April Moon Bill Wraps Report

Saludos again from the island of Enchantment

April went all the way from Fools to Easter week with plenty of action and everything from flat to sporty seas.

The first two weeks of April were marked by great sea conditions and bird piles with respectable size Mahi Mahi. Brown Boobies running west with feeding Mahi Mahi. Every day averaging from 3 to 5 mahi Mahi (always one bull and few cows) all in the 25-50 pound range.
Third week of April the Sea conditions changed dramatically with winds of 20-25 knots and seas averaging 7-10 feet. Making conditions SPORTY. We stayed fishing Caribbean water with the protection of Culebra and Vieques, having tons of fun with the King Macks, Cero Macks, Cudas and Bonito.
This fourth week the Sea conditions settled down, with East Southeast winds and north long period swells. The whole picture changed with plenty of weed lines. Also the schools of skipjack, Bonito, Blackfin and yellow fin tuna are present in the trench.
It seems that the Marlin Candy arrived and the season starts now in May.
Lets get ready to have tons of Fun Under the Sun.

till next bite
Capt Luis Iglesias aka Church

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April events at Texas <b>Freshwater Fisheries</b> feature fun, food, fishing

There’s no better example of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department motto “Life’s Better Outside” than April events at the Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center.

Outdoor Fools Day April 6 will be followed by the Athens Big Green Egg Fest April 13. Up to five rainbow trout per angler can be harvested free at TFFC during both events. No license is required to fish at TFFC. Those wishing to harvest fish should bring a cooler or stringer since none are available at TFFC.

Improving your outdoor skills is the focus of Outdoor Fools Day. The event showcases outdoor recreation opportunities in East Texas while teaching some of the skills needed to enjoy them, such as camping, fishing, outdoor cooking, birding and more.

Openings are still available for cooks, so if you’ve been thinking about becoming an Egghead, now’s your chance. You can sign up to cook, taste or buy an Egg at www.athenseggfest.wordpress.com. The site also includes recipes from last year’s event to tempt your taste buds.

Both Outdoor Fools Day and the Big Green Egg Fest will run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. While all Outdoor Fools Day activities are free with paid admission, an additional fee is charged for tasting at the Big Green Egg Fest. Those who preregister online can taste for $5; the fee on-site is $10. All proceeds benefit the Friends of TFFC.

The Texas Freshwater Fisheries Center is located at 5550 F.M. 2495 in Athens, about 75 miles southeast of Dallas. Admission is $5.50 for adults, $4.50 for seniors, and $3.50 for children age 4 through age 12.

For more information visit www.tpwd.state.tx.us/tffc or call 903-676-2277. A TFFC app is also available for both Apple and Android devices from their respective app stores.

The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of alvinsun.net.

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April Brings Great <b>Fishing</b> Before the May Flowers

From FWC Fish Busters Bulletin

By Bob Wattendorf

April showers bring May flowers, but in Florida there is already an abundance of blooms and a great bonanza of freshwater fishing opportunities that began earlier this spring. All across the state, anglers have reported great catches of a wide variety of freshwater fish. Innumberable anglers enjoy targeting sunfishes that move into the shallows to spawn this time of year.

Typically, black crappie (specks), redbreast sunfish and largemouth bass (the largest sunfish) begin spawning when water temperatures get over about 62 F. Crappie will stop spawning before bass, which continue to work the beds until it warms up to about 75 degrees. They are followed by redear sunfish (70-80 F) and bluegill (75-85 F). There is quite a bit of research and angler lore that say the fish key their peak activity to a few days before and after the full and new moons during spring.

Louie Echols with a huge bluegill that not only qualified for a Big Catch certificate but helped him to become Florida’s youngest elite angler (documenting Big Catch submissions from ten different species). Photo by Dan Echols

April is a favorite time of year for freshwater anglers, not only because fish congregating in the shallows provides great catch rates with lots of quality-size fish, but also because temperatures tend to be comfortable for an outdoor expedition. Another reason is that the first Saturday in April each year (April 6, this year) is a license-free freshwater fishing day across the state. People are exempt from having a license that day, so it is a great opportunity to reach out to people who don’t have a freshwater fishing license and show them how much fun a day on the water can be. Or, perhaps you have children who have been bugging you to go, and you haven’t wanted to buy a license to accompany them. Now is your chance.

Tom Champeau, director of the FWC’s Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management, points out that dedicated saltwater anglers may want to take this opportunity to see what they are missing a little closer to home. Freshwater angling provides a chance to expand fishing skills without having to travel far, as everybody lives near freshwater sites.

Florida has 7,700 named lakes and 12,000 miles of fishable rivers, streams and canals, so nearly everyone is within 30 to 45 minutes of a fishing hole. If you want some help finding a location or seek fishing tips and seasonal fishing forecasts, check out MyFWC.com/Fishing (under “Freshwater Fishing,” choose “Sites & Forecasts”). Quarterly forecasts by fisheries biologists are supplemented with links to local bait-and-tackle shops, marinas or guides, for even more timely updates.

Bob Williams shows off the first Hall of Fame Bass certified by the TrophyCatch Program. The 13 lb, 14 oz bass was caught, weighed on certified scales and released back in Rodman Reservoir after taking a fin clip for genetic sampling. Photo by Sean Rush/Trophy Bass Expeditions

Florida’s Big Catch Angler Recognition Program provides an opportunity for anglers to commemorate their memorable freshwater catches with a certificate and having their photo posted online. Thirty-three different species are included in the program, and all it takes to participate is a photo of a fish that exceeds either a specified length or weight. It’s a great incentive for youth, who can qualify by catching fish that are roughly 25 percent smaller than the qualifying measures for adult anglers. Visit MyFWC.com/BigCatch for more details and to enroll.

However, the ultimate challenge is the race for the biggest trophy bass of the year. Florida’s fame as a bass fishing destination lies in an abundance of lakes and rivers that consistently produce trophy-size bass. To document locations and frequency of bass catches over eight pounds, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) launched TrophyCatch (TrophyCatchFlorida.com) in October with the support of more than 20 industry partners. The goal is to enhance and sustain trophy bass fisheries and to promote Florida as the Bass Fishing Capital of the World, based on documented catches.

To participate, catches must be verified by FWC for the angler to earn awards. For Lunker Club (8 to 9.9-pounds) and Trophy Club (10 to12.9-pounds), verification requires photos of the entire bass clearly showing its length and weight, and then the bass must be released. Photos are submitted via the website. For Hall of Fame bass, which earn for the angler a free replica valued at $500 and an additional $500 in other prizes, the fish must be caught before the end of April and weighed on certified scales by an FWC representative. If you catch one, keep it alive and call 855-FL-Trophy. From May through September, bass over 13 pounds can still be photo-documented as Trophy Club bass, but won’t be entered into the Hall of Fame, to prevent undue stress when water temperatures are too warm.

Tony Stewart, Tom Champeau and Johnny Morris all delight in Champeau’s catch and release of this 11 lb, 8 oz Florida largemouth bass caught in the vicinity of the Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area, off the St. Johns River. Photo by Richard Gibson/for Bass Pro Shops

The biggest bass of this season (ending Sept. 30) verified by TropyCatch will earn a $3,000 championship ring provided by the American Outdoor Fund. The biggest bass caught in Osceola County and verified by TrophyCatch will take home $10,000, courtesy of Explore Kissimmee. If a registered guide helped (see website for details), the guide earns a $2,500 bonus. So register now, check out the rules, grab a rod-reel, camera, scale and tape measure, and go catch yourself a lunker, document it and then release it. By the way, just registering gets you into a drawing for a Phoenix bass boat powered by Mercury.

The biggest fish of the year currently is a 13-pound, 14-ounce monster caught by Bob Williams. It became the first Hall of Fame fish entered into the program. He was fishing wild shiners on Rodman Reservoir, with guide Sean Rush (Trophy Bass Expeditions). Check out YouTube.com/TrophyCatchFlorida to see a video of the current leaderboard, including Williams’ catch.

Another truly awesome fishing story from this spring was Champeau’s catch and release of a Trophy Club-level bass weighing 11 pounds, 8 ounces. At the time, Champeau was giving a tour to Bass Pro Shop founder John L. Morris and NASCAR Champion Tony Stewart. Champeau explained how the area near Three Forks Management Area is being reclaimed through a partnership with the St. Johns River Water Management District and the FWC. Marshes that were drained for agriculture are being reclaimed to protect water quality in the Indian River Lagoon and St. Johns River. The famous Stick Marsh, which opened for fishing in the 1980s, was the first of these. Within the next five years, an additional 47,000 acres will be thriving with trophy bass, and the FWC is taking measures to ensure these fisheries continue to produce decades into the future.

“We estimate the economic impact, once the project is completed, will be around $20 million to local businesses,” Champeau said.

While on their tour in the vicinity of the Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area, Morris, Stewart and Champeau, led by fishing guide Capt. Mike Tipton, caught 36 bass in a few hours.

“Catching and releasing a trophy bass while fishing with the founder of our major sponsor was incredible,” said Champeau. “The only way I could have scripted it better would be for either Johnny or Tony to catch her,” he added Morris was ecstatic himself remarking, “What a way to promote this great conservation program!”

Champeau’s catch is posted on on the TrophyCatch website; however, as an FWC employee, he is not eligible for rewards.

“Catching the bass of a lifetime, with Johnny Morris and a racing legend like Tony Stewart, was the best reward I could ask for,” said Champeau.

Now it’s your turn! Enjoy the great freshwater fishing Florida has for you this spring. Make memories and memorialize them through Florida’s angler recognition programs at TrophyCatchFlorida.com, and if you release a lunker bass, you’ll be able to say “My Trophy Swims in Florida!”

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<b>Fishing</b> Forecast: Week of April 12-18

The Pilot's Sunday fishing feature, Off the Hook, tells the tales (fact, not fiction) of Hampton Roads and northeastern North Carolina anglers. So pass along your ideas. Send pictures and thoughts to Pilot outdoors writer Lee Tolliver at lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com, or call him at (757) 222-5844.

By Lee Tolliver
The Virginian-Pilot
© April 12, 2012

Today marks the return of The Pilot's Fishing Forecast. As many anglers already know, the waters of coastal Virginia and northeastern North Carolina form one of the best fishing areas on the planet. In these waters, there are a multitude of year-long opportunities.

While the area's reputation rides mostly on its saltwater fisheries, there also are many outstanding freshwater lakes and rivers to fish.

Our waters also offer the chance to catch true trophies in a variety of species.

This time of year, we usually start things off by talking about largemouth bass - America's most revered species. Because the bass can be found throughout the continental United States, anglers spend more hours targeting this fish than any other.

Locally, largemouth can be found in water supply lakes, private ponds, neighborhood water retention ponds and throughout an expansive span of tidal rivers and creeks.

Because of the mild winter and early arrival of spring, there have been many reports of fish already guarding shoreline spawning areas.

This is the time of year when the species can be at its most vulnerable, as it feeds in preparation for the spawn.

Shallow-running crankbaits, spinnerbaits and chatterbaits all are good choices this time of year to find fish roaming shorelines in search of mates and food.

Topwater lures - both slow-moving and fast - worked around shoreline cover also will produce.

Be sure to have a second rod rigged with a soft plastic bait to toss in the direction of a missed strike.

Where fish are found on or around their beds, big creature baits cast softly around cover also will produce.

FORECAST

Hampton Roads

While school-sized striper have kept anglers busy for the past few weeks, growing attention is being paid to an earlier-than-usual flounder bite along the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, the Baltimore Channel, around Buoy 36 A and in the Back River near Poquoson. Many keeper-sized flatties also are being caught along Ocean View and inside Lynnhaven Inlet.

Still, the top producing area this time of year is the third island curve of the CBBT.

Tautog action has been outstanding recently, with catches coming from the CBBT tubes and pilings all the way out to the Triangle Wrecks. Many fish are topping 10 pounds, like the new state record 24-pound, 3-ounce giant caught recently by Ken Neill of Seaford. There is little reason to think this fishery won't continue to be strong, at least until waters get too warm.

Speckled trout are the other strong possibility, with the waters of the Elizabeth River and around the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel being two of the best locations. Rudee Inlet also has been producing, but the big news there has been the number of gray trout up to 5 pounds that have been caught. Many anglers, out of respect for the species' limited numbers the past few years, are choosing to release grays.

Croaker are starting to bite around Ocean View and the mouth of Little Creek Inlet. Look for a few hardheads around the CBBT and over many old oyster beds.

Anglers working offshore can expect good action from tilefish, grouper and rosefish. They might even find a few yellowfin and bluefin tuna.

Eastern Shore

What else is there to say except flounder? This is the time when droves of anglers head to Chincoteague and Wachapreague for the first runs of these tasty flatfish. And because of the mild winter, action appears to be ahead of schedule. Many fish - some topping 5 pounds - already have been encountered in backwater sloughs, especially around Wachapreague and Oyster. And things are simply going to get better as Virginia's new 16.5-inch size limit will permit anglers to find more keepable fish than in years past.

Big red drum also are starting to show along barrier-island sandbars, signaling that anglers can expect some outstanding early spring action. Fisherman's Island has been an early hot spot.

Tautog also are being found around coastal wrecks and artificial reefs up and down the Peninsula, with better action coming from deeper waters.

Outer Banks

Bluewater action has been off to an early start this year.

Out of Hatteras Inlet, there has been an outstanding run of wahoo to go with scattered tuna and dolphin. A few billfish can be expected.

Out of Oregon Inlet, yellowfin have provided most of the action so far.

Inshore anglers working the coast are starting to find incredible sight-casting opportunities for big red drum from south of Ocracoke north to the state line.

Anglers looking for drum should keep a close eye out for the first run of cobia.

Bluefish also are becoming more abundant and the first Spanish mackerel have shown.

Look to the sounds for speckled trout and puppy drum.

Pier and Surf

The biggest news on this horizon is the continued closure of fishable beaches along the Outer Banks from Bodie Island spit south to Ocracoke. That's not great news, especially since more and more big red drum are being encountered by nighttime anglers working around Cape Point.

Anglers still wanting to venture to the islands can expect small shark, skate, blow toads, sea mullet, a few croaker and some small flounder. Some speckled trout and red drum will be caught in the inlets.

Along Virginia's beaches, some red drum will be found as schools of fish move north. Anglers working several piers are starting to catch some croaker, sea mullet and small founder.

Freshwater

While largemouth bass are going to be the most sought-after species, there are plenty of other offerings.

Most notable is a continued run of large blue catfish in many tidal systems, especially the James, Chickahominy and Northwest - the latter of which has produced several of its biggest-ever blues.

Lakes, ponds and streams also are yielding good numbers of crappie, white perch, yellow perch and increasing numbers of bluegill and shellcracker.

Lee Tolliver, (757) 222-5844, lee.tolliver@pilotonline.com

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Sturgeon <b>fishing</b> focus of April 25 program

Milt Gudgell, a boat captain with Pacific Salmon Charters in Ilwaco, will be the guest speaker at the April 25 meeting of the Olympia Chapter of Trout Unlimited. He has been guiding since 1985 and has more than 40 years of fishing experience.

Gudgell will give a presentation on up-to-date fishing techniques, locations and the best gear to use when fishing for sturgeon. The Columbia River white sturgeon, often described as a living dinosaur, is the largest freshwater fish in North America.

Gudgell will also talk about fishing requirements based on recent legislation and the complexity of developing and following management plans for the lower-river sturgeon fishery amid concerns of a diminishing resource.

The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at North Olympia Fire Station, 5046 Boston Harbor Road N.E., Olympia.

Compiled by Jeffrey P. Mayor, jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com

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Fish Report April 11

Freshwater: April is proving to be a great month for freshwater fishing. Warm air temperature are heating up the water early this year and the fish have taken notice. Lake Wimico has had great bass and shellcracker reports with most anglers using spinnerbaits and crankbaits. The catfish bite has slowed, but is still worth the time if the water is rising.

Inshore/Piers: Last week it was reported a giant school of pompano had passéd by the Cape and everyone was catching pompano down that way. A few days later, they evidently passed our local piers and everyone who could throw a jig caught pompano. Last Sunday it was reported huge numbers of pompano were being caught at Henderson Beach between here and Destin. Luckily all the pompano in the area weren’t swept away when this school came through, but it left the ones that simply don’t want to bite.

Spanish mackerel are still in the bay and in the Gulf and it looks like they will be all summer. The sheepshead are still biting like gangbusters at the jetties using live shrimp or dead, it doesn’t matter. Tarpon are starting to show up even though it is a month early. St. Joe Bay is back to normal with good flounder and trout reports coming in daily.

Most anglers are using live shrimp and LYs. Blacks Island and Eagle Harbor seem to be the hot spots for inshore fishing. Large schools of redfish have been on the move at Town’s Beach and close to Presnells Channel.

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