WILD FLORIDA
WARMING WATERS, COOLER ANGLING? NET GAINS IN FLORIDA FISHING, EXPECT SURPRISE CATCHES
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Written by: Paul Thurman PhD
he world and its oceans have been getting warmer over the last century. The causes can be debated (is it a result of natural climate fluctuations or human induced changes?), however, the trend cannot.
While this may present many challenges to global populations, it can also result in new fishing opportunities where they previously didn’t. This is a result of species being capable of surviving in areas they historically could not tolerate in the colder temperatures of winter. Most estimates indicate that sea temperatures have increased by around 2 degrees in the last century. That may not seem like a lot but consider that average temperatures in Miami and Tampa are 76- and 73-degrees F, respectively. Now you can see what a big difference only a couple degrees can make, since there are a lot of species that are abundant near Miami but not Tampa. Florida is in a unique place where we have several different climate zones. This results in many tropical and
subtropical species that thrive in south Florida but are unable to survive the winter cold snaps felt slightly farther north. Our aquatic habitats and fish species found in the southern half of the state can be vastly different than those found in the Panhandle. Our coastal habitats and estuaries are two completely different worlds. In south Florida, mangroves dominate the landscape while historically salt marshes dominated north of Crystal River. However, in recent years mangroves have been seen in estuaries along the Florida Panhandle. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has even initiated mangrove monitoring programs in north Florida estuaries. I think we can all agree on how important mangroves are to fish populations and what great fishing habitat they make. The same trend is being seen with snook, one of Florida’s most iconic gamefish. In years past it was unheard of to catch them in the Florida Panhandle, but now reports of catches in Steinhatchee, Apalachee Bay, and even Mexico Beach are not uncommon.
I THINK WE CAN ALL AGREE ON HOW IMPORTANT MANGROVES ARE TO FISH POPULATIONS.
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