Moore Outdoors, by Gary Moore
Eric Peterson was born and raised near Lake Panasoffkee, Florida and grew up freshwater fishing for largemouth bass. He began a career with the Withlacoochee Electric company and worked there for eighteen years before moving to Progress Energy.
Just as Eric made a switch with electric companies so did he make a switch in fishing tactics. Eric began saltwater fishing and liked it so much that he has stuck with it for the last 10 years. He primarily fishes for red drum and spotted seatrout but if an occasional cobia or snook comes his way - then so be it.
Eric was recently night fishing the Suncoast Keys and having a great time catching spotted seatrout when a fish took his 3/8 ounce Strike King jig - rigged with a 3-inch Gulp "swimmin' mullet" plastic body.
On the initial run, the fish tail-walked three times and peeled at least 30-yards of line and Eric thought he'd hooked a tarpon. The ensuing fight brought a larger-than-average snook to the bank and Eric could hardly believe his eyes. All species of snook have a slot limit of, "not less than 26-inches or more than 34-inches," in order to be kept for harvest or any other purpose.
Eric quickly measured his fish and the total length was 43 inches, (much too large) then obtained a 30-inch girth measurement. The measurements were not an issue since the month of January is part of a statewide closure period for all snook in the state of Florida.
Nothing left to do except take a few snapshots, admire his catch and release this monster back into the water. The next day, Eric was talking to one of his fishing buddies and he mentioned the dimensions taken from his snook. His friend told him to visit the FWC website and obtain the Length-Weight formulas used to estimate fish weights and see approximately what his snook might have weighed.
Eric opened the FWC website and obtained two formulas, each a bit different in result but close in estimated weight. The first formula required: Total Length (in inches)-squared, times Girth (in inches) divided by 1200.
Eric quickly completed the computation and arrived at 46.2 pounds. The second formula was: Girth (in inches) -squared, times Length (in inches) divided by 800. This time the fish weighed 48.3 pounds.
A quick review of the Florida State record for snook shows the current state record snook was caught on April 25,. 1984, in Ft. Myers - by Robert De Cosmo. Cosmo's record snook tipped the scales at 44 pounds 3 ounces. The World Record snook is 53 pounds 10 ounces.
According to the formulas, Eric's fish might have been a new state record fish, if he were able to possess the fish and get the fish on a certified scale - verified/witnessed.
According to the FWC website, in order for a fish to be certified as a state record fish, it must be legally caught using an active hook-and-line method (including a proper license or exemption) by sport fishing methods, identified by a Commission biologist and weighed on a certified scale. None of the above may be accomplished if you cannot possess the fish.
Eric is not upset about his possible state record fish not making the record book and will conduct further research into how an angler will be able to achieve a new state record for snook if a 34-inch snook does not exceed the record weight of 44 pounds 3 ounces.
I will keep you posted on what Eric finds in future publications.
P.S. If you are a member of a salt or freshwater fishing club or are involved in a local hunt club, I am interested in your fishing and hunting activities. Just drop me an e-mail and I will contact you for a possible article - outlining your outdoor adventure.
Please try and obtain a reasonable photograph for the article and help us place your outdoor experience in the pages of the Williston Pioneer Sun News.
Good fishing, Gary Moore
Copyright © 2006 Williston Pioneer Sun News
Advertisement
A great place for discount sporting goods:
http://www.rifles-n-rods.com
Eric Peterson was born and raised near Lake Panasoffkee, Florida and grew up freshwater fishing for largemouth bass. He began a career with the Withlacoochee Electric company and worked there for eighteen years before moving to Progress Energy.
Just as Eric made a switch with electric companies so did he make a switch in fishing tactics. Eric began saltwater fishing and liked it so much that he has stuck with it for the last 10 years. He primarily fishes for red drum and spotted seatrout but if an occasional cobia or snook comes his way - then so be it.
Eric was recently night fishing the Suncoast Keys and having a great time catching spotted seatrout when a fish took his 3/8 ounce Strike King jig - rigged with a 3-inch Gulp "swimmin' mullet" plastic body.
On the initial run, the fish tail-walked three times and peeled at least 30-yards of line and Eric thought he'd hooked a tarpon. The ensuing fight brought a larger-than-average snook to the bank and Eric could hardly believe his eyes. All species of snook have a slot limit of, "not less than 26-inches or more than 34-inches," in order to be kept for harvest or any other purpose.
Eric quickly measured his fish and the total length was 43 inches, (much too large) then obtained a 30-inch girth measurement. The measurements were not an issue since the month of January is part of a statewide closure period for all snook in the state of Florida.
Nothing left to do except take a few snapshots, admire his catch and release this monster back into the water. The next day, Eric was talking to one of his fishing buddies and he mentioned the dimensions taken from his snook. His friend told him to visit the FWC website and obtain the Length-Weight formulas used to estimate fish weights and see approximately what his snook might have weighed.
Eric opened the FWC website and obtained two formulas, each a bit different in result but close in estimated weight. The first formula required: Total Length (in inches)-squared, times Girth (in inches) divided by 1200.
Eric quickly completed the computation and arrived at 46.2 pounds. The second formula was: Girth (in inches) -squared, times Length (in inches) divided by 800. This time the fish weighed 48.3 pounds.
A quick review of the Florida State record for snook shows the current state record snook was caught on April 25,. 1984, in Ft. Myers - by Robert De Cosmo. Cosmo's record snook tipped the scales at 44 pounds 3 ounces. The World Record snook is 53 pounds 10 ounces.
According to the formulas, Eric's fish might have been a new state record fish, if he were able to possess the fish and get the fish on a certified scale - verified/witnessed.
According to the FWC website, in order for a fish to be certified as a state record fish, it must be legally caught using an active hook-and-line method (including a proper license or exemption) by sport fishing methods, identified by a Commission biologist and weighed on a certified scale. None of the above may be accomplished if you cannot possess the fish.
Eric is not upset about his possible state record fish not making the record book and will conduct further research into how an angler will be able to achieve a new state record for snook if a 34-inch snook does not exceed the record weight of 44 pounds 3 ounces.
I will keep you posted on what Eric finds in future publications.
P.S. If you are a member of a salt or freshwater fishing club or are involved in a local hunt club, I am interested in your fishing and hunting activities. Just drop me an e-mail and I will contact you for a possible article - outlining your outdoor adventure.
Please try and obtain a reasonable photograph for the article and help us place your outdoor experience in the pages of the Williston Pioneer Sun News.
Good fishing, Gary Moore
Copyright © 2006 Williston Pioneer Sun News
Advertisement
A great place for discount sporting goods:
http://www.rifles-n-rods.com