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Celebrating 24 years of Service to
Florida's Fishery Resource
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From the Crow's Nest
by FGA President, Captain Charlie Phillips
The crow's nest is the highest point on a vessel and used as a lookout point. As the president of Florida Guides Association (FGA) I plan to be on the lookout for hazards as well as opportunities that affect our organization. This column will be used to communicate my observations to you. Please feel free to share our newsletter with any of your friends that may also believe in our mission to protect Florida's fishery resource to the benefit of recreational angling.
"...no victory dance and no congratulations..."
You know what my dream job was a young man? Going to surprise you I bet, I wanted to be the guy up in the wheelhouse running a big tugboat. From the time I was a kid I have been fascinated watching these small but extremely powerful watercraft pushing enormous ships, pulling massive barges in and out the Cape Fear river where I am from.
The tugs go about their job with a great sense of pride in what they do, but also quietly and without much fanfare. They are painted simply, not bright and elaborate. No "look at me" graphics, no fancy chrome or parts just for show on her bow. Nope, she has a powerful engine, strong back and lines that won't part under strain. That is what she was built for and that is what she does. Day in and day out you will find the tug always there to assist and do the work required to keep the fancy cruise ships, car carriers and container carriers moving.
Sitting at the NACO conference in Gulfport MS, I was watching 2 tugs work a container ship into a berth. Watching those captains use their boats, pushing and pulling, tide, wind and tonnage all piled up against them, but they kept at it. These two tiny boats never gave up and never backed down until they had accomplished what they were sent to do.
When the job was finished, they picked up their lines and went on to assist the next ship coming into dock. No celebration, no victory dance and no congratulations - just the quiet professional who took pride in their work and never grew tired of getting started on the next important job.
It struck me watching those tugs work that ship that the Florida Guides Association is very similar to the humble tugboats working the waterfront each and every day. We are captains and guides in all ports who unite as one to ensure our voice has the power necessary to tackle most any job thrown at us. We go about our duties with a quiet ability, we know our industry, we know our customers and we are always on station ready to serve when needed.
This year is stacking up with issues all thru the state and nation. Issues with the Everglades National Park, manatee zones, Critical Wildlife Areas, uber boats and a host of others are going to be faced by the FGA this year. We must ensure we are ready, our engine powerful, our heaving lines able to take the strain and, above all, we are working for our captains, our customers and of course for the fisheries.
The FGA is built around its membership, and it's your participation, your support that fuels the machine, helping us grow, enabling us to represent and allows us to serve. Just like the humble tugboat at it again, meeting a huge ship coming into port, the FGA is on duty for 2017 and ready to assist!!
Thank you all for your support of our mission. Talk to you next month.
Capt. Charlie Phillips
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Submit your favorite kids fishing picture and it may appear in a future issue of the newsletter. S
end your photo with the name of captain, angler, location, bait used any interesting side story and your contact info. Submissions must come from current FGA member guides.
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Fishin'with kids - Ron Presley
No one sent in a kids pic this month, so I chose one from a catfish tournament I attended in late Oct, 2016. The kind of fish really doesn't matter to the kids. It is more important to just be sure they catch some. This catfish was good enough to make for a happy kid! You can always tell by the smiles.
For those of you that don't know, I also edit a free digital catfish magazine. You can read it at
www.catfishnow.com. Take a kid fishing.
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If you have questions regarding Charter Lakes Insurance call 800-879-2248 and talk to an agent.
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Sheepshead Status in Florida Waters
This assessment is the third reliable analysis of the effect of 1995 and 1996 management actions on the status of sheepshead in Florida, after those performed by Murphy and Macdonald (2000) and Munyandorero et al. (2006). The current assessment timeframe was 1982-2009.
There was an average of 39-49% decrease in commercial landings of sheepshead on both coasts of Florida between the periods 1982-94 and 1996-2009. Nearly all landings are now made using cast nets or hook-and-lines. Throughout the period 1982-2009, few fishermen landed large amounts of sheepshead in any year. Sizes of landed sheepshead increased after implementation of the minimum-size limit and most landed sheepshead now are over 12" total length.
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Free Beer At Florida Trash Tour 2017 Swamp Head and CCA Trash Tour Stop 1 - Cedar Key
When
Saturday March 25, 2017 from 7:00 AM to 1:00 PM EDT
Come get your hands dirty!
CCA & Swamp Head are teaming up to bring you the Florida Trash Tour! Throughout 2017, we'll travel through our sunny state to clean up some of Florida's waterways, and we want you to join us.
Each Trash Tour stop will be run as a tournament-style trash round up with a ton of prizes awarded for a number of different categories. Of course, in true Swamp Head style, everyone involved (who is over the age of 21) will also be awarded with tasty, bubbly beverages.
Trashy waters are high on the list of least favorite things. So, whaddya say... Let's lend our hand in getting rid of as much trash as we can while spending a day on the coast!
We're doing it tournament style, with prizes for most trash collected! There will be two divisions: boaters and walkers. So, no boat needed!
What would cleaning our waters be without a PARTY?! The afterparty will be complete with complementary food and beer. There will also be sodas and waters available. This is a family friendly affair, so please bring the whole crew!
Need a place to stay? Reach out to the Cedar Key Cove Marina for discounts and availability (352-543-6148).
Registration is FREE, we just need a headcount for the food and beer. Please click the link below to register for the Cedar Key Tour Stop.
Register for the Cedar Key Tour Stop!
I can't make it
Other Tour Stop Dates:
Titusville - April 22
Jacksonville - June 10
Steinhatchee - August 26
St. Augustine - November 4
Caitlin Mitchell
Coastal Conservation Association
[email protected]
407.401.7677
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Capt. Jason Semeyn has been professionally guiding in SW Florida for over 10 years. With iTrekkers.com his job is to connect anglers with the outdoors by finding only the best fishing guides available. For more information, questions or to book a trip contact Jason -
[email protected]
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The Truth About Sector Separation, a letter from Bob Zales
Subject:
truth about sector separation is finally revealed, you do not want IFQs or inter sector trading in the for hire industry.
As more and more word comes from the recent joint ad hoc aps meeting in New Orleans on 1-9 & 10, we are learning the "rest of the story" on the edf/cfa push for sector separation. The headboat and charter for hire red snapper ad hoc aps met in a joint meeting on 1-9 & 10. While each sector has its own ad hoc ap to suggest management for its sector, apparently there is a large number of headboats out of the 67 + - that does not meet the criteria to receive any red snapper quota and now those headboat owners want to join the charter for-hire sector. After much discussion among the 2 sectors near the end of the meeting on the 10th there was a heavy push by the edf/cfa group to combine amendments 41 and 42. The edf/cfa crowd showed their real colors on sector separation by pushing the ability to trade (inter sector trading) quotas among and between both sectors and eventually with the commercial IFQ owners.
The big reason for all this is that the numbers produced by the nmfs on the amount of red snapper, now they want to add red and gag grouper, greater amberjack, and triggerfish to the mix, each boat will receive is nowhere near what the edf/cfa group has told folks and expected under an IFQ program in the charter for-hire and headboat sector. Imagine that as some of us have been doing the math for over 6 years and apparently true math doesn't change. 2+2 is still 4 and 100 divided by 10 is still 10.
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Florida Guides Association hits the road!!
January 12th thru the 15th the Florida Guides Association added another first into the books as we had our first out of state show booth up and running. The Garden State Outdoor Expo is a large show held in the NYC area that draws substantial crowds. Capt. Matt Ponzio who was originally from this area presented this idea a few years back as a great opportunity to set the FGA booth up in a big customer market for our guide members and actively promote using FGA members for their next trip to Florida.
Capt. Charlie Phillips, Capt. Matt Ponzio, Capt. Dave Pecci, Capt. Dave Smith and Laura Phillips all made the trip up at and worked the booth the 4 days of the show. Reception was great, with a high level of interest from the crowd in learning about the FGA. The typical thing was for them to approach, ask where we guide. When they learned that we are a statewide association of professional captains fishing for all things that swim in every port in Florida, they really took note. Over the course of the 4 days we talked to hundreds of people and even signed up a brand new guide member, Capt. John Wilgeroth, a bass guide in the Orlando area.
It is our hope that this effort will transform into direct new opportunities of business for our members. New business is another big perk to FGA Captains and with time should help add even more value to your membership. As we move into late 2017 early 2018 we are considering the possibility of doing a show in other big markets, but first will be polling guide members to find out where your customer base comes from so we can effectively target areas that make sense.
For more information please contact Capt. Matt Ponzio your FGA Treasurer or Capt. Charlie Phillips, President.
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AquaTraction Flooring - Substance and Style
Not only does AquaTraction provide the advanced marine flooring industries most durable product with fastest lead-time and customer service. AquaTraction is the first to develop laser etching technology allowing customers endless possibilities for customization.
AquaTraction also provides additional options for boat performance enhancements and customization. Under gunnel pads not only add style to any boat, but provide protection from reels pounding against the boat, while hammering across rough water.
Under hatch pads are a cool option to ensure a complete water tight seal of storage compartments, as well as reducing noise while fishing finicky fish in shallow water, where stealth mode is a key to success.
AquaTraction takes pride in providing customers with top- notch customer service and the fastest lead-times in the industry. AquaTraction owner's phone numbers are listed on the AquaTraction website; if a customer is ever unsatisfied they are encouraged to call the owners direct.
AquaTraction recognizes the hard work and efforts of the professional fishing guide and will offer exclusive discounts for Captains of the Florida Guides Association.
AquaTraction would also like to thank Pro-staffer and Florida Guide Association member Steve Nagy for product testing /feedback.
AquaTraction full service dealers of Florida:
SW Florida
Andy Werner - 239-404-0380
www.allwatercustoms.com
NE Florida
Ryan Mcquary -
352-537-5042
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Tampa Bay Watch Seeks Volunteers for Oyster Project
We are recruiting 10-20 hard-working volunteers to help build oyster domes at our Marine Center, 3000 Pinellas Bayway South in Tierra Verde. The project takes place on specified weekday mornings from 9 am until noon. The minimum age to participate in this project is 16 years old. The project involves pouring marine-friendly concrete into fiberglass molds to create oyster domes and taking apart the molds that were previously poured.
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No more waiting!
Visit
FGAGEAR.com to order FGA shirts and hats. No need to wait for the next show where the FGA booth is set up.This site was set up to
provide an easier way for our members to get the gear they want, when they want it.
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Tampa Outdoor Expo, Guide event and Annual Meeting
March is going to be a busy time for the Florida Guides Association with several events taking place in the Tampa area.
On March the 2nd 7pm we will be holding our 3rd annual FGA Guides Meet at Ricks on River in Tampa. The event is open to all FGA Guide members as well as any captains who are not currently members but would like more information. This event has had considerable success in the past several years of providing a real opportunity for communication from the FGA to our members, but also to hear what's happening in your local waters. Make plans to come by, ask any questions you may have and learn about what the FGA is doing and how you can get involved.
March 3rd thru the 5th the Florida Guides Association booth will be up and running at the Tampa Tribune Outdoor Expo at the Fairgrounds. This is a large show with big crowds and a great chance to come work the booth a few hours and promote the FGA as well as your personal charter to the people that attend. Our booth space is limited, so please make sure to let Laura or Capt. Charlie know when you want to help and we will get you on the schedule.
March 5th 8am the Florida Guides Association Annual Meeting at the Tampa Tribune Outdoor Expo in the Fairgrounds. The FGA holds our annual meeting each year at this location. At this event we share news of the year, talk about what's upcoming for the FGA, present awards to our FWC Coastwatcher of the year as our Phil Chapman Conservation award and finally elect the next year's officers and board members. Please make plans to attend and share in the future of the Florida Guides Association
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Help Restore Tampa Bay Island
Tampa Bay Watch is recruiting volunteers to install an oystershell bar on the shoreline of 2D Island on February 23 & 24. The project involves shoveling fossilized shell into mesh bags, transporting the bags via boat and placing oyster shell bags on the shoreline to create a series of oyster bars.
It is pretty physical labor with oyster shell bags weighing around 30 pounds each, therefore the minimum age to participate is 15 years old.
The meeting location is Williams Park Boat Ramp, 8749 U.S. 41, Riverview, FL 33578. The boat ramp is on the west side of US 41 (Tamiami Trail) where US 41 and the north side of the Alafia River intersect. Click on date to register for this project:
Thursday, February 23 &
Friday, February 24.
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Member Checklist
All FGA members should check their profile on the FGA Website and make any changes necessary to take advantage of the new search tools available to potential customers.
T
he Florida Guides Association website has uderngone some substantial changes. The initial changeover has been completed and it is
very important
that member guides login to their personal page and update their information.
The power of the new site will be a great asset for the FGA members and the viewers who wish to search for a guide that fits their specific requirements. For example, if someone wanted to look for a guide in Titusville that fished for redfish and trout with live bait they can search that combination of items and find all the guides that fit that scenario. Check out the
FGA website and try it out. It is awesome.
FGA guides can follow this link to a video that walks you through the process of updating your listing.
As we make these changes, we are working to modernize the page and have more pictures, and info for visitors to the site. I would like to encourage all FGA Guide members in good standing to please submit your best pictures of days on the water, with customers and great catches to me at
[email protected]. We will be picking out pictures submitted to us to have on the website.
Thank you for your patience and please keep checking the website for changes. And, send me those pictures!!
bonFirePR, the new administrators can be contacted through the website at
bonfire-pr.com.
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February 2017
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Click the Title Links below to view the forecasts
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Orlando Area and East Central Lagoon Coast Fishing Forecast
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Treasure Coast Forecast
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Southwest Florida Forecast
By Capt. Greg Stampe
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Punta Gorda/Charlotte Harbor
By Capt.
Michael Manis
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Florida offers salt water fishing experiences of immense variety, from inshore standards like spotted sea trout and red drum to offshore beasts such as marlin and mahi-mahi. This diversity allows a lot of professional wiggle room for the fleet of fishing guides in the Sunshine State. Whether you generalize or specialize on a single style or species, there is one ingredient that keeps the game fish around, and therefore the guide busy - bait.
With few exceptions, prey species in Florida are fairly local/regional and seasonal. Their presence depends on a variety of factors. Quality habitats and clean waters are a requirement, both of which have been altered quite a bit in Florida over the past 100 years. Throw in episodic events like hurricanes, red tides, abnormal weather patterns, and other natural or man-made events and the populations of bait (a.k.a. forage fish) already suffer through wild swings of abundance or absence.
As the most consistent 'eyes on the water', guides know better than anyone that when bait is plentiful, fishing is good; and when bait is scarce, fishing can be difficult at best. Over time, a healthy amount of forage fish in the water translates to healthier stocks of gamefish. And of course, the opposite is again true - a consistent lack of protein for our 'money fish' translates to poor fish stocks, or just a lack of fish.
Forage fish in Florida have recently gained some of the attention they deserve from a management standpoint. In fact, a group known as the Florida Forage Fish Coalition, which includes groups such as the Snook and Gamefish Foundation (SGF) and the International Game Fish Association (IGFA), cohosted a forage fish data summit with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and several academic institutions (Dec 2016, St. Pete).
The goal of the meeting could be distilled into one major theme - increasing collaborative research efforts among FWC, anglers, and academic institutions.
The group left the summit with a better understanding of forage fish research needs and powered out a 'wish list' of general categories. Further, it was established that FWC's Fish and Wildlife Research Insititute (FWRI) would partner with the coalition in granting support for research projects dedicated to reaching the newly defined goals. Academic institutions or other organizations can submit project proposals to the coalition by February 17
th , which will be reviewed by an advisory panel made up of FWRI and the FF Coalition. Awards will be determined based on scientific merit for publication, timeline feasibility, funding availability, and FWRI priorities.
Jason Schratwieser, Conservation Director at IGFA, attended the summit and is looking forward to seeing progress in understanding and protecting our forage fish. "FWC already has a backlog of forage fish data. One main goal of the summit was to partner with local academic institutions who can use graduate students to help tackle the mountain of unused data," Jason said.
He noted that Florida's guides can certainly play a role in protecting our precious bait species, and now is the right time to wade in to the action. "Right now, all we would ask our guides to do is to visit our Forage Fish website (
http://floridaforagefish.igfa.org/) and take the pledge that shows we all agree that our bait fish need protection. Signing up for our newsletter is a great idea too."
Florida anglers and guides are fortunate that FWC has been willing to collaborate with anglers and independent researchers. With their open minds and our participation, we can ensure a brighter fishing future for generations to come.
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All interested individuals may speak at workshops or meetings of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (Commission) within the guidelines established by the Commission. To ensure the public's opportunity to be heard and the orderly conduct of the meeting, the Chairman reserves the right to establish a time for adjournment of the workshop or meeting, to limit the time for speakers, and to limit the time allotted for specific agenda items.
February 8-9, 2017, Crystal River
April 19-20, 2017, Tallahassee
July 10-11, 2017, Kissimmee Area
September 27-28, 2017, Gainesville
December 6-7, 2017, Okeechobee
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Feb/Mar Happenings
Upcoming Events
Feb 11 and 12 Ft Myers Outdoor Expo (the FGA will have our booth up and running both days)
March 2 Tampa Guides Event @ Ricks on the River 7pm (Open to all guide members and their nonmember but licensed guest)
March 3-5 Tampa Tribune Outdoor Expo (FGA will have our booth up and running all days)
March 5th 8am FGA annual Meeting to be held at Tampa Tribune Outdoor Expo event. All are welcome to attend, member or non-member. Coffee and Doughnuts are available for all.
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We hope you enjoy the newsletter
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Capt. Charlie Phillips, President
Florida Guides Association
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