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Photo by Capt. Budd Neviaser. Cutline.Wilma Myers holds the first redfish she's ever caught as she stands next to Karl Root with his pompano.
Again we have been blessed with no reports of Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, being detected in the samples collected from Mosquito Lagoon, Indian River lagoon, or the Banana River, thus far this month.
When the weather and seas cooperate, offshore charter trips report kingfish action is still hot on the party grounds and in areas of similar depth, sea surface temperature and subsurface terrain. Cobia action is good especially on the bottom. Catches of gag and red grouper have slowed compared to a month ago. The genuine Red Snapper bite is terrific. While there are many undersized red snapper, many boats are still limiting out.
The bite on triggerfish, lane, mutton and mangrove snapper and the tasty black sea bass are still good on the bottom. In the surf whiting and bluefish continue to produce most of the action. Black drum, pompano, Gaff-top sail cats and an occasional sheepshead are also being caught. There are many sheepsheads present but most are concentrating on mating instead of feeding, which is understandable.
Best baits still seem to be sand fleas and clams. In Ponce Inlet black drum, red drum, pompano, bluefish, are producing most of the action. Capt Fred Robert is still getting a lot of snook hits and releases. In the Halifax River, black drum are still good around the bridges. In the creeks redfish, some smaller tarpon and snook are biting well on shrimp. Redfish continue to be hot in the Tomoka area using shrimp near the oyster bars. Small tarpon are still frequently being hooked up in the Tomoka area.
“Capt” Rich A., the boisterous yankee “wanna-be” hardhead catfish guide? He finally ended up scrapping the refurbished boat with which he nearly killed himself. However, his counterpart of the “Rich brother duo from New York” joined another of his fishing buddies, Tom D., as they decided to take a canoe trip up the little Wekiva River and do some drift fishing. So they paddled on up to the bridge and then turned around so they could drift back to the main part of theriver, and fish.
They drifted at a pretty good rate and suddenly bumped into a big old stump sticking out of the water, which caused them to become separated from their canoe. After they retrieved all of their gear and got the canoe righted and empty of water, they continued on their venture. They hit a few good holes and landed some big large mouth bass. They kept on drifting, pushing off from the occasional stumps they encountered. As they came around a big bend in the river, they agreed to drop an anchor and fish awhile. So Tom threw his anchor, a cement block, up on the bank and they commenced to “drown some worms”. Tom put two lines out and settled down to wait for a bite. As he sat there he began to look around to see what was of interest. Spotting an old ole white oak tree with dozens of branches, Tom’s eyes became fixated upon one skinny branch sticking out over the water ending nearly over the middle of the river.
Actually the tip of the limb was just above the last stump that they had barely missed and it was making erratic movements. Then, looking to see what Rich C. was doing, he immediately realized that Rich’s line had snagged a nearby limb and was having no success in retrieving it. Looking back at the limb, Tom noticed the presence of a large, fat gray squirrel sitting upon the skinny tree limb, jutting out over the water.
The squirrel was acting peculiarly as it would run out on the tree limb causing it to bend downward in response to its weight and then would get alarmed and would ruin back up the limb to a more secure portion of the limb. It was amusing to Tom to watch the squirrel, which acted like it was on a mission. Well, after four trips out and back, the squirrel exhibited more confidence as it ran all the way out on that limb and rode it down to that stump that was sticking out of the water. It hopped onto that stump, getting a reward for all his efforts as it consumed a big, fat acorn sitting in the center of that stump.
Tom yelled at Rich C. telling him to “check that out the critter”. With both of them watching the squirrel eat the acorn, a huge bass, (estimated to be 20-plus pounds) jumped out of the water and in one fluid motion swallowed the whole squirrel hitting the water on the other side of the stump. Before either of the two men could say anything to each other, the same bass reappeared jumping out of the water and released another acorn that it held in its mouth atop the stump.
Now I have to be candid with you – that is a hard “nut” to swallow. However, both of these gentlemen swear that the story is true. Now any reader of this blog, who must realize that the story is being related by two yankees (both from New York) who are swearing to the accuracy of this preposterous story. If you choose to believe them, so be it.
The FWC released preliminary 2008 manatee mortality data. Biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute documented 337 manatee carcasses in state waters in 2008. The low number of red tide-related mortalities last year helped the number of documented manatee deaths remain below the five-year average of 357. Watercraft strikes and perinatal (newborn) deaths were the two most commonly documented manatee mortality categories in 2008. The numbers for both categories were above the five-year average.
Biologists documented 90 watercraft-related deaths and a record high of 101 newborn deaths. Biologists report that a variety of factors could have contributed to the high number of newborn deaths in 2008. These factors include the possibility that there were more manatee births or that biologists recovered a higher proportion of manatee calf carcasses. The FWC uses trends in mortality figures to monitor ongoing and emerging threats to the manatee population.
Throughout the year, FWC researchers, managers and law enforcement staff work closely together to evaluate mortality data and identify necessary actions. FWC law enforcement, in cooperation with partner agencies, uses knowledge of local boating habits, well-posted speed zones, and up-to-date manatee information to focus on-the-water enforcement operations. Enforcing manatee protection zones and informing boaters about manatee conservation is a priority for the FWC. To report a dead or injured manatee, call the FWC Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC. For additional information about manatee conservation, visit MyFWC.com/manatee.
For more information on manatee mortality research, visit http://research.MyFWC.com/manatees NMFS issues this final rule to adopt regulations to implement the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The regulations establish a national registry of recreational anglers fishing in the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), for anadromous species in tidal waters or for Continental Shelf fishery resources beyond the EEZ. Persons will not be required to register with NMFS if they are licensed by a state that provides data determined to be sufficient for the agency's needs.
The requirement is intended to improve existing angling effort surveys in order to improve their efficiency, to reduce possible sources of bias and to improve confidence in survey results by anglers and fishery managers. DATES: This final rule is effective Jan. 29, except for the amendments to Sec. 600.1405 which are effective Jan. 1, 2010. ADDRESSES: Copies of the Regulatory Impact Review/Regulatory Flexibility Act Analysis are available from: Gordon Colvin, Office of Science and Technology, National Marine Fisheries Service, 1315 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Background information and documents are available at the NMFS Office of Science and Technology website at www.st.nmfs.noaa.gov/mrip/ Written comments regarding the burden-hour estimates or other aspects of the collection-of-information requirements contained in this final rule may be submitted to NMFS Office of Science and Technology and by e-mail to David_Rostker@omb.eop.gov, or fax to (202) 395-7285. For further information, please contact Gordon Colvin, phone: 301-713-2367; fax: 301-713-1875; or e-mail: gordon.colvin@noaa.gov.
COAST GUARD REQUEST FOR COMMITTEE MEMBERS: This notice requests individuals interested in serving on an Area Maritime Security Committee in any Captain of the Port Zone, nationwide, to submit their applications for membership to their local Captain of the Port. These committees advise the Secretary of DHS, through the Coast Guard, on matters relating to maritime security in their geographic area. DATES: Requests for membership should reach the applicable Captain of the Port by January 21, 2009. ADDRESSES: Applications for membership should be submitted to your local Captain of the Port at the following address(s): SECTOR ANCHORAGE, 510 L STREET-SUITE 100, ANCHORAGE, AK 99501-1946, POC: Jim Hubbard, Primary Phone: (907) 271-6700. SECTOR BALTIMORE, 2401 HAWKINS POINT RD, BALTIMORE, MD 21226, POC: Rick Sparacino, Primary Phone: (410) 576-2561. SECTOR BOSTON, 427 COMMERCIAL ST, BOSTON, MA 02109, POC: Phillip Smith, Primary Phone: (617) 223-3025. SECTOR BUFFALO, 1 FUHRMANN BLVD, BUFFALO, NY 14203, POC: Timothy Balunis, Primary Phone: (716) 843-9315. SECTOR CHARLESTON, 196 TRADD ST, CHARLESTON, SC 29401, POC: James Mahney, Primary Phone: (843) 724-7600. SECTOR CORPUS CHRISTI, 8930 OCEAN DR., CORPUS CHRISTI, TX 78419, POC: John Zarbock, Primary Phone: (361) 939-6393. SECTOR DELAWARE BAY, 1 WASHINGTON AVE, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19147, POC: Robert Ward, Primary Phone: (215) 271-4800. SECTOR DETROIT, 110 MOUNT ELLIOTT ST, DETROIT, MI 48207, POC: Matthew Hoppe, Primary Phone: (313) 568-9600. MARINE SAFETY UNIT DULUTH, 600 S LAKE AVE., DULUTH, MN 55802, POC: Jared Angelle, Primary Phone: (218) 720-5286. SECTOR GUAM, PSC 455 BOX 176, FPO, GU 96540, POC: LT Amy Wirts, Primary Phone: (671) 355-4900. CG SECTOR HAMPTON ROADS, 4000 COAST GUARD BOULEVARD, PORTSMOUTH, VA 23703, POC: Rodger Tomlinson, Primary Phone: (757) 668-5555 Ext. 2. SECTOR HONOLULU, 400 SAND ISLAND PARKWAY, HONOLULU, HI 96819, POC: William Deluca, Primary Phone: (808) 842-2640. SECTOR HOUSTON-GALVESTON, 9640 CLINTON DRIVE, HOUSTON, TX 77029, POC: John Walker, Primary Phone: (713) 671-5100. SECTOR JACKSONVILLE, 4200 OCEAN STREET, ALTANTIC BEACH, FL 32233, POC: Thomas Taylor, Primary Phone: (904) 564-7500. USCG SECTOR JUNEAU, 2760 SHERWOOD LANE, SUITE 2A, JUNEAU, AK 99801-8545, POC: Robert Edwardson, Primary Phone: (907) 463-2450. SECTOR KEY WEST, 100 TRUMBO POINT ANNEX, KEY WEST, FL 33040, POC: LTJG Anna Dixon, Primary Phone: (305) 292-8722. SECTOR LAKE MICHIGAN, 2420 S LINCOLN MEMORIAL DR, MILWAUKEE, WI 53207, POC: Thomas Lake, Primary Phone: (414) 747-7100. SECTOR LONG ISLAND SOUND, 120 WOODWARD AVE, NEW HAVEN, CT 06512, POC: Scot Graham, Primary Phone: (203) 468-4401. SECTOR LOS ANGELES-LONG BEACH, 1001 S. SEASIDE AVE., BLDG 20, SAN PEDRO, CA 90731, POC: Chris Hogan, Primary Phone: (310) 521-3600. SECTOR LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVER, 2 AUCTION AVE., MEMPHIS, TN 38105, POC: Keith Jones, Primary Phone: (901) 544-3912. SECTOR MIAMI, 100 MACARTHUR CAUSEWAY, MIAMI BEACH, FL 33139, POC: Frank Cesario, Primary Phone: (305) 535-8700. SECTOR MOBILE, BLDG 101, BROOKLEY COMPLEX, MOBILE, AL 36615, POC: Louie Atchison, Primary Phone: (251) 441-5720. MSU MORGAN CITY, 800 DAVID DR RM 232, MORGAN CITY, LA 70380, POC: Joseph Pasqua, Primary Phone: (985) 380-5320. SECTOR NEW ORLEANS, 1615 POYDRAS ST, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70112, POC: Roy Ford, Primary Phone: (504) 589-6196. SECTOR NEW YORK, 212 COAST GUARD DR, STATEN ISLAND, NY 10305, POC: Frank Fiumano, Primary Phone: (718) 354-4037. SECTOR NORTH CAROLINA/MSU WILMINGTON, 2301 E. FORT MACON RD, ATLANTIC BEACH, NC 28512-5633, POC: David Morgan, Primary Phone: (252) 247-4519. SECTOR NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND, 259 HIGH STREET, SOUTH PORTLAND, ME 04106, POC: Arn Heggers, Primary Phone: (207) 767-0320. SECTOR OHIO VALLEY, 600 MARTIN LUTHER KING JR PL RM 409-D, LOUISVILLE, KY 40202-2242, POC: David Wuest, Primary Phone: (502)779- 5400. MSU PITTSBURGH, 100 FORBES AVE, STE 1150, PITTSBURGH, PA 15222, POC: ENS Matthew DeFusco, Primary Phone: (412) 644-5808. MSU PORT ARTHUR /MSU LAKE CHARLES, 2901 TURTLE CREEK DRIVE, PORT ARTHUR, TX 77642, POC: Robert Stegall, Primary Phone: (409) 723-6500. SECTOR PORTLAND, 6767 N BASIN AVE, PORTLAND, OR 97217, POC: David Maresh, Primary Phone: (503) 240-9310. SECTOR SAN DIEGO, 2710 NORTH HARBOR DRIVE, SAN DIEGO, CA 92101, POC: Rick Sorrell, Primary Phone: (619) 278-7033. SECTOR SAN FRANCISCO, 1 YERBA BUENA ISLAND, SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94130, POC: Paul Martin, Primary Phone: (415) 399-3547. SECTOR SAN JUAN, 5 CALLE LA PUNTILLA, SAN JUAN, PR 00901-1800, POC: Victor Gonzalez, Primary Phone: (787) 289-2041. SECTOR SAULT STE. MARIE, C/O COAST GUARD SECTOR, SAULT STE MARIE, MI 49783, POC: Lane Putala, Primary Phone: (906) 635-3340. MSU SAVANNAH, 100 W. OGLETHORPE AVE STE 1017, SAVANNAH, GA 31401, POC: LT Greg Reilly, Primary Phone: (912) 652-4353. SECTOR SEATTLE, 1519 ALASKAN WAY S, SEATTLE, WA 98134, POC: Joseph Dady, Primary Phone: (206) 217-6200. SECTOR SOUTHEASTERN NEW ENGLAND, 1 LITTLE HARBOR ROAD, WOODS HOLE, MA 02543-1099, POC: Peter Popko, Primary Phone: (866) 819-9128. SECTOR ST PETERSBURG, 155 COLUMBIA DR, TAMPA, FL 33606, POC: Edmond Morris, Primary Phone: (813) 228-2191 Ext. 8108. SECTOR UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER, 1222 SPRUCE ST, SUITE 7.103, ST LOUIS, MO 63103, POC: Todd Epperson, Primary Phone: (314) 269-2500. MSU VALDEZ, PO BOX 486/105 CLIFTON DRIVE, VALDEZ, AK 99686, POC: Jamie Schnider, Primary Phone: (907) 835-7200. For questions about submitting an application or about a specific Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC), contact the point of contact listed above with that AMSC in the ADDRESSES section. For general questions on AMSCs or this notice, contact LT Brian Zekus, Coast Guard, telephone 202-372-1116.
The National Marine Fisheries Service, announce a 90-day finding for a petition to list Atlantic wolffish (Anarhichas lupus) as endangered or threatened under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). We find that the petition presents substantial scientific information indicating the petitioned action may be warranted. We will conduct a status review of Atlantic wolffish to determine if the petitioned action is warranted. To ensure that the review is comprehensive, we solicit information pertaining to this species from any interested party. DATES: Information related to this petition finding must be received by March 6, 2009. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by the XRIN 0648-XM05, by any of the following methods: Electronic Submissions: Submit all electronic public comments via the Federal eRulemaking Portal http//www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. Mail or hand-delivery: Assistant Regional Administrator, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930. We will post all comments on http://www.regulations.gov. This generally means that we will post any personal information you provide us (see the Public Comments section below for more information). The petition and other pertinent information are also available electronically at the NMFS website at www.nero.noaa.gov/protres/CandidateSpeciesProgram/csr.htm. For more information, please contact: Kim Damon-Randall, NMFS, Northeast Regional Office (978) 281-9300 x6535 or Marta Nammack, NMFS, Office of Protected Resources (301) 713-1401.
The 2009 Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fisheries NMFS issues final specifications for the 2009 summer flounder, scup, and black sea bass fisheries. This final rule specifies allowed harvest limits for both commercial and recreational fisheries, including commercial scup possession limits. This action prohibits federally permitted commercial vessels from landing summer flounder in Delaware in 2009 due to continued quota repayment from previous years' overages. The actions of this final rule are necessary to comply with regulations implementing the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Fishery Management Plan (FMP), as well as to ensure compliance with the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act).
The intent of this action is to establish harvest levels and other management measures to ensure that target fishing mortality rates (F) or exploitation rates, as specified for these species in the FMP, are not exceeded. In addition, this action implements measures that ensure continued rebuilding of these three stocks that are currently under rebuilding plans. DATES: Effective Jan. 1, through Dec. 31. ADDRESSES: Copies of the specifications document, including the Environmental Assessment (EA), Regulatory Impact Review (RIR), Initial Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (IRFA), and other supporting documents used by the Summer Flounder, Scup, and Black Sea Bass Monitoring Committees and Scientific and Statistical Committee are available from Daniel Furlong, Executive Director, Mid-Atlantic Fishery Management Council, Room 2115, Federal Building, 300 South New Street, Dover, DE 19901-6790. The specifications document is also accessible via the Internet at http://www.nero.noaa.gov.
The Final Regulatory Flexibility Analysis (FRFA) consists of the IRFA, public comments and responses contained in this final rule, and the summary of impacts and alternatives contained in this final rule. Copies of the small entity compliance guide are available from Patricia A. Kurkul, Regional Administrator, Northeast Region, National Marine Fisheries Service, 55 Great Republic Drive, Gloucester, MA 01930-2298. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Michael Ruccio, Fishery Policy Analyst, (978) 281-9104. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) invites middle and high school art students to submit their manatee artwork in the Manatee Decal Art Contest by January 31, 2009. Students should coordinate with their school’s art teacher to submit their artwork. Since no school can submit more that five entrees. Contest rules are available on-line at www.MyFWC.com/manatee/ Decals are available at any Florida county tax collector’s office to individuals, who donate $5 or more to the Save the Manatee Trust Fund. Money from the sale of these decals supports manatee-protection efforts such as rehabilitation, rescue, research, enforcement and public education.
In June 2008, 15,000 decals with artwork provided by Palm beach County Junior, Austyn Bynon, were distributed statewide to tax collector offices for sale until June 2009. Design entries must be submitted on or before Jan. 31. On Feb. 13, the FWC staff will judge all qualified entries and the winning design will be used to create the new decals. For more information, contact Bonnie Abellera at 850-617-6052 or bonnie.abellera@myFWC.com.
It has been written; “True wisdom consists in not departing from nature and ion molding our conduct to her laws and model.” 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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