I want to take the time to thank all the listeners that tune in to our "Just Fishin" Radio Show on Saturday mornings. For those of you who haven't heard, we've been doing a fishing radio show now for over a year on WOKV, on 690 AM and 106.5 FM Stations from 6:00am to 8:00am.
This radio show started out with the radio station contacting me and wanting me to become one of "their experts" to start out their Saturday Experts Shows each and every Saturday morning starting at 6:00 am. Captain Mike Darveau, a top-notch angler, charter Captain and a very good friend of mine was gracious enough to join me. WOKV would have one of their top news producers and reporter, Adam Kirk to join in and be available to help co-host the show. Adam has become more of an asset to us than he realizes. It would be hard to do the show without these two great guys.
This show started out over a year ago being what I wanted to do and has now evolved into what it has become because of you, the listeners. THANK YOU ! You have made our show the NUMBER 1 Outdoor Show in Northeast Florida. Each and every time the radio ratings come in I'm so proud to know that our Just Fishin Radio Show's ratings are double the Florida Sportsman's Radio show ratings and are three times what the Outdoor Show's ratings are. It's because of you, the listeners, that help make our show what it is. We enjoy our callers and try our best to help answer any and all questions you have concerning fishing, boating, cooking seafood, etc. I cannot express our appreciation enough and hope we can help you all to target better quality, more and larger fish.
We get callers all the way from Missouri to South Florida and we even have a caller that listens to us on his computer from Virginia every so often. Our show is heard on the air waves from Beauford, S. C. to just South of Daytona, Florida and people listen to us all over the U.S. 24 hours a day on WOKV.com.
Again, I thank you and I hope the show has become what you've expected. If not, please let me know how we can improve it. after all, we're here to help.
In the latest news:
Council Approves Amendment 16 to End Overfishing
Interim rule will implement measures for gag, black grouper, and red grouper by early 2009
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council gave final approval to Amendment 16 to the Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan during its meeting in Charleston, South Carolina this past week. The amendment includes measures to end overfishing of gag grouper and vermilion snapper, including a 4-month spawning season closure for gag and shallow water grouper, reductions in bag limits, commercial quotas, and other measures. Approval of the amendment was delayed during the Council’s June meeting when the Council agreed to consider additional management measures for analysis in the amendment. However, after considering the analysis of the additional options and receiving public comment as part of the week-long meeting, the Council moved forward to approve their original preferred management measures in Amendment 16. The amendment will go through review by the National Marine Fisheries Service and receive approval by the Secretary of Commerce before management measures are implemented. It is estimated the review process will take several months.
The Council’s actions are driven by mandates from the Magnuson-Stevens Reauthorization Act that require fisheries managers to implement measures to end overfishing within a one-year period after overfishing has been identified. Both gag grouper and vermilion snapper stocks were identified as undergoing overfishing through the Southeast Data, Assessment, and Review (SEDAR) stock assessment process in June 2007. An age-based SEDAR stock assessment for vermilion snapper is currently underway and the results of the recent Assessment Workshop, part of the three-step stock assessment process, is indicating the stock status might be better than originally reported. The Review Workshop is scheduled for October 20-24, 2008 in Savannah, Georgia and is open to the public. Amendment 16 contains a provision that would allow adjustments to the reduction of vermilion snapper if necessary, based on the updated assessment. The final stock assessment results will be reviewed by the Scientific and Statistical Committee and the Council during the November 30 – December 5, 2008 meeting in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Measures in Amendment 16 to end overfishing for gag include: a spawning season closure January through April for both commercial and recreational fishermen for gag and other shallow water groupers including black grouper, red grouper scamp, red hind rock hind, yellowmouth grouper, tiger grouper, yellowfin grouper, graysby, and coney; a commercial quota for gag of 352,940 pounds gutted weight. After the quota is met, all purchase and sale of shallow water grouper would also be prohibited; reducing the 5-grouper aggregate bag limit to a 3-grouper aggregate bag limit and the existing bag limit from 2 gag or black grouper to 1 gag or black grouper; and excluding the captain and crew on for-hire vessels from possessing a bag limit for groupers. Additional measures for vermilion snapper, including commercial quotas, bag limits and a recreational closed season are likely to be modified following the stock assessment. The amendment also establishes interim allocations for both gag and vermilion snapper.
“These measures should end overfishing for gag and vermilion snapper,” said Council member Mac Currin, Chairman of the Snapper Grouper Committee. “Everyone is hopeful that the ongoing age-based assessment of vermilion snapper will allow the Council to reduce the measures impacting fishermen.”
Interim Rule
In order to end overfishing for gag grouper, black grouper, and red grouper as required by the Magnuson Act, the Council approved an interim rule to implement reductions in fishing mortality as specified in Amendment 16. This includes the 4-month spawning season closure for gag, black grouper, and red grouper; the commercial quota for gag, with the harvest of black grouper and red grouper prohibited once the quota is met; and reductions in the recreational bag limit. Black grouper and red grouper are included in the interim rule because they are also experiencing overfishing and there is a bycatch of gag when black and red grouper are targeted. Earlier provisions to address overfishing for vermilion snapper and red snapper through the interim rule were removed and red snapper will be addressed by the Council during its November 30-December 5 meeting. An interim rule can only be used to address species undergoing overfishing and would be in effect for 180 days. The rule can be extended for an additional 186 days if necessary. Provisions of the interim rule with respect to federally permitted vessels for South Atlantic snapper grouper would apply regardless of where the fish are harvested (i.e., in state or federal waters). The Council’s intent is to have the interim rule effective by January 1, 2009.
Elections
During its meeting, the Council elected Council member Duane Harris as its new chairman and David Cupka to serve as vice-chair. Mr. Harris, an obligatory member of the Council from St. Simons Island, Georgia, replaces George Geiger of Sebastian, Florida as Council Chair. Formally serving as vice-chair, Chairman Harris has a long history of service to the Council, initially serving as a representative of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources’ Coastal Resources Division and continuing his service after retiring as director of the division in 2003. Vice-Chairman Cupka also has a long history with the Council, serving as the South Carolina representative for the Department of Natural Resources’ Marine Resources Division before his retirement and currently serving in an at-large position.
The next meeting of the Council is scheduled for November 30-December 5, 2008 in Wilmington, North Carolina. For additional information regarding Council meetings, including briefing book materials, committee reports, and summary motions from the September 2008 meeting, visit www.safmc.net or contact the Council office.
The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council, one of eight regional councils, conserves and manages fish stocks from three to 200 miles offshore of North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and east Florida.
RIVER:
Here's where the action is. Virginia croakers, black drum, sheepshead, bull redfish, whiting, yellow mouth trout, speckled trout, flounder and mangrove snapper are all biting in the ole St. Johns River right now. We're having what I consider some of the best fishing action I've seen in a long time because of all the different species that's biting good in the river. The larger Virginia croakers and the sheepshead started about 3 weeks earlier than I've ever seen them start and the black drum never stopped all summer long. That's been amazing. It's now time for the bull redfish to really get schooled up and man, have they. They are loads of fun but please be sure to take the time to revive these monsters so they can survive and spawn millions of new rats for us. The black drum which usually starts feeding about the middle of October through May are still in from this past spring. I think that has a lot to do with people realizing, finally, that those huge, giant drum are not good to eat but do wonders for our growing population of smaller, eating-sized drum when revived and released back into the wild. Sheepshead and mangroves around pilings and docks, whiting and yellow mouth on the sandier areas of the river and the croakers are everywhere.
JETTIES:
Bull redfish, tarpon, sharks, black drum, croakers, whiting and ring-tails are all feeding out at the jetties now. Get out there when you can because all these windy days are not letting anyone get out there very often. They're out there waiting for someone to bring them something to eat and we've been catching so many fish up river and in the creeks that I haven't been out there in over a month. When you see the mullet leaving out of the rocks and you get a calm day ahead then you'd better make the move and get out to the rocks. The tarpon will leave with them.
CREEKS:
Here's where the action is exciting to me. Sightfishing reds in the shallows is so fun and then we have those high low tides which I can't stand but we have to put up with them anyway. What's happening best of all right now though is a live shrimp under a Cajun Thunder float with about a 14" TO 16" leader to a 2/0 Eagle Claw Kayle hook. Redfish, flounder, speckled trout, black drum, jacks, mangrove snapper and ladyfish are all being caught on this rig right now in the creeks. I use this rig just before, during and just after high tides and it's been working so good and people just love to see that float all of a sudden disappear. Be like Mikey, try it, you'll like it.
MILL COVE:
Again, redfish, speckled trout, yellow mouth trout, black drum, whiting and flounder are all biting in the Cove right now. Captain Mike Darveau called me the other day and said, " you can't believe all the tarpon in here right now. Must be 25 to 30 of them and they're feeding", well let me tell you I saw them a few days later and they were back! The tarpon were feeding like there was no tomorrow. Get into these guys before they're gone. They're a blast.
SURF:
A few pompano, black drum and redfish are doing pretty good in the surf now but your best bet is targeting the whiting. Nice whiting are biting just South of the Jax. Beaches. Try down at Ponte Vedra or even further South for the better bite.
OFFSHORE:
My good friend Captain Chad Starling has been telling me the Red Snapper, vermillion snapper, black sea bass, grouper, triggerfish, and amberjack are all biting offshore. Wahoo should start picking up along with doplhin as they begin their southerly migration. The "cold front" season will be upon us soon so the number of offshore fishing days will be limited as a result of weather. Pick your days and go when you get a chance. Don't hesitate to call Captain Chad last minute! (904) 502-7408.
Let's all remember to please take a small trash can or just a trash bag even on board so none of your trash ends up in our great waterways. It's up to all of us to keep it clean!
You can say what you want about the South but,
you never hear of anyone retiring and moving up North,,,
Captain Vic Tison
Co-Host of WOKV's 'Just Fishing' Radio Show, Saturdays 6:00am to 8:00am
United States Coast Guard Licensed Captain
International Game Fish Assoc. Certified Captain
Regional Director for the Florida Guides Assoc.
Member of the National Assoc. of Charterboat Operators
Member of the American Professional Captain's Association
Sponsor of The Inshore Saltwater Anglers Club
Vic2Fish & Adventures, Inc.
P O Box 28208
Jax., Fl. 32226
904-699-2285
Web Site http://vic2fish.com
Neither Captain Vic nor Vic2Fish & Adventures, Inc. claims any responsibility for any injury or loss of property arising out of any party using these Fishing Reports.
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