Guy Harvey Magazine — Summer 2012

The Art of Ocean Conservation VOLUME 3, ISSUE 9 SUMMER 2012 $6.95

Shark Tournaments Catch & Release is catching on

Wired to Fish

Essential electronics for center consoles

COMPLETE ANGLER: Sailfish in Costa Rica

With a Spritz Another Seafood Favorite from Florida Alligator • Amberjack • Blue Crab • BlueÄsh • Clams • Flounder • Golden TileÄsh • Grouper • King Mackerel • Mahi Mahi • Mullet • Oysters • Pompano • Rock Shrimp • Scallops • Sheepshead • Shrimp • Snapper • Spanish Mackerel • Spiny Lobster • Stone Crab Claws • SwordÄsh • Tilapia • YellowÄn Tuna • Alligator • Amberjack • Blue Crab • BlueÄsh • Clams • Flounder • Golden TileÄsh • Grouper • King Mackerel • Mahi Mahi • Mullet • Oysters • Pompano • Rock Shrimp • Scallops • Sheepshead • Shrimp • Snapper • Spanish Mackerel • Spiny Lobster • Stone Crab Claws • SwordÄsh • Tilapia • YellowÄn Tuna • Alligator • Amberjack • Blue Crab • BlueÄsh • Clams • Flounder • Golden TileÄsh • Grouper • King Mackerel • Mahi Mahi • Mullet •

For a chance at $500 of free Fresh from Florida seafood, scan this QR code or visit www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com/ events/Fresh-from-Florida.

Florida Gulf Seafood is rigorously tested in state food laboratories.

CONTENTS

SUMMER 2012

CAT ISLAND EXPEDITION

18

26

CAT ISLAND EXPEDITION A multi-day expedition from West Palm to Cat Island delivers fast-

32

18

A NEW CLASSIC Take a kid fshing this summer and you could catch more than

paced action aboard the Shear Water as Guy leads a team to tag

dinner. Four National Marine Sanctuaries are participating in a

oceanic whitetip sharks and document the process with incredible

summer-long fshing and photo contest with scholarships and gift

video footage.

certifcates up for grabs.

BY DR. GUY HARVEY

BY LYNN GOYA

SHARK TOURNAMENTS High-dollar shark tournaments have always wowed the crowds

44

SEBASTIAN CHARM Beneath the calm waters and quaint tourist brochure pictures of

by conquering monsters of the deep and putting them on display

Sebastian, Florida, is a deep well of conservation history and an

at the dock. But conservation-minded groups are combining new

ultra rich natural resource. The Indian River Lagoon has seen the

ethics with technology to create catch and release events with a

rise, fall and return of fshing, and has become one of the few places

bigger bang and less impact on threatened shark species.

you can catch a 30-inch speckled trout.

BY DANIEL LINDLEY

BY FRED GARTH

RIGS TO REEFS

78

DEPARTMENTS

10

12

14

Thinking Forward in the Gulf What’s it like to be the man in the middle? It’s not always

72

Tagging Tips Oceanic whitetips have distinctive markings and,

comfortable, especially when it comes to building a

some say, an infamous history. A recent tagging

consensus among all the groups with an interest in the Gulf of

expedition by GHRI and company seeks to unlock the

Mexico, and fnding the best way to keep our fsheries healthy.

mysteries of this pelagic predator.

BY DR. GUY HARVEY

BY DR. MAHMOOD SHIVJI & DARYL CARSON

First Gulf Fisheries Symposium With representatives from all sectors of the marine world,

74

A Taste of Sebastian Tell your taste buds to buckle up. Michael Amarel,

this inaugural Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Symposium will

executive chef of Capt. Hiram’s Resort in St. Petersburg,

explore vital issues facing the Gulf in the past, present and

Florida, puts a tantalizing spin on clams casino, crab

future, through presentations and panel discussions.

cakes and pompano in the bag.

BY PAITRA PRIM

BY CAPT. GUS BRUGGER

Product Reviews Our roving editor slips into his full-support fip fops

78

Hooked on Rigs-to-Reefs Fred’s got a thing for long legs, especially when they’re

and trolls the aisles of fshing’s biggest trade show to

covered in fsh-attracting marine growth. That’s right,

report on the latest in angling innovations.

he thinks oil rigs are some of the best looking fsh

BY DANNY THORNTON

habitat in the Gulf.

BY FRED GARTH

34

Sharks Photographer Jim Abernethy is a shark whisperer and has the stunning images from around the world to prove it.

BY JIM ABERNETHY

CONTENTS

SUMMER 2012

PLAYING TAG IN COSTA RICA

54 56

DOCK BUZZ

Conservation, an Investment No matter what we do in the name of conservation,

58

GEARHEADS

Wired to Fish Be smart when rigging your center console

acting now pays dividends later.

with electronics.

BY GUEST EDITOR NED STONE

BY DARYL CARSON

BACKLASH

FEATURE

Jeff Angers We catch up with one of fshing’s most

64

64

Playing Tag in Costa Rica Our man joins the hunt for sailfsh in one of

ardent defenders.

billfshing’s undisputed hotspots.

BY CA STAFF

BY DARREN SHEPARD

Complete Angler (CA) is our “magazine within the magazine,” dedicated dedicated to hard-core fishing enthusiasts and & delivering delivering access access to to experts, experts, thethe latest in fishing latest in fishing gear, and gearthe and hottest the hottest fishingfishing spots spots on theon planet. the planet.

CONTRIBUTOR’S PROFILE

CREDITS TO: PUBLISHER

DANIEL LINDLEY Daniel Lindley (“Shark Tournaments,” pg. 26) caught his frst fsh in Montauk, New York, when he was three years old, and he’s been at it ever since—with varying results. At the age of 12, he landed his frst shark, a mako, of Montauk, but after hanging of the transom by a tail rope for an hour, the fsh arched itself upward 180 degrees and bit through the line, swimming to a well-earned freedom. While working as a newspaper reporter in Montauk, Lindley counted large pelagic species there for fsheries surveys. He’s also been an editor at four magazines, including Sport Fishing, and has freelanced for numerous newspapers and magazines over the years, including Field & Stream, Barron’s, and the Los Angeles Times. Author of two books, Lindley has also written for television and the Web. He lives in Naples, Florida, where he works as a freelance editor and writer, teaches collegelevel writing online and fshes Southwest Florida’s backwaters in a kayak.

TOBY ARMSTRONG Toby Armstrong (“Hooked on Rigs-to-Reefs,” pg. 78) is a longtime photographer/ cameraman who began shooting underwater photos in 1969 with a homemade housing for his Kodak. In 1976, he spent six months in Australia making a documentary on black marlin fshing, and went on to work for a Baton Rouge, Louisiana, television station for 10 years.

These days, Armstrong specializes in diversity and shoots fashion, industrial, underwater, people, wildlife, editorial and advertising. His studio is based in New Orleans and his photography has appeared in numerous publications, including Business Week, Forbes and Vogue. In addition to his commercial

Lost Key Publishing Editor-in-Chief Fred Garth Managing Editor Daryl Carson Guest Editor, Complete Angler Ned Stone Copy Editor Kerrie Allen Art Director & Layout Design Leslie Ward VP of Advertising & Marketing Darren Shepard Marketing Director John Guidroz Outside Sales Representative Dan Wilson Circulation Director Kat Dean Accounting Karen Belser Internet Gurus Advontemedia Interns Paitra Prim Andrea Sutrick Contributing Editors Kat Dean Dr. Guy Harvey Doug Perrine Danny Thornton Contributors Jim Abernethy Toby Armstrong Capt. Gus Brugger Lynn Goya Daniel Lindley Lynda Waters Steve Waters Editorial Advisory Board Dr. Guy Harvey Chad Henderson Bill Shedd Dr. Mahmood Shivji Steve Stock Harvey Taulien David Wilkinson

and lifestyle photography, Armstrong produces flms and videos. (Look for his photo portfolio in an upcoming issue!)

GUY HARVEY MAGAZINE, Issue 9, Summer 2012.

GHM is published four times per year (quarterly) for $24.95 per year by Lost Key Publishing, LLC, 7166 Sharp Reef Road, Pensacola, Florida 32507.

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GUY TALK

THINKING FORWARD IN THE GULF — THE FIRST GULF FISHERIES SYMPOSIUM To many of us, fishing represents freedom. There’s nothing

uncomfortable position, because whenever you take a

more invigorating than getting out on the water, feeling

stand, you will make friends as well as enemies. First and

the wind against your face and pursuing a big blue, a red

foremost, I’m a fisherman and I want to protect our rights

snapper, a tarpon or a large-mouth bass. Just being outside

to catch fish and keep a few for our grills, as long as it’s a

in the elements and admiring the natural beauty of our

sustainable species and not endangered.

world recharges my batteries and always puts a smile on my face, especially if a fish is on!

Unfortunately, as with everything in life, fishing has

While some blame government regulations for taking our fishing freedoms from us, other major threats are man-made catastrophes (such as the oil spill in the Gulf of

a political side, as well. In fact, the politics of fishing

Mexico), which can threaten an entire fishery. Ultimately,

are thicker than a school of baitfish in Panama. Some

the oceans and their inhabitants are our responsibility.

GUY HARVEY, PhD

governmental regulations are appropriate; others go

We are the stewards of the planet and sometimes it’s a

is an internationally-acclaimed

overboard. And in some countries, it’s still like the Wild

daunting responsibility. But it’s a responsibility we must

artist, fisherman, scientist, and

West…void of rules.

pursue with great passion.

world traveler, who devotes

As someone who is recognized throughout much of

After the oil spill, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation

the fishing world, I am often looked upon to offer a source

raised $500,000 in cooperation with AFTCO by selling

of expertise and a voice of reason. Frankly, this can be an

50,000 “Save Our Seas” T-shirts in just two months. We used

much of his time and money toward ocean conservation.

the money to fund scientific research on the Gulf fisheries, and we continue those

latest films. For this portion of the symposium, the general public is invited, so I

efforts today. Our goal was and is to help maintain a sustainable fishery so that

hope you will come out to see me and enjoy the films.

generations to come can enjoy the thrill of catching a fish, cleaning it, cooking it and eating it.

With that in mind, I have collaborated with Guy Harvey Magazine’s editor,

I began fishing as a small child in Jamaica, and my passion for the sport has grown over the years. It’s also why I’m committed to the cause of conservation.

The Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Symposium is part of that commitment. While politics

Fred Garth, along with renowned scientist, Dr. Bill Hogarth, to create a unique

in fishing can be contentious, and while various groups such as commercial and

symposium to examine the future of the Gulf of Mexico fishery. The symposium—

recreational fishermen often disagree, it’s important that we keep the lines of

sponsored by NOAA, the University of South Florida, Florida’s Fish & Wildlife

communication open. We all have to play in the same sandbox and we all have

Commission, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and Guy Harvey Magazine—will

to learn to get along, compromise and always think of what’s best for the oceans,

look at the Gulf’s fishery two years after the Deepwater Horizon oil well was

not what’s best for one’s personal interests. It’s a hard line to walk, and as our

capped, and will also take a long look at what the future outlook is for the Gulf.

population grows, it gets harder every day.

The symposium is set for September 14-15 in St. Pete Beach at the Tradewinds

It is my hope that the Guy Harvey organization can help to facilitate a level of

Beach Resort. In addition to an all-star panel of PhDs, we have invited experts from

cooperation among all groups involved. It’s a lofty goal, I know. And even if we

all spectrums of the marine community—recreational fishing, commercial fishing,

fail, we can take away some level of satisfaction knowing that we’ve tried our best.

non-government agencies, government agencies and even a few senators. Of

Remember, you cannot catch a fish by simply putting a line in the water, and you

course, I will be there. In addition to my presentation, I will also be showing my

cannot create positive change by sitting on the sidelines.

TACKLEBOX

FIRST GULF FISHERIES SYMPOSIUM

BY PAITRA PRIM

Two years after the Deepwater

governmental and governmental agencies, politicians, fshing authorities and

Horizon oil well was fnally capped,

marine scientists—will explore vital issues facing the Gulf through presentations

scientists and fshery experts

and panel discussions. The evening of the 14th will also include a presentation of a

are gathering in St. Pete Beach,

Guy Harvey flm.

Florida, to discuss the current

The symposium will feature notable scientists, such as Dr. Bill Hogarth, the

and future condition of the Gulf

director at the Florida Institute of Oceanography and the symposium’s chief science

of Mexico’s fshery. The inaugural

advisor. Dr. Hogarth has served as assistant administrator for Fisheries at NOAA, the

Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Symposium,

commissioner and chairman for the International Commission for the Conservation

September 14–15, is the only event

of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) and the commissioner and chairman for the International

of its kind. It is also the frst time

Whaling Commission (IWC). Others from the scientifc community include Dr. Dean

many research projects and studies

Grubbs from Florida State University, Jim Franks from the University of Southern

conducted after the Deepwater

Mississippi, Dr. Bob Hueter from Mote Marine Laboratory, Dr. John Paul from the

Horizon oil spill will be presented.

University of South Florida, as well as many more.

The two-day conference,

The Guy Harvey Research Institute will be represented by Dr. Guy Harvey and

organized by Guy Harvey Magazine and the Florida Institute of Oceanography,

Dr. Mahmood Shivji, who is the director of the GHRI. From the governmental

will bring together experts in fshing and conservation. Representatives from

realm, Senators Bill Nelson and Jack Latvala will be presenting, as well as Florida’s

all sectors of the marine world—recreational and commercial fshermen, non-

Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam Putnam.

The ultimate mission of the symposium is to provide a platform where all stakeholder groups can share knowledge and move forward with a unifed mission of a sustainable and healthy fshery in the Gulf of Mexico.

Admission is free, but registration is encouraged due to limited space. The symposium will be held at the beautiful TradeWinds Islands Resort on St. Pete Beach. Ofering 14 diferent restaurants and multiple entertainment venues, the TradeWinds Islands Resort makes for the perfect destination for this year’s symposium.

Along with being a perfect getaway location, TradeWinds Islands Resort’s Sandpiper Hotel & Suites is in the process of transforming into the frst U.S. Guy Harvey Outpost Resort. Not only will the hotel manifest Guy Harvey artwork and décor, but Guy also plans to introduce his Outpost Pursuits program at TradeWinds. The program encourages water sports, scientifc discovery and conservation.

The Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Symposium is sponsored by NOAA, the University of South Florida, the Florida Institute of Oceanography, Fish and Wildlife Commission, the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation and Guy Harvey Magazine.

For more information, visit www.gulfsheriessymposium.com.

The Sandpiper Hotel at the Tradewinds Island Resort

ICASTdition

still tweaking toward perfection. Stronger and lighter

2012 E

still have to catch the fsh, and neither tungsten

Every year, the American Sportfshing Association

is getting better, lighter, stronger and, in many cases,

puts on a trade show called the International

cheaper. I didn’t discover any innovations that blew

Convention of Allied Sportfshing Trades. The

my fip fops of, yet I did covet all of the shiny new

acronym, ICAST, shows that the ASA has some

rods and reels. The biggest impact at ICAST seemed

creative thinkers. “I cast, therefore, I am,” as Descartes

to be the proliferation of kayaks and stand-

might have said. For us fshing dudes, the ICAST show

up paddleboards (SUPs). Kayaks have been

is like heaven, with aisles and aisles of everything

prevalent at ICAST for a few years, but now

from rods and reels to marine electronics to new

there are more folks than ever introducing

sunglasses, not to mention hundreds of lures, fshing

paddle-powered fshing crafts. In fact, the

lines and everything that you need to catch fsh.

Best of Show award went to Hobie for

This year’s show was in Orlando’s sprawling Orange

their Pro Angler 12 kayak, a 12-foot

County Convention Center and, as always, ICAST is

fshing machine. Speculation is that

closed to the public. That’s why they call it a trade

gas prices have created a surge in

show. I, being an intrepid journalist, braved the

non-motorized and smaller boats

plastic world of Mickey Mouse to bring to you,

with the stealth to sneak up on

our esteemed readers, the latest and greatest

the most skittish of snooks.

HORNTON

BY DANNY T

fshing stuf.

Fishing Poles for Fishing Holes Let’s face it, there’s only so much modern engineers can do to improve fshing rods and reels and lures.

The gear has been perfected over the centuries and now the advances are harder to come by. However, folks like Shimano, Penn and the other big boys are

materials are being employed and casting distances are being improved—all great for anglers. But we

nor titanium matters to a bass or a trout looking for a snack.

From a fsherman’s point of view, the equipment

Waterproof Your Life Personally, I was intrigued by two products that are ancillary to the fshing experience—the LifeProof waterproof case for iPhones, and a solar powered hat with built-in lights for tying on a lure after sundown.

I’m a kayak freak, so the Hobie Pro Angler makes me pant like most men longing for Angelina Jolie. And when I paddle for fsh, I pack my iPhone in two Ziplock baggies. No longer. With the LifeProof, I can now splash around or fall overboard without damaging the phone. According to the company, LifeProof is waterproof up to six feet, but I tested mine to 10 and found it to be watertight. As a longtime underwater photographer, I’ve greased enough O-rings to qualify me as a space shuttle engineer. The LifeProof has an O-ring system, so following instructions is vital. Making sure a grain of sand or even a

The Power of Propane

hair follicle isn’t on the O-ring is critical for staying watertight. They also ofer the LifeJacket that’s aptly orange, made from a Croc®-like material and foats.

The LifeProof and LifeJacket won’t help you catch more fsh, but it will save you from having to tell your wife you forgot that your phone was in your top pocket when you leaned over the gunnel. The LifeProof is also great for flming your catch underwater as you bring it close to the boat to net it. At $80, LifeProof is the best insurance policy I can think of for active outdoorsmen with iPhones.

The LifeJacket will set you back another $40 bucks, but it will also save your iPhone from sinking in 5,000 feet of clear, Gulf Stream water. An iPhone in a LifeProof will stay dry but will NOT foat without its LifeJacket.

Solar Eyes If you’ve ever tried to tie a lure at dusk and your eyes are over 40, you know what frustration is. Now you can light up your life with a Power Cap. Two powerful LED lights are mounted under the visor like tiny gun turrets and shoot an impressive beam of light so you can thread the hook or see into your tackle box. The Power Cap has been around for a few years, but this year’s hat comes with a small solar panel mounted on the visor. The nice part is you never have to replace the batteries, so it’s eco-friendly and practical at the same time.

Eight hours under the sun yields more than three hours of continuous light. I’ve been using mine for a couple of weeks and the light is as bright as ever because I use it in spurts of 2 to 10 minutes, such as when I’m tying on another lure or even netting a fsh at night. It’s super convenient and a must for any fsherman or boater who keeps vampire hours.

Solar Shields Lots of companies make awesome sunglasses and many were on display at ICAST. Two that stuck out were shades by WileyX and Costa del Mar. Both companies sponsor pro fshing teams and are deep into the marine arena. WileyX has an innovative foam insert that fts snugly against your face and keeps light from bouncing in behind your glasses. That means you can see deeper into the water and spot more fsh. They also emphasize that all WileyX glasses exceed military specs for ballistic impact protection.

When Costa del Mar isn’t premiering new flms (Google: Jungle Fish

by Costa), they’re introducing cool new glasses. At ICAST, they had their newest—the high-contrast 580P™ sunrise lens which allows maximum light transmission and enhanced depth perception to see through the water more clearly in the early morning or late afternoon prime fshing hours, when outside light is low. The 100% polarized 580 lenses block yellow light, creating sharp color enhancement. Look for more on these glasses in future GHM Web posts.

SOME OF THE BEST OF ICAST 2012

Fry Baby My kids’ favorite meal is fried speckled trout and cheese grits. I wish it were broccoli and organically grown whole grains, but what can I say? We like to fry. For years, my dry batter of choice has been Zatarain’s with a

Left to right below:

little extra salt, pepper and Tony Chachere’s

Eyewear: Costa, Costa 580P Sunrise

to spice it up. As I strolled around the ICAST

Lenses Saltwater Reel: Pure Fishing, Inc.,

show, my nostrils perked up at the smell of

Penn Spinfsher V Freshwater Reel: Pure

fried fsh. I followed the scent like a hunting

Fishing, Inc., Abu Garcia Revo Fly Fishing

dog on a wounded coon and found a dude

Reel: Eagle Claw Fishing Tackle, Wright &

named Shorty frying up some delicious fsh

McGill Sabalos Saltwater Fly Reel Line:

and chicken. Sorry Zatarain, I’m a Shorty man

Pure Fishing, Inc., Berkley Trilene XL/XT

now. The fry comes in mild, medium and

Fishing Accessory: American Premier

spicy. I suggest the medium, which is better

Corporation, The Ultimate Line

than my doctored mixture, and not too spicy.

Winding System.

Aw Shucks Another Seafood Favorite from Florida Alligator • Amberjack • Blue Crab • BlueÄsh • Clams • Flounder • Golden TileÄsh • Grouper • King Mackerel • Mahi Mahi • Mullet • Oysters • Pompano • Rock Shrimp • Scallops • Sheepshead • Shrimp • Snapper • Spanish Mackerel • Spiny Lobster • Stone Crab Claws • SwordÄsh • Tilapia • YellowÄn Tuna • Alligator • Amberjack • Blue Crab • BlueÄsh • Clams • Flounder • Golden TileÄsh • Grouper • King Mackerel • Mahi Mahi • Mullet • Oysters • Pompano • Rock Shrimp • Scallops • Sheepshead • Shrimp • Snapper • Spanish Mackerel • Spiny Lobster • Stone Crab Claws • SwordÄsh • Tilapia • YellowÄn Tuna • Alligator • Amberjack • Blue Crab • BlueÄsh • Clams • Flounder • Golden TileÄsh • Grouper • King Mackerel • Mahi Mahi • Mullet •

For a chance at $500 of free Fresh from Florida seafood, scan this QR code or visit www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com/ events/Fresh-from-Florida.

Florida Gulf Seafood is rigorously tested in state food laboratories.

d n a l tCa Is n o i t pEx edi

by Dr.Guy HJiamrvAebyernethy, Photos by vey, & George schellenger Dr.GUy Har

This recent GHRI tagging, diving and fishing expedition on board Jim Abernethy’s Shear Water had taken several months to plan.

The aim was to make a new documentary under the auspices of the GHOF, with

direction from award-winning producer George Schellenger. The target species is the oceanic whitetip (OWT) shark and a new tracking study being conducted by a team from Stony Brook University in New York and Cape Eleuthera Institute in the Bahamas.

Very little is known about the life history of the OWT shark. This used to be the most abundant large animal (over 100 lbs.) on the planet, but its populations have been annihilated over the last 50 years by longline commercial fshing. Because of the large size of their fns, this species is preferred in the shark fn trade.

Jim Abernethy and his Ultimate Shark Diving Expedition team discovered the local abundance of OWTs in Cat Island. Jim had heard stories about game fshermen sufering from the loss of tuna, dolphin and marlin to the OWT. His interest piqued, Jim organized dedicated expeditions to this remote location, which took two days to reach from West Palm Beach.

One reason for the local abundance of this species is that the Bahamas has banned longline fshing for 20 years and recently protected all species of sharks from commercial exploitation. Jim’s guided expeditions there have been very successful, leading to some great images of these sharks (see his portfolio in this issue, pg. 34). The research opportunity here was recognized and acted upon by Edd Brooks of the Cape Eleuthera Institute (aka “The Island School”), and by Demian Chapman, the assistant director of science, Institute for Ocean Conservation Science at Stony Brook University.

Demian was ably assisted by Lucie Howie from Microwave Telemetry, the company that makes the PATs used in this study. They deployed a number of PAT tags on OWTs last year and again this year, bringing the number of tagged OWTs to 42. Sixty OWTs is the target sample size, most of which have tags with 6 to 12 months deployment times.

Accompanied by Dr. Mahmood Shivji, director of the Guy Harvey Research Institute, Brad Wetherbee from the University of Rhode Island and Shara Teter, a graduate student from Nova Southeastern University, George and I set of with the crew of the Shear Water on a two-day hike to Cat Island from West Palm Beach. In the middle of the Gulf Stream, we released a dozen baby green turtles with satellite transmitters glued to their backs for a study being conducted at Florida Atlantic University. We stopped near Staniel Cay to swim with the pigs and have our checkout dive in the famous Thunderball Cave used in the James Bond movie Thunderball. Our last leg to Columbus Point was in choppy conditions and gray skies, but we were amped up about diving with OWTs the following day.

Jim’s dive briefng was thorough, emphasizing how inquisitive this species can be and how close they like to come on the frst and subsequent passes. From the photographic perspective, this was the dream shark. We had to wear a black hood, black gloves and socks to cover up all of our skin.

We had to stay at the same depth in a group and constantly keep swiveling to check all around. This was good advice. We trolled out to the zone about four miles south of Columbus Point and dropped a dozen milk crates loaded with fsh scraps and buoyed. The plan was to go fshing in the area and check the crates every half hour for sharks and to mark the drift of the crates in the north-fowing current.

This suited me well, as Jim had said there would be a fair amount of fshing involved. I had brought some softhead lures—ideal for marlin and dolphin fshing—and so I put out a spread of four lures and teasers. The crew, Matt, Mike and Jay, played close attention to how I set up the fshing spread and trolling speed, etc. They had never done this before. Sure enough, we did catch a couple of nice, 25-lb. dolphin before the sharks showed up on the chum and we got into dive mode. The two research Cruising to Cat Island, the Shear Water stopped of at

boats from The Island School joined us and started catching OWTs. George

Staniel Cay. Half a dozen pigs call nearby Big Major Cay

and I jumped aboard their boat to do interviews with Demian, Edd, Lucy

home and invariably swim out to mooch food from visitors.

and Brenda and to flm the action while Jim shot the u/w component.

The OWT tagging expedition was chronicled by award-winning director George Schellenger for an upcoming documentary. In addition to tagging, the research team also measured each shark, took blood samples and administered pregnancy tests.

The catching, measuring, tagging and taking of pregnancy tests and blood all

Around 6pm, a blue marlin jumped on the black and purple wide range softhead

went very smoothly for several sharks in a row. We jumped in with several OWTs

on the long right and I was hooked up to an active blue marlin. The giant fsh

on the bait crates and got great footage for over an hour. We were diving on air

unzipped the calm water with its jumps. The crew got the dive gear, crates, etc.,

as we maintained a steady depth of 10 to 15 feet, though were out in 5,000 feet

all squared away and we chased after the marlin sport-boat-style. As the marlin

of water.

got close, I said to Jim that he could get his gear on and go in. We would lead the

Following a busy day of diving, research and flming, we headed in toward

marlin around him for the shots. Jim had never dived with a blue marlin before,

Columbus Point. I put out the spread of softhead lures and very quickly, a blue

so he needed no encouragement. He came up beaming, and then I took the hook

marlin hit the right long and began jumping high and to the right, and then threw

out of the marlin’s mouth and let it go. Perfecto! We had scored the frst blue

the hook. Ouch! I hate when that happens! That evening we had the research

marlin ever caught on board the Shear Water.

team on board for a fresh dolphin dinner.

The next day saw better weather and again we worked with the research crew.

I put the spread back out as we had some distance to go, and not three minutes later, another blue marlin came up on the short right lure, a black and green

The divers went in on the crates and flmed while the catching was going on.

softhead chugger. Amazing! After three attempts, it failed to hook up, went across

We did fnd, however, that the OWTs left the area once they were freed, and the

to the left long and then committed on the right long and I was tight again. This

number of sharks we encountered dropped as the days went by. I was amazed

time everyone was ready and there were lots of jumpshot opportunities. At one

how resilient these sharks were, and how quickly they swam of once the hook

point, the marlin turned and came jumping at the boat like a jet ski on steroids.

was taken out and the tail rope loosened. Demian said the survival rate was 100

Great action! I settled into a deep fght and got the marlin to the boat only to fnd

percent last year.

it was losing weight…rapidly! An OWT had come in on the action and had taken

We drifted nine miles for the day, so we headed in toward Columbus Point.

three, 20-lb. chunks out of the marlin! Now we saw what the sportfshing boat

This blu e

marlin sufere d mass en hav ive bite e foun s from d that an OW gather the sha T as th for an rks see e fsh w easy m m as bein eal wh t Oppos o r e s pond t en a fs g reele ite pag o boat h is ho d in. e, Left: oked u engine The tea expedit p n . o P ise and h m ion, PA o t d o e : p D loyed t Ts that r. Guy H wo typ collect arvey.

Photo: es of tra data a Dr. Gu nd SPO cking t y Harv ags du ey. Rig T tags George ht: Jim that sim ring th Schelle e Aberne ply tra nger. thy get ck mov s a clos ement s. e-up o f an OW T. Phot o: Fisherm

captains had been talking about. They key in on the sound of the boat engine note changing—forward, reverse—and come for the free meal.

We decided to boat the carcass and use it as a prop for our shooting eforts the following day. Meanwhile, Mahmood, Brad and the crew, who had never seen a dead marlin before, spent a while examining the great fsh. It looked like the scene from Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea when Santiago tied the huge marlin to his skif and the sharks came and took it apart on his way home. OWTs had to be part of that story.

We had fewer sharks on the bait crates the following day, but enough to flm their interaction with the marlin carcass. The crew set up some unusual camera angles for this shoot. I was amazed how much muscle tissue the sharks removed with each bite. They slowly approached the marlin, settled their face over the

catch an OWT and deploy a diferent type of tag called a SPOT tag. We caught a

meat, and then shook their head from side to side violently as their broad upper

suitable specimen and secured her on the Shear Water’s dive platform in the water,

teeth cut through the muscle and scooped out large chunks of meat. The water

while Mahmood and Brad took measurements, tissue samples and attached the

below was full of suspended scales and crumbs snatched up by the attendant

SPOT to the dorsal fn. When the dorsal fn and tag break the surface, the SPOT

pilot fsh.

tag sends a message—“here I am”—to the satellites above. The documentary

In the evening, we set the bait crates closer to home and soon found an

investigates the diferent tools being used to track this species throughout the

obliging OWT, actually one that had just been tagged by the team earlier that

Caribbean. Last year, GHRI team members had deployed two SPOTs on OWTs of

week, which made for a great interaction. Thereafter, the research team got

Grand Cayman.

only a couple OWTs tagged and so we decided to move to another location the

We headed north the following day up the west side of Cat Island looking

following day near Tartar Bank, south of Hawk’s Nest, a place that Jim knew from

for more action. We fshed along the way, catching wahoo, yellowfn tuna, big

previous trips. We did a quick wall dive and undertook some lionfsh eradication,

dolphin and blackfn tuna. Over the schools of tuna were Noddy terns and Sooty

which were delicious fare later that day.

terns by the hundreds. The conditions looked great, but we only found a couple

Here, we deployed a research mini longline that Mahmood had brought to

of wary OWTs among them. No more OWTs were attracted to intermittent sets

Fishing during the expedition was excellent, with the crew bringing in dolphin, tuna, marlin and more. Photo: Jim Abernethy.

Above: Jim Abernethy, Photo: Guy Harvey. Above Right: Mako as caught

by Jim’s GoPro camera. Right: Guy with lionfsh for dinner, Photo: George Schellenger. Opposite page: Guy, George, Shara Teter, & Dr. Mahmood Shivji aboard the Shear Water. Below: Shear Water crew members left to right: Matt Heath, Mike Black, & Jay Castellano.

of bait crates, so we fshed near Little San Salvador and crossed the bridge, then headed north along the eastern side of Eleuthera.

I missed a white marlin at noon, but just 10 minutes later, I saw a blue marlin inhale the red and black softhead on the left short. Crew member Matt Heath was the angler, and having caught some big wahoo and dolphin on the trip already, he had his hands full with a rampaging 140-lb. blue. It was fat calm and the marlin tail walked

What a climax to the trip! A good trip suddenly became a great one. Jim had

all over the ocean. Jim had his 500mm lens on and was fring away as the marlin

never seen a big mako before, and one so close was a longtime, dream encounter.

made over 30 jumps. When Matt reeled the marlin closer to the boat, Jim and the

Oceanic whitetips, blue marlin, other shark species, lots of great dives, research

crew got ready to go in and dive on the marlin. It was a bright, sunny day and

eforts, conservation…it doesn’t get better than this.

calm, ideal conditions. We sent four divers into the water with the marlin that was paddling contentedly below the boat, upright and clean.

Suddenly, Jim popped to surface yelling “Mako! Mako! Mako!” and went down

We took another 40 hours to get back to Palm Beach and stopped of near Great Isaac for one more lionfsh pest control dive before the end of the expedition.

again. I could not imagine the scene below, but from experience, I expected the

As we hit the dock, Brad checked his email and found the OWT we named

mako to pounce on the tired marlin just behind the dive platform…but nothing

Lucy was reporting on a regular basis and we had some 30 hits in a few days. At

happened. The only clue I had about the mako in the area was that the marlin

the time of writing this article, the OWT had already gone halfway up the west

suddenly striped up with neon blue stripes. It was defnitely excited, but I was able

side of Eleuthera and was heading south again toward Cat Island. Great stuf! The

to remove the hook and release the marlin for it to swim of through the divers,

instruments were working well. Now we are waiting to hear from the PATs that

out of sight, and into the blue. I could only imagine what would happen if the

Edd, Demian and Lucy had deployed, but if all goes well, it will be several months

reception committee was still lingering, waiting for our departure!

before we get those tracks.

As Jim got in the boat and his mask came of, out came a torrent of excitement

I contacted Bill Shedd at AFTCO, who kindly sent Jim some new fghting belts

and a food of words describing how close the big mako came, moving very fast

and harnesses in time for the next expedition. I left all my lures on the boat for

through the scene and departing. “You should have seen that shark! What an

them to use and George could not resist the invitation from Jim, so he turned

impressive beast! Long, fat and fast!” Jim and Mike both said the mako was over

right around and went on the next trip with Jim and his crew. What a life.

10 feet long, which put it around 600 lbs. Jim got the shot, and his GoPro also got good footage as the shark swept by.

Dive safely, fsh responsibly. Tight lines.

CATCH & RELEASE

SHARK tournaments

BY DANIEL LINDLEY

A couple of summers ago, at the Star Island Yacht Club’s 24th annual shark tournament in Montauk, New York, a great white shark—an endangered species—was brought back to the dock for weigh-in by one of 168 boats in the contest. The captain claimed he had mistaken the 200-pound juvenile for a mako shark, though some anglers said they’d monitored radio transmissions that showed otherwise.

Whatever really happened, the fisherman escaped with relatively little punishment. The ugly episode could have been avoided entirely, however, had the tournament been catch and release, rather than the traditional sort of shark rodeo in which big, bloody fish are strung up to the “oohs” and “ahs” of gaping spectators. Alternatives to kill tournaments are becoming easier to find, as the public has begun to realize that sharks are more threatened than threatening, and anglers are learning that sharks may be worth more alive than dead.

Competitors Capt. Wayne Nichols and Richard Hallman of Team Pole Dancer release a 9.5-foot lemon shark.

Team RedZone--Mike Manis (front) and Jay Withers (with rod) bring in a bull shark while observer Robert Lugiewicz (in blue shirt) watches and a flm crew sends a live feed of the action back to spectators during the Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge. Photo: Nick Whitney, Mote Marine Laboratory.

A handful of new tournaments are strictly catch and release, and a few

a tough sell. Marina owners fear that if boats don’t bring back bloody leviathans

traditional kill tournaments have added a catch and release component as shark

to the dock, the public won’t show up. Some anglers insist that with large purses

numbers continue to decline and public opinion turns against killing them,

at stake—big tournaments in Montauk have run calcuttas, or side bets, in which

with demonstrations cropping up in some coastal towns. Changes in attitudes,

a winner can take away more than $400,000—the winning shark has to be killed

combined with advances in technology, promise ways to enjoy these apex

and weighed for verifcation, because reports of released fsh can’t be relied upon.

predators without ever taking them out of the water. And fnancial support from

In part to refute these claims, Hueter teamed up a few years ago with a couple

the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, along with other sponsors, is helping make

of shark fshermen—Sean and Brooks Paxton II, aka the “Shark Brothers”—and

catch and release shark fshing potentially as lucrative as kill tournaments for

helped kick of the Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge in Southwest Florida. It’s

the winners.

still a small tournament—just 12 boats competed this year—but it’s growing, has

The concept frst got traction—as many other sportfshing conservation

attracted crowds, and has pioneered some innovative ways to make catch and

measures have—in Florida, where Dr. Bob Hueter, head of the Center for Shark

release attractive. And it’s worked for the fshermen and marinas. The pony-tailed

Research at the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, has been trying for years to

Brooks Paxton noted, “Nobody wants to come out for a weekend protest, but kill

nurture the concept of catch and release. Scientists are concerned because many

tournaments are not sustainable, and when they run out of sharks, it’s not a good

species of sharks are long lived and slow reproducing, and killing the biggest

business model. This way, it’s a win-win. The fshermen are happy, the marinas are

sharks for prize money in a tournament often means killing female breeders. It’s

happy, and we’re happy, because we’re getting our message out.”

a prescription for a population implosion, a bit like telling deer hunters to shoot

The new tournament unexpectedly reeled in a well-known local shark

does rather than bucks, or chicken farmers to cull hens rather than roosters. In the

fsherman, Bucky Dennis, who in 2006 became notorious for landing a world-

Eastern U.S., commercial and recreational shark landings are split about 50/50; and

record, 1,282-pound hammerhead in Boca Grande. She turned out to have 54

though kill tournaments account for just a small fraction of the sportfshing take,

shark pups inside her when scientists opened her up. When Dennis called to

these events have an outsized impact on the overall shark equation. As public

participate in the frst Ultimate Shark Challenge, the surprised brothers had to

spectacles, the way they operate sends a message to anglers and the public about

remind him it was all release. Perhaps swayed by the fak he’d caught over the

sharks and how they should be treated.

pregnant hammerhead, he vowed not to kill any more sharks and said he’d prefer

“Sharks have been depleted over the past 35 years,” Hueter said. “It’s not a limitless resource. Killing sharks just for the sport is disrespectful to the animal, and it’s not sustainable.”

Even though attitudes about sharks have softened since the hysteria generated back in 1975 when Jaws scared a nation out of the water, catch and release can be

to tag and release sharks for science.

To keep attracting spectators, the Shark Brothers have taken some creative approaches. They’ve equipped chase boats with cameras to stream live video back to the dock so spectators can watch anglers catching, tagging and releasing sharks. “Something like taking NASCAR and Discovery Channel’s Shark Week

and putting it all in a blender,” as the brothers describe it. That’s become easier to do over the past three years, as prices for video equipment have continued to fall, even as quality has improved. This year, Discovery Channel was on hand to video the tournament for its annual Shark Week presentation. Beyond the usual captains’ dinners and awards ceremonies, the Paxtons have also taken other measures to keep anglers and the public entertained over the weekend event: showing movies like Jaws and Guy Harvey’s documentary, This Is Your Ocean: Sharks, inviting guest speakers like Wendy Benchley, wife of the late Jaws author Peter Benchley, and providing plenty of music, food concessions and exhibits.

It’s a strategy that’s been duplicated up the west coast of Florida in Tampa Bay, where a charter captain named Phil Pegley

Above: During tournament testing, Brooks Paxton (front) and Capt. Robert Moore

has grown what started as a neighborhood competition among

prepare to cut this circle hook and remove it, prior to releasing this female bull

fshing buddies into a popular tournament called the Blacktip

shark. Left: Bob Hueter (front) and John Tyminski satellite tag a hammerhead

Shark Shootout. Its new catch and release format has drawn so

shark. Photo: Nick Whitney, Mote Marine Laboratory

many spectators that it’s had to move to a bigger venue to accommodate the

videos compensate for the excitement that runs through a crowd gawking at a

crowds. A few years ago, when Pegley frst proposed to fellow anglers that they

bloody, toothy shark hanging from a marina’s scales—a moment that some call

make the tournament all release, he got a skeptical reaction, however.

the money shot, pornographic connotation intended. But Mote’s Bob Hueter

“People said there won’t be money. People want to see the shark killing,” Pegley said. Blacktips are one shark species considered to be in good shape—so much

thinks video has solved that problem.

“The crowd likes the fact that no dead sharks are brought in,” Hueter said.

so that fshermen had been bringing them in for the tournament’s fsh fry. So why

“These people have teams they root for. It gets pretty electric. You could hear a pin

make it catch and release?

drop when a team caught a big shark. And they applauded when it swam away.

“We thought it made more sense,” Pegley said. “We decided we wanted to do everything we can do to preserve the species. Because we were going with a

Videos can turn a spectacle into a spectator sport.”

Though streaming video would likely be impractical for tournaments in the

one-shark format, we didn’t want all these breeding females brought in that were

Northeast, where boats target pelagic species farther ofshore, beyond the reach

going to be the breeding future of our fshery here in Tampa. If we love fshing for

of inexpensive cell-phone technology, that hasn’t stopped the advance of catch

the species and we love the species, we need to preserve the species. That’s what

and release at the Ocean City Shark Tournament in Maryland. There’s no video

made everybody fnally say we’re going to do it.”

feed there, but organizers have been trying to sway anglers by upping the ante

Besides requiring release of all sharks, tournament rules also mandated use

on catch and release payouts. Though there’s still a kill division, the tournament

of circle hooks and heavy fshing line to help ensure that released sharks had a

has been shifting its emphasis to catch and release, and increasing cash prizes and

better chance of surviving. Continuing the fsh fry with other species they caught,

calcuttas in the catch and release division with help from the Guy Harvey Ocean

publicizing the tournament as a beneft for the Pediatric Cancer Foundation, and

Foundation. First place in the kill division for makos ofers a $3,000 prize, while the

bringing in celebrities like Hall of Fame baseball player Wade Boggs, the Blacktip’s

winner in the release category can walk away with twice that amount. Calcuttas

organizers have had no problem attracting spectators or participants since

have been added for the catch and release division, bringing payouts closer to the

adopting the all-release format. According to Pegley, more than 400 spectators

purse for kill calcuttas.

have crowded the dock, and 32 boats participated this year, up from just a

The changes seem to be working. “We’ve got a lot of great reviews from

handful when the competition began. As a bonus, sponsors who’d been leery of

participants, especially on the release end,” said Mark Sampson, the tournament’s

associating with a controversial kill spectacle also have jumped on board.

director, who added that the tournament doesn’t use observers to verify released

“The reaction has been very positive,” Pegley said. “If we’ve lost a team or two

fsh. Anglers simply photograph the fsh in the water next to the measuring

because of the new format, we’ve certainly picked some up, and we’ve added

device, take another picture with details of the catch written on a dry erase board

sponsors. We’ve made a lot more strides with the catch and release format than

and call in the catch to tournament headquarters.

we did with the previous format.”

Though the tournament had its own video team this year, it couldn’t put together live streaming in time for the event. Some people wonder whether

Some claim that weigh-ins or observers are necessary to head of cheating, but Sampson said he hasn’t seen any problems. Of course, any system can be gamed.

And kill tournaments haven’t been immune to cheating rumors and scandals,

Opposite Page: Maryland’s Ocean City Shark Tournament incorporates both kill and release divisions, but the release division brings higher payouts. Because video feeds are impractical, anglers simply photograph released sharks in the water next to a measuring device. This Page: The Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation helps support the release division of the Ocean City Shark Tournament, which has proven popular among spectators.

including fsh that have been stufed with ice, lead, and other weight enhancers,

of things, it’s a drop in the bucket for the sharks caught all around the world.

and rumors of a fsh or two taken out of the freezer for a second shot at the

However, tournaments are role models. It might be a learning experience for

limelight or held alive in underwater cages ofshore for tournament day.

fshermen, who might say, ‘Hey, this is what they do in tournaments, and this is

Cheating is “a pretty lame excuse for not having a catch and release division,” Sampson said, “and if you’re really concerned somebody might be cheating, you

what we can do while fshing out on our own as well.’”

Will the tournament go all-release? Someday, maybe, Sampson said, but it

don’t have to participate in the release category. Obviously, in any tournament,

would be through evolution rather than revolution. “That would have to be driven

including kill tournaments, if somebody really wants to cheat, they can fnd a

by the fshermen. To say there will no longer be a kill component would pretty

way.” As a precaution, the tournament just reserves the right to polygraph any

much be a death sentence at this point to the tournament. We want to cultivate

participant in either division.

our release category to the point where it overshadows everything else, and the

More than size, really, money seems to drive most competitors. That means

anglers are attracted to it. Rather than telling them, we want them to make the

catch and release tournaments could follow a variety of formats without even

wise choice on their own, and not just for conservation reasons, but for winning a

getting involved in the weight debate. These might be based on size, but they

big prize, the same way a lot of billfsh tournaments went.”

might also involve competition for the number of sharks caught and released, or the number of species.

Even for those who insist on weighing fsh, catch and release could work.

Back in Montauk, things have pretty much stayed the same, though as winning sharks get smaller, participating boats get fewer and the number of sharks caught gets lower, reports say that at least one marina owner has been thinking about

The Paxton brothers checked weight estimates from girth and fork-length

adding a catch and release category to his tournament. That would be a true

measurements they took over three years at Montauk tournaments against

change of the tide, because Montauk is the epicenter of sportfshing for sharks.

readings from IGFA scales, and the readings were very close, they said. They’re

It’s here that, back in the 1950s, Capt. Frank Mundus, the quirky character who

working on a manual gizmo that would allow fshermen to take the girth, as

eventually became the model for Peter Benchley’s Capt. Quint, transformed sharks

well as length, of a live shark at sea. And in this digital age, could it really be that

from trash fsh to money fsh. Montauk has long fshing traditions, and releasing

difcult to create a gadget that could give an accurate estimate of a live shark’s

sharks for some captains would be about as popular as trolling for striped bass

size while in the water? IPhone app, anyone?

with $100 bills. Yet, even a place like Montauk can change. Like Benchley, Mundus

In any event, in Ocean City, since the purse for the release division has been

became a shark conservationist in later years. Forty years ago, it was common to

beefed up by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, the number of sharks killed has

see marlin landed in Montauk. Fishermen still take plenty of white and blue marlin

declined dramatically, Sampson said, from an average of about 20 in previous

of this historic fshing port, but nowadays they let nearly all of them go.

years to a total of three last year.

To people like Mote Marine’s Hueter, a move to catch and release tournaments

“We’ve been doing this for 32 years, and we want to keep doing it for a long

would beneft not only sharks, but also shark fshermen. “No one’s trying to take

time, because we believe in sustainable shark fshing, and that if it’s done right,

away the sport. It’s a great sport and great fun to catch and release and to catch

this is a fshery that can go on and should go on,” he said. “In the big scheme

another day.”

Inaugural summer contest opens in four National Marine Sanctuaries.

BY LYNN GOYA PHOTOS BY THE SPORTFISHING CONSERVANCY

This summer, four National Marine Sanctuaries will be opened for a season-long recreational fshing and photo contest as a way to involve kids and families in the sport and instill a strong conservation ethic in young anglers. Registration is online and prizes will be awarded for photos showing kids and families fshing, or photos of caught and released fsh. Four, $1,000 scholarships will be awarded for photos that show the best combination of the key attributes of kids fshing, kids and family values, kids and the outdoors, kids in sanctuaries and kids and conservation. Each week, 10 winners will also receive a $100 gift certifcate. Catch and release fshing is encouraged, but not essential, and the contest runs from June 9 through Labor Day, September 3, 2012.

Sponsored in part by the Guy Harvey Ocean Foundation, The Sanctuary Classic will open this year in the Florida Keys and Gray’s Reef sanctuaries on the East Coast and in the Channel Islands and Monterey Bay on the West Coast. If the contest goes well, additional sanctuaries will be opened next year. Participating anglers must agree to follow the Sportfshing Conservancy Code of Ethics, which includes using a “light touch” to conserve habitat and resources, only keeping the amount of fsh that one can consume, packing out what you pack in, not releasing live bait into the water and leaving the area cleaner than when you came.

Organizers also hope the Classic will promote the National Marine Sanctuary system, which encompasses over 18,000 square miles of water within the Great Lakes, and the Atlantic and Pacifc coastal communities.

Kick-of events for the summer-long National Marine Sanctuary tournaments included festivities and a fshing trip just for kids to the Channel Islands out of Santa Barbara, California.

Ninety-eight percent of these waters are open to recreational

and includes coral reefs, mangrove forests and seagrass beds

fshing and are seen as a critical tool in ensuring that fsh

flled with life. It’s also a huge economic engine, receiving

and other marine wildlife fourish for the beneft of future

more than 61,000 tourists who inject $2.2 billion into the local

generations. Most national sanctuaries allow targeted

economy during the height of the season, from November

fshing and diving, with fshing restrictions based on ability

through April. In addition, the rich fora of the Keys sanctuary

to anchor, seasonality and types of fsh. Like land-based

serves as an extensive nursery that supports a multi-million

national parks and monuments, underwater sanctuaries

dollar fshing industry that hauls in almost 20 million pounds

are some of the most beautiful and fruitful areas within our

of seafood and marine products each year.

coastal ecosystems.

In addition, the NMS system co-manages the

On the west coast, the Channel Islands are equally unique.

The sanctuary that surrounds them includes 1,658 square

Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, one of

miles of ocean, where warm waters and cold Arctic currents

the largest protected marine sanctuaries in the world, with

collide to provide a nutrient-rich undersea forest of giant kelp,

approximately 140,000 square miles of ocean that harbors

invertebrates, marine mammals and birds, and countless fsh

over 7,000 intercontinental and indigenous species.

and fora. In addition, the channel is well known as the best

The sanctuaries highlighted in this year’s Classic are

whale watching location in the world, with multiple species of

unmatched environmental, recreational and economic

whales summering or wintering throughout the fve islands

treasures. The Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, which

and their adjoining waters.

contains the most extensive living coral reef system in the

Contestants are required to know and follow federal, state and

continental U.S., is the country’s only living barrier coral

local regulations and agree to observe conservation guidelines

reef—and third in size to Australia’s famous barrier reef and

within the sanctuary. Photos may be submitted until the last day

the magnifcent reefs of the coast of Belize. The list of known

of the contest. For contest rules and registration, visit

species that call the sanctuary home is over 100 pages long

www.sanctuaryclassic.org to register.

Hooked up! The goal of the Sanctuary Classic tournament is both to show-of the conservation work of the sanctuaries and introduce a new generation to the sport of fshing. Kids can win scholarships and gift cards.

Blacktip shark with remains of a longline hook.

Oceanic Whitetip and Pilot Fish

Lemon Shark

Lemon Sharks

Great Hammerhead

Great White

Blacktip Sharks

Lemon Shark

Blacktip Sharks

Sebastian

o i t n a v r w e e s a r s n e b h o o r n C

BY FRED GARTH

I’d spent four grueling days in South Beach at the Miami Boat Show and my escape was in progress…sort of. My eyes were glazing over as I stared into four lanes of bumper-to-bumper tail lights for as far as I could see. After just a few days of immersion into the Miami lifestyle, my body mass index was registering 40% Cuban pork, 40% mojitos and 20% double espresso. As I gripped the rental’s steering wheel, I took three deep breaths and visualized my happy place. I enjoy visiting South Beach as much as anyone, but the non-stop, boat-show-business-dinner-cocktail-party lifestyle could drag down Olympic stud Bruce Jenner, in his pre-Kardashian days, of course.

Traffic crawled north on I-95 at the pace of an elderly cockroach and I estimated my arrival to the coastal town of Sebastian, Florida, to be somewhere around midnight. All I wished for was a comfortable bed and a cold beer in the hotel mini-fridge.

Eventually, the traffic thinned and the full moon brightened the night sky...

The picturesque Sebastian Inlet was cut in 1948, opening the Indian River Lagoon to the Atlantic Ocean.

Captain Mike Peppe works the 4 wt. fy rod. Above: Fishing in the Sebastian River can produce tarpon and snook, among other prized game fsh.

Concrete parking lots and highrises gave way to broad stands of pine woods as Van Morrison’s BrownEyed Girl danced on Pandora. By the time I exited the interstate just north of Vero Beach, I found myself on a two-lane blacktop heading into Sebastian with only a smattering of passing cars and a few distant lights. I located Capt. Hiram’s Resort and the devoted hotel manager was waiting up for me—just another perk of being the expected journalist. He confrmed the mini-fridge contents and I slipped into a frm but cushy bed with a large fat screen standing guard on the dresser.

Transitioning from the fast pace and insanity of South Beach to a locale where a historic fshing museum is one of the hottest tickets in town was syrup for my soul. But the best medicine was the 7am appointment with a local fshing guide.

The Trout Kingdom

didn’t help, but Mike still put me on a few nice trout.

Anyone who has pursued the magnifcent spotted sea

They were hitting Clouser minnows, a lure all saltwater

trout with a vengeance, as I have, knows about the Indian

fy fshermen are intimately familiar with. We fshed for

River Lagoon. It’s where the world-record, 17 lb., 7 oz.

four hours and bonded like old fshing buddies. My blood

trout was caught in 1995. It’s the kind of monster we

pressure had fallen like the stock market in 2008 and

trout freaks dream about. Known to inshore fshermen as

South Beach had already become a distant nightmare.

speckled trout, or just specks, these majestic fsh have a

The miles and miles of mangroves, cuts and inlets

special allure. Not only do they hit top water lures with a

made it easy to see why the Indian River Lagoon is the

vengeance, but their silvery skin dotted with shimmering,

perfect fsh habitat. Back in the 1950s and 1960s, this

golden sheer and dark spots has inspired many an artist.

area became known as the trout capital of the world. But

Oh, they’re also delicious. Of course, my fshing expedition

commercial fshing ravaged the fshery and they lost their

was only catch and release, and that was fne by me. I

capital status. Then in 1994, with help from the Coastal

don’t eat the big ones anyway.

Captain Mike Peppe stopped by Capt. Hiram’s the next morning, pulling his

Conservation Association, net fshing was banned. The fshery bounced back in a big way. These days, it’s fairly common to catch trout in

19-foot fats boat behind his well-used truck. Due to high winds, he had decided

the 25-inch-and-over range. I’ve been coveting a hawse-daddy, 30-incher, a feat

to drive south to a launch near the sacred fshing holes and save ourselves a wet

that has eluded me in two decades of trout hunting in other waters.

pounding in the chop. I liked the man already.

Mike has been living in the Sebastian area for more than 20 years. Originally

Experts claim that Indian River specks have a minute genetic diference that causes them to grow so large. They also don’t migrate, so they just hang out, eat

from Wisconsin, he’s an afable dude who has the attitude and beard of Santa

and grow obscenely humongous. I was focused on presenting my fy properly

Claus. Equipped with a range of fy rods from 4 wt. to 8 wt., he buzzed through

and wasn’t concerned with fsh genes. Capt. Mike’s local knowledge was extensive,

Indian River Lagoon trying to escape the blustery wind. Mike maintained the

and when we weren’t dodging the wind, we were catching fsh. I never hooked

perfect fshing guide demeanor. He was always smiling, he didn’t critique my

into my 30-inch dream fsh, but Capt. Mike brought in a fat 26-incher. I think he

casting style and he fat-out refused to discuss politics. Smart man. While most of

was only slightly embarrassed that he caught the largest trout of the morning.

my fy fshing in my home territory of Florida’s Panhandle is with a 6 wt. and 8 wt.,

As fate would have it, another local guide, Capt. Gus, emailed me a photo of the

and sometimes a 10 wt. rod, I tried on Mike’s super-light 4 wt. rod, hoping to hook

31-inch, 10.3-lb. trout he caught that day after I left. I thanked both captains for

into a big mama. A high-pressure system had moved in and the strong winds

making me feel inferior.

Pelicans are abundant in the Sebastian region. Pelican Island was designated as a bird reservation in 1903. It was the frst time the federal government had set aside land for conservation purposes. Above: Capt. Gus Brugger holds a near-record, 31-inch, 10.3-lb. trout caught in February of 2012.

The Inlet

of Atlantic surf is always

After a productive and relaxing morning with Capt. Mike, he deposited me at

an expensive and intricate

the Sebastian Inlet State Park where I met the administrator of the Sebastian

proposition. Over the years, it

Inlet Authority (SIA), Marty Smithson. In the small-world category, Smithson and

has required millions of dollars

I discovered that we shared a mutual, and somewhat deranged, friend we’d run

and remains under the constant

with during our Caribbean travels in the psychedelic ‘70s.

watch of Smithson and his

We told a few unpublishable stories, and then Marty and I focused our

devoted group. Massive jetties

discussion on Sebastian’s most unique and signifcant feature, the Inlet. Simply

now protect the cut and have

put, the Sebastian Inlet is a man-made cut in the barrier island connecting the

proven resilient to hurricanes. At

lagoon to the ocean. Yet, few things are ever simple. The Inlet’s history has been

any time on any day, fshermen

tumultuous, and a decades-long battle with nature and politics is on-going.

line up on the jetties to catch

However, there’s no dispute that the Inlet provides a tremendous asset to the area

permit, snook, Spanish mackerel,

by giving boat access to the ocean, myriad fshing and watersports opportunities,

pompano, redfsh and, yes,

and an expanded aquaculture industry.

speckled trout.

The Battle for the Inlet

an opportunity for constant

Hundreds of years ago, when the Ais Indians inhabited this region and feasted

study, Smithson explained. The

on fsh and clams, there was no inlet. The Ais would drag their canoes across the

SIA not only spends money on

narrow island to tap into the ocean’s bounty. In fact, there’s still a dry cut through

maintaining the bulkheads, but

the dunes that historians believe the Ais created. The natives also left behind huge

they also fund studies on sea

mounds of clam shells as testimony to their insatiable love of the tasty shellfsh.

grasses and the sea life living

For many centuries, life was good for the Ais. Then they encountered Europeans.

there. They monitor shifting sand

We’ve all been there, right? There were periods of friendship as well as hostility

and have modifed the channel

from the 1500s through the 1700s. On some occasions, the Ais sheltered European

to better accommodate the

shipwreck victims and had good relations with the folks from across the great

natural tidal fows. It’s a non-stop

water. However, in the early 1700s, crowds of settlers continued to fow in and

efort, but the SIA seems to have

peaceful relations ended. The settlers launched multiple assaults on the natives,

a good handle on it. They’ve

and by the mid-1750s, the Ais had pretty much been killed of or captured as

also been able to satisfy both

slaves. It’s an all too familiar story. But I digress.

waterfront homeowners and

The Inlet has also provided

For as long as European settlers lived in the Sebastian area, they dreamed up

boaters by using dredged sand

ways of cutting a swath through the island. The frst recorded eforts date as far

from the Inlet for beach nourishment eforts. As with anything, it’s a delicate

back as 1872. Businessmen literally sunk their fortunes into a prospective canal,

balance and the SIA is walking the tightrope quite well.

only to lose their battle with nature’s unrelenting forces. Between 1901 and 1918, there were seven channel-digging eforts, and each time, the sand marched

Sundays on the Sandbar

back. In 1924, the current location was established and an inlet was successfully

The sandbars around Sebastian have become legendary for reasons far beyond

opened. Shortly afterward, the sandman slammed the door again. The story

dredging and scientifc study. While the oceanside sandbars provide a haven for

repeated itself again in 1938 and 1941. Finally, in 1948, as the country was

surfers, kite boarders and surf fshermen, the lagoon sandbars are frequented

recovering from World War II, there was a renewed focus on creating a permanent

by locals and tourists who have made an art out of lounging around, fshing

inlet. There was also a massive amount of explosives left over from the war that

and enjoying cold adult beverages. I was fortunate to stumble onto a party

needed to be used for something. So in 1948, with plenty of fre power and heavy

(ironically at a bar called The Sandbar) celebrating a local musician, Pete Harris,

machinery, the Inlet was opened permanently. Today, it feeds a vibrant lagoon

who had recently passed away but was famous for performing his song, Sundays

where clams and oysters are successfully farmed and the fshing is some of the

on the Sandbar. There’s even a video. I also ran into marine artist Don Ray who

best on the planet.

lives in Sebastian. Don and Guy Harvey have a long friendship, and Don’s art is

But battling shifting sands, tidal fows, currents and an endless onslaught

outstanding. He and Harris represent Sebastian’s laid-back, Margaritaville lifestyle.

The scenic Sebastian River. Left: Statue of turn-of-the-century Pelican Island advocate Paul Kroegel.

I was quickly learning that Sebastian is one of those “undiscovered” places that people visit and decide to stay.

American Conservation Started Here In addition to the Inlet, the Sebastian area has another proud distinction. It’s the birthplace of the American conservation movement. Around the turn of the 20th century, well-known ornithologist, Frank Chapman, who was curator at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, discovered that Pelican Island was the last rookery for brown pelicans on the East Coast of Florida. Chapman pledged his support to protect the birds, and in 1901, he visited President Teddy Roosevelt at his home in Sagamore Hill, New York. Appealing to Roosevelt’s strong conservation ethic, Chapman convinced the president to protect Pelican Island, which is located in the Indian River Lagoon. On March 14, 1903, Roosevelt signed an executive order establishing Pelican Island as the frst federal bird reservation. He would go on to create a network of 55 bird reservations and national game preserves.

Ed Magano of Indian River Seafood shows of some clams grown in the Sebastian area. Opposite Page: Signs of seafood.

Fellsmere Fishing My second morning in Sebastian began with another fshing trip, but this time to catch bass. Just 20 minutes inland, near the town of Fellsmere, is another man-made landmark called the Stick Marsh.

It encompasses more than 6,500 acres and is some of the most productive bass fshing on the planet. My guide was Capt. Mike Tipton—another Mike and another great day of fshing.

Mike has a pimped out airboat and we zoomed around the Stick Marsh encountering amazing bird life, thousands of gators and plenty of bass. I wrote an extensive article about Capt. Mike and our experiences in the Stick Marsh in the last issue. If you didn’t get a chance to read it, check it out online at www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com.

I will repeat a few details though. Mike’s airboat fshing trips are Pelican Island’s designation was the frst time that the federal government set

100% catch and release, and I was impressed by his conservation ethics and how

aside land for the sake of wildlife. And while Chapman and Roosevelt worked the

well he knew the miles and miles of marshland. After the fshing trip, he took me

hall of government, most of the credit for Pelican Island’s protection goes to Paul

to the Marsh Landing Restaurant where I met owner Fran Adams and her famous

Kroegel, a local captain and boat builder who lived on a bluf overlooking Pelican

frog legs. Uh…you know what I mean. As you can imagine, 6,000-plus acres of

Island in the early 1900s. Kroegel went so far as to wield his gun to keep poachers

marsh produces lots of frogs. So back in 1990, Adams created the Fellsmere Frog

from killing birds for the lucrative feather trade. Pelican feathers had many uses,

Leg Festival to raise money for kid’s recreation. To everyone’s amazement, 5,000

but women’s hats and other clothing kept prices high and birds in danger. In

people showed up and they quickly ran out of legs. Fran scrambled every frog

1902, Kroegel was made game warden for the American Ornithologists Union.

hunter in the region and they went on a gigging frenzy to satisfy the hungry frog

He met Chapman, and the rest is history. Today, a bronze statue of Kroegel,

leg fanatics. These days, the four-day festival draws 80,000 visitors and they serve

smoking his pipe with two pelicans at his feet, stands at the Pelican Island

more than 7,000 frog legs dinners. The money still supports youth recreation.

National Wildlife Refuge.

These days, conservation is still alive and well in the area. The SIA is involved in multiple conservation projects, the local community goes to great lengths to

If you’ve never tasted frog legs, yes, they’re a little like chicken and quite delectable. For the full frog leg immersion tour, check out www.froglegfestival.com.

protect the nesting sea turtles and aquaculture is part of the local culture. The clams that the Ais Indians munched on so prolifcally are raised inside the Inlet.

Dolphins at Sunset

Clam farmers lease plots of water in the 3- to 10-foot depths and have created

I wrapped up the second day with a relaxing sunset booze cruise up the Sebastian

a thriving cottage industry. I toured the aqua-farms with Ed Magano, owner of

River with Capt. Christy Lenz. While we didn’t fsh, the Sebastian River is well

Indian River Seafood. Aquaculture may be the future of seafood, but it is not for

known for tarpon and snook, two fsh I love to catch. But this was an eco-tour

the dainty. Ed and his team have calloused hands and heavy equipment, some

and I learned tons from Capt. Christy, most importantly that she can talk for 30

of it held together with faith and bailing wire. The work is demanding. But that’s

minutes without breathing. As she loquaciously pontifcated the profundities of

farming. You don’t raise seafood by friending people on Facebook.

the Sebastian River area, I was able to share some down time and cold beverages

Magano raises clams from the larval stage all the way to maturity, and has

with Nicole Holbrook from the Sebastian Chamber of Commerce. Nicole was

customers from Seattle to New York. They also raise oysters that, according to me,

responsible for organizing my two-day whirlwind tour. She’d packed in a full

are quite delicious. And I’m a bit of an oyster afcionado, considering I make an

itinerary, so I wasn’t surprised when a pod of dolphin began playing around Capt.

annual oyster trek to Apalachicola, Florida, where the shellfsh are meaty, salty and

Christy’s comfortable pontoon boat.

“Mmmm, Mmmm” good. After tasting their home-grown oysters, I decided to add

I looked at Nicole. “I guess you scheduled the dolphins, too?”

Sebastian to my winter oyster-expedition itinerary.

She just smiled. “Absolutely. They’re on the payroll.”

Resource Guide Sebastian Chamber of Commerce • www.SebastianChamber.com Frog Leg Festival • www.FrogLegFestival.com Inlet District • www.SebastianInletDistrict.com Hiram’s • www.Hirams.com Mike Tipton • www.BullGatorAirBoatTours.com Mike Peppe • www.TarponDancer.com

Tom Collins: More than Just a Drink It was a busy two days, but the booze cruise was the fnal purge I needed to

to kayak excursions, to stand-up paddleboards to bicycle tours for landlubbers.

cleanse my body and soul of my Miami Boat Show aftershock. Just a short time

I can personally attest to the awesome dining based on my encounter with

in Sebastian and I was as relaxed as a warm bowl of Jell-O. I’d been fshing twice,

the chef’s seafood extravaganza. Hiram’s also boasts an impressive lineup of live

toured the Inlet, taken a sunset booze cruise, eaten frogs and absorbed the

music. Classic southern rock bands like Marshall Tucker and the Outlaws have

full-bodied aquaculture tour. So the Pete Harris memorial party was a ftting way

played there, along with daily live music from top regional and local talent. From

to wrap it all up. I’d met dozens of people and they were all at the party. In just

my observations, Collins doesn’t mess around. The resort is a perfect getaway for

48 hours, I was feeling like a local. Before the party kicked of, I was scheduled

fshermen and non-fshing persons as well. My prevailing thought was scheduling

to meet Tom Collins, a local businessman and energetic promoter of Sebastian.

a time to return with my wife and kids.

Collins also owns Capt. Hiram’s Resort and was putting me up, so I obliged willingly. Collins quickly won my favor when the frst two people he summoned

New Discoveries

to our table were the bartender and the chef. That’s the way to start a business

I’ve lived in Florida for more than 30 years and have traveled extensively, so it

meeting. The chef presented us with what I can only describe as a mountain of

always amazes me when I stumble upon another gem I’ve never visited. Sebastian

seafood on a platter the size of a Hummer’s hubcap. There were giant shrimp,

and the Indian River Lagoon is a fsherman’s paradise. I’ve known that for years.

fresh cobia, crab, potatoes and mixed veggies all smothered in some kind of

But it takes a visit—even a short one—to really absorb the aura of an area. What

heavenly reduction sauce. Collins wouldn’t even let me pay for my rum and coke.

I found in Sebastian was an easy going community that enjoys and manages an

So I had two more, just out of sheer courtesy. Ah, the benefts of journalism.

almost limitless supply of natural resources. It’s a place with a lifestyle that I could

Collins has built quite a compound at Hiram’s. In addition to waterfront and

easily slide into. I’d bring my boat, learn all the verses to Sundays on the Sandbar

water-view rooms and deluxe suites, the resort has a full-service, deep-water

and maybe, fnally, catch that 30-inch speck.

marina and every watersport activity you can imagine: from guided fshing tours

Special thanks to Beth Mitchell & Nicole Holbrook, and the Sebastian Chamber of Commerce.

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 4 SUMMER 2012

Photo: Jamie Walker

GUEST EDITOR DOCK BUZZ • PLAYING TAG IN COSTA RICA • WIRED TO FISH • JEFF ANGERS

BY GUEST EDITOR NED STONE

Conservation Is an Investment in Our Fisheries Some years back, I ran a sportfsh boat out of Key Largo. On my of time, I was

Earlier this summer, I attended the 75th anniversary banquet of the Florida

diving a lot in the Lower Keys, which meant there was always lobster in my

Wildlife Federation (FWF). Among the honorees were: David Rauschkolb,

freezer and plenty of friends coming for dinner. When the Florida Keys Marine

founder of Hands Across the Sand; Lieutenant Joseph E. Scarpa, Jr., Florida Fish

Sanctuary was proposed, there was a lot of grumbling from some of my friends and colleagues. So and so was going to lose their best mutton spot, another his favorite lobster hole and some of our secret bait spots would soon be of limits. When the sanctuary was fnally implemented, it afected some more than others, but ultimately, we found new spots to fsh and dive. Now that more than a decade has passed and the benefts of the sanctuary are clear, most fshermen understand that the changes were really an investment in their own livelihood.

Restricting access indiscriminately is a contentious issue and, in most cases, I disagree with such closures. However, during spawning seasons, to protect

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Margaret Mead

critical habitat or when physical damage to an ecosystem gets out of hand, it’s the right thing to do.

For example, Guy Harvey’s recent documentary, Mystery of the Grouper Moon,

and Wildlife Commission; and photographer Clyde Butcher. Former Senator and Governor Bob Graham and writer-advocate Juanita Greene were inducted to the

documents the recovery of the Nassau grouper in the Cayman Islands. Nassau

FWF Hall of Fame. These awards are not given for what you say but what you do;

grouper may travel over 100 miles to get to a spawning aggregation site (SPAG)

yet none of the honorees set out to win an award. They followed their passion

and their spawning concentrations make them easy prey for fshermen. The

and the awards followed them.

Cayman Islands’ government closed the SPAGs to protect an easy target and

During the course of the weekend, I got to talk with Clyde, Governor Graham

to ensure the survival of a vital species. That was a smart investment! And with

and Senator Lee Constantine, who is working with Senator Graham in a bi-

more banks per capita than anywhere on the planet, Cayman knows about

partisan efort at the Florida Conservation Coalition. There was a common theme

good investments.

in what these honorees and guests had done. They had made commitments

Jeff Angers Jef Angers is a resident of South Louisiana and a dedicated inshore angler. He is also president of the Center for Coastal Conservation, a non-proft organization dedicated to promoting good stewardship of America’s marine resources. Angers mixes fshing and politics as CEO of the Center’s afliated political action committee, Center PAC. Among other activities, the Center works to elect conservation-minded members to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. Angers serves on the board of directors of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation and is active with the American Sportfshing Association, serving on its Governmental Afairs Committee. Over the last 25 years, Angers has managed congressional campaigns, lobbied legislative bodies and written conservation policy. Prior to his role as founding president of the Center, he served 15 years as CEO of the Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana. An LSU graduate, he led successful battles to outlaw indiscriminate fshing gear and to protect redfsh with game fsh status. When he’s not fghting for the future of fshing, he enjoys time with his wife Kim and three children: Reagan, Wesley and Graham.

BY CA STAFF

Jeff Angers talks about ultimate fishing destinations and family

You’re based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. What kind of fishing do you pursue most?

What mistake have you made that’s cost you a great fish?

JA: Speckled trout and redfsh. My favorite spot is

it! Thanks to patience and prayer, I continue to learn

You recently returned from your first salmon fishing trip to Alaska. What did you take away from that experience?

Venice, where the Mississippi meets the Gulf. To me,

from my mistakes. Perhaps the most basic is fnding

JA: Alaskans are passionate about their

it’s the paradise of the “Sportsman’s Paradise.” Fall

the balance between patience and aggression

fshery. The Kenai River Sportfshing Association

fshing is my favorite, when the water is skinny and

with a big fsh. In the past, I’ve worked too hard

is the active steward in their region fghting for

clear. But we have good fshing year round.

and snapped the line on light tackle. Fishing a little

the fsh, and they were great hosts to me and

heavier line helps, of course, and keeps the fsh

our group. Compared to the Lower 48, Alaska

fresher for a good release, but there’s a balance.

is often thought of as remote and wild, yet

Who introduced you to the sport, or has had the greatest influence on your fishing habits?

JA: If you can think of the mistake, I have made

even this area needs to be well-managed. Of course, the breathtaking scenery is almost as

ago, I still treasure every fshing memory with him. He

What fishing or boating technology would you like to see developed in the future?

taught me to love the sport and laid the foundation

JA: A mono fshing line that does not twist!

for basic techniques to use. My fve-year-old almost

As much as I love fshing and even tinkering

reeled an alligator gar into the boat last summer;

with gear, I hate losing valuable fshing time

What’s the one thing you think other fishermen should know or do?

she was almost as shocked as I was some 40 years

to dealing with twisted and knotted lines.

JA: Without a doubt, every angler should join and

JA: My Dad did. Although he passed away 25 years

heartwarming as the down-home hospitality.

If you haven’t fshed Alaska, you haven’t fshed.

ago doing the exact same thing. I’d also have to say

actively participate in a group that advocates for

that while my Dad instilled in me a real passion for

angler access and sound conservation near their

the sport, I’ve also been infuenced by my long-time

favorite fshing hole. With nearly

afliation with the Coastal Conservation Association.

25 million saltwater anglers banded

Working in and with this organization for the last 20

together in America, we can move

years has really educated me and made me a better

mountains. With the challenges

steward of the resource.

ahead of us, we will need to.

What’s your favorite or most successful technique for your game fish of choice?

JA: I really like the simplicity of working soft

What species or fishing destination do you dream about?

plastics on a ¼-ounce jig head for specks

JA: My fshing dream for the future

and reds. Varying the presentation, working

is very simple—all three of our kids

the bait and waiting for the hit has become

are going to catch more fsh in their

addicting. We fsh both shallow fats and deeper

lifetimes than I have in mine.

holes as conditions change through the year.

BY DARYL CARSON

Electronic essentials for smart and safe fishing on your center console.

The fishing world certainly has its share of electronic gadget lovers, but if you’re like the rest of us, discussing how your bottom machine performs using various cone angles feels confusing, and maybe a little too personal for polite conversation. With this in mind, we’ve set out to talk about marine electronics in a simple, straightforward language. We promise you won’t have to pop an Excedrin by the end of this article, or awkwardly avoid eye contact with us later. Our discussion will focus on the essential fishing electronics for center consoles under 30 feet.

This covers the needs of a huge number of offshore, near-shore and inshore anglers. We’ll also stick to the core technologies that get you to the fishing grounds, help you find the fish and get you home again. This includes GPS navigation, fishfinders/depth sounders and VHF radio.

By design, center consoles are dedicated fshing machines with limited space for creature comforts. Anglers need to maximize dash space by prioritizing equipment choices and carefully considering mounting options.

mount electronics. With integrated systems and high-

can handle. Most units range from 5 to 15 inches

marine electronic devices are rapidly becoming

As we begin, it’s important to understand that

def, multi-color display screens, anglers can easily

diagonal screen size. This approach maximizes your

more integrated with each other and performing

view more data in a smaller space. This is especially

investment (you’re only paying for one screen) and

multiple functions. Just like your smartphone is more

helpful on a small boat when anglers prefer having

provides the most options for displaying multiple

than a phone—you can use it to watch movies, surf

their electronics down on the console and more

functions at once. Of course, larger units are more

the internet, control your home security system,

in their natural line of sight rather than mounted

costly, but higher cost units also tend to have faster

and, oh yeah, talk to people—the days of stand-

overhead in an electronics box.

processing speeds. This makes it easier to zoom in

alone electronic units are giving way to units that

and out, change settings and re-draw maps when

handle numerous tasks. VHF radios allow voice

And that’s our first buying tip:

communication and also share data with other boats.

Base your small-boat electronics system on a

Side-scan images can be marked with GPS waypoints

combination GPS chartplotter/sounder or on a multi-

in chartplotter/sounders and in VHF radios, is how

for future trips. A single screen can display navigation

function display (MFD) that will network with other

your electronics will handle the elements. High-

charts, bottom profles, engine data and a weather

GPS and sounder modules.

quality color displays should be easily visible in

forecast. It’s enough to make the most reticent electronics buyer geek completely out.

This kind of integration is great news for boats 30

When it comes to mounting options, in-dash

you’re on the go.

Another basic design feature to consider, both

direct sunlight. In our opinion, this is a must! And

mounting, rather than using a bracket, is sometimes

whether mounted in the dash, on a bracket or inside

preferred for ease of use, but it’s worth investigating

an electronics box, it’s good to know how much

feet and under. It not only increases capability, but

all your options. The priority should be buying the

contact with water your machine can handle. Water

it decreases the amount of dash space needed to

largest screen your bank account and dash space

resistance ratings are typically listed on the Japan

Humminbird’s new 360° technology gives shallow-water anglers the option of scanning in all directions at once or selecting just one area of the boat to explore.

A unique transducer is lowered into the water for use at stealthy speeds.

How much technology do which creates highly accurate views of you need in a fish finder? structures and bottom contours several The choice is yours...

structure, but nothing

hundred feet to each

composition of the

beats a depth sounder for discerning size and location of fsh under the boat and

side of your boat, and can be efective in depths

bottom itself. Sounders with the capability of dual

down to the 100-foot range. Inshore anglers and

frequencies are most common and deliver excellent

Industrial Standards (JIS) or European (IPX)

fshermen who frequent rigs and shallow wrecks are

performance in a wide-range of depths. These

scales from 0 to 8. For example, JIS 4 is

using this technology to fnd fsh-holding habitat like

systems are getting more accurate and user-friendly

“splash resistant,” while JIS 7 is “immersion

never before. The latest models combine side-scan,

all the time, with high-performing, automated

resistant” with the respective IPX4 and

down-scan (side-scan imaging faced downward)

settings that clean up unwanted signal scatter, and

IPX7 carrying similar meanings. For a

and traditional bottom imaging for unbelievably

make it easier than ever to fnd the fsh.

center console, we like all the JIS or IPX we

accurate views of what’s under and around the boat.

can get.

Humminbird even ofers a 360-degree capability,

diferent manufacturers ofer compatibility with

feet in front of their boats and to cast to fsh long

When it comes to communication needs on your small boat, your main concerns

diferent chart systems, both pre-loaded and with

before they’re spooked.

should shift away from fshing and more to safety.

When it comes to chartplotters,

the ability to upload new charts via a data card. If you

allowing shallow-water anglers to scan up to 150

How much technology do you need in a fsh

You may be tempted, especially if you primarily

already own charts or prefer a particular style, fnding

fnder? The choice is yours, but it’s worth noting

cruise inshore and near-shore waters, to rely on your

a compatible machine will narrow down your search.

that side-scan and down-scan are compliments to

cell phone as a communication device on your boat.

When it comes to choosing a sounder, many anglers

traditional sounders and not a replacement. This

This is possible, but we believe the VHF radio is still

are becoming familiar with side-scan technology,

new technology does a breathtaking job of revealing

an essential piece of equipment. Not only does it

Screen size is critical, with larger screens almost always being worth the extra cost. The ability to have split-screen displays like these (left, Humminbird 360; right, Lowrance StructureScan) means anglers can get multiple views at once.

give near-instant access to the Coast Guard in an

channel changes and a playback option that lets you

multiple transducers, autopilot, radar, VHF radio

emergency, it provides reliable communication with

listen to garbled transmissions a second or third time.

and engine sensors. Then all of these devices

other vessels—namely commercial freighters, tugs

Handheld units are especially popular on the smallest

and readouts can be managed from one or more

and ferries that might need to know you’re adrift in a

boats and may serve as back-ups on larger rigs. The

multi-function displays (MFDs). Buying NMEA

shipping channel. And, with the advent a decade ago

ability to connect a handheld to an external antenna

2000-compatible products can also allow you to mix-

of Digital Selective Calling (DSC), boaters can now hit

to help boost its range is a great asset if it’s playing

and-match brand names.

one button on their radio to instantly send a distress

backup to a fxed-mount radio.

signal, complete with personal information and GPS

The basic package of a combination chartplotter/

Our fnal point of discussion is the all-important issue of redundancy. If you’re a weekend angler who

coordinates, to every VHF radio in range. Fishermen

depth sounder, and a good VHF radio, are all

keeps it close to shore, an iPhone and a few free

can also pre-program the unique DSC identifer

most anglers need to fsh efectively and safely.

apps may supply all the redundant communication

code of their fshing buddies and share information

However, there are endless other possibilities. If

and navigation capability you really need. But, if you

privately, such as the coordinates to a new fshing

you want to expand your system now or in the

make long runs ofshore, fsh a lot of tournaments

hot spot. Some VHF systems also include encryption

future, consider starting with products that are

or will otherwise be seriously hindered by having a

capabilities that allow two parties to talk in total

NMEA 2000-compatible. This rating from the

piece of electronic equipment fail, then redundancy

privacy of other boats.

National Marine Electronics Association means that

is a must. This can be as simple as buying a couple

the device in question speaks a kind of universal

of stand-alone modules to back up key elements of

mount units (in-dash or bracket) and handheld.

marine electronics language and is designed to be

your fully integrated system, or you may opt to run

Fixed units ofer up to 25 watts of power, and allow

plug-and-play with other NMEA 2000 devices. For

two separate systems. Space and budget constraints

communication up to 12 miles or more depending

total integration, all such devices on a boat can be

will likely factor into your options, but it’s essential to

on antenna height and local geography. Handheld

connected by plugging into a “backbone” or one

have a “Plan B.”

models vary between 1 and 6 watts and have a much

central cable. Run a backbone the length of your

more limited range. A few features we like are the

boat and you can plug in everything from your

marine electronics and some great choices to provide

ability to scan multiple channels, rotary knobs for fast

GPS-controlled trolling motor to your chartplotter,

a core electronics package for your center console.

VHF radios come in two primary shapes: fxed

Following are some of the latest oferings in

Lowrance HDS GEN2 Series The new HDS Gen2 series is available in a range of sizes to give top-shelf

Humminbird 898c SI Combo With a 7-inch display, this mid-size combination chartplotter and fshfnder

capabilities to any boat. It has double the memory and twice the processing

takes full advantage of Humminbird’s side-imaging and DualBeam PLUS sonar

speed of the popular HDS fshfnder/chartplotters for lightning-fast panning and

technologies, and should especially appeal to dedicated shallow water anglers. It’s

zooming. When paired with a StructureScan® sonar imaging module, users can

also compatible with their 360° imaging system when connected with the required

scan images directly on a chart in real-time, or create StructureMap™ charts of

360° Transducer Deployment System for a simultaneous view in all directions. GPS

their favorite fshing spots.

features include Humminbird Contour XD™ and Navionics compatibility.

Includes internal, GPS+WAAS antenna

Dual memory card slots

Fishfnder models include Broadband Sounder

Wide/narrow cone split screen

Optional LSS-2 StructureScan® HD module ($599) for side-scan

Selective fsh ID+

and down-scan imaging

Freeze frame with the ability to mark structure on side-imaging

TrackBack™ allows users to review sounder or StructureScan® images

Optional network modules: WeatherSense, CannonLink and InterLink

and add waypoints

$1,499.99; humminbird.com

Network ready and NMEA 2000®-compatible $549-$2,449; lowrance.com

Lowrance Link-5 DSC VHF This full-function, fxed-mount, 25-watt Digital Selective Calling (DSC) VHF radio is Class D compliant for global use. An ultra-rugged, waterproof chassis makes it great for small boats, and the microphone has a built-in speaker for easier use in loud environments.

Rotary knobs for fast channel acquisition Backlit displays with lat/lon data Selectable Dual and TriWatch modes Logs up to 10 distress calls and 20 individual DSC calls Selectable 25/1-watt transmit power $179; lowrance.com

Garmin GPSmap® 6212 Chartplotter Garmin ofers a staggering array of chartplotters that will network with

Garmin GPSmap® 541s This combination chartplotter/sonar unit is an excellent choice when space

multiple sounder and transducer options. If your dash and wallet can handle it,

is tight. The 5-inch color display and fast drawing and panning speeds make

this system will also allow a full range of add-ons. The 6212 ofers up a 12.1-inch

navigation easy, and the unit supports DSC for VHF radios. Standard equipment

display, comes preloaded with BlueChart® g2 coastal maps and supports sonar,

includes a powerful, dual-beam transducer and Garmin’s See-thru® technology

radar, weather and much more. The high-resolution screen and blazing fast

that exposes fsh hidden in cover.

processor give detailed views in an instant, even in

IPX7 waterproof rating

bright sunlight.

SD card slot

IPX7 waterproof rating

80/200 kw dual beam sounder

SD card slot

Pre-loaded coastal satellite-enhanced basemap

External antenna

Built-in GPS receiver

Multiple sounders available to add-on

$799.99; garmin.com

Network ready and NMEA 2000®-compatible $3,999.99; garmin.com

Cobra MR F45-D VHF Get all the VHF you need without breaking the bank in the MR F45-D. DSC-

Icom IC-M72 Handheld VHF Compact and ultra-rugged, this handheld delivers

capability provides peace of mind, and useful features make this VHF perform above its pay-grade. Selectable 1-watt or 25-watt output is perfect for short- or

a hefty 6 watts of power and comes standard with

long-range communication, and function keys on the mic help you keep one

a high-capacity Li-ion battery for up to 16 hours

hand on the wheel.

of use. A good choice for small, open craft, it’s also

JIS 7 waterproof rating

submersible to IPX8 standards (5 feet for 30 minutes)

Weather alert

and is loud enough to be heard over engine noise.

Dual-watch function

Battery life indicator

Adjustable backlight

Weather scanning and weather alert

$119.95; cobra.com

Built-in UT-112 compatible voice scrambler AutoQuake function vibrates to clear water away from speaker grill $199; icomamerica.com

Playing Tag in Costa Rica

BY DARREN SHEPARD PHOTOS BY JAMIE WALKER

It’s a simple question, really. “Where do the fish go?” It’s a query that rises in the mind of every angler when the bite comes to a screeching halt. An accurate answer could make all the difference between a good day and a great day on the water.

More importantly, the same information would be a boon to researchers and conservationists working to understand how fish behave and how to develop sound, effective management practices. For both anglers and scientists, facts are the key—and sometimes elusive—ingredients in the recipe for success.

Jamie Walker has been asking this question for almost 20 years while fshing

the project. Information collected from these and other tags will include data on

out of Quepos. And with this one question, Jamie Walker and Kerwin Stefen,

fsh location, migration patterns, daily diving habits, depths traveled and preferred

owners of Frenzy Sportfshing in Quepos, Costa Rica, started the Billfsh Research

water temperature. This type of information gives the research team a solid base

Project (www.billfshresearch.com). Jamie has a great passion for fyfshing for

for understanding basic billfsh activities.

billfsh and an even greater desire to learn more about the science of billfsh. The

The solar powered satellite tags are rugged and simple on the outside,

Billfsh Research Project’s mission is “to pursue collaborative eforts between

but high-tech wonder machines inside. Designed to stay with the fsh for a

the science and sportfshing communities to enhance the billfsh research

predetermined period of time, the top portion releases from a stem inserted in

knowledge base.” What does this mean in the real world? I was about to fnd out.

the billfsh, then foats to the surface and transmits the collected data to a satellite

Jamie invited me to Quepos, Costa Rica, in February to join in on the Billfsh

so it can be analyzed by researchers. The tags we placed during this trip are

Research Project’s frst phase. Happily for me, this meant plenty of time on the

programmed to release at the end of the year, providing almost 12 months worth

water, and some heart-pumping moments in the water, while I helped catch, tag,

of data. By studying what billfsh do day-by-day over such a long period of time,

and release sailfsh and marlin. In December 2011, Jamie and Dr. John M. Dean,

the team hopes to probe into the mysteries of what drives their behavior and how

PhD, chief science advisor, University of South Carolina, placed their frst two

better to conserve these incredible fsh.

Pop-up Satellite Archival Tags (PSAT) as part of the initial data collection phase of

The team’s goal for this year includes deploying 20 tags, which should provide

Longtime mate Marco Solano swims away from the boat with a tagged sailfsh, helping to revive it for release after the tagging process.

Opposite Page: The author joins the crew of the Frenzy in Quepos for a tagging trip with the Billfsh Research Project.

an excellent sample size for researchers. As we were targeting sailfsh, we set out to place four of these tags on our trip. As we cruised out to the fshing grounds the frst day, Jamie gave some more background on the project and their work in Costa Rica.

“This area is famous for fshing—everything from grouper, yellowfn tuna, wahoo, sailfsh and marlin. Most certainly, we are known worldwide for our fantastic billfshing opportunities,” said Jamie. “We have terrifc fsheries here, but any fshery can be harmed if not properly managed. We believe it’s more important than ever to bring the scientifc and the sportfshing communities together, and provide practical information for the future of these fsh and for the sport.”

Of course, the frst thing that had to be done was to catch fsh, and I, for one, was willing to do my part in the name of conservation science. Honestly, I don’t think serving the greater good has ever been so much fun. Aboard the Frenzy, with its excellent captain and mates, we racked up 14 sailfsh caught and released in a little more than two days.

The objective each time was to catch a sailfsh and then carefully bring it alongside, minimizing stress on the animal. Our frst sailfsh was a perfect catch, and once alongside, there were several steps to the tagging process. For the frst time in the project, tissue samples were being taken, so Jenny Walker and the crew made a small incision in the dorsal fn. This sample was then logged-in with the corresponding number of the tag being deployed on the sailfsh. The tissue samples were eventually sent to Dr. Virginia Shervette, PhD, assistant science advisor and professor of fsheries at the University of South Carolina, and will provide an all-important genetic profle of the fsh. A tremendous amount of information can be gained from this beyond just identifcation of an individual animal. It also provides an understanding of sailfsh DNA, in general, and on the makeup of regional populations.

“Trying to answer the one question of ‘where do the fsh go’ leads to more

The author helps revive a sailfsh for release. The team caught and released 14 sailfsh in less than three days, equipping three with satellite tags. Opposite Page: Tags are carefully programmed and then placed on the modifed tagging stick prior to being placed on the billfsh. DNA samples are taken from each fsh to aid in population studies.

questions every time you gather data,” says Jamie. “It is almost a never-ending process. But each additional layer of data is critical in the overall efort of

the frst sailfsh of the day, I was asked to jump in the water and assist.

I’m as adventurous as the next guy, and swimming in open water with one of

understanding fsh behavior to improve conservation practices. Once we know

these incredible creatures held a certain visceral appeal. But I had no desire to

what the fsh do, we have a much better idea about what anglers need to do.”

play Errol Flynn, either. A sailfsh can do serious damage with its bill and I wanted

After taking the tissue samples, it was time to install the PSAT tag. The sailfsh

nothing to do with a fencing match. After a moment’s hesitation, I slid into the

was held carefully by the bill, dorsal fn, and tail, and the satellite tag was carefully

water anyway, fguring the fsh would probably go after Jamie frst. He’s the one

inserted by pushing a blade into the fesh above the lateral line near the front

who came up with this crazy idea!

of the dorsal fn. This location is proven to hold the tag in place for an extended period of time.

A standard release while sportfshing takes only a few minutes, but in tagging a

As we swam away from the boat, the sailfsh began to revive as water fowed freely over its gills. Within a few minutes, every muscle seemed to come alive, and what began as an assisted swim quickly became us foating on the surface,

sailfsh, the animal is being held for a little longer, so a good resuscitation is critical

watching the sailfsh dive into the deep blue depths. It was a scene repeated two

to ensure survival. Typically, Jamie and his frst mate Marco will enter the water

more times over the next few days and one I’ll never forget. By the end of the trip,

with snorkel gear and swim away from the boat with the sailfsh. Swimming with

we had tagged three sailfsh, and as a bonus, Clay Johnston caught a 300-lb. blue

the fsh enables them to check the tag, resuscitate the fsh, watch for additional

marlin, and we tagged this fsh as well.

signs of stress and release it when it has fully recovered from the procedure. With

Our trip aboard the Frenzy was a success, and not too long from now

information from the PSAT tags will be transmitted up to the satellites and into the computers of researchers. It’s a great start for learning about Costa Rica’s billfsh

fght another day.

With the work of the Billfsh Research Project in Costa Rica and like-minded

population and also a promising beginning for the Billfsh Research Project itself.

organizations around the globe, anglers should begin to get better answers to the

With the project launched in Costa Rica, Jamie and his team have plans to expand

age-old question, “Where do the fsh go?” More importantly, we can likely avoid

to other areas around the world where there are annual aggregations of billfsh.

answering the more sobering question, “Where did the fsh go?”

The project is currently funded internally and with a few private donations, but it will need to fnd additional support to keep moving forward.

In addition to its tagging initiative, the project is also working to infuence the

Special thanks to the crew of the Frenzy: Captain Jose Hernandez, First Mate Marco Solano and Mate Antonio Ramirez, as well as Operations Manager Willy Jimenez. Thanks to Jamie’s friends, who proved a big help on the trip: Clay and

fshing community by promoting safe handling of billfsh and smart catch and

Pat Johnston, and Graham and Julie Osteen. Thanks to Dr. John M. Dean, PhD,

release practices. They encourage anglers to take advantage of the latest photo

chief science advisor and distinguished professor emeritus, University of South

and video capabilities to capture footage of their catch in the water—alive and

Carolina, and Dr. Virginia Shervette, PhD, assistant science advisor and professor of

thriving. Avoiding the classic “Hero” shot taken topside, and leaving the fsh in the

fsheries science, University of South Carolina. Finally, a big shout-out to Jamie and

water, promotes a faster, cleaner release, and helps the animal live to breed and

Jenny Walker.

The Billfsh Research Project has begun its work out of Quepos, where founders Jamie Walker and Kerwin Stefen operate Frenzy Sportfshing, but future projects are planned for other areas where billfsh congregate.

Tagging for research is only part of the Project’s mission. The team is also working to promote the billfsh conservation message and smart catch and release practices among recreational anglers.

Catching Costa Rica

BY DARREN SHEPARD PHOTOS BY JAMIE WALKER

Costa Rica has a stunning reputation among outdoor types. It’s high on the bucket list of everyone from surfers and divers to eco-tourists and dedicated anglers. One of the most bio-diverse areas in the world, it boasts rainforests, mountains, volcanoes, and oceans as playgrounds, and more than 26 percent of the land mass consists of national parks and other protected areas.

Our base in Quepos is an old fshing town on the Pacifc coast. The town of 25,000 is surrounded by rainforests and hosts a modern oasis of restaurants, bars and hotels, all with a friendly, local vibe. In February, Festival de Mar is celebrated for the entire month, and visiting at this time is a great way to get an extra dose of local favor. Just 7km south of Quepos is the 4,000-acre Manuel Antonio National Park. Approximately 300,000 tourists visit the park annually, making it the most visited park in the country. Its list of attractions includes more than 109 diferent mammals, including four diferent species of monkeys and 184 birds.

The area also ofers plenty of opportunities for whitewater rafting, scuba diving, snorkeling, surfng and more.

Sportfshing out of Quepos is not to be missed. Billfsh are in abundance from December to April and the sailfsh resource is outstanding. Yellowfn tuna, marlin, snook, roosterfsh and other species are also targeted. There are several charter companies in the area and Frenzy Sportfshing is one of the best (www.frenzysportfshing.com).

Marina Pez Vela is a full-service marina and can provide supplies, along with additional information about outftters and guides in the area (www.marinapezvela.com). Lodging choices range from rental homes, such as Casa Carolina (www.casacarolinaquepos.com), to hotels for every budget. For more information, log on to www.visitcostarica.com.

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Conservation

Ye find me fish!

GUY HARVEY RESEARCH INSTITUTE

TAGGING TIPS

BY DR. MAHMOOD SHIVJI & DARYL CARSON

Guy and company go to work with oceanic whitetips in the Eastern Bahamas.

Sharks get a lot of press. From nature-oriented television shows and

Bahamas home or wander of to another part of the Atlantic. So far, the shark

documentaries to news reports and even in publications like GHM, we recognize

has been spending a lot of time near the surface, allowing the team to map

that there’s a good bit of shark obsession in our culture. Who doesn’t want to know

detailed horizontal movements (see track data at www.nova.edu/~johnmatt/

more about toothy, apex predators? However, even in scientifc circles, sharks are

owtgrandcayman.htm). Oceanic whitetips tagged earlier of Grand Cayman Island

receiving an increasing amount of scrutiny. Their key position in the food web

have already provided new information on the wide-ranging habits of this

makes them an indicator of the health of the oceans and afords them a signifcant

species in the Caribbean.

impact on other species, which makes understanding sharks an important conservation and management goal.

The Bahamas expedition is part of a larger efort to increase public awareness of the remarkable nature of the oceanic whitetip and its dire population status

The Guy Harvey Research Institute (GHRI) has recently turned its attention

through a new documentary flm. Once considered one of the most abundant

to Carcharhinus longimanus—the oceanic whitetip shark (see article, page 18).

sharks in the open ocean, this species has been subject to enormous bycatch

Infamous for its alleged role in the death of the sailors of the USS Indianapolis,

fshing pressure in pelagic tuna and swordfsh fsheries worldwide, and is now

sunk by a torpedo attack in 1945, this species has a unique look with its long,

believed by some to have declined by as much as 90 percent in some areas.

paddle-like pectoral fns (“longimanus” derives

The GHRI, using DNA forensics research and working on a

This species has been subject to

from Latin terms for long—longus, and

of anywhere from 600,000 to nearly one million oceanic whitetip

enormous bycatch fishing pressure

hand—manus) and the unmistakable white

sharks ended up in the worldwide fn trade in the year 2000.

The populations of this species have decreased to the point

in pelagic tuna and swordfish

mottling pattern on its larger fns. Primarily

pioneering study led by Dr. Shelley Clarke, found that a median

that the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the oceanic whitetip as “vulnerable globally,” meaning that it faces a

fisheries worldwide.

oceanic in nature, it’s rarely found close to continents.

On a recent diving and flming trip to the Eastern Bahamas with Jim

high risk of extinction in the wild. Furthermore, the situation for this species is even direr in the Northwest and Western Central Atlantic Ocean where it has been assessed as “critically endangered.”

Despite its notoriety and the recognition of large population declines likely due

Abernethy’s Scuba-Adventures, Dr. Guy Harvey (who said the trip really was

to fsheries, the scientifc community understands very little about the biology

work), award-winning cinematographer George Schellenger and the GHRI team

of this species, its stock structure or migration patterns. Knowledge of these

set out on the M/V Shear Water in search of oceanic whitetips. During the trip,

elements is critical in formulating efective conservation measures. The minimal

they successfully deployed a fn-mounted satellite tag to a female for a planned

reliable information available indicates it is a relatively small shark with adults

Guy Harvey documentary. The big question is if she will continue to call the

typically reaching 6-7 feet in total length (although the largest animal on record

is about 11.5 feet). It produces small litters (typically 5-7 young) at a time, and appears to have a gestation period of 9-12 months. Based on its preference for oceanic waters, the oceanic whitetip is considered a highly migratory species, but this is speculative (there is very little data on migratory behavior of the oceanic whitetip).

Recognizing this knowledge defcit, and to aid fshery management, the GHRI/GHOF, in association with the Save Our Seas Shark Center USA at Nova Southeastern University and Marine Conservation International, are investigating the migratory behavior and population structure of this species.

This work combines satellite tag tracking studies of the Cayman Islands along with worldwide-scale genetics research. The satellite tag tracking provides a direct measure of the movements of the sharks; the genetics research provides an indirect measure of movements, but also indicates whether the migrating sharks are interbreeding with animals in other regions—information that cannot be determined just from tagging studies. The genetics work will also identify if diferent oceanic whitetip stocks occur in diferent regions.

Dr. Mahmood Shivji attaches a tracking satellite tag to the dorsal fn of an oceanic whitetip shark. Photo: Guy Harvey

MEET THE CHEF

A TASTE OF SEBASTIAN

BY CAPT. GUS BRUGGER

As my trusty 18-foot Maverick flats skiff, Pattern Setter, skipped over the midday chop of the Indian River Lagoon, my clients and I shared in the small talk that would make us fishing buddies before days’ end. As I came off plane in order to idle through the manatee zone separating us from the mangrove shoreline of Pelican Island Wildlife Refuge I intend to investigate, the talk turned to fishing...

I explained that the inshore waters of the Sebastian area are one of the few places anglers have the opportunity to catch record-size, spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) any day of the year. We caught and released a number of small trout, then in the twitch of a rod tip, BAMM!!—it happened. Less than an hour into the trip, we were celebrating the release of the I.G.F.A.-pending, all-tackle length, record seatrout. The 31-inch,

Executive Chef Michael Amaral | Capt. Hiram’s Resort |

10-plus-pound “gator” is the largest trout any client of mine has been able to land in my 20-year career.

St. Petersburg, FL

On the way back to the marina, we passed the small co-ops where growers raise millions of hard clams

Chef Michael comes to Capt. Hiram’s Resort with an

(Mercenaria mercenaria) each year. The clams grown in Sebastian fnd their way onto restaurant menus around

impressive resumé from several top-rated restaurants

the nation as “little necks” and “cherrystones.” These clams, grown by sustainable, low-impact aquaculture

and resorts. Most recently, Chef Michael served as

are the same species of clam harvested from bays, lagoons and sounds along the U.S. Atlantic Coast by the

executive chef at the Costa DeEste Resort in Vero

environmentally unsound practice of bull-raking. Clams grown in Sebastian were the featured ingredient used

Beach, Florida, where he helped to secure the coveted

by Chef Dean Max to win the 2010 American seafood cook-of held in New Orleans. The winning recipe is

4 Diamond Award in 2011. His flare for seafood is a

available at www.indianriverseafoodmarket.com.

perfect fit for Capt. Hiram’s riverfront location, where

As we merged into the Intracoastal Waterway channel, evenly spaced lines of multi-colored crab pot foats

locally caught seafood finds its way into many menu

fanked us. Crabbers not only bring in a consistent catch of blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) but also get a

items. Chef Michael has found a fitting home in

healthy by-catch of stone crabs (Menippe mercenaria), popular with diners in South Florida and the Keys.

Sebastian, where fresh seafood and fish are king.

Toward Sebastian Inlet, Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus), are regarded by many, including myself, as premier table fare. Their snow white, tight grained, omega 3 oil-rich fesh has been in high demand for decades. Pompano stocks have rebounded exponentially since the use of gill nets was banned from Florida state waters in 1995. Commercial pompano fshermen of today blend right in with the recreational anglers

Lil Phat Bastard’s Clams Casino

(except for the white boots) as they assail schools of

Lil Phat Bastard’s Clams Casino

Hiram’s Garlic Butter 2 lbs softened, unsalted butter

pompano with spinning tackle and artificial lures,

Shucked top neck clams on the half shell

½ lb grated Romano cheese

rather than entanglement nets. Their willingness to

Chopped peppered ham (prosciuttini)

¼ cup minced garlic

adapt to changing times and changing laws has been

Croutons crushed in food processor

¼ cup chopped roasted red peppers

rewarded with better fish numbers and higher prices

Hiram’s garlic butter

2 pinches sea salt

at the market. It’s satisfying to see locally caught and

Par baked bacon cut into ¼’s

2 pinches black pepper

grown seafood make it to the dinner table. While

½ pinch white pepper

I love fried seatrout, the following menus, served

First, top each shucked clam with a pinch of ham, then

½ pinch red crushed pepper flakes

by Chef Michael of Capt. Hiram’s resort, highlight

a pinch of crushed croutons, then a teaspoon of the

2 pinches dry parsley flakes

the fabulous seafood we find on a daily basis at our

garlic butter (you can’t put too much) and top with a

1 pinch dry basil

doorstep. The following dishes are, I must say, quite a

piece of par baked bacon. Bake at 375°F on a sheet pan

½ pinch oregano

bit better than fried seatrout.

until the bacon is crispy. (They do great in the freezer.)

¼ pinch dry thyme

Pompano in the Bag (This is a variation of the classic dish en papillote [in paper].)

Pompano filets or other white fleshed fish Tin foil or parchment paper Sliced tomatoes Extra virgin olive oil Dry white wine (some in the fish—lots in the chef ) Lemon juice or lemons cut into wheels

Captain Jim’s Crab Cakes

Salt and pepper Sliced onions

Captain Jim’s Crab Cakes Dry Ingredients (mix separately)

Chopped garlic

Abaco Aioli (a-ol-li) 2 cups mayo

Chopped fresh herbs (dill, rosemary, basil, parsley)

1 bunch cilantro 4 chopped green onions

Lay enough tin foil out on a table to make a pouch

1 lb lump crab meat picked through

½ tbsp chopped garlic

with the pompano filets. Put sliced tomatoes down

½ cup panko (Japanese) bread crumbs

1 tbsp chopped shallots

first, then pompano filet(s) skin-side down; season

(Very gently break apart crab meat with

1 tbsp brown sugar

with salt and pepper, top with sliced onions, chopped

breadcrumbs)

4 tbsp fresh lime juice

garlic and fresh herbs. Then salt and pepper again

2 tbsp shredded carrots

and drizzle with EVOO, white wine and lemon juice

1 squirt siracha hot sauce

(or wheels). Seal pouch and cook on a closed grill just

2 tbsp jerk seasoning

until fish is done in the middle, approx. 12 minutes

1 small squirt Dijon mustard

2 seeded, chopped jalapeno peppers

(when you touch it with your finger, it will give and

1 dash each hot sauce, Worcestershire sauce and

2 tbsp sweet chili sauce

not spring back). You can also bake on a sheet pan in

Wet Ingredients (mix separately) 2 eggs 1/6

cup Hellmann’s® Mayonnaise

lemon juice

Mix in food processor; refrigerate.

the oven at 375°.

¼ teaspoon baking powder Dash of Old Bay® Dash of chopped parsley flakes Dash of dry ground Colmans mustard

Slowly fold in (trying not to break up lumps) wet mix to crab meat and panko (you can always add more).

Make into four, equal-sized cakes and refrigerate for 20 minutes to set up. On a greased baking sheet, broil cakes until golden brown and cooked through. Serve with abaco aioli.

Pompano in the Bag

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HOOKED ON RIGS-TO-REEFS If you follow the politics of fshing, you may have heard

30 years or more know otherwise. Each artifcial reef is more

about the recent backlash over the federal government

like its own planetary system with a resident population

calling for the removal of non-producing oil wells from the

that will grow exponentially (kind of like Earth). I’ve dived

Gulf of Mexico. Anglers and scuba divers, who cherish rigs

on artifcial reefs just a few days after they were dropped

as prime fshing and diving habitat, are fghting back. In a

to the sand. In only a few weeks, algae and barnacles grow,

high-profle letter, former presidential candidate and current Texas governor, Rick Perry, called for cooler heads, while making the valid point that these oil rigs make up the largest artifcial reef network on the planet.

Understandably, the feds have devastating oil spills on their minds,

To destroy a tremendous amount of critical habitat that the Gulf needs to sustain a healthy balance would be a tragedy.

FRED GARTH

but removing literally hundreds of rigs is a project of

providing food for small fsh. Those fsh grow, have ofspring

For the past 25 years, Fred D.

enormous proportions and could cause more damage to

and attract game fsh that also grow and have babies. It’s a

Garth’s articles have appeared in

the ecosystem than simply allowing them to remain as great

beautiful thing.

numerous books, magazines and

fshing holes and diving hotspots.

newspapers around the world.

Over the years, the rigs-to-reef movement has been one

The vast amount of habitat made by fshermen and divers has helped to create a substantial and growing

Read his blog at:

of those feel-good stories where an industrial footprint had

population of red snapper, grouper, triggerfsh, lobster, as

www.GuyHarveyMagazine.com.

a serendipitous efect on the environment. In most cases,

well as pelagic like tuna and sharks that also feed of of the

industry and environmentalists do battle. But, with rigs, the

artifcial reef’s inhabitants. These days, the sturdy iron legs

two sides have a lot in common. This is especially true in the

of these oil rigs are covered with living corals and sponges

Gulf of Mexico, a place that is essentially an immense desert

and are occupied by many generations of fsh. To call for

of sand with occasional ancient rock and coral outcroppings.

their removal is simply a mistake in judgment. To destroy a

That is, until folks started building artifcial reefs with stuf

tremendous amount of critical habitat that the Gulf needs to

like old cars, buses, Army tanks, bridge rubble, barges, boats

sustain a healthy balance would be a tragedy.

and anything that will support a community of sea life. Once,

Fortunately, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management

I had the strange experience of diving on a pile of old toilets.

Council recently voted unanimously to classify rigs and other

Even that had a large population of triggerfsh and snapper.

vital artifcial reefs as Essential Fish Habitat (EFH), a move

There’s a long-running argument that artifcial reefs only

that helps to protect these structures. Maybe this will turn

aggregate fsh that were already roaming the waters looking

the tide and keep the rigs-to-reef program intact for many

for a home. Those of us who have observed these reefs for

years to come.

Sites to Check out: eco-rigs.org save-the-blue.com towersoflife.com flickr.com/photos/tobyarmstrong

The rig shot is looking down the drill casings encrusted with Orange Cup coral. Below: Squirrelfsh and a spotfn hogfsh. Photos: Toby Armstrong

Blowing Up Fish Removing platforms usually requires massive explosives to sever the iron legs underwater. Sadly, this generally kills the majority of fish life on and around the platform. Many fsh killed are protected species as well as marine mammals.

To get around strict laws, an incidental mammal kill permit is given by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management, Regulation and Enforcement, giving permission to kill sperm whales, dolphins and other mammals. Some claim that thousands of snapper, grouper, triggerfsh, amberjack and other sport fsh are killed in a single blast. There’s a twisted irony when harsh catch limits are put on sport fshermen, yet the government allows the mass killing of game fsh and marine mammals.

At least one rig of Louisiana, called Main Pass 305, was a gag grouper spawning site. During spawning, as many as 200 fish aggregated there. Rigs have become a vital ecosystem in the Gulf of Mexico. Removing them is causing more harm than leaving them alone. —Reported by Toby Armstrong.

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GUY HARVEY ORIGINAL ARTWORK

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FOR E L A S

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SOLD Largemouth Bass

Feathered Flight

Boca Grande Lighthouse Collage

Mixed Media

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Watercolor on Paper

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Price - SOLD

Price - $5,250 USD

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