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Added Allure
Added Allure:
FWC Considering Alligator Fishing With Plugs
By FRANK SARGEANT
Published: Sep 26, 2007
For those who like to combine fishing with hunting dangerous game, the
state Fish & Wildlife Commission has recently taken a step likely to add
lots of interest to the annual alligator harvest, now under way and
continuing through Nov. 1.
According to gator program chief Harry Dutton, the commission has agreed
to hear a staff proposal to allow taking of alligators with artificial
lures in the 2008 season, with hearings planned for late this year and the
rule likely in place by next summer.
"This will basically allow people to actually fish for alligators," Dutton
said. "Florida anglers occasionally hook small ones by accident, but this
would allow them to go out with tackle of the proper strength and actually
use it to capture full-grown alligators."
The lures most likely to work will probably be huge topwaters with
heavy-duty hooks, designed to handle brutes that regularly exceed 400
pounds. Gator hunters already are permitted to use snatch hooks, which
they cast out to stick the giant reptiles, but the new ruling would add
the element of luring them to strike.
However, according to Dutton, there will be no "catch-and-release"
gatoring next year. This season, many snatch-hook anglers released
alligators if they found they were not quite as big as they wanted.
"Although FWC law enforcement personnel have not enforced the no-release
rule in the past season, that won't be the case next year," Dutton said.
"Once a licensed hunter brings an alligator to the boat, he is obligated
to go ahead and take it - the rule is aimed at avoiding release of wounded
animals."
Of course, getting your lure back out of a gator's mouth could be
problematic if the critter was still alive, too.
In any case, look for the first gator baits to hit the tackle shelves
along about next August - and we are not talking Tennessee Vols.
FISHING SHOW: The Florida Sportsman Fishing Show at the State Fairgrounds
this weekend features editor emeritus Vic Dunaway, probably Florida's
most-venerated outdoors writer. Dunaway was outdoors editor of The Miami
Herald for years when he quit to join a fledgling magazine founded on a
living room table by publisher Karl Wickstrom almost 40 years ago.
Today, Florida Sportsman magazine is by far the most successful state
fishing magazine in the nation, thanks in large part to Dunaway's many
years at the helm. He retired several years back to enjoy the Vienna
sausages and the fishing in Citrus County, but still appears at most of
the Florida Sportsman shows around the state.
New this year is a dedicated kayak fishing stage. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6
p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $8, free for kids 12
and under; www.floridasportsman.com.
ETC.: Captain Tom Larkin presents a free South Shore fishing seminar
tonight at the Golden Triangle Fishing Club meeting at 7 p.m. at Bill
Currie Ford, 5815 N. North Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa, public welcome;
(813) 935-3293. � The Tampa Chapter of Ducks Unlimited hosts its annual
auction and banquet Thursday evening at Higgins Hall, 5225 N. Himes in
Tampa, tickets $65 include dinner and DU membership; (813) 251-0961. � The
Fall Ladies Fishing Classic hosted by Bill Currie Ford is Saturday, with
the captain's meeting Thursday at Gators on the Pass in Treasure Island;
call (813) 367-2942 for details. �
Volunteers are still needed for the largest salt marsh planting ever on
Tampa Bay, slated for Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon at Terra Ceia Preserve
in northern Manatee County. Some 350 volunteers are needed to plant over
34 acres of restored wetlands. Send an email to
aackman@tampabaywatch.orgfor details. � Noted fly fisherman Jim Swann of
Swann's Fly Shop in Dade City presents a free fly fishing seminar on
catching bream Oct. 3 at Tampa Bay Fly Fishing Club, meeting at 6 p.m. at
Compton Park Rec Center in Tampa Palms; www.tbffc.org. |
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