By Rodney Page, Times Staff Writer
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Making news
Kingfish run means string of Tournaments
The much-anticipated Spring King of the Beach kingfish tournament out of Madeira Beach is April 30, A good way to warm up for this event and scout the area is to fish in the Billy's Stonecrab tournament Saturday out of Tierra Verde. The cost is $50 per boat and the captains meeting is tonight at the restaurant. Fishing begins at dawn Saturday, and the weigh-in is from 3-4 p.m. Kingfish generally start migrating through our waters in late April, and with perfect weather conditions they should be here in great numbers. For information, call (727) 458-6731.
License-free fishing in June
For two weekends in June, a saltwater fishing license will not be required statewide, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced. The license-free weekend of June 4-5 follows the opening of red snapper season in the gulf, and the June 18-19 freebie is Father's Day weekend. Also, the FWC announced that it will expand bay scallop season to open a week early, on June 25, and extend the season by two weeks to end Sept. 25. In addition, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Florida State Parks will offer half-off admission on both Mother's Day (May 8), and Father's Day (June 19). There are 160 parks throughout the state and 74 unique saltwater fishing facilities, including piers, boardwalks and jetties.
Things to do
12 hours of music is for the birds
Birdstock II will feature 12 hours of continuous music Saturday on Corey Avenue in St. Pete Beach. There will be six indoor and two outdoor stages set up along the street, and all proceeds from the concert go to the nonprofit Friends of the Tampa Bay National Wildlife Refuges. Last year, Birdstock raised more than $15,000 to support the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary's Gulf Coast oil spill response effort. For information, call (727) 360-6697.
Rodney Page, Times staff writer