Fall Issue - CCA Florida

FALL
2 0 1 4
T H E P U B L I C AT I O N D E D I C AT E D TO C O N S E R V I N G A N D P R OT E C T I N G F LO R I D A ’ S M A R I N E R E S O U R C E S
Goggle Eye Reef
Becomes Reality
Gulf Council Sells Out
On Red Snapper
Lucky Winners
Claim Contender and
Hell’s Bay Boats
S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4 1
contents
starting point
F ALL
By Bill Camp,
Vice Chairman CCA Florida
The election season is now behind us and I hope all of CCA
Florida’s members exercised their constitutional right and
voted on November 4. On behalf of CCA Florida, I offer my
congratulations to all of the political victors, from dog catcher
and truant officer to all state representatives, members of Congress, and the governor.
As each candidate-elect prepares to assume office, I share
with them my Top 10 Wish List for their immediate study when
they consider their respective roles in the management of our
valuable fisheries:
1. Proactively work to guarantee damaging gills nets are never,
ever reintroduced to Florida waters. Actively support Florida’s
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, CCA Florida, and
other conservation groups in their current legal battles to keep
Florida’s Constitutional Net Ban in place for good.
2. Finally, decisively, and with immediacy, pursue public policies
that will increase the southerly, natural flow of water out
of Lake Okeechobee, bringing vital relief to the St. Lucie
and Caloosahatchee Rivers and their respective eastern and
western terminal points.
3. Pursue fishery management policies where fish are allocated to their highest and best use. Treat all of Florida’s citizens
equitably and equally when managing our marine resources.
4. Actively oppose Sector Separation fishery management
proposals for any state or federal waters.
5. Oppose All Aboard Florida. If the AAF train has left the station (figuratively and literally) despite your objections to it,
require Fortress Group to invest in new, elevated rail bridges over the New River in Ft. Lauderdale, the Loxahatchee
River in Jupiter, and the St. Lucie River in Stuart, to minimize
the expanded train schedule’s impact on navigation and local
boating access. These investments should be made without
a dime from the taxpayer.
6. Oppose the proposed expansion of the Oslo Road boat
ramp in Indian River County in no uncertain terms. Work
with the Florida Inland Navigation District and other area
jurisdictions on a broader IR redevelopment plan that includes a new park and boat ramp facility in Vero Beach at
the current site of Vero Beach power plant, with minimal
environmental impact.
7. To our governor, pledge to nominate only well-qualified candidates for any FWC Commission openings, and exclude any citizens for consideration who have financial conflicts of interest.
8. To our governor, pledge to nominate only well-qualified
candidates for any South Atlantic Council and Gulf Council
openings, and exclude any citizens for consideration who
have financial conflicts of interest.
9. Work with FWC and the National Park Service to ensure
common sense management plans for Biscayne National
Park and Everglades National Park.
10. Proactively promote Florida as the “Sport Fishing Capital of
the World”
I realize we are all busy with family, work, community activities, and, of course, wetting a line now and again. Still, I ask all
of our members to take time to let our newly-elected leaders
know where you stand on these and other important issues
that have profound effect on our fisheries. If not you, who? If
not now, when? By the way, what’s on your Wish List?
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T H E P U B L I C AT I O N D E D I C AT E D TO C O N S E R V I N G A N D P R OT E C T I N G F LO R I D A ’ S M A R I N E R E S O U R C E S
Helping CCA
4
2014
Goggle Eye Reef
Becomes Reality
18
22
Gulf Council Sells Out
On Red Snapper
Lucky Winners Claim
C o n t e n d e r a n d H e l l ’s
Bay Boats
de par t me nt s
top comments................................... 3
conservation focus.............................. 4
CCA banquet schedule......................... 5
around the state................................ 8
habitiat cormer............................... 14
picture it....................................... 19
sponsor spotlight.............................. 22
tech tips........................................ 24
FWC law enforcement update.............. 26
Cover by Steve Whitlock
S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4
SeaWatch is published three
times a year by CCA Florida,
a non-profit state affiliate of
the Coastal Conservation
Association.
Editorial/business inquiries
and information requests:
Dan Askin, P.O. Box 568886,
Orlando, Florida, 32856-8886
(407) 854-7002
POSTMASTER: Send address
changes to CCA Florida, P.O.
Box 568886, Orlando, Florida,
32856-8886 (407) 854-7002
www.ccaflorida.org
Managing
Editor
Dan Askin
Editor
Ted Forsgren
Creative
Director
Debbie Dewell
Great Minds, Inc.
850-386-7401
Printer
Durraprint
Tallahassee
CCA FLORIDA
STAFF
Brian Gorski
Executive Director
Holidays are Here
As you read this, the holidays will be fast approaching. Always a great time of the year,
spending time with family and friends, getting in some fishing time, picking up some gifts
and planning for next year.As you’re fishing, inshore, offshore, reef or trolling, take a moment and think about the abundance of your targeted species. Chances are that CCA
has played an important part in protecting, preserving and increasing these numbers.
Our mission is to promote, conserve and enhance these resources for the public and
recreational angler. We will continue to do this, and as always, we can always use your
help. If you are reading this, you are probably already a member and more members
make us stronger. So, look around at family members and friends. Find one (or more)
that are not currently CCA members, and as a gift, buy them an annual membership
for only $25.00. I guarantee that they will appreciate it. Have some one really special, or
maybe yourself, make them a Life Member. CCA has a monthly payment plan that makes
it easy and affordable to accomplish. Want another gift idea? Treat your fishing partner,
family or yourself to some neat fishing shirts. Go to the CCA website, www.ccaflorida.org,
and take a look at the new line of cool long sleeve micro-fiber fishing shirts with numerous
fishing designs.While your there, buy a ticket for the new Hells Bay, Pathfinder or Contender
that CCA has for raffle. If you’re doing some end of the year financial planning, contact the
CCA Florida State office (407) 854-7002 and talk with Brian or Dan about donations. As for
planning for next year, one final thought. Check the banquet schedule, it’s on the website, and
make plans to attend your local banquet, or two. As you know they are great events, you have
the opportunity to get some quality merchandise, have a great time and help generate funds for
CCA. We will appreciate it.
So, hope your year went well and I wish you Happy Holidays and great fishing!
top comments
By R. Fred Crabill,
Chairman
Dan Askin
Chief Operating Officer
Trip Aukeman
Director of Advocacy
Ted Forsgren
Special Advisor - Advocacy
Adam Miller
Senior Regional Director
Matt Behm
Regional Director
Caitlin Mitchell
Regional Director
Nick Pectol
Regional Director
Zach Batley
Regional Director
Chris Bozas
Assistant Regional Director
Amy Kuehnert
Assistant Regional Director
Miriam Askin
Event Coordinator
Leiza Fitzgerald
STAR Tournament Director
Karen Hood
Accountant
S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4 3
nservation focus conservation focus conservatio
Gulf Council Sells Out On Snapper Council Decision Relegates
Recreational Anglers To Bystanders In Snapper Fishery
The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council approved a highly
controversial management plan for red snapper this week that will take a
significant percentage of the recreational quota and reserve it solely for
use by the charter/for-hire industry. The Council approved Amendment
40, known as sector separation, by a 10-7 vote over opposition from
several Gulf states, Congress, the vast majority of recreational anglers
and even from within the charter/for-hire industry itself.The amendment
will now be sent to the U.S. Secretary of Commerce for final approval.
“It is extremely disappointing that such a flawed management
proposal was approved in the face of so much opposition,” said Bill
Bird, chairman of Coastal Conservation Association’s National Government Relations Committee. “Significant questions over key components of Amendment 40 were never adequately addressed. This
amendment will create such striking inequities for private recreational anglers that it is difficult to understand how this amendment will
be sustainable. It is infuriating that the Gulf Council continues its give
away of a public resource when the public has neither a reasonable
season nor reasonable size and bag limits for that same resource.”
Amendment 40 is widely regarded as the first step to a catch
4
share program for a privileged few in the charter/for-hire industry,
similar to the one in place for the commercial red snapper industry.
With passage of this amendment, the way is cleared for up to 70
percent of the entire Gulf red snapper fishery to be privately held,
while recreational anglers who fish on their own boats will find
their access to federal waters severely limited.
“This decision reflects a disturbing trend in federal fisheries
management where a coalition of environmental groups, industrial
harvesters and some charter/for-hire businesses are lobbying to reduce angler access to public marine resources,” said Bird. “It is clear
by the level of opposition
to Amendment 40 that
we are not alone in our
conviction that it should
not be allowed to stand.”
For more information on the controversy
over Amendment 40, visit
www.JoinCCA.org.
S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4
on focus conservation focus co
Presented by
Yamaha
CCA FLORIDA
BANQUET SCHEDULE
JANUARY
CCA Florida Fun Shoot at Quail
Creek, Saturday, January 24th
Join your CCA friends from around the
state for a friendly competition in a round
of sporting clays at the famed Quail Creek
Plantation. This course has been praised
as one of the premier sporting clay facilities in Florida. The winning team will take
home bragging rights for the year plus
pairs of Costa sunglasses and other great
prizes! For additional information
please contact Zack Batley (813)
943-8993
Red Snapper Fishery
A Legislator’s Case for State Management
By Representative Herb Frierson,
Mississippi Legislative Sportsmen’s
Caucus
As an avid Mississippi Gulf Coast recreational angler, I’m dismayed that we’ve
allowed red snapper management in the
Gulf of Mexico to become so convoluted
and polarized. Amendment 40, also known
as “sector separation,” currently before
the Gulf Council seeks to drive a wedge
between the charter/for-hire and private
recreational angler as a solution to the
inept federal management of red snapper. Mississippi is the perfect example of
where, as the fish get bigger and the quota
is reached more quickly, we have fewer days
to fish. With virtually no red snapper reefs
within Mississippi state waters, our recreational anglers are slowly being squeezed
out of the fishery with ridiculously short
federal seasons. However, the best solution the Gulf Council can come up with
for recreational anglers is to squeeze even
more anglers out of the fishery with sector
separation? I think not - we can do better
than that.
My solution would be to turn red snapper management over to the states. We
need to give management of this important
recreational and commercial species to
agencies that will ensure evidence-based,
S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4 scientific management for the benefit of
all Americans. We can’t afford to leave it in
the hands of political bureaucrats who dictate which side wins while others lose. The
states have proven they can successfully
manage recreational fisheries for decades.
Spotted seatrout in coastal Mississippi is
just one of many examples of successful,
state-based management of mixed sector
fisheries.
Putting myself in the shoes of the charter/for-hire captain, I would pause to seriously think about what sector-separation
means to me and my business before endorsing it as the saving grace. There are always more losers than winners in a catchshare system, which is clearly where this is
all headed. Catch shares remind me of musical chairs at the county fair. Each time you
go around, there’s one less chair and one
less person participating until, finally, only
one person is left holding the pie. At some
point, you’re going to be share cropping for
someone or some corporation if you hope
to fish at all.
I want to be clear - I’m not against commercial or charter/for-hire fishermen. I’m
simply against this heavy-handed approach
that will only benefit a few while the possibility of finding a real solution to the problem for all anglers and coastal communities
slips further and further away.
FEBRUARY
Mid Coast Banquet
Thursday, February 5th
We are excited to announce that
we have a beautiful new venue
this year, the News Journal Center in Daytona Beach! Presented
by Costa this is sure to be the
party of the year. Tickets are
just $85 per person or $150 per
couple and Corporate tables for
10 start at $900. For additional
information please contact Matt
Davids (386) 316-5465 or Nick
Pectol (321) 271-7723
Ocala Banquet
Friday, February 6
Join us at the Circle Square Cultural
Center for the 12th annual Ocala Banquet! This event is always in the top tier
of banquets in the area, so you will not
want to miss it! Tickets are $90 a person and $175 for a couple. Corporate
and reserved tables begin at $1,000 for
10 tops. For additional information
please contact Susan Miller at
(352) 266-3571.
Keys Banquet
Thursday, February 19th
This year’s banquet will be held at the Tavernier Elk’s Lodge. Not a Keys Chapter
member? This could be your excuse for
a Keys weekend getaway! Be sure to get
your tickets early, this one will definitely
sell out. For additional information
please contact Matthew Behm
(561) 644-2788, Tom Tharp (305)
451-5044 or Dianne Harbaugh
(305) 522-4868.
(continued on page 11)
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conservation focus conservation
Allow Netting for Bluefin? Brilliant!
People
often
ask
why recreational
anglers have such an adversarial relationship with the federal fisheries management
system, and the answer is as simple as it
is obvious. The National Marine Fisheries
Service was created to assist and promote
the domestic commercial fishing industry.
Period. Only relatively recently did NMFS
even begin to acknowledge a recreational
component.
It is in the agency’s DNA to be a partner and collaborator with commercial fishing interests. Who is in the White House –
Republican, Democrat or Other – doesn’t
matter because the bureaucratic heritage
at the agency never changes. You may get a
new head of the Department of Commerce
or a new administrator for NMFS, but the
core pro-commercial mindset buried deep
in the agency itself is virtually untouchable.
Regional council members come and go, but
federal and council staffers are the omnipresent architects of federal fisheries policy,
crafting (or not crafting, as the case may
be) the analysis and options that guide the
councils on complicated matters.
As part of its yearly effort to talk to the
vast recreational angling community, NMFS
hosted a Recreational Angling Summit earlier this year. Russell Dunn, the agency’s National Policy Advisor on Recreational Fisheries, told a story about the time he asked
a senior NMFS fisheries scientist a question
about a recreational fishery. The scientist
dismissed him brusquely, saying not to bother him with things like that because he had
“real” fisheries to manage. It is good that at
least now we hear about episodes like that
and it took some courage for Dunn to relay
it in that setting. But we are still light years
from changing that culture.
That bit of insight does help explain
things like the agency’s recent approval
of an exempted fishing permit for a purse
seine vessel to harvest bluefin tuna. Exempted fishing permits (EFPs) are the lat-
est tool used by the commercial industry
to bend the rules on gear or other restrictions and fish when they otherwise
wouldn’t (and shouldn’t) be allowed. EFPs
are ripe for abuse, as demonstrated by this
baffling approval to allow netting of a fish
that is generally considered to be on the
very threshold of an endangered species
declaration.
Conceivably, NMFS should at least
explore ways to buy out destructive, indiscriminate gear like longlines and purse
seines rather than granting exemptions
to use them to harvest globally depleted
species like bluefin. But that is not how
the agency thinks. And so this EFP was approved, and a tone-deaf agency marches
on.
Many people call it a stacked deck or
an unlevel playing field for anglers, and
it is, but it goes well beyond that. It is a
deep philosophical disconnect. On land, we
learned long ago that the industrial harvest
of wildlife is not the highest and best use
of those resources. NMFS is literally 100
years behind and steadily walking backwards.
Angling Community Encouraged by Magnuson Bills
Sen. Rubio continues
efforts to address needs
of recreational anglers in
federal fisheries law
Representatives of the nation’s 11 million saltwater anglers and the industries
they support, which collectively have a
$70 billion annual economic impact, commended Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) for
his work on the Florida Fisheries Improvement Act, introduced today. The bill creates
a strong base to ensure that the recreational fishing and boating community’s priorities
are addressed during reauthorization of the
Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Act, the overarching law managing the nation’s saltwater
fisheries.
“Sen. Rubio worked closely with our
community to understand our needs and
concerns,” noted Jeff Angers, president of
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the Center for Coastal Conservation. “We
know it will take a bi-partisan commitment
to enact this into law, and we have been
equally impressed with the work of Sen.
Mark Begich (D-Alaska) to include our priorities in his draft Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Act reauthorization.”
Recreational anglers’ primary priorities are identified in the Commission on
Saltwater Recreational Fisheries Management’s report “A Vision for Managing America’s Saltwater Recreational Fisheries.” The
Commission, headed by Bass Pro Shops
founder Johnny Morris and Maverick Boats
President Scott Deal, identifies six key policies that would achieve the Commission’s
vision, including adoption of a revised approach to saltwater recreational fisheries
management; allocating marine fisheries for
the greatest benefit to the nation, and creating reasonable latitude in stock rebuilding
timelines.
“We are pleased to see many of the
Morris-Deal priorities addressed in Sen. Rubio’s legislation, reflecting his commitment
to give long overdue attention to improving recreational fisheries management,” said
Angers. “We look forward to continuing
our engagement with Sen. Rubio and Sen.
Begich to incorporate several other priorities in the final version of any legislation, including a fix for the broken management of
the red snapper fishery in the Gulf.”
Contributors to the work of the Commission include American Sportfishing Association, Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies, Berkley Conservation Institute,
Center for Coastal Conservation, Coastal
Conservation Association, Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation, International
Game Fish Association, National Marine
Manufacturers Association, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and The
Billfish Foundation.
S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4
focus conservation focus conservation focus co
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around the state
CCA Boat Raffle Winners
CCA Florida is lucky to count three
major boat manufacturers among their
top donors. Add in the best outboard motor manufacturer and you have some raffle
prizes that really turn heads! Two of our
three raffle boats were given away in October to two lucky CCA members.
First up was the Hell’s Bay Boatworks
Waterman skiff with a 70 HP Yamaha and
custom trailer. The drawing was held at
the Orlando Banquet where Hell’s Bay is
also the title sponsor. The lucky ticket was
drawn on stage by HB Owner and CCA
Heritage Life Member, Chris Peterson. The
winner was Jimmy Hughes of Havana, Florida. Jimmy attended the Big Bend Banquet
in Tallahassee and was thrilled when he received the news. Jimmy plans to keep the
boat and put it to good use. In fact he had
it taken directly to Hell’s Bay to get some
additional features added to it to make it a
perfect fit for his style of fishing
Just two weeks later it was time to give
away another boat.This time it was the largest single raffle prize ever awarded by CCA
Florida, a Contender 28 Tournament with
twin 200 HP Yamahas all sitting on a custom
Amera Trail aluminum trailer. The drawing
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took place at Contender’s hometown banquet in Miami, the Dade Chapter Banquet
presented by Contender. CCA Life Member and President of Contender Boats, Joe
Neber, pulled the winning ticket. This time
the winner was Drew Link from Covington, Georgia. At least that’s the address that
was on his ticket. After talking to Drew we
found out that not only is he a CCA Life
Member who bought his ticket at the Citrus County Banquet, but he recently moved
to the Sarasota area! Drew said he plans to
keep the boat and will enjoy exploring the
waters around his new home in Sarasota.
“We are very fortunate to have so many
great sponsors” said CCA Florida CEO
Brian Gorski. “When you look at names
like, Contender, Hell’s Bay Boatworks, Pathfinder, Amera Trail and Yamaha you know
we are working with the best in the business. We are extremely grateful for their
support.”
To top it all off, not only have all 3 boat
manufacturers renewed their commitment
to CCA Florida for another year of raffle
boats, all 3 have also stepped up to support
the CCA Florida Star Tournament which
will be launched in 2015!
Congratulations again to our boat winners Jimmy Hughes and Drew Link and
thank you to everyone who donated to
the raffles. Tickets are available now and
for all 3 of the 2015 boat raffles. Be on the
lookout for raffle tickets at a CCA Florida
banquet near you or you can visit CCABoatRaffle.org for more information.
S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4
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around the state
Special Fishing Trip
When Morgan Lynch, President of the
Tampa Chapter received a call from Dan
Askin with a very special request to take
a brave young man and his father fishing on
Tampa Bay to help brighten their spirits and
to give them a nice outing, Morgan knew
exactly who to call: CCA Life Member and
host of The Reel Animals Fishing Show,
Capt. Mike Anderson. Capt. Mike agreed
without any hesitation and was on board
for the trip.
The fishing trip for Dominic and Dalton Romano was the idea of several CCA
members of the Lake County Chapter,
who have been following the Romano’s
ordeal with their daughter, Morgan’s fight
with leukemia. Morgan was diagnosed with
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in 2010 at
the age of 3, and went into remission for
several years after undergoing chemotherapy. Unfortunately the leukemia returned
and it was determined Morgan needed a
bone marrow transplant. Morgan’s brother
Dalton was tested and determined to be a
perfect match and the transplant took place
earlier this year.
The day on the water with Capt. Mike
was a great way for the father and son to
spend some quality time away from the
stress they have been going thru. Capt. Mike
arrived at the boat ramp with a livewell full
of bait ready to go. Capt. Mike took Dalton
and his dad to one of his favorite spots and
Dalton started catching fish right away. His
By Don Roberts
first fish was a nice ladyfish and followed
that up with his first snook!
Dalton and Capt. Mike agreed that as
soon as Morgan was well enough, Dalton
could give Capt. Mike a call and he would
take both of them fishing!
When Capt. Mike brought them back
to the ramp and Dalton saw Capt. Mike’s
truck, that might have been the highlight of
the trip for him. Fishing was great, but Capt
Mike’s truck was awesome!
If you are looking for an awesome fishing experience on the west coast of Florida,
Capt. Mike Anderson is the right call to
make. He can be reached at www.reelanimalsfishingshow.com or 1-866-Game Fish.
We Have An
Awesome Staff
By Bill Camp, Vice Chairman
CCA Florida is fortunate to have the best staff on the
planet. They are dedicated, passionate, industrious, and professional. Their job responsibilities oftentimes require long
days, rigorous travel, heavy lifting, and late nights. Still, you
rarely see any of them without a smile on their face, accompanied by a pleasant demeanor.
So . . . the next time you see one of CCA’s employees, at
a Chapter meeting, a banquet, or any other CCA event, tell
them thanks, and show your appreciation for the great job
they are doing. Although CCA continues to be a true grassroots organization with many remarkable volunteers from
around the state, we wouldn’t have enjoyed success without
our tremendous staff.
Back row left to right Zack Batley, Caitlin Mitchell and Adam Miller
Bottom row left to right Chris Bozas and Nick Pectol
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S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4
CCA Florida Loses Great
Friend and Supporter...
Richard Black
On October 24, 2014, Richard Black
lost his long battle with cancer. Richard lived in Tequesta with his family. As
the owner of Grand Slam Tackle, he ran
numerous local fishing tournaments
and other public events to raise awareness and money for a variety of charities
and local causes. Richard’s kindness and
generosity extended not only to CCA
Florida, but also to causes that benefitted children and cancer research. Both
Richard and his wife, Kathy, are long time
life members of CCA.
As a benefactor, Richard and his family
generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of CCA Florida and, in particular, the
Palm Beach Chapter. Despite amazing success, Richard remained humble and generous in
all matters. Richard always reminded us that he and his family were particularly “blessed”
to be in a position to help Florida’s marine resources. Richard recognized the important
bond between the fishing tackle community and CCA, understanding the fundamental link
between his business and a healthy fishery. Many of us recall those brainstorming sessions
with Richard, when he repeatedly tried to come up with new ways to help the community
and the sport about which we are all so passionate. Richard’s family have honored his wishes
and asked that all donations be made in lieu of flowers to CCA Florida.
Richard was a great husband and father, a good friend, an inspiration, a passionate advocate for Florida’s fishery, and we will miss him dearly.
Thanks For Your Membership
We appreciate it. And the fish do too.
But . . . the reality is, your membership dollars are a break-even financial proposition for CCA Florida. There are administrative costs to maintaining your membership, and there are costs to produce CCA Florida’s Sea Watch and CCA National’s
Tide Magazine. This underscores the importance of considering higher-level giving to
CCA to help us fulfill our mission. Please consider becoming a CCA Life, Heritage,
or Legacy Member. The generous donations at these giving levels stay in Florida and
help us fight to keep gill nets out of Florida waters, and help battle for sound fishery
resource management at the state and national levels. These donations are usually taxdeductible, and can be made in cash or with appreciated securities, such as common
stocks. At year-end, as you contemplate any charitable giving, please remember CCA,
and think seriously about upgrading your membership status by further supporting
Florida’s premier fishery conservation organization.
JOIN
CCA
TODAY!
joinccaflorida.org
Manatee County Banquet
Thursday, February 26th
The 16th Annual Conley Buick GMC Manatee County Banquet and Auction Presented
by Cannons Marina will be held on February 26th at the Bradenton Area Convention
Center. Last year’s banquet was another
sellout, so be sure to buy your tickets early.
We will draw the winning ticket for the
Pathfinder 2200TRS immediately following
the live auction! Enjoy a fun filled evening
with great raffles, auction items, open bar
and steak dinner by Texas Cattle Company.
Doors open at 5:30 PM. For additional
information or sponsorship opportunities, please contact Brian
Gorski (941) 720-4446.
MARCH
Treasure Coast Banquet
Thursday, March 5th
Presented by Pathfinder and back at the
Vero Beach Country Club this year, make
sure you mark your calendar now. This
event is the party of the year and will surely
sell out so get your tickets early! For additional information please contact Nick Pectol (321) 271-7723
Naples Banquet
Saturday, March 7th
The 26th Annual Naples Banquet and Auction presented by The Beacon Group at
Morgan Stanley will be held on March 7th at
the Foxfire Country Club. This year’s banquet will feature a 2 hour open bar, great
raffle and great auction items. Doors open
at 6:00 PM. For additional information please contact Adam Miller
(941) 270-0895
Citrus Banquet
Thursday, March 12th
The 28th annual CCA Citrus banquet and
auction will be held at Rock Crusher Canyon in Crystal River. Tickets are $75 per
person and corporate sponsor tables are
$1,200 for a table of ten. For additional
information please contact Mike
Friddle (352) 697-2188 or Ben
Branch (352) 586-2007
Emerald Coast Banquet
Thursday, March 12
We’re taking it to Fudpucker’s Down Under Room in Destin this year! This funky
space will be decked in CCA from top to
bottom and will make for evening will be
one to remember. Tickets are just $70 per
person or $130 per couple. Reserved and
corporate tables for 8 start at just $650!
For additional information please
contact Charlene Garner (850)
217-9528 or Caitlin Mitchell at
(334) 391-2232.
(continued on page 21)
S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4 11
around the state
12
Fred McCormack
By Ted Forsgren – CCA Florida
Remembering a true gentleman, strong lawyer
and valuable member of our CCA Florida team
Fred McCormack was a great legal counsel and adviser for FCA in our early battles
for gamefish status for redfish and the huge
battle for the Constitutional Amendment
Limiting Marine Net Fishing. We have lost a
fine man and a great team member.
Fred was a legislative and executive
branch lobbyist as well as a practicing attorney. Before that he was writer and editor for the Sarasota Herald Tribune. Fred
was well known and respected by the editorial writers of all the major newspapers.
His contacts gave us great access and respectability in our conservation battles. He
helped us in preparing press releases for
our battles and training in the methods of
producing and presenting our conservation
arguments. I spent a lot of time with Fred
traveling around the State seeking editorial
endorsements from the major newspapers.
During the net ban amendment we obtained endorsements from virtually every
major newspaper. I learned a lot from Fred.
Fred and his wife, Jill Chamberlin, traveled a lot to fine locations throughout the world.
He was an avid fly fisherman
who loved to fish in far off places. One of his favorite places
was Ireland where he fly fished
for trout. He was in Ireland fly
fishing for trout when he had
his heart attack.
“As you know, Fred did a lot of work for
FCA in the early days. Not only did he do legal services but with his editorial tours with
you [Ted Forsgren] he helped sell the gamefish status for redfish and the net ban to the
public. Fred’s background in Tallahassee gave
our new organization credibility. We received
a great deal more from our relationship with
Fred than we ever paid for in legal fees. We
have lost another good friend.” Curtis Bostick,
Past Chairman
“I knew from my discussions with Fred
during our latest net ban fight that he was
intimately involved in those early
fights with you [Ted Forsgren]. He
was a strong lawyer and gave solid counsel throughout. His guidance has been key to our success.
He was also a fine gentleman and
a pleasure in all respects.” Jim
Williams, Past Chairman
“Fred was not only a great
advocate for Florida’s marine
resources and a champion in our efforts to
protect the amendment that limits marine
net fishing, he also provided valuable insight
and advice during the Constitution Revision
Commission proceedings. He was a well respected counselor and a true gentleman. He
will be missed.” Mike Kennedy, Past Chairman
CCA Florida has done a lot to save and
protect our Florida fisheries over the last
27 years. Fred helped us immensely. We are
really going to miss Fred.
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S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4 13
habitat corner
14
Jerry Lower/The Coastal Star
By Cheryl Blackerby
Re-creating the Goggle Eye Reef
About 700 tons of limestone boulders
and scrap concrete were dumped into the
ocean about a half-mile northeast of the
Boynton Beach Inlet to rebuild a natural
reef that had been degraded by storms and
shifting sand.
Workers on a tugboat and a 200-foot
barge spent most of the day Sept. 15 at the
reef site. J.D. Dickenson of the South Palm
Beach chapter of the Coastal Conservation
Association Florida, which spearheaded the
project, and Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management engineers
monitored the reef construction.
CCA Florida raised $85,000 in grants
and donations to build the reef, which will
provide ideal habitats for fish on the natural
limestone Goggle Eye Reef, which was covered by sand.
Most of the money for the project
came from the Community Foundation for
Palm Beach and Martin Counties, which
contributed $55,000, and Impact 100, which
awarded a grant of $17,000. The project
also received funding from CCA’s Building
Conservation Trust Fund, the Merrill G. and
Emita E. Hastings
Foundation, and
individual contributors.
“I think it’s
important to recreate habitat that
used to be here
by building artificial reefs that
will be sustainable. The more of
these we can plop
down the more
marine life we can
create,” said Dickenson, who is the founder and past president of the South Palm Beach chapter of
the CCA Florida.
The new reef, which is about 1,000 feet
offshore in 15 to 20 feet of water, will be
an underwater attraction that can be easily seen by snorkelers. Covering about a
quarter-acre, the reef is 5 to 6 feet tall at
the highest spots.
The Palm Beach County Environmen-
tal Resources Management department
researched the project and oversaw the
placement of the boulders.
The shallow reef, a “step reef,” will immediately attract marine life — its nooks
and crannies serving as homes and stop-off
points for fish such as snook and tarpon,
juvenile reef fish including snapper and
grouper, and numerous other marine species such as crustaceans, turtles and corals.
“There are probably baitfish on it right
S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4
now,” Dickenson said the day after the
barge unloaded the boulders.
Eventually the reef will recruit sea fans
and live corals, he said. Based on other artificial reefs in Palm Beach County, it’s expected to attract as many as 60 species of
fish.
“It will be a bit of an oasis in the desert,
a magnet for marine life,” he said.
Artificial reefs are badly needed from
Palm Beach to Boca Raton, since many natural reefs have been eroded and covered
by sand. There are more inlets in the southern part of the county coastline and more
beach renourishment projects, which dump
sand on the reefs, Dickenson said.
Goggle Eye Reef was a productive reef
that was completely smothered by sand 10
to 15 years ago.
CCA, a marine conservation organization made up primarily of anglers, has
100,000 members nationwide, and educates
the public on conservation of marine resources.The CCA Florida has 10,000 members statewide in 29 local chapters.
Dickenson, an attorney with Cozen
O’Connor, grew up in Boca Raton and lives
in Delray Beach. He has been a lifelong
snorkeler and angler. He and wife, Maggie, daughter Sophia, 10, and son Henry, 7,
plan to snorkel the new reef frequently and
watch it grow.
“We will monitor the impact of the reef
S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4 on a monthly basis with underwater video
and photography over the coming months
and years,” he said.
The site is permitted for an artificial
reef by the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection and by the Army
Corps of Engineers, which will also monitor
the growth of the reef.
The South Palm Beach chapter of the
CCA Florida plans to construct other artificial reefs.
“We’re constantly evaluating new habitat and hoping to build more reefs,” Dickenson said. “The next ones may be off Delray Beach and Boca Raton. We just have to
raise more money.”
www.calusa.com
15
habitat corner
Habitat Hero
As an organization CCA Florida’s primary mission is, and always will be, to act as an
advocate for recreational saltwater anglers.
That said habitat restoration has become
an increasingly important part of our mission. Just a few years ago habitat was a subject barely discussed within CCA Florida.
Today we are involved in projects around
the state, partnering with other organizations, securing grants, and improving water
quality. Our members recognize that without clean water, reefs, oysters, seagrass and
other vital habitat there will be no fisheries
to manage. While many people inside and
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outside of the organization are responsible
for this change in direction, one of them
stands out, Greg Harrison.
Greg joined the Orlando Chapter after
moving to the area in 2008 and immediately
started asking how he could get involved,
and specifically how he could get his hands
dirty. At the time CCA was not involved
with any projects in the area. This did not
stop Greg. Without any help or encouragement Greg sought out and found a project,
right in his own backyard, an oyster reef
rehabilitation program ran by a professor
at the local university. Greg immediately
engaged and got others to join in as well,
quickly earning the title “Volunteer Coordinator”.
Over the next 6 years Greg would tirelessly work to help improve the habitat
of the Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River,
hosting “drilling parties” and “mat making
events”, even buying a pontoon boat to
help with the installation and to ferry eager
groups of volunteers. The results are astounding in the numbers of oysters placed,
the acres of reefs that have been revitalized
and most importantly the leadership by example that Greg has displayed.
Through Greg’s leadership we have all
seen the success we can have in habitat
and the benefit to the resource and to our
organization that this important work can
provide. Since that first oyster shell was
drilled 6 years ago, other chapters have fol-
S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4
lowed Greg’s lead and carried it forward
doing oyster reefs of their own, installing
artificial reefs both inshore and offshore,
doing trash cleanups and shoreline restorations and much more.
So the next time you are at a CCA event
and think “I wish CCA was more involved
in.....” think about Greg and how he helped
lead the organization by example, changing
our course from the inside through his actions, not from the outside with words. So
today we salute Greg Harrison, Volunteer
Coordinator and Habitat Hero!
S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4 17
habitat corner
By A. Quinton White, Jr., Ph.D.
River Life October 2014
We are getting ready to do an experiment in the St. Johns River, one that could
help improve fishing and water quality for
decades. After years of research and community discussions, artificial reefs, or fish
habitat enhancements will be deployed in
the St. Johns River this fall. And it is happening because of the work and cooperation of
lots of people and multiple levels of government environmental agencies.
The idea originated locally with Payton
Scheppe and Charles Holt with the Coastal
Conservation Association. CCA is the same
organization that helped with the recovery
of the Redfish population and has sponsored and defended the ban on gill nets.
But in order to get it done, sites had to
be proposed and evaluated, funds had to
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be raised, and city, state and federal agencies had to cooperate and issue permits for
the project. Much credit needs to go to the
City of Jacksonville Planning Department
for managing the project. But the Florida
Department of Environmental Regulation
and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers had
to issue permits for the new and innovative
concept.
Artificial reefs have long been used successfully offshore in fairly deep ocean waters, but the concept to build these fish
habitats in the river was new and only tried
in a few other places. Joe Kistel and Ed Kalakauskis with TISTRI, a local reef building
organization, have been instrumental in
both offshore and now inshore reefs. They
will help manage the construction of this
structure too. And the faculty and staff at
the Jacksonville University Marine Science
Research Institute will track the biological
development of deposited concrete material to see what grows on and uses the
reefs.
S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4
picture it
Lines in the Lagoon is a fishing tournament planned by and created for youth.The purpose of the event is to raise
awareness of the decline of the health of the Indian River Lagoon and to give area youth a way to be involved, to be
part of the solution to help save it.Visit www.linesinthelagoon.com for more info.
Please send your photos to: Dan Askin, P.O. Box 568886, Orlando, Florida, 32856-8886 • (407) 854-7002 [email protected]
Special Offer For New Life Members
Sign up today as a new life member and you will
receive a 35 quart Engel DeepBlue performance cooler
delivered right to your door! This is up to a $300 value!
Upgrade to the 65 Qt Engel for just $100 more!
Engel DeepBlue Coolers are built to hold ice for up to 8 to 10 days.
Rated the #1 Cooler in independent testing, you can count on your
Engel DeepBlue when keeping things cold is Adventure Critical.
This special Engel Cooler Life Member offer expires January 31,
2014 so become a Life, Heritage or Legacy Member today!
Join Today!
www.ccaflorida.org
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S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4
featured artist
Ft. Myers Banquet
Thursday, March 19th
Join us for the 29th Annual Banquet and
Auction presented by Suncoast Beverage Sales on March 19th at the Harborside Event Center in downtown Ft. Myers.
Don’t miss out on an open bar featuring
all the great Budweiser products plus
great raffle and auction items. For additional information please contact
Adam Miller (941) 270-0895.
Polk Banquet
Thursday, March 26th
Held at the Bartow Civic Center, this 29th
annual event is one you will not want to
miss. Tickets are $85 per person or $150
per couple. Corporate and reserved
tables are $1,200 for a table of 8. For
more information please contact
Zack Batley (813) 943-8993.
APRIL
Charlotte Banquet
Thursday, April 2nd
Join us at the beautiful Charlotte Harbor
Conference and Event Center for the 25th
annual Charlotte County Banquet presented by our friends at Ingman Marine.
For additional information please
contact Adam Miller (941) 2700895.
A Florida Native ...
As a wildlife artist and marine illustrator, I enjoy a rare experience – someone
who truly loves his work. Many years as a fishing guide and sportsman led me
to the most rewarding career anyone could ask for. As a true Florida native, I’ve
spent years fishing, hunting and exploring the wild places many people never see.
In 1998, I graduated from the Ringling College of Art & Design with a degree in
Illustration. Since that time, I have focused on illustrating saltwater game fish onto
navigational charts, creating fine art fish paintings and pencil game fish illustrations.
Corporate clients include Bass Pro Shops, Coastal Conservation Association
(Florida and Texas), Denali Performance Apparel, Paramount International Apparel,
Tervis Tumbler, and The National Rifle Association. I also work with various fishing tournaments from Texas to Massachusetts that raise awareness for a variety of
charities and causes close to our hearts.
If you get a chance, please visit my website at www.stevewhitlock.com.
S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4 Martin Banquet
Thursday, April 2nd
Come on out to the Indian Riverside
Park! We will once again be taking over
this beautiful Indian Riverside venue for
the annual Martin Chapter Banquet! Get
your tickets in advance this will be a sell
out again this year! Contact Jim Harter (772) 486-2499 Matt Behm
(561) 644-2788.
Orlando BBQ & Auction
Friday, April 10th
Free Beer and Wine, Great Food and Live
Music! What more could you want? One
of the biggest events of the year, you do
not want to miss this one. Tickets are just
$40 per person or $70 per couple and
include free beer and wine plus dinner!
Corporate and reserved tables begin at
$500 for a table of 10. For more information please contact Dan
Askin at (321) 663-2588.
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sponsor spotlight
22
Papa’s Pilar Rum Brings
Adventure to CCA Florida
“Never a Spectator”, he was one of the
literary titans of the 20th century, and one
of the greatest adventurers the world has
ever known. And whether it was in Havana
or Paris, Ernest Hemingway always found
time to enjoy rum.
Now, a new rum seeks to honor the
memory of “Papa,” as he was known. Papa’s
Pilar was crafted to be near that same adventure, accompanying rum enthusiasts as
they sink their teeth into life. Named for
his muse and one true constant, Pilar is the
vessel that allowed America’s literary giant
to reach beyond the shoreline, feast on life
and remind us to never be a spectator
The Hemingway Estate will be donating
100 percent of their royalty profits to organizations that “embody the likes of adventure, literacy and conservation causes dear
to Hemingway and his heirs.” In that spirit
the makers of Papa’s Pilar have stepped up
as the “Official Rum of CCA Florida” for
2015. The conservation ethic and adven-
turous spirit of the company makes it a
perfect fit for CCA Florida and already the
partnership has received rave reviews from
our members who have been lucky enough
to attend a banquet where Papa’s Pilar was
being served.
Papa’s Pilar Dark and Blonde rums are
born of the finest rums and pay homage to
Hemingway’s exploits on land and sea, respectively. Each is hand-selected from portsof-call throughout the Caribbean, Central
America and the U.S.A. for their age and distinct character. Once brought to the U.S.A.,
the Papa’s Pilar team of Master Blenders
artfully marry the rums in a unique solera
aging and blending process, using American
Oak Bourbon barrels, Port Wine casks, and
finishing in Spanish Sherry casks.
Papa’s Pilar Dark, which was awarded
“a Double Gold” Medal at the 2013 San
Francisco World Spirits Competition, is
a bold and complex rum. At 86-proof, it
is both pot and column stilled and boasts
hand-selected rums up to 24 years old, and
a long, velvety finish. Papa’s Pilar Blonde is
a crisp and nuanced rum, which includes
column stilled aged rums 3-7 years old. At
84-proof, it has a layered and exceptionally smooth finish. Papa’s Pilar Blonde was
awarded “Best in Class” White Rum at the
2013 Rum Renaissance Festival in Miami,
Florida.
If you’re curious about tasting the rum
for yourself, you might want to step up for
little adventure of your own with your local chapter. Part of the sponsorship includes
a special Papa’s Pilar “Never a Spectator”
award for each Chapter President around
the state!
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tech tips
I mp r ov i ng Your Ti me on t h e Wa t er
By George Poveromo
THE T OP SHOT REVOLUT ION
Welcome to the “top shot” revolution, where ever-increasing
droves of both offshore and nearshore anglers are going the braided
line/monofilament top shot route - to gain line capacity, and also
for comfort when pursuing their favorite big game fish. And you
can sift me into that group, as I’ve converted my Penn International
16s to this set-up for my Bahamas yellowfin tuna chunking. I’ve also
switched over many of my lighter, reef- and offshore- live-baiting
and casting outfits – spinners included. More on these outfits later.
THE CONVERT: I became a big convert a few seasons ago,
when friends showed me how they spool their Penn 16 International reels primarily with 80-pound test braided line, followed by
a 200-yard top shot of 50-pound test monofilament line. This has
become a “hot” set-up for canyon tuna chunking, especially when
the “bite” is “on”.
The big advantage here, compared to larger and heavier 50-plus
pound class tackle, is it enables anglers to hook, fight and land one
tuna after another, with very little fatigue. For some charter captains, the lighter reels prove much easier for inexperienced clients
to handle through the full process of chunking, hooking a fish, removing the outfit from its gunwale holder, and then fighting the fish;
This makes such folks who pay just shy of a king’s ransom for an
overnight canyon charter feel like an essential and effective part of
the team, and not simply spectators.
Another huge advantage is line capacity; Should a large tuna
or swordfish pick off a bait behind an anchored boat, this set-up
should provide enough line capacity to fight the fish while remaining on the hook, or, at the very least, ample time to toss the anchor
24
line and float ball and chase it down. So, I reasoned that if such a
set-up works wonders in the mid-Atlantic and Northeast canyons,
it should prove ideal for my offshore pursuits in the Bahamas and
South Florida. Naturally, the same would hold true for the Gulf of
Mexico, Southern California and the Baja, among other big game
destinations.
ACTUAL GAIN: The exact amount of line capacity acquired
is based largely on what ratio of braided line to monofilament line
you opt for; there are preferences, based on species, conditions, etc.
However, you should come close to, and/or supersede the amount
of line a specific reel is rated to carry. For example, my Penn 16
Internationals are advertised as holding 480-yards of 30-pound test
monofilament line or 700-yards of 80-pound test braided line. For
my Bahamas tuna chunking, my reels are spooled with approximately 400-yards of 80-pound test Sufix Performance Braid, followed by
an approximate 200-yard “top shot” of 50-pound test Sufix Superior monofilament line – for a grand total of around 600-yards of
“heavy” line. Line capacity can be “bumped up” proportionately by
using more braid than mono.
This set-up not only gives ample line capacity to whip the larger
yellowfins, but also the option to deploy these very same outfits on
the troll for a variety of species.
TROLLING FORMULAS: Even my 30-, 50- and 70-pound
class dedicated trolling outfits adhere to basically the same braidedline/mono top shot ratios. That is, 50-pound test braid/30-pound
test monofilament; 80-pound test braid/50-pound test monofilament; and 100-pound test braid/80-pound test monofilament for
S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4
these reel classes, respectfully. I’m seeking extra line capacity, especially for when I’m in the far southeastern Bahamas, where hooking
a large wahoo, marlin or tuna is very possible.
Since braided line has a significantly smaller diameter versus a
nylon monofilament line of the same breaking strength, I opt for a
stronger braid backing than the designated line class for the reel. I
adhere to the latter when choosing the monofilament top shot.
GENERAL LOGIC: I’m often asked why not use braided line
exclusively for offshore trolling, with a long monofilament or fluorocarbon leader? When offshore trolling, I like the inherent “stretch”
in monofilament line, which acts as a “cushion” and compensates
for the minimal- to non-existent stretch of braided line. This comes
into play with marlin and other powerful, acrobatic, fish which surge,
run and leap quickly and powerfully. This extra bit of stretch can be
just enough to keep the hook from tearing free or straightening out,
or line from parting. If multiple tunas, or a double header of other
large fish are hooked up, the monofilament is much more forgiving.
When joining braid to mono, I use the Cat’s Paw connection.
This involves putting a short double line in the braid and a short
double line in the mono (keep the mono on the spool during this
stage). Overlay the two “loops”, and pass the spool of monofilament
through these “loops” three times. Snug down the connection, and
wind on the monofilament top shot. The knot will be small and
secure.
line capacity with the braid, and enough “cushion” with the mono to
absorb sudden surges. These “top shots” are not the actual leaders
– except when we’re casting into the blackfin tuna. These spinners
come into play when casting lures and baits to dolphin, cobia, and
blackfin tuna.
In the offshore world, the braid/mono top shot is a hot setup
for the numerous reasons outlined above. It brings a certain “comfort” to fishing, providing one with tackle that’s strong enough to
whip powerful fish, yet light enough not to wear out the angler. Best
of all, it puts big fish in the boat!
SMALLER STUFF TOO!: I’ve gone the braid/mono route
for even my smaller nearshore- and offshore- tackle. For example,
looking for line capacity and solid abrasion-resistance when anchored up and free-lining live baits on a reef, I’ve spooled my small
and next largest Torque conventional reels primarily with 30- and
50-pound test braided line, respectively, and a 20-foot long, 30-pound
test fluorocarbon top shot. These same reels are often used when
drifting the reefs, for a mixed bag that may include anything from a
sailfish to a grouper or cobia. On the drift, line capacity isn’t as critical an issue, but it sure is nice having enough backbone to battle fish
on such small outfits.
As far as spin tackle, this has become a “go to” set up for those
big offshore spinning reels. I’ve even spooled my smaller 12-pound
and 20-pound class spinners with 20- and 30-pound test braided
line and 12- and 20-pound test mono top shots, respectively. These
top shots average around 20-feet in length. Again, I’m looking for
S E AWAT C H • FA L L 2 0 1 4 25
FWC Law Enforcement Update
The Florida Fish and
Wildlife Conservation
Commission (FWC) is
responsible for many
things in order to
achieve their stated
mission; “Managing fish
and wildlife resources
for their long-term wellbeing and the benefit
of people”.
Law enforcement is a
primary focus in that
mission.We all
understand that
without strong
enforcement, the
rules and regulations
we work so hard to
pass do nothing. CCA
Florida is proud to
continue our regular
feature in Sea Watch;
The FWC Law
Enforcement Update.
Please remember you
can do your part by
reporting all fish and
wildlife violations
to the FWC at
888-404-FWCC (3922)
Cellular phone users,
call *FWC or #FWC.
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CCA Florida Official Marine
Conservation Partner of the
Wildlife Foundation of Florida
The Wildlife Foundation of Florida is the citizensupport organization of the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission (FWC). Their mission is to
partner with the FWC to ensure the conservation and
enhancement of Florida’s fish and wildlife resources so
they survive and thrive for current and future generations of Florida residents and visitors. Sounds like a perfect group for CCA Florida to partner with!
Celebrating their 20th year of service, the Foundation
raises funds and builds support for the FWC and other
organizations engaged in science-based nature conservation, management, education, and research activities. For
example, the Foundation:
• Builds effective partnerships with communities, businesses, organizations, and people throughout the State.
• Finances programs to preserve and restore the
unique, diverse plants, animals, and natural communities of Florida.
• Creates opportunities for residents and visitors to
use, enjoy, and learn about the State’s fish and wildlife
resources.
St. Johns County
Officers Hickman and Miller, and
Investigator Brechler conducted a
two-day special enforcement detail at
the Guana River Wildlife Management
Area (WMA)/State Park in northeast
St. Johns County. With the recent nor
‘eastern winds blowing, which traditionally “turn on” the redfish bite
at the WMA dam, the three officers
focused their enforcement efforts
on fishermen who might be tempted
to violate the redfish daily bag limit.
During this detail, the officers and
investigator cited four fishermen for
exceeding the daily bag limit, with
one fisherman harvesting nine redfish, seven over the limit and a major
violation/first degree misdemeanor.
Additionally, one citation was issued
for possessing undersized redfish,
12 warnings for trespassing inside
the water control structure spillway,
three warnings for failure to possess a
shoreline saltwater fishing license and
one warning for littering. CCA Florida recently joined forces with the Wildlife
Foundation of Florida as their Official Marine Conservation Partner.This partnership will help CCA Florida reach
the thousands of anglers who receive information from
the Wildlife Foundation, while our sponsorship of the
Foundation will help them spread the word about their
many terrific programs including the “I DO” Campaign.
The “I DO” Campaign’s goal is to register 200,000
new recreational fishing licenses by July of 2015. You
don’t even have to fish to benefit from purchasing a
Florida fishing license. The revenue collected from fishing licenses is used to improve and enhance fishing and
boating opportunities throughout the state in salt and
fresh waters. Things like public marinas, boat ramps, fishing clinics, and artificial reefs are the types of programs
funded with your fishing license dollars.
By supporting the Wildlife Foundation of Florida
every Florida resident or visitor can provide critically
needed funds to aid in the creation and management of
healthy, sustainable plant and animal communities for future generations. And that’s good for all of us.
Commissioner Profile
Aliese P. “Liesa” Priddy
Aliese P. “Liesa” Priddy of Immokalee was
appointed by Gov. Rick Scott to a five-year
term effective Jan. 6, 2012.
A third-generation Floridian, Priddy learned
about hunting and fishing from her parents and
grandparents at a young age. Commissioner
Priddy owns and operates the JB Ranch in
Southwest Florida. As a rancher, she has a deep
understanding and respect for the culture and
heritage of ranching in Florida, as well as for
the value that land management and species
conservation bring to her 9,300-acre working
cattle ranch.
Priddy has served on the Ave Maria Stewardship Community District since 2005, and
served on the Big Cypress Basin Board from 2004 to 2010. Priddy received
the 2011 Land Conservationist of the Year Award from the Florida Wildlife
Federation.
Priddy received a bachelor’s degree from Georgia Southern University and
attended the Graduate School of Banking at Louisiana State University.
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