THE LATEST OUTDOORS NEWS IN FLORIDA

If anglers aren’t familiar with the Fish Orlando! effort, modern technology offers a new way to explore its many facets. There’s an app for it. The application allows residents and tourists to see maps of the major lakes in the area, read specific rules, identify...

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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...

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Last week the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced the discovery of a new bass species, the Choctaw. Also known by its pending scientific name, Micropterus haiaka, the bass had been previously grouped with the similar, but genetically different spotted bass. According to Fox News, the Choctaw is the tenth species of bass to be discovered so far. Such an announcement is sure to perk the interests of anglers, but where can this elusive species be found?

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

FWC scientists found the first specimen in Florida’s Chipola River, a tributary of the Apalachicola River. Researchers were conducting a study of game fish genetics when they captured it in 2007, but the realization that the Choctaw is its own independent species came years later. Since then the bass has been found in the river systems of Alabama and Florida, predominantly the Choctawhatcee River. Scientists suspect that the Pearl River, which runs through Mississippi and Louisiana, also contains the bass. The species typically lives near the upper source of rivers and streams. Below is a map of some suspected Choctaw habitats:

Choctaw bass is very similar in appearance to spotted bass and average around 14 inches in length. Some ways to tell Choctaw from spotted bass include counting scales, fin rays, or gill rakers. While not a competitor for the largest bass species, adventurous anglers may find the hunt for a new species a special challenge. Just because it is small does not mean the bass is timid, the Choctaw maintain a niche dominance in their respective environments. Areas with Choctaw bass often do not contain other bass species.

Wildlife officials are currently working to ensure that the species remains healthy and are preparing new conservation management plans.

Read and join the discussion on The Southeast’s New Bass Species, and Where to Find It at OutdoorHub.com.

For Kevin Politte of Silver Springs and his two sons Kevin and Kyle, a $2 Florida Lottery Scratch Off ticket landed them a chance to meet and fish with the man who designed the lottery ticket series legendary marine wildlife artist and scientist Dr. Guy Harvey.

The Polittes recently enjoyed a trip to Grand Cayman where they fished with Dr. Harvey and enjoyed swimming with the stingrays at the famous Sandbar as part of winning the Grand Prize in the Florida Lottery’s Guy Harvey Second Chance Drawing.

Last year, Dr. Harvey and the Florida Lottery are officially launched the GUY HARVEY Scratch-Off game, featuring a series of six colorful wildlife illustrations which represented original Guy Harvey Collector’s Series artwork. It proved to be one of the most successful $2 scratch off games in the history of the Florida Lottery.

Dr. Harvey’s licensing proceeds from the sale of the tickets went entirely to The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation.

Read and join the discussion on Florida Family Enjoys Dream Trip Fishing with Guy Harvey at OutdoorHub.com.

Blue Force Gear will attend SOFIC on May 14 – 16 at the Tampa Convention Center in Tampa, Florida.  Blue Force Gear will host the Franklin Boardroom on May 14 and 15 across the South Franklin Street walkway in the Embassy Suites.  Stop by for drinks and snacks and be the first to view their newly launched product line – to be announced at SOFIC.  Military and Law Enforcement end users who would like to increase performance by switching to the lightest tactical nylon equipment, please email sales@blueforcegear.com to make an appointment or come by to meet the Blue Force Gear team and discuss your needs.

Read and join the discussion on Blue Force Gear to Attend SOFIC in Florida at OutdoorHub.com.

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 of Micropterus 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.”

Read and join the discussion on Florida FWC Scientists Discover New Bass Species at OutdoorHub.com.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering a free hunter safety course in Leon County.

The class is in the second-floor conference room of the Farris Bryant Building, 620 S. Meridian St., Tallahassee. Instruction is from 6-9 p.m. May 14, 16, 21 and 23. The range portion of the class is May 25.

An adult must accompany children under the age of 16 at all times. Students are encouraged to bring a pencil and paper with them to take notes.

The hunter safety course is required for people born on or after June 1, 1975, to purchase a Florida hunting license. The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.

People interested in attending this course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling Hunter Safety Coordinator George Warthen at the FWC’s regional office in Panama City at 850-265-3676.

Read and join the discussion on Florida Hunter Safety Course Offered in Leon County at OutdoorHub.com.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is offering a free hunter safety course in Jefferson County.

The course will be at the Beau Turner Youth Conservation Center, 9194 S. Jefferson Highway, Monticello. Instruction is from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 18 and 1 to 5 p.m. May 19.

Students who have taken the Internet course and wish to complete the classroom portion must bring the online-completion report and attend only the May 19 session from 1 to 5 p.m.

An adult must accompany children under the age of 16 at all times. Students are encouraged to bring a pencil and paper with them to take notes.

The hunter safety course is required for people born on or after June 1, 1975, to purchase a Florida hunting license. The FWC course satisfies hunter-safety training requirements for all other states and Canadian provinces.

People interested in attending this course can register online and obtain information about future hunter safety classes at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling Hunter Safety Coordinator George Warthen at the FWC’s regional office in Panama City at 850-265-3676.

Read and join the discussion on Florida Hunter Safety Course Offered in Jefferson County at OutdoorHub.com.

A strange event played out last Sunday at the Everglades Bassmasters of South Florida Open Team Tournament when two anglers hooked a Burmese python. According to the Sun Sentinel, Joe Holland and Brett Darmody at first thought the creature was a turtle emerging from the water. One of Holland’s topwater lures had caught on the snake’s back and he realized, incredulously, that a python was on the line. Darmody managed to steer the boat along the snake and measure the animal against the length of the vessel.

“Joe’s boat is 21 feet,” he said, “and the snake went from the tip of the bow to the middle of the back deck.”

Darmody estimated the python to be about 16 feet long. Burmese pythons are an invasive species originally from eastern Asia. The species has entrenched itself in the Everglades and are now a high priority target for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Earlier this year the Commission held a python hunting challenge to draw attention to the damage these large snakes can do to the local environment. Pythons are now an increasingly common sight in the Everglades.

The snake the anglers hooked evidently did not relish the attention and fled towards shore, dragging Holland’s boat after it. The two men say that the python was too powerful to be caught and after several minutes of struggle the hook pulled free. The snake disappeared into the marsh.

An hour later, Darmody and Holland spotted a different, smaller python in the water.

“I had never seen one in all the years I’ve been out there and I saw two in one day,” Darmody said. “We were telling everybody. It was exciting for both of us.”

Although the two-man team came in fifth place at the competition with a fish weight of 19.54 pounds, they did have the best story. While pythons may not contribute to the competition weight, it would have been quite a catch.

Read and join the discussion on Bass Anglers Hook a Surprised Burmese Python at OutdoorHub.com.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will host a free hunter safety course on May 11 from 8 a.m.to 5 p.m.

Participants must successfully complete the online portion of the course prior to attending and bring the final Web report to the FWC course on May 11. It does not have to be notarized.

Students will learn about hunting laws, safe gun handling and hunter ethics/responsibility, among other topics, before taking the final test. The course also includes live-firing instruction on a shooting range.

The class is at the Markham Park Shooting Range clubhouse near the trap & skeet fields, 16001 W. State Road 84, Sunrise, FL 33326.

Participants can sign up at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety or by calling the FWC’s South Region Office at 561-625-5122. A link to the online part of the course and a statewide schedule of hunter safety classes are available at MyFWC.com/HunterSafety.

Anyone born on or after June 1, 1975, must pass an approved hunter safety course before purchasing a Florida hunting license. Parents or legal guardians must accompany children under 16 years of age to all classes. To participate in live-fire exercises, children under 18 years old must present a parental release form signed by a parent or legal guardian.

Read and join the discussion on Hunter Safety Course in Broward County, Florida at OutdoorHub.com.

If you haven’t been seeing the quantity or quality of game you’d like, you may want to consider applying for a special-opportunity hunt. For the past 16 years, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has offered these unique fall-season hunts for deer, wild hog and released quail on the best of the state’s public hunting lands. Maybe it’s time you look into getting in on the action and experience the hunt of a lifetime.

These extraordinary hunts offer large tracts of land with an abundance of game and low hunting pressure. All deer hunts enable you to take only mature bucks with at least one antler having four or more points, one inch or longer. This practice of deer management offers hunters excellent chances of taking quality bucks on public land. Wild hogs also are legal to take, and there is no size or bag limit on them.

These special-opportunity deer and wild hog hunts take place on Fort Drum (Indian River County), Lake Panasoffkee (Sumter County), Triple N Ranch (Osceola County) and Green Swamp West Unit (Pasco County) wildlife management areas.

Fort Drum has 20 permits available for its seven-day general-gun deer and hog hunt on 20,858 acres; they cost $50, should you get drawn. Lake Panasoffkee offers eight four-day archery hunts on the 8,676-acre tract at a cost of $100 each. Triple N Ranch has two seven-day general-gun deer and hog hunts on its 15,391 acres, and each permit costs $175.

Green Swamp West Unit is where James Stovall took the state’s highest-scoring deer on record – a 25-point, nontypical that netted a 206 Boone-and-Crockett score. He took the trophy buck in 1999 after getting drawn for the special-opportunity archery hunt. The area offers archery and gun hunts on 34,335 acres, and permits cost $100 each.

The FWC also has week-long released-quail hunts on the Blackwater Carr Unit in Santa Rosa County. With these hunts, you must bring and release your own pen-raised quail. There’s just one $100 permit available for each of the 16 weeks, and if you’re lucky enough to draw one, you and up to three of your friends will have the entire 590 acres to yourselves.

If you’d like to apply for any of these great hunts, the first thing you’ll need to do is get a 2013-2014 Special-Opportunity Fall Hunt Worksheet. It is available at MyFWC.com/Hunting by clicking “Limited Entry/Quota Hunts” then “Special-Opportunity Fall Hunts” toward the bottom of the page.

Beginning at 10 a.m. (EDT) on May 1, you can submit your completed application at License.MyFWC.com or at any county tax collector’s office or license agent. The application period runs through June 2.

These coveted permits are issued by random drawing, and you may apply for as many hunts and dates as you like to increase your chances of being selected. You must include a $5 nonrefundable fee for each hunt application, although hunters are limited to being drawn for one permit per hunt.

If you’re selected in the random drawing, you have until the deadline specified to pay the cost of the selected hunt. You can do this online at License.MyFWC.com or at any license agent or tax collector’s office. If not, you forfeit it, and it’ll go to the next applicant selected in the random drawing.

Whether still hunting by yourself or hunting with family and friends for deer, hogs or released quail, the FWC’s special-opportunity fall hunts are just what the doctor ordered for a premium hunting experience.

Read and join the discussion on Apply for a Hunt of a Lifetime in Florida at OutdoorHub.com.

Have you ever wondered how it would be to catch and bring into the boat a 10-foot gator? Well, here’s your chance. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has more than 5,000 permits available to participate in the 11-week alligator season, which runs Aug. 15 – Nov. 1.

The application process is conducted in three phases and begins by submitting a no-cost application at any tax collector’s office, license agent or through the Internet at http://License.MyFWC.com.

During the Phase I application period, alligator permits are issued by random drawing. Phase I ends May 12, and applicants are limited to being drawn for only one permit.

If selected, applicants have until June 3 to pay the cost of the permit. Otherwise, the permit will be placed back into the system, with the other remaining permits, to be sold in Phase II on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 10 a.m. June 7 and continuing through June 12. Those who received a permit in Phase I and paid for it cannot apply during Phase II.

Any permits remaining after June 12 will be issued during Phase III on a first-come, first-served basis beginning at 10 a.m. June 14 until all are sold. Anyone can apply during Phase III – despite having already bought a permit in Phase I or Phase II.

Alligator trapping licenses and two hide-validation tags costs $272 for Florida residents and $1,022 for nonresidents. If you happen to buy an additional permit during Phase III, it will cost $62, regardless of whether you are a resident or not. No other hunting license or permits are required to participate in the hunts.

Each permit enables you to take two alligators from whichever county or body of water you were awarded during a specific harvest period. To purchase a permit, you must be at least 18 years old by opening day, Aug. 15.

If you don’t have all the gear necessary and you’d rather assist a friend who purchased an alligator trapping license, you can pay $52 for an alligator trapping “agent” license. You don’t even have to be 18 to buy one. This license entitles you to take alligators, but only when you’re with a licensed person.

Visit MyFWC.com/Alligator and click on “Statewide Alligator Harvest Program” for more information on these exciting gator-hunting opportunities.

Read and join the discussion on Experience Alligator Hunting; Apply Now for Florida Permits at OutdoorHub.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.

Read and join the discussion on Angler-recognition Programs Enhance Pleasure at OutdoorHub.com.

Cameron Schurlknight, of Venice, Fla., caught a redfish and speckled sea trout that measured a combined 64.25 inches in length to win the first event of the season for the Florida East Division of the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour presented by Hobie Fishing at Jacksonville, Fla., on April 28.

A former winner of several IFA Kayak events, Schurlknight sight-fished schools of redfish and trout in the Mosquito Lagoon grass flats. The veteran winner took advantage of contingency prize programs to add to the $1,500 first place prize.

Schurlknight padded his winnings with $541 in Angler’s Advantage cash and by winning the $100 Berkley Big Fish award for his 40.50-inch redfish. The angler also won the $200 Hobie Top Angler award for having the highest placed finish for an angler competing out of a Hobie kayak.

Ryan Conner measured a total of 59.75 inches to secure the $1,000 second-place prize. In his fourth year fishing the IFA, Conner is no stranger to placing high in the standings. This marks his third time to place in the top three in the standings of an IFA event.

“Cameron caught some quality fish and is a great angler,” said Conner. “I’m completely thrilled with second place. I can’t wait for the next event.”

Conner experienced calm conditions early and fished swimbaits for trout and hardbaits for redfish.

“It was calm in the morning, three to five knots out of the southeast,” said Conner. “I fished mud flats and traveled about a half of a mile.”

Third-place finisher Eddie Cabler, of Jacksonville, Fla., won $500 for his redfish and trout that measured a total of 52.63 inches. The angler caught most of his fish early in the Intracoastal Waterway with jigs and softbaits.

Shawn Beltz failed to boat a redfish but won the $100 Big Trout award for his 29.25 trout.

Eleventh-place finisher Cru Cabler took home the $100 Junior Angler award.

The fastest-growing kayak fishing tournament trail in the country, the IFA Kayak Fishing Tour Presented by Hobie Fishing events are catch-photograph-release tournaments, offering inshore kayak anglers from a multitude of states the opportunity to participate in competitive fishing tournaments with low entry fees and minimal travel requirements.

For more information or to become a member of the IFA, visit www.ifatours.com. To discover more about kayaking and Hobie Fishing go to www.hobiefishing.com.

IFA events are made possible through the sponsorship and continued support of these well-respected brands: Hobie Fishing, Ranger Boats, Cabela’s, Lucas Oil, Yamaha Outboards, RAM, Berkley Gulp!, Berkley Gulp! Alive!, PENN Reels, Spiderwire, Minn Kota, Humminbird, Power-Pole, Livingston Lures, Amphibia, Arctic Ice, Protect the Harvest, General Tire, Bob’s Machine Shop, Blue Point Fabrication, Powertex Group and Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, Nippers Beach Grille and Beach Marine and Black Creek Outfitters.

IFA Kayak Texas Division

Port Aransas, Texas (Top 10)

1. Cameron Schurlknight – 64.25 inches
2. Ryan Conner – 59.75 inches
3. Eddie Cabler – 52.63 inches
4. Kapers Murph – 52.50 inches
5. Jason Broach – 52.25 inches
6. John Reece – 50.75 inches
7. Nathan Raycroft – 50.00 inches
8. Judson Miller – 49.38 inches
9. Elizabeth Saylor – 47.25 inches
10. Rory Gregg – 46.75 inches

Read and join the discussion on Cameron Schurlknight Wins IFA Kayak Tour Event at Jacksonville, Florida at OutdoorHub.com.

Victory includes fully-rigged Ranger Banshee Extreme valued at $30,000

J.D. Nobles, of St. Johns, Fla., and Kyle Craven, of Macclenny Fla., weighed in a two-redfish limit that totaled 15.76 pounds to win the first event of the season for the Florida East Division of the IFA Redfish Tour presented by Cabela’s in Jacksonville, Fla. On April 27. The anglers topped a field of 74 boats to take home a fully-rigged Ranger Banshee Extreme, valued at $30,000.

The winning anglers faced winds from 15-20 mph on a long run north. The duo had a good feeling and took a chance on a different pattern.

“We fished a variety of techniques with swimbaits and spinner baits with camo-colored Berkley Gulp! curly tails,” said Nobles. “We worked as a team and feel great about our performance. It was a long time coming, but it is great to finally have an IFA first-place win.”

The anglers took home an additional $2,310 in Angler’s Advantage cash and won the $500 Berkley Gulp! Big Fish award for their 8.12-pound redfish.

Second-place finishers Fred Walker, Ocala Fla., and Shawn Walker, Crystal River Fla., brought 13.80 pounds to the scales during the event. The duo returned to a productive spot in the Intracoastal Waterway, blind-casting spinner baits and Berkley Gulp!.

In addition to the $2,910 second-place prize, the anglers added $1,155 in Anglers Advantage cash.

Marty Simmons, and Keith McBride, both of St. Augustine Fla., weighed a total of 13.57 pounds to take the $1,124 third-place prize. Long-time IFA anglers, the team ran 35 miles to their home waters around St. Augustine. The duo fought windy conditions and stained water, fishing weedless baits in the grass.

Continuing to draw inshore anglers from Texas to the Carolinas, both IFA Redfish Tours include five different divisions, each with a two-event regular season. With budget-friendly entry fees, the two tours offer opportunities to compete close to home while keeping anglers’ expenses to a minimum.

IFA Texas Division

Port Aransas, Texas (Top 10)

1. Nobles/Craven – 15.76 lbs.
2. Walker/Walker – 13.8 lbs.
3. Simmons/McBride – 13.57 lbs.
4. Riley/Erwin – 13.05 lbs.
5. Lemmon/Rood – 12.44 lbs.
6. Fields/Crumpton – 11.93 lbs.
7. Pittman/Chapman – 11.79lbs.
8. Smith/Nippert – 11.53 lbs.
9. Hice/Dangelis – 11.43 lbs.
10. McMillan/King – 11.38 lbs.

Read and join the discussion on Team Nobles/Craven Wins IFA Redfish Tour Event at Jacksonville, Florida at OutdoorHub.com.

Although the harbor and campground on Elliott Key remain closed due to damage sustained during Tropical Storm Sandy, campers willing to brave seasonally heavy insect populations can camp for free on Boca Chita Key.  The park waives docking and camping fees annually from May 1 through September 30 due to insufficient revenue to support the cost of collecting and processing fees.

Generally speaking, winds are light and insects heavy from mid-April through November, with the heaviest insect populations occurring from May through August.

Regular fees of $15/night for campsites and $20/night for overnight boat docking (which includes the campsite) will continue to be enforced each year from September 1 through April 30.

Read and join the discussion on Camping on Florida’s Boca Chita Key is Free for Summer Season at OutdoorHub.com.

Airmen at Patrick Air Force Base first to launch fishing event with pro guides; segment featured on NBC Sports Network’s American Hero Experience

Over the past decade the husband and wife owners of Hell’s Bay Boatworks, along with their staff and pro team have shown their passion for community and conservation projects, giving back to fishing, while supporting non-profits valuing the longevity of the sport.

Their creditability of caring continues to rise with still another mission to their long list.

“Wendi Peterson met a lady at a boat show with a bass fishing organization taking soldiers fishing,” said Hell’s Bay Director of Sales & Marketing Capt. Todd Fuller.  “There are several of these like Project Healing Waters where in Bradenton we recently took 13 wounded veterans saltwater fly fishing, some for the first time. It was suggested we also consider active military personnel. It didn’t take long for she and husband Chris to agree,” said Fuller. “We all loved the idea proposing a fishing trip to officials at Patrick Air Force Base in nearby Melbourne, pairing over a dozen airmen with seven of our Hell’s Bay pros and their skiffs. They accepted.”

Centered on Florida’s Space Coast, Patrick AFB borders the Atlantic Ocean and Banana River System, a great fishery filled with grass flats, spoil islands, docks; the perfect habitat for inshore game fish like redfish, trout, flounder and seatrout. 

“It was a very successful outing giving the airmen a chance to fish and explore the local resources right in their backyard,” said a smiling Fuller. “Everyone, from novice to advanced angler, caught plenty of fish. We finished with a barbecue lunch and the airmen swapping lots of fishing stories. Our pro team members probably enjoyed it as much as the airmen.

“With much pride and honor, we’ve kicked off the Hell’s Bay Boatworks Military Appreciation Initiative, one we feel strongly about. And we give a special thanks to Brig. Gen. Anthony J. Cotton, commander, 45th Space Wing, and the staff at Patrick for making this first event a great success letting us show our appreciation for all they do to protect our freedom.”

“We certainly want to express our gratitude to everyone who helped put this together,” said Gen. Cotton. “Anything we can do to give a helping hand for our wounded warriors or our airmen here at the 45th is a great thing, and this is just another example of the great community we have here on the Space Coast. It’s all about people helping people; it always has been.”

“We’ll start it on a monthly basis at Patrick by taking two airmen fishing with one of Hell’s Bay’s pro staffers,” Fuller added. ”The base will have an internal process for the monthly selection of the airmen. We expect this initiative will set the stage for other events expanding it little by little as the word grows in coastal areas of other bases.

NBC Sport Network’s American Hero Experience featured a segment of the event.  To view go to: http://americanheroexperience.com/2013/02/20/bte-hells-bay-military-appreciation/ .

Read and join the discussion on Hell’s Bay kicks off Military Appreciation Initiative in Florida at OutdoorHub.com.

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.

Read and join the discussion on Celebrate Mother’s Day at ‘Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!’ in Florida at OutdoorHub.com.

The United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA) held the 2013 southern regional handgun shooting championships in St. Augustine, Florida this past Friday through Sunday.

More than 370 of the country’s best pistol shooters came to St. Augustine to compete in the Area 6 Championship match. The match included 12 challenging courses of fire to test the shooters’ skills with the pistol.

Hosted at the Ancient City Range, shooters competed in regional titles in USPSA’s Open, Limited, Limited 10, Production, Revolver and Single Stack divisions.

The top winners included Travis Tomasie, Manny Bragg and Lesgar Murdock in the Limited Division. Open Division titles went to David Pruitt of Red Dot, Bill Drummond and KC Eusebio. Production winners are Matthew Mink of CZ-USA, Brandon Wright and Sonny Morton III. The top three Single Stack division winners included some of the nation’s best shooters, Max Michel from Sig Sauer, Dave Sevigny and USPSA President Phil Strader. High Junior went to Jason Katz from Wyoming Antelope Club.

“This was a great match,” said Donna Web, Area Championship Match Director. “With challenging weather and 12 difficult stages, the shooters really were put the test.”

USPSA is the national governing body for the sport of practical shooting in the U.S. and has more than 20,000 members competing in weekly matches throughout the country, as well as regional and national championships.

USPSA matches often involve the opportunity to shoot while moving as well as shoot at reactive targets that are not common in any other shooting discipline. Matches are run by the local match directors in their respective clubs. New members are always welcomed and introduced to the sport in a safe and fun way. To find a local USPSA affiliated club visit www.uspsa.org and click on “Find Clubs”. To become a member of USPSA visit www.uspsa.org and click on “Join USPSA”.

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Steve Middleditch is the 2013 Florida Sporting Clays Champion, winning last weekend’s state competition at the South Florida Shooting Club. Middleditch also led Florida Residents, while Todd Simmons was the Nonresident winner.

John Woolley was the HOA Runner-up, and Todd Simmons was third. Ashley Littlewas the Lady Champion.

Winners include:

Main Event HOASteve MiddleditchMain Event Runner-upJohn WoolleyMain Event 3rdTodd SimmonsNonresident HOATodd SimmonsMain Event LadyAshley LittlePreliminaryDoug CoxFITASCSteve Middleditch5-StandJeffrey Odle20 GaugeNoah Jeffries28 GaugeSteve Middleditch.410 BorePete HendrickSide X SideDennis WagnerPump GunDwayne Hardee

See all the winners and scores at Winscoreonline.com.

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