http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/ Shallow water and deep sea fishing reports and information. Florida Charter Boats Bahamas Charter Boats Bermuda Charter Boats Dominican Republic Charter Boats en Sat, 21 Nov 2009 01:10:38 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/ http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/ou-key-west-current-fishing-reports-updates-information-375183.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:27:03 GMT Hi, we will be using this thread to post all of our latest up to date information on what's happening in Key West. Realtime reports, split charter opportunities, and other Key West Fishing information. If you any questions related to Fishing in Key West, just throw them up here and we'll get them answered as best we can for you! We are fishing Offshore, Reef, Flats, Light Tackle and even the Dry Tortugas, so lots going on!

Tight Lines,

Capt. Trey ]]> Over Under http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/ou-key-west-current-fishing-reports-updates-information-375183.html http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/ou-ft-lauderdale-current-fishing-reports-updates-information-374948.html Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:18:44 GMT Hi, we will be using this thread to post all of our latest up to date information on what's happening offshore of Ft. Lauderdale. Realtime reports, split charter opportunities, and other Ft. Lauderdale fishing information. If you any questions related to Fishing in Ft. Lauderdale, just throw them up here and we'll get them answered as best we can for you!

Tight Lines,

Capt. Trey ]]> Over Under http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/ou-ft-lauderdale-current-fishing-reports-updates-information-374948.html http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/sailfish-372594.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 23:43:53 GMT When does the sail bite start to heat up. I thought I read that northeast blows start to get things moving. keep it reel When does the sail bite start to heat up. I thought I read that northeast blows start to get things moving. keep it reel ]]> juanmoorefish http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/sailfish-372594.html http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/grouper-catch-brings-fine-371441.html Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:55:42 GMT http://www.newsherald.com/news/alabama-79216-catch-goliath.html Goliath grouper catch is a lawbreaker Recommend 0 Alabama fisherman pays fine after DNA tests on meat prove fish was protected species November 19, 2009 12:01:00 AM By DAVID ADLERSTEIN / Florida Freedom Newspapers An Alabama... http://www.newsherald.com/news/alaba...h-goliath.html

Goliath grouper catch is a lawbreaker
Recommend 0
Alabama fisherman pays fine after DNA tests on meat prove fish was protected species
November 19, 2009 12:01:00 AM
By DAVID ADLERSTEIN / Florida Freedom Newspapers
An Alabama man’s pride in hauling in what he and three fishing buddies thought was a near-record size grouper off St. George Island last summer has turned into prosecution.

Billy Daniels, of Moody, Ala., agreed Wednesday to a deferred prosecution deal with the State Attorney’s office in Apalachicola after a three-month state investigation revealed the fish – 82” long and 66” around - was not a Warsaw grouper, as Daniels and his crew believed.

Instead, DNA testing ordered by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission determined from frozen meat samples that it was a goliath grouper, a species protected by both state and federal laws.

After reviewing the test results with FWC investigator Eric Johnston, assistant state attorney Jarred Patterson agreed to charge Daniels, who captained the boat, with a second degree misdemeanor, possession of goliath grouper, which can be punishable by as much as 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

The deferred prosecution agreement calls for Daniels to be fined $150, which Patterson said was typically sought with first offenses. In addition, Daniels agreed to donate $150 to the state’s Wildlife Alert Reward program, which offers cash incentives for reporting to FWC those in possible violation of fish and wildlife laws, or boating under the influence of alcohol.

“As long as he keeps his nose clean and has no violations, at the end of a probationary period the charges will be dropped,” said Johnston.

The investigator said given Daniels’ cooperation, and no demonstrated intent to break the law, he and the prosecutor had no interest in pursuing further charges.

“I never had an ounce of trouble with him,” said Johnston. “He could have told me that he didn’t have any fish and there’s nothing I could have done about it. He has never been anything but cooperative.”

Instead, Daniels provided an Alabama Department of Natural Resources officer with a three-pound plastic bag of frozen fillet from the enormous fish, caught June 25 on an artificial reef about 15 miles southeast of St. George Island.

Daniels and his crew filleted the grouper on the dock of Bay City Lodge, but didn’t have equipment to weigh it, so instead used a conventional formula to estimate it at about 446 pounds.

Had it been a Warsaw, it would have rivaled the world record of 436 pounds, 12 ounces, set by Capt. Steve Haeusler, fishing out of Destin on Dec. 22, 1985.

The largest goliath grouper ever landed in Florida was a 680-pounder caught off Fernandina Beach in 1961, about three decades before the federal ban was put in place.

No sooner had a photograph of Daniels’ remarkable catch made the rounds when some careful observers began questioning whether the crew had mistakenly snared a goliath grouper, the so-called jewfish, thinking it was a Warsaw. The FWC agreed to investigate.

“He said he keeps Vic Dunaway’s fish identification book on his boat,” Johnston said. “He said he’s caught goliath grouper before and let them go and he understood the rule. He just made a mistake.”

After receiving the sample from the Alabama DNR officer, Johnston had it sent to FWC’s laboratory in St. Petersburg. Forensic biologist Hector Cruz Lopez conducted the testing by comparing the DNA test results of Daniels’ fish against confirmed DNA profiles of goliath, Warsaw and three other types of grouper.

‘You need to be sure of what you’re catching and what you’re bringing in,” said Johnston. “Know the laws. Know what’s legal and illegal.” ]]> jackdaniels http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/grouper-catch-brings-fine-371441.html http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/fwc-reopens-bessey-creek-boat-ramp-369153.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:28:07 GMT FWC repairs, reopens Martin County boat ramp November 18, 2009 Contact: Gabriella B. Ferraro, 772-215-9459 Good news for Martin County boaters! The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has repaired and reopened the Bessey Creek boat ramp on the C-23 canal on Boat Ramp... FWC repairs, reopens Martin County boat ramp

November 18, 2009
Contact: Gabriella B. Ferraro, 772-215-9459

Good news for Martin County boaters! The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has repaired and reopened the Bessey Creek boat ramp on the C-23 canal on Boat Ramp Road in Palm City.

The ramp had been closed since 2006, when a 4-foot section broke off. The FWC's Boating Access Field Unit installed a concrete bumper that will stop trailers from backing down to the end of the underwater portion of the ramp. The FWC also installed a reflective triangle sign to mark the bumper, and plans to install a second sign warning boaters not to back past the bumper. In addition, erosion-control measures were also repaired and posts installed to protect the canal bank and prevent further erosion on the side of the ramp.

"A local boater told me the timing couldn't be better, because the attraction for the ramp starts when the weather cools down." said Patricia Harrell, the FWC's Boating Access Coordinator. "Our stakeholders now have improved access to our fish and wildlife resources ]]> jackdaniels http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/fwc-reopens-bessey-creek-boat-ramp-369153.html http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/wildlife-officer-convicted-drug-smuggling-regrets-stupid-actions-368432.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:15:14 GMT Wildlife officer convicted of drug smuggling regrets `stupid actions'
`I threw it all away,' a former wildlife officer said of his life and career before being sentenced to 90 months in federal prison for smuggling drugs.

A former state wildlife officer blames his own ``incredibly stupid actions'' for his seven-year prison sentence on drug-smuggling charges.

Jonathan S. Jacox, 33, of Big Pine Key was sentenced to 90 months in federal prison last week by a federal judge in Miami.

``I want everyone to know I am guilty of everything I am charged with and that I am ready to pay the price for my incredibly stupid actions,'' Jacox wrote in a court filing.

Jacox, who joined the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission as a law-enforcement officer, pleaded guilty June 5 to conspiracy involving the sale of heroin and cocaine, and possession of a firearm in commission of a felony.

A co-defendant in the case, former Monroe County sheriff's Deputy Shawn Hernandez, 33, changed his plea to guilty on Aug. 20.

Jacox had indicated he was prepared to testify against Hernandez, who reportedly recruited Jacox for the scheme to ferry cocaine and heroin from Florida City to Key West. Hernandez was a corrections deputy at the time, working in the county jail.

The trips to the mainland, on March 12 and April 11, were staged by undercover federal agents.

Hernandez is scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 22.

In his presentencing statement, Jacox wrote that he overcame a turbulent childhood to join the U.S. Navy.

After his honorable discharge, he worked as a boat mate in the Lower Keys and applied to the fish and wildlife commission's academy. He graduated, and was assigned to Marathon in September 2006.

``I threw away a promising career and many years of my life for less than $5,000,'' Jacox said. ``I was trusted and respected by my community and I threw it all away.''

Jacox said the arrival of a baby daughter and an illness in his fiancée's family combined to put him in a financial hole. Things got worse when the souring economy eliminated off-duty jobs and overtime pay.

``I was desperate. The stress of my financial situation was getting to me,'' Jacox wrote. ``I started drinking too much. Everything I worked so hard for seemed to be unraveling.''

He continued: ``It was at this point in my life that I was approached by my best friend Shawn. He wanted me to keep an eye on him while he transported drugs from Miami to the Keys. At first I said no. Shawn kept asking and I finally agreed.

``I did it not once, but twice. It was the stupidest thing I have ever done in my life.''

His contrition apparently lightened his sentence. The prison term is half the 15-year minimum mandatory sentence he faced when he pleaded guilty.
The Miami Herald ]]> Bud Man http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/wildlife-officer-convicted-drug-smuggling-regrets-stupid-actions-368432.html http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/toxicity-ciguatera-368233.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:58:09 GMT Toxicity, Ciguatera Author: Thomas Arnold, MD, Medical Director, Louisiana Poison Control Center, Associate Professor and Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine, Section of Clinical Toxicology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Contributor Information and Disclosures ... Toxicity, Ciguatera
Author: Thomas Arnold, MD, Medical Director, Louisiana Poison Control Center, Associate Professor and Chairman, Department of Emergency Medicine, Section of Clinical Toxicology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Aug 19, 2009

Print ThisEmail This

Overview
Differential Diagnoses & Workup
Treatment & Medication
Follow-up
References
Keywords
Introduction
Background

Ciguatera poisoning is the most common nonbacterial, fish-borne poisoning in the United States. It is caused by consumption of reef fish that feed on certain dinoflagellates (ie, algae) associated with coral reef systems. At least 5 types of ciguatoxin have been identified and are noted to accumulate in larger and older fish higher up the food chain. Ciguatera poisoning has been a significant concern in tropical areas for centuries and generally is believed to be confined to coral reef fish in water between the latitudes of 35 degrees north and 35 degrees south. In the modern era of world travel and rapid transportation, many warm-water fish are available commercially in markets throughout the world, and cases of ciguatera poisoning may be seen in any location.

For related fish-borne poisoning articles, see Toxicity, Scombroid, Toxicity, Shellfish, and Toxicity, Seafood.


Pathophysiology
Gambierdiscus toxicus is the dinoflagellate most notably responsible for production of ciguatoxin, although other species have been identified more recently. More than 400 species of fish have been implicated in ciguatera poisoning, starting with herbivores and then climbing up the food chain to the larger carnivorous fish.

Species of fish most frequently implicated include groupers, amberjack, red snappers, eel, sea bass, barracuda, and Spanish mackerel. Fish larger than 2 kg contain significant amounts of toxin and readily produce toxic effects when ingested. Although not completely reliable, an immunoassay and a mouse biologic assay are available for detection of ciguatoxin in affected fish. Ciguatoxin and other similar toxins are heat stable and lipid soluble; they are unaffected by temperature, gastric acid, or cooking method. Presence of toxin does not affect odor, color, or taste of the fish. Recently, chemists have been successful in synthesizing specific ciguatoxins, ensuring a practical supply will be available for future biological applications.

Ciguatoxin produces toxic effects by activation of voltage-dependent sodium channels, resulting in hyperexcitability, decreased conduction, and prolonged refractoriness. Effects are most pronounced on neuronal, cardiac, and GI tissues.
Frequency
United States
Most ciguatera outbreaks in the United States occur in Hawaii and Florida, although tourists may develop symptoms after returning home. Global marketing of tropical fish has been responsible for sporadic cases reported across the United States mainland.

According to the 2007 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' National Poison Data System (NPDS), 175 single exposures to ciguatera were reported.1

International
Annually, an estimated 50,000 cases of ciguatera poisoning occur worldwide;2,3 however, this poisoning is difficult to track and is thought to be underreported. Ciguatera poisoning is endemic in Australia, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific islands. No doubt exists that ciguatera has had a substantial economic impact on many of the Third World countries where it is endemic.

Mortality/Morbidity
Ciguatera poisoning seldom is lethal. Typical mortality rate is 0.1%, although rates as high as 20% have been reported. Death usually is attributed to cardiovascular depression, respiratory paralysis, or hypovolemic shock.

The 2007 Annual Report of the American Association of Poison Control Centers' NPDS reported 32 minor outcomes, 48 moderate outcomes, 4 major outcomes and no deaths.1

Race
Several reports note that patients of similar ethnic backgrounds tend to share common symptom groupings.

Age
Children appear to be affected more severely and are involved more often in life-threatening cases.

Clinical
History
Currently, ciguatera poisoning is a clinical diagnosis based upon a constellation of symptoms temporally related to ingestion of suspect fish products. Onset of symptoms may be within 15 minutes or as late as 24 hours (rarely) after ingestion of the toxin. Generally, symptoms are noted within 6-12 hours after ingestion of tropical reef fish. Symptoms increase in frequency and severity over the subsequent 4-6 hours. Reported symptoms are numerous but commonly affect 3 major organ systems: GI, neurologic, and cardiovascular.



•GI symptoms often are the first to appear, may last 1-2 days, and include the following:
◦Abdominal pain
◦Nausea
◦Vomiting
◦Diarrhea
•Neurologic symptoms usually are multiple, varied, and, at times, bizarre. Symptoms may begin within a few hours to 3 days after the meal and can be persistent, lasting weeks to several months. Symptoms may include the following:
◦Lingual and circumoral paresthesias
◦Painful paresthesias of the extremities
◦Paradoxical temperature reversal (eg, cold objects feel hot and hot objects feel cold) (This is a classic reported finding; however, at least one study suggests that this perception is likely the result of the exaggerated and intense nerve depolarization and that gross temperature perception remains intact).
◦Dental pain (teeth feel loose)
◦Pruritus
◦Arthralgias
◦Myalgias
◦Weakness
◦Ataxia, vertigo
◦Respiratory paralysis
◦Coma
•Cardiovascular symptoms are less common but can be severe. They usually resolve within 2-5 days. Patients may experience weakness and dizziness from bradycardia and hypotension.
•Other features include dyspnea, sweating, salivation, chills, neck stiffness, and pruritus.

Physical
•Dehydration from GI losses is a common finding.
•Neurologic findings are extremely variable, from mild to life threatening.
•Cardiovascular findings include bradycardia and hypotension. Signs of shock may be observed. Hypotension results from the following:
◦Fluid loss
◦Bradycardia
◦Peripheral vasodilation
◦Myocardial depression
Causes
Ingestion of sufficient quantities of fish with accumulated ciguatoxin produces this syndrome. ]]> Bud Man http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/toxicity-ciguatera-368233.html http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/permit-368232.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:55:29 GMT From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search Permit Permit Scientific classification Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Permit

Permit
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Actinopterygii

Order: Perciformes

Family: Carangidae

Genus: Trachinotus

Species: T. falcatus

Binomial name
Trachinotus falcatus
Linneaus, 1758
Synonyms
Labrus falcatus


The permit, Trachinotus falcatus, is a game fish of the western Atlantic ocean belonging to the Carangidae family. Adults feed on crabs, shrimp, and smaller fish. Two submarines of the United States Navy were named USS Permit in its honor, in keeping with the "denizens of the deep" theme of submarine names that prevailed before the 1971 naming of USS Los Angeles.


[edit] Taxonomy
The permit was first described by the "father of taxonomy", Carolus Linneaus in his tenth edition of the work Systema Naturae, which was published in 1758. He originally classified it as Labrus falcatus though the fish has since been placed under the genus Trachinotus.[1]

[edit] Etymology
The permit's genus name, Trachinotus comes from a fusion of the Greek words trachys (τραχυς), which means "rough", and noton (νωτον), meaning "back."[2] The species name for the permit, falcatus, is a Latin adjective, which roughly means "armed with scythes." This serves as a reference to the permit's dorsal fin that occasionally protrudes from the water water when schools of permit feed near the surface.[3]

[edit] Anatomy and morphology
Permits can be distinguished by their elongated dorsal fins and anal fin.[4] The dorsal fin is shaped like a scythe. Permit tails are also deeply forked, and their bodies are compressed laterally, making the fish tall and thin when viewed from the front.[4]

The average permit has six to seven dorsal spines, and eighteen to twenty one soft rays. The anal fin has two to three spines, and sixteen to eighteen soft rays[5] Both dorsal and anal fins have dark, anterior lobes.[6] Permits have no scutes and have a large, orange-yellow patch on their abdomens in front of their anal fins, while their pectoral fins are dark [7]

[edit] Distribution and habitat
Permit are usually found in shallow, tropical waters such as flats, channels, and muddy bottoms.[1] They are usually seen as individuals or in small schools.[8] Although permit are found close to shore and even in some brackish areas, they spawn offshore.[6] Young Permit are found usually in the surf zone where there are plenty of small invertebrates for them to feed on.

Permit are found in the western Atlantic ocean from Massachusetts to Brazil, including most of the Caribbean islands[8].

[edit] References
1.^ a b "Florida Museaum of Natural History". http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Galler...it/permit.html. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
2.^ Romero, P., 2002. An etymological dictionary of taxonomy. Madrid, unpublished.
3.^ Florida Museum of Natural History Ichthyology Department: Permit
4.^ a b "Florida Museum of Natural History". http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/fish/Galler...it/permit.html. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
5.^ ."Fishbase.org". http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...ry.cfm?id=1010. Retrieved 2008-03-03.
6.^ a b Smith, C.L., 1997. National Audubon Society field guide to tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 720 p.
7.^ Randall, J.E., 1996. Caribbean reef fishes. Third edition - revised and enlarged. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd., Hong Kong. 3rd ed. 368 p.
8.^ a b "Fishbase.org". http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/Spec...ry.cfm?id=1010. Retrieved 2008-03-03 ]]> Bud Man http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/permit-368232.html http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/sailfish-cup-day-1-a-368227.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:20:08 GMT Clearwater, Fla. (November 17, 2009) – The 2009 Sailfish Cup tournament and the first leg of the 2010 Sailfish Pro Series kicked off the South Florida Sailfish Season Tuesday morning in Miami. It was a beautiful, sunny day in Miami Beach and the sailfish were biting, a total of 99 that is. ... Clearwater, Fla. (November 17, 2009) – The 2009 Sailfish Cup tournament and the first leg of the

2010 Sailfish Pro Series kicked off the South Florida Sailfish Season Tuesday morning in Miami. It was a

beautiful, sunny day in Miami Beach and the sailfish were biting, a total of 99 that is.



The competition on day one of the Sailfish Cup was fierce with 99 sailfish being released in total with 42

boats registered in the tournament. Ending the day on top overall with a total of eight releases is team Reel

Tight, in second with seven releases is team Fish Tales, in third with five releases is team De Bait Able, in fourth

with four releases is team Qualifier, and in fifth with four releases is team Reel Wheels.



Four seems to be the lucky number as the following teams ended day one overall with four releases

behind team Reel Wheels including team Ovation, team Sandman, team Freedom, team Weez in the Keys and

team Screenprint Plus/Four Play. Day two, and the final day of fishing, will resume Wednesday morning with

lines in the water at 8am.



Wednesday night’s Awards Gala at Miami’s Jungle Island will be hosted by Mike Helton, President of

NASCAR. The Gala is an evening of remembrance, philanthropy and celebration. Charity auctions benefit The

NASCAR Foundation and Speediatrics at Jungle Island. Tickets for the charity auction are still available, and will

be sold to the public for $500, and include a 5-course dinner and top-shelf cocktails. ]]> jackdaniels http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/sailfish-cup-day-1-a-368227.html http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/piranha-found-florida-pond-368222.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:54:51 GMT FWC responds to piranha caught in South Florida retention pond

November 17, 2009
Contact: Gabriella Ferraro, 772-215-9459;
or Patricia Behnke, 850-251-2130

■FAQs: Piranha and rotenone
A 14-year-old boy fishing in a retention pond near West Palm Beach caught more than a largemouth bass in October. When he pulled his fish ashore, he and his father discovered a red-bellied piranha on the end of the hook.

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists went to work immediately to determine if this was a lone exotic and illegal fish or if others had been placed in the pond as well. Ten days later, another piranha was discovered.

"We electro-fished the pond immediately, but did not find any evidence of other piranha in those initial efforts," said Paul Shafland, exotic fish biologist with the FWC. "However, we continued sampling this pond and collected a second specimen with gillnets. Although we have continued sampling this pond, we have not collected any other piranha."

The FWC believes the piranha were dumped in the pond from someone's aquarium, which is illegal, but it is not known how many were released.

"The only way to be sure all of the piranha are gone is to apply a safe-to-use fish toxicant to kill any piranha that might still be present in this pond," said Scott Hardin, the FWC's exotic species leader. "Fisheries managers have used rotenone since 1934 by to eradicate unwanted fish without harming habitat, and its use is a standard fish-management technique."

FWC biologists will apply rotenone to the pond on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

Piranha are completely prohibited, and no one is allowed to legally possess this species in Florida, but individual specimens have shown up eight times in recent decades under similar circumstances. However, the FWC has never found any evidence of a breeding population of piranha.

"People may move here from another state with their pet piranha only to find out their possession is illegal in Florida. Other times, someone might have purchased one illegally. For whatever reason - maybe they're moving or just don't want them anymore," Shafland said. "Then they think the best thing to do is to release them in a nearby pond, but they couldn't be more wrong. In fact, that's the very worst thing they could do. Piranha in a freshwater pond could feed on native freshwater species, such as bream and largemouth bass."

Possession of piranha in Florida is punishable by a maximum $1,000 fine and a year in jail. Releasing any prohibited species, such as piranha, into the wild in Florida is a first-degree misdemeanor, also punishable by a $1,000 fine and a year in jail. In fact, releasing any nonnative species into the wild is a crime.

Anyone who has a piranha or knows someone who does should call the local FWC regional office and turn it in, without fear of repercussions. Otherwise the piranha owner runs the risk of being caught and punished.

"We can help anyone who has an illegal species, such as piranha, or anyone who can no longer care for a nonnative species," Hardin said. "We encourage folks to call us, and we'll help - no questions asked."

Shafland said FWC biologists will continue to monitor nearby waterways after all the fish have been removed from this pond to ensure they haven't missed anything. They expect to be removing dead fish for up to four days. When they are certain the pond is free of all piranha, FWC biologists will stock the lake with native freshwater fish.

"We'll continue looking and listening carefully to what the anglers are telling us, though at this point I do not expect any piranha to show up elsewhere," Shafland said.

Both Shafland and Hardin stress that the young angler's catch of a piranha is a serious reminder that never, under any circumstances, should a nonnative species be released into the wild.

If you suspect a wildlife law violation, report it to the Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404 FWCC (3922). If your information results in an arrest, you may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. To learn more about the FWC's Wildlife Alert program or to report a violation online, visit MyFWC.com/Violation. ]]> jackdaniels http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/piranha-found-florida-pond-368222.html http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/st-petersburg-fl-ship-crashes-into-sunshine-skyway-bridge-may-1980-a-367539.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:32:31 GMT I remember this, cause afterwords when we went to visit my grandparents outside of Tampa my Mom would have panic attacks everytime we went near a big bridge. Probably didn't help that me and my bro, would always be in the back. "hey doesn't it look like that boat is coming for the bridge"




SHIP HITS BRIDGE, AT LEAST 31 DIE.

St. Petersburg, Fla. (AP) -- A 609-foot freighter rammed the Sunshine Skyway Bridge at rush hour Friday tearing away a large section of the 15-mile span and sending a Greyhound bus plunging 140 feet into Tampa Bay. At least 31 persons were killed, the Coast Guard said.
Coast Guard spokesman RUSSELL WOODALL said a bus, two cars and a truck plunged into the bay.
He said there were reports that the bus landed on top of the cars in the water.
PHILLIP BIEBENDER, a Coast Guard spokesman in St. Petersburg said 17 bodies were recovered within hours after the freighter SUMMIT VENTURE hit the bridge.
He said some of the bodies were from a bus with 23 persons on board that was submerged in 20 feet of water.
About 300 feet of the one section of bridge, which crosses the main shipping channel in two separate spans for traffic in either direction, was knocked down. The collapsed section was 140 feet high.
One car was seen hanging over the edge of the torn bridge but its four occupants crawled to safety.
RICHARD HORNBUCKLE, 60, of St. Petersburg, driver of the car, said, "It was raining cats and dogs. It was dark. The wind was blowing like a hurricane."
"I was doing about 25 mph; the Greyhound bus passed me doing about 35. There was a stalled car in front. As I came to the very top of the bridge, I saw the resto of it was out. I applied my brakes immediately and stopped within 2 feet of going in. I bailed out and went back to stop other cars."
"We got all the other cars stopped. I looked down and saw my car with all four doors open. I figured the Lord was real good to the four of us."
Another witness, PETE KROSA, said, "It was an enormous ship. A whole section of the steel structure of the bridge has been just wiped out. Big steel girders collapsed."
PAUL MARINO of the Hillsborough County sheriffs office said the SUMMIT VENTURE was a Liberian-registered ship en route from Houston to pick up a load of phosphate in Tampa.
HORNBUCKLE, who works at an automobile dealership, said, "My God what a horrible thing. I think they ought to do something about the boat traffic here."
In late January, the Coast Guard Cutter BLACKTHORN sank in the same shipping channel but on the other side of the bridge after colliding with an oil tanker. Twenty-three Coast Guardsmen died.
Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer PAUL SCOTTI said authorities at first believed 90 persons may have drowned because they thought the bus was filled.
But ROBERT RODRIQUEZ, a local manager for Greyhound, said the bus was carrying 22 passengers and a driver.
RODRIQUEZ said the bus left St. Petersburg for Miami at 7:05 a.m. and did not arrive as scheduled in Bradenton, on the other side of the bay.
SCOTTI said one of the spans at the south end of the bridge, which soars over the mouth of Tampa Bay between St. Petersburg and Bradenton, was knocked out when hit by a ship at 7:38 a.m.
"There was a thundershower at the bridge at the time, and visibility was zero," SCOTTI said.
Sgt. JIM KELLEY of the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in Tampa said there had been a wreck on the bridge shortly before the ship hit.
"A (state) trooper was investigating an accident when it happened," said KELLEY. He said several sheriff's divers were sent to the scene to help in the rescue.
The Sunshine Skyway is a 15-mile bridge-causeway with twin roadbeds. It crosses Tampa Bay at St. Petersburg. The skyway is a system of twin bridges 864 feet long and four smaller bridges with six causeways.
Tug boats hauled the SUMMIT VENTURE out of the way, a large dent visible high on its starboard side.
The Coast Guard said one crew member of the freighter was pulled from the water and was being treated for undetermined injuries.

Waterloo Courier Iowa 1980-05-09

--------------------------------------------------------------

DIVERS CALL OFF SEARCH FOR MORE BRIDGE VICTIMS.

St. Petersburg, Fla., (AP) -- Divers shadowed by sharks attracted by the scent of blood called off their search for victims of the Sunshine Skyway bridge collapse late Saturday and said they'd try to life the wreckage with salvage barges. At least 30 people died in the accident.
"We made the decision to use the barges because of the dangerous situation with the vehicles twisted up," said Hillsborough County Sheriff WALTER HEINRICH.
"It's not just a matter of going in to get the victims out, some of them apparently are twisted in the steel," the sheriff said.
He said divers may have to cut the vehicles apart before they're lifted to the surface.
The Coast Guard, meanwhile, announced that the pilot who was steering the ship that hit the bridge Friday had been the pilot aboard another ship when it hit the structure in March.
Divers discovered the bumper of a car that was not among the three known to have plunged into Tampa Bay on Friday, but authorities said they were not sure how long the bumper had been in the water.
The discovery of the bumper fueled fears of a rising death toll from the accident that occured when a Liberian-registered phosphate ship knocked out 1,400 feet of the bridge's southbound span in a blinding storm during the morning rush hour. A Greyhound bus with 23 people aboard, three cars, and a pickup truck were known to have plummeted 140 feet into the murky green waters.
Late Saturday afternoon, the Coast Guard and Hillsborough County deputies announced they were unsure of exactly how many people died.
The Coast Guard said Friday 32 people had died. But Capt. MARSHALL GILBERT said Saturday that the Coast Guard was revising its death toll to 31 because of possible confusion in the body count. Hillsborough sheriff's spokesmen said police divers who had searched the area could account for only 30 bodies.
Eighteen bodies had been recovered by late Saturday afternoon, officials said, and divers said they had spotted nine bodies trapped in several vehicles. At least three others were believed to be somewhere in the wreckage.
DR. PETER LARDIZABAL, at the Hillsborough County medical examiner's office, said early autopsies showed the victims suffered extensive impact injuries such as crushed chests and skulls, punctured lungs and shattered bones.

Waterloo Courier Iowa 1980-05-11
__________________

Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu! ]]> Fish Biz http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/st-petersburg-fl-ship-crashes-into-sunshine-skyway-bridge-may-1980-a-367539.html http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/going-venice-december-366479.html Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:28:31 GMT I am going to Venice, FL in December and am planning on heading out of Venice Inlet one day. I have done some fishing in the bays of SW Florida before, but I would like to do some bottom fishing in the Gulf. After looking online, I have found a few artificial reefs about 10-15 miles offshore in... I am going to Venice, FL in December and am planning on heading out of Venice Inlet one day. I have done some fishing in the bays of SW Florida before, but I would like to do some bottom fishing in the Gulf. After looking online, I have found a few artificial reefs about 10-15 miles offshore in about 60 ft. of water. Is this where I would want to target bottom fish? Which fish usually inhabit the artificial reefs at this distance offshore in December? Grouper? Snapper? Sheepshead? Are there any well known bottom fishing areas that are not too far offshore? I am not looking for secret hotspots, just some general areas where I could catch fish.

I am planning bringing a few conventional setups. Would it be worthwhile to bring some spinning setups as well. In Massachusetts, there are often stripers or bluefish that are breaking on the surface; is there any surface action in the Gulf?

Lastly, are there any well-known bottom fishing guides in the area that could come on my boat for the day?

Any info would be appreciated. Thank you. ]]> tuna101 http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/going-venice-december-366479.html http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/puerto-rico-fishing-362731.html Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:25:24 GMT For years, fishing has been one of Puerto Rico's major calling cards. And whether you are showing up for one of the many billfish tournaments that are held off the island's shores, or are a novice dropping your line for the first time, as long as you are talking about deep sea fishing, Puerto Rico is the place to go.

Every year, the world's most prestigious anglers head to the shores of Puerto Rico in late summer, hoping to take home one of the championship trophies bestowed at the island's renowned billfish tournaments. Thirty world records have already been broken here, so you know the sea is stocked with your favorite prey. It's no surprise that Puerto Rico fishing is so popular.

The majority of fish you'll see while fishing in Puerto Rico include Allison tuna, white and blue marlin, sailfish, wahoo, mackerel, and tarpon. In summer, blue marlin will be your best bet. Winter is the best overall season for dorado, wahoo, and white marlin. The rest of the year belongs to the mahi-mahi, yellowfin tuna and you'll still probably have good luck with the wahoo, dorado and white marlin.

Fishing in Puerto Rico is as simple as chartering a boat. Almost every hotel or resort you stay at will have plenty of options for you, so it's really just a matter of choosing where on the island to cast your line. Deep sea fishing Puerto Rico is most popular around Fajardo and San Juan, so that is where most of the island's fishing tours operate out of. Nearby waters are known as "Blue Marlin Alley," and although they must be returned to the sea, these fish are still one of the most common catches when Puerto Rico fishing.

But these northern cities are not the only fishing hotspots. Boats out of Arecibo patrol the island's northern coastline in search of dorado, while boats found in Rincon, Cabo Rojo and La Parguera head out for the abundant tuna that circulate around Mona Island. And areas near Humacao - already well known for its hold on the island's scuba diving enthusiasts - are where you'll find plentiful wahoo all year long.

Based on what time of year and which coast you are exploring, Puerto Rico fishing can take on many forms. This is yet another reason it is so popular: you can go as many times as you want, and still experience something new and interesting. So whether you want marlin, wahoo or tuna, the choppy waters of Puerto Rico are sure to provide.

Destination360 ]]> Bud Man http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/puerto-rico-fishing-362731.html http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/customs-regulations-bermuda-362729.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:58:29 GMT Customs Regulations - Bermuda CUSTOMS TRAVELLER DECLARATION Every traveller arriving in Bermuda must complete a Customs Traveller Declaration (Customs Form 98-p). Travellers must declare all goods, including gifts, that will be left in Bermuda. Duty is payable on any imported goods not... Customs Regulations - Bermuda
CUSTOMS TRAVELLER DECLARATION

Every traveller arriving in Bermuda must complete a Customs Traveller Declaration (Customs Form 98-p).
Travellers must declare all goods, including gifts, that will be left in Bermuda. Duty is payable on any imported
goods not covered by a duty free allowance (see below for information on duty rates and duty free allowances).
If members of the same household are travelling together as a group then a responsible person may complete
one declaration form for the whole group. Household groups of five or more may use additional declaration
forms to identify their members and declare goods.
The value of imported goods must be declared in Bermuda dollars. Exchange rate information is available from
H.M. Customs. For visitors from the United States the U.S. dollar is at par with the Bermuda dollar.
Please note that the Customs Traveller Declaration is not intended for use to declare goods for resale,
commercial samples, or goods bought on commission or as an accommodation for any other person. Travellers
importing such goods should ask a Customs officer for a Commercial Declaration Form (BCD).
BAGGAGE EXAMINATION

H.M. Customs has a duty to protect Bermuda from drugs, firearms and other harmful goods, and to stop
smugglers evading taxes that fund vital public services. To do this Customs carries out checks on
some travellers.
Travellers are asked to cooperate should Customs ask questions or inspect a visitor’s baggage. Bermuda needs
help from visitors and residents alike in order to prevent smuggling.
DUTY FREE ALLOWANCES FOR VISITORS

Visitors arriving as passengers by air or sea are entitled to the following duty free allowances:
Personal effects - Visitors (persons not ordinarily resident in Bermuda) may import their accompanied personal
baggage and other articles of sports or recreation equipment duty free provided that the imported items are for
the visitor’s personal use for purposes connected with his visit and not for sale or disposal. All baggage and other
articles belonging to visitors must be exported within six months from its importation.
Gifts - Visitors may also import gifts to a total value of $30.00 duty free provided that the goods accompany
them on arrival and provided further that the goods are intended as a gift for another person and not for resale. ]]> Bud Man http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/customs-regulations-bermuda-362729.html http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/must-love-conch-food-bahamas-362728.html Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:51:22 GMT From beachside shacks to gastronomic temples, these are our favorite places to dig in

THE HAUTE TABLE
Come sunset, snag a seat at the über-refined Rock House, which looks down onto Harbour Island's tranquil shore. The kitchen sends out sophisticated creations made of island ingredients: an oversized crab cake doused in rich béarnaise sauce or juicy pork tenderloin with spicy fruit relish. For dessert, the boozy rum cake and a side of homemade honeycomb ice cream is sublime (Hill St.; 242-333-2053; entrées, $34-$60). Can't get a reservation? The Landing, next door, serves globally inspired dishes like salmon seviche spiked with chili, lime, and cilantro and grilled tuna slicked with pungent bagna cauda (Bay St.; 242-333-2740; entrées, $39-$44).

THE BEACH BAR
Snorkels and swim trunks are perfectly acceptable at Chat 'n' Chill, a beach party/restaurant on Exuma's Stocking Island. People float in by motorboat, kayak, and sailboat to settle into pastel-colored lounge chairs scattered across the sand. The grill turns out nicely charred chicken sandwiches and conch burgers, and on Sunday there's a rowdy pig roast complete with live music and dancing (no phone; sandwiches, $4-$7).

THE BISTRO
Near Governor's Harbour, on Eleuthera, Tippy's has a stunning beachfront location and food to match. The open-air dining room channels the French countryside with sunny yellow walls and tables made from salvaged green shutters. Chalkboards list flavorful salads (try the Niçoise, made with locally caught tuna), well-crafted sandwiches, and elegant seafood dishes. The menu changes daily (Banks Rd.; 242-332-3331; entrées, $9-$15).

THE ONE-DISH WONDER
Off the fishermen's dock on Harbour Island, the famed Queen Conch serves one thing: conch salad. Scotch bonnet peppers bring the heat; ice-cold Kalik cools you down (no phone; conch salad, $7).

THE PARTY
Locals know that the best eating on Great Exuma is at the Fish Fry, a string of brightly colored shacks along the water's edge. The vendors—some have covered seating areas or wooden picnic tables, others little more than a takeout window—serve no-nonsense island fare. Sam's Conch Stand, close to the water (and the wooden table where fishermen deftly crack open live conch), specializes in made-to-order conch salad, as spicy or as mild as you please (no phone; conch salad, $10). Charlie's, on the southern end, has everything from grouper fingers to guava duff (no phone; entrées, $6-$15).

THE SCENE
Taking its name from island shorthand for gossip, Harbour Island's Sip Sip is a blinding-chartreuse restaurant overlooking the ocean. Soigné locals and visiting celebs lunch here for the eclectic menu (think conch chili and seafood quesadillas) and buzzy scene (Court St.; 242-333-3316; entrées, $15-$30).

THE STAR CHEF
On Paradise Island, chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Dune serves fancified local fare in a glass pavilion and on a dark-wood beachfront deck at the One&Only Ocean Club. A posh crowd of honeymooners and others in the mood for romance swoon over local lobster, mahimahi, and slow-baked salmon (242-363-2501; entrées, $36-$58). Celeb chefs Nobu Matsuhisa and Bobby Flay also have outposts here.


White gloves are only the beginning at Graycliff, a mansion turned hotel in downtown Nassau. Old-school dishes prevail (lobster Thermidor, anyone?), and a nightcap in the parlor is de rigueur—or a glass from the 250,000-bottle wine cellar (242-322-2796; entrées, $38-$68).

THE CAFÉ
Sick of conch? Head to Elbow Cay's Hope Town Coffee House, a small-batch coffee roastery with a pleasant outdoor patio facing the harbor. It's a must for ultra-strong java drinks, smoothies, and homemade pastries (Front St.; 242-366-0760).

THE SWEET SPOT
Early birds get the pastries at Arthur's Bakery, a modest family-owned café on Harbour Island. If you miss breakfast (the famed sticky buns sell out by 8:30 a.m.), you can console yourself with the island's best coffee, hearty sandwiches on fresh-baked bread, and puckery Key lime pie (Dunmore St.; 242-333-2285). In Gregory Town on Eleuthera, a tiny hand-lettered sign points the way up a steep street to the bright-green Thompson Bakery. Pineapple tarts are the specialty here: tender pastries filled with delicately spiced fruit (Sugar Hill St.; 242-335-5053).


Condé Nast Traveler articles. ]]> Bud Man http://www.sportfishermen.com/board/f161/must-love-conch-food-bahamas-362728.html