ONLINE CASTS
March 28--April 3, 2003

Migratory Species Permit Reminder

Plan on keeping a tuna this season or fishing for sails? Don't forget your federally required highly migratory species (HMS) permit. As of March 1, 2003, family-level fishermen have new rules, set by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), that govern recreational swordfish and billfish catch limits and require recreational fishing boats fishing for Atlantic tunas--bluefin, yellowfin, bigeye, skipjack and albacore--to obtain a federal Atlantic tunas permit. The new rules have extended the tuna permit to include all regulated highly migratory fish--Atlantic sharks, swordfish, white marlin, blue marlin, sailfish and spearfish. So, if billfish are your game, you need to get a permit. Cost of the HMS permit is $22. Call 888-872-8862 or visit www.nmfspermits.com to obtain the HMS permit and for additional details.

Other changes in the HMS permit include mandatory reporting requirements for billfish and swordfish landed. Landings are fish killed and brought to shore.

10 Pacific Sails Transmitting

The Adopt-A-Billfish satellite-tagging program in Costa Rica has been announced a success. Earlier this month, National Marine Fisheries Service personnel, David Holts from San Diego and Derke Snodgrass from Miami, joined Old Reliable owner Nick Smith from Palm Beach and captain Chip Shafer at Los Suenos Resort along with Costa Del Mar staffers Ed Moody and Lisa Meloni to catch, tag and release sailfish off the Pacific port. In three days of fishing, the team tagged 10 sails. Satellite tags were set for 30, 45 and 60 days. Researchers hope the pop-up tags will give them a good idea of sailfish movement along the eastern Pacific coast off Costa Rica and Panama. For more information and photos, visit www.preschallenge.com

Fish for Free

Ready to wet a line, but don't have a fishing license? Don't worry, Florida has something guaranteed to bend your rodtip--a free freshwater fishing weekend in the Fishing Capital of the World. That's right, for two days, April 5 and 6, state fishery officers will overlook the required fishing license for freshwater anglers fishing on designated lakes and fresh waters. However, during the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Free Fishing Weekend, all other freshwater laws and regulations will remain in effect.

Legislative action provides the public with two free freshwater fishing days per year. The Division of Freshwater Fisheries conducts special events to encourage the public to take advantage of this great opportunity to sample our outstanding fisheries without the cost of a license. See http://floridafisheries.com/schedule/index.html for times and locations of events near you or contact Bob Wattendorf at (850) 488-0331 for additional details.

Backwater Fishing School

Two marine industry giants--Genmar and Evinrude--are at it again. This time, the two have joined forces to introduce the Backwater Fishing School, which will open in May. The 4-night, 3-day course will be held at Tarpon Lodge on Pine Island and, according to Genmar chairman Irwin Jacobs, "offers an in-depth curriculum on all aspects of backwater, inshore and offshore saltwater fishing." Price is $1,595 per person, which includes everything except air and ground transportation to and from Tarpon Lodge. For more information, call Zora Frazier, (941) 753-7811.