Fish Florida Newscaster Back Issue

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THE FISH FLORIDA NEWSCASTER

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October 9th, 1997

Issue Six

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AUTUMN ISSUE OF FISH FLORIDA MAGAZINE WITH

ALL NEW GRAPHICS/COLORS/MUSIC IS NOW ONLINE

AT:

http://www.fishflorida.com

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CONTENTS:

A. FOLLOWING THE MONEY. by Big Mike

B. WHAT COLOR LUG NUTS YOU USING? by Tater McDuff

C. FISHING REPORTS FROM AROUND FLORIDA

D. FUNNY FISH TALES

E. CURRENT WEATHER REPORTS

F. TOP TEN INVENTIONS NEEDED FOR THE HIGH-TECH FISHERMAN.

G. SOLUNAR/LUNAR TABLES FOR THIS WEEK

H. FISH RECIPES

I. SUBSCRIBE/UNSUSCRIBE INFORMATION

J. STAFF

K. LEGAL STUFF

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A. FOLLOWING THE MONEY.

Fisheries in America have been managed since Congress

first was made aware of the problems with declining

fish populations following the Civil War.

The U.S. Office of the Commission of Fisheries was created in 1871

to implement and manage conservation of fisheries.

Originally, the operating funds were from state fishing

license fees, which proved to be inadequate to provide needed measures.

In 1937, the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act set

excise taxes on outdoor sports equipment, with the money going towards

wildlife enhancement.

In 1950 the "Dingell-Johnson Act" applied a 10% excise tax

on fishing rods, reels, creels, lures, and flies, which is

paid by the manufacturer to the government, and transferred to the

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The money is split between the states on a basis of 60% on the

number of licensed fishermen, and 40% on it's land and water area.

No state receives more than 5% or less than 1% of the yearly total collection.

Over the last few years a half-billion dollars has been

raised and distributed by this method, and has benefited

thousands of state projects all over the country.

13 years ago, a new amendment, the "Wallop-Breaux Amendment

to the Sport Fishing Act" extended the tax to incude tackle boxes,

depth finders, trolling motors, and other fishing equipment not

included previously. The amendment also requires that 12.5% of

of all restoration money be spent on boating access for the public,

and requires the money be spent in proportion to the ratio of

freshwater and saltwater anglers.(about 50-50 in Florida)

A further stipulation is that the states must fund at historic levels,

can not divert the money to other projects, and that the fishing

license revenues must remain in the hands of the fisheries management agencies,

and may only be used for recreational angler, boater, and fishery

resource projects.

The State of Florida is getting around $5 Million a year for use by

the DEP and the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission. The projects

they have been completing include boating facilities, parking lots,

fish cleaning stations, facilities at marine parks, artificial reefs,

fish attractors, environmental and Fish Stock studies, parasite research,

and other scientific research programs.

Your purchase of items covered by the Sport Fish Restoration Act,

and more directly, your fishing licenses and stamps, goes into the

fund that provides for the future of sport fishing in Florida and

the United States of America. The purchase of a lure in Indiana

helps fund fishing projects in California, Texas, or Louisiana.

When making new purchases, try to detrmine which goods are covered

by the act, and buy those products when possible. Hey, it's our

money providing for our fishing future.

Big Mike

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B. WHAT COLOR LUG NUTS YOU USING? by Tater McDuff

Once upon a time, about when Eisenhower

was President and tail fins were sprouting on everything with wheels,

I became old enough to go fishing. The McDuff Clan,

usually the men and older boys all used to go together to the

river, or one of several nearby creeks to fish for

bluegills, catfish, and crappies. Me, being all of maybe

5 years old, had no business swinging a loaded cane pole around,

hanging hooks in everything and everyone in sight.

Pop, in his infinite back-country wisdom, fixed me up

with a cane pole and a piece of line, and tied a

lug nut on it for ballast. No Hook, no bait, no sinker,

no bobber.

Just your everyday, run of the mill, USS Fine Thread

Lug Nut. (Referred to by the US GOVT. as a

"Hexagonal Rotational Surface Compression Unit",

but that's another story.)

So what did I know different? I sat on the bank like a good

fisherman, whispered when I talked (to keep from scaring the fish),

and jigged a piece of GM's finest steel

in the water. Never got a bite. DUH!!

For several trips I went and fished lug nuts,

while everone else used hooks, bait, bobbers, and

the like. No one in my family owned a rod and reel

then, and they fished with cane poles, trot lines,

and jugs.

I heard rumors about people who used dynamite,

carbide and crank style telephones, but never did

get to witness anything like that.

I figure they were largely fish stories and wishful thinking.

Anyhow, after a few trips of catching zip, I started to get

a clue. Fish do not normally feed on lug nuts.

My uncle Floyd, being a devil-may-care type, one day felt

sorry for me and tied me on a hook, split shot and a bobber,

and showed me how to bait a hook with a worm.

Floyd had two daughters, both mean as hell and with no

interest in fishing, so he felt kinda' cheated out of having a son, I guess.

The rest, as they say, is history. Once I tossed the line in and got

a bite, I knew what I was feeling for. Bobbers going under still

give me that 5-year old thrill. That coulda' been me on the cover of our

web site, sitting under a tree.

Over the years since I have managed to wet a line in places as common

as those local creeks for 40 years, as exotic as the Red Sea and the

Persian Gulf, and a lot of water in between.

Recently, on a trip home I ran into Uncle Floyd, who is now

restricted to a wheelchair, but manages to run a golf cart down to

the lake for some fishing, and he said to me, "Son, you need to

come out to the house and do some fishing while you are here. We have

some 8 and 9 pound bass out there now. And if you don't have

your tackle with you, I have some lug nuts you can borrow."

Only briefly did I consider adding some paint, feathers and a treble hook

just to improve on the story.

'Till next week,

Love, Tater.

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C. FISHING REPORTS FROM AROUND FLORIDA

Saltwater Spots

1. Sebastian Inlet.

Whitey's Bait and Tackle

Fred at Whitey's reports catches

of Redfish steady on both tides in the 34 to 36 inch range,

Mackerel still moving in the surf, and permit on the jetty and the surf.

Very Big Tides this week.

2. Glades- no report available

3. Upper Tampa Bay

Buddies Bait and Tackle-Courtney Campbell Causeway reports;

Reds at flood gates,

Some snook at big bridge on northeast side, and occasional cobia,

but reds the main story there. Also new reports this week of

lots of Mackerels in the bay, as well as snapper and

grouper along the shipping channels.

4. Offshore in the Pinellas Gulf

Grouper and snapper still biting.

5. Lower Tampa Bay-Skyway

Shell Point Marina reports

Snook, Reds, a bit slow the last few days,

and the Little Manatee finally clearing up

after all the rain 2 weeks ago.

Freshwater Central Florida

1. Camp Mack-Kissimmee Chain

Specks tearing it up, bass picked up a lot this week,

with more people catching keeper Bass. The temp is down a couple of

degrees, with a major drop predicted in a week's time.

Lakeland Tournament on 11th and 12th.

READER REPORT:

Date sent: Fri, 03 Oct 1997 18:10:04 -0400

From: Larry Fowler <mrsnook@mail.mco.bellsouth.net>

Send reply to: mrsnook@mail.mco.bellsouth.net

Organization: A native florida snook experience!

To: stardot@cyberspy.com

Subject: (no subject)

Well, here is Chapter 2 in Janell's search for CCA Tournament's

Junior Division Redfish title and scholarships.

As in the previous snook trip I planned our day on the water with as much

readiness as possible. I respooled all the reels with fresh line,

oiled the knobs and the bailspring rollers on all the reels and

carefully prerigged all leaders and hooks.

I also ordered handpicked jumbo shrimp from my favorite bait

shop the day before to assure that we would have the best baits possible

on our big day.

All this is part of my 5-p system, prior planning

prevents poor performance. I also enlisted the help of my good friend

and fellow guide Capt. Troy Perez to insure Janell the best team

possible for her big redfish day. Well, we met Troy at the boat ramp

around 5:30 am, launched the boat and headed to Mosquito Lagoon. We soon

found our first school of large redfish lazily finning about 100 yards

off our port bow. We shut down the big motor and went to the trolling

motor and headed their way.

Janell and I got her rod and jumbo shrimp ready for the first big

cast of this second, very important day of her young fishing career.

For the rest of the story see:

http://www.fishflorida.com/mrsnook/cca.html

SEND YOUR REPORTS TO BIG MIKE at stardot@cyberspy.com

or see the Newscaster info below.

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D. FUNNY FISH TALES

Two old guys fishing in a boat on Lake Pontchartrain.

A bottle comes floating by in the current.

One old codger scoops it up, sees

a cork in the top, and yanks it out.

Suddenly a genie pops out in a puff of

smoke and says, "You get one wish between the two of

ya so make it a good one." The old man

in the front of the boat yells back to

his fishing buddy, "Lemme handle this. I know just

what to ask for!" He looks at the genie

and says, "We want the whole lake to be turned

into ice cold beer!" The genie nods and

says, "You got it, boys!" Instantaneously, the

whole lake is beer. The old man in the back of

the boat smacks his buddy up-side the

head, and yells out, "You dummy! Why in the

world did you do that?" "Whadaya talking about?"

the other fisherman answers. "I

thought you'd like a lake full of beer. What's

the problem?" The first guy answers,

"The problem is now we gotta pee in the boat!"

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CENTRAL FLORIDA WEATHER

NEXT 2 DAYS FOR UPDATES SEE:

http://www.fishflorida.com/reports/weather.html

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F. TOP TEN WAYS YOU KNOW YOU DRANK TOO MUCH ON YOUR LAST FISHING TRIP.

by Tater McDuff

1. Jim Beam stock is up 5 1/4 points since your last fishing trip.

2. Worried friends call Monday morning to make sure you returned the channel marker.

3. Your name is Otis and Sheriff Andy has brought you some of Aunt Bea's pancakes.

4. You're now the proud inventor of "Stoli Pebbles"; Cocoa Pebbles and Stolichnaya Vodka.

5. The Marine Patrol asks for your I.D. just to see how long it'll take you to find your pants.

6. For some reason, there's salt on the rim of your live well.

7. When you report for work, everyone starts laughing and you don't know why.

8. The back of your truck has a really big "V" shape in it.

9. All your graphite rods are broken at the tip, and you have a lot of graphite swizel sticks.

10. You have a 34 inch measuring board tatooed on your leg.

*Contribute your "TOP TEN WAYS YOU KNOW YOU DRANK TOO MUCH ON YOUR LAST FISHING TRIP." by

sending email to Big Mike. (stardot@fishflorida.com)

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THIS WEEKS LUNAR/SOLUNAR TABLES FOR CENTRAL FLORIDA

can be seen at

http://www.fishflorida.com/~stardot/campmack/octtab.html

Look for some great fishing this month!

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FISH RECIPES by Mighali Pasch

See 4 more delicious international fish recipes each week at:

http://www.fishflorida.com/recipes/index.html

Title: Blackened Redfish

Categories: Main dish, Fish

Yield: 6 servings

6 ea 8-10oz redfish fillets 3/4 lb Unsalted butter, melted

(REQUIRES THE HELP OF TWO OTHER FISHING BUDDIES)

-------------------------------SEASONING MIX

1 tb Sweet paprika 3/4 ts Ground white pepper

2 1/2 ts Salt 3/4 ts Ground black pepper

1 ts Onion powder 1/2 ts Dried thyme leaves

1 ts Garlic powder 1/2 ts Dried oregano leaves

1 ts Ground cayenne pepper

NOTE: Fish fillets (preferably redfish, pompano or tilefish) cut about 1/2

inch thick. Redfish and pompano are ideal for this method of cooking. If

tilefish is used, you may have to split the fillets in half horizontally to

have proper thickness. If you can't get any of these fish, salmon steaks

or red snapper fillets can be substituted. In any case, the fillets or

steaks must not be more than 3/4 inch thick. Heat a large cast-iron skillet

over very high heat until it is beyond the smoking stage and you see white

ash in the skillet bottom (the skillet cannot be too hot for this dish), at

least 10 minutes. (FT - this recipe is *NOT* for the faint of heart)

Meanwhile, pour 2 Tablespoons melted butter in each of 6 small ramekins;

set aside and keep warm. Reserve the remaining butter in its skillet. Heat

the serving plates in a 250F oven.

Thoroughly combine the seasoning mix ingredients in a small bowl. Dip

each fillet in the reserved melted butter so that both sides are well

coated; then sprinkle seasoning mix generously and evenly on both sides of

the fillets, patting by hand. Place in the hot skillet and pour 1 teaspoon

melted butter on top of each fillet (be careful, as the butter may flame

up). Cook, uncovered, over the same high heat until the underside looks

charred, about 2 minutes (the time will vary according to the fillet's

thickness and the heat of the skillet). Turn the fish over and again pour 1

teaspoon butter on top; cook until fish is done, about 2 minutes more.

Repeat with remaining fillets. Serve each fillet while piping hot.

To serve, place one fillet and a ramekin of butter on each heated

serving plate. Even people who don't like fish love this dish.

From Chef Paul Prudhomme's Louisiana Kitchen, published by William Morrow

and Company, Inc. ISBN 0-688-02847-0

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STAFF:

BIG MIKE (stardot@cyberspy.com)EDITOR and The boss

BRUCE (newscaster@writeme.com)ART DIRECTOR and The other boss

SISTER MARY MACINTOSH (accounting and money stuff)

EDITORIAL STAFF:

TATER McDUFF----FEATURE WRITER

GARY-BOB-GARY LOTT---CONTRIBUTING WRITER

CANDIDA GONZALEZ---FEATURE WRITER

MARCEL DOOBLER---FEATURE WRITER

MIGHALI PASCH---CONTRIBUTING WRITER

MADAME CHEWDEE---CONTRIBUTING ARTIST

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Whitey's Bait and Tackle

9030 S. A1A

Melbourne Beach, Florida 32951

(407) 724-1440

http://www.fishflorida.com/whiteys/index.html

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