Local commercial fishermen are very upset over a federal requirement to put electronic location devices on vessels of those who have reef fishing permits for the Gulf of Mexico.


An organization based in St. Petersburg is suing the federal government over this requirement, which will be in effect Dec. 7.

The contention is that the regulations passed by the National Marine Fisheries Service last August violate the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures.

The devices are meant to tell the government if the vessels enter closed areas for reef fishing.

The fishermen also have put in the suit that a vast financial burden will be put on them because of this regulation and this could put many commercial anglers out of business.

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I must remind anglers that snapper season is closed in the Gulf waterways. In the Gulf waters the recreational harvest and possession of red snapper fish is prohibited from Nov. 1 until it reopens April 14. The Gulf state waterways extend nine nautical miles offshore. In the federal waterway red snapper fishing reopens April 21.

This occurs each year so that red snapper will not be overfished.
The local waters have been clear this week and anglers have been able to view their catch before boating it. The cold snap has made fishing better.
I have always contended that if you want to catch a fish — watch the tides. A moving tide always has fish showing up for food.

Those fishing in freshwater lakes, ponds and upper Alafia and Little Manatee rivers are yielding great bass and freshwater catfish catches. One angler told me that there is nothing better than a cold snap to get the catfish to bite. Some are being caught by strolling with hooks, jigs and minnows. Some table have been graced with catfish and cheese grits and others with catfish and hush puppies, southern style. Bass can be fried, baked or broiled.

Bill Pittman was all smiles as he showed off the two sheepshead he caught using live shrimp in the Little Manatee River.

Those fishing Lake Panasoffkee are catching enough perch for dinner or some eat them for breakfast with grits.

Water is low this week at the West Ball of Lake Okeechobee with a few air boats gliding along. Most anglers with outboards are not fishing there.
Specks are back in most freshwater lakes this week.

The tourists are back and so are the snook. Big snook have been moving into their winter quarters of Tampa Bay.

Pier fishing has been fun for most of this week, with a fiddler crab on your hook, a sheepshead will grab it every time. You must be alert as when it bumps your hook it eats the crab and is gone. They have a very bony mouth and it is difficult to set the hook. Record catches have been reported from those who outsmarted this fish.

Redfish are still in all the waterways. Many are catching reds instead of snook. Redfish is a game fish and will give you a workout before you boat it. If you haven’t seen them “tailing” in the flats, you have missed a sight of a life time. They are easily spooked and if you are trying to cast into the group, they will scatter. Try to cast out beyond them and then slowly drag your bait toward them and you might get one to take your bait.

Some gag grouper have strayed into the bay channels, but it is the captains of charter boats that report catches out in the deeper water.

Tarpon have been jumping and soaring in the air at night along the shores of Tampa Bay. If you land one, be sure you have the $50 permit on your fishing license.

If you aren’t catching fish try the artificial reefs. There is one at Bahia Beach out from the long pier and one south of Ruskin at Port Manatee.

There seems to be a lot of drum around piers and some larger than normal have been caught.

A few pompano have been boated this week.

Protect the mangroves and seagrass as they provide shelter nursery and feeding habitats for many of the fish and birds.

Here is an easy onion sauce for your fish catch:
Thinly slice several large onions, brown in oil, add about a third cup of soy sauce, 3 tablespoons of water, 2 tablespoons of honey. Bring to a slow boil and just before pouring over fish, add 4 oz. of Monterey Jack gated cheese and serve.

The weather is just fine, we live where we can fish all the time.
Aleta Jonie Maschek is a member of the Florida Outdoor Press.

© Copyright 2007 by The Observer News Publications and M&M Printing Company, Inc.

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