The amount of water accumulation after Fay was substantial and led to plenty of flooding. The next bad news is that two new storms – Gustav and Hanna – are about to give us more rain. A few days ago I went to check on my hunting stand. To my dismay, after cutting up four fallen trees blocking the road, I found the water so deep that it was impassable to get to the stand. It was an exciting day though. I saw seven deer including a buck in velvet and roughly 27 wild pigs, and several hawks. A visit into nature – be it on the water or in the woods - gives me a feeling of excitement intermixed with complacency and tranquility. To quote Henry David Thoreau, “We can never have enough of Nature.”
Offshore the King Mackerel continue to be the main trolling fish, Capt. John Krall limited out on them on his latest trip offshore Barracuda and little tunny added to his catch of trolling fish. Capt. Krall also said that the bottom had apparently been disturbed by Fay. He said one of his favorite Genuine American Red Snappers spots was as empty as old Mother Hubbard’s cupboard. Not to be outdone by some “wind and rain”, this experienced captain tried other spots where he thought they might be. Years of experience paid off and the anglers came home with some great bottom catches of not only Red Snapper but also a good catch of very large Vermillion snappers, as well as Lane snapper, gray triggerfish, and black sea bass. His boat also landed a sixty pound Cobia. Although he not catch a sailfish, there should be an increase in catches of Pez Vela, that will gradually rise in frequency through the end of November as they head southward. Past the 28 fathom curve things were reportedly slow.
Good news for the east coast is No Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was detected this week in water samples collected from the Mosquito Lagoon (Volusia County), Banana River (Brevard County) or Indian River Lagoon (Brevard and Indian River counties). The same results existed in Northwest Florida. However, in Southwest Florida background concentrations of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, were detected this week in a single water sample collected 36 miles west of Venice (Sarasota County). Additional samples collected offshore of Sarasota County, as well as samples collected offshore of Monroe County, contained no K. brevis. All alongshore samples collected between Pinellas and Collier counties were free of K. brevis. The FWRI Red Tide Status Line is now available to callers to hear a recording detailing red tide conditions throughout the state. FWRI updates the recording each Friday by 5 p.m. after sampling efforts for the week have been completed and analyzed. Red Tide Status Line: (866) 300-9399 (toll-free inside Florida only); (727) 552-2448 (outside Florida).
In the eighty degree surf, a few hundred feet offshore the mullet are thick, as were the pogies (menhaden). Sharks, tarpon and King Mackerel have been feasting upon them. In the surf, black and red drum, flounder and whiting were pulled from the surf. In the Inlet, Capt. Fred Robert reports the water temperature is in the upper seventies at the inlet and landed 11 redfish from 20-43 pounds and five tarpon from 50 to 90 pounds. He also reports that red drum (redfish) are responding well to live mullet baits. This action should peak over this Labor Day weekend. Also there is good snook and gray snapper catches near structure. In the Halifax River, snook and flounder are producing most of the action mainly on shrimp. A number of legal mangrove snapper have been caught at night as have been some snook around the bridges that were released. As of midnight earlier today, snook season reopened in Volusia County. Remember the slot size for snook is 28 – 32 inches. In the Tomoka area, there are also reports of reds, trout and flounder in the river but not too many pompano have been caught in the river. The old captain, Capt. Kent Gibbens stills is slaying the snook – one of his clients released a 33 inch snook using a jig. There were also redfish, trout and flounder reports. Sadly my two yankee friends “Rich Brothers” got skunked twice this week as they beat the waters for their favorite eating fish – the horrible tasting bluefish. However, Rich C. got envious of Rich A.’ success in catching catfish using peanut butter “balls”, which he took off the sandwiches he had brought to eat. Rich C. had only brought jelly sandwiches and found out the jelly washed off the hooks.
Sheriff Ben Johnson’s BATTLE OF THE BADGES FAMILY FUNFEST and INSHORE FISHING TOURNAMENT will take place at the Brannon Center on September 19-21, 2008. This event is a fund raiser for the Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches. This will be a Redfish and Trout Tournament In addition to the tournament there will be vendors, rides, truck and car shows, and children’s fishing clinics taught by members of the Mid-Coast Chapter of CCA -Florida, and many other events and happenings.
The Ray Cook Redfish Spot Tournament has been rescheduled to September 13 with the Captain’s meeting September 10th at 1900 hours. At Lagoon Bait and Tackle, 700 North US1 in Oak Hill. Details are available at 386-345-0023.
As Hurricane Gustav pounded the northern Gulf Coast Monday, September 1, 2008, 34 law enforcement personnel from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) assembled in Milton High School to move in behind the storm. The FWC deployed 31 officers, two mechanics, and a radio technician to assist local authorities in Louisiana with search and rescue .operations during the critical two to three days after the brunt of the hurricane. The FWC officers had 22 small, shallow draft boats in tow and other equipment to find and rescue stranded people.
Louisiana has agreed to reimburse Florida for the cost of assistance. According to FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto “We have the equipment, the training, and the experience to help our friends in Louisiana survive this storm. That carries with it the moral obligation to do our part for them, and that can count on us to do all we can without outing our own residents at risk.
Governor Christ, who also made resources from other state agencies available for the operation, accompanied the FWC convoy from the Santa Rosa County High school to the Alabama State line. FWC Majors Curtis Brown and Brett Newton will command the agency’s search and rescue efforts and direct officers to trouble spots identified by Louisiana officials.
FWC personnel on the scene include the agency’s Special Operations Group from the Northwest and North Central regions. Special Operations Groups are FWC officers with special training and equipment to assist in natural and man made disasters and who have agreed to deployment at any time regardless of their situations at home.
Three years ago, the officers moved into Mississippi in the wale of Hurricane Katrina with crucial law enforcement and life saving rescue efforts. Local agencies lost all their emergency equipment, vehicles and communications and relied on the FWC for help.
Meanwhile, FWC leaders are watching Hurricane Hanna as it approaches Florida. Other FWC resources are on standby and the FWC units in Louisiana will return to Florida if needed to cope with that storm.
It has been learned that the efforts of many recreational associations, individuals, other fishing groups, and the oil and gas industry, have been successful in having the "Islands in the Stream" (Gulf of Mexico Concept) removed from consideration by the President for creation of a national marine monument in the Gulf of Mexico. NACO President, Capt. Bob Zales, II is the Vice Chairman of the Marine Protected Area Federal Advisory Committee and that committee has developed a "National Framework for the National System of MPAs" which will be announced soon. One of the purposes of the "Framework" is to provide guidance on the creation of MPAs and NACO supports full and complete stakeholder involvement when discussing any MPA concept. "I am pleased that we were able to bring this issue to the attention of so many people and work with many organizations to help the President understand that using his "Executive Order" process was the wrong process to use to create another national marine monument in the Gulf of Mexico. NACO fully supports complete open discussion of the concept and trust the ability of the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and the National Ocean Service to listen to all stakeholders in any possible creation of new MPAs," said Capt. Zales.
It has been written; “Bait the hook well; the fish will bite.” 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 more important than that.
Tight lines,
Capt. Budd
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