OUTDOORS

18 THE SUN OUTDOORS

Online angling

Reel Time

RUSTY CHINNIS

It might seem like the digital world has been around forever but it wasn’t that long ago that information about fishing was only available in books and magazines, on fishing shows, or by going fishing. Now, in the internet age, fishermen have a wealth of resources to supplement their days on the water.

Whatever your questions, answers can be found on YouTube instructional videos, Facebook posts, groups and live events. Searches reveal forums, illustrated articles, and much more right from your computer keyboard. Want to learn how to tie a particular knot, or a permit fly? Wondering where the fish are biting or what the tides are for your fishing trip (anywhere in the world) next week? You can even learn about the licensing requirements for an excursion to Belize or lodges that cater to fly fishermen in the Bahamas. The internet has a wealth of wonderful information and tons of junk. You have to know the right questions to ask to get the right answers.

Cast your net wide with “fishing” in Google (www.google.com), the net’s current #1 search engine, and you’ll have 271 million websites to choose from. There are also 373 million fishing-related images and 209 million groups with fishing links, as well as directories and news. If you want to go fly fishing in the Bahamas and you’ve heard great things about the Abacos, type in "fly fishing the Abacos" - without quotation marks - and you’ll get approximately 431,000 websites. Google is looking up everything on fly fishing and Abacos. Narrow the search by putting quotes around the query and you’ll narrow the search to 272 sites specific to fly fishing the Abacos.

When searching the internet, be as specific as you can by entering words that narrow the inquiry. This advice will get you close in your search, but it may take some further sleuthing to find just what you’re looking for. Narrow your search down as far as you can, and then start paging through the results to view the websites. I pay attention to page views when searching YouTube. More views are often a sign of a good result, but not always.

If this all seems very confusing, that’s because it is. But that doesn’t mean it’s not useful. The best way to learn is to practice. Time on the web, when used intelligently, is fun, interesting and very informative.

Here are a few sites you might want to check out. They have information on tides, what’s biting, where the action is, clubs, events and much more. Captain Mel Berman’s Online Fishing Florida Magazine has to be the most comprehensive site in our area. Many of you may remember Mel as the host of “The Mel Berman Show” on Tampa’s 970 WFLA Radio. His website, www.capmel.com has a wealth of information for local anglers. Even though Berman passed away over a decade ago, Neil Taylor administers the site and has kept Mel’s legacy alive and well. Learn from others, and share your thoughts through chats, forums and email.

When you’re planning your next trip, you might want to stop by The Angling Report, www.anglingreport.com, an independent online (and print) newsletter on fishing travel.

The Angling Report gives fishermen what they call the "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" low down on destinations, lodges and guides. The site concentrates on quality fly and light tackle fishing in the U.S. and abroad and is written by anglers who actually traveled to and fished the destinations. Want to chat and share information with other anglers? Explore sites like www.flyfishingforum.com , or www.floridasportsman.com. There’s something out there for even the most sedate armchair angler.

The possibilities are endless, so sit down, turn on your computer and see what you can find. Just remember, it’s a jungle out there and you’ll want to narrow your focus to the sites that are worth your time!

State pursues Cortez net camp demo

CORTEZ – The Florida Department of Environmental Protection continues to pursue the demolition of Raymond Guthrie Jr.’s stilt structure in Sarasota Bay, spokeswoman Shannon Herbon said Monday.

Because the courtimposed deadline for the demolition of what Guthrie calls a net camp passed earlier this month with no sign of compliance, the state agency plans to take the matter back to Manatee County 12th Judicial Circuit Court Judge Edward Nicholas, who granted an extension until the end of the Florida legislative session. The court gave Guthrie time to persuade legislators to save the structure, however, no action was taken.

Guthrie built the structure just off the Cortez fishing village in 2017 without a permit, and claims ownership based on prior net camps his family built on the same spot. The court has ruled that the state owns the submerged land under the structure, and the state requires its demolition.

“For any structure to receive proprietary authorization from the department, it is required to meet the criteria set forth in Chapter 18-21, Florida Administrative Code,” according to Herbon. “As applicable to this structure, this criteria includes, but is not limited to the requirement that ‘activities on sovereignty lands shall only be limited to water-dependent activities and minimal secondary non-water dependent uses pursuant to section 253.03(15), F.S.’ The Guthrie house does not meet the criteria of the rule.”

Supporters hoped that a non-profit organization could operate the net camp, but the form of ownership is “irrelevant,” she said.

SUN FILE PHOTO DEP officials say they still intend to have the net camp torn down.

TURTLE TIPS

During sea turtle season, May 1 – Oct. 31, please follow these tips: • Turn off lights visible from the beach and close blinds from sundown to sunrise; lights confuse nesting sea turtles and may cause them to go back to sea and drop their eggs in the water, where they won’t hatch. Light can also attract hatchlings away from the water. • Don’t use flashlights, lanterns or camera flashes on the beach at night. • Remove all objects from the sand from sundown to sunrise; they can deter sea turtles from nesting and can disorient hatchlings. • Fill in the holes you dig in the sand and level sandcastles before leaving the beach; they can obstruct or trap nesting and hatching sea turtles, which cannot live long out of the water. • Don’t use wish lanterns or fireworks; they litter the beach and Gulf. • Do not trim trees and plants that shield the beach from lights. • Never touch a sea turtle; it’s the law. If you see people disturbing turtles, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

BIRD TIPS

During bird nesting season, March through August, please follow these tips: • Never touch a shorebird chick, even if it’s wandering outside a staked nesting area.

• Teach kids not to chase birds – if they’re disturbed, bird parents may abandon nests. • Don’t feed birds – our food is not good for their health, and it encourages them to fly at people aggressively. • If birds are screeching and flying at you, you’re too close. • Avoid posted bird nesting areas and use designated walkways to the beach. • Keep pets away from bird nesting areas; dogs are not allowed on the beach by law. • Keep the beach clean; food scraps attract bird predators such as raccoons and crows to the beach, and litter can entangle birds and other wildlife. • If you see people disturbing nesting birds, call the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Wildlife Alert hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922).

Progress made on Kingfish plans

Additional trailer parking at the Kingfish Boat Ramp in Holmes Beach likely will be installed after the new Anna Maria Island Bridge is built – a project that could be 10 years in the future.

During a May 4 Council of Governments meeting, Charlie Hunsicker, Director of Parks and Natural Resources with Manatee County, gave an update on the progress of plans to expand the county’s boat ramp access, including Kingfish.

Hunsicker said renovation plans are about 60% complete in the design phase. Once the bridge is complete, he said 20 boat trailer parking spaces will be added to the existing 46 trailer parking spaces with regular vehicle parking remaining the same. Renovations to the existing parking area, three launch ramps and other onsite facilities may take place earlier if funding is available.