ST. PETERSBURG - A friend called recently with some exciting news.
"I saw a parrotfish," he said. "Not once, but twice.
This reef dweller is a common sight in the Florida Keys, where they feed on hard corals that attract millions of scuba divers each year.
"What's the big deal," I said. "I've seen dozens of parrotfish over the years."
But I had spoken too soon.
"No, not in the Keys," he said. "Here."
Parrotfish in 55 feet of water off St. Pete Beach? Yes, and dozens of other tropicals can be found in local waters. All you have to do is take time to stop and look.
"People have no idea what you can see out there," said Bill Hardman, whose dive shop, Aquatic Obsessions, will sponsor a trip offshore as part of next weekend's Great American Annual Fish Count. "I am constantly amazed at the variety of marine life we have here just a few miles offshore."
The fish count, sponsored by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation, mobilizes and trains volunteer snorkelers and scuba divers to document fish diversity and population trends in marine sanctuaries and other coastal areas.
The event, which takes place every July, is designed to get snorkelers and divers thinking about marine conservation year round.
The first visual census of fish populations was in 1992 in California's Channel Islands National Park. The event was modeled after the National Audubon Society's Christmas Bird Count.
The fish count has experienced great success in the Keys but has been slow going on Florida's west coast. Aquatic Obsessions is one off the few dive shops in the Tampa Bay area that heads offshore to count fish Saturday.
"We put everybody through a free fish identification course," Hardman said. "It has turned out to be extremely popular. All of our spots have been full for weeks."
LOBSTER SEASON: Scuba divers throughout the state will fill their tanks and check their gear in anticipation of the lobster miniseason.
This year the lobster sport season is July 30-31. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has implemented several changes, so check these rules:
The bag limits are six per person per day for Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, and 12 per person per day for the rest of Florida.
The possession limit on the water is equal to the daily bag limit and off the water is equal to the daily bag limit on the first day, double the daily bag limit on the second day. Possession limits are enforced on and off the water. Spiny lobster has a minimum size limit that must be larger than 3-inch carapace, measured in the water.
A reminder that use of a measuring device is required, and night diving is prohibited in Monroe County in the sport season.
A recreational saltwater license and a crawfish permit are required.
Regular spiny lobster season is Aug. 6 through March 31. The bag limit is six per person per day.
John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park is off limits to lobster diving during the sport season. Taking lobsters also is prohibited during both the two-day sport season and regular season in Everglades National Park, Dry Tortugas National Park and no-take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
Call 305 743-2437 or visit www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov for information about no-take areas in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
