Florida Fishing and Diving Information

I AM BACK!!!

2010-07-25T13:50:00.000-07:00

Hello and lets get ready again,

I have been out for about a year but back with a new boat :). 2008 23 Proline with a 4 stroke Honda.

For now, here is where you will find the 2010 Lobster Mini Season information; http://myfwc.com/RULESANDREGS/Saltwater_Regulations_lobster.htm

Enjoy

2009 Bag Limits

2009-07-06T20:08:00.001-07:00

http://www.myfwc.com/docs/RulesRegulations/MarineWorkshop_Rule_SpinyLobster.pdf

THE GOOD AND BAD NEWS

2008-07-31T17:20:00.000-07:00

Well, the first day of 2008 lobster mini season turned out to be beautiful; calm sea and plenty of bugs! (Another blessing from God). My dive buddy and I had 8 tanks total but only needed to use 6 to get our 24 lobsters. We really enjoyed the beautiful day in the water and were all smiles with our limit of bugs aboard the boat.. This is the GOOD news.

Now the BAD news :-(… On the way back to the dive shop, on I-95 North, all of a sudden traffic decided to stop for no reason whatsoever (surprised?). We were able to stop on time but the full size working van behind us had no idea what was going on in front of him. By the time he realized what was going on it was too late. He tells me he was going 60 miles an hour when he applied his brakes. On top of it all, he had bad brakes so only the front wheels engaged!!! SLAMN!!!! Thank God the boat was strapped down!!

Damage: Broken Transom :-( Broken Bottom unit, and Trailer bent. (I think it is totaled). BUT nobody was hurt. Of course, we had no boat to go out on the second day :-(.

2008 Lobster Mini Season Warnings

2008-07-16T09:55:00.000-07:00

Mini season is a very exciting time and sometimes in the midst of everything we forget little things that could be dangerous to us and the people around us. So, let’s not forget the following items:
1) Make sure you inspect your equipment weeks before mini season.
a. Check your tanks VIP’s and hydros.
b. Check your lobster bag for holes, and proper closing.
c. Check the operation of your tickle stick.
d. Check your flash light and change the batteries.
e. Check your dive computer.
f. Check your regulators and pressure hoses.
g. Make sure you have extra lobster measuring gauges.

2) You need to have a Florida fishing license with a craw fish stamp. The chance that you will be checked by the Florida Coast Guard or marine police is very high (for information on how to obtain a license check my other posts). Make sure you have your license with you. If you are going out on your boat, make sure all of your paperwork and safety equipment is up to date.

3) NEVER NEVER NEVER bring an under sized lobster up to the boat. Before you head back to the ramp, double check all of the ones you have aboard the boat.

4) Lobster mini season starts at midnight. Therefore, the waters are full of divers (including beach divers). Drive slow!! Have your buddy help you watch out for divers. There are a lot of divers that violate rules such as “diving without a dive flag”. So please be careful.

5) Speaking about diving flags, stay await from them while driving your boat. Check your local rules for the minimum distance that you need to stay away. Once you find that out, double it.

6) When you see a lobster, control your enthusiasm. Relax! It will help you save air. Check its escape routes and what other creatures may be sharing the lobster’s home.

7) Last but not least…. Be kind to the reefs. Don’t destroy the reefs trying to get a lobster out. It is not worth it!

Have fun and enjoy 2008 Lobster Mini Season. C ya out there!

Finally!! My first Sail!!!

2008-06-22T07:08:00.000-07:00

We went out fishing for dolphin using rigged ballyhoos with skirts. We spent the entire day trying different color skirts and water depth from 150 – 900 feet but nothing. We only managed to hook a Bonita. But 4 hours into our fishing trip and around 600 feet of water we hear that beautiful sound of the rod screaming!!!!!
YES!!! I HOOKED MY FIRST SAIL FISH!!!! What a beautiful fish it is!!! We took a couple of pictures and did a safe release. No dolphins but it turned out to be an AWESOME DAY!!!

2008 Lobster Mini it is almost here!!!

2008-06-10T10:39:00.000-07:00

The spiny lobster sport season will fall on July 30th and 31st for 2008. The bag limits are 6 per person per day for Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, and 12 per person per day for the rest of Florida. The possession limit on the water is equal to the daily bag limit, and off the water is equal to the daily bag limit on the first day, and double the daily bag limit on the second day. Possession limits are enforced on and off the water. Spiny lobster has a minimum size limit that must be larger than 3" carapace, measured in the water. A reminder that possession and use of a measuring device is required at all times, and night diving is prohibited in Monroe County (only during the sport season). A recreational saltwater license and a crawfish permit are needed for harvest. Regular spiny lobster season is August 6 through March 31. The bag limit is 6 per person per day. Harvest of lobster is prohibited in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park during the sport season. Harvest is also prohibited during both the 2-day sport season and regular season in Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park, and no take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.

Call (305) 743-2437 or visit http://floridakeys.noaa.gov for information about no take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary. Please call the FWC Key West office at (305) 292-0311 or click here for lobster harvesting regulations for Monroe County. Recreational trapping of lobster is prohibited.

LOBSTER BAG LIMITS

Monroe County
Biscayne National Park
Elsewhere

2-Day Sport Season (July 30-31)
6 per person per day
6 per person per day
12 per person per day

Regular Season (August 6 – March 31)
6 per person per day
6 per person per day
6 per person per day

Regardless of what species you are fishing for, bag limits are only for properly licensed individuals and those people exempt from license requirements who are actively harvesting, and those people harvesting may not exceed their individual bag limit and take someone else’s bag limit. That is, people (including children) who are not actively harvesting or are not properly licensed (if a license is required) may NOT be counted for purposes of bag limits.

Dolphin (Mahi Mahi) Tips

2007-12-05T18:30:00.000-08:00

Adult dolphins eat squid, flying fish, and other small fish while cruising weed lines in offshore waters. Troll natural baits such as ballyhoo rigged on #7 or #8 steel wire with a 7/0 or 8/0 hook. They can also be caught on artificial lures, feathers, or spoons. When a schooling dolphin is hooked, leave it in the water. The rest of the school will often stay nearby. Chumming cut bait will bring them in and create a frenzy of activity. Tip obtained from Florida Fishing Weekly News letter.

Dolphin ID (Mahi Mahi

2007-10-04T12:49:00.000-07:00

Description: bright greenish blue above, yellow on sides, with capability of flashing purple, chartreuse, and a wide range of other colors; body tapers sharply from head to tail; irregular blue or golden blotches scattered over sides; anterior profile of head on adult males is nearly vertical; head of females more sloping; the single dark dorsal fin extends from just behind the head to the tail; anal fin margin concave and extending from anus to tail.

Similar Fish: pompano dolphin, C. equisetis. The pompano dolphin has squarish tooth patch on tongue (oval tooth patch on dolphin) and fewer dorsal rays (48 to 55 versus 55 to 65 on dolphin).

Where found: OFFSHORE in warm waters.

Size: common to 30 pounds.

*Florida Record: 77 lbs, 12 ozs.

Remarks: one of the fastest-growing fish, thought to live no more than 5 years; swimming speed is estimated at 50 knots; spawns in warm ocean currents throughout much of the year; young found in sargassum weed; feeds on flying fish and squid.

For other fish, please visit http://indian-river.fl.us/fishing/fish/. Nice site.

2007 Lobster Mini Season Report

2007-07-28T08:37:00.001-07:00

We had a great 2007 mini season; had fun, got back safe, and spend two days on the water. We also came back with 30 lobsters in our bag. Also found a great location for Hog and Grouper therefore we are going back there in two weeks (next week is FL keys).
Quick lobster recipe: after deveining lobster, cut shell lengthwise (top). Crack open a bit to be able to put in the seasonings. Soak lobster in beer for 10-15 minutes. Drain and place lobster in aluminum foil. Put butter, garlic (powder also ok), a little sea-salt and black pepper in lobster and cover up with foil. Cook at 325 degrees until meat is no longer crystalline and add some fresh lemon

2007-06-29T16:23:00.000-07:00

26 days and counting!! 2007 Lobster mini season is almost here. Here is additional information you must keep in mind:
1) Lobster bag limit for 2007 is as follows:
LOBSTER BAG LIMITS (refer to chart)
For more detail: http://marinefisheries.org/lobster.htm

2) The following is the Biscayne National Park border (TO BE SAFE... DO NOT GO SOUTH OF THE LIGHT HOUSE)(refer to chart)

3) How to measure the lobster:
a. You MUST measure the lobster under water. I always measure the lobster a second time once I am aboard the boat just to be 100% sure.
b. Get yourself a good measuring gauge (~$3). I have seen some plastic ones way off. I can tell you this from experience since I have compared them with the one use by the US Coast Guard.
c. The Carapace must have a minimum length of greater than 3 inches. NOTE: GREATER THAN!
d. The carapace is measured beginning at the forward edge between the rostral horns, excluding and soft tissue, and proceeding along the middle to the rear edge of the carapace. NOTE, if you don’t include the soft tissue (right between the eyes) your measuring will be off.
(Refer to Chart)

4) You need a Florida Saltwater fishing lincese and a crawfish stamp. You can obtain you licenses and stamp as follows:
a. Online at: http://myfwc.com/license.html
b. By phone at: 1-888-FISH FLORIDA (1-888-347-4356)

More to follow!!

Tip to catch Mahi Mahi (Dolphin)

2007-06-15T15:06:00.000-07:00

The following tip is actually a critical and very important one! When trolling for dolphin (MAHI MAHI) with rigged ballyhoo, you want your bally to have lots of action. The ballyhoo must look and swim as real and natural as possible. How do you accomplish that? Well you must break the ballyhoo’s spine. This is how you must do it: you must gently squeeze (until you see a popping) the back of the bally beginning just above the gill-plates. Try 3-4 different places just after the point for maximum movement.

I will try to make a video clip on my next fishing trip next week, so check back for this.

Happy fishing

2007 Lobster Mini-Season Tips

2007-06-08T11:01:00.000-07:00

2007 Lobsters Mini Season

I am getting ready to go!!! Are you? Here are some things to remember and the 2007 Rules:

• Have your regulator inspected (this should be done once a year)
• Make sure your tanks have your visual updated and check for your Hydro as well
• Check your tickle stick is in working order (for those you have stick with loops)
• Have plenty of measuring gauges (always have at least two with you since you can lose them very easily) It is required that every harvester carries one.
• Check your lobster bag zipper is working properly. Also check you don’t have any whole in the bag!
• Check your light and also check your spare bulb
• Check you permit and renew it. Don’t leave for the last minute.
• It is a good idea that if you don’t have favorite locations (Reefs) then you should go out two – three weeks before the season begins to inspect the area you want to dive. Find good new reefs and mark it in your GPS.
• TIP: Just because it is big reef does not mean it is the best reef. If you are not the first one there what good is it? Normally these reefs are the first one to go empty. For me, I rather find 4 -5 smaller reefs.

For 2007 Rules please visit Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at: http://myfwc.com/marine/workgroups/index.html#Spiny_Lobster

Tips to Catch Lobsters

2007-06-04T08:55:00.000-07:00

Here are some simple but interesting tips for your lobster hunting adventures (assuming you are scuba diving):
• Before you head out on your planned direction (against the current probably), take a look around underneath the boat first. You can do this while you double check your boat anchor is secure and it will not come loose. You will be amaze! For some reason 40% of the time you will find lobsters right underneath the boat where you anchored.
• Depending how comfortable you are under water, it is a good idea to carry a net with you. A lot of the time you will see a lobster out in the open (especially at night since they are night creatures) and it is much easier to use your net then. You will also save precious air by avoiding chasing the lobster all over the reef with your tickle stick!
• There are two ways you can look for lobsters: 1) by swimming close to the bottom looking to lobster antennas. The good thing about this that will cover a lot more reef but you will only a find few lobster. 2) I call this method “looking for my penny”. Swim close to the bottom and check underneath every rock, ledge, and anything that a lobster can hide under. You will cover less ground but you increase the chance of finding lobsters. One word of caution, lobster sometimes shares their homes with other marine life such as eels. So, take a second to look before you stick your head inside a whole!
• When you see a lobster.. DON’T PANIC!!! Think what is the best approach to catch the lobster before you act. Have your buddy go on the other side of the rock just in case.
• Have fun and tickle the lobster rather than force it out. This is why is called a tickle stick. If you tickle the lobster on the right side, she will move to the left. If you tickle her by the back she will move to the front (you get the point). So, tickle her to a perfect position before you attempt to loop her.
• Avoid touching the tentacles when you are tickling the lobster since they will move back into their whole.
• Remember to always measure the lobster underwater, check for eggs (especially during mini season), and take care of the reefs.
• Last but not least.. If you see a bottle or any other garbage, pick it up and place it inside on your lobster bag. It will not cost you anything but it is priceless for the reefs and marine life. Help protect the reefs.
• Also, make sure you have you lobster permit.
Have fun

You want to catch yellowtails?

2007-05-28T14:44:00.001-07:00

YOU WANT TO CATCH YELLOWTAILS?? THEN THIS IS A MUST!!!

I called this the “Yellowtail Magnet Chum Bait”. This bait is to be used as a complement to your regular chum. It contains no sand or non-nutritional items. Fishermen in Florida and The Florida Keys have used a similar mix (they use sand instead of flour) of yellowtail delights for over 20 years.

The below mix has been tested and proven to work beautifully. I have had great success using this – the yellowtails we’ve caught have had a bellyful of this stuff.

Ingredients:
• Oatmeal
• Fine yellow flour
• Cracked Corn
• Menhaden Oil

You should mix this in a 5 gallon bucket. Use enough oil to make the mix moist. Now, you don’t want to throw too much in the water, otherwise the yellowtails will get full and will not bite. A handful every 2-3 minutes will do the trick.

MAHI MAHI!!!

2007-05-28T06:27:00.000-07:00

Ok guys... here we go...

This is from our last fishing trip in Florida keys. Total of 11 dolphins onboard after an awesome day of fishing.

Method: Trolling
Location: Key Largo
How deep: 700 feet
Time: around 1PM
Bait: This is a funny one.. the only thing they wanted to bite on was a rubber fish!!

About ME

2007-05-27T15:32:00.000-07:00

· 25 years in the Florida Area
· PADI Divemaster
· PADI Search and Rescue
· Emergency Respond Team member
· Favorite Fish: Yellowtail, Hog, and Dolphin (Mahi Mahi)