Making news
Ladies-only event sends anglers afar
The Old Salt Fishing Club, the organization that runs the fall and spring King of the Beach kingfish series and the annual Grunt Hunt, continues its tournament for female anglers. More than 170 women have already signed up for the Ladies Inshore/Offshore tournament scheduled for Aug. 25.
The captains' meeting is 7 p.m. Thursday at the Madeira Beach Marina (503 150th Ave.), and fishing begins at midnight Aug. 25, with a weigh-in at 4 p.m. at the marina.
This year's event will again benefit the Celma Mastry Ovarian Cancer Foundation and All Children's Hospital. Celma Mastry, the matriarch of a well-known local fishing family, was a benefactor of dozens of charities.
The tournament, in which anglers can target trout, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel, flounder, redfish (photo release), snapper, red grouper and amberjack, is more like a festival, with live music, food and drink, as well as vendors of a variety of marine-related equipment. The cost is $55 for Old Salt members and $75 for nonmembers who register before Monday. After that it goes up to $65 and $85.
The Old Salt Fishing Foundation is also sponsoring a Ladies Fish-A-Thon in conjunction with the tournament, which hopes to raise $50,000 for the charities.
"We've purposely set ourselves an aggressive goal this year," said Tom Verdensky, the foundation's president. "We hope the local fishing community will step up and support these fine organizations."
To learn more, go to oldsalt fishing.org.
REgulations
Season reminders
• Amberjack season in the Gulf of Mexico opened Aug. 1 and closes June 1. The size limit is 30 inches, fork length.
• Spiny lobster season, except in designated South Florida areas, opened Aug. 6 and closes March 31. Lobster must have a carapace length of 3 inches and be measured in the water. The bag limit is six per person, per day statewide.
• Gag grouper is also open, except in the state waters (from shore to 9 nautical miles out) off Franklin, Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties. The season closes Nov. 1.
Looking ahead
• Snook season opens Sept. 1 in Atlantic waters. Anglers on the Gulf Coast must practice catch-and-release through Aug. 31, 2013.
• Sept. 1 is a free fishing day for saltwater anglers throughout the state. No license is needed.
• Scallop season closes Sept. 25.
Solunar chart
AM PM
Minor Major Minor Major
8/17 5:45 11:50 6:00 0
8/18 6:30 12:15 6:50 12:40
8/19 7:25 1:10 7:50 1:35
8/20 8:15 2:05 8:45 2:30
8/21 9:10 3:00 9:40 3:25
8/22 10:05 3:55 10:45 4:30
8/23 11:10 5:00 11:40 5:25
Loading...