Outdoors

Going outdoors

By RODNEY PAGE
Published March 24, 2006

HORSESHOE CRABS: Biologists at the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Fish and Wildlife Research Institute are hoping to get help from the public in identifying beaches where horseshoe crabs are spawning. The best time to find spawning horseshoe crabs is around a high tide, just before or after a full moon. Those who do find horseshoe crabs are urged to e-mail the information to http://research.myfwc.com/horseshoe_crab/ or call toll-free 1-866-252-9326. Biologists also want to know how many horseshoe crabs are counted and whether they are spawning. Researchers said horseshoe crab harvests are too high in some states. To manage the species more effectively, the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission requires all Atlantic coastal states to identify horseshoe crab spawning beaches.

T.V. JOHN TOURNAMENT: The Old Salts Fishing Club T.V. John Trolling Tournament, one of the first big spring tournaments of the season, was March 18 in Madeira Beach. Patrick Hession won the master angler award for his 8.24-pound grouper, 1.76-pound Spanish mackerel and 7.12-pound bonita. Ed Stone won the grouper division with a 9.04-pounder, Mark Goodwin was the king mackerel winner with a 12.42-pounder and Frank Lux caught a 3.46-pound Spanish mackerel to win that category.

RANDY KEYS TOURNAMENT: One of the bigger area kingfish tournaments, the Randy Keys Kingfish Classic, is April 1 in Tierra Verde. A captains meeting is scheduled from 6-9 p.m. March 31 at Billy's Stonecrab restaurant. There is a $100 entry per boat. Weigh-in is 3-4 p.m. Saturday. For information, call (727) 542-3900.

COOL SPRING BREAK CAMPS: Looking for something fun to do outdoors? How about the spring break camps offered by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium. The camps are for kindergarteners through sixth-graders and meet from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Each day has a different theme. First, there is shark camp followed by dolphins (Tuesday), sea turtles (Wednesday), otter (Thursday) and wildlife (Friday). Each camp includes a boat trip to the islands of Clearwater Bay and St. Joseph Sound. Each day is $55 for members and $70 for nonmembers. Call (727) 441-1790, ext. 231, for information.

BOAT SHOW: The Florida Sportsman Fishing and Boat Show is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at the Sarasota Bradenton Convention Center. The show has seminars, demonstrations, fishing boats and a tackle sale. Admission is $7 for adults; children 12 and under with a parent are free. The hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday.

LOBSTER SEASON: Spiny lobster season closes in Florida on April 1 and remains so until Aug. 5, except for sport season, which is July 26-27.

[Last modified March 24, 2006, 02:15:43]