Outdoors news and notes

By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, January 13, 2011

Making news

Crystal River yields record bullhead catfish

If your New Year's resolution was to catch the state record yellow bullhead catfish, you've now got your work cut out for you. On Dec. 17, Tom Flynn of Homosassa caught a 5-pound, 0.75-ounce catfish in Crystal River using minnows. The previous record was a 2.91-pounder caught by Michael Pace in the Withlacoochee River in Levy County on March 7, 2007. For a fish to become an official state record, a Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission biologist must verify the species and weigh it on a certified scale. However, the FWC also recognizes anglers who catch a memorable-size fish with a Big Catch certificate. These are issued for 33 freshwater species and subject to less stringent guidelines to allow an angler to be recognized if the fish's weight or length exceed minimum standards (see MyFWC.com/Fishing).

Cleanups

Derelict crab traps slated for removal

On Jan. 22, Tampa Bay Watch, along with the Florida Airboat Association and community volunteers, will participate in a crab trap removal effort in the Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve and the Little Manatee River areas. The primary objective of this project is to remove derelict traps from the environment and to reduce unnecessary entrapment of marine organisms, such as blue crabs, stone crabs, small commercial and recreational fish and brackish water turtles. Manatees, dolphins and sea turtles can also become entangled in the trap line causing injury or death. This the group's 16th crab trap removal since 2004, removing 687 traps.

Boating

Course covers safety, vessel care

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxilliary in Dunedin will offer a boating safety course starting Jan. 29. The class will cover all aspects of boating, from caring for the vessel to water rules. For information, call (727) 736-1191 or go to dunedin-coastguardaux.com.

Rodney Page, Times staff writer

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/sports/outdoors/outdoors-news-and-notes/1145342

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