Reef relief sought at Tuesday meetings
Our Florida Reefs is seeking public input on ways to help protect and foster the state's fragile coral reef habitat.
Through a series of public meetings, beginning Tuesday in Stuart, the organization hopes to collect suggestions on what can lead to a future with healthier reef systems along southeast Florida's coastline.
Possible suggestions to help the reefs include the creation of areas of live reef closed to fishing, diving and spearfishing activity, or with limited anchoring provided by mooring buoys, and controlling or reducing pollution from upland sources.
Tuesday's meetings will be from noon to 2 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. at the Chastain Campus of Indian River State College, 2400 S.E. Salerno Road, Stuart. Subsequent meetings will take place in Palm Beach Gardens and locations as far south as Miami.
For more information or for a complete list of meetings, go to www.OurFloridaReefs.org.
BASS ANGLERS
The Indian River Bass Anglers fishing club fished its first tournament of the year on Lake Kissimmee out of Over Street Landing, according to club member Robert Kimbrough.
"We had nine boats launch at safe daylight with 18 anglers trying to come in with the five-fish limit," Kimbrough said. "The club weighed in a total of 38 bass with the combined weight of 73 pounds."
The team of Edwin and Joy Kimbrough won the event with a fish limit weighing 14.20 pounds and a big fish weighing 3.77 pounds. Second place was John Fink and Sandy Dillard with five fish weighing 12.00. Third place was John Stambaugh and Garret Stambaugh with the weight of 8.97 pounds.
Charles Hatherill came in with the big fish of the tournament weighing 4.10 pounds.
The Indian River Bass Anglers' next meeting will be at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at Marsh Landing restaurant, 44 North Broadway Street, Fellsmere. The next tournament will take place at safe light Feb. 20 on Lake Tohopekaliga out of Whaley's Landing near Kissimmee.
For more information go to www.indianriverbassanglers.net.