Deanna, UR- Gone Fishing

Since my IRP is dealing with red drum, and the population of legal size fish in the Flagler County area I will basically be catching fish, taking my measurements and safely releasing them.



Drawing of a popular red drum fishing
method (which I will be using).

Based on my research from my previous blog posts, I will be focusing on inland salt-water waterways, since this is where red drum remain for the first few years of their lives (reaching the legal size of 18 to 27 inch in these years). If weather and schedule permits, I would like to fish at least three completely different areas and a few times in each spot based on number of fish I catch each time, probably starting at the Princess Place Preserve here in Flagler County (which leads into the intercostal). I also plan on fishing from a kayak, instead of on land - allowing for a better chance to catch more since a lot of local fishing spots have pretty much been overfished. My step father will be assisting me because handling a 14 foot kayak by myself would be a bit difficult and it will help me to have a better chance of catching more fish.


Aerial photo of part of Princess Place Preserve

I have chosen to use rod-and-reel method simply because places, such as the Princess Place Preserve, are full of oyster beds therefore, using any type of net would be difficult. And of course fishing licenses are required. As far as specific hook sizes, weights, line types/strength, and bait, I have not completely settled on any of those decisions because using just one "set up" (so to speak) could work one day or in one spot but maybe not in another. However, most likely I will be using live shrimp and popping cork (shown below) for starters.


Example of a "popping cork". The beads on each end
make noise which attracts fish.

After catching a fish I will identify the fish (since I am specifically after red drum). Red drum are easy to identify simply because they commonly have a copper-bronze color, large scales, and usually have one of more eye-spots by their caudal fin. Then I will take the GPS location of where the fish was caught and a length measurement. The reason for using the length of the fish for my data is because the length is what the law is based on. After gathering my data the fish will be released- maybe with the exception of one or two legal size fish since I have heard and read many things about how good red drum is to eat, of course only for science.