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Porcupine fish.

FWC Updates: June 2015

National Fishing and Boating Week, a national celebration of fishing and boating, take places the first week of June ever year. This year it’s June 6-14, 2015. It highlights the importance of recreational boating and fishing in enhancing peoples’ quality of life and preserving our country’s natural beauty.

Florida’s ocean and coastal future begins today

We must take action for the future of Florida’s ocean and coastal environments. Here are 8 things we MUST DO NOW: (1) Florida must stop all discharges of polluting freshwater from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie River Estuary, Indian River Lagoon and Caloosahatchee River Estuary. These discharges cause lesions on fish, kill oyster reefs and seagrass habitat, cause diseases on sea turtles and bottlenose dolphin and bring harmful toxic algal blooms to the estuaries causing the Health Department to post warnings for “No Human Contact” to our coastal waters!
indian river

Indian River Lagoon Downward Spiral of Grass Loss

I’ll start off by saying that I hope everyone had an awesome 2014 full of tight lines and bent rods. I am hoping 2015 will be a repeat and hopefully better.
Manatee

Springtime Brings Close Encounters With Manatees

As springtime arrives, chances increase that manatees and boaters will have close encounters. Boaters can enjoy opportunities to observe one …

Florida’s stone crab season closes May 16, 2015

The commercial and recreational harvest of stone crab claws in Florida closes on May 16, with the last day of harvest on May 15. Stone crab season will reopen on Oct. 15. This 5-month closure occurs each year during the species’ peak spawning season to help conserve and sustain Florida’s valuable stone crab resource.

Bonefish and Tarpon Trust calls for petition signatures in support of two proposed Bahamian National Parks

Proposals to create National Parks for habitat protection for Grand Bahama Island and Abaco are now on the desk of the Prime Minister of the Bahamas. BTT asks you to support the efforts of our Bahamas collaborators – Bahamas National Trust, Friends of the Environment, Abaco Fly Fishing Guides Association, and the lodges and fishing guides on these islands – by making your voice heard.

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Sarasota Police Officer Leaps into Action to Stop Unmanned Boat in Dramatic Rescue

The unmanned boat was cruising in circles up to 40 mph off the Gulf Coast in Sarasota.

Dropping a GoPro Under the World’s Most Dangerous Fishing Pier

The Okaloosa Island Fishing Pier in Florida is often referred to as the "world's most dangerous pier" due to the high concentration of tiger sharks and other marine life in the area. A video posted on YouTube by Brant Peacher showed a massive tiger shark and "endless amounts of giant sharks" near the pier.  

Build a Bombproof Grouper Rig

Folks are ramping up for grouper season. If you’re not geared up and properly prepared, you might be one of the many people at the dock talking about the one that got away. Here are some tips that work well when grouper are the target.