Florida DEP permit activity for Gulf County

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF Environmental Protection Bob Martinez Center 2600 Blair Stone Road Tallahassee, Florida 32399-2400

Ron DeSantis Governor Alexis A. Lambert Secretary

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Permitting Application Subscription Service Subscriber email address: manager@oysterradio.com   Profile Name: Oyster Radio Permit: Water - Mitigation Bank Permit Project Name: CREDIT DEBIT Location Id: 361488 Location Name: HORSESHOE CREEK MITIGATION BANK County: Gulf Application Number: 361488-118 For further information, please contact the Tallahassee Headquarters permitting office in Tallahassee at (850) 245-8489 Link to Department's application file: HORSESHOE CREEK MITIGATION BANK If you would like to comment on the pending application, please go here: Public Comment | DEP Business Portal (fldepportal.com)

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Hurricane Forecasters with the University of Colorado are telling people to get prepared for an above active hurricane season

Hurricane Forecasters with the University of Colorado are telling people to get prepared for an above active hurricane season.

The group expects 17 named storms this year, including 9 hurricanes and four major hurricanes.

Forecasters said everything is leaning toward an active season with very warm Atlantic water temperatures being the primary driver.

A typical year averages about 14 tropical storms, with seven becoming hurricanes.

This is the first hurricane prediction the group will make this year; They will issue updates to their forecast in June, July and August.

But they aren’t the only ones expecting a busy hurricane season.

Last month, Forecasters with Accuweather predicted 13 to 18 named storms across the Atlantic basin in 2025, including 7 to 10 hurricanes, 3 to 5 major hurricanes and three to six direct U.S. impacts.

And Accuweather added that there is a 20% chance of 18 or more named storms this year.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will issue its hurricane forecast in May.

Even though we are a few months away from hurricane season, the time to start preparing is now.

The Florida Division of Emergency Management has a comprehensive on-line guide of all of the steps you should take to prepare for a major storm.’

You can find it at Florida disaster dot org
https://www.floridadisaster.org/planprepare/florida-hurricane-guide/

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The next time you’re swimming on any beach along the Gulf, make sure to check the flags at the public beach before jumping in

The next time you’re swimming on any beach along the Gulf, make sure to check the flags at the public beach before jumping in.

There is a flag warning system to help keep Swimmers safe.

The daily beach flag color is based on daily weather information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Franklin county installed the beach warning flag system in 2012 at the public beach and a sign explaining what the flags mean.

The beach warning flag alerts swimmers to the daily rip tide conditions.

A green flag means the risk is low – red means high risk.

A double red flag means waters are closed to public use.

And Franklin County has an ordinance in place that allows` law enforcement to enforce penalties on people who go into the water when double red flags are flying.

The ordinance was approved after the death of first responder Brian Smith in 2020 who drowned while rescuing a father and son who were in very rough water while double red flags were flying.

The ordinance allows officials to issue a verbal warning for a swimmer to get out of the water under a double red flag.

If the swimmer ignores the warning, they could be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor carrying a penalty of up to 60 days in jail and/or a $500 fine.

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Fourth application period for FWC’s Atlantic Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permits Project opens April 4

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For immediate release: April 4, 2025

Fourth application period for FWC’s Atlantic Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permits Project opens April 4

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will begin accepting applications for the fourth quarter of the Atlantic Red Snapper Exempted Fishing Permits (EFP) Project on April 4. The application period will remain open for 10 days and will close on April 14. This is the fourth period for FWC’s Atlantic Red Snapper EFP Project, which began in August 2024. To learn more about the EFP Project, visit MyFWC.com/AtlanticEFP.

How to Apply

FWC Hot Spot Fleet and FWC Southeast Florida Snapper Grouper Fleet Projects:

Applicants must apply at GoOutdoorsFlorida.com and participants will be selected via lottery. Watch a video on how to apply for the lottery fleets.   

FWC Study Fleet: Applicants must complete the Study Fleet online application form. All Study Fleet applications will be evaluated using Study Fleet criteria and participants will be selected by FWC staff.

Atlantic Exempted Fishing Permits Project Overview

In 2024, the FWC was awarded three EFPs by NOAA Fisheries to conduct three unique studies, enabling the agency to collaborate with anglers, test innovative ways to reduce red snapper discards, increase harvest opportunities and improve angler satisfaction. EFPs are permits that allow harvesting for specific purposes that are otherwise prohibited under current federal regulations. The FWC recognizes that an increasingly short federal Atlantic red snapper season is disappointing; however, in these studies, some participants will be selected to catch (and keep) red snapper during a time that works for you! 

The three studies of this project take place off Florida’s east coast from the Florida/Georgia line south to the Dry Tortugas. Two studies, the FWC Study Fleet and the FWC Hot Spot Fleet, are conducted from the Florida/Georgia line south to the NASA Assembly building in Cape Canaveral. The third study, the FWC Southeast Florida Snapper Grouper Fleet, is being conducted from the NASA Assembly building south to the Dry Tortugas. Each study is somewhat different, but all focus on testing an aggregate snapper-grouper bag limit to reduce discards, improve reporting of catch and discard information via an FWC app, and evaluate angler satisfaction of EFP participants relative to those who have to abide by current federal regulations. 

The FWC is incredibly excited to offer this unique opportunity to Florida’s saltwater anglers. This collaboration has the potential to significantly improve fisheries management in the south Atlantic, giving us all hope for a better future. Florida’s recreational saltwater anglers are strongly encouraged to apply to participate and can find more information at MyFWC.com/AtlanticEFP.

Questions? Contact the FWC’s Division of Marine Fisheries Management at 850-487-0554. 

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The Florida Freshwater Angler Issue 40

Issue 40

April - June 2025

Our Purpose: To identify excellent Florida freshwater fishing opportunities and to provide anglers with relevant information that will enhance the quality of their outdoor experience. If you reached this newsletter through a website link instead of receiving it by email, you can subscribe free at the Subscription Topics page under "Freshwater Fishing". Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

In this issue: TrophyCatch Tracker Featured Fish: Oscar Braided Line Basics Part 1 Featured Site: Headwaters Lake/Fellsmere Reservoir Fisheries Biology: The Shape of Fish

TrophyCatch Tracker TrophyCatch angler Alie Abrell caught this 10-pound Marion County bass while fishing with Trophy Bass Expeditions with Captain Sean Rush. Some of Florida's best trophy bass fishing is still happening right now! As this newsletter goes out the peak month for TrophyCatch submissions — March — has just passed, but April still offers excellent odds for a big bass. The weather also remains mild for the early part of this quarter, so prioritize your outings accordingly. However, the old adage that "The best time to go fishing is when you can" still holds true, and if TrophyCatch has documented one thing it's that anyone might catch a trophy bass any time here in Florida! Harry Linsinbigler IV (far left) received a $1,000 check from 888-BOAT-LAW and other prizing for catching and reporting the first Pink Tag bass during Season 12. Wrapping up some final accolades from Season 12, Harry Linsinbigler IV was honored at Bass Pro Shops Tampa for catching the first Pink Tag bass during the previous season. He received a $1,000 check from 888-BOAT-LAW, $500 gift cards from Bass Pro Shops, and $1,000 codes for shopping at AFTCO.com. Bruce Doolittle, Sr. (far left) was recognized at Blackwater Hatchery for the second Pink Tag bass catch. Bruce Doolittle, Sr. was recognized next at Blackwater Hatchery near Holt, FL and received identical prizing from the Pink Tag promotion partners. TrophyCatch partners also wanted to award anglers who attempted to land a tagged bass so all anglers who had an approved catch from a Pink Tag water, were entered into a quarterly random drawing for a pair of Bajío Sunglasses valued at $200. Tag reports are an important part of fisheries research and contribute to understanding and managing fish populations, and these special Pink Tags also helped to highlight Florida trophy bass fishing locales across the state. Thank you to our conservation partners who made the Pink Tag promotion both fun and rewarding! TrophyCatch Season 13 has reached its midpoint, and you can continue to submit your catches of bass 8 lbs. and heavier at TrophyCatch.com. Remember that at the new website TrophyCatch participants with an existing GoOutdoorsFlorida (GOF) account can use their GOF login to access their TrophyCatch/Big Catch account. All customers who have previously purchased a hunting or fishing license in Florida already have a GOF account. This should streamline logging into your TrophyCatch account. Current program stats are listed below, and we hope that one of your catches will be added here in the near future! 12,746 Lunker Club (8-9.9 lbs.) 3,217 Trophy Club (10-12.9 lbs.) 162 Hall of Fame (13+ lbs.) 16,125 TOTAL approved submissions to date Register for TrophyCatch or view approved angler catches to help plan your next fishing trip at TrophyCatch.com. Follow TrophyCatch Facebook for featured big bass, program updates and partner highlights. For more news and freshwater information also follow us on the FishReelFlorida Instagram. Featured Fish: Oscar Size: The State Record is 2.34 pounds. The Big Catch minimum qualifying sizes are 1.25 pounds or 11 inches for adults, and 0.75 pounds or 8 inches for youth (see BigCatchFlorida.com). Identification and similar species: A dark fish, the Oscar is black with variable olive to red markings on most of the body. The key identification aid is the bright red eyespot at the base of the tail. Oscars have a stout, more oval body shape than native bream and a thick mucus coat on the body. Young fish have wavy white and orange markings on a black background. Angling qualities: Oscars provide hard-fighting, panfish-type fishing and are a perfect spring or summer target. The Oscar strikes a variety of baits including crickets, live worms, Missouri minnows, and grass shrimp. The best artificial baits include small jigs tipped with cut bait and small spinnerbaits or Beetle Spins; fly fishing with a variety of sinking flies is also productive. Oscars provide a boom-or-bust fishery since they may periodically experience winter kills. But when abundant, angler catch rates are exceptional. There are no bag or size limits for this nonnative species. The white, flaky meat has good flavor. Where to catch them: Most abundant in canals of the Everglades Water Conservation Areas of Collier, western Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties, where this species ranks second in popularity only to largemouth bass. Occurs throughout south Florida, but typically not as abundant as in marsh-related canals. Interesting facts: The native range of this nonnative includes the Orinoco, La Plata, and Amazon river basins in South America. The Oscar was one of first nonnative fishes reported in Florida in the late 1950s. The female typically lays about 3,000 eggs and both parents can occasionally be seen guarding hundreds of young in shallow water along shorelines. Tip: Catching an Oscar, Peacock bass, and Mayan cichlid in the same day will net you an Exotic Slam certificate! The fish can be any size. Check the Big Catch FAQ for details! Fish images by Duane Raver, Jr. and Diane Rome Peebles Braided Line Basics Part 1 Modern braided lines offer incredible strength in a small diameter. “The more things change, the more they stay the same!” This can be true of both life and fishing, and a good example is line. When braided Dacron was introduced around 1950, it was a modern marvel and a big step up from previous silk and cotton lines. Although monofilament was introduced only a few years later, early products were too springy and stiff. Not until better refined monofilaments like Stren hit the market did the vast majority of anglers switch to mono. It was thinner, more abrasion-resistant, maintenance-free, had better knot strength — and was almost invisible. Mono ruled the roost until the 1990s, when advanced braids like Spiderwire made from super-fibers such as Dyneema, Kevlar, and Spectra hit the market . . . bringing fishing lines full circle back to braid! Braided line is much thinner than monofilament, offering improved line handling and spool capacity. The biggest advantage of modern braids is their small diameter compared to monofilament lines. For example, 20-pound braid has the diameter of only 6-pound-test monofilament. This offers the best of both worlds with amazing strength, plus the smooth handling, higher line capacity, and longer casts of a much lighter line. If you are a new braid user, however, you have a few new tricks to learn. First of all, super-slick braided lines will slip on the shaft of the spool. To prevent this, try putting a small backing layer of monofilament on the reel first, then tying and spooling on the braid. Some manufacturers even include foam tape with their lines to serve as spool backing. Loosely wound braid on a spool can dig down into itself and bind, so when you spool up, apply more line tension than you may be used to. You also can’t use braid on cheap or older rods with chrome-plated wire guides. Most modern ceramic or metal guides will handle braid without grooving. But, if you’re thinking of using braid on an old rod or one pulled from the bargain barrel, be aware of this potential problem. Check the tip-top guide in particular. If your braided line is breaking unexpectedly, this might be another sign that it is grooving your guides — which are abrading and cutting the line in return. If this happens, it’s probably time for a new rod. The same applies to older spinning reels, too. Modern reels with roller guides will handle braid, but your old spinner with a fixed, chrome-plated line roller might start grooving. Watch for this and if you see grooving, it’s time for a new reel. Another fact to keep in mind is that even though that braided line might be the diameter of 6-pound test, it’s actually 20-pound test. So it might cast just fine on a light rod and reel designed for 6-pound monofilament, but neither of those components may be able to handle 20 pounds of strain if you have the drag cranked all the way down and hook a large fish. You can break a rod or warp a reel spool if you don’t select and use a rod and reel rated for braided line. This is more of a factor with older gear, but even with a modern outfit be sure to check the maximum recommended line test. One of the few potential disadvantages of braid is how limp it is. While this is a plus when casting, the line can wrap your rod tip or tangle much more easily than mono. If you do get a tangle, braid also welds itself into a permanent knot much more readily than mono. Braided lines cost more than monofilament, and you don’t want to discard 30 feet of good line because you can’t untie a knot that develops that far back on the spool. Be extra careful not to accidentally pull a tangle tight when you get one. While somewhat stiffer braids are available, most anglers prefer the silky-smooth way that limp braid handles. Despite this limpness, an advantage of braid in most situations is the fact that it has almost no stretch. Monofilament is quite stretchy, evident to any angler who’s ever had to break a mono line off a solid object such as a submerged stump. Braid, on the other hand, is tight as a wire — excellent for strike detection and for solid hook-setting through thick Texas-rigged plastics into tough fish mouths. Most anglers will probably notice a nice improvement in their hookup ratio when they try braid. So, if your fishing line hasn’t come “full circle” yet, there are lots of reasons to give braid a try! The next issue will cover more braid topics, including knots. Featured Site: Headwaters Lake/Fellsmere Reservoir Fellsmere Reservoir has gone from farmland to world class fishery!  Location: Indian River County Size: ~10,000 acres Description: Headwaters Lake (aka Fellsmere Reservoir) is a 10,000 acre manmade lake located in Indian River County that sits adjacent to Stick Marsh/Farm 13. During the first part of the 20th century, this area was drained and converted for agricultural practices. The St. Johns River Water Management District (SJRWMD) purchased this land and flooded it starting in 2015 to serve as flood control and nutrient removal for the Upper St. Johns River Basin. Prior to flooding, FWC and SJRWMD partnered to conduct extensive habitat and fisheries restoration efforts to enhance the fish and wildlife habitat and produce a world class fishery. From 2011-2014 FWC invested $1.35 million in habitat projects at Headwaters including shaping the bottom contours of the future reservoir by creating lower and higher elevations (holes, trenches, drop-offs, humps, and islands, see photos below). Shortly after flooding in 2016 FWC stocked 1 million Florida bass fingerlings, 145,000 black crappie, 374,000 redear sunfish and 345,000 bluegill to help jump-start the sportfish population here. Before (top) and after photos of the bottom contour project conducted by FWC at Headwaters Lake/Fellsmere Reservoir. During the first four years, post-flooding, there was no boat ramp and fishing access was limited to non-motorized vessels (e.g., canoe and kayak) in only a limited area of the reservoir. During these four years biologists documented tremendous numbers of bass with extremely fast growth. The area began to grow in popularity with both bass anglers and duck hunters. On August 10, 2020, the Headwaters Lake boat ramp opened for the first time and the access facility was built in cooperation between the SJRWMD and FWC’s Boating Improvement Fund, which is supported by Sportfish Restoration Funding. Since the opening of the boat ramp, the FWC has monitored angling effort, catch, and angler success. From 2020-2024, Fellsmere has averaged about 160,000+ angling hours annually and a bass catch rate of 1.40 bass per hour (one of the highest in the state). Furthermore, people from all over the country have traveled to fish Fellsmere for its world-class fishing opportunities (below). Fellsmere started generating TrophyCatch submissions of bass 8 pounds and larger in 2017/2018 and since then has seen over 400 TrophyCatch submissions including two Hall of Fame catches weighing 13+ pounds. Home zip codes from anglers fishing at Headwaters from the 2023-2024 FWC annual creel survey. The site has generated national attention. Note: In June 2022 FWC implemented a rule change as part of the Florida Trophy Bass Project to include catch-and-release of all Florida bass and the required use of circle hooks when fishing with natural bait greater than three inches. Even though the overall release rate was high (99%), this regulation helps protect the potential harvest of trophy size Florida bass. Fisheries Biology: The Shape of Fish Fish are a diverse group of animals! They come in all shapes and sizes, based on their lifestyle and ecology. Does the fish hover in a placid lake, or constantly swim to hold position in a swift river? Does it eat vegetation, or does it feed on minnows? Does that minnow eater ambush its prey at close range, or chase it down from a distance with a long dash? You don't need to know all those details to try to identify the fish below, but you should be able to identify some of them just by their silhouette! Each distinctive shape has a specific purpose that matches the fish to its environment. Answers are at the bottom of the newsletter. Fish illustrations modified from Duane Raver, Jr. Answers to fish quiz: (1) Sunfish (most are similar in shape); (2) Warmouth (the large mouth is the give-away); (3) Striped, white, or sunshine bass; (4) Pickerel (or pike though does not occur in Florida); (5) Crappie; (6) Florida/largemouth bass. To contact The Florida Freshwater Angler, email John Cimbaro. Fish illustrations by Duane Raver, Jr. and Diane Rome Peebles.

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UF/IFAS News, Week of March 31, 2025: Ag Policy Outlook Conference; Spring gardening; Lawn fertilization education

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For the week beginning March 31, 2025

TIMELY NEWS Spring is a great time to grow vegetables in your backyard. Our Gardening Solutions site offers many tips. If this marks your first vegetable garden, you may find Getting Started with Your Vegetable Garden very helpful. Need an expert? Contact us.

Recent research, programs, events and more. We can help you cover and localize news to your area; just use the contact links below or reply to this email.

UF/IFAS agronomist's passion for farming drives his work to maximize soil health and crop growth for farmers Niguss Solomon Hailegnaw developed a deep appreciation for the challenges and opportunities in farming while growing up in Ethiopia, where agriculture is a fundamental part of more than 80% of Ethiopian daily life. Contact >

UF/IFAS conference to address critical agribusiness policy issues The 10th annual Florida Agricultural Policy Outlook Conference will address issues, research and policies shaping the state’s agriculture industry. Hosted by the UF/IFAS food and resource economics department, the day-long event is scheduled on May 8 at the Plant Science Research and Education Unit in Citra. Contact >

Ona Field Day: An eight-decade tradition of presenting scientific data to help cattle producers For the past 84 years, faculty and staff at the University of Florida Range Cattle Research and Education Center have hosted Ona Field Day to update ranchers and land managers with the latest scientific information. The next field day will begin at 8 a.m. on April 17, and registration is open until April 15. Contact >

Protecting your plate and farmer's harvests: UF/IFAS entomologist fights for Florida's crops against costly pests De-Fen Mou, an assistant professor of entomology at the UF/IFAS Everglades Research and Education Center (EREC), is a key researcher, safeguarding Florida’s food supply and supporting the farmers who grow the produce we buy. Contact >

Floridians are fertilizing lawns without guidance: A UF/IFAS campaign aims to educate A newly published UF/IFAS report reveals significant knowledge gaps about fertilizer among Floridians who use it to care for their residential lawns. Contact >

EN ESPAÑOL: Los floridanos están fertilizando su césped sin ninguna orientación: una campaña de UF/IFAS tiene como objetivo brindarles información. Contacto >

UF student competition culminates with dual winners Organizers of the inaugural Dr. E. T. and Vam C. York, Jr. Art and Agriculture Competition have selected two teams of University of Florida students to share top honors. Each team will receive $5,000 to complete projects showcasing the collaborative power of art and science. Contact >

From Around IFAS News from across the UF/IFAS network.

Brand New 'Planting Pinellas' Podcast from Master Gardeners Available Now We’re thrilled to announce the launch of “Planting Pinellas,” a brand-new podcast dedicated to sustainable gardening and landscaping in Pinellas County.

UF’s Florida LAKEWATCH program saved state of Florida an estimated $5M in 2024 UF’s Florida LAKEWATCH program, a volunteer lake-monitoring program, saved the state of Florida an estimated $5 million in water quality monitoring according to a 2024 annual report released in March. Contact >

CALS alumni recognized in 40 Gators under 40 Five UF/IFAS College of Agricultural and Life Sciences alumni were recognized this past weekend at the University of Florida Alumni Association’s celebration for 40 Gators Under 40.

Best of the rest. Alternative story formats created or supported by UF/IFAS Communications.

Our blogs share knowledge: The Florida manatee: Biology and Conservation Meet Florida’s gentle giants up close! The Florida Manatee: Biology and Conservation by Roger L. Reep and Robert K. Bonde brings the hidden world of these enchanting marine mammals to light. A blend of science, vivid storytelling, and conservation—it's a must-read for nature lovers. Contact >

Video stories: Malachowsky Florida-Friendly Fly-Through Construction has started on a new Florida-Friendly demonstration garden in front of Malachowsky Hall. The area will feature signs identifying various plants and explaining Florida-Friendly principles, making it a living classroom for sustainable.

Visual learning: Tax-filing tips - income reporting documents checklist The documents on this checklist are a general guideline. Individual taxpayers may receive other documents that report taxable income based on their situation.

Visit the UF/IFAS Newsroom Find B-roll, photos and more for your coverage needs at ifas.ufl.edu/newsroom.

UF/IFAS Communications News and Media Relations Team

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