Acoustic telemetry is used to measure impacts of catch-and-release fishing on goliath grouper and to determine behavior patterns of this federally protected species. Background Goliath grouper (Serranidae: Epinephelus itajara) occur in tropical and subtropical waters from the west coast of Africa to the east coast of Florida, south to Brazil, and throughout the Gulf of … Read more
Mike and Bryan spend a day in Islamorada fishing for Giant Tarpon with Capt. Drew Nobregas of Fishy Business.
Why Catch and Release? By adopting just a few simple habits, recreational anglers can greatly increase the chances that the fish they catch and release will survive. Practicing catch and release helps anglers to preserve marine fisheries while enjoying their outdoor fishing experiences. Handling Fish Properly for Catch and Release By adopting just a few … Read more
Florida Keys Saltwater Fishing According to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commision (FWC), Florida is recognized as the “Fishing Capital of the World” based on the number of freshwater and saltwater anglers, amount of time spent fishing, economic impact, diversity of recreational species, international fishing records set here and tourists who use our resources. The … Read more
Super Bowl and National College Championship-winning head coach Jimmy Johnson hosts a $1 million fishing tournament and four-day party in the keys. Always game for a little competition, legendary football coach and Fox NFL Sunday analyst Jimmy Johnson hosts the sixth annual edition of Jimmy Johnson’s Quest for the Ring Championship Fishing Week, taking place … Read more
Federal fishery managers meeting this week in Georgia hear proposals to raise the annual limit on spiny lobster harvests, the Florida Keys’ most economically important commercial species. The council is considering raising the annual catch numbers of spiny lobster because fishers contend that the number were based on yearly averages that include some of the … Read more
Dr. Jennifer Rehage, fish ecologist and associate professor at Florida International University, has been chasing “gray ghosts” for 15 years trying to tally its declining numbers. She wants to know why bonefish numbers are dropping. She will be sharing what she has learned about bonefish at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 1, at the John Pennekamp … Read more
The recreational harvest season for one of Florida’s premier fish, snook, is open March and April and again September thru November in Florida’s Gulf of Mexico state and adjacent federal waters, including Everglades National Park and Monroe County. In the Gulf, anglers may keep one snook per day that is not less than 28 inches or more than … Read more
Fishing is a key component of the Florida lifestyle as well as the state’s economy. But fishing line and other fishing tackle frequently enter Florida’s aquatic systems as a result of incidental snags or improper disposal. When left in the aquatic environment, fishing line and tackle create potential traps for unsuspecting wildlife that can become … Read more
Throughout its 8,500 miles of marine coastline and more than 2,500 artificial reefs, Florida boasts an abundance and diversity of fish species. Every fish that swims in our waters ranks as a vital and valuable resource. With more anglers and better equipment available, catch and release fishing has become essential to ensuring there will always … Read more
It was caught on a live crab and tagged in late May in the Lower Florida Keys by BTT scientists from UMass Amherst and Carleton University, and was the second fish ever tagged as part of the program. We just received word from colleagues that their receiver near Port Orange, Florida detected Helios in late … Read more
YELLOW STINGRAY Urobatis jamaicensis Also know as Yellow Spotted Stingray. They inhabit shallow inshore waters, where they are typically found foraging in sandy or muddy flats near coral reefs or rocky formations. They utilize sandy flats and areas of sea grass in order to forage for small crustaceans and mollusks, while also using the deep sand and sea … Read more
After a several-year hiatus, state fishery managers will again address the topic of reopening the Goliath grouper fishery. The fishery was closed in 1990 due to extreme overfishing. Next month, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will hear a presentation from fishery biologists and will begin to discuss possibly opening up the fishery to a … Read more
The normally red-hot Florida Keys spiny lobster fishery in South Florida seems to be cooling off this season, or at least Asian buyers seem to becoming more shrewd about the lucrative market. Spiny lobster is the Florida Keys’ most profitable commercial fishery, generating more than $50 million a year directly to the local economy. “Prices … Read more
The main difference between the Florida Keys Spiny Lobster and the American or Maine Lobster are the front claws. American / Maine lobsters have large front claws. Florida Keys Spiny Lobsters do not. Clawed lobsters are known as cold water lobsters, while Florida lobsters are known as warm water lobsters. Florida lobsters are caught for … Read more
There are many fishing regulations taking effect January 1. Below are some that affect Florida Keys Fishing from the FWC. Seasonal grouper closure starts Jan. 1 in Atlantic, Monroe County waters Several species of grouper will close to recreational and commercial harvest starting Jan. 1 in Florida state waters of the Atlantic, including Monroe County. … Read more
Fishing in the Florida Keys, with green and blue waters enveloping Islamorada, signaling sandbars, flats and channels. All of the Florida Keys are a playground for sport fish and anglers alike. Driving south down U.S. 1 in Florida, it’s easy to become hypnotized by the green and blue waters surrounding top fishing destinations such as … Read more
At its November meeting in St. Petersburg, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) set new barracuda size limits. These changes will apply in state and federal waters off Collier, Monroe, Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Martin counties only and include: Creating a recreational and commercial slot limit of 15 to 36 inches fork … Read more
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) approved several conservation measures that are consistent with federal rules and set a new state management boundary for hogfish at the November meeting in St. Petersburg. “Hogfish is an economically important species that is popular with the diving and angling community,” said Chairman Brian Yablonski. “This was … Read more
We drive plastic cars, wear plastic clothes, eat with plastic utensils on plastic plates, buy food contained in plastic bottles and put it in plastic bags to bring it to our homes. We are addicted to plastic. In fact, Americans use more than 2.5 million plastic bottles an hour. Unfortunately, not only is plastic a … Read more