Chandler Smith drove the #38 GoOutdoors Florida TrophyCatch truck to a win in the Craftsman Truck Series at Daytona! The big news this quarter was a very successful marketing campaign promoting Florida fishing and license sales. GoOutdoorsFlorida and TrophyCatch partnered with Front Row Motorsports to sponsor a truck in the Craftsman Truck Series Fresh from Florida 250 race at Daytona in February. The truck design featured an eye-catching full-length bass graphic. Chandler Smith pushed the truck to a thrilling photo-finish win in the last seconds of the race. Over a million people watched the race and saw the Florida bass front and center as he drove up to victory lane. It was a win for racing fans and conservation alike. During the race week FWC staff worked a booth, handing out prizes and talking with attendees about Florida fishing. Multiple TrophyCatch participants were greeted warmly when they introduced themselves at the booth. The grand finale was the reverse drawing among our five Phoenix TrophyCatch boat finalists which took place right on the Daytona midway! The "last one standing" and lucky winner of the Season 13 boat was Justin Goodman (left). It was an incredible week of fun and excitement all promoting Florida's great fishing. TrophyCatch Season 14 is still going strong as Florida's annual spawning season winds down. Multiple double-digit and Hall of Fame bass were submitted in the last quarter, including the lucky catch below. The latest totals for the TrophyCatch program are: - 13,349 Lunker Club (8-9.9 lbs.) bass
- 3,372 Trophy Club (10-12.9 lbs.)
- 176 Hall of Fame (13+ lbs.)
- 16,897 TOTAL approved bass submissions to date
This 12 lbs. 4 oz. Trophy Club bass (above) was caught in Putnam County! Check out the Hooked On Putnam page for an exciting opportunity to win an awesome fishing trip prize package when you submit and have catches approved for TrophyCatch that are from Putnam County! Register for TrophyCatch or view approved angler catches to help plan your next fishing trip at TrophyCatch.com. Follow TrophyCatch on Facebook and Instagram for featured big bass, program updates and partner highlights. You can check the FWC's Freshwater Fish Stocking page to search for waters near you that have been stocked with a variety of fish species. Recent stocking information is available by year in list format or by searching the Interactive Stocking Map!  Size: The blue tilapia is one of our largest nonnative fish. The state record is 10.09 pounds. The Big Catch minimum size for recognition is 5.00 lbs. or 18 inches. Identification and similar species: The broken lateral line distinguishes this fish as a cichlid. Adults are blue-gray shading to white on the belly; juveniles may possess dark spots on the body. The borders of the dorsal and caudal fins may have red to pink edges. Nile tilapia and Mozambique tilapia are very similar but usually have distinct vertical striping on the caudal fin (tail). Possible hybridization between these species further complicates identification. Angling qualities: Tilapia are not known for their sporting quality, but do fight well on rod-and-reel. Tilapia can be caught using small pieces of hot dog, bread balls, dog food, or live worms for bait. They are rarely caught on artificial lures. They can be harvested by cast net (where allowed) and are popular bowfishing targets. As an illegally-introduced nonnative there are no bag or size limits. Tilapia have white, flaky meat with a mild flavor and are considered excellent eating. Tilapia are commonly available in grocery stores and restaurants. Where to catch them: The blue tilapia may be Florida's most widespread nonnative fish. It is abundant throughout most of the state and can be found in lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and canals. It is tolerant of saltwater and found in some near shore marine habitats, such as Tampa Bay (see the article on Freshwater and Saltwater Fish below). Interesting facts: Even when you don't actually see them, you can often tell that blue tilapia are present by their very large beds along the shoreline. Males dig circular nests more than 2 feet across in shallow water over a sandy bottom. The male swims out to a passing female and leads her to the nest where courtship and egg-laying occur. The female takes the eggs into her mouth, where they are protected until they hatch. The fry are occasionally released to feed, but whenever threatened they return to the female's mouth for protection until they are about three weeks old. This type of parental care is called mouth-brooding. |
Fish images by Duane Raver, Jr. and/or Diane Rome Peebles  No matter how good of a rod you’re using, no matter what brand of line is on the reel, no matter what you paid for that lure, it all meets the fish at only one point — the hook. Knowing the right kind of hook to use, selecting the correct size, and keeping it sharp will . . . put more fish on the hook! The parts of a hook (left) are relatively simple, and will apply to nearly all kinds. There are many different kinds of hooks available, but don’t let yourself be overwhelmed — a few basic hooks will meet most of your needs. When choosing hook size, go smaller rather than larger when in doubt . . . many large fish have been caught on small hooks! Note that the numbering of hook sizes increases as the hook gets smaller (the bigger the number, the smaller the hook!). The exception is when the numbering gets down to 1 for larger hook sizes (1/0 or greater), in which case the hook size now increases as the number does (1/0, 2/0, 3/0, etc.). The Aberdeen (below) is an excellent all-around choice for light freshwater bait fishing. The fine wire minimizes damage to the bait and reduces interference with its natural movement. The long shank also makes hook removal easier even if the fish has partially swallowed the bait. This hook is designed to bend and pull loose under heavy pressure if it becomes caught on a solid object such as submerged brush. For this reason, don’t use too heavy a line with an Aberdeen — if there’s a big fish on the other end instead of a stump, you want the drag to slip before the hook straightens! Good sizes include 6-10 for bream, 4-6 for crappie (specks), and 2-6 for light-line bass or catfish angling. |
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A small #6 Aberdeen hook was used to land the 12-pound catfish that surprised the angler above. The fish was originally stocked by the FWC about 10 years before.  For heavier bait fishing, many savvy anglers have turned to the popular circle hook (right). Although not a new design (it’s been in use by commercial anglers for years), the circle hook has more recently been popularized as a valuable tool for recreational fishermen too. This unusual-looking hook is designed to minimize gut-hooking, instead catching the fish near the corner of the mouth almost every time. Not only that, but anglers experience a significantly higher percentage of successful hookups too — circle hooks reduce the number of missed strikes. Instead of setting the hook when you get a strike as you do with conventional hooks, you should simply apply increasing pressure and the fish will basically hook itself. Circle hooks are especially helpful for unusually difficult hooking situations, such as bait fishing for tough-mouthed larger bass or tarpon. |
Worm hooks (below) for weedless rigging of plastic baits come in a variety of styles. These hooks usually have a distinct elbow bend in the shank near the eye, where the following part of the hook will emerge from the plastic bait. These are available in straight or offset shank styles. In order to rig a “straight” worm that will not twist unnaturally when retrieved, lay the hook on top of the worm and note where it should emerge from and re-enter the body. By rigging the worm this way, you should be able to avoid making the worm kink. Sizes used generally range from 1 to 5/0, depending on the size of the plastic bait. Wide gap versions have become increasingly popular for plastic baits.  |
Getting to the point: Modern hooks come out of the package much sharper than their ancestors did! If you are using a name brand hook, you may not need to sharpen it at all or only touch up the point if it gets dulled. For freshwater hooks, a small whetstone works better than a metal file, which tends to remove too much metal too quickly. Sharpen the hook on each side first, and then finish up by sharpening the point opposite the barb. If the hook hone has a “point groove,” then the final step is that much easier. The traditional test of hook sharpness, seeing if it “sticks” when you touch the point to your thumbnail, still works.  Barbless hooks: Although more and more hook styles are becoming available barbless, most of the time it’s still up to the angler to provide this option for himself if he wants it. Barbless hooks have the advantages of penetrating a fish’s mouth more readily and being easier to remove (from fish, shirt, or fishin’ buddy!), in addition to reducing the level of hooking injury likely to occur to the fish itself. Especially for beginning anglers, quick hook removal from fish or self is a major convenience. De-barbing is probably most important for bait fishing, where the chances of a fish swallowing the hook are higher. However, many anglers de-barb all their lure hooks, too. Regardless of whether you fish simply for the sport, or strictly for the frying pan, the FWC encourages anglers to use barbless hooks so that those fish that are released have a better chance of survival. So remember: a good rod-and-reel combo and decent line can help you catch fish, but you’ll want to have a good hook too! |
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The Florida Fishing Trail has just opened and offers a diversity of freshwater fishing opportunities within Hardee County. Location: Hardee County Description: 9 lakes located on 1,200 acres The Florida Fishing Trail is an exciting new freshwater fishing destination, showcasing what’s possible when conservation, access, and partnerships come together. Located in Central Florida, this unique system spans more than 1,200 acres of reclaimed land and features nine lakes managed as a Fish Management Area, with a strong focus on sustainable, high-quality bass fishing. The Hardee Lakes Park waters all may have unlimited boat and pier anglers. The Bucket Lakes offer limited quote access. Check the article links for details and rules. Developed through a partnership between the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), The Mosaic Company, and Hardee County, the Trail transforms former mining lands into a thriving outdoor resource for anglers. Early success on the water, including strong catch rates, highlights the power of science-based management and thoughtful design. Whether you’re a seasoned angler or introducing someone new to fishing, the Florida Fishing Trail offers something for everyone. Before visiting, be sure to review the Florida Fishing Trail rules and regulations, including hours of operation, to plan your trip. Visit the Florida Fishing Trail website to learn more.  |
One of the broadest generalizations used to group fish is whether a given species occurs in freshwater or saltwater. When anglers draw this distinction, they are thinking of what fish species will be available for them to catch where they’ve decided to go fishing. When biologists compare the two, however, their thoughts will run to fish biology and fish excretory (or waste elimination) systems. One of the most basic biological principles is that different substances dissolved in a solution tend to move from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration, until the distribution is even. Put a few drops of blue food coloring into a glass of water without stirring it, and eventually the water will be one color (instead of clear in one part and blue in the other). This process is called diffusion. A substance in solution will eventually become evenly distributed throughout the solution through the process of diffusion. Since all fishes actually live in a solution — water — the same basic principle is extremely important to them. In freshwater, the concentration of salts and minerals important for life is much higher in the fish’s own body than it is in the surrounding water. These salts tend to move from the fish’s body (high concentration of salts) to the surrounding water (low concentration of salts). Similarly, the nearby water itself tends to move from the surrounding environment (high concentration of water) into the fish’s body (lower concentration of water). As a result, the excretory system of a freshwater fish must get rid of excess water that enters the fish, while at the same time keeping important salts from escaping from the fish’s body into the watery environment. A freshwater fish’s urine is very dilute, containing excess water that the fish must rid its body of, but few of the salts that the fish needs to retain.  |
For a freshwater fish, water tends to enter the body while salts tend to leave. A saltwater fish has just the opposite problem! The concentration of salts in the saltwater around it is higher than within its own body, and excess minerals tend to travel into the fish’s body. At the same time, pure water itself is at a higher concentration within the fish’s body than outside it, and the fish must keep this water from leaving its body. A saltwater fish’s excretory system works to rid the body of excess salts, while simultaneously preventing the loss of water. The urine of saltwater fishes therefore contains high concentrations of minerals, but low amounts of water. For a saltwater fish, salts tend to enter the body while water tends to leave. Some species of fish can tolerate a very wide range of salinities (salt concentrations) in the surrounding water. Their excretory systems are highly adaptable, and are actually able to adjust to freshwater or saltwater conditions; fishes with this ability are called euryhaline (say YOUR-EEE-HAY-LINE). Blue tilapia (a freshwater species; see above) can live in saltwater, while snook and tarpon (saltwater species) can live in freshwater. This adaptability is just one factor contributing to the diversity of fishing available in our Florida fresh and salt waters! To contact The Florida Freshwater Angler, email John Cimbaro. Fish illustrations by Duane Raver, Jr. and Diane Rome Peebles. |
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