Reflecting back on 2009, recreational anglers across America have been faced with challenges threatening to limit or even shut down our fisheries. Snapper, grouper and amberjack closures in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic, new marine protection areas or no-take zones on both coasts of America, and in Florida, sea grass protection areas for manatees just to name a few. The troops are mustering and the battle lines are being drawn on both sides, but who holds the middle ground?

For the past several New Years, I've resolved to enlighten anglers on the many attributes to angling and life in the outdoors, and as a director for Anglers for Conservation, I believe recreational anglers are our own worst enemies in many ways. The majority of us know the value of our angling resources and since the days of Teddy Roosevelt, we have lead the way in conservation and resource protection, but in light of recent developments, we are looked upon as the bad guys in our quest to preserve our heritage and rights to fish.

The AFC is a new nonprofit organization with a mission to create a new generation of coastal stewards using community-based angling education, habitat restoration, habitat preservation and applied conservation science. Our primary educational tool is a program called Hook Kids on Fishing, where kids and parents alike learn basic fishing skills, encouraging them to use not abuse our priceless resources. We reached out to thousands of kids across Florida last year, and in December of 2009 we introduced our newest program, Conservation Angler Certification. The certified Conservation Angler, upon completion of a free four-hour course, will have not only learned and demonstrated the skills necessary to leave a lighter footprint while on the water, but also voluntarily taken a pledge to practice good conservation and good ethics both on and off the water. The AFC is still in its incipient stage, so stay tuned for more details.

As water levels and temperatures drop, clear and shallow conditions on the inshore flats will make sight-fishing conditions the best we will see all year. Mullet and other finfish have migrated out of the area for the winter, so with that said, anglers should switch to smaller shrimp and crabs and slower presentation. When targeting inshore species during the colder months, I like to downsize my bait and fish with a shrimp or crab imitation like the DOA Shrimp and Crab combined with a Woodie's Rattle Hook or Rattle Jig. Also, January and February are key months for targeting tailing black drum on the exclusive Banana River No-Motor Zone.

Near shore, look for tripletail concentrations to improve greatly along the Port Canaveral buoy line and under floating weeds and structure, and for cobia to move in shadowing manta rays if the surface water temperatures reach the upper 60s. If we experience an extended period of warm weather or mid-winter thaw, look for a mid-winter cobia run to commence.

Now is also the time for surf anglers to target pompano, bluefish, weakfish, small black drum, sheepshead, Spanish mackerel and whiting off of the beaches, and larger redfish and flounder around the inlets of Ponce De Leon, Port Canaveral and Sebastian.

Catch-em-up, and reward yourself by taking a kid fishing, and taking the class and pledge to be a Conservation Angler. Our numbers with help draw all concerned about our resources up on to the middle ground.

Tight lines and good fishing for generations to come and happy New Year,

Captain Tom Van Horn

Photo courtesy of Tom Biffar.