8 minute read
OUTDOORS
18 THE SUN OUTDOORS FEBRUARY 17, 2021
Tournament to benefit Tampa Bay Waterkeeper
Reel Time
RUSTY CHINNIS
The Waterman Fly Fishing Tournament is a two-day, redfish-on-fly tournament with the proceeds directly benefiting Tampa Bay Waterkeeper. Proceeds raised during the event will be used to promote the organization's mission. Organizers have assembled an amazing raffle lineup with a number of high-end fly products to award at the awards ceremony and dinner.
The tournament is a two-day, fly-fishingonly, catch-and-release redfish tournament with an optional Snook Calcutta with a 50/50 cash payout. The proceeds from entry fees, 50% of the Snook Calcutta and raffle ticket purchases directly benefit Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. There is no in-person captain's meeting and the weigh-in will be conducted by photo and email. The tournament is limited to 50 teams or 100 anglers total. There will be prizes, an award ceremony, dinner (sponsored by Hells Bay Boatworks) and the raffle. The schedule is as follows.
FRIDAY, MARCH 12 8 p.m. Mandatory virtual captains' meeting via Google Meet. Only one member of each team must attend. Format and rules will be discussed and questions answered. The link to the Google Meet will be provided by email.
4 p.m. Lines out! 4:15 p.m. Deadline to email weigh-in photos
SUNDAY, MARCH 14 – TOURNAMENT DAY #2 8 a.m. Lines in! 3 p.m. Lines out! 3:15 p.m. Deadline to email weigh-in photos 6 p.m. Awards ceremony, dinner and raffle at the Bradenton Yacht Club, 4307 13th St. W., Palmetto, Florida. 6:30 p.m. Deadline to check-in at the awards ceremony to be eligible for 1st, 2nd or 3rd place.
NOTE: Daylight Savings Time takes effect at 2 a.m. on March 14. The later “lines in” time is intended to exclude dock light fishing. The earlier “lines out” time is intended to accommodate travel time to the awards ceremony. Anglers must check-in by 6:30 p.m. to be eligible for awards.
TWO-ANGLER TEAM - $250 (PER TEAM)
Includes two, long-sleeve microfiber tournament shirts, two Tampa Bay Waterkeeper hats, dinner for two anglers at the awards ceremony, and one raffle ticket for each angler.
SOLO-ANGLER TEAM - $125
Includes one long-sleeve microfiber tournament shirt, one Tampa Bay Waterkeeper hat, dinner for one angler at the awards ceremony, one raffle ticket.
RAFFLE TICKETS • Additional raffle tickets may be purchased at the awards ceremony by cash or card. • Raffle tickets may only be purchased by tournament anglers.
• Raffle tickets will be $20 each or six tickets for $100.
Note: Tournament fees and raffle ticket purchases are direct contributions to Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
The tournament covers Florida’s west coast from the southern tip of Sanibel Island to the southern edge of the Crystal River Power Plant main channel. Anglers may launch at any ramp but must fish within the stated boundaries.
Redfish photos (with measuring tape, tournament placard, team number and daily code word visible) and Calcutta Snook photos (with tournament placard, team number and daily code word visible) must be sent by email to thewaterman@tampawaterkeeper.org within 15 minutes of lines out on each tournament day (4:15 p.m. on Day 1 and 3:15 p.m. on Day 2).
The weigh-in email should have a subject line as follows:
“Waterman weigh-in – team name and team number – Day 1”.
Emails received after 4:15 p.m. on Day 1 will be disqualified.
Emails received after 3:15 p.m. on Day 2 will be disqualified.
Each team will receive a response email indicating that their weigh-in was received on time, with the length of each fish weighed in as determined by tournament officials.
Please do not send more than two redfish photos and one snook photo per day.
Anglers are required to have their weigh-in photos available for inspection at the awards ceremony/dinner, if necessary.
After sending the weigh-in email, we ask that each team post their weigh-in photos and individual photos of the angler holding the fish on their social media accounts with hashtags #tampabaywaterkeeper and #thewaterman before the awards banquet.
I’m looking forward to participating in this tournament because the money will be used to help protect our fisheries in the Tampa Bay region. I hope I’ll see you there. For more information visit the Tampa Bay Waterkeepers website and be a part of the solution!
Grouper, yellowtail bite heats up offshore
CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE
Well, we were finally blessed with some beautiful weather this past week! Although it was extremely foggy for a couple of mornings, we here at Anna Maria Charters made it happen. Offshore, the yellowtail snapper, mangrove snapper and especially red grouper were very hungry. We were able to get some quality fish for our clients and limits of grouper for all of our trips last week. Don’t forget, red grouper are closed in all depths over 120 feet.
The blackfin tuna are starting to show up as well. Unfortunately, the front we’re expecting will probably put a damper on anything offshore for the next few days. Inshore, sheepshead, redfish, snook, black drum and pompano are our primary targets. Shrimp is our primary bait this time of year. But we use pilchards quite a bit, as well. With the closures of many species, everything that typically eats a pilchard is off-limits, while the shrimp eaters are normally open for harvest. Hopefully, the weather will stabilize after this next windy front and things will get back to normal. It’s been a busier season this year, so if you’re looking to book a trip, get a jump on it! See our ad below. Thanks and tight lines!
Shawn Kircher, of Old Bridge, N.J., hoists a chunky red grouper caught with Captain David White, of Anna Maria Charters.
CAPTAIN DAVE WHITE | SUBMITTED
RED TIDE REPORT
High
(respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills, water discoloration)
Very low
(possible respiratory irritation)
Medium
(probable respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills)
Low
(possible respiratory irritation, shellfish harvesting closures, fish kills)
Background
(no effects)
None
(no red tide present)
Source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Blue-green algae back
Blue-green algae, or filamentous cyanobacteria, is in Anna Maria Sound and the Manatee River, according to this month’s Florida Department of Environmental Protection report.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and Suncoast Waterkeeper took water samples around Perico Island on July 7, finding filamentous cyanobacteria, which can produce harmful toxins and can cause abnormally-colored water or floating “muck mats,” and may create health risks for humans, pets and livestock, according to Angela Collins, of the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Sea Grant Program in Manatee County.
To help keep algae growth at bay, Florida law bans the use of phosphorus and nitrogen fertilizers during the rainy season, June 1 through Sept. 30.
Report algae blooms to DEP at 855305-3903. Report fish kills to FWC at 800-636-0511.
Water quality report
Bayfront Park North Bradenton Beach Coquina Beach North Coquina Beach South Manatee Beach North Palma Sola Bay South
Source: Florida Department of Heath Moderate Good Good Good Good Good
Beachfront, award-winning rooms
As long as you’re getting married on the beach, why not stay on the beach?
Bungalow Beach Resort, 2000 Gulf Drive N., Bradenton Beach, has won the Top Romance award in the US by tripadvisor.com, and it is located right on the beach – the perfect place to escape between the rehearsal dinner, the ceremony and the reception. With the Gulf of Mexico just steps from your lushly landscaped cedar bungalow, it’s a great place for an extended stay after the bride and groom leave for their honeymoon.
If the bride and groom want to continue their stay, Bungalow Beach Resort, which also won the 2013 Excellence Award from tripadvisor.com, is a very popular honeymoon destination.
Originally a group of beachfront army barracks, each of the Bungalow Beach Resort units retains the old Florida charm that is Anna Maria Island, with modern conveniences inside. And you will stay in luxury with personal touches like baskets of embroidered towels, flowers and candy. Whether you’re getting married or part of the wedding party, pick awardwinning Bungalow Beach Resort as your home base where you will cherish those moments when you’re not involved with the ceremony. You’ll want to return when there is nothing to distract you from your stay.
Call Bungalow Beach Resort at 1-800-779-3601 or log onto www.bungalowbeach.com.
Veronica Eberhardt and Brandon Bauer were married at the Sandbar restaurant on October 22, 2020. Chuck Caudill provided live music for the ceremony and reception. Shawn Rhoton and Molly Powers, of the Sandbar, coordinated the wedding and reception. Jennifer Toth officiated the ceremony. The cake was by Hometown Desserts. The flowers were by Blooms by the Beach. Veronica and Brandon honeymooned on Anna Maria Island before returning home to Uniontown, Ohio.
DARA CAUDILL | WWW.ISLANDPHOTOGRAPHY.ORG
