bi-partisan federal legislation stopped recreational boats from falling under Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) permit requirements originally targeting “normal operating discharges” from commercial ships. However, the Act required the EPA to analyze recreational boat discharges and eventually mandate “Management Practices” to address environmental concerns.
 
Now the Agency is asking boaters to speak up about how they operate and maintain their boat as it moves forward developing and eventually implementing those management practices. The deadline for comments is June 2.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) placed the proposed redfish rule amendments on hold until their November Commission meeting. CCA Florida is opposed to the increase in bag limit and urged the FWC to wait until they received the most updated assessment on redfish which is due later this year.

“Florida’s redfish fishery is so valuable and important that a few more months to insure that the data and assumptions are correct and understood is certainly warranted,” said Ted Forsgren, CCA Florida Executive Director. “We greatly appreciated the Commission’s decision to get the most updated info before taking final action,” said Don Roberts, CCA Florida Chairman.

On Show Me The Fish Charters we are experiencing mangrove snapper madness. Catching lots of monster mangrove snapper up to 6 lbs, plus tasty yellowtail snapper, lane snapper, vermillion snappers, super bad amberjacks, porgys, sea bass, and triggerfish to fill our coolers. On the same wrecks, reefs, and rock piles,without even trying we are catching and releasing over-limit catches of gag grouper up to 20 lbs, fishing way off the bottom targeting amberjacks. There is also an over-abundance of American red snapper hitting the bait before the other fish. I never thought I would see the day when two of my favorite species became a nuisance while targeting other fish. All is not lost we can still fill the ice box up with all those other tasty snapper, reef fish and AJ's for the meat hunters and still punish the guys that want to fight big fish and get it on with a big Amberjack. Always keep a flatline out this time of year for a blackfin tuna and cobia. I forecast if there are no more freezes and the rest of the winter is warm we could have some crazy kingfish action early. Best action is finding an area that has not been hammered by a bunch of boats and you will have that trip of a life time. I recommend wrecks and springs in 150 ft plus using very large live baits and smaller live baits and cut sardines for the snappers.

As Florida’s seasonal residents make their way south by car or plane each year, a two-legged species joins the annual migration towards warmer days and brighter sunshine. If you’re out on the water during the winter, you shouldn’t have much trouble spotting them. In addition to being white as snow, they are among the largest birds in North America. 

The 17th Annual Monofilament Cleanup Day, sponsored by Tampa Bay Watch and Audubon of Florida, will take place on Saturday, October 16th. Each year, thousands of feet of fishing line become entangled on Tampa Bay’s colonial bird nesting islands and shorelines and pose a fatal hazard to birds and other wildlife. This cleanup event helps to reduce the threat of entanglement while recycling the fishing line.

“Our annual clean up mobilizes the people who love and use the bay the most to help us clear important nesting habitat of dangerous fishing line.” said Ann Hodgson, Audubon’s Gulf Coast Research Director. “This event is a great way for folks to be good stewards of Tampa Bay, and save a lot of birds in the process.”