New Jersey Teen Bitten by Shark While Fishing on Vacation in Florida - NBC New York

NBC 4 New York

A teenager from New Jersey says he survived a shark attack while vacationing with his family in Florida. Gus Rosendale has the exclusive.

New Jersey Teenager Survives Shark Attack i...

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advertisement A New Jersey teenager is recovering after he was attacked by what he believes was a shark while he was fishing in Florida.

Christian Mercurio, a rising high school senior in Randolph, N.J., was fishing in waist-high water off the coast in Sanibel, Fla., a week ago when his legs and feet were suddenly seized underwater.

"It felt like my feet were crushed by cement," he told NBC 4 New York.

He began screaming for help, and his mother, thinking he was joking around, told him to stop. 

"My mom was like, 'Don't yell 'shark.' You will cause a panic,'" Mercurio said.

But his mother, Lisa Mercurio, flew into action when she realized what was happening to her son. 

"We sat him down, elevated his legs," said his mother, who is a registered nurse "Luckily, people started throwing us beach towels." 

Florida investigators think it was a 6- to 8-foot-long bull shark that went after Christian. The teeth missed major arteries, but they pierced his leg and left a wound on his foot. 

Christian thinks the shark became more aggressive as he tried to escape.

The Mercurios say they will go back in the water despite the ordeal, and all of them are grateful the run-in with the shark was a survivor story.

"It's still surreal," said Lisa Mercurio. "Definitely still shocked. He spent the week watching 'Shark Week.' I spent the week with nightmares." 

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South Florida <b>fishing</b> report

South Florida fishing report - Sun Sentinel Home?Collections?Florida Bay South Florida fishing report if (jQuery("#mod-article-header .kicker").length > 0) { var topOffset = jQuery("#mod-article-header h1").offset().top - 50; if (topOffset > 150 && topOffset June 21, 2013|By Steve Waters, Staff Writer

Fishing report

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

Look for bass schooling offshore in the morning and catch them on lipless crankbaits and topwater plugs. Bluegills were biting off the outer grass lines.

EVERGLADES/FRESHWATER

Bass were biting in the canals along Alligator Alley. Use shaky head jigs around the bridges and ledges. Topwater lures have also been effective.

SOUTH FLORIDA INSHORE

Lots of sea trout and some tarpon were biting in Florida Bay.

SOUTH FLORIDA OFFSHORE

Capt. Dave Kostyo, who fishes out of Haulover Inlet on Knot Nancy, said late afternoons have been best for catching sailfish, blackfin tuna, kingfish and dolphin. Joel Reid, John Boekestyn and Lawrence Hopman had three sailfish, a kingfish and two tunas live-baiting in 110-160 feet. Bonitos and a few small kingfish were caught off Boynton Beach Thursday morning.

THE KEYS

Schoolie dolphin, along with a few big fish, and small blackfin tunas were biting. Capt. Bill Hauck of the Sea King party boat in Marathon reported tough snapper fishing.

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South Florida <b>Fishing</b> report

Best Bet

Henry Caimotto of the Snook Nook Bait & Tackle in Jensen Beach reported that along the beaches bluefish in the 6- to 10-pound range are eating cut bait. Offshore in depths from 150 to 250 feet of water dolphin in the 20- to 50-pound range are biting trolled ballyhoo. Inside of that depth sailfish, blackfin tuna and bonitos are plentiful on the bottom lane, and mutton snappers and some groupers are being caught. In the Indian River big snook are eating jigs and live baits at almost every bridge. Best action has been at night.

Miami-Dade/ Broward

Captain Bouncer Smith Of Bouncers Dusky out of Miami Beach Marina reported that despite zero current outside the reef offshore of Government Cut, his clients landed five cobias, four gray groupers two big mutton snappers, kingfish and bonitos. Most of the action took place over artificial reefs with live baits. … Captain Paul Roydhouse of FishHeadquarters.com out of Fort Lauderdale reported that during day trips fishing between 100 to 200 feet of water offshore of Port Everglades, his clients have been doing well on kingfish, blackfin tuna and a few sailfish on the top and some nice snappers and a few groupers.

Keys

Fishing 13 miles offshore of the middle Keys, Nick Milbery of Davie hooked and landed a 55-pound bull dolphin. Milbery was fishing with his dad Jack. The huge dolphin ate a trolled homemade squid. … Captain Wayne Gilbert Jr. of Fish Florida Bay Charters out of Islamorada reported he has been having good success using live mullet on the tarpon during the outgoing tides and with the moon being in his favor for the next few weeks, he expects a great tarpon bite to take place on the outgoing tides. … Captain Steve Hancock of Fly and Spin Fishing Charters out of Sugarloaf Key reported plenty of tarpon are being caught on both natural baits and fly. The tarpon can be found on both the Atlantic and Gulf sides.

Treasure Coast

Captain Charlie Conner of FishTales Charters out of Port St. Lucie reported sea trout have been the main focus this week with plenty of trout measuring more than 20 inches. Look for the big trout in two feet of water where there are big sandy holes around grass. Casting DOA lures and Deadly Combos or live baits will get you into the fish. Redfish have been holding close to the mangroves and snook are feeding next to the docks.

Florida Bay

Captain Nestor Alvisa of Hooked on Flamingo Charters reported that due to lots of rain and west winds, fishing in Florida Bay has been tough. When the winds are down plenty of sea trout are biting along the deeper sides of the grass flats. Lots of ladyfish, jacks and some nice snappers are being caught in the same areas. Live shrimp under a float and soft plastics on a jig are getting the strikes. Along the islands there have been some redfish and snook and offshore tripletail have been available.

Southwest Coast

Captain Rob Modys of SoulMate Charters out of Fort Myers reported tarpon have moved into the back waters of Estero Bay, Pine Island Sound and along the beaches, where they are feeding on white bait and mullet. Snook are moving into the passes where they will spawn and can be chummed up and caught on white baits. Redfish are pushing up onto the shallow grass flats with the best action taking place in the morning using gold spoons. Sea trout can be found along the deeper edges of the grass flats in three to four feet of water. Spanish mackerel, bluefish and jacks seem to be everywhere from the beaches out into the open water of the Gulf and will eat anything that moves fast

Freshwater

Alan Zaremba of World Peacock Bass Fishing Charters reported with recent rains that water levels are raising in the canals of the Everglades Conservation Areas. Not as many largemouth bass are being caught but the size of the bass has increased. Soft plastics and floating Rapala minnows are catching the bass. In the urban canals plenty peacock bass are being caught on artificial lures.

Capt. Alan Sherman

Amanda Burke advanced to Fina 3-meter springboard final, scoring a 297.70 for second place behind China’s Liu Jiao. 1368160767

Many South Florida anglers with small boats yearn for the adventure of fishing the bountiful waters of Bimini about 50 miles away. But crossing the Straits of Florida to fish in a foreign country — even a small and friendly one — an be daunting to some.

Captain Bouncer Smith Of Bouncers Dusky out of Miami Beach Marina reported that despite zero current outside the reef offshore of Government Cut, his clients landed five cobias, four gray groupers two big mutton snappers, kingfish and bonitos. Most of the action took place over artificial reefs with live baits. … Captain Paul Roydhouse of FishHeadquarters.com out of Fort Lauderdale reported that during day trips fishing between 100 to 200 feet of water offshore of Port Everglades, his clients have been doing well on kingfish, blackfin tuna and a few sailfish on the top and some nice snappers and a few groupers.

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Legendary Race Car Driver Tony Stewart Relaxes By <b>Fishing</b> In Florida Before <b>...</b>

Posted on Friday, February 22, 2013 · Leave a Comment 

It was a perfect Florida February day, with mostly sunny conditions and a high in the low 70s. Bass Pro Shops founder Johnny Morris, NASCAR champion Tony Stewart and the director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Division of Freshwater Fisheries Management, Tom Champeau, were on a tour of the upper St. Johns River in the vicinity of Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area. Led by fishing guide Capt. Mike Tipton, they caught 36 bass in just a few hours. Champeau got a strike and then landed an 11-pound, 8-ounce trophy. Such is the stuff dreams are made of and the basis for which the FWC launched TrophyCatch (TrophyCatchFlorida.com).

“Catching and releasing a trophy bass while fishing with the founder of our major sponsor was an incredible experience,” said Champeau. “The only way I could have scripted it better would be for either Johnny or Tony to catch her,” he added.

Bass Pro Shops is a major TrophyCatch partner, and with their expansion to 12 stores throughout Florida, this partnership is a win-win for the fishing industry, conservation and anglers. Morris was ecstatic himself, exclaiming, “What a way to promote this great conservation program!”

Stewart, who hoped to spend the day relaxing before the Daytona 500, said, “Seeing Tom catch that fish was awesome, I was so excited to be there for it.” Three-time Sprint Cup Champion Tony Stewart will drive the #14 Chevrolet sponsored by Bass Pro Shops/Tracker Marine on Sunday, February 24th, in the 55th running of the Daytona 500.

Capt. Tipton took photos of the beauty, showing the weight registering on the scale, as required for TrophyCatch documentation.

Champeau’s catch will be submitted to the TrophyCatch website; however, as an FWC employee, he is not eligible for any rewards other than a handsome certificate commemorating his catch.

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

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 catches over 8 pounds throughout the state, 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 use catch information to better conserve and manage trophy bass fisheries and continue to promote Florida as the Bass Fishing Capital of the World.

“Florida leads the nation with more than 25 million days of freshwater fishing participation and attracted more than 1.2 million anglers from all over the world to fish famous lakes like the Kissimmee Chain and Okeechobee and the St. Johns River,” said Champeau. While Florida’s marquee fisheries receive most media attention, Champeau said that anglers should not overlook the countless smaller lakes, ponds and canals.

“TrophyCatch is already revealing that many trophy bass are caught in typical neighborhood ponds,” he said.

While touring the Three Forks Marsh Conservation Area with Morris and Stewart, Champeau explained how the area is being reclaimed through a partnership with the St. Johns River Water Management District and the FWC. Vast marshes that were once drained for agriculture are being reclaimed as impoundments to protect water quality in Indian River Lagoon and St. Johns River. One such impoundment is Stick Marsh, which opened for fishing in the 1980s and is well-known in fishing circles. Within the next five years, more than 47,000 additional acres of water will be thriving with trophy bass, and the FWC is taking measures now to ensure that these fisheries continue to produce decades into the future.

“We estimate the economic impact, once the entire Upper St. Johns Project is completed, will be around $20 million to local businesses,” Champeau said. “The reservoir-enhancement projects being completed now will provide increased depth and more complex lake-bottom topography, which will be more beneficial than simply flooding an old sod farm.”

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Florida promotes catch and release through incentives including fiberglass <b>...</b>

Capt. AJ Jackson, a longtime fishing guide who knows the Kissimmee chain of Lakes well, weighs an 8 pound, 6 ounce largemouth bass caught in the Buenaventura Lakes area recently. He sent proof of his fish to the state's Trophy Bass program, which gives incentives to anglers that catch and release fish that may otherwise get mounted on the wall. (courtesy of Capt. AJ Jackson / Nov 30, 2012)

Anglers may be guilty sometimes of telling fish tales, so displaying a mount of a trophy fish can offer proof of a big catch.

But as part of Florida's latest bass-conservation project, state wildlife officials hope those big fish won't be keepers. Instead, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is offering incentives through the new TrophyCatch program to those who catch and release those prized largemouth bass.

Proud fishermen can still point to proof of a memorable catch — a fiberglass replica of their whopper.

"It's a great program," said Capt. A.J. Jackson, an Orlando fishing guide since 1970. "It will promote Florida bass fishing throughout the nation. And it's going to be good for the sport, for encouraging catch and release."

Through TrophyCatch, anglers can register their prized fish, 8 pounds and up, by sending photos showing the fish being weighed, measured and then released. In the first month since the program launched in October, some 370 people have registered at the state website, agency spokesman Bob Wattendorf said.

Prizes are available to participants, including a free replica for fish larger than 13 pounds, gift cards to retail stores that specialize in fishing equipment, a rod and reel, and a $10,000 cash prize sponsored by the Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau for the largest bass caught in Osceola County during the first year of the program.

In the Kissimmee chain, there are plenty of fish that could take that prize, said Jackson, who registered two fish in the state program: an 8-pound, 6-ounce largemouth bass and the other 9 pounds, 7 ounces. Caught in the Buenaventura Lakes area, the fish are the first registered out of Osceola County.

The best season to catch them is now through March.

"This is the beginning of our peak season, when the big female bass are binge-feeding for the spawning season," he said. "A lot of people come from all over the world to catch these big fish."

Releasing the trophy-sized fish is important for the fish population, said Jason Dotson, a fisheries biologist with the state's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, headquartered in St. Petersburg.

The larger the fish, the more eggs it produces. Larger fish also tend to produce larger offspring. Yet it takes a decade to grow a 10-pound fish, Dotson said.

"In Florida, these bass can live to 14, 15 years old, so if a 10-year-old fish is caught and released, and not harvested, it has potentially more years to live and spawn and pass on their genes," he said.

Catch and release also means those prized fish get "recycled," so another angler can catch it another day, he said. That's an added bonus for the freshwater-fishing industry, which generates $1.25 billion in economic impact annually in Florida, according to a federal wildlife study.

A.J. Willequer, who organizes fishing tournaments for the Harris Chain Bassmasters, a Eustis-based fishing club, has seen such "recycling" firsthand, when a fish tagged by a state biologist was caught later as a top fish in a tournament.

"Even in our tournaments, we do not advocate killing the fish," said Willequer, conservation director for the Florida Bass Federation. "We store them in live catch-and-release tanks of 400 gallons of water."

And even a local taxidermist agrees it may be better — though more expensive — to get a replica of a trophy fish, instead of a mount of the actual fish.

Bill Burns, owner of Back to Life Taxidermy in Orlando, said about half of his fish orders are mounts of fish, while half are replicas. In the 30 years since fish replicas were first created, the quality has improved dramatically, he said.

"The older fiberglass replicas looked very plastic, but the detail on the replica is so precise now, if you look at it up close it looks like the real fish," he said. "The nice thing about the replicas is that you're allowing the fish to continue living."

llelis@tribune.com or 352-742-5927

Comments (3) Add / View comments | Discussion FAQManfred Emslie at 5:46 PM November 30, 2012

Been catching and release bass for years ,where the hell have you been.

Bassman1953 at 5:22 PM November 30, 2012

First of all, holding a bas this size in this manner may break its jaw, resulting in starvation. Secondly, tell the folks at water management to stop drawing down the lakes at the peak of spawn, we've seen the bass knocked off their beds for the past 4 years on Lake Mary Jane and Lake Hart. The bass population can't thrive when the eggs are drying in the sun. Finally, true fishermen care more about protecting the fish than what goes on their walls. Take a picture, give it a kiss, and send it on its way!

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Gift Ideas For Florida Anglers

By Bob Wattendorf

Catch a fish and catch a smile.
Bob Wattendorf/FWC

Holiday season is upon us. Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or simply enjoy having a few days off to celebrate with family and friends, coming up with appropriate gifts is a challenge for all of us.

The key to gift giving is matching the present to the individual, while making sure it is something they’ll enjoy, is hopefully good for them and not too expensive. And if it helps Mother Nature too, maybe that’s the perfect gift. With that in mind, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has several suggestions for last-minute gift giving.

How about an offering guaranteed to create a happier, healthier and more productive lifestyle? Richard Louv, chairman emeritus of the Children & Nature Network and author of “The Nature Principle” and “Last Child in the Woods,” has made a solid case, supported by years of research, that connecting with nature results in those benefits. Whatever your age, being able to spend time in nature brings us back to our true roots – the ones that connect us with the earth and nurture us.

In a time when frantic schedules, enclosed spaces and constant noise tend to drive us a little crazy, it is a real gift to take some time to commune with nature and relax. Getting outdoors with family and friends not only gets you moving and burning off some of those excess holiday calories but can open the door to better communications.

So the trick is how to give the gift of the great outdoors to yourself, your family and friends. Fun and recreation sounds like a good place to start, so how about planning a fishing trip or nature hike? The Outdoor Foundation published a special research report this year that stated:

“Perhaps more than any other form of recreation, fishing and boating are critical to the health and well-being of America’s outdoor heritage. By boat and on land, the first outdoor experience for many Americans is fishing, introducing tens of millions of people each year to the wonders of nature. Fishing also serves as an important bridge and top ‘gateway’ activity that leads participants to other outdoor passions.”

Chuck Leach qualified for the Trophy Club with this 10 pounder from Lake Lizzy, Osceola County.
FWC

So why not invite your family and friends on a fun fishing trip, right here in Florida – the Fishing Capital of the World (FishingCapital.com)? An annual resident fishing license is easy to obtain. Simply go to license.myfwc.com, call 888-Fish-Florida, or visit a local retailer that sells fishing tackle and licenses. A five-year freshwater fishing license makes an especially great gift. While you are purchasing the license, you will also have the opportunity to make a donation to the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network to help the FWC with “Creating the next generation that cares.”

An annual freshwater fishing license costs just $17, but because the average angler fishes 17 times a year (U.S. Census Bureau research) and enjoys four to five hours on a typical trip, the cost is less than a quarter per hour of fun and healthy recreation. When you purchase a license you are also providing a gift to nature and future generations of anglers and outdoor enthusiasts. For 75 years, the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program has guaranteed that all across the country fishing license fees are protected by law so that they can only be used within the state where they are sold for fish and wildlife conservation. Moreover, fees collected by the federal government on fishing tackle, pleasure boats and motor boat fuels provide additional funding for recreational fishing and conservation based on how many anglers buy fishing licenses in each state.

While putting a fishing-related gift pack together, you can find lots of information about fishing tips and gear at MyFWC.com/fishing and find fishing sites and up-to-date forecasts. One of the most fun tips is to have everyone register for Florida’s freshwater angler recognition programs, including TrophyCatch and Big Catch. Just for registering, people are eligible for a Phoenix 619 Pro bass boat and trailer, with a Mercury outboard and Motor Guide trolling motor. That drawing will be in October 2013.

Big Catch recognizes anglers with certificates and discounts for catching fish from any of 33 different freshwater species in Florida that simply exceed a specified length or weight. The program has reduced sizes for youth under 16 to help them get recognized for their developing prowess as anglers. For those seeking additional challenges, there are specialist (five Big Catches of the same species), master (five Big Catches of different species) and elite angler (10 Big Catches of different species) certificate levels. There are even black bass, bream and exotic slams for catching multiple species within a specific time frame.

Jackson releases a 9-pound lunker in a neighborhood pond in Osceola County.
FWC

However, for the hard core freshwater anglers who travel from all across the world to fish Florida’s fresh water, the penultimate catch is a trophy largemouth bass. The FWC and corporate partners are now rewarding anglers for reporting those fish and then releasing them to challenge another angler and keep the fishery thriving.

TrophyCatch includes three tiers to encourage reporting and live-releasing bass heavier than 8 pounds that are caught in Florida waters. Bass 8 to 9.9 pounds (Lunker Club) or those 10 to 12.9 pounds (Trophy Club) that are caught, documented and released can be reported online at TrophyCatchFlorida.com any time of the year. All that is required to qualify for prizes is a photo of the fish on a scale with the weight visible, and one on a tape measure or ruler showing the length. Bass heavier than 13 pounds that are caught between Oct. 1 and April 30 each year must be checked by FWC staff to enter them into the Hall of Fame Club.

The angler who enters the biggest bass of the year into TrophyCatch will earn a Super Bowl-like ring, from the American Outdoors Fund. If it is caught in Osceola County, the Kissimmee Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) will award the angler $10,000. In addition, if the angler is on a guided fishing trip, the guide will receive $2,500 from the CVB. This challenge is heating up with several great bass already reported from Osceola County. To keep informed, please “like” us at Facebook.com/TrophyCatchFlorida.

A "Go Fishing" bass tag is a great gift for any angler and supports conservation in Florida.
FWC

Another great gift for anglers that will help them boast about their sport while supporting the future of conservation is to buy a “Go Fishing” Largemouth Bass license plate, which can be displayed on vehicles or trailers. Simply go to Buyaplate.com, or a gift certificate may now be purchased at an authorized motor vehicle office.

Enjoy your holidays and a lifetime of active nature-based recreation: Get Outdoors Florida!

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South Florida <b>fishing</b> report

LAKE OKEECHOBEE

Bluegills were biting worms in and along the outside grass lines. Bass were biting soft-plastic topwater lures and worms.

EVERGLADES/FRESHWATER

Bass guide John Pate said the best bite has been in the canals along Alligator Alley by mile marker 41 and in the Miami Canal. He also caught bass and some peacock bass using small shiners in the Lake Ida-Lake Osborne chain.

SOUTH FLORIDA INSHORE

Snook up to 20 pounds were biting live bait at night at Government Cut.

SOUTH FLORIDA OFFSHORE

Capt. Ryan McBride, who fishes out of Hillsboro Inlet, reported good snapper fishing at night for yellowtails, muttons and mangroves. Lots of small dolphin were biting Thursday. Capt. Bouncer Smith, who fishes out of Government Cut, reported catches of kingfish up to 20 pounds in the afternoons and lots of bonitos all day long. Dolphin were caught in 1,000 feet on Thursday.

KEYS

Capt. Mike Weinhofer, of Key West, said tarpon were biting in the harbor and the backcountry. Permit were around rockpiles. Anglers were catching limits of groupers from the Marquesas to the Dry Tortugas. Red snappers were biting on the Gulf side.

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South Florida outdoors notebook

Outdoors notebook

Big marlin: A 1,286-pound blue marlin was caught this week in Bermuda by Capt. Karl Alvik. The blue had the 130-pound reel down to the knot, but Alvik was able to chase down the fish, the second largest ever caught in Bermuda.

Snook season: Snook season is closed statewide from June 1-Aug. 31. Visit myfwc.com/fishing.

Dolphin tournaments: Competition Tackle & Marine has its 16th annual Dolphin Round Up to benefit Hospice by the Sea June 1-30. Entry fee is $200 per boat for up to four anglers. Rules and entry forms are online at hbts.org or contact Barbara Ferguson at 954-581-4476.

Free fishing: On June 2 no saltwater fishing license is needed for recreational anglers to fish in Floirda. On June 9, no freshwater fishing license is needed. Visit myfwc.com.

Benefit tournament: Deliver the Dream, a South Florida-based nonprofit that organizes retreats for families experiencing a serious illness or crisis, has its second annual Fishing for the Dream tournament June 2. Eligible species are dolphin, kingfish, wahoo, cobia and tuna. Entry fee is $550 per boat for four anglers. The captains party is 6-8 p.m. June 1 at the Lighthouse Point Yacht and Racquet Club. Call 1-888-OUR DREAM.

Ladies Fish-Off: The 27th annual Ladies Fish-Off is June 2 out of the Alsdorf Boat Ramp Park in Pompano Beach. Only females can fish in the tournament, but males can serve as captains and mates. Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House and The Billfish Foundation. Late registration is June 1. Call Mike Leach at 954-351-8849 or visit ladiesfishoff.com.

KDW Classic: The Palm Beach County KDW Classic is June 2 out of Riviera Beach Marina. Entry fee is $275 per boat and proceeds benefit the marine conservation and educational initiatives conducted by the Palm Beach County Fishing Foundation, the West Palm Beach Fishing Club's charitable affiliate. Captains meeting is 6 p.m. June 1. Visit kdwclassic.com or call 561-832-6780.

Saltwater Slam: The Mercury/SeaVee Pompano Beach Saltwater Slam is June 9 out of Alsdorf Boat Ramp Park. Entry fee is $475 per boat. The kickoff party is 6-10 p.m. June 7 at the Pompano Beach Civic Center, 1801 NE 6th Street. Visit bluewatermovements.com or call 954-725-4010.

Bimini trip: George Poveromo, the host of "George Poveromo's World of Saltwater Fishing" on NBC Sports and Editor-at-Large for Salt Water Sportsman magazine, had the 15th annual Bimini Fishing Extravaganza June 13-17 out of the Bimini Sands Resort & Marina. Boats must be at least 23 feet. Visit georgepoveromo.com or call 954-755-6898.

Bass tournament: The Everglades Bassmasters have a One Largemouth Bass Open Tournament from safe light-noon on Father's Day, June 17, at Lake Ida. Entry fee is $20 per angler. Call Tony Crowder at 954-254-9072 or Brett Darmody at 561-212-0015.

Bass clinic: Ron Gallo has a seminar on fishing local canals for largemouth bass from 9-11 a.m. June 16 at the Wal-Mart at 5571 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Coconut Creek. Call 954-684-3636.

Bass tournament: A Night Owls bass tournament is 7 p.m.-2 a.m. June 22 out of Everglades Holiday Park. Call Luke Campbell at 954-599-2547.

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South Florida outdoors calendar

June 22: Night Owls bass tournament, 7 p.m.-2 a.m., out of Everglades Holiday Park. Call Luke Campbell at 954-599-2547.

July 12: Capt. Bouncer Smith seminar, "Snapper and Other Bottom Fish," 6:30-8 p.m., Dusky Sports Center, 110 N. Bryan Rd., Dania Beach. Cost $10, redeemable for merchandise. Call 954-922-8890.

June 1-Aug. 31: Snook season closed in Florida.

June 2: Saltwater recreational anglers can fish without a license.

June 2: 27th annual Ladies Fish-Off out of the Alsdorf Boat Ramp Park, Pompano Beach. Only females can fish in the tournament, but males can serve as captains and mates. Proceeds benefit the Ronald McDonald House and The Billfish Foundation. Late registration is Friday. Call Mike Leach at 954-351-8849 or visit ladiesfishoff.com.

June 2: Deliver the Dream, a South Florida-based nonprofit that organizes retreats for families experiencing a serious illness or crisis, has its second annual Fishing for the Dream tournament. Eligible species are dolphin, kingfish, wahoo, cobia and tuna. Entry fee is $550 per boat for four anglers. The captains party is 6-8 p.m. June 1 at the Lighthouse Point Yacht and Racquet Club. Call 1-888-OUR DREAM.

June 2: Palm Beach County KDW Classic out of Riviera Beach Marina. Entry fee $275 per boat. Proceeds benefit the marine conservation and educational initiatives conducted by the Palm Beach County Fishing Foundation, the West Palm Beach Fishing Club's charitable affiliate. Captains meeting is 6 p.m. June 1. Visit kdwclassic.com or call 561-832-6780.

June 9: Freshwater recreational anglers can fish without a license.

June 9: Mercury/SeaVee Pompano Beach Saltwater Slam out of Alsdorf Boat Ramp Park. Entry fee $475 per boat. Kickoff party is 6-10 p.m. June 7 at the Pompano Beach Civic Center, 1801 NE Sixth Street. Visit bluewatermovements.com or call 954-725-4010.

June 16: Ron Gallo seminar on fishing local canals for largemouth bass, 9-11 a.m., Wal-Mart, 5571 W. Hillsboro Blvd., Coconut Creek. Call 954-684-3636.

June 17: Everglades Bassmasters One Largemouth Bass Open Tournament, safe light-noon, Lake Ida. Entry fee $20 per angler. Call Tony Crowder at 954-254-9072 or Brett Darmody at 561-212-0015.

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Jeffrey L. Frischkorn: Moon-struck fishes put damper on Florida <b>fishing</b> trip

Published: Friday, May 11, 2012

By Jeffrey L. Frischkorn
JFrischkorn@News-Herald.com
@FieldKorn

MELBOURNE, Fla. — It would appear that even fishes can become moon struck.

At least those fishes that live in Florida's Indian River, which really isn't a river at all. Not in the sense of what we typically think about when it comes to such things as creeks, streams, tributaries and rivers.

The Indian River is a 121-mile-long knife blade of brackish water that has peeled away a slice of the east coast of Florida's mainland.

Scientific folk call it an "estuarine."

The Indian River's salinity typically goes up and down according to how much freshwater washes into the system.

And Indian River fishing guides like Terry Lamielle have to take the river's salinity into account when they prepare for a day on the water. Just as they do by assessing the phase status of the moon.

Alas, on May 5 not only was the moon full, it also was at its closest approach to Earth of the year. With a clear, moonlit sky, the Indian River's fishes no doubt had fed much of the night and likely weren't much in the mood for breakfast.

"It's been an epic year for sea trout fishing," Lamielle said. "But that full moon last night could have hurt things."

It had, too, with the first stop being void of sea trout activity.

The next angling port-of-call was at "Honest John's Canal," a mangrove-encrusted sea of small islands; the spawn made from the dregs of muck dredged up decades ago in order to construct Florida's share of the 3,000-mile-long Intercoastal Waterway. Continued...

This waterway is a trench gouged out of the shallow Indian River so vessels can navigate without running aground on mud flats.

"It's nice and quiet back here," Lamielle said in an almost church-like whisper. "Maybe the fishing's not as good as it once was, but it's still my favorite place to fish."

That favoritism goes back to the latter part of the 1960s, when Lamielle's parents uprooted him from their Canton home and transplanted him to east-central Florida.

"This is where I became a fishing guide," Lamielle gushed as the fishing boat entered the labyrinth of small but heavily forested islands.

Lamielle handed off a spinning outfit rigged with braided line, a stout leader of monofiliment and properly saddled with a wooden top-water bait similar in appearance to a Heddon Torpedo.

For my father-in-law, Lamille pressed into service another spinning outfit and one equipped with a banana-shaped jig body and a soft plastic imitation shrimp.

The object, Lamielle said, was to cast the baits as close as possible to the snag of mangrove roots. The roots of one tree interlock with those of another to produce a chain-link fence of wood into which bait fish flee for security.

Also occupying space within the mangrove root system are snook, sea trout, flounder and even tarpon, which use the web from which to launch their attacks.

After an hour of rifling my top-water popping plug toward the edge of the mangroves, I had not attracted even so much as a follow from a fish.

Meanwhile, my father-in-law had enticed a small skillet-size flounder to strike. That fish was lost just as Lamielle leaned over the boat's gunwale to hoist aboard the fish. Continued...

Swapping out the top-water lure for a shrimp-jig combination of my own, I rebooted my casting toward the mangroves.

As Lamielle coaxed his fishing platform through the integrate network of islands we would cast to the most promising points of angling interest. Pointing toward one overhanging tree Lamielle instructed me to cast my artificial lure to near the base of the mangrove tree. A few short jerks of the rod allowed the imitation shrimp to bounce life-like along the Indian River's mucky bottom.

In short order, I felt a not-so-timid response from a fish that made a good account of itself. All in spite of the fact that it was so flattened as to lead one to believe it was road kill.

It wasn't, of course. Instead it was a flounder, an oval-shaped, dark-colored fish with its two bug-eyes resting above.

However, that was the final fish of the morning. In spite of several more stops within the maze of mangrove islands we could find no more willing biters.

By late morning, the peppery-hot Florida sun had squelched the angling. Our fishing day was at an end.

I surely would have liked to have caught some legal-sized sea trout. I understand that when prepared properly that sea trout make for exceptional eating.

Maybe, but I will say this, Atlantic flounder isn't bad either. On that score I can now speak with both experience and authority.

For information about fishing with Lamielle, contact him at zaracrazy@aol.com, or call him at 321-725-7255 or 321-537-5347. The web site for his "Easy Days" guide service is at http://www.landbigfish.com.

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