Making news
Lunkers can bring tidy sum to Bass anglers
Largemouth bass helped put Florida on the international angling map, and today a 10-pound bucketmouth is on nearly every traveling angler's life list. Last spring, state biologists tagged more than 100 trophy bass that weighed 8 pounds or more and then returned them to the state's top lakes and rivers. Each big bass has a yellow plastic tag inserted in its back just below the dorsal fin. And each tag has its own number that offers information on how to report the catch and how to claim a prize, which ranges in value from $15 to more than $1,000 (heaviest bass could be worth a ring valued at $3,000). The tagged bass were released into 41 bodies of water, so anglers across the state will have a chance land a trophy fish. One of the most recent fish caught was a hatchery-raised fingerling that grew to more than 10 pounds in Lake Talquin. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission plans to continue this statewide tagging program for the next five years. To learn more, go to MyFWC.com.
Sportsmans Expo to visit fairgrounds
Florida Sportsman magazine will bring its popular Sportsman Expo to the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa on Sept. 22-23. The expo, now in its 20th year, features one of the best seminar series in sport fishing. This year's speakers include Mark Nichols, the man behind D.O.A. Lures, and Tampa Bay Times' correspondent Tim Whitfield, who will be sharing his secrets for fishing the shallows of the upper bay. Bring the kids for the casting pond contest. Those who are new to the sport will enjoy the hands-on rigging table, free fly- and net-casting lessons and a variety of exhibits by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Tickets at the Florida State Fairgrounds box office are $8 for adults, and kids 12 and under with parents are free. The show runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 22, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 23. For a discount coupon, see the latest issue of Floridasports man.com/expo.
Parade of boat shows to begin
The 2012-2013 boat show season kicks off Sept. 28-30 when the Tampa Boat Show drops anchor at the Tampa Convention Center. The event, now in its 47th year, will have something for everyone. A sure hit this year will be the new Be a Diver program, where first-timers can get a taste of what life is like underwater. For more information, visit nmma.org.
Send outdoors news to Terry Tomalin at ttomalin@tampabay.com or call (727) 893-8808.
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