The FWC Division of Marine Fisheries Management is conducting a short survey to help determine priority areas for marine fisheries management projects.  Marine fish and invertebrates are your resources. This is your opportunity to assist in the management of your resource.  The survey will be available online through June 25. One survey per person. Have questions? Call Marine Fisheries at 850-487-0554 or email Marine@MyFWC.com. Take the Survey

This comes as a surprise to all of us here at CFOA but NOAA just announced that Red Snapper will NOT be opening this year in the Southeast Atlantic.

For more information: 

http://sero.nmfs.noaa.gov/sustainable_fisheries/s_atl/sg/2015/red_snapper/index.html

Saturday and Sunday, June 6-7, saltwater recreational fishing license requirement will be waived. Saturday and Sunday, June 13-14, freshwater recreational fishing license requirement will be waived. For more info http://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/FLFFWCC/bulletins/107c715

CFOA wants to thank all the veterans out there for their service!  We currently have many veterans in the club and wanted to help the American Legion spread the word.  Currently they are....

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We had a great meet up this past Monday.  Trolling was the hot topic and Dolphin and Tuna seemed to be mentioned quite often.  

Featured Speaker - Joe Bielowski

Our featured speaker was Joe Bielowski and you could tell he was very passionate about trolling.  He covered many tips and techniques including the minute details that help make the difference.  

Some things I found interesting where how he used his teasers and where he placed them in the trolling spread.  You can find many of these tips and more in his book Trolling Tips The Pros Don't Want You to Know.  

Member Spotlight

In our member spotlight Scott Van De Houten talked about how he trolls for Dolphin this time of year.  He really likes using teasers to draw the fish in but the thing I found most interesting is that he always trolls naked ballyhoo on a light drag around the teasers.  This is so if a sailfish grabs it, the light drag will allow the fish to eat the bait before you tighten it and set the hook.  On the baits on the outriggers and shotgun he usually adds a skirt and has a tight drag to set the hook immediately. 

Don't miss out on the next member spotlight, these talks are great!

May Central Florida Fishing Report

The fishing reports were mostly covering the hot dolphin bite outside of port canaveral with some large fish being caught.  We had some of our members take some adventures down south and added blackfin tuna from Marathon and Ft. Lauderdale.  Add Wahoo, yellowtail, and amberjack to that keys report as well.  These reports are another benefit of coming out to the meetings.  Learn whats biting so you can capitalize on your next trip.

Monthly Raffle

The Raffle included some great trolling plugs, skirts and freestyle jigs along with a Redfish Extreme rod and reel combo donated from Bass Pro Shops Orlando.  These raffles happen every social and are always a lot of fun!

See you at the next Social!

We would like to congratulate Scott Sampson for winning the 2015 Cobia-Thon and bringing the trophy back to the CFOA. 

With cobia being really tough this spring Scott managed to land the only Cobia of the tournament.  That was a pretty impressive feat out of 33 boats!

When asked what he thought of the tournament win Scott replied, "Finding the only fish, is no different then finding the one big one.  Its being prepared for the lucky find and trying to put the odds in your favor."

Just a reminder that Grouper fishing in the Atlantic and Monroe County waters opens on May 1st.  This is for state and federal waters.  Please check the following sites for more information:

• State: MyFWC
• Federal: SAFMC

Today, Governor Rick Scott signed an executive order authorizing the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to offer Lifetime Sportsman’s Licenses for Florida children and young adults at a greatly reduced cost. The license now costs up to $1000 but from Nov. 24 through Dec. 31, 2014, the price will be reduced to $500 for Florida residents who are 21-years-old and younger. The lifetime license covers saltwater and freshwater recreational fishing, hunting and most associated permits. To view the executive order, click HERE.

 

Governor Scott said, “Our state’s natural treasures give families wonderful opportunities for both fishing and hunting from the Panhandle to the Keys. This Lifetime Sportsman’s License will provide Florida’s youth with the opportunity to spend time outdoors with their families. Fishing and hunting are time-honored traditions in our state, and I encourage all Floridians to spend some time enjoying the great outdoors.”

 

A Lifetime Sportsman’s License allows fishing and hunting in Florida for the rest of the license holder’s life, even if that person is no longer a resident of the state.

 

The license may be purchased at all Florida county tax collectors’ offices, online at License.MyFWC.com and by calling toll-free 888-FISH-FLORIDA (888-347-4356). Residency must be verified. For more information about a Lifetime Sportsman’s License and this limited time offer, visit http://myfwc.com/license/recreational/lifetime-licenses/

At a Sept. 10 meeting in Kissimmee, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) acted to prohibit lionfish aquaculture. Lionfish are an invasive species that have a negative impact on native fish and habitat.

The changes will go into effect by Dec. 1. Updates will be available at MyFWC.com/Lionfish.

Management changes were developed in coordination with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and include:

• Prohibiting the harvest and possession of lionfish eggs and larvae for any purpose other than destruction;
• Prohibiting the intentional breeding of lionfish in captivity.

A scientific research exception will allow permitted research institutions to breed and cultivate lionfish for the purposes of researching population control and impact mitigation.

“Every lionfish prevented from entering Florida waters, and every change that encourages removal is a step toward successfully limiting the negative impacts lionfish have on native fish and wildlife,” said FWC Executive Director Nick Wiley.

The FWC implemented several management changes including prohibiting the importation of live lionfish into Florida effective Aug. 1. The FWC encourages divers and anglers to remove lionfish whenever they can.

See or catch a lionfish? Report a sighting by downloading the new Report Florida Lionfish app on a smart device or by visiting MyFWC.com/Lionfish and clicking on “Report Lionfish.”

To learn more about these changes, visit MyFWC.com/Commission and click on “Commission Meetings.” To learn more about lionfish, visit MyFWC.com/Lionfish.

The commercial and recreational harvest of stone crab claws in Florida closes on May 16, with the last day of harvest on May 15. This closure occurs each year during the species’ peak spawning season to help protect and sustain Florida’s valuable stone crab resource. Stone crab season will reopen on Oct. 15.

Commercially harvested stone crab claws may be possessed and sold during the closed season but only if they have been placed in inventory prior to May 16 by a licensed wholesale or retail dealer.

Stone crab traps must be removed from the water within five days after the close of the stone crab season unless a special extension is granted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC).

Learn more about the stone crab harvest season by visiting MyFWC.com/Fishing and clicking on “Saltwater” and then either “Recreational Regulations” or “Commercial.”