FB88-AprilFishingBonanza-formatted.pdf
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Transcript of FB88-AprilFishingBonanza-formatted.pdf
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but also because temperatures tend to be comfortable for an outdoor expedition.
Another reason is that the first Saturday in April each year (April 6, this year) is a
license-free freshwater fishing day across the state. People are exempt from having
a license that day, so it is a great opportunity to reach out to people who don’t have
a freshwater fishing license and show them how much fun a day on the water can
be. Or, perhaps you have children who have been bugging you to go, and you
haven’t wanted to buy a license to accompany them. Now is your chance.
Tom Champeau, director of the FWC’s Division of Freshwater Fisheries
Management, points out that dedicated saltwater anglers may want to take this
opportunity to see what they are missing a little closer to home. Freshwater angling
provides a chance to expand fishing skills without having to travel far, as everybody
lives near freshwater sites.
Florida has 7,700 named lakes and 12,000 miles of fishable rivers, streams
and canals, so nearly everyone is within 30 to 45 minutes of a fishing hole. If you
want some help finding a location or seek fishing tips and seasonal fishing forecasts,
check out MyFWC.com/Fishing (under “Freshwater Fishing,” choose “Sites &
Forecasts”). Quarterly forecasts by fisheries biologists are supplemented with links
to local bait-and-tackle shops, marinas or guides, for even more timely updates.
Florida’s Big Catch Angler Recognition Program provides an opportunity for
anglers to commemorate their memorable freshwater catches with a certificate and
having their photo posted online. Thirty-three different species are included in the
program, and all it takes to participate is a photo of a fish that exceeds either a
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specified length or weight. It’s a great incentive for youth, who can qualify by
catching fish that are roughly 25 percent smaller than the qualifying measures for
adult anglers. Visit MyFWC.com/BigCatch for more details and to enroll.
However, the ultimate challenge is
the race for the biggest trophy bass of the
year. Florida’s fame as a bass fishing
destination lies in an abundance of lakes
and rivers that consistently produce
trophy-size bass. To document locations
and frequency of bass catches over eight
pounds, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) launched
TrophyCatch (TrophyCatchFlorida.com ) in October with the support of more than
20 industry partners. The goal is to enhance and sustain trophy bass fisheries and
to promote Florida as the Bass Fishing Capital of the World, based on documented
catches.
To participate, catches must be verified by FWC for the angler to earn
awards. For Lunker Club (8 to 9.9-pounds) and Trophy Club (10 to12.9-pounds),
verification requires photos of the entire bass clearly showing its length and weight,
and then the bass must be released. Photos are submitted via the website. For Hall
of Fame bass, which earn for the angler a free replica valued at $500 and an
additional $500 in other prizes, the fish must be caught before the end of April and
weighed on certified scales by an FWC representative. If you catch one, keep it alive
Bob Williams shows off the first Hall of Fame Bass
certified by the TrophyCatch Program. The 13 lb, 14 oz bass was caught, weighed on certified scales andreleased back in Rodman Reservoir after taking ain clip for genetic sampling. Photo by Sean Rush.
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and call 855-FL-Trophy. From May through September, bass over 13 pounds can
still be photo-documented as Trophy Club bass, but won’t be entered into the Hall of
Fame, to prevent undue stress when water temperatures are too warm.
The biggest bass of this season (ending Sept. 30) verified by TropyCatch will
earn a $3,000 championship ring provided by the American Outdoor Fund. The
biggest bass caught in Osceola County and verified by TrophyCatch will take home
$10,000, courtesy of Explore Kissimmee. If a registered guide helped (see website
for details), the guide earns a $2,500 bonus. So register now, check out the rules,
grab a rod-reel, camera, scale and tape measure, and go catch yourself a lunker,
document it and then release it. By the way, just registering gets you into a drawing
for a Phoenix bass boat powered by Mercury.
The biggest fish of the year currently is a 13-pound, 14-ounce monster caught
by Bob Williams. It became the first Hall of Fame fish entered into the program. He
was fishing wild shiners on Rodman Reservoir, with guide Sean Rush (Trophy Bass
Expeditions). Check out YouTube.com/TrophyCatchFlorida to see a video of the
current leaderboard, including Williams’ catch.
Another truly awesome fishing story from this spring was Champeau’s catch
and release of a Trophy Club-level bass weighing 11 pounds, 8 ounces. At the time,
Champeau was giving a tour to Bass Pro Shop founder John L. Morris and
NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart. Champeau explained how the area near Three
Forks Management Area is being reclaimed through a partnership with the St.
Johns River Water Management District and the FWC. Marshes that were drained
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for agriculture are being reclaimed to protect water quality in the Indian River
Lagoon and St. Johns River. The famous Stick Marsh, which opened for fishing in
the 1980s, was the first of these. Within the next five years, an additional 47,000
acres will be thriving with trophy bass, and the FWC is taking measures to ensure
these fisheries continue to produce decades into the future.
“We estimate the economic impact, once the project is completed, will be
around $20 million to local businesses,” Champeau said.
While on their tour in the vicinity of
the Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area,
Morris, Stewart and Champeau, led by
fishing guide Capt. Mike Tipton, caught 36
bass in a few hours.
“Catching and releasing a trophy bass while fishing with the founder of our
major sponsor was incredible,” said
Champeau. “The only way I could have
scripted it better would be for either Johnny or Tony to catch her,” he added.
Morris was ecstatic himself remarking, “What a way to promote this great
conservation program!”
Champeau’s catch is posted on on the TrophyCatch website; however, as an
FWC employee, he is not eligible for rewards.
Tony Stewart, Tom Champeau and Johnny Morrisall delight in Champeau’s catch and release of this11 lb, 8 oz Florida largemouth bass caught in thevicinity of the Three Forks Marsh Conservation
rea, off the St. Johns River. Photo by RichardGibson/for Bass Pro Shops.
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“Catching the bass of a lifetime, with Johnny Morris and a racing legend like
Tony Stewart, was the best reward I could ask for,” said Champeau.
Now it’s your turn! Enjoy the great
freshwater fishing Florida has for you this
spring. Make memories and memorialize
them through Florida’s angler recognition
programs at TrophyCatchFlorida.com, and if
you release a lunker bass, you’ll be able to
say “My Trophy Swims in Florida!”
Instant licenses are available at MyFWC.com/License or by calling 888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356).Report violators by calling 888-404-3922, *FWC or #FWC on your cell phone, or texting [email protected]. Visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and select “more news,” or scr.bi/Fish-busters for moreFish Busters’ Bulletins. To subscribe to FWC columns or to receive news releases, visitmyfwc.com/Contact .
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