A restoration project at Tropical Fish Management Area (FMA), within Miami-Dade County’s Tropical Park will have positive impacts for both fish and anglers. Improved habitat created by Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists will lead to healthier fish populations as well as increased angling opportunities at the FMA.

Tropical FMA is one of the FWC’s management sites intended to provide the public with easy and affordable access to fishing and other nature-based recreational opportunities. Usually established with the help of a local cooperator – in this case, Miami-Dade County – FMAs provide amenities such as fish-stocking, special regulations to protect the fish populations, and vegetation management and enhancement.

Vegetation management and enhancement was the focus of this restoration work.

“The main goals of this project are to provide additional fishing and recreational opportunities to the public, while enhancing the habitat for fish and wildlife that live in or use the lake. We will accomplish this by reconnecting the north and south sections of the lake, opening up additional fishing access and planting native vegetation that will benefit fish and wildlife,” stated John Cimbaro, who has been overseeing Tropical FMA for 15 years. “Excessive cattail growth had blocked off the northern part of the lake, which we considered an important fish-production area. Cattail removal has reconnected the northern section with the rest of the lake, and opened up what should be a good fishing site there.” The project was completed by an FWC contractor, Texas Aquatic Harvesting, and was conducted in close coordination with Miami-Dade County. The county helped reduce project costs by disposing of all removed vegetation.

Components of the restoration program included removal of cattail and spatterdock (a type of water lily) that were reducing fish and wildlife use and blocking fishing access near the middle of the lake. The program also included restoration of native vegetation in the southern part of the lake, which serves as a “nursery area” for young fish. The nursery work required removal of cattail as well as nonnative Brazilian pepper trees. With the invasive vegetation removed, a follow-up project will plant native bulrush, spikerush and pond apple in its place.

“This will provide a shallow, vegetated area where juvenile fish can thrive and wading birds can forage, complementing both the fishery and wildlife use of the lake,” Cimbaro said.

Tropical FMA was established in 1991 and has become a popular fishing area over the years, supporting up to 6,000 hours of annual fishing effort. The most sought-after species in the lake include largemouth bass, catfish and sunfish. The FWC maintains the catfish fishery by stocking 6,000 channel catfish every year. More information about the site is available in the Tropical FMA brochure. To view this brochure or those of other fish management areas, visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Freshwater Fishing,” then “Sites & Forecasts.”  

You can download the Fish Orlando! app at bit.ly/FishOrlando, thanks to a British businessman who loves to vacation in Florida and fish in urban Orlando.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), in cooperation with local governments, manages urban lakes to enhance fishing opportunities. The FWC developed the Fish Orlando! program in 1998 to expand Orlando’s urban fisheries program by providing quality-size fish, unique fishing experiences at various lakes and ponds and habitat enhancement – all of which can bring tourists.

Enter Tony Bickley, CEO of Team Dart and an avid angler who travels from Great Britain annually to fish in Florida. He especially likes to visit lakes in Orlando. Some of those lakes are known as the “FAB FIVE” because they were developed to produce quality-sized sport fish. Bickley was visiting one of those –Turkey Lake – one day when he also had the opportunity to meet Gov. Rick Scott, who was there helping FWC staff stock fish and show youths how to fish. Bickley was so impressed with the lake and the program that he offered his company’s Web-application development services free of charge, “as a way of saying thank you from a very contented FAB FIVE customer.”

“I have been fishing in Florida, on virtually every holiday since I discovered how good it is, over the past 14 years,” Bickley said.

Besides the FAB FIVE, Fish Orlando! includes four urban ponds suitable for beginning anglers and those who prefer to harvest their catch. Fifteen years later, the program has exceeded expectations.

“Results have not gone unnoticed by the media,” said the FWC’s Jim Sweatman, a biologist and Fish Orlando project manager. “Various program accomplishments have been covered in Bassmaster Magazine, Florida Sportsman, Florida Game & Fish Magazine, ESPN, TNN and local radio and TV.”

The FWC has distributed almost a quarter-million maps requested by anglers from 30 states and four foreign countries. Bass Pro Shops has a Fish Orlando! kiosk in its Orlando store that plays a video summarizing the program.

Now there’s an app to spread the word too. For more information on the app recently made available by Team Dart, visit the iTunes store or search for “Fish Orlando” in the App Store.

As an example of unique experiences at each fishing hole, at Turkey Lake, Grizzly Tracker Boats equipped with trolling motors and depth finders are available for $32 a day from Thursday – Sunday (7-11 a.m.) at Bill Frederick Park. By limiting fishing pressure, primarily with special rules, and working to create good habitat, the lake produces bass fishing catch rates that are two to three times higher than the state average. The boats were provided by Bass Pro Shops and may be reserved by calling the city of Orlando at 407-246-4486.

To find out more information on the boat-loaner program and other Fish Orlando waters, go to MyFWC.com/Fishing and select “Fishing Sites/Forecasts,” then “Fish Orlando!” You can also link to the Fish Orlando app there.

Scientists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) have uncovered a new species of black bass in the southeastern United States. Scientists have proposed naming the new species the Choctaw bass and recommended the scientific name ofMicropterus haiaka. They revealed their discovery at a meeting of the Southern Division of the American Fisheries Society earlier this year.

FWC scientists first noted a DNA profile that did not belong to any recognized species while testing a bass specimen from the Chipola River in 2007, as part of a broader genetic study of bass.

“We didn’t set out to find a new species,” said Mike Tringali, who heads the genetics laboratory at the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. “It found us.”

After confirming the initial discovery, scientists searched for the DNA profile in bass caught in nearby rivers to determine the species’ range. They found that the Choctaw bass inhabits coastal river systems in Alabama and along the western Florida panhandle, including the Choctawhatchee River.

“We chose the name ‘Choctaw bass’ because the species’ range overlaps the historic range of the Choctaw Indians,” said Tringali. “As for our recommended scientific name,Micropterus haiaka,‘haiaka’ is a Choctaw word that means ‘revealed.’”

The American Fisheries Society must approve the suggested scientific name for it to take effect.

The Choctaw bass is very similar in appearance to its relative, the spotted bass. The physical differences between the two species are not easily seen with the naked eye, one reason they had never before been distinguished despite decades of bass studies in the region.

For more information about how FWC scientists discovered the new bass species, visit MyFWC.com/Research, click on “Freshwater,” and select “Black basses” under “Freshwater Sport Fishes.”

Commercially harvested stone crab claws may be possessed and sold during the closed season but only if they have been placed in inventory prior to May 16 by a licensed wholesale or retail dealer.

Stone crab traps must be removed from the water within five days after the close of the stone crab season unless a special extension is granted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Learn more about the stone crab harvest season by visiting MyFWC.com/Fishing and clicking on “Saltwater” and then either “Recreational Regulations” or “Commercial.”

Women are invited to explore the finest of fishing at the next “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” seminar, hosted May 10-12 at the Pirates Cove Resort & Marina, 4307 SE Bayview St. in Stuart.

Sponsored by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) in conjunction with the Sport Fish Restoration Program, “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” is a national organization dedicated to attracting more women to sport fishing and promoting conservation and responsible angling.

During the three-day, hands-on event, FWC educators will demonstrate ethical angler habits, such as safe hook removal, release techniques, fish venting and more. Local fishing guides will provide instruction on fishing techniques and methods.

Past participants found the event worthwhile.

“Being able to pick, choose and move between skill stations was terrific,” said Mary Hackney of Naples. “I loved the flexibility.”

“I learned more about fishing in two days than from my dad in 20 years,” said Georgia Allen of Bonita Springs.

On the final day of the seminar, women may embark on an optional fishing adventure.

To learn more, visit ladiesletsgofishing.com, call 954-475-9068 or email info@ladiesletsgofishing.com.

At least 46 of the nation’s 50 states have an angler-recognition program to enhance angler enjoyment and satisfaction, increase participation rates, gather research data and increase license sales. Most require photo documentation, and more than half require use of a certified scale.

Almost all provide a customized certificate. A few also offer rewards. Special categories for youth, recording multiple catches of different species or “slams” for catching a specific group of different species in a specified time are also popular.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) does all this, and more, for freshwater anglers.

April 30 concluded the first Hall of Fame season for the FWC’s innovative and new TrophyCatch program. No doubt about it, though, TrophyCatch, Big Catch and the State Record programs are still going full speed ahead year round. Read on for a more detailed breakdown of the requirements for each program:

State Record freshwater fish

Florida recognizes a state record for 33 species of freshwater fishes. Some of these are game fish and some are nongame fish, and some are native while others are nonnative. The Big Catch poster on Flickr (also at MyFWC.com/BigCatch) shows the various species along with the current state record for each one.

To be listed as a state record holder, there are several stringent requirements. First, the fish must be weighed on a certified scale. Second, the fish must be identified to species by an FWC biologist. Third, the fish must be legally caught by a licensed (or legally exempt) angler in waters where access and fishing gear were legal. State records are issued only for active hook-and-line catches. Bushhooks, trotlines or bow-and-arrow do not count. A certificate is issued for all state records, but specific line-class or lake records are not maintained.

Big Catch angler recognition

This program began in 1953 as a “fishing citation” program to provide an incentive for anglers to share photos of their Big Catch with Florida Wildlife Magazine. In 1990, the FWC introduced new criteria with minimum weights for each species. A 1996 revamp included new categories for specialists (five qualifying fish of the same species), masters (five qualifying fish of different species), elite anglers (10 qualifying fish of different species) and youth (approximately 25 percent smaller than adult minimum sizes). We also began allowing anglers to enter fish based on length or weight, making it easier to document a catch. In 2012, the FWC added slams for Black Bass, Bream and Exotics (see MyFWC.com/BigCatch). Big Catch remains a very popular, family-oriented program that allows legal catch-and-release or harvest; only a simple bragging photo and statement of the length or weight is required. Big Catch promotes fishing for a diversity of species. As a result, there is always a species that anglers can target, regardless of the time of year or location.

TrophyCatch

This is Florida’s newest and most rewarding angler recognition program. It rewards anglers for documenting and releasing bass weighing 8 pounds and up. This helps promote ecological, economic and social values while supporting conservation efforts and providing valuable data to scientists. Largemouth bass are the most popular recreational fish in North America, but trophies over 8 pounds take a while to grow (typically six to eight years, although some fast growers may attain this weight in four years, and others may never reach that size).

Since TrophyCatch helps market Florida as the Fishing Capital of the World and generates business, industry partners provide incentives to encourage anglers to recycle and report their catch. The data provided helps identify environmental variables and FWC conservation efforts, such as habitat enhancement, stocking, vegetation management and regulations, which support trophy fisheries. Since accurate data is needed to manage trophy fisheries and to reward anglers, the verification process is more stringent than for Big Catch.

Bass club levels

There are three club levels, and for each the bass must be legally caught in Florida and released. For Lunker Club (8-9.9 pounds; reward value greater than $15) and Trophy Club (10-12.9 pounds; reward value greater than $100), precise photographic documentation showing the entire fish with weight and length is required. For Hall of Fame Club (13 pounds or greater; reward value greater than $1,000), the bass must be certified by FWC staff, and verified on a certified scale. This option is closed down from May 1 through Sept. 30 due to the need to hold the fish alive until certified. Consequently, until Oct. 1, 13-pound bass should be photographed and submitted for Trophy Club rewards.

To learn more and register, visit www.TrophyCatchFlorida.com. Registering, makes you eligible for a Phoenix Bass Boat powered by Mercury. Once registered, you can submit photos of your catch for any of these angler-recognition award programs. By the way, if you have old photos for Big Catch, and know the length or weight of the fish, they can be entered at any time.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook.com/TrophyCatchFlorida and YouTube.Com/TrophyCatchFlorida.

Whatever your age, wherever you fish in Florida, remember: The FWC is ready to help commemorate and immortalize your memories.

On April 6, the most recent deployment, 62 individual reef structures, each weighing more than 3,500 pounds, were added at 19 locations. In a grant to the city to support the project, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) provided $60,000 in federal aid from Sport Fish Restoration Act funds. That grant was matched by $31,600 from Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association. The deployment locations are in state and federal waters, 2.3 to 16.8 nautical miles from the Mexico Beach Channel entrance, ranging in depth from 22 feet in the Bell Shoals Area to 101 feet in the North Site Area.

The deployment of several different types of modules included:

• Tetrahedron-shaped reef modules with limestone sides that make it easier for invertebrates to attach.
• Rectangular box-shaped reefs designed to provide habitat for gag grouper.
• Ecosystem reefs shaped like a layer cake with round concrete and rock discs separated by spacers for juvenile fish habitat.
• A newly designed “hybrid reef” that includes a grouper module and an attached ecosystem reef on top.

Fishers have long understood the value of constructing artificial reefs, and over the past 30 to 40 years a great deal has been learned through trial and error.

In the early days, reef materials included just about anything that was heavy enough to sink and often included tires, household appliances, junk cars and many other less-than-ideal materials. The problem with many of the materials that were used historically is that they were not stable, durable or environmentally friendly. Many were not heavy enough to stay in place. Other materials were not structurally sufficient to withstand ocean currents and saltwater corrosion for lengthy periods of time.

While some of these older materials have been ripped apart and scattered around by storms, it is also likely that some of these materials would not meet today’s standards that require removal of all oils, greases, paints, solvents or other chemicals that may be potentially harmful to marine organisms.

Today’s reefs, including those deployed recently off Mexico Beach, are constructed of concrete, limestone and heavy-gauge steel, all of which will stay in place and provide excellent marine habitat for decades to come.

Similarly, people have also learned a great deal about selecting appropriate sites for artificial reefs. Permits for reef areas issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to local coastal governments in both state and federal waters require bottom surveys before reef deployment to verify that the areas are free of natural reefs, seagrass habitat, shellfish beds and archaeological resources. This requirement is very important because it prevents artificial reef damage to existing valuable natural habitats.

Taking care to choose the best location also avoids interfering with other uses of the sea floor such as navigational channels, military operational areas, sand borrow areas, traditional shrimp trawling grounds, and underwater pipeline and cable corridors.

Can artificial reefs increase the overall populations of fish over time? I don’t think we have an absolute answer on that.

Artificial reefs will never be a replacement for sound fisheries management and regulations to prevent overfishing. They do play an important role as attractive fishing and diving destinations, which means more hotel night stays, more restaurant meals served, and more demand for boats, tackle and fuel. All are great things for a small town like Mexico Beach that relies on visitors who travel to the area to enjoy beautiful beaches and great saltwater fishing.

Please visit the Mexico Beach Artificial Reef Association website at MBARA.org for new reef coordinates, membership information, upcoming events and fishing tournaments.

The harvest of these species of grouper will remain open until Jan. 1, 2014. The harvest closure was put in place to ensure the long-term sustainability of Atlantic grouper species.

Recreational anglers targeting these species may not take more than three grouper per person per day. Within this three-fish limit, anglers may possess only one gag or black grouper (not both). The captain and crew of for-hire vessels are not allowed to keep any grouper. 

Dehooking tools must be aboard commercial and recreational vessels for use as needed to remove hooks from Atlantic reef fish.

More information about grouper bag and size limits, gear restrictions and fishing seasons, including Gulf of Mexico grouper regulations is available online at MyFWC.com/Fishing, select “Saltwater Fishing” then “Recreational Regulations” and “Groupers.”

Cleaning up marine fisheries information in 68B of Florida Administrative Code will provide consistency among regulations and clarify complex and confusing language by making it easier for anglers to understand and therefore enjoy Florida’s many saltwater fishing opportunities.

The webinars will be from 6 to 8 p.m. EDT. Information presented at each webinar will be the same.

Learn more by visiting MyFWC.com/Fishing and clicking on “Saltwater Fishing,” “Rulemaking” and “Upcoming Public Workshops.”

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has repealed two rules prohibiting spearing and using an artificial light while spearfishing or gigging in state waters off Collier County.

The Collier Board of County Commissioners sent a letter to the FWC in February requesting the change, which was prompted by the Jan. 13 hook-and-line capture of the first lionfish to be documented in state waters off the county. Lionfish are a nonnative invasive species that negatively impact Florida’s native fish and wildlife. Currently, the most effective method for lionfish control and removal is spearing and removal with hand-held nets. Lionfish are rarely caught by hook-and-line.

The repealed rules are just a few of the many Special Acts of Local Application that were put in place by the Florida Legislature, prior to creation of the FWC and one of its predecessors, the Marine Fisheries Commission.

The ban on spearing and using a light while spearfishing or gigging was put in place in the early 1950s, before the development of current statewide spearfishing regulations.

Once the FWC repeal process is complete, spearfishing can resume in state waters off Collier County, and current statewide regulations on the use of spears will apply.

The spearfishing prohibition is also included in Florida Statute, and staff will work with the Florida Legislature to remove this language during the 2014 session.

For more on the proposal presented to Commissioners at this meeting, visit MyFWC.com/Commission and select “Commission Meetings.”