Jackie Barber of Cocoa, left, and B.J. Biles of Palm Bay show part of their two-day catch, including a 9.4-pounder by Barber, that earned them the win in the Space Coast Finatics two-day Lake Okeechobee club tournament on March 22-23. The team’s two-day total was 39.76 pounds.(Photo: Tim Kopf/For FLORIDA TODAY)

Story Highlights

  • Jackie Barber of Cocoa nailed a 9.4-pound bass, which was the heaviest of the year for club tournaments.
  • Portions of Lake Kissimmee will be treated with an agent to kill hydrilla this week.
  • Tuesday marks the closing of spiny lobster season in state and federal waters throughout Florida.

Jackie Barber of Cocoa caught a 9.4-pound bass that anchored the two-day winning catch in the March Space Coast Bass Finatics club tournament on Lake Okeechobee.

Barber and his partner, B.J. Biles of Palm Bay, combined for 39.76 pounds, of which 22.09 pounds came the second day.

Barber’s big bass is the heaviest of the year for club tournaments.

Tim Iler of Port St. John and Larry Cruce of Titusville were second with another fine catch totaling 30.54 pounds.

They were followed by Mike Calloway of Titusville and Bill Rucker of Okeechobee with 28.25 pounds. Calloway’s 7.04-pounder was the heaviest fish weighed the first day.

The club fished out of Harney Pond Canal on the lake’s west shore.

For information on the club, call Tony Ciavarella at 321-752-7841.

Hydrilla treatment at Lake Kissimmee

Portions of Lake Kissimmee will be treated with an agent to kill hydrilla this week by contractors working for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Lake Kissimmee is an eight-mile long lake on the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes east of Lake Wales.

Hydrilla is an invasive, exotic aquatic plant that clogs waterways and chokes out beneficial native plants.

Managing and treating the plant is a constant challenge.

Crews are scheduled to use airboats to treat 375 acres with Aquathol K, which has no restrictions for fishing, swimming or irrigation.

For questions about the treatment, contact Danielle Kirkland at (863) 534-7074.

Lobster season closes Tuesday

Tuesday marks the closure of the spiny lobster season in state and federal waters throughout Florida.

It will be closed for recreational as well as commercial harvesting.

The regular season for the tasty crustaceans will reopen on Aug. 1.

However, a special two-day sport season will be July 30-31, the last consecutive Wednesday-Thursday in July.

Solunar Table

The Solunar Table lists times each day during which there is increased activity among fish and game.
Date Minor Major Minor Major
A.M. P.M.
Today 5:15 11:15 5:25 11:45
Monday 6:00 — 6:25 12:15
Tuesday 7:00 12:45 7:25 1:10
Wednes. 7:50 1:40 8:20 2:05
Thursday 8:45 2:35 9:15 3:00