Fishing | Neal Stark

Davie bass guide gives back to military

Neal Stark of Davie has been thanking U.S. service men and women for their sacrifices in his own way — by offering free fishing trips.

Fishing | Swordfish

NOAA swordfish plan met with opposition at public meeting

The general opinion of NOAA Fisheries’ proposals to help harvest more swordfish was that they are not good for South Florida.

Outdoors notebook

Rules on several species of saltwater fish will highlight the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission meeting Wednesday and Thursday in Havana, near Tallahassee. Commissioners will hold a final public hearing to set the Gulf of Mexico red snapper season in state waters (out to 9 miles from shore) for June 1 through July 14. The commission will consider a draft rule to eliminate the requirement to possess a saltwater fishing license when targeting lionfish with a pole spear or “lion-tamer” device. There would be no recreational or commercial bag limit for lionfish, an exotic species from the Indo Pacific that has become a big problem in Florida waters over the past five years. Commissioners also will take up a draft rule designating tarpon and bonefish as catch-and-release-only species. They are expected to discuss the controversy over jigs versus live bait when tarpon fishing in southwest Florida’s Boca Grande Pass.

SOUTH FLORIDA

Night light: LEDs allow new way to paddleboard

Adding LED lights to paddle boards gives adventurers a new way — and time — to explore South Florida’s waterways.

Fishing report

Ryan Bolash from Anglin’s Fishing Pier off of Commercial Boulevard reported good numbers of pompano have been biting best in the mornings on live sand fleas and jigs. Throughout the day bluefish to 10 pounds, small Spanish mackerel and jacks are eating jigs and spoons and a few mutton snappers have been caught on the bottom using cut bait. Vernell Williams from the Deerfield Beach Pier reported pompano are being caught on live shrimp and jigs throughout the day. Pier fishermen are also catching mackerel and bluerunners.

Outdoors notebook

The Happy Hoofers chapter of the Florida Trail Association will meet Thursday at 7:30 p.m. at Fern Forest Nature Center, 201 Lyons Rd., S., Coconut Creek. Guest speakers are Lynn and Mike Thompson on burrowing owls. Call Kay at 954-609-4727.

OUTDOORS

Rainbow River truly a dive worthwhile

Diving, paddling or tubing down North Florida’s Rainbow River is a crowded exercise during the hot months of summer. It seems like everyone has the same idea about cooling off in the clear, 73-degree waters. But fall through early spring, especially on weekdays, is prime time to enjoy this natural wonder — especially if you are a South Florida scuba diver.

Participants

Triathlete wins by a minute

Ben Mollins, 30, of Chicago, took first place with a total time of 1:46:54 at the Nautica South Beach Triathlon over the weekend.

Miami Billfish Tournament

Just Do It does just enough to win tourney

Just Do It won its second major billfish tournament of the season Saturday, edging out Miss Britt II for the grand prize.

Fishing

Most agree with proposed rules

Proposed rules meant to discourage the harvest of tarpon and protect bonefish drew only mild objections at a public meeting.

Outdoors notebook

The International Game Fish Association is testing a new app for iPhone that enables anglers to collect fisheries data for research, or just store their own catch information for themselves. A unique feature of IGFACatchLog is visual recognition software developed by scientists at Columbia University to help anglers identify unknown fish by snapping an iPhone photo. The record-keeping and conservation organization is seeking angler volunteers to field-test the new app in the nearshore waters of Everglades National Park between now and December. Prizes and other incentives will be offered. To apply, go to www.igfacatchlog.or or call Leah Baumwell at 954-924-4317.

Fishing

Just Do It leads Miami Billfish Tournament after first day

Friday afternoon’s rainy, blustery weather may have irritated motorists and beachgoers, but it sure did wonders for the sailfish bite off southeast Florida.

In My Opinion

Tilefish offer tasty treat in deep waters

With shallow-water grouper harvest season closed until May 1, South Florida anglers have been venturing out to the deep blue this winter seeking alternative dinner options — golden and blueline tilefish.

Fishing report

Local angler Jack Garamelo was fishing the surf off of Hollywood Beach hoping to catch some bluefish or Spanish mackerel with his gold spoon but was pleasantly surprised when a 6-pound, 4-ounce, 21-inch pompano ate the offering. Captain Mike Johnson of Local Knowledge Charters out of Fort Lauderdale reported fishing offshore in depths from 80 feet out to 500 feet of water his clients have had plenty of action from sailfish, sharks, smoker kingfish, blackfin tuna and mahi mahi. The best action has come when using live speedos and bullet bonitos for bait. Captain Thomas Zsak from Fishing Fort Lauderdale on the charter boat Happy Day Today reported working depths around 265 feet of water with live goggle eye baits purchased from T&T Bait in Fort Lauderdale his clients have had plenty of action from dolphins and hammerhead sharks.

Boarders can stand up for fun

It helps to know how to paddle, but you don’t have to be a seasoned athlete to compete in a stand-up paddleboard competition.

OUTDOORS NOTEBOOK

South Florida outdoors notebook

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will hold two public workshops in South Florida this week on proposed new regulations aimed at further conserving bonefish and tarpon. The proposals call for making the two species catch-and-release only in state and federal waters. Currently, bonefish can be held in a live well and transported to weigh scales under a tournament exemption. The new rule would eliminate the exemption and require bonefish to be released where they are caught. But there would be allowances for weighing, measuring, photographing and taking samples for science at the catch site. For tarpon, the proposed rules would allow possession of one fish per day for an angler holding a state-issued tarpon tag in order to pursue an IGFA world record. All others would have to be released alive at the catch site — also with allowances for photography and measurement. The FWC is expected to consider the measures at a meeting April 17-18 in Tallahassee. Workshops are slated for Tuesday at the IGFA Hall of Fame & Museum in Dania Beach and Wednesday at Key Colony Beach City Hall in the middle Keys. A webinar/conference call will be held April 8. All sessions are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

HEALTH

Diagnosis won’t keep Weston woman from running an ultra marathon in the Sahara

Diagnosed with MS, a Weston woman is setting out to prove herself — and raise money for research — by taking part in the most grueling running race in the world.

Fishing report

In the past two weeks of fishing offshore of Government Cut, captain Bouncer Smith of Bouncer’s Dusky charters out of Miami Beach Marina reported his clients have had two big-eye thresher sharks up to 400 pounds, a 300-pound great hammerhead shark, 350-pound blue marlin, scamp grouper, amberjacks, sailfish, kingfish and a 34-pound jack crevalle.

OUTDOORS

Hunters try to gobble up elusive turkeys as season winds down

College basketball isn’t the only March Madness consuming Floridians. Legions of turkey hunters are setting their alarm clocks for dark-thirty most weekend mornings, hoping to ambush a big gobbler before the hunting season closes April 7 in the southeast and April 21 everywhere else.

Celebs team up to help charity

The participants in the Nautica South Beach Triathlon already have raised more than $206,000 toward St. Jude’s Cancer Children’s Research Hospital, but that is less than halfway to goal their goal of $450,000.