Annual catch-and-release contest to be held at Moss Marina July 1

By NATHAN MAYBERG nmayberg@breezenewspapers com

Everybody’s favorite free fishing contest is moving back to Fort Myers Beach this Fourth of July weekend

After 30 years of Fourth of July fishing contests at Bonita Bill’s on San Carlos Island, the event is moving to Moss Marina

The catch-and-release contest will be held Saturday, July 1 at the Fort Myers Beach marina due to the loss of the docks of Bonita Bill’s. “The docks are gone,” organizer Joan Semmer said She thanked Moss Marina for being “kind enough to host it for us” this year

Registration starts at 8:30 a m at Moss Marina, which is located at 450 Harbour Court The fishing begins at 9 a m and runs until noon Hot dogs will be served for lunch at noon There will also be watermelon supplied by Mom’s Restaurant and cookies and potato chips donated by Bonita Bill’s Waterfront Café and Tiki Bar

“I’m just so awed at the generosity and kindness of the community,” Ms Semmer said

Those participating need to bring their own poles and bait

There are trophies for the most catches and largest catches, among other categories

The well-attended event features prizes every year for every participant including fishing poles, trophies and other goodies The Fort Myers Beach Tarpon Hunters Club and First Citizens United Bank donated funds for the prizes

Capt George Tunison

Red grouper fishing has also improved this past week after a slow down

Before heading out to state or federal waters to pursue your favorite reef species, be sure to have already signed up for your State Reef Survey and have a ready to use venting tool or device on board

Boca Grande is still tarpon and angler stacked with Redfish and Captiva Passes hosting lesser numbers but still a nice get-away from busy boat bumping Boca Tarpon schools are also spreading out along the coast and can only be found by scouting and watching for rolling fish on early mornings Fish can be moving right off the beach to several miles out Pay your dues by putting in your time quietly scouting or just stake out and wait Binoculars are always a plus

Inshore lots of smaller snook around mangroves with bigger fish to target frolicking in the Gulf surf If you’re a sand walker on an early morning or night snook hunt make sure to bug proof yourself as much as possible

I’m not sure which of these, mosquitos, gnats, or nosee-ums is Florida’s State bird but if you’re early beach walking or stalking flats fish anywhere near summer mangroves be prepared for a fight Over the years many of my charters where cut short by out of state clients totally unprepared for this type of all-out bug assault “Get us out of here!” was the most commonly used phrase with “Are you crazy?” or “How can you stand it!?” a close second and third

Any, and I do mean any, opening on your body is a target, so long everything including socks, ear and face coverings, gloves, are mandatory if you want to be able to fish in relative comfort I always have lots of rubber bands on board to close off shirt cuffs and pant leg bottoms which can save the morning Take cotton or tissue to block your ears which no-see-ums love to explore

With the summer heat and rain pattern now started I’ll soon be switching over to the night shift and very early mornings to pursue tarpon all the up to November around local bridges with jumbo snook as a by-catch

Semmer said the party room at Bonita Bill’s where lunch is usually served is also being remediated Semmer said that extra prizes stockpiled there from previous fishing contests, were lost in Hurricane Ian “We lost everything, our scales, measuring sticks ”

Across the street from Bonita Bill’s, the Ostego Marine Science Center was flooded Semmer said her grandson was able to save some of the fish from the tanks She also saved two turtles She is awaiting a contractor to patch the roof

Before the fishing contest was held at Bonita Bill’s, Semmer used to organized fishing contests at the Fort Myers Beach Pier This will be the first time the Fourth of July fishing contest returns to the island since before 1992 Bonita Bill’s owner Bill Semmer, who used to fire his mini cannon to start the annual event, died earlier this year His grandson Bill will be shooting off the cannon in his place, Ms Semmer said