Bonefish & Tarpon Journal - Spring 2024

Ambassador David Mangum

Board of Directors

Officers

Carl Navarre, Chairman of the Board, Islamorada, Florida

Dan Berger, Vice Chairman of the Board, Key West, Florida

Jim McDuffie, President and CEO, Miami, Florida

Evan Carruthers, Treasurer, Maple Plain, Minnesota

John D. Johns, Secretary, Birmingham, Alabama

Tom Davidson, Founding Chairman Emeritus, Key Largo, Florida

Harold Brewer, Chairman Emeritus, Key Largo, Florida

Russ Fisher, Founding Vice Chairman Emeritus, Key Largo, Florida

Bill Horn, Vice Chairman Emeritus, Marathon, Florida

Jeff Harkavy, Founding Member and Circle of Honor Chair, Coral Springs, Florida

John Abplanalp

Stamford, Connecticut

Rich Andrews

Denver, Colorado

Stu Apte

Tavernier, Florida

Rodney Barreto

Coral Gables, Florida

Adolphus A. Busch IV

Ofallon, Missouri

John Davidson

Atlanta, Georgia

Ali Gentry Flota

Richmond, Virginia

Dr. Tom Frazer

Tampa, Florida

Doug Kilpatrick

Summerland, Florida

Jerry Klauer

New York, New York

Dr. Michael Larkin

St. Petersburg, Florida

Thorpe McKenzie

Chattanooga, Tennessee

Wayne Meland

Naples, Florida

Ambrose Monell

New York, New York

Sandy Moret

Islamorada, Florida

John Newman

Covington, Louisiana

Advisory Council

Randolph Bias, Austin, Texas

Charles Causey, Islamorada, Florida

Don Causey, Miami, Florida

Paul Dixon, East Hampton, New York

Chris Dorsey, Littleton, Colorado

Chico Fernandez, Miami, Florida

Mike Fitzgerald, Wexford, Pennsylvania

Pat Ford, Miami, Florida

Upcoming Events

Al Perkinson

New Smyrna Beach, Florida

Dr. Jennifer Rehage

Miami, Florida

Vaughn Roberts

Nassau, Bahamas

Jay Robertson

Islamorada, Florida

Diana Rudolph

Livingston, Montana

Rick Ruoff

Willow Creek, Montana

Adelaide Skoglund

Key Largo, Florida

Noah Valenstein

Tallahassee, Florida

Christopher Jordan, McLean, Virginia

Bill Klyn, Jackson, Wyoming

Tim O’Brien, Harlingen, Texas

Clint Packo, Littleton, Colorado

Jack Payne, Gainesville, Florida

Chris Peterson, Titusville, Florida

Steve Reynolds, Memphis, Tennessee

Ken Wright, Winter Park, Florida

13th Annual NYC Dinner & Awards Ceremony

October 15, 2024

583 Park Avenue

New York, NY

BTT at The Burge Club

November 13, 2024

The Burge Club

Mansfield, GA

Features

10 What’s Old Is New Again

The combination of fishing knowledge and scientific research shows that a regional approach is needed for tarpon management. T. Edward Nickens

18 Honoring Conservation Heroes

BTT inducts Captain Rick Ruoff and the late Captains Joe Gonzalez and Travis Holeman into the BTT Circle of Honor in recognition of their many lasting contributions to conservation. Mike Conner

26 Restoring Habitat, Fostering Fisheries

Looking back across more than a decade of habitat restoration work, BTT scientists and partners check in on five projects that are helping Florida’s fisheries thrive. Alexandra Marvar

38 Deciphering the Dynamics of the Tarpon Fishery

BTT is using GIS mapping and guide interviews to assess the health of Florida’s tarpon fishery and identify solutions to the threats it faces. Chris Hunt

Setting the Hook

From the Chairman and the President

Spring brings a season of renewal to the natural world and, for anglers, the promise of a new tarpon season! The spectacle of migrating tarpon filling Florida Keys flats is an aweinspiring reminder of what we are working to conserve.

For many years now, the approaching tarpon season has also signaled the start of a different and more ominous watch by anglers and guides. Every year around this time, we hold our collective breath as rising water levels in Lake Okeechobee trigger an all too predictable daisy chain of events. It begins with an announcement by the US Army Corps of Engineers that lake levels must be lowered, followed by releases of tainted, nutrientladen water into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries and Lake Worth Lagoon. Often referred to as “pulses,” these flows are unleashed in massive waves, spiking estuaries with freshwater, exacerbating red tides and toxic blue-green algae, and producing a cascade of impacts to the environment, fish and wildlife, coastal communities, and a state economy that runs on clean water.

This year, the large-scale releases began earlier than usual. Due to unseasonably high levels of rainfall attributed to El Niño, the lake swelled past the critical 16-foot mark in January, still well within Florida’s dry season. This prompted the Corps to begin releasing billions of gallons daily by February. And there was no end in sight, with planned releases through April—or longer if Florida’s rainfall continued to counter management actions to lower the lake.

For some in our angling community, this was a Groundhog Day moment. The anxious, angry emotion could be felt in conversations on skiffs and bar stools, in fly shops and across social media. “Haven’t we fixed this problem?” No, not yet, but we’re making real progress—and at an accelerating pace. Ground was broken in 2023 on the EAA Reservoir, the linchpin in a plan to store, treat, and move water south to the Everglades and Florida Bay. Likewise, we celebrated the ribbon-cutting in January of the first cell in the EAA Reservoir’s Stormwater Treatment Area (STA). Work on the STA began in 2020 and is expected to be finished by this summer, but we are still years away, perhaps not until 2029, from cutting the ribbon on the new reservoir. In the intervening years, there will no doubt be more releases of unwanted water to the east and west coasts.

The recent progress is remarkable, especially given the decades-long history of Everglades restoration, but clearly our work is not done. To ensure we get there, BTT and other organizations are continuing to call for full funding and expedited completion of all Everglades restoration projects. Your voice has been a vital part of our success and progress thus far, and we will need you again to prevent these critical projects from stalling.

MORE TO THE STORY

As is often the case, science influences our perspectives on water. Everglades restoration remains BTT’s highest priority in water-related policy. There’s no question that it is the single most

Carl Navarre, Chairman

Jim McDuffie, President

important restoration project that we can complete in this lifetime. But there is more to the story.

Science is also showing us that Florida’s waterways are under increasing threat from altered freshwater flows in other locations, failing wastewater infrastructure, pharmaceutical contaminants harmful to fish health, and the impacts of glyphosates use. These threats are manifested in areas of the state far removed from Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades. As a result, we simply don’t have the luxury of time to focus exclusively on a single source of threats. If we do, we could wake one day to a restored Everglades system only to find that risks to our fisheries have never been greater.

We believe the answer is to take a comprehensive and strategic approach, apply science-based solutions, and tackle threats to clean water on multiple fronts. Simply put, we must give our full-throated support to all Everglades restoration projects and support other legislation that addresses wastewater and stormwater infrastructure needs, removes harmful contaminants from our waterways, and conserves coastal habitats. We won’t take away from either when we advocate for both. If we do any less, we will lose!

BTT recently launched the Win Back Our Water campaign, which calls for comprehensive water quality reforms. Florida is making progress, yet the scale and complexity of the state’s water challenges will require a great deal more, from immediate and significant policy changes to increased investment in clean water initiatives and habitat conservation by the state. Take a moment today to learn more and join the fight at BTT.org/WINBACKOURWATER.

Our relentless pursuit of clean, fishable water throughout Florida—from Key West to the Indian River Lagoon and beyond— will benefit tarpon and the other iconic sportfish for which the Sunshine State is known. Addressing the urgent threats to our waterways will also benefit our coastal communities, whose way of life and economic well-being depends on clean water. Without it, none of what we do would be possible, and those majestic scenes of tarpon rolling on Keys flats at dawn will become a thing of the past.

As tarpon season marches on, please join us in reaffirming your commitment to clean water by advocating for policies and legislation that will make a difference. As always, we thank you for your support of our mission. We wish you all the best this tarpon season.

Tippets

Short Takes on Important Topics

BTT LAUNCHES WIN BACK OUR WATER CAMPAIGN

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust launched the Win Back Our Water campaign to raise awareness of Florida’s water quality issues. The campaign highlights key issues that have been identified as harming Florida’s water quality: altered freshwater flows, failing and outdated wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, pharmaceutical contaminants, and glyphosate pollution that can result from the use of herbicides.

Win Back Our Water aims to mobilize Floridians to take action to protect their state’s waterways and builds on BTT’s water quality priorities, most notably advocacy in support of Everglades restoration. The campaign emphasizes the importance of water quality not only for marine ecosystems but also for the many Floridians who depend on clean water for their livelihoods, recreation, and quality of life.

“Florida is at a crossroads” said Jim McDuffie, BTT President and CEO. “Failing and outdated wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, pharmaceutical contaminants, and glyphosate pollution threaten our coastal aquatic resources, economy, and way of life. The ‘Win Back Our Water’ campaign is a call to action to protect the state’s waterways by addressing issues that threaten water quality and, ultimately, our livelihoods.”

The launch of the Win Back Our Water campaign follows ongoing harmful algal blooms, poor water quality, seagrass loss, fish kills, and contaminants such as pharmaceuticals in fish and other marine organisms that show that much more action is needed, especially considering the ways that a changing climate exacerbates these problems. Florida must continue to

make immediate and significant policy changes and long-term investments in water quality and habitat conservation to halt the accelerating decline and give ecosystems a chance at recovery.

To this end, BTT supported in Florida’s 2024 Legislative Session robust Everglades and water quality appropriations, including for the Indian River Lagoon and Caloosahatchee River. BTT also advocated for the renewal of the $2.5 million Innovative Wastewater Technology Grant Program to continue to address contaminants of emerging concern, including pharmaceuticals. Additionally, BTT supported the stormwater ratification bill, SB 7040, which will increase stormwater treatment design standards to protect waterways statewide.

Visit BTT.org/WINBACKOURWATER to learn more.

NATIONAL FISH & WILDLIFE FOUNDATION AWARDS BTT GRANT TO RESTORE ROOKERY BAY

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) has awarded Bonefish & Tarpon Trust a $250,000 grant to complete restoration planning for degraded coastal habitat along Shell Island Road and Marco Shores Lake within the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in Collier County, Florida. The work will restore natural hydrology to over 1,000 acres of vulnerable mangrove and marsh habitat, enhancing juvenile tarpon and snook habitat and increasing coastal resilience for local communities. NFWF, with matching funds from the State of Florida, provided previous grant support for the initial restoration planning at Shell Island Road and Marco Shores Lake. With the new grant, BTT and its partners will complete the final design for restoration and the permitting necessary for construction to begin.

Rookery Bay provides vital nursery habitat for sportfish. Photo: RBNERR

FLORIDA TO TAKE NEW APPROACH TO MANAGING SNOOK FISHERIES

The Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) will begin incorporating habitat considerations and a regional approach to managing the state’s snook fisheries. This is a significant first step in including habitat in a more tailored management approach for one of the state’s most important fisheries. FWC will establish nine snook management regions.

“Through innovative management strategies like this, which allow us to be agile in our response to concerns, we are ensuring that Florida’s future generations of anglers will have access to this iconic fishery,” said FWC Chairman Rodney Barreto.

Snook are essential to Florida’s recreational fishery, which generates more than $13 billion annually. Photo: Pat Ford

BTT AND PARTNERS RECEIVE NOAA GRANT

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and partners have been awarded a 1.2 million NOAA RESTORE grant for recreational fishery habitat conservation in Charlotte County, Florida. The essential nursery habitats of snook and tarpon across the region are vulnerable to urban development and have no explicit habitat protections. The project team, comprised of BTT, FWC Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Charlotte County, and Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP), seeks to better inform county and state governments’ decisions by creating tools that prioritize locations for restoration and protection of juvenile sportfish habitat. The Recreational Fishery Habitat Conservation Project was one of 10 actionable research projects in the Gulf of Mexico to be selected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) RESTORE Science Program to receive this award.

To support the project, BTT is creating and facilitating the implementation of a Vulnerability Index which overlays valuable sportfish nursery habitats with potential development locations in Charlotte County. A Vulnerability Index uses GIS mapping data layers for nursery habitat sites overlaid with data on factors like current and potential development locations, freshwater flows, and whether land is publicly or privately owned to categorize areas as High, Medium or Low vulnerability.

BTT FOUNDING MEMBER LEFTY KREH STATUE UNVEILED

Far from the flats where BTT founding member Lefty Kreh made his mark on the angling world, a new memorial celebrates his Maryland roots. Kreh began fly-fishing when he relocated to Miami in 1965. The World War II veteran went on to become an accomplished outdoor writer and editor, fishing show host, fly tier, and a world-renowned casting instructor. Kreh was a vocal advocate for the conservation of our flats fisheries for more than 50 years, inspiring the naming of BTT’s highest honor, the Lefty Kreh Award for Lifetime Achievement in Conservation.

More than 200 people gathered on a rainy morning last October in Kreh’s hometown of Frederick, Maryland, to pay their respects. The occasion was the unveiling of a larger-thanlife bronze sculpture of Kreh standing thigh-deep in the water, wearing his signature cap and holding a fly rod. The sculpture was commissioned by the non-profit organization Friends Of Lefty Kreh (FOLK), established by the Potomac Valley Fly Fishers in 2021. BTT thanks FOLK for continuing Lefty’s lifelong efforts to promote the sport of fly-fishing and for creating this wonderful tribute.

B T T

SUPPORT BTT WITH FLORIDA LICENSE PLATE

The BTT license plate has begun appearing on vehicles statewide! If you’re a Florida resident, you can get yours in time for tarpon season at your local tag agency. $25 from every plate sold will benefit BTT’s mission to conserve bonefish, tarpon, and permit, and the habitats that support the flats fishery. For more information, visit BTT.org/license-plate

The Bonefish & Tarpon Florida license plate is now available.

The Lefty Kreh memorial in Frederick, MD. Photo: Toby Mendez

PROTECT WHAT'S OUT THERE

40+ YEARS OF PROTECTING THE WATERY WORLD WE CALL HOME.

The combination of fishing knowledge and scientific research shows that a regional approach is needed for tarpon management.

BY T. EDWARD NICKENS

Mum was the word. No one catching tarpon in North Carolina’s Pamlico Sound in the 1970s was giving up the goods, and that’s how it stayed so good for so long. That’s how you could go out like Owen Lupton did, and hook 40 tarpon in a day. That’s how you could land 13 solid fish—40 to 80 to 100-plus pounds—in a blistering hot 4-hour stretch of a Tar Heel August, running from rod to rod, yanking pinfish and skates off the hooks so the tarpon could have a crack at the cut bait. Capt. Rick Caton, who today runs Free Agent out of Hatteras, won’t ever forget that day. He won’t ever forget those few years when Pamlico Sound was an unknown tarpon mecca. “You could go out on any slick calm hot summer day and see tarpon rolling in 360 degrees,” he says. “And I’m not talking about hundreds of tarpon. Thousands of tarpon.”

But there was a code. Keep your mouth shut when you could. Lie through your teeth when you had to. On Lupton’s boat, there was also a plan: If another boat showed up while he was tarpon

fishing, he put the big rod down while his children jumped up on the bow to make a show of casting for dink fish. It was the same in Virginia, in the open Chesapeake Bay and along the seaside of the lower Delmarva Peninsula. Ditto in South Carolina’s Winyah Bay and Santee Delta, and in the ocean off the Golden Isles of Georgia. At the time, no one knew precisely where they came from, or how they got there, but significant populations of tarpon showed up in very catchable numbers each summer, far from the more southerly latitudes typically considered their home turf.

In the public’s perception, tarpon and tarpon fishing have long been closely associated with Florida’s clear water and subtropical climes, the waters of the Gulf Coast, or more exotic locales in the Caribbean. But among a subculture of serious practitioners in the Mid-Atlantic and upper South—from Chesapeake Bay to Georgia’s saltmarsh-lined coast—tarpon fishing in those waters could be as good as nearly anywhere else in the world. You just had to know the fish were there, mainly during the swelter of summer, and

how to catch them in turbid waters that could seem featureless to the ordinary angler. And many of those early tarpon pioneers are still working today to advocate for better management of tarpon populations and the habitats on which they rely.

Those glory days existed in a sort of fishing fantasyland that was wedged between two technological revolutions: The advent of sportfishing gear tough enough to tame tarpon. And the advent of social media, whose addictive emphasis on the where and the who changed the fishing landscape forever. But today’s tarpon anglers are living through another kind of technological revolution: The dramatic and paradigm-changing revelations of new scientific studies on the life history of tarpon in the southern United States. Bolstered by the scientific expertise and funding from Bonefish & Tarpon Trust and its partners, projects such as the Tarpon Acoustic Tagging Project are helping to rewire approaches to conserving the Silver King. Study results are revealing the outlines of an adult tarpon migration along the southeastern U.S. coast that is split into

two sub-groups. In their spawning season, mature fish mix in the Florida Keys. Then one cluster migrates north along the eastern U.S. coast, while another moves along the Gulf of Mexico shore to as far west as the Mississippi Delta. And emerging data from an ongoing study that received BTT funding points to a third subgroup that migrates along the Gulf Coast, spanning from the Delta through Mexico.

That tarpon are found in such distant regions is no surprise to the coterie of anglers who helped pioneer tarpon angling in what many then considered far-off waters. These fish have always bedeviled and bewitched those silver-struck with their pursuit. Connecting the dots of their incredible migrations—and to the tarpon fishing of yore—should only bolster arguments for the need for comprehensive conservation action targeting water quality and tarpon habitat, and a regional approach to managing a fishery that has long been a part of angling culture far beyond its core territory.

Tarpon migrate off the coast of North Carolina. Photo: Brian Horsley

EARLY EFFORTS

It’s not that tarpon were unknown in the land of whole hog barbecue. Perhaps the first tarpon caught in Virginia waters was landed in 1936, north of Chincoteague and not far from the Maryland border, by a couple of red drum anglers who reportedly fought the fish for two-and-a-half hours. But that was an incidental catch; most observers posit that the first tarpon caught intentionally in Virginia was landed by Claude Rogers, the state’s saltwater tournament director, in July of 1955. In 1974, angler Barry Truitt, chief conservationist for The Nature Conservancy’s Virginia Coast Reserve, hauled in the 130-pound state record.

Kendall Osborne knew all about this. Whispered tales of Virginia tarpon fishing drew him to the region in 2005, where he befriended the long-time outdoor editor for The Virginian-Pilot, Bob “Hutch” Hutchinson. Hutchinson was a tarpon fanatic; in fact, he’d been handling the boat when Rogers landed his 1955 fish. When Osborne arrived on the scene, he made a promise to himself: He was going to catch a tarpon on fly in Virginia waters no matter how long it took.

It took three long years. Virginian anglers were simpatico with tarpon nuts just to the south: The ones that knew how to catch the here-today-gone-today fish weren’t talking. “I never got a pinch of help from anyone,” Osborne recalls. “I learned everything by myself, because I didn’t want to ask anybody. And most people would not help you, anyway. All Hutch would say was that the tarpon were everywhere and nowhere, which was pretty accurate.”

During Osborne’s first year of his tarpon-by-fly quest, he never even saw a fish until his very last day on the water, in September. He started at the same spot the next July, and skunked that summer, as well. But in 2008 he struck silver, leadering a tarpon to the side of his 13-foot Boston Whaler. He thinks he was the fifth person to catch a tarpon on fly in Virginia waters.

Tarpon fishing in Virginia is no secret today, of course, but it hasn’t gotten any easier. There’s the usual chorus of increasing angling pressure, but one of the current challenges to tarpon fishing in Virginia, oddly enough, is the state’s impressively successful seagrass restoration program. Beginning in 1999, seaside bays along the southern Virginia coast have been seeded with eelgrass, which had long carpeted the region in vast underwater meadows but had nearly disappeared. Today, some 10,000 acres of lush eelgrass have spread, comprising the largest

the world. It’s awesome habitat for tarpon, but

eelgrass

the act of putting one of these fish on a hook even more. “Between the grass and the heat and the bugs and the sharks and the stingrays,” says Truitt, “you have to have fortitude and patience.”

PAMLICO PIONEERS

In North Carolina, Owen Lupton and Rick Caton had grit and gumption in spades. Credited with catching the first targeted tarpon in North Carolina waters, theirs was an intriguing partnership. The year was 1976, and Lupton was teaching a twoyear vocational course in commercial fishing at Pamlico County High School. The school owned its own trawler, which Lupton

Kendall Osborne fishes for tarpon along the coast of Virginia. Photo: Kendall Osborne

A common sight from tarpon days in the Keys also played out in places like the Pamlico Sound of North Carolina, where Rick Caton and Owen Lupton landed the first tarpon in 1976. Like Florida, the state has since passed catch-and-release regulations. Photo: Rick Caton seagrass restoration in

the

beds complicate

captained as he took students out on Pamlico Sound for shrimp and crab trawling instruction. But on Fridays, weekends, and during the summer, he fished the Miss PCHS with a few prized students to help pay for the program. Caton, a skinny kid with the nickname “Skeletor,” shared Lupton’s fascination with tarpon, and the pair would watch giant tarpon rolling by the boat, refusing to eat anything. “You could have hit them with a flounder gig,” Caton recalls, “but you couldn’t catch them.” When the pair hooked and lost a few tarpon fishing small croakers deep, they realized that bait was the key. They made a pact to catch a tarpon in waters where the old-timers said it couldn’t be done.

On the first day of their quest, they hooked a 15-pound bluefish that jumped clear of the water, and the pair howled with glee, thinking it was a tarpon. It wasn’t, but the very next fish was. The tarpon hit a cut croaker on a J-hook rigged with a long leader, on a Shimano TLD 15 reel. The pair fought the 90-pound fish for a half-hour before getting it to the boat. There was another boat about 300 yards away, witnessing the fight, and as Lupton and Caton landed the tarpon the fellow motored over to see what the commotion was all about. “I hollered out: Sir, this is the first tarpon fished for and caught in Pamlico Sound!” Caton laughs. “You have seen history being made!

“We were just a little bit excited.”

Caton and his clients have landed unknown numbers of tarpon in North Carolina waters since. One day he leadered 10 to the boat. On another day, he landed five while fishing alone. “By the time I got to bed that night,” he laughs, “didn’t nobody have to put me to sleep.”

Of all those tarpon, he’s only brought that first one back to the docks. “And only then,” he says, “because nobody would have

believed us if we didn’t have the fish.”

And that first North Carolina fish isn’t the only Tar Heel tarpon to make history. Twenty years later, deep in the night of May 31, 1996, a Cuban angler off the waterfront of Havana landed a 70-pound tarpon using a hand line, and floating in a tire inner tube with a seat made of rope. As he was cutting up the fish to sell, he found a tag, which he mailed to the listed Miami address. The fish had been caught and tagged 22 months earlier in Pamlico Sound, during the 2nd Annual Oriental Rotary Tarpon Tournament. The tarpon had traveled more than 800 nautical miles. To this day, it remains one of only three tarpon documented to have crossed the Florida Strait to Cuba—two tarpon tagged in North Carolina, and one tagged in Boca Grande, Florida.

CONSERVATION EVOLUTION

No one is any longer questioning the catchability, much less the presence, of tarpon in these more northerly enclaves. The jetties off Charleston Harbor were a known tarpon hotspot since the 1950s, when anglers pulling Cisco Kid trolling plugs found willing fish stacked up along the rocks. Guide Fuzzy Davis began targeting Palmetto State fish in the early 1980s, soaking menhaden, mullet, and croakers. He led client Steve Kiser to the current state record in 1987, a 154-pound, 10-ounce brute caught off Hilton Head.

That growing fishery led South Carolina guides and conservationists to lobby for protective measures. BTT founding member Fred Allen and Lowcountry guides Captains Steve Roff and Hunter Allen were instrumental in building support for the effort. In June of 2013, just as tarpon were working their way into South Carolina waters, the state passed a law limiting the take of tarpon to a single fish per day that measured 77 inches or greater in fork length. The statute’s strategy was to ensure that only fish likely to surpass the state record could be kept. The law was similar to Florida’s stricture making tarpon catch-and-release-only unless the angler holds a tarpon tag to be used in pursuit of an IGFA world record.

Conservation initiatives aimed at protecting tarpon in these shoulder states evolved on differing timelines. South Carolina’s positive effort was followed in 2021 by North Carolina, which moved to make tarpon a catch-and-release only fishery. Previously, a single tarpon could be kept each day, but the state’s vibrant pier-fishing culture presented a conundrum: Hauling a heavy tarpon up to a pier railing nearly guaranteed its death. In Georgia, where the state’s Golden Isles region has long been

An angler battles the Silver King in North Carolina waters. Photo: George Beckwith

Rick Caton’s Free Agent backs down on a tarpon hooked by a client in Pamlico Sound. Photo: George Beckwith

known as a tarpon hotspot, tarpon harvest is limited to a single fish over 68 inches per day, in line with other states that allow an angler to vie for a record fish.

Unfortunately, Virginia remains a conspicuous outlier; there are no regulations governing tarpon harvest. “None,” underscores Osborne, bitterly. “They’re not even designated as a gamefish. You can shoot them with a speargun, with a bow and arrow, whatever. The attitude is, Well, if we’ve gotten along without a regulation this far, we don’t need one. Fortunately, the catch-and-release ethic for tarpon is now nearly universal.”

Which is to be applauded. But as more anglers target tarpon in more places, a significant challenge in these maturing fisheries is how to minimize the impacts of increasing fishing pressure even when fish are released. The Florida Keys and other more southerly regions benefit from long traditions of careful handling, both regulated, such as size and gear restrictions, and voluntary, among them Florida’s ban on lifting tarpon over 40 inches from the water unless the angler is pursuing a state or world record and has a permission tag to do so.

In these emerging fisheries, says Dr. Aaron Adams, BTT’s Director of Science and Conservation, “there may not be as much knowledge about best handling practices such as keeping the fight short, avoiding dragging fish up on a beach, and using circle hooks. That’s part of the learning process as these fisheries evolve.” To help guide the establishment of such conservation-

friendly traditions, BTT and others are dialing up education efforts. In Georgia, for example, BTT worked with the Coastal Resources Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in 2022 on a collaborative effort to educate anglers about best handling practices for tarpon. As part of the campaign, every licensed charter captain in the state received a newly designed boat towel emblazoned at the top with “Tarpon Tips” for safer handling.

But better handling practices and conservative harvest can cushion tarpon populations only so much. There’s a growing understanding that tarpon will need more than fishing regulations to persist: Just as conservationists have long recognized that waterfowl and other migrating birds need critical habitats all along their migratory routes—breeding habitats, wintering habitats, stopover habitats where they can feed quickly and efficiently during their arduous flights—tarpon need a wide range of healthy habitats along their own movements. They’ll need management of forage such as menhaden to ensure they have enough gas in the tank to fuel migration and support spawning. Everywhere, from shallow saltmarsh bays to open ocean corridors, they’ll need clean water no less than humans need clean air. And to the extent that increased fishing opportunity for tarpon is rooted in migration patterns shifting in a changing climate, tarpon will need new constituencies advocating for regionwide management approaches.

“All these things are interacting,” says Adams. “And those interactions underscore the connectivity between the oceans and the coastlines, between wetlands and rivers and tidal creeks, across the entire region. Issues of water quality and quantity and freshwater flow alterations due to development will matter across the broader landscape, because we now know that all of these habitats are so important. We’re even seeing tarpon larvae and juvenile fish in duck impoundments way up into the South Carolina Lowcountry. It’s all a new frontier.”

A few things haven’t changed, of course. Tarpon still inspire a few crazy antics by anglers. Mum might still be the word when it comes to holding a favorite fishing spot close to the chest. But this much is coming into focus: When it comes to tarpon along the southern U.S. coast, it turns out that what’s mine is yours, and vice versa. We’re all in similar thrall to this majestic fish. And we all share responsibility for conserving a species whose epic life history is only growing more fascinating by the day.

An award-winning author and journalist, T. Edward Nickens is editor-at-large of Field & Stream and a contributing editor for Garden & Gun and Audubon magazine.

Capt. George Beckwith lands a tarpon in North Carolina.

Photo: George Beckwith A tarpon landed and fin-clipped for BTT’s Tarpon Isotope Study by Virginian angler Kendall Osborne. Photo: Kendall Osborne

When Pursuing the Best, Go to the Best.

The Keys for Tarpon. The Bahamas for Bones. Frontiers for Travel.

Sure there are exceptions, but this pursuit and your time deserve the best. As the leader in destination fishing for over 50 years and the only full-service agency in the industry, no one is better equipped to handle your trip from start to finish.

Ready to have your next trip designed by the experts?

Call us today.

Thanks to those whose favorite guide is their conscience.

BTT Honors Angling Legends and Conservation Heroes

At the 11th Annual Florida Keys Dinner, BTT will induct Captain Rick Ruoff and the late Captains Joe Gonzalez and Travis Holeman into the BTT Circle of Honor.

BY MIKE CONNER

Advocacy comes naturally for individuals who deeply care about something enough to dedicate themselves to keeping it. You just fall into it, because you must. And so it goes for sportfishing, as evidenced by the growing number of non-profit organizations working to restore and preserve fisheries and vital, connected ecosystems the world over.

It is the gamefish themselves that are central to the cause, and it involves preserving the wild, but threatened habitats that house them.

That’s certainly the case with bonefish, tarpon and permit, which have a rabid following. A growing army is seeing to it that we have these fish, and the thrill of stalking them, for generations to come.

It’s called passing it down. Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s heralded Circle of Honor shines a light on guides and anglers who sacrifice the most of themselves to do just that.

The light this year shines brightly on three most deserving guides and anglers, Captain Rick Ruoff, and the late Captains Joe Gonzalez and Travis Holeman.

Though these gentlemen hail from different places and came up the ranks in different ways, their personal touchstones in fishing directed them all to the same place—a prestigious roster of difference-makers who we as anglers and fellow guides should celebrate.

The late Captain Joe Gonzalez.

CAPTAIN RICK RUOFF

Captain Rick Ruoff was born in Ohio. He wasn’t born in salty, sun-soaked Florida. In fact, it took him a while to find the Florida Keys, where he honed his fly-fishing and flats guiding chops from 1970 until he begrudgingly left his beloved Island home and waters in 1997.

Ruoff’s longtime friend Carl Navarre, BTT’s Chairman and the former Publisher and CEO of Atlantic Monthly Press, met him in the 1970s when he himself guided for three years in Islamorada.

“We were both deeply involved with the Everglades Protection Association, when the grassroots organization fought to outlaw commercial netting in Everglades National Park,” said Navarre. “That is when Rick’s leadership abilities, personality and intelligence became apparent and local guides eventually elected him Commodore of the Islamorada Fishing Guides Association (IFGA) in 1976, a position he held for 15 years. And to think that he started out as the nineteenth skiff guide on the charter booking pecking order at Bud & Mary’s back in the day, when the charter rate was $35 a day!”

“Rick was one of the few inshore guides with a college degree,” Navarre added. “That sure set him apart, as did the fact that, unlike most flats guides, he avoided tournaments and competition altogether.”

“Competition just whigs me out!” Ruoff admitted on a recent Mill House Podcast.

Though he played on sports teams in school and was a good athlete, fishing was simply not a competition for Ruoff. Neither was the pursuit of world records. Ruoff claims he competes with himself on the water, mainly to see how much more he can learn out there every day.

Navarre fondly recalls he and Ruoff’s “afternoon sessions” with Islamorada’s heralded monster bonefish.

“Even after a long day’s charter, Rick and I headed out to cast flies to big, tailing bones. We did not target mudding fish—it was big tailers only. There were certainly more of them then, and over time we tallied a lot of 10-pound-plus bonefish on fly,” said Navarre. “We honed our techniques. We were developing the sport, and fly evolution was part of it.”

Former Islamorada guide Capt. Harry Spear, who now lives and builds skiffs in Panacea, Florida, also shared countless hours on skiffs with Ruoff, and first met him at an IFGA meeting, when they were in their twenties.

“We discovered we had two common interests—fishing and girls!” said Spear. “We were also both heavy into flies, and I had

just fashioned an epoxy permit fly, and did well with it. I tied a smaller version for bones, and one day on Cross Bank, Rick and I spanked the big fish with it. That day started our intense mission to catch huge Islamorada bonefish—it’s what we did together. We owned bonefishing at that time.”

In 2021, Ruoff joined BTT’s Board of Directors, where his biology background and angling knowledge have proven an invaluable asset. He has played a critical role in the identification of bonefish spawning sites in the Florida Keys.

“I thought that I knew all about the resource; until the population crashed,” he said. “I discovered neither I, nor anyone else, knew where or how bonefish spawned—a major gap in our knowledge. BTT has come up with the amazing science to determine the dynamics of bonefish spawning. I am so proud to be part of the BTT science effort that has unraveled these bonefish mysteries, and will witness their rebound.”

Ruoff has passed along a wealth of fishing knowledge to his friends, customers, and mentored quite a few guides both in the U.S. and abroad—he trained guides in Los Roques, The Bahamas, Christmas Island and elsewhere. And he hosted many fly fishers of all skill levels on group trips to those waters, serving as a personal “tutor” on the bow.

He left the Keys in 1997 to live in Montana where he still lives today, fly fishing world-class western rivers for trout and bird hunting over his dogs.

Capt. Rick Ruoff has guided for more than 50 years. Photo courtesy of Capt. Ruoff.

Capt. Ruoff lands a snook on fly. Photo courtesy of Capt. Ruoff.

CAPTAIN JOE GONZALEZ

Captain Joe Gonzalez, who passed away unexpectedly in 2022, was a brilliant flats guide and tireless conservationist. But he may best be remembered for his friendly demeanor, sense of humor and willingness to share his deep knowledge of his local waters.

A Florida native, Gonzalez began fishing his home waters of Biscayne Bay at a young age, exploring the Florida Keys and The Bahamas during his summer breaks. He went on to guide professionally for more than 30 years, splitting his time between the Keys, Everglades, and Biscayne Bay, where he focused his considerable skills on putting clients on large bonefish and permit. A consummate teacher and mentor to many young guides, Gonzalez shared his fishing knowledge as a regular seminar presenter and appeared on numerous fishing TV programs. In 2014, Gonzalez was honored with the Jose Wejebe Professional Guide Award.

He was patient, and especially encouraging—his trademark words from the poling platform to anglers on his bow during the heat of things were, “Stay with me! Stay with me…”

A consummate angler, Gonzalez was also a passionate and committed advocate for flats fishery conservation. He darttagged over 1,300 bonefish, more than any guide for BTT’s bonefish research program. He was also instrumental in the success of BTT’s Project Permit, dart-tagging more than 130 fish. Gonzalez was a regular participant in BTT’s International Science Symposium, where he served on the Bonefish Panel.

Capt. Carl Ball, a veteran flats guide who lives in Ft. Lauderdale and plies the shallows from Biscayne Bay to the Keys and beyond, also tagged an impressive number of bonefish and permit for BTT, and regularly ran into Gonzalez at the Key Biscayne boat ramp, and did occasional group charters with him.

“We shared our general observations, swapped charter stories, but not to the point where I’d ask, “Where are the fish, Joe?” That was just not done, but I’m betting he would have been free with specific intel, given his generous nature,” said Ball. “I’ll never forget the way he reacted to something that really impressed or surprised him. He’d say, ‘Oh Mylanta!’ which I suppose was his code for ‘Oh My!’”

Ball says Gonzalez set a great example for the other guides on the Bay, not only for his dedication to the fishery, and his kindness to his customers, but as a great family man.

NOAA Fisheries Biologist and BTT board member Dr. Michael Larkin got to know Joe while a graduate student at the University of Miami.

“I was working on bonefish and started reaching out to bonefish guides. In our conversations Joe’s name would frequently come up. So I first reached out to Joe through a mail survey of bonefish guides asking questions about Florida’s bonefish population,” said Larkin.

He was all in, so Larkin took the relationship a step further and invited him to participate in the bonefish tagging project.

“Joe was friendly and agreed to tag bonefish, but at that time I was not sure he was committed to the tagging project,” said Larkin. “Two weeks later I got a phone call that woke me up at 6 a.m. on a Tuesday morning. It was Joe telling me he had a trip starting in an hour and he needed more bonefish tags. I told him that I already gave him 50 tags two weeks earlier and asked him what happened to all the bonefish tags. He replied that he already tagged 50 bonefish, so was out of tags. My eyes almost popped out of my head, I jumped out of bed, and I responded “I am on my way!”

“Capt. Joe went on to tag an astounding 1,324 bonefish for our study. I am now a grown man in my 40s and I don’t think I have even seen 1,324 bonefish in my lifetime,” said Larkin.

Joe’s tagging went on to produce over 60 recaptures, providing new insight of bonefish growth, mortality and movements. One specific bonefish that Joe tagged, near Key Biscayne in 2005, was recaptured almost a year later at Andros Island in The Bahamas. According to Larkin, this intriguing recapture sparked new interest in bonefish tagging in the Florida Keys, which helped to provide better understanding of bonefish movements in the Keys.

Said Larkin: “Though I went on to get a Ph.D. in bonefish at the University of Miami, I will never know as much about this great gamefish as Joe Gonzalez did.”

Capt. Gonzalez was a master at catching permit on the flats. Capt. Gonzalez tagged more than 1,300 bonefish.

CAPTAIN TRAVIS HOLEMAN

Captain Travis Holeman was 46 years old when he passed in May, 2021. A Texan, he fished Texas waters and the Louisiana marsh before delving into Florida’s Charlotte Harbor and the Florida Keys. He became a nationally recognized fishing and hunting guide who appeared on numerous TV shows including the ESPN2 Redfish Cup series, Madfin Shark series and he cohosted the award-winning Chasin’ the Sun series on Discovery Channel. Holeman was very involved in fisheries conservation and conducted fishing clinics and educational programs all over the U.S. and abroad.

In 2015, Dr. Luke Griffin and Dr. Jake Brownscombe, BTT collaborating scientists, needed to place as many acoustic telemetry tags in permit as possible for BTT’s Project Permit. They reached out to Holeman after hearing about his knowledge of the Lower Keys, and offshore permit fisheries especially.

“We met at Summerland Key, and Travis recommended that we get the biggest bang for our buck by concentrating on the rock piles and wrecks that permit frequent—we knew very little about them and their locations,” said Griffin. “We were able to catch good numbers consistently with Travis, hold them in a big live well, insert the tags, and install the receivers right there.”

“Travis was also instrumental in our acoustic telemetry projects on tarpon, which I led, and on permit, led by Dr. Jake Brownscombe, my colleague at Carleton University. But Travis was especially dialed in on permit, their whereabouts and when to find them shallow or deep,” said Griffin.

According to Brownscombe, Holeman was the key to the

success of the Project Permit. “I doubt the project would have reached its fullest extent without Travis’s knowledge and generosity with his time.”

He served as a “bird dog” for the researchers and narrowed down the best aggregations to tag over 300 permit. Scientists now better understand the connectivity between offshore permit spots and the flats of the Keys, and Project Permit research was instrumental in the establishment of the no-fishing closure during spawning season at Western Dry Rocks.

“After Travis helped further the permit project, we then received funding for the tarpon work, and, of course, Travis, along with brother, Bear, helped tag the first among many tarpon for the project,” said Griffin. “And if his willingness to put in hundreds upon hundreds of hours on the water with us was not enough, he twisted industry arms to get tackle donations, and solicited his charter customers to donate money for expenses.”

“He was a big guy, and he had a big personality,” said Griffin. “He was generous, funny, and just a joy to be around.”

Holeman made clear that fellow anglers needed to be handson to conserve the fishery. He once said, “The only people who have a dog in this fight are the ones who participate, so manufacturers, guides and anglers have to get involved.”

Mike Conner formerly guided fly and light-tackle anglers from Florida Bay to the Indian River Lagoon, and has written features for numerous outdoor publications. He currently serves as Conservation Editor for Florida Sportsman magazine.

Capt. Holeman releases a permit tagged for Project Permit in the Florida Keys. Photo: Lucas Griffin

BTT Partners with Belize Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute

BY CHRIS SANTELLA

The current population of Belize is estimated at just over 410,000. That’s one thousand or so fewer souls than currently reside in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Yet despite its modest population, and Vermont-sized dimensions, Belize plays an oversized role in terms of healthy western Caribbean ecosystems—from its mountains and lush rainforests to its amazingly rich coastal zone. The latter includes a large section of the Meso-American reef (and its many denizens), 300 cayes, a host of endangered species like the West Indian manatee and American crocodile and immense populations of permit, bonefish and tarpon.

The Belizean people take great pride in their land and its tremendous biodiversity. They also understand the incredible importance of the nation’s biological riches to its economy. World-renowned snorkeling and diving draw around 900,000 tourists to the region annually, driving construction of new coastal development, airports, urban areas, and cruise ship ports. The same coastal ecosystems also support commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries. These resource-based economic activities in the coastal zone generate $350 to $400 million BDZ annually. Responsibility for overseeing the complex and at times conflicting functions related to the economic development, resource and environmental management in the coastal zone of Belize is divided among numerous agencies. Near the forefront of these efforts is Belize Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute (CZMAI).

The notion of implementing coastal zone management

in Belize was born out of a historic International Coastal Resources Management Workshop held in San Pedro, Ambergris Caye, in August of 1989. The initiative, also known as “the Meeting of the Minds,” was in response to concerns that the coastal zone was being developed at a rapid pace, and there was no national development plan in place at the time to guide resource utilization and conservation. One important outcome of the workshop was that all the experts agreed that Belize required an integrated, holistic approach to resource management of its coastal resources to ensure the long-term viability of its barrier reef system. Coastal Zone Management (CZM) was identified as the approach that could best strike a balance between economic development and sustainable management of the coastal zone.

Despite making great progress in its infancy, it became clear relatively quickly that the CZM Unit alone would not be able to achieve the goals of CZM. A legal framework and institutional arrangement were required. Adequate financial resources were also necessary. By 1998, the Coastal Zone Management Act was passed to respond to the diversification of coastal land and the resulting increase in demand among other challenges such as rapid development, overfishing, and population growth. The Coastal Zone Management Authority and Institute (CZMAI) was established that same year and mandated to work with a broad scope of partners and stakeholders to produce an Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)

Belize’s flats fishery generates more than $100 million annually for the nation’s economy. Photo: Under Armour

Plan. The ICZM Plan was completed and ratified by the Cabinet in 2016 and is now being communicated by CZMAI to all partners and stakeholders around the country whose work or development interest falls under the broad remit of the ICZM Plan.

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust recently announced the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding with CZMAI to identify and implement conservation and protection of coastal and nearshore habitats associated with Belize’s flats fishery. “BTT is pleased to collaborate with CZMAI on its important mission to ensure the sustainable use of marine resources and ensure wise development in the coastal zone,” said BTT CEO Jim McDuffie. CZMAI and BTT will collaborate on:

Research and monitoring activities, including tagging projects related to Belize’s inshore recreational fish species, such as bonefish, tarpon, and permit, as well as studies related to age, growth, reproduction, and genetics of the fish. The organizations will also conduct habitat assessments, mapping of Belize’s flat fishing habitats, and studies related to water quality.

Public engagement/awareness/educational outreach to highlight the many facets of Belize’s economically significant recreational fishing sector, including the development of a “Best Practice” guide for Belize’s flats fishery, media trips, and community-wide events.

Strengthening CZMAI’s ability to manage the flats fishery including coordinating appropriate training opportunities on related topics including habitat health assessments, water quality monitoring, and fish genetics studies. BTT will also provide support with respect to national initiatives such as marine spatial planning and other policy priorities of mutual interest.

“There’s lots of overlap between CZMAI’s priorities regarding coastal management and recreational fishing and ours,”

said Kellie Ralson, BTT’s Vice President for Conservation and Public Policy. “We always act in a supporting role, rather than trying to dictate activities on the ground. We work closely with Arlene Young (CZMAI’s Director) and Victor Sho (Sport Fishing Coordinator) to understand where we can help most—from a technical, financial or capacity support perspective.”

“Everyone has their roles and responsibilities in managing our coastline,” Young pointed out. “We work collectively toward leading sustainable use/plan development of Belize’s coastal zone. CZMAI is a planning authority, not a regulatory body. Our objective is to provide scientific data and advice to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Co-operatives to improve use of our coastal zone and make management plans more enforceable. We realize that development pressure is high in some regions, like Caye Caulker and Placencia, which are hotspots for tourism. There’s a challenge in balancing conservation and development.

Belize’s Hol Chan Marine Reserve provides vital habitat for tarpon and other sportfish. Photo: Tony Rath

BTT Belize-Mexico Program Manager Dr. Addiel Perez releases a tagged bonefish. Photo: Patrick Williams

We try to provide the planning tools/information for decisionmakers.”

“BTT have been great collaborators,” Young added. “Kellie has been integral in working on the revitalization of the coastal plan. Dr. Addiel Perez (BTT’s Belize-Mexico Program Manager) ties together theoretical knowledge of why to protect fish, and how, and can address research goals. Dr. Aaron Adams (BTT’s Director of Science and Conservation) has shared lots of research papers that helped me understand BTTs work, and showed what gaps needed to be filled here in Belize. We’ve also had engagement with Jim McDuffie, who has provided leadership at the highest level.”

One area where CZMAI and BTT see an opportunity to collaborate is on sport fishing regulations. “Given their experience with flats fisheries, we value their input on new regulations,” Young added. “Holding a seat on the technical fishing group—a key component of the Blue Bonds for Ocean Conservation Initiative—they can shed light on the best tools to implement in new regulations.” With Blue Bonds, The Nature Conservancy has agreed to finance a significant portion of Belize’s government debt in exchange for an expansion of marine protections.

“I think that CZMAI is excited to gain a better understanding of what’s working, what’s not working and how regulations can be enhanced,” Ralston said. “BTT has been focused on flats fisheries, but these are connected to offshore reefs. We need to look at things in a holistic manner.”

In addition to supplementing CZMAI’s scientific footprint and contributing to the drafting of broader sport fishing regulations, BTT has been working closely to elevate the visibility of sport fishing— both economically and culturally—among younger Belizeans, by partnering with CZMAI and supporting their summer youth camps.

“There are lots of guides around San Pedro and people somewhat understand fly fishing,” Victor Sho said. “But in places like Dangriga where fly fishing as a tourism activity is a new concept, people are surprised at the discrepancy between how much they might make as a guide vis a vis a commercial fisherman.”

In 2023, CZMAI put on three summer fly fishing camps around Belize, one in Ambergris, one in Placencia and one in Dangriga. Enrollment was open to 10 to 12 kids per class. BTT provided fishing equipment and financial support to hire guides who would act as teachers. “It’s our hope that the kids will learn not only the mechanics of casting to and landing a fish,” Sho continued, “but also the connectivity of that activity to the ecosystems.”

“The fly-fishing education classes started as an informal partnership on Ambergris to support local guide Omar Arceo’s efforts to increase education and awareness of the flats fishery for tour-guides during their training,” recalled Dr. Perez. “Omar believed that new guides needed additional hands-on skills to become flats fishing guides. Since the program started, we have seen more responsible guiding and better conservation practices.”

“Because of the previous education efforts, all the kids knew about flats fishing,” said Lysandra Chan, Technical Assistant for BTT’s Belize-Mexico Program. “When questioned about the life cycle of bonefish and habitats, they were very knowledgeable. They had very positive attitude towards the training and beyond that in the role that they can play in the conservation of species and habitats in Belize.”

Chris Santella is the author of 21 books, including the popular “Fifty Places” series from Abrams. He’s a regular contributor to The New York Times, The Washington Post, and TROUT

Participants in the fly-fishing education program. Photo: CZMAI

Bonefish attract anglers from around the world to Belize. Photo: Patrick Clayton

Restoring Habitat, Fostering Fisheries

Looking back across more than a decade of habitat restoration work, Bonefish & Tarpon Trust scientists and partnering agencies check in on five projects in five counties, all part of a big-picture approach to helping Florida’s fisheries thrive.

BY ALEXANDRA MARVAR

Have you seen Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s name pop up in the context of wildlife refuges, land development projects and more across the state of Florida? That’s because the organization has been focused, for more than a decade, on habitat restoration as a strategy for preserving and fostering one of the state’s most valuable assets: its sport fisheries. And over and over again, studies show that when it comes to preserving fisheries—and keeping anglers fishing—habitat is where it’s at.

Scientists have found that when land in coastal areas or in wetlands, marshes, or river systems is lost to or changed by things like residential or commercial development, the fish that depend on these habitats are affected. Water quality degradation, heavy boat traffic, dredging or other changes to the way water moves through the area also mean the fish and their prey will be

less able to travel, live or spawn there the way they did in the past. A Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission study of all Florida’s vertebrates found that 44 percent of these species are known or suspected to be declining in number or distribution. Meanwhile, close to a quarter of the approximately 1,200 species tracked by the Florida Natural Areas Inventory are expected to lose at least 50 percent of their range to sea level rise in the coming 75 years. Habitat loss to human development, scientists say, is an even greater—and more immediate—threat.

All of this is further exacerbated by climate change. And according to BTT Juvenile Tarpon Habitat Program Manager JoEllen Wilson, where habitat is degraded or ruined, fish populations will never be as productive as they were historically, no matter whether there are anglers around to catch them or not.

Wilson has been researching juvenile tarpon habitats for well over a decade, learning from natural habitats, designing for and then monitoring restored ones to understand what’s working and why. Right now, she’s focused on Charlotte County—home to Boca Grande, known by many as the tarpon fishing capital of the world—and it’s a place she knows well: She was born here, and she grew up fishing here. It gives her a good baseline, she says, for what she wants to achieve with her habitat restoration work— for what’s possible.

“When people move here and talk about the fishery, it’s like ‘Man, you should have seen it when I was 12 years old,” she says. “Someone that came later in life, not knowing how good it was, just may not see it the same way that I do.”

Studies indicate that as of now, Florida has lost about 50

percent of the mangrove habitat it once had. “We’re past the point of just being able to protect what’s left,” Wilson said. “We’ve got to start restoring anything that we can.”

BTT has long been dedicated to providing scientific research to inform and guide conversations about fisheries management and habitat changes. But the stewards of Florida’s fisheries aren’t stopping at data collection: They’re getting their hands dirty. Together with a number of partners from government agencies to non-profits, BTT works to identify optimal habitats that are at risk of damage or disappearance, or that are already being degraded, and intervene to save and restore them.

What’s this mean exactly? It means, Wilson says, that Florida’s most heavily developed and altered marine and aquatic ecosystems are going to need to undergo some drastic changes.

BTT is working with resource managers in Belize to conserve essential habitat for bonefish, tarpon, and permit. Photo: Jess McGlothlin

Rookery Bay, Florida. Photo: Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve

“We’re definitely victims of a shifting baseline,” Moore says of Florida. “People constantly move here, and they see that it’s beautiful. There are fish in the water. But they have no concept of what it was like 50 or 100 years ago. We don’t have this generational understanding of what this land looks like. There’s a constantly shifting sense of place.”

And he’s already seen, over the course of his nearly 20 years working in this field and 10 years at Manatee County, some tremendous evolution: Not only does the preserve host tarpon and snook—it’s also a haven for migratory birds, gopher tortoises, even the occasional dolphin or manatee.

“Our intention is for everybody to be able to fish forever—to conserve fisheries for everyone’s enjoyment,” she says. “If we can make some big changes now, those will have a really heavy and sustainable impact.”

BTT has partnered on restoration projects in The Bahamas and across the state of Florida. Now, JoEllen’s team is working directly with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), researchers at the University of Florida, and other partners to design a new way to manage fisheries that includes habitat: both protecting natural habitats that are not yet degraded or destroyed, and restoring habitats that are still within reach of saving.

A SHIFTING BASELINE BRADENTON, MANATEE COUNTY | ROBINSON PRESERVE EXTENSION

BTT partner Damon Moore, founder of Oyster River Ecology habitat restoration consulting practice, draws motivation for his work in Manatee County from a similar source. At the southern edge of Tampa Bay, Moore has been working on a 600-plus acre project called Robinson Preserve. The newer Robinson Preserve Expansion phase was designed to create habitats for juvenile fish by building on earlier restoration work and incorporating research findings and data-driven design input from partners including BTT. When he imagines what’s possible for this site, he thinks about what it was before humans intervened.

“Never in those early discussions did we say, ‘We’re going to create manatee habitat.’ But now they’re coming up there. Everybody loves a manatee. And when you think of it in the context of how this used to be really beat-up former agricultural

Created oyster reefs exposed during a winter low tide. The project included 2.1 acres of oysters which filter water and provide habitat for multiple organisms, including prey species that feed juvenile snook and tarpon.

Photo: Damon Moore

An excavator making final grade adjustments just after the created basin was connected to tidal waters. Photo: Damon Moore

JoEllen Wilson samples baby snook and tarpon at the Coral Creek restoration site in Southwest Florida. Photo: FWC

land, and now there’s manatees making use of it, and finding refuge and food in these places, that’s a pretty awesome thing,” he says.

At nearby Perrigo Preserve—another former agricultural site in a coastal setting that was restored—Moore was able to help create the conditions to reintroduce federally endangered plant species. There have been some big victories, he says, but there’s a great deal of work left to do here in Manatee County, and no time to delay. Habitat restoration decisions need to be backed by science and informed by data, he said. He also wants to see these projects happen fast.

Big ideas call for big teamwork. Organizations like the Manatee County Audubon Society and the Girl Scouts of the Gulf Coast are leveraging Moore’s expertise in oyster habitat restoration and ecological restoration planning and management at their own sites while changemakers like Parks and Natural Resources Department’s Charlie Hunsicker—who helped shape the original plans for Robinson—are helping to move large-scale projects forward at the county level. This past December, the county submitted a bipartisan infrastructure bill grant for $14.7 million to undertake ecological restoration projects, including a lot of oyster work up and down the Manatee River.

“Given the urgency of need [...] we need to learn as we go. We’re behind the curve as far as what we need to restore, but at the same time, you can’t do anything without having that research behind it to know what you’re doing—because you could waste a lot of money if you don’t,” Moore says. Being equipped with early input from BTT on the work at Robinson could help speed up the process in future project design.

RESTORING HABITAT VS. RESTORING HYDROLOGY

NAPLES, COLLIER COUNTY | ROOKERY BAY

NATIONAL ESTUARINE RESEARCH RESERVE

The work at Robinson Preserve is a great example of habitat restoration at work, where earth was moved to reshape the land into very specific topographical and water features, and paired with management strategies to make way for native flora and fauna. Hydrologic restoration is part of the habitat puzzle, too. Essentially, Wilson explains, hydrological restoration involves “poking holes in places where there should be holes but aren’t any longer because of human actions” with the aim of recreating a site’s natural watershed flow.

For example, in Collier County, just 60 miles from tarpon hotspots Boca Grande and Sanibel at Rookery Bay’s Fruit Farm Creek, restorers are applying hydrologic interventions to reconnect hundreds of acres of mangrove habitat and marshland with water, flowing the way it had before human intervention.

Decades ago, road construction here—between Marco Island and neighboring Goodland—cut off the upper tidal creek reaches from the coastal waters, disrupting natural water flow patterns and leading to the loss of 60 acres of mangrove trees.

Scientists found that disruption wasn’t just killing off mangroves—it was directly affecting sportfish populations. In high-tide events, when the roadways would be breached by flooding, tarpon and snook were crossing from one body of water into the other, becoming trapped. The water flow between these bodies of water “needs to reconnect at least seasonally, if not monthly or at normal high tides,” Wilson says, to allow for tarpon and snook movement.

In the wake of Hurricane Irma, BTT and project partner the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP), led the grant funding, provided by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) and the State of Florida, for two hydrological restoration projects here to set this waterflow right again. Habitat assessment and preliminary design took two years to complete and BTT received funding for final design and permitting to be completed in 2025. According to the FWC, it’s considered the largest mangrove restoration of its kind in state history.

Sportfish depend on calm backwater areas and embayments once they emigrate from the nursery habitats. Photo: JoEllen Wilson

Culverts implemented during road construction aren’t always conducive to fish passage. The preliminary design plan for Marco Shores Lakes is to adjust or replace this culvert to allow juvenile sportfish passage from the connected tidal creek in and out of Marco Shores Lake. Photo: JoEllen Wilson

BTT’s habitat restoration projects benefit juvenile tarpon, snook, and their prey. Photo: Aaron Adams

The plan leveraged culvert pipes and removing sediment to restore tidal flows, improving water-carrying capacity and wildlife access. After restoration, tidewaters will reach 209 acres of previously impounded wetland, relieving stressful conditions for remaining mangrove trees, promoting seedling growth, and averting disaster.

“By punching holes in those roads, or creating wildlife crossings in the form of bridges, or larger culverts, or just waterway passages, you’re reconnecting that habitat,” Wilson says. “You’re also creating more habitat, by [creating] access to more habitat that wasn’t initially there.”

INNOVATIVE NEW APPROACHES

GIBSONTON, HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY | KRACKER AVENUE

Now, let’s combine them: Some projects require both habitat restoration (earth-moving) and hydrological restoration (water flow). This is complicated stuff, and Bart Weiss, Chief Officer of Innovation and Resiliency at Hillsborough County and as of December, President of the National Water Reuse Association, said it takes some forward-thinking plans and some innovative strategies.

Weiss’s office has spearheaded some massive water reuse initiatives that involve pumping billions of gallons of highly treated, potable reuse wastewater (clean enough to drink, or make beer from, Weiss’s office has shown) into the water table to offset freshwater usage near the coast, pressurize the aquifer, and prevent cataclysmic saltwater intrusion. But he’s also helped guide a takeover and reimagining of a series of former tropical fish farming ponds on Kracker Avenue. At this site, Weiss’s office and partners including the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) and BTT worked together to redesign this landscape for the better. Construction is next.

“As people have built along the shorelines around Tampa Bay, we’ve lost fish habitat, juvenile fish habitat, estuarine-type habitat,” Weiss says. “We bought this piece of property and it has 235 fish tanks. Then we started thinking about taking reclaimed water, creating a different pond system here, and dropping reclaimed water into it.” The plan, he explained, will yield a tidal lagoon, complete with mangrove islands, that has a connection to nearby Schultz Preserve, as well as flow to Tampa Bay.

“This will be tidally controlled, it’ll be brackish water, so now you’ll have consistent flow of freshwater down into a tidally affected area, and then flow continues out so it’ll be a fresher water flowing out,” Weiss says, “so there’ll be a signature there for juvenile fish to pick up and come in.”

PROJECTS THAT CAN BE TEMPLATES FOR FUTURE RESTORATION WORK CAPE HAZE, CHARLOTTE COUNTY | CORAL CREEK

These hydrologic and habitat restoration efforts can have big local impact when it comes to expanding the viable territory for native and endangered Florida flora and fauna. But they’re also significant regionally—and they might have even broader benefits.

Robert McDonald, an engineer with SWFWMD, is overseeing the design and construction of the Cape Haze Restoration Project. It’s taking place at Coral Creek, the site of an abandoned residential project within the Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park near the Boca Grande Pass. Now, it’s co-owned by SWFWMD and FDEP, and SWFWMD-led projects are underway to restore both habitat and hydrology of this site containing “a mosaic of critical coastal habitats.”

Before public ownership, McDonald says, construction, ditching and dredge-fill on the site changed the hydrology. Today, six adjacent canals are connected by a main canal that has an inlet to the creek’s west branch. SWFWMD had initially considered filling in these six canals, returning them to their natural pine flatwood topography. But after discovering the presence of juvenile tarpon, they pivoted. As Wilson points out, these canals are actually the perfect location to test various tarpon nursery habitat designs, yielding data that can help outline restoration

One of the canals at Coral Creek after restoration. Photo: FWC

The canals at Coral Creek during restoration. Photo: SWFWMD

projects at similar sites in Charlotte County, across Florida, and even other places in the coastal U.S. grappling with similar ecological challenges.

BTT scientists looked at previous research to outline the ideal habitat characteristics for juvenile tarpon and then in collaboration with scientists at the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program and FWC, they created three experimental designs to be duplicated and tested across the six canals in order to determine how those different characteristics drive change.

They focused on juvenile tarpon, and that doesn’t mean they’re ignoring other species, Wilson notes: “Working with SWFWMD on this project, we wanted to show that you can focus on a singular habitat, and do it really well—and you’re really protecting a high number of species and creating a higher-quality habitat.”

BTT and FWC conducted monthly sampling at Coral Creek, including tagging all captured juvenile tarpon with passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags, detectable by antennae that act like a toll booth clocking tarpon as they pass through the canals. Once the team knows what tarpon prefer, Wilson says, they can replicate the favored design elements in future habitat restoration projects.

Planning is underway for the next Phase at Coral Creek—and then there will be earth-moving. The next phase, McDonald says, will be to restore on-site hydrology which had been adversely impacted by past construction activities.

BTT is coordinating with FWC to monitor the progress. Just looking at “before” and “after” data for early phases of the Coral Creek project, Wilson says, the tarpon population already appears to be experiencing benefits. The individual rate of growth doubled after the initial phases of habitat restoration.

“With every project there are lessons learned that we apply to the next project and work smarter,” McDonald says. Partners hope the learnings have positive impacts far beyond these six canals.

DESIGNING FOR A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING VENICE, SARASOTA COUNTY | ALLIGATOR CREEK

Speaking of broader impacts, Alligator Creek in Sarasota County is a long-term habitat restoration project that can tell us a lot about the future of human habitation and healthy fisheries, Wilson says.

In the 1940s, this 11-square-mile tidal creek in Venice was excavated, channeled, and cut off from the floodplain and nearby wetlands. Today it’s a draining channel into Lemon Bay, lined with eroding banks and invasive vegetation. But still, it’s an ecosystem for marine life, birds, and endangered animals. Degrading conditions threaten the balance here, and a large-scale, longterm, multi-pronged habitat and hydrologic restoration project is just in the planning stages now, led by Sarasota County Public Works.

Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium is doing the monitoring on the project, and BTT has provided juvenile tarpon and snook input, which involves cleaning up an entire creek system—one that will continue to flow through a developed location. Is it even possible? “This is going to have really big impacts,” Wilson says of the project. It should help Florida answer questions like: “Can we feasibly all live together in harmony? Can we have viable nursery habitat for multiple species and human development adjacent to that?”

CONSERVATION AT A CROSSROADS

These sites aren’t the only things that are changing—the way these projects are approached and implemented is evolving on a fundamental level: Trans-disciplinary collaboration is becoming more common. The necessity of consistent monitoring, including before work breaks ground, is being emphasized. And decisions about what sites to restore and how to treat them are becoming more data-driven, Wilson says.

“We’re at the crossroads right now,” she adds. “Up until this point, every agency has been kind of doing their own ‘restoration.’ But by doing these very targeted restoration efforts, and then publishing our data, we’re showing you can have well-monitored, detailed, targeted designs, and you can show success, not just in terms of ‘before’ and ‘after,’ but success in relation specifically to your designs.”

SMALL SITES, BIG CHANGE

Some of these projects are sprawling in size and scope—some are relatively bite-size. But they’re all part of a much bigger picture, of a better, biodiverse future. With no fewer than 12 projects behind them, there’s no slowing down now, Wilson says.

“I’ve got six more potential projects on the docket in the site selection phase. We put in for funding to do a habitat assessment and a preliminary design to look at feasibility, so we’re waiting to see if we get grant funding to move that through the pipeline.” And there are many, many more sites to choose from beyond these six: “I’ve got over 300 identified juvenile tarpon habitat locations throughout Florida, so although we’re focusing in Charlotte County, we’d really like to see this replicated in other areas,” she says.

“Right now, our biggest issue for fishing in Florida is not overfishing—it’s declining habitat, and that’s why we’re trying to approach fisheries conservation from different angles,” she adds. “So, in addition to our focus on habitat protection and restoration, we’re also addressing water quality through our studies of pharmaceutical contamination and wastewater treatment upgrades. If we can do this right, the fish will be there. They’re resilient—to a point.”

Alexandra Marvar is a freelance journalist based in Savannah, Georgia. Her writing can be found in The New York Times, National Geographic, Smithsonian Magazine and elsewhere.

The restoration treatments being tested at Coral Creek.

Inspiring the Next Generation

BTT’s redesigned Bahamas Education Program expands to reach students nationwide.

BY PACO NUNEZ

Launched 15 years ago to educate anglers and guides in best handling practices to increase bonefish survival, the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust’s Bahamas Education Program expanded into local classrooms in 2017, with BTT working in collaboration with Bahamas National Trust (BNT) to develop a flats ecosystem curriculum for Bahamian students.

In 2023, this unique program, to date the only marine-based educational program in the country solely focused on bonefish and flats ecology conservation, underwent an expansion that saw it reach 1,827 students across The Bahamas—more than seven times the number of the previous year, making it a true countrywide education initiative.

Originally designed for students 10 to 17 years old, the curriculum continues to highlight the cultural, economic and historical significance of the bonefish fishery, the importance of healthy habitats and conservation, and best catch-andrelease practices. It also includes field research and projects to

further engage students and deepen their appreciation for the environment.

“Last year, we standardized the model, creating a formal series of presentations that are effective across all ages and stakeholder groups, from young children to adults, from school groups to bonefish guides,” said Nina Sanchez, BTT Bahamas Initiative Coordinator. “The new education outreach materials are applicable to everyone, allowing us to greatly expand our reach and raise awareness across The Bahamas.”

Topics covered include: bonefish biology and ecology, spawning and lifecycles of bonefish, and the role of the species within the larger ecosystem.

“The next part that we focus on is restoration processes, the active mangrove restoration that’s going on in East Grand Bahama and Abaco where BTT is partnering with local conservation groups,” Sanchez said, herself a native of Grand Bahama Island. “As a habitat focused non-profit, we talk about

restoration as a last resort. The best course of action is always to conserve and protect habitats as a preventative measure; restoration can be very expensive and difficult. Therefore it should only be considered as the final option.”

Arguably, the most impactful areas of the curriculum are the cultural, historical and economic importance of bonefish. The species is iconic in The Bahamas, appearing on the Bahamian ten-cent coin. Historically, communities once relied on bonefish as a staple protein source, but when modernized supply chains saw the introduction of steady food imports, its presence in the local diet declined. Today, the biggest impact is economic, with a 2018 study by BTT finding that the bonefish industry brings in more than $169 million annually to The Bahamas and financially benefits approximately 8,000 Bahamians directly. This is a huge impact on a tourism-based economy and these statistics tend to be a real eye-opener for participants.”

Another key focus of the revamped educational program

is the significance of general conservation and environmental stewardship. “We explain how people in today’s world, young or old, can become more environmentally friendly, more conscious, more aware of the marine resources we have here in The Bahamas,” said Sanchez.

The classroom presentations are designed to be lively and engaging, intended to illustrate that mangrove and flats habitats are extremely complex ecosystems yet also fun to learn about. Outside the classroom, field research excursions can include a walk through the mangrove habitat, a snorkelling adventure, or a tour of the habitat on a flats boat. Students can also take part in a mangrove replanting exercise, as well as BTT’s bonefish tagand-recapture program, in place since 2009 to collect data that informs conservation efforts, and also for educational purposes.

“Each year our partner Bahamas National Trust hosts an annual EcoCamp and two students from every major island in The Bahamas take part,” Sanchez said. “A least one student

Andros, The Bahamas. Photo: Marty Dashiell

BTT’s Nina Sanchez (left) and Justin Lewis (right) taught at the Bahamas National Trust’s EcoCamp sponsored by BTT. Photo: Bahamas National Trust

from every island is able to hold and tag a bonefish and those experiences travel back home with them. They talk to their friends and family about these exciting adventures, helping spread the conservation ethos well beyond the participants themselves.”

Katie Chestnut, a teacher at Lucaya International School in Grand Bahama, explained the value of these programs: “At LIS, we are so grateful for the knowledge and experience BTT shares with our students, and for instilling a sense of responsibility towards the conservation of our precious marine ecosystems.”

Chesnut’s perspectives are widely shared by others, including Jim Richard, principal of Forest Heights Academy in Abaco, who said: “Our students have benefited greatly from our relationship with Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. In-class presentations, mangrove propagation and in the field mangrove plantings have all enhanced our students experience in both Biology and Marine Science classes, while reinforcing the importance of bonefish to our ecosystems and our economy. We look forward to a continued positive, rewarding partnership with BTT!”

For Angely Innocent of the Patrick J. Bethel High School and the Abaco Girl Guides Association, the process of planting a mangrove can get messy, “but you’re having fun with friends, making new friends, and building bonds. The experience gives you knowledge and awareness of the importance of mangroves, and as a plus, you get to help the environment.”

Showndre David, a bonefish guide on the island of Bimini said: “My experience of working with BTT has been not only fun but extremely educational. The research and data collected by their team of amazing scientists is critical to the economic value of the bonefish industry in The Bahamas, and also the conservation of all flats species around the world.”

“I’ve learned a lot working with BTT,” he added. “I’m so proud that the importance of our precious resources is being taught throughout the islands of The Bahamas. It’s extremely important for the youth of our nation to take part in the construction of a better marine habitat. I am grateful to work with the brilliant minds at the organization and I’m highly anticipating future projects and adventures to come.”

Lianna Burrows, outreach coordinator for Friends of the Environment (FRIENDS), said the organization is a proud partner of

BTT. “We appreciate their hard work for our valuable ecosystems,” she said. “Working with their team gives us great opportunities for the youth of Abaco, and we appreciate their insight on many different levels. Partnerships like these are invaluable to the success of our organization.”

The bonefish fishery in The Bahamas continues to face many challenges, including habitat loss and degradation, and illegal fishing. BTT’s research—including tag-recapture, acoustic telemetry, genetic analysis and physiology—has focused on identifying important bonefish habitats and learning

BTT’s Bahamas Initiative Manager Justin Lewis (far left) leads student on a field trip on Grand Bahama Island. Photo: Nick Roberts

A student plants a mangrove for BTT’s Bahamas Mangrove Restoration Project. Photo: Zaria Dean

more about bonefish spawning behavior. This research informs ongoing conservation and fisheries management plans through collaborative partnerships with governmental and nongovernmental entities, lodges, guides and Bahamian citizens.

BTT’s work in The Bahamas has supported the establishment of five new national parks and expansion of an existing national park, all of which protect vital bonefish habitat. Data collected by BTT has also been included in a proposal by Bahamas National Trust to develop additional parks.

Currently, BTT is a key partner in the largest mangrove restoration project in Bahamian history, which in the wake of Hurricane Dorian seeks to replant 100,000 trees over five years to jumpstart the natural recovery process in Abaco and Grand Bahama, the islands hardest hit by that enormously destructive storm. And last year, with partner organizations and support from the Moore Bahamas Foundation, BTT helped establish the Bahamas Mangrove Alliance, which pledges to restore 1 million mangroves by the end of 2025.

“For nearly two decades, our efforts in The Bahamas have aimed to build much-needed resilience for these habitats in the present,” said Sanchez. “BTT also believes it is crucial to continue developing, enhancing and expanding educational programs that increase awareness about the importance of flats and coastal habitats to this country’s economy and culture in the minds of today’s younger generation, who will hopefully pass it on to future generations to come.”

Paco Nunez is a communications consultant in The Bahamas specializing in human and environmental rights advocacy and litigation. In addition to his recent work as a strategic communications consultant, Nunez served as an editor at one of The Bahamas’ two major daily newspapers for many years, and a reporter before that.

Lewis releases a tagged bonefish with a student. Photo: Nick Roberts

BTT’s Justin Lewis teaches students about marine ecology on Grand Bahama Island. Photo: Nick Roberts

WAYNE MELAND

Florida angler and BTT Board Member Wayne Meland recently shared his thoughts on conservation and his decision to designate BTT as a beneficiary for a portion of his IRA account.

Ihave always loved fishing. From my first sunfish in Hood’s Pond in Medina, New York, to my last trip deep into the Everglades south of Chokoloskee, as the Billy Currington song goes, “A bad day of fishin’ beats a good day of anything else.”

Since moving to Southwest Florida almost 30 years ago, I have lived in a fisherman’s paradise, with virtually unlimited access to incredible fresh and saltwater fishing opportunities, but over the last 15 years or so, water quality issues, explosive development, questionable fisheries management, and habitat destruction in general have hurt the quality of fishing. Being a conservationminded angler, I started looking for organizations that were truly doing something to battle or even reverse this alarming trend, which led me to Bonefish & Tarpon Trust.

At that point in my life, I had only caught a handful of tarpon and had never even caught a bonefish or permit, but Bonefish & Tarpon Trust was using science-based approaches to address many of the issues responsible for the decline in fishing

conditions, which is not the case with many other organizations. Bonefish, tarpon and permit are the “focus fish” of BTT, but much of the work it does benefits all species of fish and other marine life that share the same habitat.

I have and will continue to make annual gifts to Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, but I wanted to help the organization carry on its good work after my time on the water has passed, so I recently designated BTT as a beneficiary for a portion of my IRA account.

Future generations of my family and yours deserve the same incredible days on the water as we have been fortunate enough to experience. Next time you update your estate plan or beneficiary information, please consider making BTT part of your legacy. Enjoy every day!

Vist BTTLegacy.org to learn more about BTT’s Planned Giving Program.

Meland lands a baby tarpon (left) and jumps the Silver King in the Everglades. Photos: Andrew Bostick

FOR OVER 30 YEARS FAY RANCHES HAS BEEN DEDICATED TO THE CONSERVATION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE HABITATS.

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BTT’s new study reveals threats and inspires solutions to Florida’s tarpon decline.

BY CHRIS HUNT

Adepressing cocktail of threats continues to bear down on South Florida’s tarpon fishery, according to an ongoing study by Bonefish &Tarpon Trust. But, according to Dr. Aaron Adams, BTT’s Director of Science and Conservation, the distressing information coming from the study is arriving with a silver lining of hope.

“We have to identify these problems so we can have access to the solutions,” said Adams. “And the solutions are going to lie with the fishing community in Florida. We have to protect the fishery because nobody else will.”

The new study was in part inspired by a recent, less formal online survey of Atlantic tarpon anglers conducted earlier this

year. The survey of about 1,000 anglers revealed that the fishing community is just as alarmed by the decline in tarpon as the scientific community. It drew upon the experiences shared by tarpon anglers and showed that the perception that fishing now is not as good as fishing was in the past.

The new study proves that anglers’ perception is a troubling reality.

Steve Lombardo, BTT’s postdoctoral associate who is leading the study, is compiling reams of existing data from a wide variety of sources and mining it for information that might offer clues behind South Florida’s flagging tarpon populations. The idea, Lombardo says, isn’t to validate the belief by the fishing

community that tarpon fishing is in decline. He’s trying to get at the possible sources behind the diminishing fishery for the ultimate purpose of applying the information to potential solutions.

KEYS GUIDES VITAL TO FINDING CAUSES OF DECLINE

Lombardo’s analysis is leaning heavily on guides in the Florida Keys. He wants to turn their years of anecdotal tarpon-fishing experience into real spatial data that can be used in combination with the other data he has in hand to sleuth out the “why” behind the decline.

“The guides are probably our most active resource in this

effort,” Lombardo said.

For instance, project collaborator Brooke Black interviewed guides, which included them drawing maps of their dependable fishing grounds as far back as they can remember. They drew these maps in five-year periods, from when they started guiding to present day.

“We’re still analyzing data, but by just looking at the maps it’s easy to see that the tarpon fishing grounds have contracted,” Lombardo said. One set of maps from 1997 to 2001, for example, shows that fishable areas shrank by about two-thirds.

There are reasons for the contraction, both known and unknown, Lombardo said. Guides are on the water daily,

An angler lands a tarpon in the Florida Keys. Photo: Jessica Connell

by NASA’s JPL MUR satellite program since 2002, so we are able to see the changes in average monthly sea surface temperature from July 2002 until July 2023. In this graph, the darkest cells show a maximum daily temperature increase of about 0.18 °F, or a total increase of 5.5 °F from July 2002 through July 2023. Chart: Steven Lombardo

and they’re seeing a rampant uptick in boat traffic, and in irresponsible boating in areas important to tarpon. And, Lombardo said, the number of anglers is up significantly, too.

HABITAT CONTINUES TO DECLINE

Whether it’s degraded due to poor water quality, unusable by tarpon thanks to a dramatic increase in boat traffic, or simply becoming too warm due to global climate change, suitable habitat for Florida’s tarpon seems to be diminished.

And, Adams said, the sense of urgency to address the causes of

the habitat decline is acute.

“People tend to think of a decline as something that takes place gradually over time, over a long-term trend line,” he said. “That’s not the way it happens in nature. Most often, we see not much change or just a small decline, but then the system hits a threshold, and things kind of fall off a cliff. Urgency is extremely high.”

And, Adams said, while it’s tempting to search out a single smoking gun to blame for the decline, that’s not a practical approach. Conversely, the “put a Band-Aid on it” approach isn’t

Selecting the clearest satellite images taken over a month, we can mark and count the type of marine traffic and their activities—fishing boats, large leisure boats, jet skis, and sailboats that are motoring, sailing, anchored, or moored. Here is an example from July 2018 with clear satellite images stitched together from 16 different days. The high volume of boat traffic seen here is from the last day of lobster mini-season. Chart: Steven Lombardo

Nightly water temperatures have been measured

workable, either. While on-the-ground restoration work has its place in the broader scope of things in the Keys and elsewhere, it’s expensive and requires groups like BTT to navigate a morass of bureaucracy that is counter to the urgent timeline.

Also, Adams said, restoring cherry-picked locations may not even take hold, given the vast number of environmental issues facing the Keys.

“It would be like giving a lung transplant to someone who won’t quit smoking,” he said. “First we have to identify the causes, and address them, before we entertain ideas on restoration.”

SPATIAL CONSERVATION

That’s where Lombardo’s analysis comes in. Lombardo has gathered data from a host of sources ranging from the state of Florida, the National Park Service, regional universities and even county governments. This information is giving BTT the clues it needs to help educate the regional community and address the threats to tarpon head-on.

And to be clear, very little, if any, of the information Lombardo is gathering is specific to the fall in tarpon numbers. Rather, it includes data on a wide array of topics, like the numbers of active septic systems in the Keys, water quality test results stretching back decades, vehicle traffic crossing into the Keys, boat launch data, satellite photos, and historic air and water temperature data.

When viewed separately, the information might seem arbitrary. But, by being combined in a spatial analysis using GIS technology, the data can tell a story.

“It’s a data-intensive study,” Lombardo said. “It’s showing that we can’t just put a finger on one cause. It’s showing us that we need to consider the big picture. Yes, we can prioritize, but we have to do it with the big picture in mind.”

By looking at the tarpon population drop-off through a spatial conservation lens, BTT can consider all the factors that, when brought together, can offer substantive information about the decline. Also, by parsing the data through GIS mapping

technology, Lombardo can identify each item independently and determine where the impacts are most acute.

From a preliminary perspective, Lombardo can see where threats initiate, where they overlap and where they actually hit tarpon where it counts—their habitat.

Tarpon swim across a prop scar in the Florida Keys. Photo: Ian Wilson

The number of Keys flats classified as “severely degraded” due to propeller scarring has increased by 90 percent over the last 20 years. Photo: Ian Wilson

THE CAUSES ARE MANY

Lombardo’s data is affirming what anglers—particularly guides— already knew. There is more boat traffic, and many boaters are unaware that their activity is harmful to Keys tarpon. Aerial photos showing thousands of propeller scars sliced across the grass flats tell a compelling story about irresponsible boat traffic and the human impact on habitat.

There is also more fishing pressure. And this pressure is being

put on a smaller area where tarpon are still found in the Keys. This pressure, of course, likely results in more anglers using tarpon migration chokepoints to catch fish. And, in turn, may result in higher tarpon mortality for released fish from sharks that have learned to gather where anglers congregate.

But there are other causes, too, that might not be top-of-mind for guides and anglers. Take, for instance, the fact that global climatic changes have caused average water temperatures in the Keys to rise three degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) in just 20 years. Over the summer of 2023, water temperatures in some locations in Southwest Florida and the Keys topped 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

That record warm water plays a significant role in the die-off of seagrass, coral bleaching and algal blooms that rob seawater of oxygen. It forces fish to go elsewhere, where temperatures are cooler and more tolerable.

Another cocktail ingredient that is being addressed is wastewater treatment in the Keys. Progress has been made in the conversion from septic systems to a central sewage system. But it will take some time for the legacy of decades of septic systems to completely fade. And some of the central-system sewage effluent is being injected into the ground in shallow wells, which, recent research has shown, bubbles back toward the surface pretty quickly. Fortunately, the shallow wells should be replaced with deep injection wells, which will help to alleviate this problem.

Even Adams, by all counts an optimist, concedes that the use of spatial conservation tools can make it look hopeless because it can make the challenges seem overwhelming. But, he counsels, it’s not hopeless, so long as stakeholders remain involved and are

An algae bloom in Florida Bay. Photo Ian Wilson

The results of the study will help inform conservation. Photo: Jessica Connell

willing to put in the work.

“The spatial management approach is common in the terrestrial world,” Adams said. And, yes, he admits, right now the story appears as if it’s from the horror genre. But having the information at the fingertips of anyone who wants to access it, from biologists and anglers to agency staff to politicians, gives everyone a chance to read the whole story.

“Spatial conservation gives us the chance to prioritize, and address the issues facing habitats that might deserve more attention to start,” Adams said. For instance, he said, armed with this spatial data, managers at the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary might be able to use it to better manage boat traffic or to address other threats in certain areas of the sanctuary.

EDUCATION

Putting the spatial data to use is, of course, the ultimate goal. That’s why Lombardo and Adams insist that education is key to any solution to South Florida’s tarpon challenge.

“I think the fishing community sees the bigger picture,” Adams said. “The guides are not only leading the charge in spatial management, they are also a big part of the science that is informing conservation efforts.”

In the end, Adams said, it’s going to come down to the fishing community—in other words, all of us.

“The solution is going to require engagement in public policy, and that means the fishing industry is going to have to continue to engage,” he said. With the spatial data still in production by Lombardo and others at BTT, the information will be there for anglers, boat builders, rod manufacturers, tackle dealers … Everyone will have access to the story.

And, ever hopeful, Adams hopes they’ll help write the conclusion. It doesn’t have to be a horror story. It can be the tale of an amazing comeback.

For the tarpon’s sake, let’s hope so.

Chris Hunt is an award-winning freelance journalist and author and an avid fly fisher based in Idaho and Florida. He writes frequently about conservation, fly fishing and travel. His most recent book, The Little Black Book of Fly Fishing, is available online and at finer bookstores.

A skiff motors across an algae bloom in Florida Bay. Photo: Ian Wilson

The Silver King. Photo: Greg Dini

Through the Guides Conservation Captain Q&A

Captain Aaron Snell Key West, Florida

How long have you guided in the Florida Keys? I started guiding full-time in 2001.

Who taught you how to fish the flats?

I wasn’t taught by one person but a combination of people, like other guides, friends, and family. Over the years, I’ve been fortunate enough to fish with some well-known folks like Steve Huff and Nathaniel Linville, and I have always looked up to guys like Simon Becker, John O’Hearn, Joe Rod, Doug Kilpatrick, and Will Benson, just to name a few. But my love for and understanding of fishing comes from fishing with family, like my mom and dad, uncles, and cousins.

What is it about permit fishing that’s kept you so engaged for over two decades?

I think it’s the hunt and stalk, and the deeper feeling of reward when a single fish is caught. More than bonefish and tarpon, permit often require a little more chase and boat maneuvering to get a good shot. It’s common to stalk a fish and get three or four shots—sometimes more—before the angler makes a wonderful presentation right over the back of the fish.

What changes have you noticed in the permit fishery since you first started guiding?

Besides fewer big fish, there are more guides and anglers fishing for permit, including myself.

What do you see as the biggest threat to the fishery, and what can be done about it?

I think the major threat to the fishery is boat traffic. Of course, there are a multitude of issues—like oil spills, hurricanes, Lake O, climate change—that will most likely have a greater effect long-term. But boat traffic, in general, has steadily increased over the years, from fishing guides to jet ski tours, to rental boats, to sandbar charters. The amount of traffic on the water has increased dramatically since the Keys opened after COVID, probably several hundred times what it was prior. Unfortunately, this increase spawns a myriad of problems, some of the worst being prop-dredging, noise, and the constant presence and pressure of people being in one area for prolonged periods of time.

As for fixing the problem, there’s a lot of things that can be done but change may be difficult to come by since many of these folks earn a living this way. I think imposing horsepower limits in certain areas and limiting the number of users in sensitive areas would be a good start. Also, strict licensing for recreational boaters will help, which I hope would mean new and veteran boaters would be better educated about the environment and how to operate their vessel in it. The Keys are one of Florida’s most valuable resources, and we need to take big steps towards protecting them now.

Capt. Snell with a barracuda landed in the Florida Keys. Photo: Robert Dougherty

If you had the power to immediately change one thing about the Keys that you think would improve the fishery, what would it be?

If I had the power to instantly change one thing about the Keys, I’d get rid of half the users, to reduce the number of people on the water. That would include people like me, i.e., guides.

Why is it important for anglers to support research and conservation?

It’s important not just for anglers but for everyone that uses the resource to support research and conservation. Research helps us to better understand the flora and fauna, but more importantly, how we can protect and conserve it. It’s what will allow us to enjoy the resource for years to come.

What can anglers and guides do to help conserve the fishery and habitat in South Florida?

The easiest thing we can do is just be mindful and aware of the heavy presence we have in the environment and try to minimize it. Of course, donating to operations like BTT to fund research is equally important.

What makes the Keys permit fishery unique?

First of all, the Keys offer the only spot to stalk permit in the United States. And I bet the Keys boast a greater collective knowledge of permit fishing among guides than anywhere else. After all, the Keys is where sight-fishing for permit took off.

What makes a good permit angler?

Eyes. The angler needs to be able to spot fish as well as the guide can. The farther away from the boat a fish is picked up, the greater the chance of success. Casting is also essential. Being able to make an accurate cast forehand and backhand, and the wind is going to be on your shoulder half the time. Also, you need a mad and relentless drive to continue on after several fish-less days.

Can you share three tips for catching permit on fly in the Keys?

1) Practice casting in windy conditions.

2) Focus on accuracy. The fly often needs to land within three feet of the fish.

3) Get out and do it. It’s one of those things where only experience will make you better.

Capt. Snell has guided in the Florida Keys for more than twenty years. Capt. Snell is also an avid surfer. Photo: Pedro Aviléz

Capt. Snell releases a permit.

Frank W. Benson (1862-1951), Souvenir of Florida (detail), 1934, watercolor, 19 by 24 in

Frank W. Benson (1862-1951), Bald Eagles, 1941, oil on canvas, 39 3/4 by 32 in.

12th Annual NYC Dinner & Awards Ceremony BTT Events

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust honored Chad Pike at the 12th Annual NYC Dinner & Awards Ceremony on October 10, 2023, with the Lefty Kreh Award for Lifetime Achievement in Conservation. Pike received BTT’s highest honor in recognition of his service to leading fish and wildlife organizations and his longtime support of BTT’s mission.

“This is well-deserved recognition for Chad’s leadership across the conservation community, from his role as Chairman of the North Atlantic Salmon Fund and as a board member of the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to his longstanding commitment to Bonefish & Tarpon Trust,” said BTT President and CEO Jim McDuffie.

Pike, the retired Senior Managing Director and Vice President of Tactical Opportunities at The Blackstone Group, is founder and owner of Eleven Experience, a global adventure lodge business specializing in experiential travel, and Chairman of the Grassy Creek Foundation, which is dedicated to environmental

conservation, wildlife protection, and education innovation.

An avid angler, Pike was introduced by New York Times bestselling author Monte Burke in a program that also featured CNBC’s Steve Liesman, celebrity chef Tom Colicchio, and author Tom McGuane, who gave a moving tribute to the late Jimmy Buffett.

“I’ve been proud to support BTT’s restoration project in Abaco, Bahamas,” Pike said in accepting the award. “Not only does this mega project replant important bonefish habitat, it provides coastal defense for local Bahamian communities, protects corals, and sequesters more carbon than the equivalent planted tropical forests. Measured in any way, this project has an enormous return on capital and is with the trusted and proven management team here at BTT.”

As a recipient of the Lefty Kreh Award for Lifetime Achievement in Conservation, Pike will be enshrined in BTT’s Circle of Honor, housed in the Florida Keys History & Discovery Center in Islamorada, Florida.

Photos: Dan Diez

Chad Pike accepts the the Lefty Kreh Award for Lifetime Achievement in Conservation

BTT President and CEO Jim McDuffie presents Chad Pike with the Lefty Kreh Award for Lifetime Achievement in Conservation.

Author Monte Burke introduces Chad Pike.

The honoree’s table with Pike family, friends and the Grassy Creek Foundation.

Tom Colicchio and Steve Liesman perform a tribute to the late Jimmy Buffet.

Jim McDuffie, Chad Pike, Monte Burke, and Steve Liesman.

Former honorees Tony James and Captain Will Benson were present to welcome Chad Pike to the Circle of Honor.

Seated: Keswong Lee, Capt. Will Benson, Ham James, Rod Berens, Tony James. Standing: Glenn Hutchins, Erik Schatzker, Tom Gahan, Gerald Lodge, Wallace Henderson.

Ned Baldwin, BTT Advisory Council Member Paul Dixon, author Peter Kaminsky, and Steve Liesman.

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Hook & Knife Charters and Halyards Restaurant are proud to partner with Bonefish & Tarpon Trust, supporting their mission to conserve bonefish, tarpon, and permit. The Halyard Restaurant Group values the Trust’s efforts in science-based conservation, education, and advocacy, and appreciates their work to create healthier tarpon fisheries in the southeastern U.S. and preserve these habitats for years to come.

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Oh ! The Places They Take You ...

Partners In Preserving The Fish And The Places They Roam.

Conservation Is Good Business

BY CAPTAIN WILL BENSON

The old saying goes, “You love what you know and you protect what you love.” That has been the passionate basis for conservation for many years and is true to this day. But there is also another often-overlooked basis for conservation. These days good conservation is good business, and should be evaluated as such. We hear about this different way of thinking from leaders like Dr. Duane De Freese, the Executive Director of the Indian River Lagoon Council and Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program, who wrote, “Success will also require a paradigm shift in how we value clean water and ecosystem services. We need to rethink how we regulate, enforce, and incentivize responsible growth management. We also need to look beyond one-time costs to the long-term benefits of clean water, a vibrant coastal economy, enhanced coastal resilience, the value of ecosystem services and improved quality of life for Florida residents and visitors alike.”

This paradigm shift speaks to the business value of conservation, and the need to consider its economic relevance when developing policy. On a large scale, we see this logic pan out when we consider things like hotels and restaurants, and other general tourism businesses that are impacted by water quality events like red tide and other types of algae blooms, which negatively affect coastal economies throughout Florida.

For the fishing industry, the logic is even more clear-cut. We see more and more guides and anglers championing conservation through their social media and public support for organizations and initiatives focused on restoring and protecting valuable ecosystems. This is inspiring to see and a powerful force for change. There is, however, another dynamic layer that has yet to be articulated and adopted into the business of conservation.

As a fishing guide in the Florida Keys for 24 years, I have seen firsthand the power of conservation in my small business. I recognized years ago that a secret to retaining great clients was to take my guiding beyond the skill required to produce shots and catch fish by incorporating education and awareness about aspects of our fishing into a conversation about why conservation is important. I regularly talk with my clients about things like proper fish handling techniques, proper photography etiquette, and how following these guidelines ensures that the gamefish we love so much are interacted with respectfully and with care.

By passing on this knowledge to my clients, I have deepened their understanding of the fish, the environment, and their love for both. The more they fell in love with the fish and the pursuit, the more they wanted to do it and the better my business became. As my clients’ engagement grew, I explained more; why I would take care to idle up to a flat, what the differences in habitat quality mean to the productivity of our fishing, and why the big-ticket issues of water quality, marine zoning, and sound regulations are important to our future success. The more informed I became, the more my clients understood, and the more invested they became in both our fishing and conservation.

Then something unexpected happened. The more engaged I

became, the more I chose to give back, and to serve the interests of conservation publicly by attending meetings and committing my time and effort to advancing conservation through leadership. The more I dedicated myself to conservation, the more my profile grew. The unintended and unexpected benefit was an increase to my overall bookings—it turned out great clients desired to fish with involved guides. My support for clean water, healthy habitats, and effective fisheries management—and therefore better fishing—resulted in my business growing with committed anglers wanting more days.

As Chico Fernandez, a BTT founding member, said, “You can’t just be a fisherman anymore. We all have a duty to also be good stewards of the environment.” This is true. So, for guides who seek to become more engaged, I offer that doing so will not only have the benefit of ensuring sustainable, healthy fisheries, but also a real, positive benefit for your own business. I encourage any guide, looking to get better at his or her craft, to make an effort to engage and educate their clients, as well as commit to supporting conservation. Whether it be learning about specific conservation issues, joining an association, or choosing to give back with time and service, I promise you will discover, as I have, that conservation is good business.

Capt. Benson poles across a prop-scarred flat. Photo: Ian Wilson

THIS ISN’T THE NEW ZEALAND FISHING TRIP YOU’VE HEARD OF.

IT’S A LEGEND ABOUT TO BE WRITTEN AS YOU JUMP OUT OF THE HELI ON A SECRET STRETCH OF GIN-CLEAR WATER. IT’S THE TORSO-SIZED BROWN YOU’RE ABOUT TO LAND AS YOUR

GUIDES STALK ITS EVERY MOVEMENT WITH X-RAY

VISION. IT’S THE PACIFIC-FRESH MUSSELS YOU’LL LATER

ENJOY AS THE SUN SETS BEHIND A HORIZON PAINTED BY THE MĀORI GODS THEMSELVES

IT’S THE NANO-SECOND YOU PAUSE TO SET THE HOOK AS THE FISH OF A LIFETIME SIPS YOUR FLY, TO REALIZE THAT THIS NEW ZEALAND FISHING TRIP IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

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