Angler's Outlook: February fishing so-so; county hires sea grant extension agent

The first week of February continued to keep anglers on their toes. Mild, cool weather systems stirred up the water and kept water temperatures in the mid-60s, cooler than anglers would have liked.

The good news: Several species that tolerate cool water continued to be found nearshore, along the outer shoreline, and in the passes, flats and inland waters. Sheepshead, black drum, redfish, trout, mangrove snapper and a few pompano were intermingled with jack, blue runner and ladyfish.

Many of these species were caught on tipped jigs. Others, such as trout, were taken with weighted popping corks rigged with live shrimp, minnows and small pinfish.

Sandfleas, fiddler crabs, shrimp and tubeworms (also called bloodworms) were at the top of the menu for sheepshead and black drum.

Bloodworms are dug on the mud flats at low tide. They are pushed out of a tubelike membrane. The flats on the north side of the Judge S.S. Jolley Bridge have been a good spot to find them.

It is a good bet this scenario will continue through February.

Legal-size sheepshead are 12 inches long and have a bag limit of 15 per person per day.

Black drum must be 14 to 24 inches long and have a bag limit of five per person per day.

• The offshore waters will continue to challenge grouper grabbers. They'll struggle to find keeper-size grouper and keep up to date with the rules and regulations.

You can get the latest copy of the rules and regulations at local marinas and tackle shops.

Florida fishing licenses are sold at the tax collector's office and many bait and tackle shops.

You can call (888) 347-4356 toll-free to purchase a fishing or hunting license every day of the year, 24 hours a day. You should have your credit card ready.

I have had to use this service twice. Once, while I was waiting at the dock at 4:30 a.m. for a friend to arrive, I just happened to remember that my license had expired.

You can visit the Web site www.myfwc.com/marine for more information.

Trolling deep-running lures over fish havens is a great way to land some nice-size gag grouper on the way out to your favorite honey holes. Don't be surprised if you also pick up a kingfish or two.

The Collier County fish haven Web site is www.colliergov.net/ environmental/programs/ artificial/index.htm.

• The Marco Flyrodders will meet at 7 p.m. today, Feb. 8, at Marco Community Bank.

The guest speaker will be Capt. Ken Chambers, who will discuss breaking down the mystery of the Ten Thousand Islands.

For more information, call Joe Swaja at 394-4599.

• Bryan Fluech has accepted the position of Collier County sea grant extension agent. His office will be at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, on Tower Road just west of Collier Boulevard.

He is tentatively slated to begin work March 2.

Bryan has worked at Knoxville (Tenn.) Zoological Gardens as a bird keeper and trainer, at the Science Eye as an environmental educator, at the Florida Wildlife Cooperative Unit as a field technician, at Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort as a naturalist, at Morningside Nature Center as an educator, and at School in the Park Middle School as a science instructor.

He also has attended the Florida Master Naturalist Program, Summer Teacher Institute, Project Shark Awareness Workshop and Project Learning Tree.

He received his Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Tennessee and his Master of Education in science education from the University of Florida. He also did coursework at Nova Southeastern University.

We wish Bryan all the success in the world with his new position here in Collier County.

Have a great week!