Biology on the Bay: Mangroves

Tamp Bay Mangroves and their Biology!
© 2009-2012 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™
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Biology on the Bay: Mangroves

While goofing around this weekend with Bubby and his pal Ethan, we pulled into one of the many parks that dot the Tampa Bay coastline. Unknown to many even a few miles inland, these parks often offer easy access to the bay for small boat enthusiasts, wade fishing, and in many cases offer picnic areas and scenic walks.



As the boys wandered around, I meandered over to the seawall and looked over the edge. Along with the accumulated trash and seaweed, I saw several mangrove pods, many with sprouted leaves. That’s when I got an idea. "Biology on the Bay," will be an occasional series touching on the different flora and fauna of the Tampa Bay region.

Image Credit: Edgley Cesar

There are four different types of mangroves that inhabit the Tampa Bay estuaries: Red Mangrove, Black Mangrove, White Mangrove and the Buttonwood.

Image Credit: TeeJe
Living closest to the water, the Red Mangrove is the most common of the mangroves and the one that drops the pods that you frequently see floating by when you are fishing. Given the opportunity, a mangrove pod that gets washed up on a shoreline, or gets caught between reef rocks, will throw out roots that will quickly support it. As it grows, the Red Mangrove will produce a maze of aerial roots that prop it in place, and provide structure for all the denizens of the shallow waters. Oysters, sponges, and many types of invertebrates take refuge within the curved and intersected confines of the root system, as well as the juvenile of any number of fish. Along with the grass beds, this is the nursery of much of the Gulf Coast’s fish. 75% of all game fish, and 90% of all commercial fish use the mangrove systems for rearing their young and depend on it.

Image: Angie Chestnut

Black Mangrove Breathing Tubes

The Black Mangrove’s roots are actually an underground network of roots. Inhabiting the area nearest high tide, the Black Mangrove can be identified by the breathing tubes that pierce the tidal flats around the trees. As the Black Mangrove grows, the roots expand, putting up new breathing tubes, and as new seeds drop and germinate, they eventually growing into groves of substantial trees. The Black Mangrove though, is fighting a loosing battle against invasive species such as the Brazilian Pepper Tree, a particularly noxious and difficult to eradicate pest that can withstand brackish conditions.

The White Mangrove grows furthest inland along with the Buttonwood. Both have a more conventional root system. They can be identified from the other species by the shape of the leaves. These are the last to colonize an area, and are on the inside fringe of the mangrove community.

The three types of mangrove work jointly to stabilize shorelines throughout their range.

The ecology of the mangrove forests is fascinating. If you were to take a single sprout, plant it, and observe it over years, you would find that by itself, it would have the capability of creating not only its own ecosystem, but in essence bring life to a seemingly barren location.

Image: Eric Vichich

When a mangrove pod takes root, it very quickly stabilizes the adjacent areas. As it grows, the aerial roots that it produces create a tangle that hold debris and detritus that gets caught up in them. As the mangrove accumulates materials, it becomes colonized by any number of invertebrates. These in turn attract other creatures. The falling leaves decompose, are consumed by these tiny creatures, and become the first link in the food chain of the bay. Soon other pods are caught up in the outlying roots of the initial mangrove and a new tree begins to grow, expanding the process.

Over time, as the accumulation increases and the number of animals upon the mangrove expands, the mangrove mangals take on the characteristics of an island. Birds nest in the canopy, carry seeds, nesting material, and leave behind plenty of droppings. Storms bring more debris that gets caught up in the ever expanding ring of aerial roots. Over decades and centuries islands are formed.

Image Credit:expatkitchen

High Tide at a Black Mangrove Mangle

Mangroves create barriers that prevent erosion from both wind and water. The interconnected root systems breakup and diffuse the energy of tidal flows and storms, preventing soil, silt, and sand from getting washed away. The oysters and sponges that inhabit the system help filter runoff and do their part in keeping the Tampa Bay Estuary in its great condition.

Next time you are out on the Florida coastlines, take a closer look at the mangroves. Not only are they an interesting part of the landscape with their interesting roots and salt encrusted leaves, but they are an integral part of the life cycle of Tampa Bay.


Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member: Lakewood Ranch Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)

The Hunt Continues...

Great Young Florida Hunters and Hunting

Fellow Florida Hunters and Fishermen!
© 2009-2011 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5. trochronicles.blogspot.com
Photo Credits: "Buck" Bevillee
I had the opportunity to run into a couple of young Florida hunters recently. Both are very accomplished deer and turkey hunters here in Florida.


"Buck" Beville was kind enough to forward me a few pictures of some of the game he has taken.

To the left is a nine pointer that Buck took when he was a very young fellow. That's a deer anyone would be proud to take!

Below is a very nice 8 point he recently took.

A great archery Oceola Tom Turkey!

Nice Boar! Note the cutters.

As I meet more Florida Sportsmen, I'll be sharing their stories and successes with you. I might add that it was my pleasure to meet both these young men, and with good fellows like these as our next generation of hunters, we are definitely heading in the right direction.


Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member:  Skull Mountain Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...

Other Stories of Interest:
Best Boar Hunting Rifle Calibers: Part I

RV Florida! Historic Forts and Fishing!

© 2011 Albert A Rasch, Joe Laing, and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™

Fishing Florida's Historic Forts: An RV Itinerary

Try as we may, we can't all raise families who share our obsessions. Fortunately, for the fisherman who can't bear a day away from the water (but whose spouse or kids might favor other pursuits), Florida doesn't require much of a compromise for anglers. Down here, it's easy to balance a vacation between water time and family fun.

For a road trip that will please every member along for the ride, it's hard to beat a tour of Florida's historic forts. Beyond the obvious historical draw, many of the state's military landmarks are now protected within the State and National Park system. That means plenty of hiking, camping, and just-plain-relaxing along the way. And best of all? Florida's strategic forts also happen to harbor some of the state's best fishing spots, from land and boat.

For a taste of the entire state, start in Pensacola and slowly make your way to Key West. On Pensacola Beach, make your first stop at Fort Pickens, part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore (http://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/fort-pickens.htm). In addition to this well-preserved landmark's importance during the Civil War, it's also home to a short but deep-water fishing pier. It's a great place to keep your line singing -- use cut mullet for bait, and you'll likely be helping the kids pull in small sharks and even Spanish mackerel. The grass flats to the east of the Pickens pier are a great place to stalk tailing redfish.

Fort Pickens includes a National Park campground, with plenty of amenities offered at just $20/night (http://www.nps.gov/guis/planyourvisit/campground-openings-in-florida-and-mississippi-districts.htm). And, of course, there's all the fun to be had on Pensacola Beach as well, where the 'whitest sands on earth' have (luckily) survived serious damage from last year's oil spill. It's such a nice spot to park your RV that you'll be tempted to stay, but there's a whole state left to explore.

Head east down I-10 toward Jacksonville, to Fort Clinch State Park, one of the best-preserved 19th century forts in the nation (http://www.floridastateparks.org/fortclinch/) Six miles of nature trails wind through the beautiful peninsula, bordered by the Amelia River to the west, Cumberland Sound (and Georgia) to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean on the east. 53 campsites offer both privacy and proximity to the entire park, which includes a half-mile long pier on the ocean side, making deep water fishing possible without a boat. With Egans Creek curving through the park's marsh, jetties to the north, the pier, and the option of surf casting on the beach a short walk from your RV, it's hard to beat Fort Clinch as an all-around saltwater fishing destination.

Next, head southwest toward Inverness, home of Fort Cooper State Park. Take the scenic route through beautiful Ocala National Forest, a part of Florida most visitors never experience (http://fs.usda.gov/ocala). The dense forests of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings classic book, The Yearling, are still alive and thriving here in the north-central swampy woodlands.

Arriving at spring-fed Lake Holathlikaha, the azure water looks much as it did in the 1830s, when U.S. soldiers rested here at Fort Cooper, between skirmishes with the Seminole Indians. Due to low water levels, fishing and swimming were temporarily restricted during early summer 2011, but with rain, that could change at any time. Paddleboats and canoes are available at the park. This is the spot to paddle out with your toddler and drop worms for bream and largemouth bass.

Although Fort Cooper offers primitive camping, to park your RV, try nearby Riverside Lodge along the Withlacoochee River (http://www.riversidelodgerv.com/). The campground includes free canoe rentals, so after a day at Fort Cooper you can still get in an evening session along the river.

From here, head down the coast to Fort De Soto Park, situated on a truly stunning spit of land south of Tampa (http://www.fortdesoto.com/). Five interconnected keys make up De Soto, the largest park within the Pinellas County park system. Despite boasting 238 camping sites, it's a good idea to make reservations here -- this beach won Trip Advisor's Top Beach in America prize in 2009, and over 2.7 million visitors flock here each year. Still, with 1,136 acres, it's easy to find some alone time.

De Soto has two fishing piers, on both the Gulf and the bay sides, and each sells bait. There's a two-mile canoe trail, and a ferry to remote Egmont Key. Whatever your target species is, it's easy to find a superb fishing spot among these crystalline waters, where the Tocobaga Indians once harvested their own seafood bounties.

If time allows for a full tour of Florida, you'd be missing out not to journey through the Keys, arguably one of the prettiest drives in America. Fort Zachary Taylor allowed the Union to control the sea at Florida's southern tip, and has been impressively preserved as a state park (Try to visit near Halloween, when the fort is transformed into a Civil War-themed haunted house; http://www.fortzacharytaylor.com/home.html)

It's hard to beat the view when fishing from the fort, at the entrance to Key West Harbor. It's the finest place to watch a sunset in town, and you might just bring home dinner to an RV full happy, sun-kissed campers.



About the Author
Joe Laing is the Marketing Director for El Monte RV Rentals. Be sure to check out their new Professional Football (NFL) Tailgating and RV Tailgating to College Football Games pages in preparation for the upcoming seasons.

Reward Increased in Endangered Florida Bear Shooting

From the FWC

Reward Increased in Florida Bear Shooting

The FWC reports that wildlife authorities are hoping a larger reward will lead them to whoever shot and killed a large black bear last Friday on the grounds of the closed Shoal River Golf Course at Crestview.

Florida's Wildlife Alert Reward Association is offering up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of the shooter. Now, the Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Land Trust have stepped forward, offering an additional $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or people responsible for the killing.

A resident at 306 Shoal River Drive reported hearing a single gunshot on Feb. 11 at about 4:30 a.m. across from his home. It was a place where the homeowner has been feeding deer for some time. Responding officers of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) found a dead, 200-pound male bear. The bear had been shot, apparently with a rifle.

The bear was the same one FWC biologists moved Nov. 18 from Fort Walton Beach to Eglin Air Force Base, after it had been shot and wounded by a homeowner. The homeowner, who wasn't charged, feared the bear was about to attack his dog.

"Someone knows who did this, and we're asking that they step forward and help us solve this," said Lt. Mark Hollinhead, FWC supervisor for Okaloosa and north Walton counties. Hollinhead said anyone with information should call the FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-3922.

Callers can remain anonymous.
Contact:
Stan Kirkland, 850-265-3676

Monsterous 5-Pound Yellow Bullhead Catfish New Florida Record!

2011 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles™
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A yellow bullhead caught in the Crystal River on Dec. 17 is the new state record for that species, a type of catfish, according to Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) biologists.

Tom Flynn of Homosassa was fishing with minnows he had caught at a boat ramp when he hooked into the catfish. The new state record yellow bullhead weighed 5 pounds, .75 ounces and was 20 inches in length.

"Actually, I was fishing for mangrove snapper," Flynn said. "However, I started catching catfish and decided to keep them. I caught seven and took them home."

Flynn tried to convince his wife the fish were good eating.

"She's not really a big fan of catfish," Flynn said. "But she went online to check them out and discovered that the state record was 2.91 pounds. I knew I had bigger fish than that."

Sure enough, when Flynn checked his catch, he had two fish that weighed more than the standing state record.

Eric Thomas, an FWC freshwater fish biologist from the Ocala regional office, verified the new record yellow bullhead.

Yellow bullhead are similar in appearance to the more common brown bullhead, with a nearly square tail, but the chin barbels (whiskers) are pale yellow or pink, unlike the somewhat larger brown bullhead (state record: 5 pounds, 12 ounces) that has darker pigmented chin barbels.

The previous record was a 2.91-pound yellow bullhead. Michael Pace caught it in the Withlacoochee River in Levy County on March 7, 2007.

For a fish to become an official state record, an FWC biologist must verify the species and weigh it on a certified scale. However, the FWC also recognizes anglers who catch a memorable-size fish with a Big Catch certificate. These are issued for 33 different species of freshwater fishes and are subject to less stringent guidelines to allow an angler to be recognized if the fish's weight or length exceed minimum standards (see MyFWC.com/Fishing or the Freshwater Fishing Regulations Summary).

For a Big Catch certificate, an adult needs to catch a yellow bullhead that exceeds either 14 inches in total length or 1.5 pounds (youth standards are 10 inches and 1 pound).

The world record for this species is a 6-pound, 6-ounce yellow bullhead that John Irvin caught in Bates County, Mo., on May 27, 2006.

"I can't believe what good eating these fish are," Flynn said. "I think I'm going to keep going for them and see if I can catch the new world's record."

Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Albert Rasch In Afghanistan™

Boating in Cooler Weather, Watch Out for Manatees!

© 2010 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.

Protecting our Wildlife, Caution when Boating

Let's remember our wild neighbors when boating in the beaches, bays, rivers, and springs of sunny, fun filled Florida! Remember that manatees, our warm blooded, aquatic sea cows will congregate in warm waters as the tempertures drop.

Image Credit: ENS

From my friends at the FWC:
"Recent cold weather means high numbers of manatees may be concentrated in warm-water refuges near power plants, rivers and springs throughout the state. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) cautions boaters to be on the lookout for manatees moving into the Intracoastal Waterway to reach warm-water refuges at power plants and springs. Boaters should slow down and strictly obey posted speed restrictions in manatee protection zones.

Image Credit: Wkipedia

"When the weather changes, large numbers of these mammals move in and out of warm-water refuges and feeding areas," said Kipp Frohlich, the FWC's Imperiled Species Section leader. "That's when the greatest danger from boat strikes occurs. This pattern will repeat itself as winter cold fronts come and go."

The FWC and its law enforcement partners will be increasing patrols and strictly enforcing manatee-protection-zone speed limits to aid the animals during this period when they are most vulnerable to vessel strikes.

To avoid striking manatees, vessel operators should wear polarized sunglasses to help them spot the creatures in the water; and watch for the large, tell-tale circular slicks on the surface of the water (manatee footprints) that indicate the presence of manatees."

For more information on Florida's manatees, visit MyFWC.com/Manateehttp://myfwc.com/Manatee. To report an injured or dead manatee, please call the FWC's Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

UPDATE: The cold weather earlier this year led to a record high number of manatee deaths in 2010. From the beginning of the year through Dec. 5, biologists with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) Fish and Wildlife Research Institute (FWRI) documented 699 manatee carcasses in state waters.

This preliminary data indicates the number of manatee deaths documented from Jan. 1 through Dec. 5 is nearly double the five-year average for that time period. There is more, read the report here.


Though he spends most of his time writing and keeping the world safe for democracy, Albert was actually a student of biology. Really. But after a stint as a lab tech performing repetitious and mind-numbing processes that a trained capuchin monkey could do better, he never returned to the field. Rather he became a bartender. As he once said, "Hell, I was feeding mice all sorts of concoctions. At the club I did the same thing; except I got paid a lot better, and the rats where bigger." He has followed the science of QDM for many years, and fancies himself an aficionado. If you have any questions, or just want to get more information, reach him via TheRaschOutdoorChronicles(at)MSN(dot)com. He will get back to you, even if he is in Afghanistan!

Florida Fish and Wildlife Comission Commissioner Speaks Up

Florida FWC Commissioner Encourages
Speaking Up for the Wildlife

Rodney Barreto, Chairman of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission made this comment regarding the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe and the region's wildlife.

"We must speak up for Florida's wildlife

As an unprecedented crisis spews oil into the Gulf of Mexico, our ocean, our fish and our wildlife suffer immediate and devastating impacts.

Image courtesy MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA

Oil Slick is Visible from Space

The good people on the Gulf coast are fighting for their very livelihoods because of the impacts of the oil spill, but they have strong voices coming to their aide, and they are beginning to get help.

Florida's fish and wildlife cannot cry out for help. That means it is up to us as the state's fish and wildlife managers to come to their rescue and speak out for them.

Therefore, I urge BP to take responsibility for the oiled wildlife and their degraded habitats by setting aside funding now that will support the long-term survival of impacted wildlife and restore habitat for the long term.

Image: Angie Chestnut

Black Mangrove Breathing Tubes

Florida's fish and wildlife are incredibly important to the state and are two of Florida's main attractions. Residents and tourists alike revel in spotting a bottlenose dolphin playing in the surf. Can we even envision a Florida without ospreys or pelicans soaring over our beaches? Our wildlife are a critical part of our ecosystem, our livelihood and the unique character of Florida.

Unfortunately, many of them will die from the impact of the oil. Those that manage to survive may not have the healthy habitats necessary to thrive unless something is done now for their long-term survival.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), along with federal and state partners, threw itself into the protection of wildlife almost immediately after word of the disaster broke. Our biologists are actively involved in creating protocols for damage assessment for wildlife. But funding is limited, and lack of dollars could very well translate into a lack of fish, wildlife and habitat in the future.

We are doing everything we can to lessen the impacts - some of these steps are risky, but it would be far riskier and irresponsible of us to not do everything in our power to protect species that might be decimated with the onslaught of oil.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the National Marine Fisheries Service and the FWC are undertaking an unprecedented task of moving sea turtle eggs from the northern Gulf beaches. Approximately 700 nests are laid on the beaches of Northwest Florida each year. The hatchlings begin appearing in early July and, in a normal year, face challenges in getting to the sea unharmed. But this year, the additional challenges created by the presence of oil pose increased dangers that could spell certain death for all of the hatchlings. We are going to move the eggs to the east coast, and when they hatch, put the small turtles on the sand to do their march to the sea.

Is it risky? You bet. Will it make a difference? Absolutely. At least now we know that some of 2010's Northwest Florida sea turtle hatchlings - all of them threatened or endangered - will have a fighting chance to survive the worst oil disaster in our nation's history.

We continue to fight for the welfare of Florida's precious wildlife that cannot speak, but we can speak. We are their voice, and we say loud and clear, "BP, open your purse strings and save our fish and wildlife so our grandchildren and great grandchildren will not have to learn about our wild animals from textbooks and museums because they became the dinosaurs of the 21st century."



Now is the time to take extreme measures to save our precious resources. Fish and wildlife are critical to Florida's survival. Without the benefits they bring to our everyday lives, Florida would not be the special place it is today. It's time to take responsibility for that survival, and BP holds the key."

 Rodney Barreto, Chairman, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Kill More Hogs! Hunting Opportunities on Florida WMAs

Floridians Can Apply for

Summer Hog Hunts on WMAs

Photo Credit: Native Hunt

Because of an abundance of wild hogs on portions of Ochlockonee River and Joe Budd Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in Northwest Florida, several hunting opportunities will be available during the coming months in an effort to reduce hog populations.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) has quota permits available for hog-dog hunts on the Joe Budd area and still hunts for the Ochlockonee River WMA during July, August and September.

Hog-dog hunts are set for nighttime hours on July 15-18, Aug. 19-22 and Sept. 16-19 in Zone G of the Joe Budd WMA. Five quota permits will be available for each four-day hunt. A quota permit will enable two people and a guest permit holder to hunt with up to three free-running dogs of any size or breed.

Daytime-only still hunts will be held on the Ochlockonee River WMA in the portion north of Interstate 10 on July 16-18, Aug. 20-22, and Sept. 17-19. Thirty permits are available for each three-day still hunt.

Only one firearm will be allowed per permitted group.

Applications for these hunts will be accepted, starting at 10 a.m. (EDT) July 8, through the Total Licensing System at county tax collectors' offices or online at www.fl.wildlifelicense.com on a first-come, first-served basis as part of the third phase of the wild hog quota hunts. Permits are not transferrable.

There will be no size or bag limit on hogs. Live hogs may not be removed from the areas.

Contact:  Donald Lee Francis, 850-627-1773, ext. 113

Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member Bagram Tent Club
Member Kandahar Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...

Sambar Deer in Florida

National Wildlife Refuges Offer Special Hunts

Here is an adventure that I am surely going to have to try to get in on! This fall, Northwest Florida offers  a unique "big-game" hunt on the island of St. Vincent NWR.

For hunters looking to rough it a bit more and go after some truly big game, the 12,490-acre, undeveloped barrier island of St. Vincent NWR in Franklin County is where the hunt's on for the enormous, imported sambar deer. These reddish-brown deer, which are actually in the elk family, are native to Southeast Asia and were introduced on the island in 1908. They can measure 6 feet tall at the shoulder and weigh more than 700 pounds in Florida.

You also can harvest wild hogs on this hunt, but it must be with bows or muzzleloaders. Hunters with a Disabled Crossbow Permit may use crossbows.

Image Credit: David Behrens

Stags Battleing!

 The primitive-weapon sambar deer/wild hog hunt takes place Dec. 2-4, and there are 200 permits available, costing $25. Hunters who drew this hunt last year aren't eligible to apply this year.

The bag limit on sambars is two (male or female), and there is no bag limit on hogs.

You can get to St. Vincent Island only by boat. If you don't have one, you can contact the local chamber of commerce for a list of boat captains who will ferry you to and from the island for a fee.

The island has no electricity, and generators are not allowed, so it's all about primitive camping for three days. Hunters may have a small campfire, but only using wood they take with them or dead wood they find on the ground.

Take a bicycle, unless you plan to walk everywhere. If you do harvest any game, however, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff will pick up you and your animal in one of their trucks. That's the only way you're catching a ride in a motorized vehicle, unless you're a disabled hunter. Those hunters receive special accommodations and transportation to and from their hunting spots.

Sambars feed on aquatic vegetation, so you're not likely to find them in drier, upland habitat. It's best to set up in marshes. Sambar prefers staying in the forested hill-sides preferably near cultivation. They are almost nocturnal, feeding mainly at night and retiring by daybreak. Their diet is mainly grass, leaves, various kinds of wild fruit. These animals have a life expectancy ranging between 16 - 20 years.Shooting hours for this hunt end at 3 p.m. each day.

All hunt permits are nontransferable. An adult must accompany permit holders under age 16 on all of these hunts, but that person may not hunt. Mobility-impaired hunters can bring one guest who may hunt, but both hunters must share a single person's bag limit.

Up to five hunters can choose to apply as a group. To apply as a group, one person must first apply as group leader, indicate the creation of a group and enter the hunt choice for the group. The group leader receives a group number (prints on receipt), which group members must have. Each group member must then submit a $5 application and indicate the group number.

To apply, fill out the 2010-2011 NWR worksheet at MyFWC.com/Hunting, select text under "Limited Entry Hunts" and enter the four-digit hunt number for the requested hunt date. Submit completed applications at http://www.fl.wildlifelicense.com/, county tax collectors' offices or retail outlets that sell hunting and fishing supplies, through 11:59 p.m. June 10. (OOPS!!! I'm a little too late!)

The FWC issues these permits by a random drawing that takes place in early August. You may apply only once for each hunt. The application fee is $5. If you submit your application at a license agent or tax collector's office, be sure to get your worksheet back from the clerk, along with your receipt.

You can check the results of the drawing online at MyFWC.com/Hunting; click on "Limited Entry Hunts" and look for the link "Check Permit Availability and Drawing Results."

Bag Your Limit, But Limit Your Bag!

© 2010 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5. trochronicles.blogspot.com
Well my friends,

Afghanistan is still the same dirty and dusty crap heap it was when I left last time! Some things never change...

But, I think often about all of you back in the states, and fishing is right at the top of my mind.

I'm guess that many of you have either been out, or are getting ready to start hitting the water looking for some fish to peel line from your reels. I am willing to bet that lots of you are accomplished fishermen, that actually catch fish, unlike me, who spends a lot of money so that my kids can show me up! But to make my point, when you boat one, what are you going to do with it? Are you going to keep it, or release it?

I rarely keep anything I catch. It seems that when I am prepared to take something home, the fish don't cooperate. And when I have an empty and iceless cooler, the fish practically jump up on shore... Go figure.

Anyway, some folks are real good at catching fish, but not so good at releasing them, good eating fish or otherwise. On the fishing piers I see lots of undersize fish, inedible fish, and out of season fish, lying on the hot concrete, or head first in a plastic pail.

I've seen it on lakes too. Largemouth Bass on a stringer. I don't know about you, but runoff fed lakes in Florida are full of fertilizer and pesticides, are you really going to eat that bass?

Catch and release, that's my thing. Unless it's a redfish that's in the slot, or a Spanish mackerel that I can sushi slice right there, it all goes back in the drink after the fight. With the kids I am a little more lenient, they know that in the evening the fish they catch are going to be on the menu.

I'm not against anyone keeping their catch, quite the contrary, I like to see folks cleaning their catch and icing their fish. But it's the wasted fish that drives me mad.

And it makes the Game Warden of FWC mad too! In Florida we are very fortunate that the FWC patrols the piers and jetties frequently. I have personally seen them ticket plenty of folks for fishing without licenses, having undersized fish in their buckets, and my favorite, getting clobbered for about $300.00 for having a juvenile Goliath Grouper.

Before you keep that fish, think about what you are going to do with it. Don't put too many fish in the cooler or on the stringer. Think about next year and the fishing you are enjoying today!

Until next time!

Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member: Kandahar Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...

Scott Croner Albert A Rasch Albert “Afghanus” Rasch Albert A Rasch Scott Croner Nebraska Hunting Scott Croner, Merriam's Turkey Hunting Albert A Rasch Scott Croner Albert A Rasch Albert “Afghanus” Rasch Albert A Rasch Scott Croner Nebraska Hunting Scott Croner Merriam's Turkey Hunting Albert A RaschAlbert A Rasch So, you want to be a contractor. Handfeeding a Baby Mockingbird Clean and Repair your Ruger 10 22 Magazine

Environmental Catastrophe: The Gulf Spill

© 2010 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5. trochronicles.blogspot.com

I pulled this off the Fishing Wire this morning, and I thought I might share it with you all. This might turn into the worse environmental catastrophe in our nation's history.

And for what? A few more gallons of oil for a nation addicted to it? I'm not against Hummers and big block V8s, what I am against is the constant whining and complaining that comes from the average citizen about the price of fuel.

Well guess what, that's the price you have to pay for a scarce commodity. And if I had my druthers as they say, it would be scarcer still. We don't need to drill in the Gulf, or anywhere else for additional oil. We just have to be disciplined in our use of the energy resources we have.

The next peckerhead I hear whining about gas prices is going to get it on full and in spades.

Image courtesy MODIS Rapid Response Team, NASA

Oil Slick is Visible from Space

Now for the dickheads at BP:
"I don't think anybody foresaw the circumstance that we're faced with now," he said. "The blowout preventer was the main line of defense against this type of incident, and it failed."

Really Steve Rinehart (spokesdick for BP), you are in one of the most biologically important areas of the world and you didn't have a backup? WTF?

And of course the legal vultures are circling the thermals looking for carcasses to dismember: Gulf spill draws flock of lawyers. I hope they manage to do the right thing instead of lining their pockets like they've done with the fiasco on Wall Street.

Let's see, we let Massey Energy rip the tops off mountains for exceptionally low sulpher coal that we then ship to China so they can use it for steel production that they then sell back to us. In the meantime, Mountain Top Removal destroys miles and miles of pristine rivers and streams, destroys hundreds of square miles of hardwood forests, and poisons the environment.

We drill in the Gulf to try and extend the inevitable end to oil consumption, inviting exactly what has happened. An environmental catastrophe of immense proportions.

Click on image to enlarge.

And for what?

There's a moratorium on any drilling now. And the people of the Gulf States that rely on the Gulf for their livelihoods are unlikely to permit any drilling ever again. This spill has effectively ended the absurd idea of drilling off Florida's west coast once and for all.

Turn off those lights.
Ride a bicycle more often.
Get off your butt and walk.
Carpool.
Recycle.

Do something.

Albert

From the Fishing Wire: Gulf Situation

As the gravity of the oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico becomes more apparent, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has closed commercial and recreational fishing from Louisiana state waters at the mouth of the Mississippi River to the waters off Florida's Pensacola bay. The closure, announced yesterday afternoon, was immediate and will last for at least the next ten days.

NOAA Administrator Jane Lubchenko says that NOAA scientists are taking samples from waters near the Deepwater Horizon spill site to stay current on the threat.

Meanwhile, officials are busily engaged in "blamestorming" - the finger-pointing that is inevitable when any problem seems to have escalated at a pace faster than the ability to respond. But the Obama administration is doing everything possible in an attempt to deflate the appearance of a lack of responsiveness. Several members of the Obama administration have been to the site of the disaster, with the president himself making an appearance over the weekend.

Each of them has promised an "all hands on deck" response to the environmental disaster created when the Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded and sank in the Gulf, killing eleven crew members and currently gushing hundreds of thousands of gallons of crude oil each day.

White House spokesman Robert Gibbs has blogged on the situation, posting "The Response to the Oil Spill" (http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2010/05/01/response-oil-spill-5110) a day-by-day response summary for the administration, using words like "immediately" "quickly" and "early-on" in many places.

The closure of a significant portion of the vast fishery that is the Gulf of Mexico emphasizes the fact this is a disaster with the potential to have a far-reaching impact on not only the fishing industry, but the nation in general.

Already, The Outdoor Wire is receiving reports of cancellations of reservations by vacationers to the Gulf coast, and charter captains tell us this has the potential to be a "knockout punch" to an area still reeling from the devastation of the hurricane season of 2005. Commercially, the Gulf is one of our main sources of shrimp, oysters and other seafood. The NOAA closure yesterday effectively puts that industry in drydock as well.

The Gulf of Mexico is one of the most popular fishing areas for recreational fishing in the United States. Each year, an estimated six million anglers take over 45 million fishing trips for red drum, spotted sea trout, sheepshead, red flounder and other species.

More than 2,300 tackle shops in Texas, Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and the Florida panhandle serve those recreational anglers and a significant fishing industry.

"Recreational fishing contributes $41 billion dollars in economic output in the Gulf Coast region annually and supports over 300,000 jobs," says American Sportfishing Association (ASA) President and CEO Mike Nussman. "While the impact on recreational fisheries and wildlife is impossible to gauge at this time, everything must be done to clean up this massive spill and measures must be put in place to ensure that something like this does not happen again."

And then there's the fact the Gulf is one of the areas that houses key habitat for hundreds of species of migratory birds. If the Deepwater Horizon accident lives up to even a part of its devastating potential, bird populations will be impacted from Alaska and Canada to South America.

"The spill tells us we cannot take our coastline for granted," says American Bird Conservancy president George Fenwick, "This spill spells disaster for birds in the region and beyond."

Fenwick and the ABC have called for a "reassessment of our approach to offshore drilling" because of the accident. Others, while not yet directly expressing a desire to stop exploration, have expressed similar concerns. "There are costs to wildlife and their habitats for every form of energy generation," says Fenwick, "the costs must be re-assessed, not by economists, industry or energy experts, but by biologists, ecologists and environmental experts."

Those are high-minded words, but in a world where the economy is hugely dependent on energy derived from fossil fuels, they seem more well-intentioned than well-informed. With fuel prices already having crept up across the country since the accident, the already financially-stressed American consumer may be angered at the accident, but unwilling to see energy costs continue to rise when huge oil deposits are sitting at the bottom of the Gulf of Mexico or anywhere else in the United States.

"The spill and the spreading is getting so much faster and expanding much quicker than they estimated," says University of Miami Center for Southeastern Tropical Advanced Report Sensing executive director Hans Graber, "It will be on the East Coast of Florida in almost no time. I don't think we can prevent that."

"It is," he says, "a question of when, not if."

Unfortunately, it's impossible at this point to accurately measure the damage. Rough seas and high winds hampered weekend work, and there's another scenario that no one wants to consider: should the entire pipe inserted into the well collapse, there would be no warning, but would release a gusher that could be devastating, if not fatal for the Gulf of Mexico.

In the meantime, every means of containing or removing the oil is being considered, and any practical solution, from booming and burning to vacuuming is being employed. But there is really little anyone can do except work toward limiting the damage and hoping for the best outcome possible.

Unlike an approaching natural disaster, there simply is no way to know what will happen next.

But we'll keep you posted.

--Jim Shepherd

Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member: Bagram Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...

Gators are Up and About!

Brought to you by Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5. trochronicles.blogspot.com

Warm Weather Means Active 
Alligators and Crocodiles

The onset of warm weather in the spring is when Florida's native crocodilians start getting active, and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is urging Floridians and visitors to be cautious when having fun in and around water.

Florida is home to two native crocodilians - the American alligator, which is found in all 67 counties, and the American crocodile, which may be found in coastal areas of the Keys, Southeast and Southwest Florida. Both species have shared Florida's waters with people for centuries.

The FWC recommends keeping pets away from the water. There are other precautionary measures people should take to reduce potential conflicts with alligators and crocodiles, and they are available in the "Living with Alligators" brochure at MyFWC.com/Alligator and the "Living with Crocodiles" brochure at MyFWC.com/Crocodile.

The FWC advises, if you have concerns with an alligator or crocodile that poses a threat to you, your pets or property, call the FWC's toll-free Nuisance Alligator Hotline at 866-FWC-GATOR (392-4286).

Alligators and crocodiles are an important part of Florida's heritage and play a valuable role in the ecosystems where they live. For more information on alligators and crocodiles, visit MyFWC.com/Alligator.

Contact:
Tony Young (850) 488-7867


Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member: Bagram Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...

Hunting in NebraskaAirSoft: It's Not Just for Kids!Yo-Yos for Troops!Nebraska Hunting CompanyCupidFish.comScott Croner

Hunting in NebraskaAirSoft: It's Not Just for Kids!Yo-Yos for Troops!Nebraska Hunting CompanyCupidFish.comScott Croner

No License Needed Weekend!

FWC Press Release:

Easter Weekend Brings Free

Freshwater Fishing to Florida

Both residents and nonresidents in Florida can fish in public fresh waters across the state without a license during the weekend of April 3 and 4. All other fishing rules apply.

The Florida Legislature and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) designated the first full weekend in April each year to be Florida's Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend. This year, that falls on Easter weekend.

This is a great opportunity for experienced anglers to share their love of the sport with family and friends. It's also a great opportunity to join the thousands of anglers who have taken the Anglers' Legacy Pledge by visiting www.AnglersLegacy.org and entering partner code FLFWC. Anglers' Legacy is about giving back what you've been given, and making a promise to introduce somebody new to fishing. There's no membership fee and no obligation - it's just another great way to help spread the fun of one of America's most popular traditions and share our fishing heritage with others.

The Get Outdoors Florida! coalition (www.GetOutdoorsFlorida.org) encourages everyone, and especially children, to connect with nature by getting outdoors and enjoying active, nature-based recreation. Research conducted in 2009 by the Outdoor Foundation emphasized that recreational fishing is the number-one gateway activity that leads participants to increase their overall involvement in outdoor activities. This is vitally important as numerous diverse and extensive studies, such as those documented by Richard Louv in his best-selling book "Last Child in the Woods," and expanded upon by the growing Children and Nature Network (www.ChildrenandNature.org), have demonstrated that activities such as fishing can lead to happier, healthier and smarter lifestyles.

So this weekend is your chance to get outdoors and go fishing right here in the "Fishing Capital of the World," where virtually everyone is within 45 minutes of a freshwater fishing opportunity. No excuses! The weather predictions are looking good, it is just after a full moon and spring stimulates fish to congregate in shallow waters. The fishing should be great. So, Get Outdoors Florida! and burn off some of those chocolate-bunny calories with a free fishing adventure.

Visit MyFWC.com/Fishing to learn about fishing regulations in Florida.

Good Hunting, Great Deer

© 2009 Albert A Rasch and
The Rasch Outdoor Chronicles
$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5. trochronicles.blogspot.com
Photo Credits: "Buck" Bevillee
I had the opportunity to run into a couple of young Florida hunters recently. Both are very accomplished deer and turkey hunters here in Florida.


"Buck" Beville was kind enough to forward me a few pictures of some of the game he has taken.

To the left is a nine pointer that Buck took when he was a very young fellow. That's a deer anyone would be proud to take!

Below is a very nice 8 point he recently took.

A great archery Oceola Tom Turkey!

Nice Boar! Note the cutters.

As I meet more Florida Sportsmen, I'll be sharing their stories and successes with you. I might add that it was my pleasure to meet both these young men, and with good fellows like these as our next generation of hunters, we are definitely heading in the right direction.


Best Regards,
Albert A Rasch
Member:  Skull Mountain Tent Club
Member: Hunting Sportsmen of the United States HSUS (Let 'em sue me.)
The Hunt Continues...

Other Stories of Interest:
Best Boar Hunting Rifle Calibers: Part I

Scott Croner Albert A Rasch Albert “Afghanus” Rasch Albert A Rasch Scott Croner Nebraska Hunting Scott Croner, Merriam's Turkey Hunting Albert A Rasch Scott Croner Albert A Rasch Albert “Afghanus” Rasch Albert A Rasch Scott Croner Nebraska Hunting Scott Croner Merriam's Turkey Hunting Albert A RaschAlbert A Rasch So, you want to be a contractor. Handfeeding a Baby Mockingbird Clean and Repair your Ruger 10 22 Magazine

Becoming an Outdoors-Woman with FWC

$g&m f9bd 45kd q!?5.

Women's Outdoor Workshop Comes to Tallahassee Oct. 9-11

Wanted - adventurous and outdoorsy women wishing to learn more about Florida's great outdoors in a comfortable, noncompetitive, hands-on environment. If this could be you, contact the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to participate in the Becoming an Outdoors-Woman (BOW) workshop near Tallahassee.

The three-day workshop takes place Oct. 9-11 at Camp Wallwood on the pristine banks of Lake Talquin on the Gadsden County side. Sessions begin Friday at 10 a.m. and end Sunday with lunch.

Although designed with women in mind, the workshop is open to anyone 18 years and older who wants to improve her outdoor skills and enjoy several recreational activities.

The program offers a fun and supportive atmosphere for participants wishing to try new things and enjoy the camaraderie of other women wanting to do the same. In four, three-and-one-half-hour sessions, the BOW workshop teaches skills associated with fishing, hunting and other forms of outdoor recreation, at all levels of physical activity.

"The most requested classes women sign up to take are primitive chef; canoeing/kayaking basics; basic wilderness survival skills; and introduction to handgun shooting and hunting," BOW state coordinator Lynne Hawk said.

The cost for the three-day workshop is $175, and there are a limited number of discounted slots available for low-income participants, single parents and college students. The workshop is restricted to 100 people on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information about the BOW workshop or how you can register, visit MyFWC.com/BOW or call 850-413-0085.

Contact:
Lynne Hawk, 561-625-5122
FWC News Release 9/14

Florida matters: Florida Deer Hunters: When's the Rut?

.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) wants to hear from hunters around the state regarding "when" they think the white-tailed deer rut happens in their neck of the woods.

The FWC, along with its deer management stakeholder group, is considering making possible changes to Florida's deer hunting zones and corresponding season dates. The first goal of the "Strategic Plan for Deer Management in Florida 2008-2018" is to manage deer at a more local level and better align hunting season dates with peak rutting (breeding) activity.

The FWC has deer-breeding information from many counties and several of its wildlife management areas, but there are gaps in the biological data. The deer management stakeholder group would like to obtain rut information from hunters to try and close gaps in the data.

The agency recognizes the value of local knowledge and is asking hunters who are familiar with when the deer rut historically occurs in the areas where they hunt to fill out an online survey. The FWC would like to take this information to compare hunters' perceptions of the rut with scientifically known conception data.

During rutting periods, bucks are more active during daylight (shooting) hours and often less cautious, making the chances of seeing them in the field better.

"Deer hunters want to hunt during the rut, and we want to be able to share comprehensive information about when the rut occurs with the hunting public," FWC biologist and deer team coordinator Cory Morea said. "We realize a lot of hunters know when the rut happens in their area, and we want to take this information and compare it with our conception data to see if they are similar. It would be great to be able to use any new data to help fill in the holes in what we already know.

"At the very least, we think there is value in knowing what hunters perceive as the peak of the rut where they hunt," Morea said.

To fill out the deer rut survey, see the latest updates on proposed deer zones and season dates or to comment on these potential changes, go to MyFWC.com/Deer.