The brown pelican is one species that is especially impacted by monofilament line. These birds frequently spend time looking for an easy meal at piers and other fishing hotspots. They are often hooked accidently as they try to grab bait off an angler’s line. Discarded monofilament line can wind up hanging from trees, piers and other structures, and can ensnare these birds. Once entangled, pelicans can have a difficult time flying and feeding.

 “We often find pelicans that died as a result of monofilament line entanglements hanging from trees and other vegetation,” said FWC regional biologist Ricardo Zambrano. “These birds often suffer for days before succumbing to injury or starvation.”

Here are some simple things you can do to help protect brown pelicans and other wildlife:

• Properly dispose of monofilament line. If you have unwanted line, store it safely and securely until it can be placed in a recycling bin.
• Don’t leave fishing line unattended, as pelicans may be tempted to steal your bait.
• Avoid casting near trees, utility lines and other areas where your line may get caught.
• Check your tackle frequently for frayed line that may easily break.
• Do not feed pelicans or other wildlife, since it encourages them to approach fishing boats, piers and anglers. If available, use fish-scrap repositories. If they are not available, discard your fish scraps in a garbage can or at home.

If you do accidentally hook a pelican, you should avoid cutting the line. Gently remove the hook if you feel confident you can do so without causing harm to yourself or the bird. If you cannot safely remove the hook and line from the pelican, contact a local wildlife rehabilitator. For a list of wildlife rehabilitators in your area, contact any of the FWC’s five regional offices or consult http://wildliferehabinfo.org/.

For more information on the statewide Monofilament Recovery & Recycling Program, visit http://mrrp.myfwc.com.

Christopher Jordan Marlo (DOB 09/18/80), sustained non-life-threatening injuries, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) investigators.

Marlo was operating the 14-foot johnboat that belonged to his passenger, John Garrett Cobb (DOB 06/05/75) of Cross City. They were just south of Rock Bluff near the County Road 340 bridge. The two had been fishing and were headed back to the Gornto Springs boat ramp, where they had launched at 7 a.m.

According to investigators, the two were traveling about 10 to 15 mph. At about 10:30 a.m., a sturgeon jumped up in front of the vessel, striking Marlo. Neither man saw the fish. However, Cobb reported he saw something splash off the right side of the boat and the boat turned hard to the right. He looked back to see Marlo slumped over the left side of the vessel. Cobb got Marlo back into the boat and went to the Rock Bluff boat ramp, according to FWC investigators.

Marlo was transported to Shands Hospital in Gainesville by emergency medical personnel. The sturgeon strike was reported to the FWC by the Dixie County Sheriff’s Office, and an investigation into the incident began.

“This is first sturgeon strike in 2012,” said Maj. Roy Brown, regional commander of the FWC’s North Central Region. “And that’s one too many.”

Brown explained, “We certainly don’t want to scare anyone off the river. The Suwannee is beautiful and we want folks to come out and enjoy their trip. We just want to remind boaters the sturgeon are back in the Suwannee and they are jumping.”

In 2006, FWC officials began working on a public awareness campaign to alert boaters to the risks of jumping sturgeon.

“We have posted signs at each boat ramp along the Suwannee, explaining the risk of impacts with these fish, and we have just recently posted larger signs, warning of jumping sturgeon, along the river,” Brown said. “Our officers increase their water patrol efforts during the summer months in a continued effort to educate boaters about boating safety and sturgeon.”

What’s the best course of action for avoiding a collision?

“We recommend boaters reduce their speed to reduce the risk of impact and to give people more time to react if they do encounter a jumping sturgeon,” Brown said. “The FWC also recommends that all boaters wear their life jackets.”

The Suwannee River appears to support the largest viable population of Gulf sturgeon. Biologists estimate the annual population at 10,000-14,000 fish, averaging approximately 40 pounds each. Adult fish spend eight to nine months each year in the river spawning and three to four of the coolest months in Gulf waters.

Biologists are unsure why sturgeon jump. Two theories are that the fish jump to communicate or as a dominance display.

“I have seen these collisions referred to as ‘attacks.’ However, these fish are in no way attacking when they jump. They are simply doing what they have been doing for millions of years: jumping. They aren’t targeting the boaters,” Brown said.

Gulf sturgeon can get quite big, exceeding 8 feet and 200 pounds.

“They have five rows of rock-hard scutes along their sides, back and belly. When sturgeon and boaters collide, the results can be devastating,” Brown said.

State and federal laws protect sturgeon, just like bald eagles, panthers and sea turtles.

“These fish may not be harvested,” Brown said.

To report sturgeon collisions, call 888-404-FWCC (3922).

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) planted more than 25,000 aquatic grass plants in Lake Trafford on May 8. Biologists designed this project to provide better habitat for fish and wildlife that live in and around the lake. Lake Trafford, in Collier County, is the largest lake south of Lake Okeechobee.

“This grass will provide excellent habitat for fish living in the lake,” said FWC aquatic restoration biologist Rodney Hudson. “It will also provide a good foraging area for alligators, otters and birds such as herons, egrets and anhingas.”

The grass species, calledPaspalidium geminatum, is native to Florida and is popular fishing habitat for anglers throughout many Florida lakes. Some anglers know this grass as “Kissimmee grass.”

The grass grows in small, scattered patches around the edges of the lake. Biologists chose to plant additional grasses in areas with little or no vegetation. The recently planted grasses will cover approximately two acres of the lake. In time, these grasses should spread over larger sections of the lake, providing more habitat.

For more information on the FWC’s freshwater conservation programs, visit MyFWC.com/Conservation and click on “Freshwater Programs.”

Teaching children a lifelong hobby, instilling appreciation for our marine environment and providing fun, family outings are the goals for the upcoming Kids’ Fishing Clinic in Panama City.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will offer the free Kids’ Fishing Clinic for children between the ages of 5 and 15 on Saturday, May 19. The clinic is from 9 a.m. to noon at the Panama City Marina, 1 Harrison Ave. Advance registrationis not required.

Participants will learn the basics of environmental stewardship, fishing ethics, angling skills and safety. In addition, participants will be given a unique chance to experience Florida’s marine life firsthand.

The objective of the program is to create responsible marine-resource stewards by teaching children about the vulnerability of Florida’s marine ecosystems. Organizers hope to teach fundamental saltwater fishing skills and provide participants a positive fishing experience.

Fishing equipment and bait will be provided for kids to use during the clinic, but organizers encourage children who own fishing tackle to bring it. A limited number of rods and reels will be given away to participants upon completion of the clinic.

If conditions allow, participants will have the opportunity to practice their new skills and fish from the pier. This event is a catch-and-release activity, and an adult must accompany all participants.

Individuals or companies interested in helping sponsor this event or volunteering at the clinic should call the FWC’s Nancy Fisher at 850-487-0554 or Tom Putnam at 850-234-2621, ext. 1001.

To find out more on taking a kid fishing, go to MyFWC.com/Fishing.

Women are invited to explore the finest of fishing at the next “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” seminar, hosted May 18-20 at the Pirates Cove Resort and Marine, 4307 Southeast Bayview St. in Stuart.

Held in conjunction with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) through the Sport Fish Restoration Program, “Ladies, Let’s Go Fishing!” is a national organization dedicated to attracting more women to sport fishing and to promoting conservation and responsible angling.

During the three-day, hands-on event, FWC educators will demonstrate ethical angler habits, such as safe hook removal, release techniques, fish venting and more. Local fishing guides will provide instruction on fishing techniques and methods.

Past participants found the event worthwhile.

“Being able to pick, choose and move between skill stations was terrific,” said Mary Hackney of Naples. “I loved the flexibility.”

“I learned more about fishing in two days than from my dad in 20 years,” said Georgia Allen of Bonita Springs.

On the final day of the seminar, women may embark on an optional fishing adventure.

To learn more, visit ladiesletsgofishing.com, call 954-475-9068 or email info@ladiesletsgofishing.com.

During “hunt camp,” participants will learn about Florida’s great hunting heritage and be taught such skills as wildlife identification, survival, first aid and tree-stand safety. Campers also will learn conservation, land stewardship and about hunting laws and ethics.

Participants will spend extensive time on several gun ranges, shooting shotguns, rifles and muzzleloaders, and have the option of earning their hunter safety certification while they’re at camp, if they choose to do so.

There will be four weeks of camp, all during the month of June, and the sessions are June 4-8, June 11-15, June 18-22 and June 25-29. Hours are 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Fridays.

The cost for each weekly session is $175, and parents may register their children at BTYCC.org. For more information, contact Kelly Langston at Kelly.Langston@MyFWC.com.

Stone crab claws may be possessed and sold during the closed season but only if they have been placed in inventory prior to May 16 by a licensed wholesale or retail dealer.

Stone crab traps must be removed from the water within five days after the close of the stone crab season unless a special extension is granted by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Learn more about the stone crab harvest season by visiting MyFWC.com/Fishing and clicking on “Saltwater” and either “Recreational Regulations” or “Commercial.”

The Wildlife Foundation of Florida honored longtime Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologist Ron Taylor with the 2011 Louise Ireland Humphrey Achievement Award at the FWC Commission meeting Thursday in Crystal River.

Taylor has studied marine fisheries for the state for 35 years. He is the lead scientist for snook research in Florida and is noted worldwide as an authority on the sport fish.

Taylor’s research has led to many discoveries about snook. Among them, one he considers his greatest professional achievement, is finding that all snook are born as males and some later become females. This information is important to the management of the fishery.

Taylor continues to study snook today. His most recent work in rivers and on offshore reefs has provided valuable insight into the life history of snook species other than the popular common snook. Taylor’s research also has helped identify a new species of the fish in Florida: large-scale fat snook.

“Ron has dedicated his life to the study of marine fisheries in Florida, and snook in particular,” said Gil McRae, director of the FWC’s Fish and Wildlife Research Institute. “His knowledge, passion and commitment to a team-based approach make him a major asset to the agency and well-deserving of this recognition.”

Taylor is noted by his colleagues as a great mentor and a popular presenter at scientific conferences and meetings. His love for his work has rubbed off on his son as well. Ron Taylor takes great pride in the fact that Josh Taylor has followed in his footsteps as a marine fisheries researcher with the FWC.

The Wildlife Foundation of Florida created the Louise Ireland Humphrey Achievement Award in 1999 as an annual honor for an FWC employee whose dedication and service have made outstanding contributions to conservation of Florida’s fish and wildlife. The award is named for the first female commissioner of the Florida Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission who served from 1984 to 1999, including two terms as Chairman.

Louise Ireland Humphrey was an avid outdoorswoman and a dedicated participant in conservation efforts throughout the southeastern United States. Humphrey died in March at her home in Leon County, but her legacy lives on through this prestigious award.

The 2012 recreational red snapper season in Gulf of Mexico state waters will be June 1 through July 10, a total of 40 days.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) set the 2012 season Wednesday, May 2, at the Commission meeting in Crystal River.

The state season is the same as the recently announced federal recreational red snapper season. The Commission also voted to keep a 40-day, June 1 through July 10 season regardless of whether the federal season is further shortened. Florida state waters in the Gulf extend out to nine nautical miles from shore; federal waters extend beyond that line.

Gulf red snapper stocks are rebuilding their numbers, but the stock needs higher numbers of older fish to be sustainable. Red snapper are estimated to live more than 50 years, but most fish in the current stock are only a few years old. Older fish are the key to rebuilding the population because older female red snapper produce more eggs than younger females. Shortening the fishing season in Gulf state waters and going consistent with the federal season will help continue to rebuild red snapper populations so that more red snapper fishing opportunities will be possible in the future.

“I think consistency is important,” said Commissioner Ron Bergeron. “The positive part is, looking at the recovery, we are going in the right direction in having long-term benefits for fishermen.”

More information about red snapper fishing is available online at MyFWC.com/Fishing.

Billfish anglers will no longer need to question whether the fish they just boated is a white marlin or the similar-looking and once-prohibited roundscale spearfish.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) voted Wednesday to allow harvest of the species in Florida state waters at its May 2-3 Commission meeting.

This change includes adding roundscale spearfish to the one-billfish bag and possession limit and the creation of a 66-inch minimum size limit when measured from the lower jaw to the fork of the tail.

Roundscale spearfish harvest has been prohibited in state waters since 1999 because the fish rarely comes into Florida waters. State waters are from shore to three miles in the Atlantic and from shore to nine miles in the Gulf. Federal waters begin where state waters end. But the fish is often confused with white marlin. Genetic testing of tournament entries along the Atlantic coast shows that about 19 percent of tournament-winning white marlin were actually roundscale spearfish.

Federal fishery managers allowed roundscale spearfish harvest in federal waters off the coast of Florida but considered roundscale spearfish to be the same species as white marlin. Recently, the NOAA Highly Migratory Species Division, the group that makes federal management plans for species such as roundscale spearfish, determined the fish was a separate species and began managing it as such.

These federal and state changes will increase the amount of data collected on roundscale spearfish, helping the FWC and NOAA better understand the species and its role in our waters.

Angling for billfish? The best way to tell the difference between a white marlin and a roundscale spearfish is to measure the distance between the front edge of the fish’s anal fin (located on the underside of the fish, near the tail) to the vent. As shown in the photograph below, the distance between the anal fin and the vent is longer on a roundscale spearfish than it is on a white marlin.

The scales in the middle of the fish’s body are also different on the two species, with the roundscale’s being coarser in texture than those of a white marlin.

(Photos courtesy of NOAA Fisheries and NOVA Southeastern)

Visit MyFWC.com/Fishing and click on “Regulations” and “Highly Migratory Species” to learn more.