Comments on: Florida Snook Need a Break from Cold Weather

By: LucyLu

LucyLu — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:48:01 +0000

Thanks for the update Captain Scott. Keep us updated.

By: Captain Scott Moore

Captain Scott Moore — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:45:52 +0000

My Fishing Report today is on a positive note. Yesterday while riding around the bay in my boat I found lots of live fish. In fact, I saw large numbers of trout and red fish in the shallow waters. These fish are feeding on the shrimp and there are plenty of sheeps head out side Cannons Marina’s canal. It looks good and the other fish will come back.

By: LucyLu

LucyLu — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 02:59:21 +0000

Hi Shery-
I really do not think that your fish catching experience in uncommon for this time of year. As you may know the Moray Eel and Snook deaths are due to the cold weather blast that lasted several days here in Florida. I am from an old Florida family and I cannot ever remember a run of cold weather like the one we just experienced. All I can say is that our conservation folks are assessing the situation and extending closure on Snook, Tarpon and Bonefish seasons.
Thanks for your input and report from the east coast.
Best regards,
Lucy

By: shery boschee

shery boschee — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 02:37:06 +0000

we’ve been catching catfish in the ocean along with blue runners off Hutchinsons Island.Is this uncommon?Also we’ve seen alot of dead snook and a moray eel.

By: shery boschee

shery boschee — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 02:25:31 +0000

january 16 2010 has the state of Florida closed snook fishing until september

By: LucyLu

LucyLu — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:30:05 +0000

Hey Captain Markham,
Thanks for the update on the Snook status. We certainly appreciate your efforts and help!
Best regards,
Lucy

By: Capt. Ray Markham

Capt. Ray Markham — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 16:22:28 +0000

Because Florida divides snook regulations into two separate areas, and the area of the East Coast has a season reopening February 1, it’s not going to be enough time to assess the kill data being collected. So, an emergency closure has been instituted to extend the current closure through September to have time to allow a summer spawn, and to properly take stock of the damages to the snook population. Closure beyond the September date will depend on the results of the assessment.

By: LucyLu

LucyLu — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:52:29 +0000

Hi Captain Ray,
Thanks for your comment and you certainly have a great point. I do like the idea of assessing the situation after this blast of cold weather is over.
Again, thanks for your input and keep us posted.
Best-
Lucy

By: LucyLu

LucyLu — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:47:56 +0000

Hi Bruce-
I have no doubt that the fish will come back, nature seems to have a way of doing just that sort of thing.
Thanks for your comment and stay warm in Chicago.
Thanks-
Lucy

By: Capt. Ray Markham

Capt. Ray Markham — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 12:07:47 +0000

A widespread snook kill such as the one experienced in Florida over the past couple of weeks will put a serious dent in Florida’s snook population. The freeze in 1989 left snook in a similar state, yet with conservation efforts, these fish rebounded with vigor and in good numbers. The fact that snook have made their way north on the west coast as far north as Crystal River and on the east coast to Jacksonville shows the range of these fish when successive mild winters occur. With the northern reaches of the snook boundary extending beyond what scientists had considered livable habitat for these fish, this recent weather phenomenon may put snook back in “their place” in more temperate zones to the south. A knee jerk reaction to the fish kill has some alarmists shouting for an emergency closure, but until a proper assessment has been made by fisheries biologists, we should continue to allow nature to take its course.