Scalloping fun for the family

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The only bad thing about scallop season has always been that it's too short — the dates for many years have been July 1 to Sept. 10. This year, with the state trying to jumpstart waterfront businesses along the Gulf Coast, the shellfish harvest season opened early; today is Day 2 and the season runs all the way to Sept. 25.

The early start means kids out of school get more of a chance to enjoy scalloping with their families, and what a great family sport it is. Thousands of Florida kids have gotten their first taste of the Gulf of Mexico's beautiful, clear inshore waters while snorkeling for scallops with mom and dad.

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Results of the 2011 Nauti-Girls Fishing Tournament

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The Steinhatchee Community Projects Board woulf like to pass along the results of their 2nd annual Ladies Fishing Tournament.

Redfish:

1st place - Manny Altman - 6.85lbs

2nd place - Rebbeca Durden - 6.35lbs

3rd place - Debbie Evans - 6.30lbs +Boat Bonus

Most Spots - Madonna Otto - 4

Trout:

1st Place - Manny Altman - 5.95lbs

2nd Place - Jennifer Walko - 3.85lbs

3rd Place - Elaine Huss 3.50lbs +Boat Bonus

Largest Ladyfish:

Sherry Riddle - 2.3lbs

Nice weather helps Reeling for Kids set some records

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Blessed with nice weather, a large field of angling contestants produced a record-setting weekend at Doug Johnson’s Annual Reeling for Kids fishing tournament at Steinhatchee. Of the 112 teams entered, 76 competed in inshore category while 36 chose to seek offshore species. A great variety of impressive fish was brought to the weigh scales each day, taken from water a foot deep all the way out to the Florida Middle Grounds.

In the tournament that the ex-Gator and NFL quarterback envisioned and created to benefit children, a couple of skilled young fishers showed their stuff. Chase Norwood whipped an 18.45-pound barracuda to take the top Junior Offshore Angler prize, and Troy Charles, Jr. pulled off the notable feat of boating a 4.5-pound trout and a 4.8-pound redfish over the two days of competition to earn the Junior Inshore Angler award.

A new Friday-only “Trout Stringer” prize went to the team of Cole Childers, R.J. Dick, and Ian Taylor. Casting large mullet-colored surface lures near the Pepperfish Keys area, the Gainesville trio boxed a 5-fish tourney trout limit that weighed 13.75-pounds. Given legal length restrictions and the event’s warm weather date, this winning weight could stand in the RFK record book for some time.

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