To spread the word that Florida's seafood products and fishing opportunities are normal around the state away from the oil spill in the northern Gulf, state wildlife and tourism officials will appear on a live television show from Coconut Grove on Friday night.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission leadership, the Wildlife Foundation of Florida, [...]FWC Live on VERSUS Friday Night to Promote Fishing, Seafood
This story appeared in The Ledger while I was on vacation, but it's worth repeating.Dirk Alan Willms of Sanford pulled off the highway to grab a gator almost 4 feet long that he saw crossing the road the night of July 12, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.Willms, 44, picked up the 45-inch [...]Beware Catching a Gator by the Tail
Chances are few Polk County anglers fish at Lake Lindsey near Chinsegut Hill in northeast Hernando County.But the public ramp on Lake Village Lane at the 137-acre lake closed on Monday for a project to remove four acres of floating tussocks and 15 acres of large lily pads called spatterdock.The project by the Florida Fish [...]Public Ramp Closed at Lake Lindsey in Hernando County
Jimmy Buffett fans will be pleased to see that he donated a custom-built, shallow-draft boat to help recover wildlife affected by the oil spill in the Gulf.The boat, designed by Dragonfly Boatworks co-owners Mark Castlow and Jimbo Meador in Vero Beach, was given to Friends of the Bon Secour National Wildlife Refuge on the Alabama coast and put [...]Buffett Donates Boat to Rescue Wildlife on Alabama Coast
Off the Wall Adventures in South Lakeland is offering the Captains Course from Sea School in August.Capt. T.J. Konitzer of Off the Wall is hosting the “6-pack” captain's license classes Aug. 6-8 and Aug. 13-15 from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. The test is Aug. 28.The course costs $450, plus $105 for the test and almost $200 [...]Captain's License Course at Off the Wall Adventures
Quota hunt permits will not be mailed to Florida hunters who are drawn this season.Instead of snail mail, hunters selected can print quota permits online at www.fl.wildlifelicense.com.This includes quota permits for general gun, archery, muzzleloading gun, family, youth, airboat and track hunts, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said. Only mobility-impaired hunt permits will [...]Quota Hunt Permits No Longer Mailed Out
Russ Lane of Prattville, Ala., won the first of two Bassmaster Elite Series postseason tournaments on Sunday to move within five points of Skeet Reese for the lead in the Angler of the Year race.With 32 pounds, 3 ounces over two days, Lane edged Aaron Martens by 3 ounces in the Ramada Trophy Chase on [...]Bassmaster Angler of Year Race Wide Open for Final Event
Florida hunting dates for 2010-11 seasons for deer, turkey, quail and squirrel were announced on July 16.Study them carefully, because zones and seasons for deer hunting are much different than last year on private lands.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission changed the zone system for deer hunting to help hunters take advantage of the rut [...]Hunting Dates Set for 2010-11 Seasons in Florida
The two-day sport season for Florida lobster is Wednesday and Thursday.The regular season opens Aug. 6.Commercial trappers can begin putting traps in the water on Aug. 1, but can't harvest them until Aug. 6.For information on lobstering, check MyFWC.com/RULESANDREGS.Sport Season for Florida Lobster Wednesday and Thursday
Red snapper season closed Saturday in the Gulf of Mexico.The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission monitored catches by recreational fishermen more than usual, and if numbers were below the established harvest quota because of closures caused by the oil spill, the season could reopen this fall.Red Snapper Closes in Gulf; Could Reopen
Controversy popped up on the Duramed Futures Tour Sunday at The International at Concord tournament in New Hampshire, according to Golfweek magazine.A story by Golfweek writer James Achenbach on Tuesday (at www.golfweek.com) said 18-year-old rookie Sarah Brown was disqualified after nine holes in the final round on Sunday when officials determined she way playing an [...]Golfweek: Futures Tour Rookie Mistakenly Disqualified for Ping Tour-W Wedge
Tiger Woods has entered the Bridgestone Invitational next week at Akron, Ohio, The Associated Press reported Wednesday afternoon.And Anthony Kim will make his return after having thumb surgery in May.Woods has won the Bridgestone Invitational, a World Golf Championship, seven times, including last year.The tournament, Aug. 5-8, is the week before the PGA Championship at [...]Woods, Kim in Bridgestone Next Week
The father-son team of Mark Gard and Case Gard of Lakeland tied for third in the Florida State Parent-Child Championship at Disney World Saturday and Sunday.The father (Mark) and son (Case), who won the title last year, shot 66-67 to finish two strokes behind John Ward of Winter Park and Johnny Ward of Maitland, who closed with a [...]Gards Tie for Third in Florida Parent-Child at Disney
Former Gator All-American Billy Horschel is back in action, playing on the Nationwide Tour this week.Horschel, a PGA Tour rookie, has been out since February when he had surgery on his left wrist. He played four tournaments on the PGA Tour before the injury.He's coming back at the Nationwide Tour's Cox Classic.Horschel Returns After Wrist Surgery
Patrick Lamb of Lake Wales tied for ninth in the Florida Open at Innisbrook July 16-18 after opening the 54-hole golf tournament in second place.Lamb, a 2010 graduate of Flagler College, shot 70-76-73 to lead nine golfers from Polk County or Florida Southern in the tournament on the Island and Copperhead courses.Dave Bishop of Lakeland, [...]Lamb Ninth, Leads Local Golfers in Florida Open
Brad Klapprott of Lakeland won his third Minor League Golf Tour event at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens on July 14.Klapprott, the assistant pro at ImperiaLakes, shot 5-under-par 67 on the Estate Course and outlasted Steve LeBrun of West Palm Beach in a playoff to win $1,000.Klapprott, 41, birdied the third hole in the playoff with [...]Klapprott Wins Third Title on Minor League Golf Tour
Cassie Boles of Lakeland has qualified for the U.S. Women's Amateur Championship Aug. 9-15 in Charlotte, N.C.Boles, a George Jenkins graduate who will be a senior on the Yale golf team, tied for third in the qualifier at Brookfield Country Club in Roswell, Ga., on July 19. She shot 73 to earn one of seven [...]Boles Qualifies for U.S. Women's Amateur
Thinking about going to the 2011 U.S. Open?Applications will be taken by the USGA until 5 p.m. on Sunday (Aug. 1). There will be a random drawing for tickets in mid-August for those who applied.The Open is June 16-19 at Congressional Country Club in Bethseda, Md., where Ernie Els won in 1997 and Ken Venturi won in [...]2011 U.S. Open Tickets Deadline Sunday
Tom Austin of Lake Wales won the ninth annual Old Friends Invitational at Lake Wales Country Club July 16-17.Austin shot 66-78 for a three-shot victory over Drew Gillan of Winter Haven.Austin Wins Old Friends Invitational
“Big Break” fans can watch three former champions in the Golf Channel reality series take on the six remaining golfers in “Big Break Sandals Resort” in a challenge competition on Monday night.Former winners Kim Welch, Ashley Prange and Briana Vega will be on tonight's episode at 9 p.m.They will match talents with Lili Alvarez, Chris Brady, Sara [...]Former 'Big Break' Champions on Show Tonight
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