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SCALLOPING

Presented by

Tom Putnamtom@halfhitch.com

Half Hitch

Hosted by

Bob Fowlerbob.fowler@marinemax.com

(850) 708-1317

marinemax.com treasureislandmarina.nethalfhitch.com

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BAY SCALLOPS

Bay Scallops (Argopecten irradians) live in shallow, nearshore waters along Florida’s Gulf coast, from Pensacola to the Florida Keys. These bivalves are usually found nestled in seagrass beds and are easily distinguished from other bottom-dwelling animals by their electric blue eyes. Bay scallops are capable of swimming by opening and closing their shells rapidly to generate thrust, which can make catching them more challenging.

BAY SCALLOP BASICS• Bivalve mollusk• Historically throughout

Florida’s west coast to West Palm Beach on east coast.

• Short-lived: 12-18 months• Inhabits shallow bays and

estuaries– Seagrass dependant

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SCALLOP REGULATIONS• Commercial harvest prohibited in state waters• Open Season: July 1st – September 24th, 2012• Fishing license required• Bag limits:

– 2 gallons per person whole or 1 pint of meat per person per day– 10 gallons whole or ½ gallon shucked meat limit per vessel per day

• Harvest methods:– By hand– Landing or dip net

• Must remain in authorized areas while in possession of scallops on the water.

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WHERE TO SCALLOP

• Pasco/Hernando line northwest to west bank of Mexico Beach canal (Bay County)

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EQUIPMENT• Swim mask• Snorkel• Fins/water shoes• Small mesh bag• Divers-down flag (required by law)

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CLEANING SCALLOPS

Insert knife blade or sharpened spoon between shells and cut away the muscle at its attachment to the top shell

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CLEANING SCALLOPS

Remove the dark innards by gently scraping from hinge to front with knife or spoon

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CLEANING SCALLOPS

Scrape away the scallop muscle from bottom shell*

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FISHING THE FLATS

Presented by

Tom Putnamtom@halfhitch.comOwner of Half Hitch

Hosted by

Bob Fowlerbob.fowler@marinemax.com

(850) 708-1317

marinemax.com treasureislandmarina.nethalfhitch.com

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SPECKLED TROUT

Family: Sciaenidae, DRUMS, Cynoscion nebulosus

Description: dark gray or green above, with sky blue tinges shading to silvery and white below; numerous distinct round black spots on back, extending to the dorsal fins and tail; black margin on posterior of tail; no barbels; no scales on the soft dorsal fin; one or two prominent canine teeth usually present at tip of upper jaw.

Where found: INSHORE and/or NEARSHORE over grass, sand and sandy bottoms; move into slow-moving or still, deep waters in cold weather.

Size: common to 4 pounds on west coast, larger on east coast.

Florida Record: 15 lbs., 6 oz.World Record: 17 lbs., 7 oz. 1995 Ft. Pierce, FL

Remarks: matures during first or second year and spawns INSHORE from March through November; often in association with seagrass beds; lives mainly in estuaries and moves only short distances; adults feed mainly on shrimp and small fish; prefers water temperatures between 58 and 81 degrees F and may be killed if trapped in shallow water during cold weather; longevity 8 to 10

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REDFISH

Family: Sciaenidae, DRUMS, Sciaenops ocellatus

Description: chin without barbels; copper bronze body, lighter shade in clear waters; one to many spots at base of tail (rarely no spots); mouth horizontal and opening downward; scales large.

Similar Fish: black drum, Pogonias cromis.

Where found: juveniles are an INSHORE fish, migrating out of the estuaries at about 30 inches (4 years) and joining the spawning population OFFSHORE.

Size: one of 27 inches weighs about 8 pounds.

Florida Record: 51 lbs., 8 oz.World Record: 94 lbs., 2 oz. 1984 Avon, NC

Remarks: red drum are an INSHORE species until they attain roughly 30 inches (4 years), then they migrate to join the NEARSHORE population; spawning occurs from August to November in NEARSHORE waters; sudden cold snaps may kill red drum in shallow, INSHORE waters; feeds on crustaceans, fish and mollusks; longevity to 20 years or more.

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SPANISH MACKEREL

Family Scombridae, MACKERELS & TUNAS, Scomberomorous maculatus

Description: color of back green, shading to silver on sides, golden yellow irregular spots above and below lateral line; front of dorsal fin black; lateral line curves gently to base of tail.

Similar Fish: cero, S. regalis; king mackerel, S. cavalla.

Where found: INSHORE, NEARSHORE and OFFSHORE, especially over grass beds and reefs; absent from north Florida waters in winter.

Size: average catch less than 2 pounds (20 inches).

Florida Record: 12 lbs.World Record: 13 lbs. 1995 Ft. Pierce, FL

Remarks: schooling fish that migrates northward in spring, returning to southerly waters when water temperature drops below 70 degrees F; spawns OFFSHORE, spring through summer; feeds on small fish and squid.

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SHEEPSHEADFamily Sparidae, PORGIES, Archosargus probatocephalus

Description: basic silvery color; with 5 or 6 distinct vertical black bands on sides, not always the same on both sides; prominent teeth, including incisors, molars, and rounded grinders; no barbels on lower jaw; strong and sharp spines on dorsal and anal fins.

Similar Fish: black drum, Pogonias cromis; Atlantic spadefish, Chaetodipterus (black drum have barbels on lower jaw, sheepshead do not; vertical barring on sides of black drum and spadefish disappear as fish mature; spadefish have small, brush-like teeth).

Where found: INSHORE species around oyster bars, seawalls and in tidal creeks; moves NEARSHORE in late winter and early spring for spawning, gathering over debris, artificial reefs and around navigation markers.

Size: INSHORE, 1 to 2 pounds; OFFSHORE, common to 8 pounds.

Florida Record: 12 lbs., 2 ozs.World Record:

Remarks: feeds on mollusks and crustaceans such as fiddler crabs and barnacles; famed nibblers, prompting the saying that "anglers must strike just before they bite."

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FLOUNDERFamily: Bothidae, Left Eye Flounders, Paralichthys Albigutta

Description: body color brown, its shade depending on color of bottom, with numerous spots and blotches; 3 prominent eye-like spots forming a triangle; one spot on lateral line, one above, one below; numerous white spots scattered over body and fins (albigutta, white-spotted); strong canine-like teeth; caudal fin in shape of wedge, its tip in the middle.

Similar Fish: southern flounder, P. lethostigma (no eye-like spots; color pattern is key to distinguishing the two species).

Where found: INSHORE on sandy or mud bottoms, often ranging into tidal creeks; occasionally caught on NEARSHORE rocky reefs.

Size: common to 2 pounds, generally smaller than southern flounder.

Florida Record: n/aWorld Record: 20lbs 9 oz. 1983 Larenza Mungin Nassau Sound

Remarks: hatches into usual fish form, but right eye migrates over to left side early in life; a bottom dweller; thought to spawn OFFSHORE; feeds on crustaceans and small fishes.

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TARPONFamily: Elopidae, TARPONS, Megalops atlanticus

Description: last ray of dorsal fin extended into long filament; one dorsal fin; back dark blue to green or greenish black, shading into bright silver on the sides; may be brownish gold in estuarien waters; huge scales; mouth large and points upward.

Similar Fish: (as juveniles) ladyfish, Elops saurus.

Where found: primarily INSHORE fish, although adult fish spawn OFFSHORE where the ribbon-like larval stage of the fish can be found.

Size: most angler catches 40 to 50 pounds.

Florida Record: 243 lbs.World Record: 283 lbs. 4oz. 1991 Sherbro ls., Sierra Leone

Remarks: slow grower; matures at 7 to 13 years of age; spawning occurs between May and September; female may lay more than 12 million eggs; can tolerate wide range of salinity; juveniles commonly found in fresh water; can breathe air at surface; feeds mainly on fish and large crustaceans.

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TARPON

• First 1st full moon in June to the last full moon in August

• Lots of traveling fish & difficult to get to eat• Use small baits, light fluorocarbon leader

to get bite

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CHART #11390

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ROD ACTION

• Light tip rods are more sensitive but lack backbone for pulling fish off their wreck

• Long slow action rods are called picking poles

• Easy to feel bite but very poor leverage

• Stand up vs. picking Pole

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SPINNING vs. CONVENTIONAL

Best for castingPoor leverage, limited drag

Best leverageBest drag, poor casting

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SUPER BRAID vs. MONO

Mono

•Reasonable priced

•Able to stretch

•Multiple colors

•Has memory

Braid

•Zero Stretch

•Small Diameter

•No memory

•Can not color, coat only not able to die

•Pricey

•Very durable

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HIVIS, CLEAR, COLORED MONO

• If using Hi Vis use long mono leaders

• Mono is a light transmitter similar to fiber optics

• Use a variegated mono to reduce light transmittal

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POWER PRO

• Low stretch helps with hook set

• Keep fish from getting in the bottom

• Small diameter increased line capacity

• Less water drag• High abrasion

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POWER PRO• Knots with only 2 or 3 twist

do not work well with braids – most knots with 6 or more twist will work –best knots palomar – Uni –Bimini twist

• When using Super Braid’s most knives and wire cutters will not work –scissors, preferable braid scissors work best.

• Visit powerpro.com for knot tying directions.

Palomar Knot

UNI to UNI KNOT

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LANDING NETS

• Tangle free nets allow you to net a fish with lure. The lure will not get tangled in netting.

• Rubber nets are great to release fish. Doesn’t have the rough knotting that would damage the fish and remove it’s protective slime.

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FLUOROCARBON

• Great Leader– High abrasion resistance– Stiffer– Larger Diameter– Same density as water– Carbon fleck stops light transmittal– Has UV inhibitors – last longer in sun– Very slick, passes through guides easily

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BAIT

Shrimp – all fish love

LY’s – great bait hard to keep alive

Pinfish (Choffer) – hardy good bait

Finger Mullet – hardy good bait

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CATCHING BAIT

• Sabaki – catching bait on bare hook

• Great to catch most small baits

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Live Chumming

Chumming with live baits. When baits hit the water it’s like they are jumping to avoid predators. Also sound and vibration attracts attention.

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Lure Color

• Match the bait & water color• Clear water: light color

bottoms to lures with darker tops

• Dark Water: Gold & darker bottoms & colors

• Red to indicate injured or hurt fish

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Gulp• Best saltwater plastic bait ever

made. Although not a true plastic. Available in all popular shapes & sizes.

• Biodegradable• Leeches out scent as used, and

when placed back in the container the bait will absorb the scent to regenerate the bait.

FLOATS

Acts as a strike detector & also can be use to stimulate fish popin top of water when feeding.

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GRUBS

Work slow, with short poppinmotion: Great fishing ledges & holes.

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CASTING SPOONS & PLUGS

Works great fishing on flats.Use gold spoons in tannic (brown) water & silver in clear water.

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HOOKS & LEADS

• Treble hooks are illegal for Redfish, Trout & Pompano when using natural bait.

• Circle hooks work best for live baits. Remember with circle hooks, don’t jerk, just reel.

• To be a legal circle hook, the hook point must be 90 degrees to the hook shank.

90°-------

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DIURNAL TIDES

www.saltwatertides.comBecause of East/West shore line & the effect of our Bay – we only have 2 tides daily1 high1 low

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DRIFT ANCHORS

When drift fishing use a drift anchor to slow down the effect of windWill also pull in tide direction

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POLLING

• When fishing shallow water, Pole instead of motoring to avoid damage to sea grass

• You can be fined for destroying grass beds

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TROLLING MOTOR FISHING

Using a trolling motor to easily move up or down the current & to where you spot fish

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TAILING REDS

North shore of East Bay entering the Intercostals, lots of oyster beds favorite place for Reds

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WADE FISHING• Preferred by most good

anglers fishing shallow water.

• Easy to approach fish or schools without spooking them

• Use 8’-81/2’ Rod to pick bait up high to get greater casting distance

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PILING FISHING-SHEEPSHEAD

• Sheepshead hang around pilings eating crustaceans

• Great structure fish

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GRASS BEDS

• Now protected by law• Shallow water is marked with

signs• When fishing shallow water,

Pole instead of motoring to avoid damage to sea grass

• You can be fined for destroying grass beds

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FLY FISHING

• Ultimate light tackle fishing.

• Great for site casting• Easy to have line out &

pick up & cast to fish without retrieving line with one motion

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POPULAR KNOTSLoop to Loop

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KNOTS

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FUTURE CLASSES• August 10th – Surf Fishing• September 14th – King Mackerel• October 12th – Flounder & Fall Bay Fishing• November 9th – Hands on Rigging

MEETINGS

Gulf Of Mexico FisheryManagement Council Meeting Schedule2203 N Lois Avenue, Suite 1100Tampa, Florida 33607 USAToll Free: 888-833-1844Email: info@gulfcouncil.orggulfcouncil.org

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MEETINGSFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionFarris Bryant Building620 S. Meridian St.Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600(850) 488-4676

Saltwater Regulations myfwc.com/fishing/saltwater/

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HOW TO MEASURE• Fish regulated by fork length are measured from the tip of the jaw or

tip of the snout with closed mouth to the center of the fork in the tail.

• Fork Length Species Include: Amberjacks, Bluefish, Rudderfish, King Mackerel, Hog Fish, Spanish, Mackerel, Dolphin, Permit, Cobia, Pompano, Mullet, African Pompano

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