Bass Time!!

Fishing news from FWC.

Thursday, March 03, 2011
Media contact: Bob Wattendorf

The prespawn period for Florida largemouth bass can produce some of the most exciting fishing of the year, and 2011 has certainly started out exciting. Since bass tune into environmental triggers such as day length, lunar cycle and especially, water temperature, timing of the actual spawn can vary. Generally, once water temperatures rise above 58 degrees, the bedding process begins and may continue until temperatures are in the mid- to upper-70s.

A couple of days before full or new moons in late February, March or early April are often premier spawning times for Florida bass. Remember, triggering water temperatures vary significantly based on depth, sun exposure and currents.

Individual anglers, guides and tournaments statewide are reporting incredible catches.

FWC certifies Stuart woman's tilapia as state record

(Click on photo for larger image.) Pam Henry was fishing off her dock on the St. Lucie River in Martin County when she caught this state- and world-record blue tilapia. (Photo courtesy of Pam Henry)   News Release February 14, 2011 Contact: Gabriella B. Ferraro, 772-215-9459; Bob Wattendorf, 850-528-1060 It's official. Pamela Henry of Stuart broke state and world records when she reeled in a 9.6-pound blue tilapia last August. The fish measured 24 inches long. A taxidermist is mounting the record-breaking fish. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) recently certified the fish as the largest caught recreationally in state waters. Additionally, the International Game Fish Association issued the all-tackle world record for the species to Henry. Henry was fishing off her dock last August in the south fork of the St. Lucie River in Martin County when she caught the big fish. She was using a bread ball and was fishing at night. "I've been fishing my whole life, so it was always my mission to catch a record blue tilapia," said Henry. "I had researched the minimum weight, so I knew what I was looking for." Blue tilapia are abundant throughout central and southern Florida. They feed primarily on plankton and small organisms living in or on the bottom. As a result, blue tilapia are not known for their angling quality. However, some urban anglers catch them in ponds, using bread balls, small pieces of hot dogs, dog food or live worms. They are rarely caught on artificial lures. Blue tilapia generally have white, flaky meat with a mild flavor and are considered excellent eating. Farm-raised tilapia are often sold in grocery stores. The FWC encourages catching and eating most exotic fish, including blue tilapia. Because they are nonnative, there is no size or bag limit. "Our goal is to ensure quality fishing throughout Florida both now and in the future," said Tom Champeau, director of the FWC's Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management. "Ms. Henry's support and participation in the FWC's Big Catch Angler recognition program will help us maintain Florida's reputation as the Fishing Capital of the World."

Gun show

Next Lauderdale gun show is this month the 26th and 27th.  bring cash and don't miss it.

Game day food from the Wild Chef!!

Football Food: Behold, the Scheweiger Dog

by Colin Kearns
I’m taking a somewhat liberal interpretation of the “wild” in Wild Chef with today’s edition of Football Food. None of the ingredients shown in this photograph is either wild game or fish. (That’s not to say you couldn’t use game. Venison sausage, for instance, would be awesome here.) But the Schweiger Dog is a wild treat. It’s also wildly delicious, which is why I’m sharing it with you.

In case you couldn’t already tell by its name, the Schweiger Dog is a hot dog that features Braunschweiger (a.k.a. liverwurst, or the poor man’s pâté). I understand Braunschweiger is an acquired taste—but it’s one that my oldest brother, Brian, and I acquired from our mother. We’ve been eating and loving the stuff since we were kids. But that’s not the case for everyone. My fiancée, for one, looked on last night as I added a heavy dose of Braunschweiger to the dog and commented, with an equally heavy dose of sarcasm: “Mmm. Spreadable meat.” Oh well. More for me.
But if you are a Braunschweiger fan, my brother is the person you can thank for dreaming up the Schweiger Dog. It’s a snack that he and his friends perfected several years ago. It’s no wonder he would go on to become the talented professional chef that he is today.
Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t offer a bit of warning, so here it is: This dog is not healthy. I mean, my God, just look at the ingredients. Even the onions—the one vegetable in the recipe—are cooked in bacon grease. But like I said, the Schweiger Dog is a treat—and one that should not be enjoyed more than twice annually. I had my first of the year last night, and I’ll have my second on Sunday during the game. Then, I’m finished for the year. At least, that’s what I’ll tell myself for now.
Ingredients:
- 1 package thick sliced bacon (get the good stuff)
- 1 yellow onion, sliced thin
- 1 package hot dogs (again, get the good stuff like Sabretts or Hebrew National), or venison sausages
- 1 tube braunschweiger
- 1 8 oz. container of Kaukauna sharp cheddar spread
- Hoagie rolls
Directions:
1. Cook bacon until crisp, reserving the grease. Add onions to bacon grease and cook over low heat until well caramelized. Remove onions and again reserved the bacon grease.
2. Split hot dogs in half and add to pan of bacon grease and cook over low heat until heated through. Toast the buns.
3. Assemble the Schweiger Dog: Generously spread Braunschweiger on botton half of hoagie roll. Place hot dog on top of Braunschweiger. Add two slices of bacon per hoagie and onions, and finish with a generous smear of cheese.

Seafood

Key Largo seafood festival is this Saturday and Sunday Jan 30th and 31st  DON'T MISS IT!!!

Check times and admission

Gun show this weekend

SunCoast Gun show this Saturday and Sunday 9-5pm.  War Memorial auditorium cash only to get in.

Top News for Turkey

Hunitng news From myfwc.com- The FWC passed a new rule that limits the methods of take allowed during spring turkey hunts on WMAs, beginning with this coming spring turkey season (2011).  The new rule restricts firearms to shotguns and muzzleloading shotguns only, using shot no larger than No. 2.  All legal bows and crossbows can also be used.  But all rifles, pistols, buckshot and slugs are now prohibited during spring turkey hunts on WMAs.  The exception is on Joe Budd, Raiford and Santa Fe Swamp, muzzleloading rifles will still be allowed, because spring turkey hunting on these areas is restricted to primitive guns only.

Blue crab trap area closure set to end

News Release from myfwc.com

January 14, 2011
Contact: Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554

The harvest of blue crabs from traps in all waters of Franklin County west to the Florida-Alabama border will reopen on Jan. 15. The use of traps to capture blue crabs was prohibited for a 10-day period in this area so that lost and abandoned traps that remained in coastal and inland waters could be identified and removed.

Three regional, 10-day blue crab trap closures take place in designated areas in Florida in odd-numbered years, and three other closures occur in even-numbered years. One of these closures begins on Jan. 16 in all waters of the St. Johns River system.

More information regarding the FWC's trap-retrieval program, blue crab trap closure dates, regulations, and how you can participate in cleanup events is available online at MyFWC.com/Rules (click on "Fishing - Saltwater"). You can also contact FWC's trap retrieval coordinator Kyle Miller at 850-487-0554.

Yellow bullhead from Crystal River is new state record

News Release from myfwc.com

January 11, 2011
Contact: Karen Parker, 386-758-0525

A yellow bullhead caught in the Crystal River on Dec. 17 is the new state record for that species, a type of catfish, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists.

Tom Flynn of Homosassa was fishing with minnows he had caught at a boat ramp when he hooked into the catfish. The new state record yellow bullhead weighed 5 pounds, .75 ounces and was 20 inches in length.

"Actually, I was fishing for mangrove snapper," Flynn said. "However, I started catching catfish and decided to keep them. I caught seven and took them home."

Flynn tried to convince his wife the fish were good eating.

"She's not really a big fan of catfish," Flynn said. "But she went online to check them out and discovered that the state record was 2.91 pounds. I knew I had bigger fish than that."

Sure enough, when Flynn checked his catch, he had two fish that weighed more than the standing state record.

Eric Thomas, an FWC freshwater fish biologist from the Ocala regional office, verified the new record yellow bullhead.

Yellow bullhead are similar in appearance to the more common brown bullhead, with a nearly square tail, but the chin barbels (whiskers) are pale yellow or pink, unlike the somewhat larger brown bullhead (state record: 5 pounds, 12 ounces) that has darker pigmented chin barbels.

The previous record was a 2.91-pound yellow bullhead. Michael Pace caught it in the Withlacoochee River in Levy County on March 7, 2007.

For a fish to become an official state record, an FWC biologist must verify the species and weigh it on a certified scale. However, the FWC also recognizes anglers who catch a memorable-size fish with a Big Catch certificate. These are issued for 33 different species of freshwater fishes and are subject to less stringent guidelines to allow an angler to be recognized if the fish's weight or length exceed minimum standards (see MyFWC.com/Fishing or the Freshwater Fishing Regulations Summary).

For a Big Catch certificate, an adult needs to catch a yellow bullhead that exceeds either 14 inches in total length or 1.5 pounds (youth standards are 10 inches and 1 pound).

The world record for this species is a 6-pound, 6-ounce yellow bullhead that John Irvin caught in Bates County, Mo., on May 27, 2006.

"I can't believe what good eating these fish are," Flynn said. "I think I'm going to keep going for them and see if I can catch the new world's record."

Involve the kids in the outdoors

Programs From the FWC

Pioneers - "Wildlife and Conservation" - for ages 9 to 11

Pioneers learn about wild things and wild places in the country's southern-most national forest. This basic program teaches wildlife concepts such as predator/prey relationships and habitat protection through fun hands-on activities to inspire ethical and environmentally responsible behavior. Campers participate in hikes, outdoor educational games, natural arts and crafts and other biologically based activities with a conservation theme. Campers are introduced to other outdoor activities such as orienteering, basic survival skills, emergency field first aid, canoeing, swimming and fishing. Pioneers are further exposed to the fundamentals of archery and firearms safety with shooting sports activities. For Info

Bill Dance bloopers

Smoked Salmon dip from the Wild Chef

Recipe: Smoked Salmon Dip

by David Draper
Win friends and influence people on New Year’s Eve with this smoked salmon dip. It’s easy to make, which is good, as you'll want to whip up a big batch because it doesn’t last long. Be sure to save some to spread on a bagel when you finally roll out of bed on New Year’s Day.

I’m assuming you have some smoked salmon lying around, or, if not, have befriended a salmon fisherman who does. If not and you want to learn how to smoke a salmon, there’s a good tutorial over at Salmon University. As a last resort, you can also pick up a package of smoked salmon at most good grocery stores, but do me a favor, make a New Year’s Resolution to catch a salmon before this time next year.
- Once you’ve procured your smoked salmon, shred it in a bowl using two forks. You could use a food processor, but then you’d have to clean it and you’ve got better things to do with your time, like spiking the punch.
- Dice up some green onions and add them to the salmon, along with some capers if you’re into that sort of thing.
- Next, put a big scoop of sour cream in the bowl, followed by a squirt of lemon juice.
- Mix all this together, adding more sour cream until you get the consistency you prefer. Certain folks like it chunky; I like mine creamy.
- If you’re feeling a bit frisky, sprinkle in some red pepper flakes. Some recipes call for a dash of salt, but I find the saltiness from the smoking process is enough.
A great smoked salmon dip is as simple as that and the great thing is, it’s infinitely variable depending on your tastes. Don’t be afraid to experiment with Tabasco, Worcestershire, mustard, celery (seed or diced) or whatever you like.
And the best thing to spread it on? Saltine crackers. It's that simple.

Get your permits soon!!

News Release from the FWC

May 7, 2010
Contact: Tony Young, 850-488-7867

There will be an increase in the cost of some of Florida's hunting and saltwater fishing permits, beginning July 1.  If sportsmen act now, however, they can beat the price increase.

On July 1, 2010, the cost of a turkey permit will go up from $5 to $10 for Florida residents and from $100 to $125 for nonresidents.  In addition, Florida waterfowl permits will increase as well, from $3 to $5.

The cost of two saltwater fishing permits also will go up July 1.  The snook permit will increase from $2 to $10, and lobster permits will increase from $2 to $5.

Until July 1, though, sportsmen can buy all of these permits at the current prices, and all permits are valid for one year after the date of purchase.

There also is a new deer permit that will be required whenever hunting deer in Florida, beginning during the upcoming 2010-2011 hunting season.  The permit will cost $5 and will not be available for purchase until July 1.

Those with a Sportsman's License, Gold Sportsman's License, 64 or Older Sportsman's License, Military Gold Sportsman's License, Lifetime Hunting License or Lifetime Sportsman's License will not need to purchase the new deer permit because it has already been included in each of these licenses, even if they were purchased before July 1.

However, the deer permit is not included with a hunting license, combination hunting/freshwater fishing license, combination hunting/freshwater/saltwater license or a five-year hunting license.  Anyone hunting deer with either of these licenses must also buy the $5 deer permit to hunt deer legally.

All permits and related licenses can be purchased at county tax collectors' offices, retail outlets that sell fishing and hunting supplies, online at https://www1.fl.wildlifelicense.com/start.php or by calling toll-free 888-HUNT-FLORIDA (486-8356).

Next Gun Show dates

January 22nd & 23rd
War Memorial AuditoriumPH. (954) 828-5380
http://ci.ftlaud.fl.us/wma/index.htm HOURS: Sat 9am - 5pm | Sun. 10am - 5pm
ADMISSION:
Adults $8.00
KidsFree
(12 & under)
All person under 18
years of age must be
accompanied by an adult.

Note: We do not accept credit cards, we only take cash. An ATM is available on premises.

800 N.E. 8th Street
Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33304

South Florida spotted seatrout season opens Jan. 1

News Release From the FWC

December 28, 2010
Contact: Wendy Dial, 850-488-9477

         

          The recreational harvest season for spotted seatrout will open in southern Florida on Jan. 1.  Spotted seatrout harvest has been closed since Nov. 1 in this part of the state to help maintain an abundant fishery.

The reopened areas include Atlantic coast waters south of the Flagler-Volusia county line and Gulf coast waters south of a line running due west from the westernmost point of Fred Howard Park Causeway, which is 1.17 miles south of the Pinellas-Pasco county line.

The maximum daily bag limit for spotted seatrout in these areas is four fish per person.  In all other Florida waters north and west of these areas, the daily limit is five spotted seatrout per person.

The statewide slot limit for spotted seatrout is 15-20 inches total length, and anglers may keep one spotted seatrout larger than 20 inches as part of the daily bag limit.

Spotted seatrout may not be harvested by any multiple hooks with live or dead natural bait, and snagging or snatch-hooking spotted seatrout is not allowed.  Spotted seatrout may be taken only with hook-and-line gear and cast nets and must be landed in whole condition.

The harvest of spotted seatrout will close during the month of February in northeast and northwest Florida waters.

Large male bear found dead near Holt; FWC seeks shooter

News Release

December 22, 2010
Contact: Stan Kirkland, 850-265-3676, ext. 212 from FWC.com

        A large male bear was shot and killed Tuesday night and the carcass was discovered near Holt in Okaloosa County. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) law enforcement officers are asking the public's help in identifying the person or people involved.

FWC Officer Alan Kirchinger said a local resident found the 320-pound bear dead in the Guest Lake Boat Ramp parking lot just after sunrise today. The ramp and lake are south of Holt, just off the Yellow River and south of Interstate 10.

"It's obvious the bear was killed elsewhere, then transported to the boat ramp and dumped. We believe as many as three or four people may have been involved," Kirchinger said.

The bear had a previously injured left front leg and could be the same bear reported by Guest Lake residents for getting into residential garbage cans, Kirchinger said. FWC officers went door-to-door Wednesday afternoon in the area, handing out fliers about the shooting and asking for help.

It is a crime under Florida law to kill a black bear. The punishment can include up to five years imprisonment and a $5,000 fine.

Anyone with information about the bear shooting is urged to contact the Wildlife Alert Reward Program hotline at 888-404-3922. Callers can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000 if the information leads to an arrest.

Be careful this Holiday

Increased fatalities prompt FWC to reach out to boaters

(Click on photo for larger image.) An FWC officer checks boaters to promote safe boating. (FWC photo)   News Release December 15, 2010 Contact: Katie Purcell, 850-459-6585     With just a few weeks remaining in the year, 2010 has proved to be a tragic one for boating accidents. So far, there have been 76 boating fatalities, a 24-percent increase from this time last year. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants Florida boaters to reverse this trend. "The most unfortunate part about these statistics is boating fatalities are usually preventable," said Capt. Tom Shipp of the FWC's Boating and Waterways Section. While the FWC patrols Florida's waterways and strongly promotes boating safety year-round, this year's higher number of fatalities prompted an increased emphasis on prevention. At least 41 of the 76 deaths were due to drowning, and the FWC has some advice about that. "One of the best ways to prevent a drowning is simply to wear a life jacket," Shipp said. "Boaters don't always expect to find themselves in the water, but if they do, a life jacket can save a life." There is a variety of life jackets available to boaters. New styles are much smaller, lighter and more comfortable to wear than the traditional vest-style life jacket. "The ‘belt pack' is worn around the waist. A ‘suspender' style is also available," said Brian Rehwinkel, outreach coordinator for the FWC's Boating and Waterways Section. "These types of life jackets are inflatable, and some models activate automatically if the wearer falls into the water." While a few unusual accidents have occurred this year, the majority are similar to those of recent years. They involve boaters failing to pay attention to their surroundings, neglecting to wear life jackets and operating at high speeds. "We strongly urge boaters to follow safe boating practices," Shipp said. "Pay attention to the weather and your surroundings, make sure your boat and motor are in good working condition, check all safety equipment before embarking, and don't drink and operate a boat." The FWC also encourages boaters of any age to take a boating safety course. To find a course or more boating safety information, visit MyFWC.com/Boating or call 850-488-5600.

Cool Gifts

Gift Guide: A Wild Chef’s Christmas

By David Draper
I’m not sure how it happened, but somewhere along the way I became the guy shopping for gifts the week before Christmas. So it stands to reason, I’m also the guy who gets his wish list to Santa late. Which maybe explains the lump of coal I find in my stocking every year. I mean, it couldn’t be because I’m naughty or anything. Right?
So, with just over a week left to get your shopping done, here’s a list of gift ideas for the Wild Chef in your life. Some I have and highly recommend, and others I would love to find under my tree on December 25:
Chef’s Knife: Like Uma Thurman, I prefer Japanese steel and since Hattori Hanzo is retired, I turn to Al-Mar. I’ve been using an Al-Mar Ultra-Chef Gyuto knife for about the last four or five years and don’t think I could go back to using a cheap knife. It’s scary sharp and takes an edge well. Worth the investment.

French Skillet: A French skillet is a good compromise between a straight-sided sauté pan and traditional frying pan. I currently use a 10-inch, non-stick Anolon pan, but I’d love an All-Clad 11-inch version.
Cookbooks: There are a lot of good cookbooks out there, any of which that would make a great gift. Joy of Cooking and How To Cook Everything are great reference tools. I’d love to find a copy of Eileen Clarke’s Slice of the Wild or the L.L. Bean Game and Fish Cookbook under my tree.
Boning Hooks: I’ve wanted one of these cool little tools ever since my advanced course in deer processing from Gary the Meat Cutter. Pretty sure I wouldn’t be able to wield them as deftly as Gary, but if nothing else I can walk around the butcher shop talking like a pirate.
Foodsaver Quart Bags: Like socks and underwear, this is one of those gifts you’re kind of disappointed in getting, but know you really need. Plus, I swear, the local Cabela’s is out of stock every time I go in there, so I always try to have plenty of quart-size bags on hand, especially during hunting season.
Cook’s Country: While Cook’s Illustrated provides a master’s-level education, this country-fried version from “America’s Test Kitchen” is one of my favorite references. I’m constantly adapting recipes from Cook’s Country for use with wild game. A subscription makes a great gift.
Pizza Stone: A friend raves about the pizzas he makes on his Big Green Egg, so I want try my hand at them on my trusty grill. Weber makes a kettle-specific version , but I think any inexpensive pizza stone, like this one from Bialetti, would do.
Lump Charcoal: I’m going to get a lump in my stocking anyway, so might as well put it on my list. Maybe this year I’ve been bad enough for a 20-pound bag of hardwood charcoal from Cowboy Charcoal.

Hamburger Press: After years of borrowing a buddy’s, I finally broke down and bought my own hamburger press. This is great for venison burgers that come out assembly-line perfect every time.

Atlantic snook harvest closes Dec. 15; catch and release still OK

News Release from the FWC

December 13, 2010
Contact: Lee Schlesinger, 850-487-0554

The recreational harvest of snook will close in all Atlantic coastal and inland waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River, beginning on Dec. 15.  The annual winter harvest season closure of snook in these areas, which normally ends on Feb. 1, has been extended until Sept. 1, 2011, by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) due to the prolonged cold weather that impacted snook in Florida earlier this year.

The extended harvest closure will help protect snook populations this winter when they are most vulnerable to cold weather and give snook added protection during next spring and summer's spawning months.  All other Florida waters are already closed to the harvest of snook until next September for the same reason.

Anglers may still catch and release snook during the harvest closure, and the FWC encourages everyone to handle and release these fish carefully to help ensure their survival upon release.
Snook regulations apply to snook harvested in both state and federal waters off Florida, and no person may possess any snook caught during snook closed seasons.

For more information regarding the management of snook in Florida, go to MyFWC.com/Rules (click on "Fishing - Saltwater").

FWC wants public's input about more daylight alligator hunting

News Release: from the FWC

December 9, 2010
Media contact: Tony Young, 850-488-7867

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants to know what Floridians think about providing more daylight-hunting hours to alligator hunters. The public can comment via an online survey.

The FWC is exploring the idea of additional daylight-hunting hours for the state's recreational alligator hunting season, which runs Aug. 15 - Nov. 1 each year.

Currently, legal hours for alligator hunting are from one hour before sunset to one hour after sunrise.

"We've received input from the alligator hunting community and are now looking for input from anyone who is interested in this issue," said Harry Dutton, FWC alligator-management program coordinator.

People can provide input by going to MyFWC.com/Alligator.  The Commission will take this input into consideration when deciding whether any change is warranted. Anyone with additional questions regarding this issue may call Dutton at 850-488-3831.