Ask the experts

By Times staff writer

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 23, 2000

I picked up copies of freshwater and saltwater regulations at the tag office. The saltwater issue is very clear but the freshwater regulations require a Philadelphia lawyer to interpret them. Would it be possible to have a condensed version for your circulation area? Some places say three-bass limit and others say five ... all different regulations for different lakes. It's confusing. Lee Gendron, Clearwater

Sorry, Lee, the freshwater regulations are confusing.

Unless otherwise posted, anglers may keep five bass, only one of which may be longer than 22 inches. In south Florida, only one bass may be 14 inches or longer. In the Suwannee River (and areas north and west) bass less than 12 inches must be released.

But then, of course, there are special regulations for the the St. Mary's River, Lake Talquin, Ocala National Forest, the St. John's River, etc.

Confused? We are, too. That is why you should get a copy of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's 1999-2000 Freshwater Sport Fishing Regulations from your local tax collector's office and stick it in your tackle box.

I have noticed that the water temperature that appears in the paper says Egmont Key, but it is often different from other areas, such as up here in Dunedin where we live. Nancy Eggert, Dunedin

"There are several factors that can affect water temperature," explains Gene Shinn with the United States Geological Service in St. Petersburg. "Tide, current and water depth all play a role."

Shallow water heats and cools more quickly than deep water. So the water in the grass flats off Honeymoon Island will be a lot warmer than the deeper water off Egmont Key.

"Deep water is pretty stable," Shinn said. "The tide can bring in cooler or warmer water, depending on the season. The weather can also influence temperature. Wind creates waves and waves churn up the water, which will change the temperature."

Do fish die when lightning strikes water? Dave Timberlake, Clearwater

"Fish may die but who is there to see it?" said Walt Zaleski, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Ruskin. "We often get reports from fishermen who see fish floating after a lightning strike, but the fish aren't necessarily dead. They might just be stunned."

- If you have a question on anything from sheepshead to flyline tippets, send it to Ask the Experts, Times Outdoors, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or send an e-mail to tomalin@sptimes.com. Please include your full name and address.

© St. Petersburg Times. All rights reserved.

Headlines

Americans Lose in 1st Round of Davis Cup

---