Written by Staff | 27 November 2013
Posted in News

A recent “Grass Roots Alert” from CCA explained the new alternatives for the Biscayne National Park Management Plan as follows:

Biscayne National Park has issued a Supplemental Draft General Management Plan which includes two additional alternatives. These two new alternatives, Alternatives 6 and 7 both establish a Special Recreation Zone (SRZ) and are similar except that Alternative 6 allows access to the SRZ based upon a limited number of annual permits and Alternative 7 allows general access except it is closed to fishing during the summer months. You can find the plans by clicking here.

Alternate 6 is the Park Service's new preferred alternative and it eliminates the large marine reserve which was universally rejected by Florida's recreational anglers. The preferred alternative also removes the large no combustion engine zones and in their place includes slow-speed and no-wake zones.

As part of the preferred alternative a SRZ would be established in the south east portion of the Park and includes the southern portion of the reef track that runs from Hawk Channel east to the Park's eastern boundary. The SRZ comprises approximately 14,500 acres or 8% of the parks waters.

Under Alternative 6 a recreational angler would be required to have a special permit to fish within the SRZ. The permit would be a dual state and federal permit and would be administered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Only 500 of these special activity permits would be issued annually with 430 assigned to recreational anglers and 70 being assigned to licensed guides.

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Written by Capt. Ron Presley | 26 November 2013
Posted in Road Trips

Red Hot Bass Fishing on the Red River

This is the second of a two part series about fishing opportunities near Shreveport-Bossier, LA. The first part can be read here. Bass, are a popular target in area waters and the Red River is nothing less than fabulous for chasing burly bass. Add the outstanding accommodations, plenty of good grub, the casinos, and Shreveport-Bossier makes an attractive destination for anglers, friends and their families.

The fishing is so good that the Red River attracts all kinds of fishing tournaments, from local, state and regional bass clubs to national pro championships. The river has always been good bass fishing, but recent developments are going to make it better and even more attractive to anglers.

This new development is a stocking program that guarantees bass fishing is going to get better in the river. The program recently supplied 28,000 Florida strain largemouth bass to the Red River. The stocking was a joint effort or the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and the Red River Waterway Commission. 

This placement is part of a five-year plan to introduce $50,000 worth of bass fingerlings annually into the five pools of the Red River. The fingerlings, ranging from 4- to 7-inches, were distribute evenly into the pools created by the locks on the river. Anglers can access any of the pools depending on where they launch and can travel from pool to pool by using the locks that separate them.

Recreational anglers will be impacted greatly by these stockings. "These fish should have a huge impact on recreational fishing," explained LDWF Secretary Robert Barham. "A few years from now, some of these fish will grow to be 10 pounds or more."

Photo: Corps of Engineers Locks createfive pools on the Red River.

The geography of the river offers about every type of cover and structure a bass angler could wish for. There is plenty of standing timber both shallow and deep, fallen logs, brush piles, rocks, grasses and lillypads. Many anglers like to get off the river and fish the many oxbow lakes, sloughs and creeks that can be found connecting to the river. The river itself can be challenging with tugboats and barges occupying their share of the water but the abundance of fish makes the challenge of a little commercial traffic worthwhile.

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Written by Staff | 26 November 2013
Posted in News

Governor Rick Scott and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced that Friday, Nov. 29 will be a license-free freshwater fishing day, and Saturday, November 30 will be a saltwater license-free fishing day.

Governor Scott said, “License-free fishing days serve as a great opportunity for families to enjoy the incredible fishing opportunities that Florida has to offer. After the Thanksgiving holiday, families will be able to head to the water with their visiting guests and experience some of the best fishing in the world.”

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Written by Staff | 26 November 2013
Posted in News

Gag grouper will close for recreational harvest in most Gulf of Mexico state waters Dec. 4, with the last day of harvest being Dec. 3. All Gulf federal waters will close Dec. 3, with the last day of harvest being Dec. 2.

State waters off Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties were open from April 1 through June 30 and were not open during the July 1 through Dec. 3 season. Monroe County is also excluded because it follows Atlantic rules for gag grouper.

The FWC manages marine fish from the shore to 9 nautical miles in the Gulf of Mexico.

These closures are an effort to help rebuild gag grouper populations in the Gulf of Mexico back to strong sustainable levels. 

To learn more, visitMyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Saltwater,” “Recreational Regulations” and “Gulf Grouper.”