Red Snapper Commercial Quota Hearings Scheduled
Vessel monitoring systems to be considered.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is inviting the public to express opinions on amendment alternatives that will create individual fishing quotas (IFQ) for the commercial red snapper fishery. The 10 scoping hearings will address how to best structure the IFQs, and whether vessel monitoring systems ((VMS) should be required for vessels participating in the IFQ program, in order to more easily enforce the quotas.

Current red snapper quotas and seasons heavily favor the commercial industry, and recreational anglers should be concerned that the proposed IFQs may lock in these unbalanced catch percentages.

Two hearings are scheduled for Florida:

Monday, August 30
National Marine Fisheries Service
3500 Delwood Beach Road
Panama City, FL 32408
(850) 234-6541

Tuesday, August 31
Madeira Beach City Hall Auditorium
300 Municipal Drive
Madeira Beach,FL 33708
(727) 391-9951

The scoping document may be viewed at www.gulfcouncil.org. Public comment will also be accepted via e-mail or by mail until Sept. 3, 2004.

Divers, Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!
Lobster mini-season participants urged to brush up on regs.

This year’s crawfish (spiny lobster) sport season takes place July 28 and 29. Lobster divers must have a Florida fishing license, and a lobster permit, both available at county tax collectors’ offices, license agents who sell fishing equipment, and online at www.MyFWC.com/license/. Or, you can make the purchases by calling 1-888-FISH FLORIDA.

Lobster divers must also have a carapace-measuring device while in the water; a lobster must have a carapace measuring 3 inches or more to keep. Gigging or spearing lobsters is illegal, and lobsters must be in whole condition until brought ashore.

The daily bag limit during mini season is six per person per day in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park and 12 per person elsewhere in Florida. In Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, lobster hunters may possess the 2-day bag limit of 12 lobsters only after leaving state waters, on or after the second day.

Other restrictions, including those dealing with access limitations, apply in Monroe County and nearby waters, and lobster hunters are urged to visit www.MyFWC.com to become thoroughly familiar with all regulations before entering the water. Otherwise, that fresh lobster could prove to be a bit too expensive to swallow.

No So Ducky
Waterfowl counts down for 2004, says USFWS.

Some of the duck species most prized by Florida waterfowlers are likely to show up in reduced numbers this fall. Duck breeding success in northern prairies has been hindered this year by drought, according to conservation group Ducks Unlimited.

Data collected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Canadian Wildlife Service indicate that blue-winged teal populations in 2004 are down 26 percent from 2003, with numbers falling from 5.5 million to 4 million. Widgeon dropped from 2.5 million birds to 1.9, a 22 percent change. Pintail continued an ongoing slide, down 15 percent, from 2.5 to 2.1 million.

Some good news out of the D.U. release: Midsummer rainfall—occurring now—is likely to encourage a good late nesting effort.

Ducks Unlimited Vice President Don Young commented on the situation: “Waterfowl managers and hunters have weathered conditions much worse than this many times in the past. Just a few years ago, we enjoyed some of the best fall flights in the last several decades. As always, it remains critical to maintain the nesting habitat base, especially our prairie grasslands, through the drier times so we can witness the ‘boom’ that has always recurred with the return of water.”

Ducks Unlimited also unveiled a collaboration with Louisiana State University, to study lesser scaup, which in Florida are commonly known as bluebills. Counts for scaup populations were up slightly for 2004—but overall, the species has been in decline for a number of years. Potential threats to be researched include lack of suitable food during migration, as well as delayed nesting. As with all waterfowl populations, any losses in wetlands habitat will register as losses in scaup populations.

Hello North Carolina Fishing License
Saltwater anglers in the Tar Heel State will need a fishing license in the near future.

The Coastal Conservation Association proved its point to the North Carolina Legislature recently. How? Legislators embraced a CCA recommendation that will mandate North Carolina saltwater fishermen to carry a state fishing license.

The law will come into effect in January 2006. CCA recognizes the legislation as a huge victory. The conservation association began its uphill battle to license North Carolina saltwater anglers in 1989.

Florida recreational anglers have benefited from the state’s saltwater fishing license. Anglers have more clout in fishing matters and the license enables state fishery programs to receive matching federal funds.

CCA members say the next step the state should take to rebuild marine fish stocks in North Carolina is for legislators to pass a net limitation law. Entangling nets are still allowed in NC waters.

“Hunt Fair Chase” Education Program Launched
Hunting groups are raising the bar for sportsmanship with awareness campaign.

In an effort to educate hunters, hunting groups, including Ducks Unlimited, recently began a national campaign to foster hunting ethics for all members of the hunting community. It’s called the Hunt Fair Chase program.

According to Georga Bettas, executive director of the Boone and Crocket Club, “The concept of ‘fair chase’ is the ethical and sportsman-like pursuit and taking of wild game, first promoted by Theodore Roosevelt and the Boone and Crockett Club, at a time in our history when there were no laws governing the taking of game for food or sport.”

A news release from Ducks Unlimited says that, “the concept of fair chase allows hunters to pursue game using hunting skills, with knowledge of wildlife and outdoor savvy, without putting the animal at an unfair disadvantage. The principles of fair chase encourage hunters to show respect to landowners and managers, respect wildlife, obey game laws, show courtesy to other hunters and those that don’t hunt, clearly identify your target, and remain ethical and safe at all times.

For more information about the campaign, and to collect a Hunt Fair Chase window decal, call (406) 542-1888. Their web site is www.huntfairchase.com.

Linesider Beach Patrol
Snook are thick and hungry along Central and South Florida beaches.

Reports from both sides of the lower state sound identical: Snook are in the surf. It’s good news for Florida’s growing league of catch-and-release anglers.

The trick is to release these fish in good shape after having a little fun reeling them in. You can accomplish this by observing proven conversation measures: Mash the barbs down on your hooks. Use tackle stout enough to get fish in quick and once you land one, handle it with care, especially large females. They’re the future of the fishery.

Top sands for engaging a snook include Hobe Sound, Fort Pierce, Sanibel Island and Siesta Key. But don’t limit your search to only these four. We’ve heard excellent reports from Tampa and Sebastian Inlet, too.