When it comes to fishing, the bite is definitely in the early morning way before nine o’clock.
The sea surface temperature at Ponce Inlet is in the mid-80s. On the piers and in the surf, a lot of whiting are being caught along with some flounder and black drum. In Ponce Inlet, some jack crevalles have been landed. The tarpon bite is not happening. In Mosquito and Indian River lagoons, there are plenty of redfish, jack, crevalles, and snook being caught. They are feeding mostly on small baits.
Shrimping in the Halifax River seems to have come to a stop. This may be due to the recent low pressure systems and should pick up again by the week-end. Slot-sized redfish action has been good in the early morning and the evening. Also there are some reports of medium to large flounder.
Offshore, the cold water upwelling is still present in sporadic spots with temperatures in the low 70s. Trolling continues to be slow. Black sea bass and triggerfish are providing good eating from the inshore reefs. A lot of anglers are catching cobia, vermillion snappers, triggerfish, and red snappers are providing the action. Several catches of gag and red grouper were also reported.
Lobster season under way
Recreational and commercial harvest seasons for spiny lobster in Florida is here and runs through through March 31. During the season, the daily recreational bag and on-the-water possession limit is six spiny lobsters per person, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Balloons hurt wildlife habitat
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reminds event organizers and other Floridians about a law prohibiting the release of more than nine lighter-than-air balloons within a 24-hour period.
While releasing balloons is often an idea of groups that wish to honor an event or lost loved one, the FWC encourages the public to choose more environmentally responsible actions for their events.
Balloons released in Florida almost inevitably end up in the Gulf of Mexico or Atlantic Ocean. Wildlife, especially sea turtles, mistake balloons for food, and strings attached to balloons can entangle birds and other animals. The release into the atmosphere of large numbers of balloons inflated with lighter-than-air gases poses a danger and nuisance to the environment, particularly to wildlife and marine animals. Violators could incur $250 in fines, according to Florida law.
There are exceptions for scientific or meteorological balloons released by a government agency or under government contract, hot air balloons that are recovered after launching and balloons released indoors. The law also allows for the release of balloons that are biodegradable or photodegradable under FWC rules. Since 1989, the FWC has received only one such balloon design for review, and that balloon was not approved.
Capt. Budd's PostScript
It has been written “Fishing is the great occasion when we can return to the fine simplicity of our forefathers.” So whether you charter, ride a head boat, run your own vessel, stay in the river, surf fish, or fish from shore or a bridge, there are fish to be caught. Fishing is not a matter of life or death, it is so much important than that.
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