Outdoors news and notes

Making news

Swap Tarpon numbers, tales at Seminar

The Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and the Mote Marine Lab are hosting a free public seminar on tracking tarpon with DNA at 7 p.m. on Dec. 3 in St. Petersburg (Steidinger Auditorium, 100 8th Avenue SE). Since 2005, the Research Institute has solicited the help of local anglers to provide DNA samples of tarpon they have caught and released. The seminar will cover some of the research results and public feedback will be sought.

REGULATIONS

Snook closures arriving soon

Two snook harvest closures arrive in December. The first starts Tuesday in all of Florida's Gulf of Mexico, Everglades National Park and Monroe County coastal and inland waters. The harvest season for snook will remain closed until March 1 in these areas. All other Florida waters will close to snook harvest beginning Dec. 15. This includes all Atlantic coastal and inland waters, including Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River. That closure will remain in effect until Feb. 1.

VOLUNTEERS

Build an oyster a home month

Tampa Bay Watch is seeking volunteers to help build oyster domes for placement in Tampa Bay. The domes help minimize shoreline erosion and provide surface area for oysters to attach. Oyster domes will be built on Wednesday, Dec. 4, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21 and 23. Tampa Bay Watch would welcome 12 volunteers for each session. For information, e-mail rarndt@tampabaywatch.org.

Things to Do

• The inaugural Pilgrim Paddle race, a two-person relay-style stand-up paddleboard race, is Saturday at Spa Beach in downtown St. Petersburg. Each team member will complete a circuit along the St. Petersburg Pier. The race is open to competitors of all skill levels, and beginners are especially encouraged to participate. Registration is $55 per team and begins at at 8 a.m. For more information, visit www.standupfitnessinc.com or (727) 902-4294.

• A kingfish tournament out of Billy's Stone Crab restaurant in Tierra Verde begins at sunup Saturday with the weigh-in at 3 p.m. The captain's meeting is at 6 tonight at Billy's. Cost is $100 per boat. For information, call (727) 458-6731 or (727) 542-3900.

Rodney Page, Times staff writer