Spring 2013 FL Chapter Aquasport Gathering

[CH Jr]

Been a LOOOOONG time since I've been to the keys.  I think we need to  put a keys trip together too!

I like that idea. :!:  

[Blue Agave]

Just my 2 cents but I think this whole thing should be farther south around Tampa for a better turnout, who are we really going to get to come from farther North  

Yeah it's going to be a little haul for us but this spot should be cool - no pun intended.  :P   It'll probably be the farthest north I haul the 230 but it is an equal distance from the north side of FL and Sarasota and some of the East coast spots too. I don't know about you but I've never been, Dave has never been either. I've alway wanted to see it, play in it, dive it, relax over it.
All we can do is hope, as usual.  I think this spot will help bring the members out.  We shouldn't need much boat gas either - a trade off for the truck gas.

I agree, this is a great area to have a gathering. But wouldn't it be better to have the gathering coincide with the scallop season.  

[Circle Hooked]

I agree, this is a great area to have a gathering. But wouldn't it be better to have the gathering coincide with the scallop season.

[/b]

I like that idea, yum Scallops.

Rick I mentioned the gathering to Doc Reed on Facebook so maybe he will chin in, would really be a haul for him but he has surprised us before.

[RickK]

Been a LOOOOONG time since I've been to the keys.  I think we need to  put a keys trip together too!

ditto ^^

[RickK]

Rick I mentioned the gathering to Doc Reed on Facebook so maybe he will chin in, would really be a haul for him but he has surprised us before.

With no trailer, that will be a haul    

[RickK]

I agree, this is a great area to have a gathering. But wouldn't it be better to have the gathering coincide with the scallop season.  

When is the season and we can plan another around those dates at a later time.  I love scallops.

[CLM65]

I agree, this is a great area to have a gathering. But wouldn't it be better to have the gathering coincide with the scallop season.  

When is the season and we can plan another around those dates at a later time.  I love scallops.

I believe it is July 1 thru September 24.  If is anything like last year, you don't want to miss it!

[Blue Agave]

The scallop season is typically July 1st thru Sept. 10th. The state will sometimes open the season early and or extend the season. In 2012 the season went thru Sept. 24th.

[RickK]

Where is the best area to get them yummy mollusk?
The reason, historically, that we've done the gatherings the first week in May and the last week in Oct is because of the feedback from members with kids that wanted to attend around but couldn't work around sports stuff.  My kids are all grown so any date works for me, but I try to think of the membership in general so we have a good showing.  This year we can certainly try something in that date window.

[CLM65]

Since Crystal River is my home port, that is where I do my scalloping.  The actual area is between the Crystal River and the Homosassa River, out in the grass flats.  If you go during the first week or two of the season, you will see hundreds of boats out there.  It thins out as the season goes on, especially during the week days.  Weekends tend to stay pretty crowded till late in the season.  If you want to do this early in the season, I suggest looking into hotels early.  I imagine they get booked up quickly.

[CH Jr]

Just curious, I've heard that their are more flounder the further north you go, is their a good number of them up there?

[CLM65]

Just curious, I've heard that their are more flounder the further north you go, is their a good number of them up there?

I've caught a few here, but purely by accident.  I've never targeted them.  And the few I've caught were rather small.  If this is a really good flounder hotspot, I'm sure I would have heard about it, so I think the answer to your question is no.

On the brighter side, snook fishing has really improved over the last couple of years.  As long as we don't get any big freezes up here for the remainder of the year, I think that will continue.

[Aswaff400]

we do all of our scalloping out of horseshoe beach, north of the mouth of the Suwanee, water is crystal clear... our place is about 45 minutes down the highway to horseshoe beach and about 5 minutes from the suwannee river, we have just under 6 acres, plenty of room for several trailers

heres pics from last year
http://s10.beta.photobucket.com/user/re ... ee%20river

im hoping to have one of the boats useable mid july

[CH Jr]

I've caught a few here, but purely by accident.  I've never targeted them.  And the few I've caught were rather small.  If this is a really good flounder hotspot, I'm sure I would have heard about it, so I think the answer to your question is no.

Ok thanks, I do like the idea of scallops though.  

[CH Jr]

http://www.floridacaves.com/crystalriver.htm

I found this site it's got some good info on it.