By RODNEY PAGE, Times Staff Writer
Published November 18, 2005
CHECK IT OUT
LIGHTHOUSE: Tampa Bay Watch will dedicate its Marine and Education Center tonight by lighting its lighthouse, located in Tierra Verde near the entrance of Fort De Soto Park. The 70-foot lighthouse is said to be the first new lighthouse in Florida in nearly 75 years. Tampa Bay Watch, a nonprofit organization that conducts studies of Tampa Bay, relocated from St. Petersburg to Tierra Verde in 2003. There will be an official opening of the facility at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 3, and the public is invited to tour the facility and learn more about the organization.
FROGS AND SUCH
HERPETOLOGY: Don't know what it is? Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians, and Boyd Hill Nature Park in St. Petersburg is offering a three-day class for children ages 7-11 on Monday through Wednesday. The class allows children to handle nonvenomous snakes, watch gopher tortoises along the trails and look for alligators on the boardwalks. There will also be classroom session with hands-on activities. The classes run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Call (727) 893-7326.
FISHING
KINGFISH EVENTS: There are a couple of local kingfish tournaments the next two weeks. Saturday there is the "Weigh Too Much Fun" tournament off Tierra Verde hosted by the Golden Triangle Fishing Club. There is a captain's meeting tonight, and Saturday's weigh-in will be at Billy's Stonecrab and Seafood Restaurant in Tierra Verde. Call (813) 985-6155 for information. The restaurant also hosts the annual Thanksgiving Kingfish and Spanish Mackerel Shootout on Nov. 26. The captain's meeting will be at 6 p.m. Friday. Call (727) 542-3900.
KAYAK FISHING: The Extreme Edge Kayak Fishing Tour national final will be held in St. Petersburg on Dec. 2-3. The event takes place off St. Pete Beach. The first-place prize for an inshore slam (trout, redfish and snook) is $1,000. The event promises to draw some of the top kayak anglers from around the country. See extremeedgefishing.com.
HUNTING
REMINDER: Saturday marks the opening of the first phase of waterfowl and coot season. The first phase runs until Nov. 27. The second phase is Dec. 10-Jan. 29. Canvasback season also opens Saturday for the first phase and ends Nov. 27. The second phase is Dec. 10-30. The daily bag limit for waterfowl is six, the limit for coot is 15. Go to www.myfwc.com/hunting for complete regulations.
