People wishing to visit the Sunshine Skyway Fishing Pier State Park to cast a line must take an online course designed to minimize the entanglement of seabirds in fishing lines and gear.
If you don’t know, the original Skyway Bridge partially collapsed in 1980. When the bridge was replaced and traffic was rerouted, the approaches of the old bridge were left standing — transformed to a state park and earning the honor as the longest fishing piers in the world.
The interaction of seabirds and anglers is extensive on the pier and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission determined, after hearings, there would be a required course for anglers. The 30-minute tutorial educates anglers on preventative measures to avoid bird entanglements, as well as pier regulations pertaining to acceptable gear usage. A video demonstrates how to release an entangled bird, followed by a 10-question test that the angler must ace in order to receive an emailed certificate to be presented upon arrival at the pier.
As of Oct. 1, all anglers 16 years old and up must carry the certificate, including anglers over 65 years old who are not required to have a fishing license. The course must be completed once a year and, although it’s free, it requires some time to complete.
I have the privilege of fishing from a boat and, while I probably won’t be fishing at the Skyway piers, I was curious about the requirement. So I completed the course.
Being an avid fisherman for more than 40 years, I’m well-versed when it comes to interactions with seabirds. So the course contained information I knew and have put into practice while on the water. But if you’re not a skilled angler, the course contains plenty of helpful information.
It’s probably best to take the course at home prior to going to the pier so you’re not sitting in your car for half an hour or longer, testing on your phone and waiting to gain access to the pier.
And, if you don’t pass on the first try, don’t fret: You can take it as many times as needed to score 100%. Although, keep in mind that every time you take it, different questions may be asked.
After completion of the course, I can see the legitimacy of educating anglers on how to react, handle and release seabirds in a safe manner. However, a question comes to mind: How will anglers handle the situation when they think nobody is watching?
I’ve witnessed all sorts of incompetency on the water when it comes to anglers and birds. And for those who aren’t really outdoorspeople, do you really think they are going to take the time to reel in the bird, gently handle it while risking a bite and patiently, carefully remove the hook or tangled line?
I wondered if the course and the required certification was a step in the right direction. And the answer is yes, I think so, especially in a controlled environment such as the Skyway piers, where attendants are present to observe and aid anglers.
Hopefully, the pier anglers will carry their new knowledge on all their fishing adventures.
For me, it all boils down to personal ethics as an outdoorsperson.
This brings up another question: How long will it be before the island piers adopt the same policies as the Skyway piers? With the volume of tourists visiting the island’s three piers, you can bet it’s coming.
On another note, don’t forget flounder will be closed Oct. 15-Nov. 30. Starting Dec. 1, harvest will resume for fish measuring 14 inches or longer with a bag limit of five fish per day per angler.
On my Just Reel charters, I’m surprised to see the vast numbers of spotted seatrout being reeled in. On just about every deep grass flat I’ve visited, I’m seeing an abundant number of trout. Mixed in are ladyfish, jacks and Spanish mackerel.
On the shallower flats, especially along the mangrove edges, I’m catching decent numbers of snook, with a few redfish mixed in.
Capt. David White says he spends most days fishing the inland waters of Tampa Bay southward to Sarasota Bay, where he reports live shiners as bait are working well on the deeper grass flats. Free-lined baits in these areas are getting attention from spotted seatrout, as well as ladyfish and jack crevalle and an occasional mack.
On the shallower grass flats, snook and redfish are being found. White says casting baits up close to the mangrove edges during high tides is resulting in good action on both species.
Lastly, fishing structure in Tampa Bay, such as reefs and wrecks, is yielding a mack bite. Chumming with live shiners is helping to get the macks worked up, which is leading to great action on medium-light spinning gear.
Jim Malfese at the Rod & Reel Pier says he’s seeing a variety of fish being caught during the morning hours.
Pier fishers using live shrimp as bait are hooking into redfish and black drum, and casting under the pier with a bottom rig is working best. The reds are falling within the slot of 18-27 inches with some larger fish mixed in. The same applies for the black drum, which need to be 14-24 inches.
Snook are being caught at the pier, although most catches are short of the 28-33 inch slot. Some catches are even too big, which results in a release.
Another species being caught at the R&R is sheepshead, although not yet abundant around the pier pilings. Anglers using live shrimp as bait are reeling up a few here and there.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.