Outdoors

OUTDOORS

South Florida outdoors notebook

 

scocking@MiamiHerald.com

•  The Miami-Dade Parks Dept. announces that the Crandon Park boat ramp on Key Biscayne will be closed March 18-31 “for the maintenance of traffic concerns related to the Bear Cut Bridge.” Boaters are advised to launch at other parks, such as Haulover, Homestead Bayfront, Black Point, Pelican Harbor and Matheson Hammock.

•  The International Game Fish Association will honor two female anglers who have achieved 100 world records during ceremonies April 20 in Dania Beach.

Heather Harkavy of Coral Springs and Dotty Ballantyne of Bozeman, Mont., will receive lifetime achievement awards during the 10th annual world records ceremony at the IGFA Hall of Fame & Museum. Awards will be presented to other anglers and tackle companies earning records in saltwater, freshwater, fly rod, junior, and all-tackle length categories. Tickets cost $75; For more information, call 954-924-4240.

•  Ted Dasher of Birmingham, Ala., has won top honors for the second year in a row in the Key West Fishing Tournament. Dasher, fishing mostly with captain Brian Bennett, has been named men’s out-of-county master angler and unlimited division champion in the eight-month-long tournament. Bob Harvey of Key West repeated as winner of the men’s in-county title. Twins Allyson and Matthew Poldy, 10, of Oak Hill, Va., were top Pee Wee anglers. Elissa Giacobbi of Key West was top women’s in-county master angler and her 10-year-old son Preston was top junior.

•  Rick Moeller of Islamorada teamed with captain Mark Gilman to win the top spot in the Backcountry Fly Championship, which concluded Feb. 23 in Islamorada. Moeller released a total of 105 inches of redfish and snook — including the largest of each species — to lead the field of eight teams.

Read more Outdoors stories from the Miami Herald

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Volunteer war vets cross a canal in Homestead to reach the Frog Pond, a tract of undeveloped, state-owned land where they hunted for Burmese pythons.  The group found a few snakes, but none of the target species.

    Swamp Apes group gives war veterans missions in the Everglades

    When 30-year-old Iraq war veteran Jorge Martinez left the Marine Corps, he suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder. The vet wanted to readjust to civilian life and get involved in social activities, but being amid large crowds made him uncomfortable.

  • Fishing report

    Fishing out of Bimini, captain Jimbo Thomas, friends and family fished aboard the Thomas Flyer north of Great Isaac’s in 2,500 feet of water and caught seven yellowfin tuna up to 50 pounds, blackfin tuna up to 38 pounds and dolphins up to 30 pounds. Thomas reported that dolphin were actually a nuisance because they were stealing many of their live baits that were intended for the tuna.

  • Pedraza excels at nationals

    Fort Lauderdale open-water swimmer Joey Pedraza likely qualified for the USA Swimming National Team after placing second in the 5K and fifth in the 10K events during the Open Water National Championships in Castaic, Calif.

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