Environment

N. Florida Spotted Seatrout Season Reopens March 1

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff
Friday, February 25th, 2011, 4:30pm

The recreational harvest season for spotted seatrout in northern Florida reopens on March 1.  This means all Florida waters will be open to the sport harvest of spotted seatrout beginning in March.

Spotted seatrout harvest is prohibited in February in Atlantic Ocean waters north of the Flagler-Volusia county line to the Florida-Georgia border and in Gulf of Mexico waters north of a line running due west from the westernmost point of Fred Howard Park Causeway, which is about 1.17 miles south of the Pinellas/Pasco county line, to the Florida-Alabama border.  This one-month closure helps maintain spotted seatrout abundance.

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FWC Proposes Catch-and-Release Only for Bonefish

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff
Thursday, February 24th, 2011, 1:04pm

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed draft rules on Wednesday that would allow only catch-and-release fishing for bonefish, a premier saltwater game fish in Florida.  The proposed rules would also establish new provisions regarding the possession of bonefish by anglers and the possession and transport of bonefish during bonefish fishing tournaments.

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FWC Proposes Increase to Red Drum Bag Limit in Northern Florida

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff
Wednesday, February 23rd, 2011, 4:22pm

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) on Wednesday proposed a draft rule that would raise the recreational daily red drum bag limit from one fish to two per person in northern Florida.  In addition, the FWC is proposing to create three regional management areas for red drum and establish a statewide eight-fish red drum daily vessel limit.  The Commission also intends to develop ways to modify the red drum off-the-water possession limit.

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Hogans Creek Activists Plan More Cleanups

Submitted by Daniel Blanchard, Springfield Resident
Friday, February 18th, 2011, 7:18pm
Hogans Creek Activists Plan More Cleanups

Hogans Creek, the downtown creek that served as a natural fire break during the great fire of 1901, and later as the centerpiece of an elegant central park designed and built by famed Jacksonville Architect Henry Klutho, has been regaining people’s attention in recent years. Running from Shands Medical Campus, near 8th and Boulevard, through Historic Springfield, Confederate Park, the Cathedral District, and the Stadium District, empties into the St Johns River near the Maxwell House plant on Bay Street.

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Hogans Creek Gains an Advocate

Submitted by Daniel Blanchard, Springfield Resident
Friday, February 11th, 2011, 9:29am
Hogans Creek Gains an Advocate

On Saturday morning at 9am, longtime Downtown, and St Johns river advocate John Noone will be participating in a Hogans Creek Clean up. This clean up will focus on parts of the creek that are east and south of Washington Street. The effort will begin where Beaver Street ends into Hogans creek, at an area that many are now calling Noones landing. 

Mr Noone believes that Hogans creek has a lot of potential as a recreational navigable waterway. Over the last few months, he has been taking dozens of people, including many running in the upcoming city elections, for boat tours of the creek, illustrating the creeks value to a larger downtown plan. 

On a recent Metrojacksonville.com forum posting, Mr Noone said "Hogans Creek launch is an urban waterway that can provide immediate community benefits within the Downtown core. Now!"

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Eco-Safari Themed Charity Event to Benefit North Florida Land Trust

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff
Wednesday, February 9th, 2011, 11:18am
Eco-Safari Themed Charity Event to Benefit North Florida Land Trust

The North Florida Land Trust, dedicated to preserving land for conservation in seven counties, will hold a memorable charity event on Saturday, March 19, 2011 at 7 p.m. at the J.Johnson Gallery, 177 4th Ave. in Jacksonville Beach Fla.

The Eco-Safari themed evening will feature a live auction for an African Safari for two and other great prizes. Catering by Liz Grenamyer, a full bar, silent auction, live music and lots of fun and surprises all for a great cause.

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How Many Birds Can You Count?

Submitted by Rachel Leitao, First Coast News Staff
Tuesday, February 8th, 2011, 7:12am

Chilly weather throughout Florida has kept residents inside and close to their heaters, under blankets and in their sweats, long sleeves and socks during December and January. However, spring is just around the corner and there is wildlife to discover in your backyard!

Get your binoculars ready, because starting Feb. 18, the largest bird count in North America begins. The Great Backyard Bird Count, which runs through Feb. 21, is a wonderful chance to add to your Bird Detective checklist and help scientists monitor birds across America. If you do not have a checklist, download it from MyFWC.com/Learning. In the left-hand menu, click “Fun Stuff.” From there, look on the right side of the page under “Educator Links” for “Jr. Birder Program.”

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