New rules pertaning to reef fish, that means anything on a rockpile, go into effect on June 1, 2008. Basically you are required to have on board a dehooker and venting tool and only use NON stainless circle hooks with natural bait.
Go to New FWC Rules to get the official information.
To relieve this condition there is a process called venting where the swimbladder is pierced with a hollow needle which lets the air out. Then the fish can swim away back to his habitat to live. For more information on this please to go: www.flseagrant.org/program_areas/fisheries/venting/index.htm
Venting Tools and dehookers can be purchased from Aquatic Release Conservation at http://www.dehooker4arc.com/
Nov. 15, 2008
This week has been the easy Grouper fishing we have been waiting for. Lots of keeper size GAG Grouper in all depths of water. We prefer the shallow waters closer to home that provide us more fishing time and less fuel expense. Even if you are not a meat hunter you can enjoy the tough fight a big grouper dishes out. In the shallow depths a fight to the surface is expected with line ripping lunges towards the structure on the bottom. Pretty exciting stuff! Most GagZillas continue to break lines and leaders on the rocks below. This line busting experience is what makes most anglers want to go back out and try again.
Best baits are still Threadfin Herring , Grunt heads, and chunks of Boston Mackerel.
Hernando Beach Fishing Forecast: Grouper season is almost at its peak. There will be great fishing in the near future for lots of Gag Grouper in close.
Sea ya on the water, book a trip soon!
Capt Rick Rodriguez
727-992-9494
rick@gulfgrouper.com
or visit his website at Gulf Gouper
 |
These warm Gulf waters seem to have kept many manatees in the rivers so use caution when boating on them. Also remember is is ILLEGAL to harass a manatee. Especailly DO NOT mess with a mother with a baby. We had an incident in the first part of August where people drove a mother away from it's newborn baby and it took two days for them to get re-united. This was extremely fortunate because most of the time she would have abandoned that baby. Yes they are cute , but they don't look so cute when they are dead.
Mannatees cannot tolerate water below 66 degrees for long so in the winter months they move into coastal rivers and areas around warm water sources such as power plant discharges. Throughout Florida you will notice MANATEE ZONE signs with speed limits from NO WAKE to 25 mph. Gulf temperatures range from a low of around 57 degrees in February to a high in the upper 80's in August.
The saying, "EAST IS LEAST and WEST IS BEST" will serve the boater well when figuring the tides.
It is especially important to file a FLOAT PLAN when you go out on the water. Tell someone where you are going, when you expect to be back, who is with you, what supplies you have (food, water, marine radio, cell phone #, etc.), and what a description of your boat ( Registration #, color, make, length). Also let them know when you get back or change your plans.
Don't be fooled into thinking you don't need a float plan just because you are fishing in shallow water. Flats fishing increases the chance you can hit a rock and damage your prop and or motor. Let someone know where you are going and when you will be back. BOATERS HINT
Please check your vessels safety gear before you go out: Marine Radio, Flares, Life Jackets, extra water, first aid kit to name but a few. Contact us at 592-0097 for a FREE Vessel Safety Check by the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary
is active throughout Florida. They have boating education classes and do FREE Vessel Safety Checks.
There are Flotillas in Hudson, Hernando Beach, Homosassa, Crystal River, Ocala, Yankeetown, Gainesville and at Suwannee (Hart Springs) to name but a few.
If you prefer to have a private guide then consider Capt. Ronnie Richards. He lives here in Weekie Wachee and knows the area well. Give him a call at 352-596-0308; or E-mail him at captrrr@bellsouth.net
Capt Rick Rodriguez operates the Gulf Gouper out of Hernando Beach. He is a 6 pack operator and does Fishing or Diving trips. Considering the price of fuel it's a very affordable way to have a nice day fishing for grouper and other species. Call Rick at 727-992-9494 or E-mail him at rick@gulfgrouper.com
Capt. Dukes Wild Rides www.captduke.com , offers both Airboat Rides and inshore fishing. Call him at 352-584-2512 or 352-279-4204
Capt. Frank Bourgois, www.alwaysfishing.com , offers both inshore and offshore fishing. Call him at 352-666-6234 or E-mail at E-mail him at info@alwaysfishing.com
Captian Steven Soults of Angling Adventures Charter Fishing Guide Service, www.angling-adventures.net , is a Full Time Licensed & Insured West Central Florida Charter Fishing Guide Service offering Guided Fishing Trips / Flats Fishing Trips / Offshore Fishing Trips & Inshore/Backwater fishing adventures on the beautiful flats & Backwaters of Hernando County, Pasco County & Citrus County. www.angling-adventures.net
OFFICE (352) 686-0853 or (352) 238-9339
Flatts fishing for Redfish, Trout, Cobia and T arpon call Capt. Leo Riddle a call at 352-628-7397. Visit his website www.homosassafishingcharters.com or E-mail him at captainleoriddle@aol.com
For a back country or flats fishing adventure give Capt. Gary (GT) Cox a call at 352-628-5419. Visit his website
They also have canoes and kayaks available if you wish to get a little exercise.
YOUR LICENSE RENEWAL
I really hate to tell you this but all Coast Guard License holders must sign up for a TWIC card ( Transportation Workers Identification Card) at a cost of $132.50 tvery 5 years see http://www.tsa.gov/twic . The kicker here is that you must go to Tampa (in our area) twice -- once to process your application and again to pick it up. That's right they will not mail it to you; you must get it personally.
COASTLINE REALTY SERVICES, Inc.
AREA EVENTS COASTAL RECREATION CAPT. CHUCK'S SAIL CRUISES Back to Homepage