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Tenoroc: Then and now
By MIKE SCARANTINO The last time I saw the entrance to Tenoroc Fish Management Area was in late 1993 or early '94. I was involved with some Coastal Conservation Association volunteers who were leading a large group of children on a day of fishing. Tenoroc was in its infancy back then, covering only 6,000 acres. Today, it encompasses 7,300-plus acres of prime habitats. The area's management team is headed by project leader and biological scientist Danon Moxley. He came to the property in 1992 when it had only two full-time employees, one part-timer and no budget. "The place was in gross disrepair when I came along," Moxley said. "The roads, lakes and few facilities were so overgrown and unsafe they were deemed unusable by the public, and the difficult work commenced." Some roadway repair projects took more than a year to improve. Located 2 miles northeast of Lakeland, Tenoroc Fish Management Area began as part of the Coronet Mining Company. It mined phosphate there until the mid 1970s when Borden Milk acquired the land. In 1982, Borden Inc. gave the property to the state as a gift. Remaining were more than 1,000 acres of phosphate pits, many of which support outstanding largemouth bass and panfish populations. "The last 10 years has been very productive at Tenoroc," Moxley said. "We've opened four new lakes. There are two more ready for opening at this time, and the expansion has allowed us to offer our visitors high quality recreational angling opportunities," he said. Anglers are not the only people interested in Tenoroc. Recreational experiences exist for hikers, equestrians and shooting-sports enthusiasts, though freshwater fisheries account for 98 percent of the usage. Those with boats will find the location's lakes free of high traffic. The number of anglers is regulated on each body of water to control the fishing pressure.. Bank fishing is productive, and some lakes provide 39-plus miles of shoreline. Then there are the facilities for children and the handicapped. Keith Jackson of Lakeland is a regular at the property. "Last season, I caught and released over 30 bass in excess of 8 pounds," Jackson said. "My largest fish ever was 12 pounds, 10 ounces and measured 29 inches. I caught that fish three years ago." Other anglers like to chase the crappie bass and panfish. "Our main focus is to maintain a quality fishing experience," Moxley said. "One lady angler caught over 60 bass in a single day's fishing. We maintain that level of quality through strict management combined with catch-and-release practices." The visitors are allowed to keep fish. A bass angler may have per day two catches measuring less than 15 inches. Fish exceeding that limit must be returned to the water. Speckled perch anglers can take home up to 10 fish per outing if they are less than 10 inches. "Last year, over 15,000 fishing trips were taken due to the fruits of a decade's hard work," Moxley said. "Now those visitors may be in for a dramatic change in Tenoroc's future." State-proposed budget cuts could eliminate the $309,000 needed to keep the management area afloat. "The affect to this fishery could be devastating," Moxley said. "Over the last 10 years, Tenoroc has served as more than just a fishing destination," he said. "It has been the subject of many progressive research strategies and management techniques. That data has served the angling public well." In the beginning, research concentrated on restrictive regulations to reduce harvests. "As angling populations swell and modern techniques increase effective fishing efforts, we are constantly challenged to find the ways to meet those needs, conditions and expectations," Moxley said. "As studies progressed, a variety of bag limitations were evaluated. We kept tweaking science, looking for the best results. We believe we're producing the experiences anglers are searching for." -- If you have a question or comment, call Capt. Mike Scarantino, (352) 683-4868.
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • St. Petersburg Times
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