South Florida Outdoor Notebook

Commercial and recreational red snapper harvest seasons will not open in July in federal or state waters of the South Atlantic. NOAA Fisheries is currently reviewing a proposed rule to determine if and when a limited harvest season might open this year and how many fish can be caught. The agency said it will give 30 days’ notice in advance of a possible harvest season opening. For more information, visit safmc.net.

Fisheating Creek

Paddling down Fisheating Creek is an adventure worth taking

I probably should have waited until the weather cooled to paddle and camp along south-central Florida’s Fisheating Creek. But when I saw that water levels measured by the USGS gauge near U.S. 27 in Palmdale were running around 5 feet last month, I just had to go right then.

Wynwood

Indoor shooting range to open among the art galleries in Miami’s Wynwood district

Visitors to Wynwood can attend a gallery exhibit, enjoy a gourmet meal, and after dessert, channel their deepest fantasies by firing off 100 machine-gun rounds in a high-end, designer-decorated indoor shooting range.

Environment

Indian River Lagoon facing an uncertain future

The overflow of fresh water is just one of the factors contributing to the potential ecological collapse of the 156-mile Indian River Lagoon.

outdoors

Spearfishing has its rewards – and limitations

The deep blue waters 20 miles off Islamorada looked more like Lake Atlantic than the ocean on a recent Saturday morning — perfect conditions for free-diving and spearing dolphin, wahoo, or tuna.

Fishing report

Captain Wayne Conn from the Reward Fleet out of Miami Beach Marina reported fishing offshore of Miami Beach has been very good with surface action from lots of schoolie dolphins and bonitos. On the bottom almost every day they have had legal size groupers and some big mutton snappers. Nighttime bottom fishing continues to produce five fish mangrove snapper limits.

Outdoors notebook

South Floridians from Palm Beach County through the Keys who have recreational and commercial blue crab traps in the water must remove them before Wednesday. The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission is implementing a 10-day trap closure to allow for identification and retrieval of lost and abandoned traps. Crabbers may put their traps back in the water starting July 20. During the closure, trappers may use dip nets and fold-up traps; standard traps may continue only if they are attached to a dock or private property. For more information, go to MyFwc.com.

ENVIRONMENT

U.S. Wildlife Service says it’s trying to clear backlog of protection requests

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working to address a backlog of animal and plant species — including four from Florida — that may be candidates for protection under the Endangered Species Act, a spokeswoman for the agency said Monday.

ENVIRONMENT

Submarine is latest weapon to fight invasive lionfish

Scientists are using submarines to take a closer look at invasive lionfish and its feeding habits in the Atlantic Ocean.

UM Sports Hall of Fame Celebrity Dolphin Tournament

Former Miami Hurricanes reconnect during fishing tournament

Ray Lewis was among 60 former UM athletes who participated in Saturday’s event that benefitted several charitable causes.

ENVIRONMENT

Suit seeks protection for 4 Florida animals

An environmental group sued the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, claiming a failure to protect endangered animals.

Outdoors notebook

Super Bowl standout Ray Lewis of the Baltimore Ravens will host the 2013 UM Sports Hall of Fame Celebrity Dolphin Tournament on Friday and Saturday in Islamorada. Headquarters is the Postcard Inn at Holiday Isle. Other football celebrities include: Warren Sapp, Ted Hendricks, Jim Kelly, Brett Romberg, Gary Dunn, Damione Lewis, and Randall Hill. For more information, visit www.canesfish.com or call tournament director K.C. Jones at 305-925-3660.

Fishing report

Paul Ripa of Rippys Bait and Tackle in North Miami Beach reported that the Newport Fishing Pier is now open and pier anglers are catching scattered bluefish and sharks. A few schools of tarpon also have taken up residency at the pier. On the reefs offshore of Miami mangrove snapper are spawning at night.

FISHING

South Florida summer camp is all about fishing

Weeklong sessions teach school-age kids how to fish ... and a whole lot more.

In My Opinion

Spotting the rare ghost orchid in Big Cypress is not scary at all

Southwest Florida’s Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park claims the title of orchid and bromeliad capital of the United States, but the adjacent Big Cypress National Preserve also has its fair share of those beautiful and sensitive plants. But unless you have a trained eye, you are likely to walk right by without noticing them.

Outdoors notebook

South Florida commercial grouper-snapper fishers got some good news from the South Atlantic Fishery Management Council meeting this month in Stuart. The council voted to scuttle a proposal to require installation of electronic tracking units on commercial vessels to allow law enforcement to monitor their movements. Opposition to the rule amendment was fierce at public hearings several months ago in Key Largo and elsewhere. Commercial fishers were upset at the costs of installing the systems and likened them to ankle bracelets put on criminals. Council members said they would attempt to find other ways to improve electronic data collection.

FISHING

Deep Water Cay a Bahamas fishing gem

Deep Water Cay in the Bahamas has been luring anglers for decades, and the Pinder family has been guiding successful fishing excursions for much of that time.

Fishing report

Kim Mills from the Kelley Fleet out of Haulover Marina reported on the party boat Mucho K a catch of about 150 snappers, mostly yellowtails, that were caught by 34 anglers offshore of Haulover Inlet at night. Captain Kenny Krawczynski and mate Paul Preston made up the crew that night. During a recent day charter on board the Atlantis party boat with captain Jamie Owens and mate Mike Ferrio, the Broward Chapter of Ladies Lets Go Fishing caught a bunch of vermillion snappers, dolphins and kingfish.

Outdoors notebook

Former NFL star Ray Lewis will host the 2013 UM Sports Hall of Fame Celebrity Dolphin Tournament June 28-29 in Islamorada. Headquarters is the Postcard Inn at Holiday Isle. Other football celebrities include: Warren Sapp, Ted Hendricks, Jim Kelly, Brett Romberg, Gary Dunn, Damione Lewis, and Randall Hill. For more information, visit www.canes fish.com or call tournament director K.C. Jones, 305-925-3660.