Florida state wide bass tournament offering million dollar bounty

May 20, 2010

Fritz Friebel's 20 lb. 2 oz. bass was well documented but never officially certified. It was caught in 1923 in a Pasco County lake, and was included in a "Field and Stream" article the next year. Photo courtesy FWC

To encourage bass anglers to catch and properly report the next Florida state record bass, Bounty Fishing is hosting a million dollar bass bounty

Florida Fish Busters’ Bulletin by Bob Wattendorf

Many of you know about the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) Florida Black Bass Management plan.  In fact many of you have taken the opportunity to provide input via surveys at fishing shows, fishing club meetings or other venues. That information, along with scientific information about bass fish populations and anglers’ use, is now being reviewed by a citizen’s technical advisory committee and FWC biologists to create the first full working draft of a long-term, holistic plan.

This plan is an evolving strategy that will incorporate all aspects of the FWC and better coordinate efforts with other partner agencies to focus resources, which will clearly establish Florida as the undisputed “Bass Fishing Capital of the World.”

The title is based on the number of anglers, amount of time spent fishing, economic impact and tourists who utilize our resources. The most recent National Survey of Fishing, Hunting and Wildlife-Associated Recreation, again ranked Florida No. 1 in in-state anglers (2.8 million vs. No. 2 Texas with 2.5 million), angler expenditures in State ($4.4 billion vs. No. 2 Texas with $3.4 billion), angler-supported jobs (75,068 vs. No. 2 Texas with 59,938), and state and local taxes generated by sport fishing ($440 million vs. No. 2 Texas with $392 million). In addition, Florida has far more International Game Fish Association (IGFA) records than any other state or country.

Of 2.8 million anglers fishing in Florida, 1.9 million were residents and 0.9 million were tourists.  Anglers averaged 17.2 days per year fishing in Florida, for a total of 46.3 million days of quality outdoor recreation.  Of those, 24.4 million days were spent on fresh water by 1.4 million anglers, and 23.1 million days were spent on salt water.

Florida produces many of the world’s premier bass fisheries and bass anglers spend more than 14 million days each year here, which generates $1.25 billion for the state’s economy. With 3 million acres of freshwater lakes, ponds and reservoirs, and 12,000 miles of rivers, streams and canals all loaded with bass, Florida is a natural Mecca for bass anglers.

The Florida largemouth bass population is genetically unique and has been stocked worldwide because of its potential for rapid growth to trophy size (≥ 10 pounds). Moreover, Florida has shoal, spotted and Suwannee bass each of which exist in discrete areas and require specific habitat and food bases to maintain their populations. Programs such as the Black Bass Grand Slam promoted in BassMaster Magazine are drawing more attention to these limited populations – necessitating greater attention to conservation practices to ensure their sustainability.

Florida’s vibrant widely dispersed populations of black bass are available within a 30-60 minute drive from anywhere in the state, except for the Keys. These are native bass thriving in natural habitats, which adds to the enjoyment along with excellent catch rates; also every year, 15-pound-plus hawg bass are harvested.

In March, BassMaster magazine summarized the first 12 years of their Lunker Club applications, reporting that “Considering the number of largemouth entries the Lunker Club has received over more than a decade, it’s not surprising that more entries have been caught in Florida (514 lunkers reported; 27.2 percent) than any other state; after all, Florida’s official state freshwater fish is the largemouth bass, which has ideal conditions and plenty of time to grow big and fat. Texas and California – the second (300) and third most commonly reported sources of lunkers – also offer ideal bass habitats.”

In 2009, a 22.3 lb bass caught by Japan’s Manabu Kurita finally tied the IGFA record held for 77 years by Georgia’s George Perry.  So BASS’ top 25 bass of all time now includes 20 fish from California, two from Florida, two from Japan and one from Georgia.  In both California and Japan, the bass in question are nonnative imports that came from Florida. Ironically, in Japan they are generally considered a nuisance fish. In California, the few deep artificial reservoirs (typically with limited, gated access and entry fees) that yield these monster bass are heavily stocked with trout, the preferred sport fish in the region that are great forage for largemouth bass.

Texas has a thriving bass fishery in their manmade reservoirs that uses Florida bass genetics and hybrid vigor induced by crossing them with their northern cousins. Florida, Texas and California are, therefore, the three prime contenders for the bass capital title, and each could currently claim a piece of the prize.

The FWC believes it’s time to claim the title. As the agency tasked with managing the Sunshine State’s aquatic resources for their long-term well being and the benefit of people, we are creating an integrated, adaptive management plan for black bass that will establish Florida as the uncontested Bass Fishing Capital of the World. The Black Bass Management Plan will entail a coordinated effort with other governmental agencies, as well as better focusing all of the resources of the FWC.

Urbanization and population growth have been subtly eroding Florida’s stellar freshwater fishing industry and threaten lakes, rivers and wetlands, while climate change bears an uncertain impact on freshwater habitat and black bass fisheries. Therefore, the plan must be action-based addressing habitat enhancement, aquatic plant control, and appropriate stocking plans, while fine tuning regulations, improving communications about angling ethics and opportunities, ensuring access and reaching out to youth to keep them engaged in recreational fishing and conservation.

To optimize use of your fishing license dollars and federal excise taxes on fishing tackle and motor boat fuels, we need to hear from as many anglers as possible. Visit MyFWC.com/BlackBass_Survey to let us know what types of bass fishing opportunities you want and what trade offs you are willing to accept to create those options.

To encourage bass anglers to catch and properly report the next Florida state record bass, BountyFishing is hosting a Million Dollar Bass Bounty. The contest is open to all anglers legally fishing in any public body of water in Florida from July 5 to Aug. 1. Sign-up costs $7 per day or $19 for one week. However, the first 1,000 entrants will receive a 50 percent discount and only pay $38 for all four weeks. To sign-up for the Florida Million Dollar Bass Bounty or a free June fishing tournament, visit www.bountyfishing.com/FL.

BountyFishing.com provides anglers an opportunity to compete in fishing contests to win cash and prizes from their favorite fishing spots. Using FBI-strength image analysis software to validate winners based on photos, helps promote catch-and-release fishing. They also host an online fishing community that allows you to post photos, share stories, and discuss fishing topics. For a free trial offer of an Internet-managed fishing tournament, visit www.bountyfishing.com/FL. A part of your tournament fees goes to the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, Inc, a non-profit, public support organization that enhances FWC’s conservation efforts.
BountyFishing will share information with the FWC as part of the Black Bass Management Plan initiative, which requires a variety of innovative data sources to document current and future conditions. FWC biologists are certain a largemouth bass exceeding the current official record of 17 pounds, 4 ounces (set in July 1986) is waiting to be caught. They are sure, because in 2008, an 18 pound, 8 ounce bass was caught and released in Florida that exceeded the record but was not certified by an FWC biologist (nor was a 20-pound, 2-ounce hawg hooked in 1923), or several other bass reported to our “Big Catch” angler recognition program.

Instant licenses are available at MyFWC.com/License or by calling 888-FISH-FLORIDA (347-4356). Report violators by calling *FWC or #FWC on your cell phone, or 888-404-3922. Visit http://www.myfwc.com/Fishing/ for more Fish Busters’ columns.