September is typically peak season for our breeding redfish and I’d like to take this opportunity to voice an opinion or two on this topic. The opinions expressed here are mine and mine alone and are in no way to be considered the opinion of this fine publication or those who produce it!
The non-tidal zones of the north Indian River lagoon and south Mosquito Lagoon are unique from the rest of each body of water’s remaining areas. While the ocean levels certainly dictate the non-tidal zones basic water levels this area does not experience a predictable rise and fall associated with the tidal zones both north and south of us.
Measurable tidal movement virtually stops south of Georges Bank in the Mosquito Lagoon and north of Grant in the Indian River. This is huge area of saltwater which lives (or dies) by slightly different factors than areas where ocean water regularly flush in and out of the lagoons.
While much has been touted in recent years about the poor water quality especially in the non-tidal regions it’s also true our area’s uniqueness offers at least one extraordinary benefit. Our local waters retain a high enough concentration of salt to allow our redfish to successfully spawn in the lagoon. Our redfish are born here, live here and die here; most of them we believe never seeing the ocean.
I believe our local redfish deserve a sub-classification and a status differing from the ocean living redfish stocks. The redfish’s typical range is from the Carolinas through the Gulf of Mexico. These fish tend to migrate back and forth seasonally in both the Gulf and south Atlantic seaboards. I suspect there may be an overlap of these stocks in Florida’s southern area.
To me it seems important that we protect our unique redfish fishery, though by protect it I do not mean abstain from using it. I’m all for catching a big redfish, acquiring the photo and taking the necessary measures to return it safely to the water. What I’m not in favor of is the attitude that it make one a better guide or a better angler because one caught fifteen trophy fish in a single outing.
As a guide I am less busy during the breeding season than many of the other local captains. I suspect it’s because I tell my perspective clients wanting the trophy redfish experience that I allow only two fish boated per angler then we move on to other things. I do not believe it to be in the best interest of our fishery for dozens of boats to be chasing hundreds of fish from sunup to sundown every day during the spawn.
Is it time to regulate the targeting of these fish during this time frame? I’m not for it; we have too many silly regulations already. I would like people to simply take a long hard look at why it’s so important to see how many trophy redfish they can boat in the few hours they’ve set aside to enjoy a “sport” they claim to love… OK, I’ll jump off the soapbox now; let the flogging begin!
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