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)

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 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

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