No Oil And Good Scalloping, Steinhatchee Is Still Paradise
I know it’s been a while since I submitted a report. I have been busy, Thank the Lord!
So far we have been spared the oil impact. This is the busiest time of year for our community. Everyone, business or individual, are dependent on a successful scallop season, directly or indirectly.
While snorkeling with my customers and picking up our limit of scallops, enjoying crystal clear water, I could only imagine what our little piece of paradise would look like if the oil had came ashore a month ago.
At this writing the latest report is that the cap is holding. We will continue to pray it does hold, and also for the people who continue to work on the well and the folks trying clean up the mess.
Scalloping is what brings most folks to Steinhatchee in the summer. We have plenty, mainly to the north, towards Keaton Beach. The water visibility remains best in that area as well. We have had a lot of rain this year. Areas of the coast where there are many creeks dumping rain water tend to have less clear water. It doesn’t mean there are no scallops, but you need to be able to see them.
Speckled Trout fishing is most dependable on deep flats. High tide in the morning is the condition you need to catch trout shallow. Redfish can be caught in the usual places, but they don’t seem to be very aggressive. So slow down your presentation, or gulps or cutbait.
Come see us, the water is fine!
GOD Bless and Good Fishing
Captain STEVE KROLL
This Steinhatchee Fishing Report is from Steinhatchee Fishing Guide Captain Steve Kroll
Captain Steve Going Artsy Again ...
It's all smiles when the cooler is full of Scallops
Nice, Nice & Nice Steinhatchee Redfish
Big Bend Fishing Is Alive And Well!
Instead of “How’s the fishing?”, the first thing most people have inquired about over the last few months has been the disaster in the Gulf, and rightfully so.
It’s hard to turn on the TV or pick up a paper without being reminded of what’s going on, what’s being done about it, and of course, who’s to blame.
Meanwhile, we’ve been experiencing one of the best summer time bites in recent history.
Although the near shore (Redfish) bite has been slow due to high water temps, we’ve had no problem getting our limit of Cobia, Trout, and a variety of non-targeted species a little further out.
The outer markers of the barge canal off the Citrus County coast has produced good numbers, and is an excellent place to troll for Grouper on those hot summer days.
Scallop season is open and I’ve heard reports of good numbers off the Gomez Rocks area near Homossasa.
Yes, fishing on the Nature Coast/Big Bend region is alive and well. “Till next time, see you out there!
Remember, God Loves A Fisherman
Good Luck
Captain Nick
This Yankee Town, Florida Fishing Report is from Yankeetown Florida Fishing Guide Captain Nick
Hey Gulf Lovers, We Are All Fine Here In Steinhatchee
Sure we’re concerned about oil messing up our paradise. We are preparing for the worst and hoping and praying for the best.
Looking at the closure map, the closest oil is more than 150 miles away.
The Governor opened Scallop season 12 days early, Thanks to Pam Wessels (Chairman of our Chamber of Commerce Board), she wrote a letter to Gov. Christ and the Taylor County Board of Commissioners.
In the meantime, we’re fishing and scalloping. And booking more trips. My scallop calender is not where it should be for this time year. I know that many folks are taking a wait and see position, or planning vacations elsewhere. I certainly understand, but I would like to let everyone I speak to know that we’re here, and the water’s fine and the fish and scallops are fine too.
Ann, myself and family picked up 7 gals Sunday after Church and they shucked out a heavy 4 lbs of meat.
Speckled Trout and Redfish have been in their normal summertime patterns.
The Trout bite has been best deep, 6-12 feet.
Redfish bite has been best early, in the usual places, also on morning high tides when access is best and water is at it’s lowest of the day.
Thanks For Checking In, Pray For Our Coast If You Will.
God Bless and Good Fishing & Scalloping
Captain STEVE KROLL
This Steinhatchee Fishing Report is from Steinhatchee Fishing Guide Captain Steve Kroll
Steinhatchee Reds Make Everyone Smile
Dan & Mark With A Nice bag of Steinhatchee, Florida Scallops
Governor Announces Free Fishing Weekend
Governor Crist announces free fishing weekend in honor of Father’s Day
Even though you don’t need a license you do need to know the laws saltwater fishing regs.
Sorry, this is for salties and salty daddies only. Fresh people and fresh dads still need cash on the barrel head (to buy a license).
SJ
Scallop Season To Open 12 days Early!
What a Great Florida Big Bend Fishing Report!
From The Governor’s Website
The Gainesville Sun
From The FWC
For immediate release: June 11, 2010
Contact: Governor’s Press Office, 850-488-5394
Lee Schlesinger (FWC), 850-487-0554
Bay scallop season to open 12 days early this year
Gov. Charlie Crist has announced that the recreational harvest season for bay scallops in Florida will open 12 days earlier than usual this year. The governor is taking this action to help relieve possible economic hardships on Florida fishing communities that may occur due to the BP Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
Several people and businesses in Northwest Florida and Big Bend coastal regions asked us to please open the popular bay scallop season early this year, Gov. Crist said. These folks depend upon the influx of visitors that come to their communities to scallop each summer, and they need a boost right now to help them recover from the mistaken perception that fishing throughout Florida has been affected by the oil spill, which is not the case.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has issued an order which states that the recreational bay scallop harvest season in specified areas in Florida shall open on June 19 instead of July 1 this year. The order also says that all other provisions governing the harvest of bay scallops shall remain in effect for the duration of the order.
The FWC order, which can be viewed online at MyFWC.com/OilSpill, takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on June 19 and will expire at 12:01 a.m. on July 1. The regular recreational bay scallop harvesting season in Florida occurs from July 1 through September 10 each year.
Gov. Crist’s decision to open scallop season a little early this year will give Florida residents and visitors a chance to enjoy a terrific family experience outdoors, said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto. It’s the right thing to do for these fishing communities and further illustrates that Florida is the fishing capital of the world.
Open scalloping areas on Florida’s Gulf coast extend from the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County to the Pasco-Hernando county line near Aripeka. It is legal to take bay scallops only within the allowable harvest areas, and it is illegal to possess bay scallops while you’re in or on state waters outside the open harvest areas, or to land bay scallops outside the open areas.
There is a daily limit of 2 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or 1 pint of bay scallop meat per person during the open season. In addition, no more than 10 gallons of whole bay scallops in the shell or one-half gallon of bay scallop meat may be possessed aboard any vessel at any time. Scallopers are allowed to harvest bay scallops only by hand or with a landing or dip net, and bay scallops may not be harvested for commercial purposes.
Unless otherwise exempt, scallopers will need a regular Florida saltwater fishing license when using a boat to harvest scallops. Those who wade from shore will need a regular Florida saltwater fishing license or a resident shore-based license, which is free beginning on July 1.
Divers and snorkelers are required to display a divers-down flag (red with a white diagonal stripe) while in the water. Boaters must stay at least 100 feet away from a divers-down flag in a river, inlet or channel. In open waters, boaters must stay 300 feet away from a divers-down flag.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission encourages everyone to adhere to scallop fishing regulations and collect only the amount of bay scallops they are willing to clean.
More information on bay scallops, including management rules, dive flag regulations and boating safety is available online at MyFWC.com/Rules; click on Fishing – Saltwater.
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LS/DMF
