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The Charlotte Harbor Reef Association
August 2020
FISH PIX! Water LIFE magazine
35 inch snook just caught at Ponce Deleon Park by Shane Stanton
3rd place: Myan Cichlid 6-inches, Lacy Hamsher
Kidʼs $1Bill Challenge 2nd Period Winners
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Charlotte Harbor last week. Scott Hill
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Photography: ASA1000.com Senior Editor: Capt. Ron Blago Baitshop: Fishinʼ Frank Upper Harbor: Cameron Parson Peace River: Capt. Dave Stephens Punta Gorda: Alan Williams Estero: Capt. Joe Angius Everglades: Capt. Charlie Phillips Sailing: Fran Burstein Pier Fishing: Bobby Vitalis Diving: Adam Wilson From the Ponds: Nicholas J Office Dog: Agustus
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Sunseeker Resort Progress Report
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would be taking planes out of service and selling parts off of them! In my world, if you want to sell your car but you agree to COMMENTARY sell only the engine you are desperate. AlleBY MICHAEL HELLER giant is more than desperate. When are the 6 cranes comThat said, I really hope Allegiant suring down? A big mobile crane vives to finish Sunseeker, the option of them has now been brought onto the abandoning the project is the worst of all site. I think it’s to take the other scenarios. cranes down. They better hurry, I used to be afraid of the effect Sunthere is a conga line of storms seeker would have on the Harbor and our coming. And there is a ton of water quality, but now my focus has shifted unsecured material on the site, to the unfinished project. In these times of things that will move when the social insanity, the possibility of spray paint wind blows hard. This all has to Three of 9 stories are built, but the project has been appearing on some of that bright, clean vertihalted. How long before the expanses of clean, vertical be taken care of. Hiding it becal concrete is very real. concrete begin to attract grafitti? hind that big white wall is not If you don’t want graffiti to look at, every enough, all of that stuff will wind up in the Harbor, if a storm hits. time you cross the bridge, tell Charlotte County they must insure The predictions I made last month were exactly on track. All the site is secure and that there are 24/7 cameras and a watchman on airlines are in trouble. Allegiant’s most recent financial report veri- the property. And all of this has to happen right now. fied that not only is Allegiant selling off some of their fleet, (actuIf this project becomes an eyesore it will drag our entire commually about 1/3 of their planes) but their quarterly report said they nity down with it. We just can’t take that chance. Mike, When I first moved to Florida about one year ago I read your articles concerning the Sunseeker development. At that time I thought the articles and information provided were thought provoking and interesting. Now after reading your columns I realize for some reason you have a vendetta against this company. If you put your vendetta away against these people and report the news in a fair and unbiased manor you just might achieve your objective what ever that is. Unfortunately your reporting is so biased today I wonder how many people even read your articles. Intelligent people are always eager to read accurate, truthful and unbiased information. We moved from Portland Oregon to get away from the biased news reporting. However it seems to have invaded Port Charlotte also. If your goal is to keep Port Charlotte from devel-
oping good luck with that. Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda are the "undiscovered gems" on this coast. However as the costs and crime increase in the surrounding areas the growth will migrate to our great little community. We can not stop it however we can through the proper channels direct the growth as not to ruin the community as we know it. I know there are may of us that would assist you in this effort. We do not want to become another Fort Myers, Ft Lauderdale, Orlando or other such places. I dislike the development in my area. Instead of adding homes to enhance the natural beauty of the area, they remove all the vegetation, trees that are over 50 years old and plop down a home. I realize I can not stop the growth but letʼs keep Florida beautiful. Sincerely, Mike Kumbalek
Capt. Ron Blago, I live on Amberjack Waterway. Goes into Coral creek . Goes to Charlotte Harbor. 2 weeks ago I went out and saw a dead Manatee, belly up on a sand bar on Coral Creek. I called FWC who stated they would report findings. A marine biologist would call. Call came. Voice was that of a young woman. Stated manatee was killed by a boat. After we talked, I asked if she was a marine biologist. She stated yes!! I'm old and skeptical of her being who she said she was!! I say this based on your article. Len Tatko Placida
Overcast Days Can Be Extremely Good PAGE
4
By Cameron Parson Water LIFE Our rainy season, so far, has been nothing short of disappointing! But some good fishing can be done as long as we have enough rain to make some water flow, particularly from spillways and other areas where fresh and saltwater mix. But by the end of July we haven't had enough. A good amount of rain is required to turn these areas on...but fish can still be caught, even with the little rain we are getting. Overcast days can be extremely productive, especially for snook and tarpon. The extreme heat during the day can shut down the bite, unless it's early morning or late in the evening. Where as gloomy, breezy days can turn the bite on and keep it going for a much longer period. Add in rain and you have the perfect combo of a cooler water temperature and weather. This is the time you're more apt to see fish popping the surface or actively rolling. This is when they'll make the mistake of eating what you toss at them. I'm generally looking for a slam this time of year. The Peace River Slam of a tarpon, snook and a bass can be done in
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quite a few areas if you search hard enough. Some of the smallest ponds will hold all 3 fish and then some. Lately, my best experience has been right after it rains. The drop in water temperature, even if it's only a few degrees, is enough to drive the fish to feed for a short time. Tarpon, snook, and bass are pretty aggressive fish, but they do get lazy during the heat of the day. If lures such as
D.O.A. Terroreyz don't work for me, live shiners are on standby. I usually almost never toss live bait at anything, but won't pass up a chance to stick a hook into a tarpons mouth on ultralight gear. Some family came into town a few weeks back. We attempted get out on the Harbor for a big tarpon, but got blown out. Looking at the sky, a storm was coming. We headed back to the dock and opted for Plan B, to find some landlocked fish and so we headed back to ramp. My dad and I knew of a small lake that carries tarpon and snook. Though they weren't the magnum fish we wanted, we knew my uncle would have a good time as he's never done any sort of fishing here in Florida. We made a quick stop by the local bait shop for a bucket of shiners and a few floats. As we pulled up to the lake, we could see the fish busting bait along the edges and rolling on the mouth of a ditch feeding the lake. The first bait tossed out was inhaled probably 10-seconds after hitting the water. As was the second bait.
AUGUST 2020
Both fish were missed. The 3rd bait out was the fish that stuck. My uncle caught his first tarpon of about 12-pounds or so. As he and my dad were handling that fish, I jumped and missed one, re-baited, and caught one in the 10-pound range. Dad got a hook into one about 5-minutes later. In total, we jumped 3 fish and caught 3 in the span of 15 minutes. After the weather cleared, the bite turned off, but we used the remaining shiners on big mayan cichlids. We fished for roughly an hour and made the best of the bite. I want to take a moment and thank all of our customers at Rio Villa Bait & Tackle in Punta Gorda for continuing to support local business through this pandemic. Your business keeps the money in the area and keeps us going to better provide you with what you need for a successful day on the water. It doesn't matter which shop you choose, so long as it's local. Us local Bait & Tackle shops are here to show you how to rig, what to use, and point you in the right direction when you're looking to catch fish. Stop in, and we'll get you there. Catch some fish!
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had to answer the Fish Quiz questions in the same period they were fishing in, but I neglected to make that change either, so Life doesnʼt get any better! the fish quizzes can still be answered anytime. By Michael Heller This throws me Water LIFE editor a little curve since Everyone is buying boats. I’ve talked I wanted to base to a few local new boat dealers and they the questions in told me they have been very busy and the the final quiz, on manufacturers are hustling to get caught the content in the up after being closed for COVID. first three. I Used boats are selling like hot cakes wanted to see if too. Last month, one big dealer on anglers were actuPlacida Road had what looked like one ally learning anyquarter of his usual consignment inventhing.... but that tory on his lot. will have to wait Compounding the boat inventory situuntil next year too. ation, outboard motors are getting hard to The four fishfind. And parts for outboards are backBoat dealers are selling boats faster than they can be produced ing periods in the logged into Covid Hell too. Two local $1 Bill Challenge dealers have said, even under warrantee, go from the 16th of the month until noon they are having to use aftermarket water on the 15th of the next month. Every Moving on, this is the third year of pumps when a pump has to be replaced. fishing period ends at noon on the 15th. our $1 Bill Challenge, kid’s educational Of course, the customer is always being That has never changed. I’ve ben asked fishing tournament and I still learn someinformed. to bend this rule but I won’t. thing almost every month. And even if you get your new boat In other nuances of judging, fish are This year I cleaned up the rules so the and motor, you may have to wait for a judged by measured overall length, with custom trailer. In many locations, custom fish entered must be caught in the fishing the fish laid flat and relaxed. I had a period they are entered for. Before the trailer sales are out three weeks to a pompano entered this month measured to change, an angler could hold back fish month. Ditto with batteries. I went to get the fork - the v of the tail - that was the pictures and enter them any time during a new battery for my 2017 truck - 2.5 only pompano so it was not a problem, year life on a new battery- pathetic!.. and the four fishing periods. That never hapbut it could have been costly. pened, but I changed it just in case. I found out the battery manufacturers We measure our fish to the 1/4 inch I should have also made it so anglers were struggling with inventory as well.
$1 Bill Challenge
PAGE 5
so when I have two identical measurements I have to look at the day and time I received the fish pictures. Last month there were two 13-inch tilapia. Justin Medina’s came in two days before Gabriel Setser’s. That wasn’t too close, but with the mangrove snapper the second place fish was 12 inches and Juliana Florea got her snapper to me at 10:50 and Caleb Richardson’s mangrove snapper came in at 11:01. That was very close. Time is also important because the biggest fish in each species overall is worth extra points. The points are accumulated all summer toward the Grand Prize, a 10-foot aluminum jon boat. Last year t-shirts were the third place prize. My wife and I were buying fishy kids shirts at Bass Pro for prizes. This year we had custom shirts made up and everyone got one. Another thing I discovered was even though everyone got a t shirt this year, But the third place category is still in the rules, so this year third place fish don’t get a t-shirt but they still gets 3 points toward the boat... which I didn’t add in last month’s standings.... but I have fixed that now. This ain’t easy! So, all in all, it’s going pretty good. I have listed the current top 10 anglers, on page 6. The Gran Champion will be named in the October edition. Now let’s just hope the fishing weather holds up.
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6
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AUGUST 2020
Dollar Bill Challenge 2nd Period Standings Now fishing Period 3: July 16 - August 15
Top 10-Standings after two of four fishing periods
Angler #
1516 SE 46th St. Cape Coral, FL 33904 (239) 549-2628
4295 Laura St. Port Charlotte. FL 33980 (941) 979-5219
2625 Davis Blvd Naples FL 34104 (239) 732-8050
302 303 304 305 306 315 318 319 340 341
Name
Medina Perry Shaefer D. Shaefer A Koebel E Setser DʼOrazio Le DʼOrazio Lu Florea Ja Florea Ju
Points
44 40 47 42 47 50 42 49 57 52
WINNERS: Lures for second place will be ready to pick up at The BoatHouse, 4295 Luisa St, Pt. Charlotte, after August 4
THESE ARE THE ELIGIBLE SPECIES
redfish, snook, trout, black drum, cobia, red grouper, gag grouper, amberjack, bluefish, jack crevalle, triggerfish, hogfish, Key West grunt, spadefish, sail catfish, ladyfish, pompano, mangrove snapper, lane snapper, Spanish mackerel, tripletail, pinfish, barracuda, bass, crappie, tilapia, sunfish, catfish, gar, Mayan cichlid
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Dollar Bill Challenge 2nd Period WINNERS! Now fishing Period 3: July 16 - August 15
sailcat
s u n fi s h
tila pia
First Place Tilapia: 17.25-inches Jaob Florea #340 2nd: #302 Justin Medina 13-inches 3rd: #315 Gabriel Setser 13-inches (time differential)
First Place Sunfish: 10.5-inches Jacob Florea #340 2nd # 342 Trey Setser 8.75-inches
First Place Sailcat: 24-inches Christopher Perry #303 2nd: # 304 Alyx Schafer 23.5-inches
jack crevalle
trout First Place Trout: 22-inches Leonardo DʼOrazio #318 2nd: # 304 Dylan Shaefer 17.5-inches 3rd: #329 Sebastian Beadle 16-inches
r e d fi s h
First Place Redfish: 28-inches Gabriel Setser #315
Thank You to our Sponsors!
First Place Jack Crevalle: 24.25-inches Dylan Schaefer #304 2nd: #319 Luke DʼOrazio 15-inches
PAGE 7
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AUGUST 2020
Dollar Bill Challenge 2nd Period WINNERS! Now fishing Period 3: July 16 - August 15
bass
pompano snook
First Place Snook: 32-inches Caleb Richardson #338 2nd: #317 James Jurisko 23-inches
First Place Pompano: 13.5-inches Alex Schaefer #305
First Place Bass: 16.75 inches Juliana Florea #341 2nd: #306 Emma Koebel 12.5-inches
man gr ove sn apper First Place Mangrove Snapper: 14-inches, Christopher Perry #303 2nd: #341 Juliana Florea 12-inches 3rd: #338 Caleb Richardsone 12-inches (time differential 2nd place 10:50 vs 11:01)
First Place Myan Cichlid: 12-inches, Luke DĘźOrazio #319 2nd: # 328 Ben Koebel 8.75-inches 3rd: #346 Lacy Hamsher 7.5-inches
Englewood Bait House & the REEF RAIDER offshore head boat 941-475-4511
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c a t fi s h
Dollar Bill Challenge 2nd Period WINNERS! Now fishing Period 3: July 16 - August 15
per mit
b l u e fi s h
First Place Catfish: 30-inches Justin Medina #302
First Place Bluefish: 20-inches James Jurisko #317
First Place Permit: 12-inches Ben Koebel #328
Wilson Pools 941-766-1661
Thank You to our Sponsors!
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10
CHARLOTTE HARBOR: By Capt. David Stephens Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor So far this summer the tropics have been on the quite side. Well I’m sure that is going to change as we head in to the heart of hurricane season. Normally that means an abundant amount of rain in our area. This has its plusses and also its negatives. The plus side is the flow of freshwater can help cleanse the Harbor of all the loose slimy moss floating around. It’s kind of like flushing the toilet. But if we get too much rain in a short
period it could wash away more of our grass flats like it has in the past. It can also turn our water to fresh and that will have effects on our fishery. Fortunately for us most of our most
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Mother Nature Takes Care of Herself
targeted game fish can tolerate high levels of freshwater. Fish such as snook, tarpon and redfish can survive in water with no salinity. However other fish like mangrove snapper, sea trout and our bait schools need higher salt levels to survive. Mother Nature has a way of taking care of herself and the fish just don’t disappear during the wettest times of the year. Now we have to change our approach... a little bit. For the anglers that continue to chase the species more tolerant of low salinity levels, it may seem like the fish all left. Well in my experience they are still in the area, but need time to acclimate. When we get a big dump of rain the shock factor shuts them down for a couple days. Then, as they get adjusted, the hunger pains take over. For the anglers that are chasing fish that need a high salt level, well you might
have to travel a bit. Even though the season for sea trout is closed, I know people that love catching them. After a big rain I have found that fish moved to deeper flats in the area. I’m assuming the deeper water had more salinity and that assumption comes from a recent charter where we caught 20- to 25 trout over 18inches... in deeper water. Our Harbor requires a balance of rain water to make our fragile ecosystem work. As anglers we must adapt. Every year Mother Nature gives us something different. As we move into the heart of hurricane season we will see what hand has been dealt to us this year. Just remember thunderstorms develop very fast along the coast. Try not to let them get in between you and the boat ramp.
If you would like to experience some of Charlotte Harbor’s finest fishing, call or send me an email. All of our charters are private and customized to fit your needs. Capt. Dave Stephens 941-916-5769 backbayxtremes.com
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Right Place, Right Time
Report from the Ponds:
By Nicholas J Water LIFE Bass Addict Mother Nature had her own version of fireworks for the month of July with almost daily thunder boomers and lightning displays that surprisingly made fishing the ponds for Largemouths more active then we have seen in the last few months. For the first time we have had a record number of tropical storms this early in the season and Florida has been feeling the effects of them with the extreme heat, strong winds and erratic rainstorms from systems like Hanna and Gonzalo. In my last report I mentioned it was the worst month of bass fishing I have had in a few years, but by the 4th of July weekend it was like a light switch – the bite and action was back on. I was getting into them and hooking quality bass on every outing, only because I was in the right place at the right time. Now is the right time to really pay attention and key into Largemouths movement and feeding patterns. I am seeing very high morning activity in the ponds now, because of the abundance of bait fish and cover, especially when it’s calm and sunny. The midday and early afternoon bites are hit and miss, it's the super hot humidity with unsteady barometric pressure that seems to keep the bass more suppressed – so they’re not as active again till sunset – that's when lunker bass start cruising and bank slapping bait fish. First thing you do when you reach your bank spot is stand still for a few minutes and observe and listen, do that before you start walking the banks, casting away. Observe by scanning the bank sides
and looking for any sign of movement along them. Then you want to listen carefully for bank slappers, those are lunker bass that are feeding along the banks, hitting bait fish violently, it gives them away.
Now that you have keyed in on them you can make your move and creep up to those spots along the bank and cast for a successful strike. I hooked some real nice lunkers this past month because they gave themselves away and I always
I have two outstanding trophy pond monster Largemouths of the month to share and brag about. The first one (right) on June 30th at sunset, after 2 missed blow ups the third time was the charm! And my seconded one on July 11th at sunset on the kvd swim jig with missile bait trailer while doing my ringing the Diner bell technique, I didn't give up and it paid off!
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capitalize on it when they do. So we just talked about the right time now let's talk about the right place. I am a pond monster-bass hunter and I owe a lot of my success to thinking like a bass. I have learned bass behavior very well since I fish for them practically every day of the year. I know their feeding patterns around the ponds. That gives me a higher success rate and with that knowledge it puts me in the right place at the right time. The best pond spots to key into for bass right now is where there is heavy bank vegetation, especially in the pond corners. Lunker bass are lurking in these spots constantly searching for bait fish. They use the corners for ambush spots too, but if they are not laying in wait then they are cruising the banks like hungry sharks, ready to strike any lure that hits the water. My bait recommendation for the month is the KVD skirted swim jig with a zoom Horny toad or missile bait as a trailer, I am knocking them out on this set up. The Booyah weedless Popping frog action is picking up again, with all the rain it brings out the frogs big time, and lunker bass key in on them. I always have one pole loaded with one! My latest Deptherm reading was 88degrees at 15-foot deep. That's great news, the 10-degree drop since last month will definitely push bass closer to the warmer banks and more within reach for us anglers. My only focus now is my next personal best and the one. If you think these pond monsters are nice that I hook you should see the ones I lose, total heartbreakers! I really feel more positive now – after this past month’s increased bass activity – that the fishing action will turn up more as we head into fall. Then there will be some real trophy lunkers to hook and of course you want to be in the right place at the right time. Largemouths are scouting and hunting the banks now and so should you, so get out and hook one today!
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AUGUST 2020
FISH PIX! f fr ro om m W Wa at te er r L L II F FE E m ma ag ga az z ii n ne e
Charles Douglas American Red Snapper June 24th aboard the Flying Hub 2, out of Hubbard's Marina. Caught my limit of red snapper, grouper, and assorted other fish. Great trip!
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Diana Wilkins, from Torrence, CA. caught and released the first catch of the day- a nice amberjack, off of Bookelia, Pine Island on 3 July, 2020!
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Three year old Paige Zobrist with her first catch, a grouper in Captiva Pass
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Danny Godwin with a bull shark... and happy birthday to me!
Ken Taylor - Catches the first beach snook of the morning on his first cast.
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Fly was a White Gibbyʼs DT Variation, below
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
London Wigington on a 5-foot blacktip shark in early morning off Goodland, FL. It was flat calm that day.
Karen Estock-Nesbitt American red snapper
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Colton Limehouse with a 10.1- pound bass
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Nice hammerhead off the South Venice jetty
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Monster needle fish at Casperson Beach June 2020
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FISH PIX! f fr ro om m W Wa at te er r L L II F FE E m ma ag ga az z ii n ne e
80-pounds-plus wahoo, from 160-feet of water, off Englewood, caught by Tim Flack with Capt Bob, Serenity Charters
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Micah Lyman caught this Black Drum while visiting grandparents in Burnt Store Isles, Punta Gorda.
Group: Aidan, Bill, Tim Flack, Glenn Vowell, Kyle Decaro
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Michael Kusmierek Yellow tail snapper 40-miles off Captiva
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from Water LIFE magazine
Mike McClure, Cape Coral, Bokeella Pier, Pine Island
Kendall Mann, snook
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Kendall Mann, bass
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Todd Evans, gag grouper
Tiffany Grint 34-inch redfish caught in the Cape Coral canals
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Karen Lorimor first snook! PG canals.
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Money to Float Moteʼs New Boat On the Line By Capt. Ron Blago Water LIFE Senior Staff Mote Marine has announced a proposed ground breaking ceremony for their new Science Education Aquarium (SEA) in Sept. 2020. This plan has been in the works for a number of years, but began to take shape in 2017. Back then, Mote realized that they had outgrown their existing facilities on City Island in Sarasota and began looking at plans to expand. They
only had two problems; they had no land and they had no money. Most organizations would find these problems insurmountable, but not Mote. Mote has a strong working relationship with Sarasota County government which has plenty of land and money. As luck would have it, Sarasota County had just finished building the International Rowing Center at Nathan Benderson Park in north Sarasota and had some land left over.
Mote went and hired an architect who came up with a beautiful rendition of a proposed aquarium. It would be four stories tall and cover 110,000 sq ft. It would have labs, classrooms, lecture halls and exhibit rooms. The icing on the cake would be a 1-million gallon aquarium that Mote calls animal habitat. The amount of land needed for this facility is still undetermined. Reports in the media over the last few years have the amount of land needed from a low of 5-
acres to a high estimate of 27-acres. Mote does not want to buy the land outright, so they have worked out a deal with Sarasota County to lease the land. The cost to build the aquarium is estimated to be $130 million dollars; lease not included. To justify such a large expense Mote has made a few estimates. Benderson park is right off of I-75 and they estimate that 43 million cars will drive past the aquarium and they estimate that of those views 700,000 people will hop off I-75 to
AUGUST 2020
visit the facility; that’s about 13,500 people a week and that will generate about $28-million in economic impact for the local communities. Mote has already picked a builder for the project and the local builder’s alliance has estimated that just building the aquarium will have an economic impact of over $280 million dollars. The big question is where is the money going to come from? In addition to the land, Sarasota County has agreed to give Mote $20 million as seed money to get the ball rolling. Manatee has agreed to kick in another $5 million. When I said that Mote has no money, I was not exactly accurate. Mote (according to Charity Navigator) has annual gross receipts of $28,626,699 and assets of $59,750,581. All this allows Mote to pay their CEO Michael P. Crosby an annual salary of $348,837. Mote also hired Michael E. Moore, a fundraising professional with over 30 years experience, to beat the bushes for more donations. So far Mote has collected pledges for $75 million. I’m not sure if the $25 million from the local Counties is included in that figure. I’m also not sure that this project is not just smoke and mirrors – a lot of vague promises have been made and a lot of unrealistic projections are being used to justify it, but I do know that Mote has a long history of getting what they want. I would advise Sarasota County to take a good look at Charlotte County’s Allegiant Sunseeker Resort and learn from our mistakes. Sometimes pie in the sky projects can disappear, leaving the local taxpayers holding the bag. Captronb@juno.com
FISH PIX! f fr ro om m
FISH PIX!
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W Wa at te er r
L LI IF FE E
m ma ag ga az zi in ne e
Carlton Hughes from Punta Gorda with a mahi
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Brian Potts of Punta Gorda wrestling a Mahi in the Gulf
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from Water LIFE magazine
Matt Chancey of Punta Gorda in the Gulf
NEWS FLASH!
FWC announces they will begin testing bottom mud
The South Florida Water Management District has agreed to spend about $1 million over the next four years on an effort with the U.S. Geological Survey to study how sediments, including muck, move from Lake Okeechobee to the river estuaries. The muck is up to 15 feet deep in several places where suspended sediment drops to the river floor. Muck also holds nutrients and toxins that can be released into the water. "Muck is the gift you don't want, that keeps on giving," is how the sediment is described by Vincent Encomio, the Sea Grant agent for the University of Florida Extension Service who has been studying the muck for years. Why Charlotte Harbor and the Peace and Myakka Rivers are not included in the study is not clear. Maybe itʼs because Charlotte Harbor additionally has the discharges from phosphate mining embedded in the muck. Maybe the scientists donʼt want to find that because MOSAIC phosphate mining helps pay their bills.
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Redfish, 22.5-inches. July 27. Catch and release. Barry Shiflett, Punta Gorda
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Chris Wenzel of Punta Gorda with a nice red snapper
AUGUST 2020
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Time to try a little shark for dinner By Capt. John Brossard Water LIFE Sharks It’s a great month to be shark fishing in Southwest Florida. The water is warm and the sharks are biting inshore and offshore. As long as the water is moving, the fish will eat. As usual, I recommend a catch and release approach, but this month there are many small sharks that you can try for dinner. They are all biting in August; black tips, black nose, bonnet heads, nurse sharks. They are easy to catch and it does not hurt to take one or two small sharks home to eat. I have been catching many blacktip sharks from 2-feet to 6 1/2-feet in size. Those small ones from 2- to 3-feet long are perfect eating. You might be surprised how good a bonnet head shark is. And they are legal to keep. As far as your limit goes; it is two per boat per day. One per person, two fish max perday, per-boat. The water is warm so sharks are everywhere at this time. They are in the backwaters, offshore and the near-shore reefs. Shark is known to have mercury in its meat, so it is not a good idea to eat it on a regular basis, but four times a year is not a problem whatsoever. Nurse shark are one of the best to eat if prepared right because it is known to eat crustacean therefore has the taste of shellfish and lobster in its meat. Make sure you check your local laws as far as the size of each fish to keep. There is a minimum size for some fish. There are also many sharks that are protected or not very good eating. The main bait that has been used lately is a half of catfish on the bottom. Whether it’s the head or the tail, it does not matter. They hit either one. Also, any by-catch that you catch while you’re fishing for other fish such as jack’s or ladyfish, bluefish or mackerel will make great bait... just make sure you use the mackerel whole, it is not legal to cut them in half and use them for bait. Capt John Brossard 239-777-9279 www.SharkChaserCharters.com
How to prepare shark to eat.
The smaller ones are best. Always gut the shark immediately after catching the fish you are going to take home. Ice down as soon as possible after gutting the fish. Some people soak the fish in milk or Italian dressing over night for a better taste. I have found that taking the skin off the fish makes it taste better. Cook it any way you like to cook fish. Grill, bake or fry. Season to your taste. The fresher the better. Only keep what you are going to eat fresh.
Be carful ByCatch Hereʼs a respectable snook when and a fine cobia, both bycatch from last unhooking monthʼs shark fishing sharks. Use long handle tools if you can. Release the ones you are not going to keep as soon as possible. Have fun fighting the big ones!
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READERʼS PHOTOS Send us ur fish pix! Weʼll use ʻem!! see page 4
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Bonnethead caught at Placida Pier
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Grouper caught at Placida Pier, Big Al
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Hammerhead shark (?) Matt Mitrani.
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Curtis Sawyer Cape Coral. Spillway 41-incher Big Mama snook
Bull shark. Cape Coral Curtis Sawyer
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Hayes Wood Barracuda
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Hayes Wood, Snook
I.M Wright. Black Drum. Charlotte Harbor
AUGUST 2020
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By Capt. Charlie Phillips Water LIFE / Everglades City Fishing in the Everglades and 10,000 Islands has been surprisingly good as we close out July. Normally this time of year finds me very slow with customers looking to book a trip, but this year (possibly due to COVID) has had our phone ringing and kept us busy. We are thankful for the business and even more thankful that the fish have been participating right along with each trip for our guests. Summertime weather patterns are in full effect, but that’s ok with us, we will take it how we can get it. I have mostly been fishing inshore the past month and really targeted my trips around a few key points to find success. Low tides in the early morning have been my preference. In these conditions we have been fishing the deeper channels targeting snapper, grouper, big sheepshead and black drum using Don’s Potbelly jigs tipped with shrimp or knocker rigs with whole live shrimp. This time of day is the coolest, so check that off the list, then in the bottom quarter of the falling to the same in the rising tide, typically the flow is the least, letting you get bottom without the need for excess lead. This combo lets me fish small ¼ oz is filleted. weights with 2/0 cirA note: These areas I am fishing all are cles and target some deep, averaging 15- to 22-foot and are really nice mangrove channels that feed large bays of the 10,000 snapper. On most all Islands and Everglades. Understand your trips we have had no bottom machine so you can spot the rocks problem finding inshore snapper in the 16- to 19and hard return that will give the bait somewhere inch range which in my waters are solid inshore to hide and you will find the predators you seek. fish and about as good for dinner as they come. There is plenty of advice on YouTube if you We have also seen some stud black drum this need a refresher on how to use the sounder. Anpast month in these same conditions that have other tip, if you like sharks these areas produce!! been a delight for my guests. A big 20-pound August is going to be more of the same for drum is a hard fight and while not the Rockstar me with some offshore mixed in for red grouper their spot-tail red cousins claim, they are most and snapper. I will update you how that went as certainly their humble and respected counterpart. we get into next months article. Y’all be safe out They are another good fish to invite home for there, stay hydrated and keep an eye on the sky! dinner, though I personally will stick to the smaller ones for eating, seldom keeping one in Capt. Charlie Phillips, the trophy category unless a customer really dePresident, Florida Guides Assn. Owner/Captain, Hope Fishing Adventures mands it. FYI, these larger ones tend to have Everglades City, Florida more worms, which in itself is no big deal, but hopefishing.com 863-517-1829 many folks find them unappetizing when the fish
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Taking a Knee
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Brittany Cortes and Dalton Rybka show how itʼs properly done
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A nice July Bull Bay snook by Joe Sheaffer
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Snook ,Estero Bay Albert Sklarski
Joeyʼs Beautiful Venice largemouth
Jerry Stacks was happy landing this red grouper out of Gasparilla in 90-feet of water
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Fat yellowtail snapper from 80 feet of water
My nephew Charlie's first bass!!! So proud!
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Narley catching and releasing 25 miles out
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Mike MF Rossow with huge snook off the dock PGI.
Rhys Brossard with a nice tarpon caught in the back waters of Naples. (Fishing) with a Gulp shrimp for bait.
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37-inch snook. Cape Coral. Live finger mullet Curtis Sawyer.
Rhys Brossard with a 5-pound bass caught with a shiner in Naples.
AUGUST 2020
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Estero Bay: Very Productive
By Capt. Joe Angius Water LIFE Estero During the summer months, especially in August, when anglers can experience some unbearable temperatures, is the time when fishing is the most productive. There’s a surplus of baitfish along the beach shorelines, out on nearshore wrecks and some can be found swimming in the muddy backwaters. Big snook are dominating the beaches and nearby mangroves, small redfish schools are starting to show up, and countless other species are determined to get their fair-share of abundant and vulnerable baitfish. One thing all of these species have in common is that they need strong water currents to get them to feed. When it comes to catching fish I’m a big advocate for catching fish at any time of the day or night as long as there’s a good strong tide. Other anglers believe solely in the early morning and “right before dark” bite. Now there’s definitely some truth to the dawn and dusk bite, but in my experience tide has seemed to always play a role in this type of success. What makes tide
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so important right now is it being the limiting factor for consistently catching fish. Tide movement is what’s going to move all of the baitfish around and lower the chances of fish being lethargic. Believe it or not fish are instinctual toward rising water temperatures and tide movements. They don’t want to expend the energy if it’s not worth reward. An easy meal is the best meal. Inshore fishing in Estero Bay has been exceptionally good with snook, redfish, trout, and tarpon being caught. Early in the morning and right before dark you will find some of the more active fish due to lower water temperatures. Afternoon thunderstorms and rain can really set off the evening bite by “flushing” out little crabs and other baitfish from the mangroves. Also, the drop in water temperature from the cold rain water helps a lot. Typically free lined live bait, shrimp and an array of artificial lures all work fantastic when targeting these active fish. As the morning goes on, water and air temperatures increase, and tide is solely based upon the moon, anglers are challenged with
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catching elusive fish. My tips to you are to chum heavily, patiently fish a spot you believe will be productive, use cut bait, and weigh your live baits down to the bottom with a lead sinker. August fishing in Southwest Florida gives anglers the opportunity to catch a fish of a lifetime. Be sure to take advantage of what our area has to offer through fishing and boating. Do so while being mindful of the real dangers of heat exhaustion. Take any and all necessary precautions to protect yourself and others from the elements while out on the water. Have fun fishing and exploring!
SCUTTLEBUTT
Captain Joe Angius 727-234-3171 speakeasyfishing@gmail.com www.speakeasyfishing.com
Sometimes Unsubstanciated, But Often True
IT IS WITH SADNESS... Scott Steffe, owner of All Fiberglass Repairs in Punta Gorda passed away last month, apparently suffering a heart attack in his sleep. Scott operated All Fiberglass Repairs for over 20 years after moving to Charlotte County from the Keys. Scottʼs daughter Amber is taking over the business.
Scott, piloting his Old Red, c. 2005
ALGAE State wildlife officials say a Trichodesmium algal bloom has been lingering off the coast of Southwest Florida the past few weeks. Trichodesmium is a cyanobacteria that always exists in the Gulf. Blooms are a yearly occurrence with colors varying from golden brown, to green, and even pink. This bloom is now being reported from Pinellas County down to Collier County. Some levels were found in Gasparilla Sound, and then also on the east coast at Flagler Beach. Supposedly, Saharan winds are blowing iron-rich sands into the Gulf and Trichodesmium feeds off of that iron. Then it consumes nitrogen from the air and disperses nutrients into the water, which could potentially feed toxic red tide blooms - which donʼt typically start until the end of the summer. Other than possibly nourishing red tide, and also cutting off some oxygen to marine life in the water, Trichodesmium blooms are not known to be harmful. BWI The FWC completed an investigation into an October 2019 boating incident which resulted in the death of a twenty-month-old baby
and a twenty-eight-year-old female. Eight occupants were on board a vessel on the Intracoastal Waterway near the St. Lucie Inlet when the vessel struck a channel marker. Five of the eight occupants were ejected as a result of the impact. No one was wearing a life vest. The operator was impaired and after an arrest warrant was issued, he fled the scene but later turned himself in to the Martin County Sheriffʼs Office. The operator was charged with two counts of BUI manslaughter, two counts of vessel homicide, and one count of BUI with property damage. OLD WEST STYLE GETAWAY Officer Brown and Lieutenant Bartlett were on water patrol in the area of Crab Island when they stopped a personal watercraft for violation of the idle speed/no wake zone. While addressing the boating violation, they found the individual had an active felony arrest warrant. Meanwhile, another PWC nearby was observed violating the idle speed zone and operating in a reckless manor near other vessels. The officers utilized the patrol vessel siren to get the attention of the operator and then directed him to pull along the portside of their vessel. As the PWC approached, the individual with the active warrant jumped from his vessel and onto the back of the other PWC. Both subjects fled the area and were able to get into a vehicle and leave. But they had his ID, so charges of fleeing and eluding by vessel and leaving the scene of a boating accident have been filed.
STONIES FWC approves recreational and commercial stone crab regulation changes effective Oct. 1. According to FWC, Floridaʼs stone crab fishery has experienced a long-term decline in harvest and is likely undergoing
overfishing. Approved changes include: Moving the season end date from May 15 to May 1, Requiring a 2 3/16-inch escape ring in all plastic and wood stone crab traps before the start of the 2023/2024 season. Increasing the minimum claw size limit by 1/8 inches from 2 3/4 inches to 2 7/8 and limiting possession of whole stone crabs on the water to two checker boxes, each up to 3 feet by 2 feet by 2 feet OR a total volume of 24 cubic feet. Checker boxes are used to hold crabs onboard a vessel before they are measured and legal-sized claws are removed. WAR BOMB According to the Philippine Coast Guard, the ferry St. Ignatius of Loyola had an unusual near miss at the port of Batangas, 60
sponded and found the vessel completely swamped with two elderly subjects on board. They recovered one of the occupants, but the second fell into the water. The officers then recovered the second occupant.
BUSTED FWC Officers and Investigators responded to a vessel accident with injuries. Two people onboard a vessel were idling away from Cayo Costa State Park beach. The passenger was sitting in a pedestal seat to the right of the operator behind the console. When the passenger leaned back in the seat, the seat broke off the base causing the passenger to fall to the deck of the boat hitting his head and neck on the aft live well. The passenger had to be airlifted to a local hospital. The bait in the livewell was released. COVIDIOTIC Debate over the availability of slides, the splash pad and the Lazy River at the North Port Aquatic Center overshadowed
miles due south of Manila. As the St. Ignatius departed from the port's Bravo anchorage area to move to her berth, an unidentified explosive object came up with her starboard anchor. TRUMP RECOVERY Officers were on water patrol in the Intracoastal Waterway during the President Trump boat parade. They observed what appeared to be a vessel in distress in the middle of the moving parade. The officers re-
budget talks last month, when City Commissioner Chris Hanks brought up social media criticism about how quickly the attractionʼs COVID-19 capacity is reached. The most recent criticism, one of many, complained that the gates for the aquatic park opened at 1 p.m. and safe capacity was reached at 1:20 p.m.
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.... There are a lot of people looking at this magazine right now! FISH PIX!
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Mike Kusmierek son: Owen Kusmierek Charlotte waters
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Amy Stacks on a short visit to SW Florida with her first ever red grouper, out of Gasparilla
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Jerry 30 miles out of Gasparilla limited out his crew with red grouper
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Jamie F with kingfish with Capt. Kenny, Ft Myers
Alicia Sturgeon, redfish caught in Matlacha
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David Sturgeon, snook caught in Matlacha.
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Josh Johndrow. Gar
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Rhys Brossard with a bass he caught in a lake near Bonita Springs
AUGUST 2020
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Say NO to Clay Pits! Commentary By Tim Ritchie Water LIFE / March Against Mosaic On April 28 of this year, John Coates, P.E, Program Director-Minerals and Mines, Florida Department of Environmental Protection and Mosaic Fertilizer LLC attempted to SNEAK in an Intent To Issue document, for the Mosaic Bartow Chemical Plant Permit Renewal and Modification, which was originally filed on June 25, 2018. Two days before FDEP was ready to sign the Permit, giving a green light to more phosphate pollution, a 16 citizen petitioner's group from Charlotte, Desoto, Sarasota and Manatee Counties filed a Petition for an Administrative Hearing. The filing was dismissed with prejudice to cure some technicalities. The citizen petitioners filed a second, amended, petition and were granted an administrative hearing. Very soon afterwards Super Attorney Gary Perko of Hopping, Green and Sam filed motions for sanctions against the Citizen Petitioners. This was a very premature move, apparently designed to intimidate the petitioner's. Apparently it worked, every one of the citizen petitioners removed themselves from the petition in fear of having to pay Mosaic attorneys’ fees and/or worse. Mosaic now claims that the Petitioner's, (me) Timothy Mark Ritchie, Founder and President of March Against Mosaic and a resident of Punta Gorda and Dr. Nathan Tzodikov, a resident of Nokomis and a graduate of MIT,
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Mike Rossow w nice snook trying to keep up w the girls. Capt. George
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DANGER! PHOSPHATE MINING
have filed amended petitions based on saic’s answer was “anywhere from one ‘frivolous claims, and generalizations to 30 Million Gallons Per Day,” every about clean water.’ day. So now on Friday July 31, I must When DeSoto County citizens and provide more answers for Interrogatocommissioners heard that, it was like ries and submit my own documents and the Shot Heard Around the World. Desmultimedia presentation. oto County Commissioners DENIED They want to handcuff me to a 3 Mosaic’s re-zoning request. minute presentation but I will take my This is our home!! This is our watertime to eduPhoto by Tim Ritchie cate the 2/2002 State of Florida about what is really happening to our valuable, precious watershed! They may not like it, but I will go slowly. Right This is what they want at Horse Creek – toxic, radioactive, algae laden clay setnow, every tlement ponds. The potential for a leak after a hurricane or major rain event is day, 2.6 miltremendous. This will be upstream on the Peace River, 14 miles from Punta Gorda and Charlotte Harbor lion gallons of their toxic mix are being discharged from the shed this is not a place for a strip mine Mosaic Bartow South Phospogypsum for Mosaic Fertilizer LLC! tack. The other day it was reported they Mosaic is Florida #1 environmental now want to discharge 27 million galpolluter. In 2015 they paid a $1.8 billion lons, every day, into the Peace River. dollar environmental fine. In 2016 MoOn July 25, 2018 DeSoto Commissaic’s sinkhole released 215 million galsioner Elton Langford asked the Mosaic lon of toxic pollution into the Florida attorney how many gallons of this Aquifer. Every day, using just one water Blended Mosaic Water will Mosaic Dis- permit, obtained in Polk County, Mocharge into the Peace River... and Mosaic Fertilizer takes 70 million gallons
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Amy Rossow with a nice snook with Capt. George
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2nd cast of the day. Big goliath grouper with Capt. George. Barb
of pure fresh clean bathing and drinking water, mixes it with their toxic radioactive concoction and destroys it forever!!!! I personally offered them solutions, 1) Industrial wastewater treatment 2) Real-time water monitoring machines. 3) a Complete AEIS study 4) An Engineering Guarantee (a Bond) that we will not EVER again have a Mosaic Bartow South phospogypsum system sinkhole like the Mosaic New Wales 2016 sinkhole. What ever the outcome of the hearings on August 17 - 19, I promise all of you, I will continue to attack, attack and attack until we take victory!!! Everyone must concentrate and focus on the DeSoto Mosaic Beneficiation Plant and the 8 clay settling areas that they plan on putting on Horse Creek, starting in 2023. Wall Street analysts are already talking about it, wait until they hear about all of us attending the Mosaic Bartow Chemical Plant NPDES permit renewal and modification administrative hearing. I will never ever Stop, ever!! Not until Mosaic is using the top state, of the state of the art technology, for BMP's (Best Management Practices), and not until they completely stop all discharges into any of the Florida rivers or aquifers!!! Mosaic cannot be trusted, never ever! Mosaic Leak's and Lie's. Thank you everyone, for all of your support, encouragement and prayers.
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First cast of the day. Huge snook on live bait with Capt. George. Barb
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Habits
By Capt. Alan Williams Water LIFE Upper Harbor As I was waiting for divine intervention for this months article it came to me, unfortunately, at the boat ramp. Safety, maintenance and procedures for our beloved boats and trailers. I wasn't really asking for that much intervention but I got it like a lightning bolt. I live about 2 minutes away from my neighborhood boat ramp. I went through my usual process of hooking up the trailer in the early morning hours and proceeded to the ramp. I put the lock down on the ball...at least I thought I did, but found out soon that it didn't lock or it came undone. I backed down the ramp and the ball
spit the trailer like a bug landing in your mouth. The boat slid off the trailer breaking the winch strap and luckily landing in the water. Thank God for good safety chains or the trailer would have followed. Not a good moment for the home team, but there was no damage except a broken winch strap and my pride. Yes, I had to swim out and retrieve my boat! No matter how many times you do something, Murphy is always watching and ready to pounce for his own twisted amusement. Here's a few reminders to keep him at bay.. The heat this time of year can be criti-
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cal in making it to the ramp or home and not being stuck on the side of the road deep in the Everglades at dusk with billions of mosquitoes...but that's another story. Make sure your tires are properly inflated and especially the spare. Check the condition of the tires to make sure there are no cracks in the sidewalls which can lead to a blow out under heat and load. Check your bearings. Make sure they are greased on a regular basis and especially if you're going to be trailering any significant distance. I keep an extra hub and bearing ready to go in my truck just in case. Make sure you have the proper tools to change out the hub. I also keep a grease gun and rags in my tool box as well as reflectors for the road. Make sure to wash your trailer and motor after every trip, even if you only stayed in the river. There is still a degree of calcium deposits that without proper flushing can build up in the water jackets in the motor. Leaf springs, brakes and torsion arms need to be kept as free of salt water as possible. It's no fun changing them. If you use a pressure washer, don't put high pressure on the bearing assembly. If you have brakes have them serviced by a professional at regular intervals. Always make sure all of your lights are
AUGUST 2020
properly balanced so you don't have too much or to little tongue weight. Check that your tie down straps are in good shape. Make sure your bunks, carpet and mounting brackets are in good shape. I spray Liquid Roller on my bunks which really makes a difference when launching the boat. Just make sure you don't undo the winch strap until you're safely by the water, if you don't do this, on a steep ramp it will take off. Chock your wheels when unlatched to your vehicle, especially if you are on concrete with any amount of grade. A good wind can get a trailer headed for the street in the right conditions. Trust me on that one too. On another note, the fishing has been
Yup.... thatĘźs my boat floating away!
working on the trailer and tow vehicle. Keep a few spare fuses on hand. Once your trailer is on the ball put a through pin or lock in the latch. Don't just trust the latch will stay down on its own. A simple habit can prevent dire consequences. Trust me on that one! Make sure your trailer is
good with tarpon moving up into the Harbor and rivers all the way up to Fort Ogden. The snook bite continues to be good with redfish and trout still being caught in decent numbers. This is a good time to tangle with sharks if you're so inclined. The deep holes and outside the bars as well as up the Peace River will provide a good shark workout. There are plenty of schools of ladyfish and jacks around for a fun workout for the kids. Just look for the birds... Get out early before the wind and rain comes in and have some fun. Stay safe and healthy – see you on the water!
Capt. Alan Williams 954 -347-5275 awilli9412@aol.com
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Phil Garcia and Eric Stillman and Ryan Stillman all with black drum on 7/24/20. I promise these pics with these three boys are each with a DIFFERENT fish. They love fishing here!
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Ben Koebel tarpon estimated at about 130-pounds and as big as he is!
AUGUST 2020
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SHARKS Lots of sharks roaming around the shallows
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August
SNOOK Beautiful fish on the coast and in the River
MANGROVE SNAPPER continue to be thick everywhere
August – Predictions and Suggestions
Status Report Frank at Fishin’ Franks
After a disasterous fire in late May – a pick up truck landed on the roof of the store and caught fire, destroying the entire building – Fishin’ Franks remains closed . Frank continues to work to secure a new location as he assess all his other options.
Charlotte Harbor, Lemon Bay, Placida, Gasparilla Sound Capt. Kaelin Olayer Flyin’ Hawaiian Fishing Charters Snook, trout and redfish remain closed to harvest, but open for catch and release and they are all here! In Charlotte Harbor flat calm days are perfect for spotting tarpon as they roll on the surface. Inshore tarpon fishing in Charlotte Harbor has been excellent, Now that spawning season is over, thousands of tarpon have moved from the passes to the Harbor. The 20-foot-holes, the mouth of the Myakka River and the north end of Matlacha Pass are all holding tarpon ... at one time or another, this month. Fishing for mangrove snapper continues to been excellent and good numbers of 12- to 14-inch fish can be found for dinner almost anywhere the tide comes in and goes out. Snook have been on the beaches and are scattered on the near inshore islands. There are nice sized snook in the Peace River right now too. Catch-and-release trout fishing has been good and trout numbers and fish
size seem to be rebounding during the extended harvest closure. Shark fishing has been good so far this summer and it continues to be good. Blacktips, blacknose, Atlantic sharpnose, hammerheads and bonnetheads have all been caught in the deeper water of Charlotte Harbor. Out on the Gulf, red grouper fishing is best during the heat of the summer, which is right now! Look for these tasty fish on flat limestone bottom in 60- to 100-feet of water and expect to catch lane snapper, porgys and vermilion snapper too. The other popular grouper in this region is gag and sometimes red grouper and gag are caught together, but gags are more likely to be found on ledges or wrecks than are red grouper and during the summer gags are more likely in deeper water. If you’re fishing in more than about 120 feet of water you may find red snapper, but the recreational season on them closed last month. Out in the Gulf you might also see dolphin (mahi-mahi) under your boat since this is the most likely time of year for them to pay a visit to Southwest Florida. Barracuda, sharks and a few smoker kings are holding over some of the wrecks and artificial reefs. Capt. Kaelin Olayer Flyinʼ Hawaiian Fishing Charters Captkaefishing.com & FH Offshore Charters Fhoffshorecharters.com Cell: 941-716-1425
Englewood Bait House
Head-Boat Offshore Fishing 941- 475-4511
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The water is still hot! Nearshore water temps are high 80s Rains could change that
95˚ 90˚ 85˚ 80˚
75˚ 72˚ 70˚ 68˚ 50˚ 45˚
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