FB88-AprilFishingBonanza-formatted.pdf

7/30/2019 FB88-AprilFishingBonanza-formatted.pdf

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/fb88-aprilfishingbonanza-formattedpdf 1/6



but also because temperatures tend to be comfortable for an outdoor expedition.

Another reason is that the first Saturday in April each year (April 6, this year) is a

license-free freshwater fishing day across the state. People are exempt from having

a license that day, so it is a great opportunity to reach out to people who don’t have

a freshwater fishing license and show them how much fun a day on the water can

be. Or, perhaps you have children who have been bugging you to go, and you

haven’t wanted to buy a license to accompany them. Now is your chance.

Tom Champeau, director of the FWC’s Division of Freshwater Fisheries

Management, points out that dedicated saltwater anglers may want to take this

opportunity to see what they are missing a little closer to home. Freshwater angling

provides a chance to expand fishing skills without having to travel far, as everybody

lives near freshwater sites.

Florida has 7,700 named lakes and 12,000 miles of fishable rivers, streams

and canals, so nearly everyone is within 30 to 45 minutes of a fishing hole. If you

want some help finding a location or seek fishing tips and seasonal fishing forecasts,

check out MyFWC.com/Fishing (under “Freshwater Fishing,” choose “Sites &

Forecasts”). Quarterly forecasts by fisheries biologists are supplemented with links

to local bait-and-tackle shops, marinas or guides, for even more timely updates.

Florida’s Big Catch Angler Recognition Program provides an opportunity for

anglers to commemorate their memorable freshwater catches with a certificate and

having their photo posted online. Thirty-three different species are included in the

program, and all it takes to participate is a photo of a fish that exceeds either a

http://www.myfwc.com/fishing/freshwater/sites-forecast/






specified length or weight. It’s a great incentive for youth, who can qualify by

catching fish that are roughly 25 percent smaller than the qualifying measures for

adult anglers. Visit MyFWC.com/BigCatch for more details and to enroll.

However, the ultimate challenge is

the race for the biggest trophy bass of the

year. Florida’s fame as a bass fishing

destination lies in an abundance of lakes

and rivers that consistently produce

trophy-size bass. To document locations

and frequency of bass catches over eight

pounds, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) launched

TrophyCatch (TrophyCatchFlorida.com ) in October with the support of more than

20 industry partners. The goal is to enhance and sustain trophy bass fisheries and

to promote Florida as the Bass Fishing Capital of the World, based on documented

catches.

To participate, catches must be verified by FWC for the angler to earn

awards. For Lunker Club (8 to 9.9-pounds) and Trophy Club (10 to12.9-pounds),

verification requires photos of the entire bass clearly showing its length and weight,

and then the bass must be released. Photos are submitted via the website. For Hall

of Fame bass, which earn for the angler a free replica valued at $500 and an

additional $500 in other prizes, the fish must be caught before the end of April and

weighed on certified scales by an FWC representative. If you catch one, keep it alive

Bob Williams shows off the first Hall of Fame Bass

certified by the TrophyCatch Program. The 13 lb, 14 oz bass was caught, weighed on certified scales andreleased back in Rodman Reservoir after taking ain clip for genetic sampling. Photo by Sean Rush.

http://trophycatchflorida.com/






and call 855-FL-Trophy. From May through September, bass over 13 pounds can

still be photo-documented as Trophy Club bass, but won’t be entered into the Hall of

Fame, to prevent undue stress when water temperatures are too warm.

The biggest bass of this season (ending Sept. 30) verified by TropyCatch will

earn a $3,000 championship ring provided by the American Outdoor Fund. The

biggest bass caught in Osceola County and verified by TrophyCatch will take home

$10,000, courtesy of Explore Kissimmee. If a registered guide helped (see website

for details), the guide earns a $2,500 bonus. So register now, check out the rules,

grab a rod-reel, camera, scale and tape measure, and go catch yourself a lunker,

document it and then release it. By the way, just registering gets you into a drawing

for a Phoenix bass boat powered by Mercury.

The biggest fish of the year currently is a 13-pound, 14-ounce monster caught

by Bob Williams. It became the first Hall of Fame fish entered into the program. He

was fishing wild shiners on Rodman Reservoir, with guide Sean Rush (Trophy Bass

Expeditions). Check out YouTube.com/TrophyCatchFlorida to see a video of the

current leaderboard, including Williams’ catch.

Another truly awesome fishing story from this spring was Champeau’s catch

and release of a Trophy Club-level bass weighing 11 pounds, 8 ounces. At the time,

Champeau was giving a tour to Bass Pro Shop founder John L. Morris and

NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart. Champeau explained how the area near Three

Forks Management Area is being reclaimed through a partnership with the St.

Johns River Water Management District and the FWC. Marshes that were drained



for agriculture are being reclaimed to protect water quality in the Indian River

Lagoon and St. Johns River. The famous Stick Marsh, which opened for fishing in

the 1980s, was the first of these. Within the next five years, an additional 47,000

acres will be thriving with trophy bass, and the FWC is taking measures to ensure

these fisheries continue to produce decades into the future.

“We estimate the economic impact, once the project is completed, will be

around $20 million to local businesses,” Champeau said.

While on their tour in the vicinity of

the Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area,

Morris, Stewart and Champeau, led by

fishing guide Capt. Mike Tipton, caught 36

bass in a few hours.

“Catching and releasing a trophy bass while fishing with the founder of our

major sponsor was incredible,” said

Champeau. “The only way I could have

scripted it better would be for either Johnny or Tony to catch her,” he added.

Morris was ecstatic himself remarking, “What a way to promote this great

conservation program!”

Champeau’s catch is posted on on the TrophyCatch website; however, as an

FWC employee, he is not eligible for rewards.

Tony Stewart, Tom Champeau and Johnny Morrisall delight in Champeau’s catch and release of this11 lb, 8 oz Florida largemouth bass caught in thevicinity of the Three Forks Marsh Conservation

rea, off the St. Johns River. Photo by RichardGibson/for Bass Pro Shops.



“Catching the bass of a lifetime, with Johnny Morris and a racing legend like

Tony Stewart, was the best reward I could ask for,” said Champeau.

Now it’s your turn! Enjoy the great

freshwater fishing Florida has for you this

spring. Make memories and memorialize

them through Florida’s angler recognition

programs at TrophyCatchFlorida.com, and if

you release a lunker bass, you’ll be able to

say “My Trophy Swims in Florida!”

Instant licenses are available at MyFWC.com/License or by calling 888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356).Report violators by calling 888-404-3922, *FWC or #FWC on your cell phone, or texting [email protected]. Visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and select “more news,” or scr.bi/Fish-busters for moreFish Busters’ Bulletins. To subscribe to FWC columns or to receive news releases, visitmyfwc.com/Contact .

-30-

http://www.myfwc.com/License



http://www.myfwc.com/Fishing/



http://scr.bi/Fish-busters





FB88-AprilFishingBonanza-formatted.pdf

Documents