Water
Charlotte Harbor, Lemon Bay, Venice,
LI FE
Estero, 10,000 Islands and the Gulf
The Charlotte Harbor Reef Association
November 2018
FISH PIX!
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Jeff Lafferty Won 1st place Cobia in the Suncoast Spearfishing Challenge. 9/29/2018. Edfitor notes* The cobia size minimum will be going up to 36-inches ... but this sure looks like an AJ!
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Lil Ms. Myla with her first jack! Family teaching family how to fish!
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Budhead with a "Kia" Drum It was Huuuge !!! On TNT bait.
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SUNSEEKER RESORT PROGRESS REPORT
It looks like the County put in a drainage pipe down Main Street, next to the Sunseeker site in Port Charlotte. There is a double-wide trailer that has been moved onto part of the property. Perhaps the trailer will be turned into a sales office.... but according to Charlotte County (on 10/26), there have still not been any engineered mechanical plans submit-
Charlotte County workers put in drainage pipes on Main Street, just north of the Sunseeker site.
HARBOR BOARDWALK PROJECT
We had some questions about the Countyʼs new project at the US 41 Bridge in Port Charlotte. So we asked Kelly Slaughter, Project Manager, Charlotte County Public Works Engineering Division. These are her answers.
if we see your fish picture someplace else, then people wonʼt see your fish or your face here so Please...
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What criteria was used to design this walkway? The boardwalk was designed in accordance with current FDOT, Charlotte County Design Requirements and FEMA Coastal Construction Manual Vol. II, August 2011.
What are the highest and lowest decking elevations above MMLW? The Mean High Water (MHW) for this area is set at 1.23ʼ. The lowest elevation of the Boardwalk is 3.51ʼ where the Boardwalk cross beneath US-41 bridge to provide the FDOT required clearance between the Boardwalk and FDOTʼs bridges. The highest elevation of the Boardwalk is
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ted for review. Mechanical plans are my tipping point. If I see a complete, signed, sealed, engineered set of mechanical plans submitted to the County, along with a paid permit application, I will say I was wrong and I will apologize right here in bold print But until then all I can say is Flip. This is a Real Estate Flip. The deadline has been moved to 2021, I hope Iʼm wrong, but thatʼs still my take. Flip, Flip, Flip. – MH
12.57ʼ where the Boardwalk meets the existing sidewalk at the southbound US-41 bridge. The highest elevation of the Boardwalk over water is 8.50ʼ to provide clearance beneath the Boardwalk as required by the Southwest Florida Water Management District Permit.
I understand some parts of the walkway are designed to be submerged at times. Can the entire walkway be submerged without damage? Yes-The walkway was designed to be submerged without damage.
This new fishing pier, sticking out into the Peace River just east of the US 41 Bridges at Port Charlotte, is part of the County project.
What are the upload forces and lateral forces it is designed to withstand? Given the location of the proposed bridge and boardwalk, the design wave height was calculated based on wind driven waves. An open water fetch of six nautical miles (36,481 feet) was used with a design sustained wind velocity of 75 mph to calculate a design wave height (trough to crest) of 7.3 feet.
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It looks like the decking is an epoxy-type coating over concrete. How long is the coating expected to last? Deck is precast colored concrete, there is no coating.
What connects the decking to the stringers? Are they bolted, epoxy, or gravity held? Concrete deck is bolted to the concrete beams with ½” diameter stainless steel bolts.
Is the wood railing designed to fail before the decking or is it a structural component? Railing is designed to comply with the current FDOT design standards. The railing is not a structural component of the Boardwalk. Worst case, If it gets knocked apart in a terrible storm would you retrieve the pieces and use them again? In the event the boardwalk was damaged by a storm, the County will assess all options to repair this infrastructure.
Water LIFE inc. waterlife@comcast.net www.WaterlifeMagazine.com Ellen Heller Publisher
(941) 766-8180
FishPix, text only number 941-457-1316
217 Bangsberg Rd. Port Charlotte, FL 33952
Independant - Not affiliated with any other publication! Vol XVII No 11 © 2018
NO PART of this publication (printed or electronic) may be copied, reproduced or re-used without specific written permission from the Publisher
Contributing Editors:
Photography: ASA1000.com
Senior Editor: Capt. Ron Blago Baitshop: Fishinʼ Frank
Upper Harbor: Cameron Parson
Peace River: Capt. Dave Stephens Punta Gorda: Capt. Chuck Eichner Venice: Glen Ballinger
Estero: Capt. Joe Angius
Everglades City: Capt. Charlie Phillips Kayaking: Bob Fraser
Sea Grant: ʻtaking a breakʼ Pier Fishing: Bobby Vitalis Diving: Adam Wilson
“I GOT CALLS FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE , FROM MY AD LAST SUMMER”
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DOCK SAVERS: RENE AGAIN!! "WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THE RESPONSE TO OUR AD IN WATER LIFE"
Water-Quality-Of-Life NOVEMBER 2018
By Michael Heller Water LIFE editor Red tide comes and goes, but phosphate mining is a never ending spinal-tap for Florida. If water is truly a concern for this state, we need to confront how much water phosphate mining uses and decide if what they do with our State’s most precious resource is in our best interest. Phosphate mining draws vast quantities of water from the rivers and aquifers of Florida and then, when they are done processing their ore with it, they mix the now acid-polluted-radioactive-mining-water with lots of fresh water ... which they also withdraw... and then they return it all back down the rivers and aquifers. It’s just a little pollution at a time, small parts per liter, but it goes on and on until eventually all their slurry magically disappears. The water Mosaic mining returns meets standards, but it’s not the same as the water they withdrew. They change it for the worse and worse is unacceptable if we want our water better. I’m sure Florida’s water problems extend deep into the aquifers, not only because of Mosaic’s mining practices and spills, but because of a series of other cascading events. Look at Florida on Google Earth. On our coast, all the passes and outlets are facing southwest - the water goes southwest. Look at the traditional flow out of Lake Okeechobee, you see the bending swath down to the tip of the state. It all went to the
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southwest. Both above ground and below, water wants to go southwest. Have you ever had to siphon gas or some other liquid? Once you get the flow started it continues until the liquid is used up, or until you take away the hose. Years ago, when we stopped water going south (actually southwest) from the Lake, we took away the hose, which was the sheet flow across the top of the land. Today, things are not moving underground like they used to. In certain areas, Florida is basically constipated. Are toxic liquids weeping out, below ground and into the Gulf? We don’t know because we don’t do the kind of testing that would tell us. We don’t test the Harbor and river bottoms either, in fact, we don’t drill very many test-wells at all. But we do drill other wells... lots of them. Population is ultimately at the root of all of our problems. We store more and more water and dispose of more and more sewage every day. Municipalities are now using deep injection wells to store drinking water during the wet season for use in the dry season. They do it right here in Charlotte County. They take water from Shell Creek, partially treat it and pump it underground into a ‘bubble’ a mile wide. Then, when they need it, they bring it up, finish treating it and put it into the mains. Florida municipalities are also using deep injection wells to dispose of their sewage and we are now drilling the first of many planned deep injection wells to pump some of Lake O’s pollution underground.
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ALL ABOUT WATER Last month our 2018 Don Ball School of Fishing class went wading at Ponce Park in Punta Gorda. Helped by staff biologists Courtney Saari (shown) and Matt Bunting from the Murdock FWC base, the kids explored the shallow water around the mangroves, capturing, identifying and releasing creatures as they went along.
I do not know for sure whether the phosphate mining company Mosaic is using injection wells, but I know they store large amounts of water above ground and pump their polluted slurry from county to county to make it go away. Mosaic is impacting the Florida aquifers, there is no denying that, but who is going to stop them? Who has the power to reject their water permit applications? When I lived in Northern New Mexico, I learned how precious a commodity water really was. Most of the little villages in Northern New Mexico had ditches and acequias that ran down from a few trickling
mountain streams. The villagers used the water to irrigate their fields and orchards. They treasured their water. It was pure. I would drink it with my cupped hands. In each village one man was in charge of a group of people who maintained the ditches for everyone else. He was the Mayordomo - the man looking out for the village’s water-quality-of-life. Florida would benefit from a Mayordomo, one person in charge, one person with the power to be independent, one person who would put the water-quality-of-life for all of us Florida villagers before any thing or any one else.
Estero Bay: PAGE
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By Capt. Joe Angius Water LIFE Estero Fall weather has finally arrived, bringing cooler water temperatures and plenty of various different bait-fish. To the average person, these subtle changes may not seem significant, but to the Southwest Florida marine ecosystem it makes a substantial positive impact. Inshore gamefish respond to the changing “seasons” by altering their feeding habits. This includes what the fish are primarily feeding on, as well as where they are feeding and how often. Be prepared for a lot of action out in the Gulf as swarms of bait fish litter the reefs and beach shorelines. Eventually the tide will force the surplus of bait onto shallow grassflats, oyster beds, channels, and accessible mangrove islands. The fish activity may be overwhelming. I have a few simple steps that will allow you to process almost any situation at hand and have a successful day out on the water. First and foremost, always fish where there is life and activity. As a guide, following fish activity is Fishing 101 and it works every single time. Constantly be looking for birds diving, scattering bait, moving water, clean water, stingrays, mullet, or anything that’s alive in the area you’re fishing. But some days, when I want a scenario to play out so bad, the fishing conditions are just not right. For instance: I was pol-
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ing a client around a mud flat in Estero looking for rolling tarpon. Days before this trip it seemed like tarpon were everywhere. This time around there was no mullet, little bait schools and slow moving water. After a couple of hours of no success, I decided to go out to the Gulf where the activity was and ended up catching triple tail and Spanish mackerel. Though we wanted to catch tarpon that day, to get
the rods bent we had to fish in areas with fish in them. November is a great month to load up the livewells with several different species of bait. After cast netting bait in the morning, it’s not uncommon (and definitely not a bad idea) to have pinfish, pilchards, threadfin herring, mullet, and crabs on board. There is one bait I did not mention and on many occasions have been humbled by the success this bait provides. Live shrimp is always, yes always, good
NOVEMBER 2018
fish with 7’6” medium-heavy inshore rods equipped with 3000 and 4000 size reels. More importantly, I usually start out using 30-pound or 40-pound leader, tying this to several different lures and technical setups. My arsenal often looks like this:
1/8oz mission fishinʼ jighead Popping cork with a two foot leader and 2/0 Owner hook Free-Lined 1/0 Owner hook Lightly weighted 2/0 Owner hook Heddon Super Spook jr. topwater in Bone/Silver
to have. I’ve experienced missing out on catching black drum, redfish, and tarpon schooled up in the Gulf while running to a bait spot to throw my cast net. I always thought that at least having an artificial lure tied to one of my rods would give me the opportunity to catch the unexpected fish, but usually there’s nothing like having live shrimp. The right bait is the second key. The last key to success in fishing is to have correctly outfitted rods and reels. I
Having a variety of hooks and lures allows me to be ready for any situation. If there’s one rod on my boat without something tied to it, that rod becomes a missed opportunity. Don’t learn the hard way, keep your rods rigged up. The fishing this month can provide some of the best opportunities for big hungry fish. I hope these tips make your next fishing adventure less stressful and more eventful. Please stay updated with current rules and regulations, especially with anything to do with red tide. FWC will post reports online to keep all anglers informed about safe practices and sudden changes in conditions or regulations. Enjoy what Southwest Florida has to offer through fishing and support our local businesses. Joe Angius (727)-234-3171 www.speakeasyfishing.com speakeasyfishing@gmail.com
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Tiny Rods Were Big Fun By Capt. David Stephens Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor Just as I had pulled the boat up to the dock and started loading up for a half day fishing trip, my guys walked over carrying kids rods - the 3-foot ones with cartoon characters on them! It was one of those days that starts out with a big laugh and only got funnier. I was totally down for it! I figured an open water area would be our best option. I have a spot on the bar that normally holds a good number of schooled snook. The only issue is, it’s very tide oriented and on this day the tide wasn’t exactly to the point I wanted it to be, but we gave it a shot anyway.
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The snook were not there, but there were some jacks. Two of the three guys hooked up on 4-to 5-pound fish. As the drags where screaming non-stop, the thing that went through my head was, are these reels going to hold up.
I asked the guys how much and what poundage line was on the reels – the answer was ‘whatever came on them,’ and we started laughing again. Believe it or not, the little rods actually held up to the saltwater jack test and we managed to land one of the fish, but the other one broke off at the boat. We also managed to catch a few trout and some snapper before we were laughing so hard we moved on. By now the tide was up pretty good so we hit some mangrove shorelines to give the rods another test. This time we actually managed to catch quite a few snook and a decent red, but for the most part, other than the jack, the fish were on the smaller side.
NOVEMBER 2018
The little rods held up better than I thought. I’m not sure you could turn a big snook or red from the bushes with one, however for a young angler trying to cut their teeth on saltwater fun they would work very well. Little rods or big ones, I’m here to tell you that a lot of our fishery is as strong as I’ve seen it in a long time. Over the past couple weeks I have been able to put my clients (those with conventional sized rods) on numbers of snook that I have not seen in years. The majority have been what we call school fish, but being able to go catch 50-to 75snook in four hours is still great fishing. While snook seem OK, redfish do not. I think we need to join together and push for a redfish hatchery. Port Manatee has a redfish hatchery that releases fish into Tampa Bay. Charlotte Harbor needs its own hatchery. This summer the governor allocated $1.2 mill to enhance the redfish fishery to balance the effect of red tide in Tampa Bay. If the fishery in the Bay area can get that kind of support, there is no reason we shouldn’t get some help down here too.
If you would like to experience some of Charlotte Harbor’s finest fishing, give us a call or send an email. All of our charters are private and customized to fit your party’s needs. Capt. Dave Stephens, 941-916-5769 capt.dstephens@comcast.net. www.backbayxtremes.com
Calling Fish
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Left: Buddy Newton with a thick trout. Above, left to right, Patrick, Kayla (she caught the fish!), and Barry (who tagged the fish) for Gray Fishtag Research.
By Cameron Parson Water Life Charlotte Harbor Cooler weather and water temperatures are well on their way. My favorite technique to call out fish in the fall/winter is to use a popping cork. It's a super effective tool in searching for fish over open grass flats, potholes, sand spots and along grass edges. They're versatile whether you're throwing live bait or artificials. Popping corks come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. Some click and clack while others pop and chug. Selection is all a personal preference, they will all catch fish. I prefer a simple popping cork with a peg due to easy adjustment for water depth at which my lure or bait suspends. Adding some yardage to your cast is always an added bonus. Small live baits such as shrimp, smaller pinfish, and small whitebait can be thrown without ripping the hook out. Popping corks can let others baits be further utilized and modified to fit your needs. Lighter lures like DOA shrimp and 2-inch swimbaits can also be thrown a ways longer with less effort
using a cork. I usually start off working an area with a topwater plug. If the fish won't completely commit to the strike, I switch to a popping cork. The fish see the bait suspended in the strike zone rather than floating. It's an easy take for the fish and less effort has to be put into grabbing a quick lunch. The noise from the cork simply draws the fish to the lure or bait. Drifting seems to be the most effective way to find the fish. You're covering a lot of water in a shorter amount of time, picking apart every aspect of the area. Potholes, sand spots, grass edges, and drop offs are great spots to toss a cork. Once you have the first good bite, stake down and continue working the area. Move onto the next hole if nothing happens. Some spots may have only a handful of fish while others may contain 10 fish or more of different species. The usual suspect is trout, but redfish, snook, tarpon, pompano, and even cobia will gladly take an easy meal. Popping corks are also great for beginners and kids. They allow the visual confirmation of getting a bite and a cork gives them something to keep focused upon. It takes minimal effort and lets them get used to the motions of working artificials. The positive note is that they gain confidence in being able to do something inde-
Shelly with a snook caught in Pirate Harbor with a live threadfin under a popping cork.
pendently. Any of the local tackle shops will have popping corks readily available. The white ones are unweighted, the green ones are weighted. Ask for what is recommended and also ask for guidance as to how they can be modified to your liking. Always keep it simple. Experiment with different lures and see what works. Just remember, your line goes against the cork opposite from the ‘slit.’ That way the peg captures your line and it won’t twist its way out. Catch some fish!
Cameron Parson works at Rio Villa Bait and Tackle in Punta Gorda The shop phone is
941639-7166
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BE THANKFUL PAGE
By Capt. Charlie Phillips Water LIFE / Everglades City This is the month to be especially thankful... and after spending time helping where I could in the Mexico Beach area following the storm, I know how thankful we should all be. The things I saw up there reminded me of scenes in war torn countries I visited many years ago. Homes that were simply gone, or with just a single wall remaining, miles and miles of downed trees and crops, and not a powerline left standing anywhere – people who were faced with the realization that all their hard work in the past was erased, and it was time to start again. I know many charter boats were lost and in talking with impacted Florida Guides Association and NACO members, the future there will now be shaped day by day. Hurricanes are a price of living in paradise, and while expected, it doesn’t make the loss any easier to swallow. Don’t forget these folks, as they forsure still need us now and into the future. Donate to aid groups, volunteer with a program that is rebuilding and when some time has passed go up for a short weekend to visit. They will really appreciate it and next year it could be back to us again needing their help. As I write this, we are getting our first real cold front down to the Everglades. It dropped the temperatures just a bit, but the humidity is gone and I read that we should not see another 90-degree day in 2018.
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Fishing has been strong through October and it will continue into November. Inshore and offshore have lots to offer, so take your pick and make a plan. Inshore, the trout have been big and hungry. Fishing the grass flats down south we have found lots of quality fish using popping corks and live shrimp as well as artificals. The bigger fish come off the suspending baits and artificial offerings, but numbers and some darn good trout do come off the cork. Still lots of snook around, though they will start the push to the back now with the cooler winds. Topwaters in the mornings are my favorite method, though I know many prefer live bait. Fishing Port of the Islands area this month I have done very well with some big fish That is not a roller coaster damaged by Hurricane Michael, that is a cell phone tower, bent 270 degrees! with walk the dog type plugs Back home in the Glades, fishing is great with small redfish, a big jack and a dinner-sized cobia, shown here. fished around the marina basin and along the channel looking the traplines. be careful in that bind curve as you run the where the creeks meet the Faka Union Choices abound this time of year, but Glades. Canal. with the fall season not only do we get our Y’all be safe out there, have a wonderOffshore, there are some big red good fishing, we also get our seasonal res- ful Thanksgiving and see you next month! grouper and fat snapper being caught in the idents back. Capt. Charlie Phillips 863-517-1829 live bottom areas. The cobia are pushing The waters will get a little busier, so hit e-mail: hopefishing@hotmail.com back south and the tripletail are back on the water early, be patient at the ramp and Web: hopefishing.com
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Readerʼs Photos
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FISH PIX! f r o m Wa t e r L I F E m a g a -
Ansel - Snook caught on the Myakka River and a tarpon in the Nokomis Waterway
Ronʼs hogfish from the Florida Keys
Great day in Charlotte Harbor with Capt. Scotty Roe
A great day again in Charlotte harbor with Capt
Snook caught by Joe Sheaffer Gasparilla Sound
Melody and her 47-inch black drum caught October 4, at I-75 Bridge Punta Gorda
Mangrove snapper off Manasota Beach caught on a silver spoon. Al
Keith Pankey snook caught in Charlotte Harbor yesterday
Gavin Greysha bass caught in a Sar
NOVEMBER 2018
Joe Brown, September 3 Lake Niagara
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Joe Brown, September 8 Lake Niagara bass
ain Scotty roe and his wife Mary and daughter Karlie Roe!
ark asota lake
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Rick Francois, Punta Gorda with a 12.3-pound, 32-inch walleye, caught at Sturgeon Bay Wisc.
Logan Moon - largemouth bass - Tampa
Got this 25 pound black grouper yesterday in 90 feet of water out from Boca Grande. We went out to check visibility after the storm and it was only about 5 to 10 feet. Jason Bihari
FISH PIX! f r o m Wa t e r L I F E m a g a z i n e
Jon Hill caught this beautifiul barracuda 50 miles off shore from Sanibel
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Katie Goodwin with a 20-inch, 3-pound bowfin, in Lake Placid, FL
My nephews and niece! Left to right.. Riley, Talon, Peyton, and Allyana with a few jacks at Port Charlotte Beach
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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
Christina Kraus with a nice snook caught in the backwaters of Naples using a rattletrap for bait in brackish water. Caught and released alive.
Christina Kraus with a snook caught in the mangroves inside Doctors Pass in Naples. She used a live pinfish to get it to bite.
Bill Harger with his father Brad caught this redfish fishing Shark River in the Everglades. He used a gold spoon for bait.
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NOVEMBER 2018
text us ur fish pix - see page 4
Sam Hanson from Ft Myers with a nice small tarpon caught by Port of the Islands in the Everglades. It was caught with a tipped chartreuse home made jig. Al, Englewood snook. Small but fun.
Inge williams 10/14/18 Venice snook :) catch nĘź released
Becky Beatty with a small tarpon caught down south of Marco Island
The first picture is lisa Wasdin with CJ Miller helping her hold an AJ the second photo is Chuck Miller with a 60inch AJ. third is CJ Miller with another amber jack and lastly Michael Meehan with a red grouper. We had an amazing day with Captain Chris and we didn't see any sign of red tide. Looked like a lot of bait fish were coming back in the Harbor
Tangled Tale of Tarpon NOVEMBER 2018
By Capt. Chuck Eichner Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor With the sun rising in the east, our livewell was still empty after 20 minutes of fishing for ladyfish. Why is it that when you want to catch ladyfish for bait you can’t, and when you don’t want them you can’t keep them off your line? So, one hour into the day and 6 ladyfish later Bob and I headed out into the Harbor to hunt for tarpon. Our expectations were tempered with recent skunk trips, but our first stop mid-Harbor met with a smashing strike on the first live lady. Six acrobatic jumps and a 20 minute struggle ended with a 120-pound silver king at boat side. An hour later we had two shark bite offs and a missed tarpon that nearly spooled our reel! Tarpon peel off so much line on the first couple of runs that you can literally get spooled even with 300 yards of 60-pound braid. We learned our lesson from that and decided to place an anchor ball on our anchor line. The idea is to have a floating buoy on the end of the anchor line so that you can quickly unhook the anchor from the boat, so that you can chase the fish down and gain back your line. With tarpon there is no time to pull in the anchor so you quick-release and abandon it.
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With anchor ball, line and anchor in 10 feet of water we patiently watched as an occasional tarpon would roll in the distance. We were nervous and so was the ladyfish on the end of my line... then a big swoosh and all heck broke loose! The heavy action St. Croix rod bent so hard I could not get it out of the rod holder; I actually thought the handle was going to break off! Finally, with rod in hand and 250 yards of line out, Bob ran to the bow and released the anchor. I am shouting directions on which way the fish is running while Bob goes for the throttle and bumps the boat in gear..... and the motor shuts off! Oh Lord! ... and now I am out of line! We run to the back of the boat. The engine is choked up on the anchor line and the ball is wedged in the prop! ‘This game is over,’ I declare as I put the rod in a holder, line still tight. Bob lifts the anchor off the bottom and the fish starts towing the boat forward. We agree that someone has to get in the water to untangle us, which does not sound too good to me. We talk about the big sharks that we hooked in the same area and realize at this point we must have a big shark on the end of the line that amazingly has not bit us off. Bob gets in the dark water with knife in hand
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and tries to carve out the tangled mess. Then, moments later, with a blank expression, Bob jumps up on the swim platform, and just about the same time another rod we still had out goes down. We forgot about that one! Moments later a big sailcat is landed. Bob says he felt something bump him in the leg while in the water. I started laughing, but somehow Bob didn’t see the humor. Bob went back in the water and finally the anchor ball was pried from between the prop and skeg, the motor started and the fish was still on! We followed the fish and caught up a mile across the Harbor, but then a huge
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7- foot tarpon jumped in front of the boat. We looked at each other in disbelief! There was never a clue it was a tarpon! It wasn’t over yet. Now a bit of slack line had curled up and wrapped the rod tip and the fish is again hauling butt away from the boat and the tip is about to break off! But, somehow, shaking the rod tip in just the right way saved the rod and we boated a solid 160 pound plus fish! In the end, luck was with us. It’s not always that way.
Capt. Chuck Eichner operates Action Flats Backcountry Charters He can be reached at 941-628-8040
Model Year End Closeouts!
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FISH PIX!
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Sunday 14 October on "PELAGIC" Back row - Left to right: The Pruits are all from Indianapolis Indiana Hendrix Pruett (7 years old), Carson Pruett (5 years old) Front row - Left to right: Capt. Travis Ormand, Robby Pruett, Papaw White of Rotonda West. With three of the four really nice cobia that we caught! Picture taken by First Mate - Beeson
Jason Bihari - Cubera in 65-feet of water, out from Boca Grande
Brad from Cape Coral with a nice snook and his guide Wiz.
This is Carson Pruett (age 5) from Indianapolis, Indiana out fishing with her Papaw (of Rotonda West) on the "PELAGIC" with Captain Travis Ormand
Michael Kusmierek red grouper 7yr old Hayden with a good bass, caught on a live shiner
Michael Kusmierek, redfish
Betsy and Miah Shadduck, jack on shrimp
Christopher and Riley Shadduck 27-inch redfish, on a jighead with a shrimp
Kayla with her first tarpon, caught on live finger mullet
Aliana Beier catches her first fish ever! I think it's a tilapia. Aliana's 4 years old! Oh boy you should have seen the battle! Grandpa so proud of her!!
NOVEMBER 2018
Red Tide - Winners and Losers On the Line
Commentary by Capt. Ron Blago Water LIFE Senior Staff Red tide is always out there, it comes and goes. As I write this it looks like the break we have had from the red tide may be coming to an end. There is no predicting it, but I've noticed, in the 40 plus years I have been in Florida, a pattern that I call the red tide cycle. First, water samples find higher than normal background levels of red tide. Then dead fish show up on the beaches and local media cover the story extensively. Outraged citizens demand that something be done about this red tide, local governments do the best they can by cleaning up the beaches and posting notices warning the public of the dangers of red tide. Scientist and researchers speculate on the causes, location and duration of the outbreak. They also offer to help solve this red tide problem.... if only they had the money. Politicians, recognizing the disaster, pour out millions of tax payer's dollars. Eventually the red tide goes away, people go back to their normal lives and everyone forgets... until it comes back again. It’s time to analyze this latest cycle and figure out who the winners and losers are. The biggest losers were the people in the tourist industry and all the people that count on shoreside business for their livelihood. The next loser is our marine wildlife. I have seen estimates of over 200 million tons of dead fish removed from the public beaches of southwest Florida so far this year. Any creature that lived in our around the water was effected. Manatees have been particularly hard hit by the red tide. So far this year 703 dead manatees have been recovered; but with still two months to go in the year, there is a good chance we will break the record of 830 dead mana-
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Englewood Beach October 26. Birds were still fling but people were coughing and the seafoam was brown. The latest FWC report shows red tide along Floridaʼs southwest coast. It could be gone again by the time you read this.... or not.
tees, set in 2013. The biggest winner in this cycle has to be Mote Marine. Mote researchers discovered and named red tide back in the 70s. Red tide has always been their baby as far as research has been concerned, but it has never been a money maker. Now that the manatee is no longer on the Endangered List, Mote’s pot of manatee gold is drying up. In fiscal year 2018 Mote only received a grant for $100,000 from the FWC for manatee recovery, a mere drop in the bucket for Mote from years past. You can't blame them for looking for other sources of money and what better place to look than red tide. Recently the State has granted Mote $2.2 million to establish a Red Tide Institute to find solutions to the red tide problem. Mote also received a $1 million private donation
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to help run the institute. Mote currently has two ongoing projects concerning red tide; one involves the use of ozone to kill the red tide. Mote has already conducted a small scale test in a canal on Boca Grande the results have not been released yet. Mote already has a patent on this process so any money coming from its use will go through Mote. The other project involves the use of a 'specialized clay” that could be spread on the water so as it sinks it will take the red tide with it to the bottom. The phosphate mining industry in Florida has had a terrible history of environmental disasters going back decades. One of their major problems is the disposal of the waste products from the mining process. Currently this waste is stacked up around the mines in what are called gypsum stacks; these white mountains have a bad habit leaking into streams and rivers causing major fish kills. They also leak into sinkholes caused by the mining process, polluting the aquifer that provides our drinking water. Mosaic is one of the largest miners of phosphate in the world with a major presence in Florida. For years the phosphate industry has tried to come up with a way to get rid of their gypsum waste stacks. Over the last 10 years, trying to improve their image, Mosaic has spread a lot of money around our area, especially to outdoor and environmental groups. Mosaic is described as a “major financial backer of Mote Marine.” How ironic is it that the leading marine research center in our area is working with and taking money from one of area’s largest polluters? The fact is, Mote’s “specialized clay” is nothing more than phosphate mining waste. It looks to me like Mosaic is trying to get Mote Marine's stamp of approval to dump their mining waste into the Gulf again. Controlling red tide may captRonB@juno.com just be a collateral benefit.
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Shark on the Barbie PAGE
By Capt. John Brossard Water LIFE Sharkin’ The Holidays are a great time of the year to try something new to eat.... so how about some shark fillets? Shark is not something you want to eat every day or week, but there is nothing wrong with having it once in a while. November starts to get in a few cold fronts, so the fish tend to move with the water temperature changes. I have been catching many small two-and-a-half to 4foot blacktip sharks just off the near shore reefs; and with the right bait, such as a fat shrimp laying on the bottom, you will find the bonnet-head sharks are also close in, and just off the beaches.
The water is clean & fresh on the Peace River!
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When bottom fishing for other fish, people tend to hook nurse sharks and seem to think they are junk fish. On the contrary, nurse sharks feed on shellfish and crabs and they tend to taste like what they eat. There is very good to excellent meat on a nurse shark! It is very important to ice them down right away after catching and do not let it get hot as shark will spoil easily. I like to gut them right after catching and put them in the cooler immediately. There are a ton of different ways you can cook them varying from on the grill to in the fryer. Most folks usually soak the meat in milk overnight. I tend to like it marinated in Italian dressing for my fa-
vorite way to grill it. You can leave the skin on or take it off, that is up to you and your preference. Cook your fillets on a hot grill for 5 to 6-minutes on each side or until the flesh is flaky. Try one fillet or two and see what you think. Always check the size and limits of each individual type of shark you catch and release the rest back in the water to live and to be caught again. On the water, the FishRules app is a good way to check on fish limits and which species are legal to keep. Capt John Brossard 239-777-9279 sharkchaserfl@gmail.com sharkchasercharters.com
NOVEMBER 2018
Top two photos: blacktip sharks Below: a black nose shark, these are very good eating!
Shark Limits in South West Florida.
BONNETHEAD, No minimum size, 1 per person BLACTIP, No minimum size, 1 per person BLACKNOSE, No minimum size, 1 per person ATLANTIC SHARPNOSE, No minimum size, 1 per person NURSE, 54 in fork min size limit , 1 per person SPINNER, 54 in fork min size limit, 1 per person BULL, 54 in fork min size limit, 1 per person There is a 2 shark limit per day per vessel for recreational fishermen, no matter how many anglers are aboard
Change NOVEMBER 2018
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PAGE 19
It Keeps On Happening By Fishin’ Frank Water LIFE Baitshop Changes, we all kind of hate them or dread them in some ways, but change things do. Like S.O.S. Marine closing, I went to the last day and bought some stuff, Jerry who is one of the best mechanics and friends I have ever known retired. And I understand that is a good thing he has worked hard and deserves a change. But I was still standing there trying not to tear up. Changes like having red tide every where and then it is gone and the places where ‘all’ of the fish were dead now have fish again. Do people think God is that dumb not to have a plan “B”? Change is God’s plan. Fish move off and when it's over they move back in. Same as humans. The Panhandle got slammed, people left and then people came back. Redfish is one of the biggest changes I have ever seen in the fishing here. About 5 years ago I started taking about where did the redfish go? Around December the reds would all but disappear. Then in July the redfish would magically reappear. I looked up some old articles and listened to some old Pod Casts from fishinfranks.com and sure enough there it was; me and Robert talking about the hole in the spacetime-continuum. A funny way of saying they disappeared and everyone was going around crying there is no redfish any more, then by August the redfish were everywhere again. I was talking to a marine biologist and he asked me if I thought it was increasing pressure on the reds that would be causing
this. I said ‘wrong word, continuous pressure was the more likely suspect.’ What I mean is that when the weather cools down the locals start to fish more, and then add the snow birds and tourists and the Charter boats and the flats get a bit full of boats. It must be hard for a fish to find a place to relax. So in my opinion they are moving to quieter areas as the normal, or historic, fishing spots fill up with boats. Then they move back in when it is slower. Changes are happening even at Fishin’ Franks. We are now just about twice the size we were a month ago. And yes there is even a boutique. Ouch! Customers come in and say where is this or that, and as Robert says, it is one giant Easter egg hunt right now! So the question is, with a room full of shoes, shirts, sunglasses, gifts
and apparel do I need to change my slogan of: This Ain’t No Boutique? After all, it ain’t the whole store, just one room. I’ll let you decide.
Other changes: snook and redfish were made catch and release only until at least May. But no one knows why, since F.W.C. will not let its stock assessments out for public viewing. Are they playing politics? Or watching out for the fish? Me, I think they are not doing things in our best interest - just so some politician could say ‘look at me I’m a good person.’ Just like the F.B.I., the working people at FWC are great, but the management is screwed up. Seasonal Changes: Well, the weather changed and it is cool and the fish are moving in, cobia, pompano, and Spanish mackerel are all in the Harbor and the sheepshead have moved back in at the Placida Trestle. Some changes are good, other are like changing a diaper: it’s not bad once your done, but you have to live through some crappy, smelly times to get there. Fishin’ Franks Bait & Tackle Port Charlotte: 941- 625-3888 Fort Myers: 239-634-1043
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History of the Sawfish in the United States By Tonya Wiley
Havenworth Coastal Conservation
Special for Water LIFE Their odd appearance and awesome size made them a prized catch for recreational fishermen. Their unique elongated, blade-like snouts, studded with teeth on both sides, were often kept as trophies. Net fishermen on the other hand considered them a nuisance because of the damage they would cause to their gear. Two species of sawfish were once found in the U.S.: the largetooth sawfish, Pristis pristis, and the smalltooth sawfish, Pristis pectinata. The largetooth sawfish was found throughout the Gulf of Mexico, but was more common in western Gulf waters of Texas and Mexico. The smalltooth sawfish ranged from Texas to North Carolina and was most plentiful in the eastern Gulf waters of Florida. Both sawfish species were considered “abundant” and “common” in the early 1900s. Numerous postcards, photographs, and newspaper articles from that era show the scene of fishermen hauling in countless sawfish to boats, docks, and beaches across the country. Unfortunately, the largetooth sawfish has not been seen in the United States since the last confirmed record in 1961 in Texas. The smalltooth sawfish has fared better and still remains in U.S. waters, though at greatly reduced numbers and geographic range. Today the smalltooth sawfish is found predominately in southwest Florida, notably including Everglades National Park (ENP). The vast expanse of natural habitat within ENP, and limited fishing pressure, likely served as a refuge for sawfish as the population was under constant pressure. What happened to these grand fish? What caused them to vanish from much of our coastal waters? The decline was due to a combination of three primary factors: (1) overfishing, (2) low reproductive po-
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tential, and (3) habitat loss. Fishing mortality contributed significantly to the decline of sawfish in the U.S. Many sawfish caught recreationally were landed and displayed for photographs. Others were killed as anglers removed their saws for trophies. Commercial fishermen killed sawfish to save their gear, not wanting to cut their valuable nets to remove captured sawfish. And sawfish were over-exploited for a variety of other reasons. Their meat was used for food, their skin for leather, and their liver oil used in lamps and as a source of vitamin A. Their fins are valued for shark fin soup, their rostral teeth used as artificial spurs in cock-fighting, their cartilage ground-up for traditional medicines, and their saws sold as curios and ceremonial weapons. The reproductive strategy of sawfish doesn’t help them withstand these threats. Sawfish bear live young, take many years to reach sexual maturity, and produce very few offspring per reproductive cycle. This doesn’t allow sawfish to replenish the population very quickly. This was especially problematic historically as they were being removed far more quickly than they were able to reproduce. And it’s why now it is crucial to keep fishing mortality low in order to recover this endangered species. Born at about 2 feet in length, juvenile sawfish rely on very shallow, coastal and estuarine waters close to shore for ample food and safety from predators, such as sharks, during the first years of their life. However, these shallow coastal waters are the same areas that have been converted to waterfront development. Now much of the natural shoreline vegetation has been developed into seawalls, beaches, marinas, roads, canals and docks. Therefore, the natural vegetation and shallow habitats previously used by sawfish as important protective nursery areas have been greatly reduced in quantity and all but eliminated in some areas.
In the early 1900s there were numerous postcards, photographs and newspaper images like this, showing fishermen hauling in countless sawfish.
Due to the dramatic decline of the sawfish populations the smalltooth sawfish was classified as Endangered in 2003, making it the first fully marine fish and first elasmobranch (sharks, skates, and rays) protected by the Endangered Species Act. The largetooth sawfish was listed as Endangered in 2011. Will sawfish in the United States recover? Unfortunately, the largetooth sawfish is probably locally extinct and gone for good from U.S. waters. The smalltooth sawfish just might make a comeback; the population is already showing promising signs following protective measures. One of the best methods of monitoring the population as it recovers is the use of public sawfish encounters. If you catch or see a sawfish take a quick photograph of it, estimate its size, note your location, and share the information with scientists. The details of your sightings or catches help to track recovery progress. You can share your information by calling 1-8444-SAWFISH (1-844-472-9347) or emailing sawfish@myfwc.com. (Editor notes* If you cant do that, text it to Water LIFE and we will pass it along.) Information
Kayaking / Paddlesports
Snook Living Up to its Reputation
By Bob Fraser Water LIFE Kayaking Had a kayak fishing charter on October 20th, my first outing in three months, due to the red tide. I didn’t go to my favorite fishing spot, Gasparilla Sound, because the water is still dark and doesn’t look very inviting. I took my client to the Peace River, putting in at Darst boat ramp. We were hunting for redfish and snook. We started out the day with live shrimp, fishing them on the bottom in open water and around the mangrove trees. We had no trouble finding catfish. My client caught a large sail cat that took out some line before getting the fish to the side of the kayak. We also caught a few mangrove snapper and a small red. We were in the middle of an incoming tide, but the tide didn’t seem very strong. It was a very calm day with no wind, which is unusual
NOVEMBER 2018
Kayakers last month on the Peace River. They were paddling from Nav-A-Gator in protest of phosphate mining.
for this area. The last hour of our trip we decided to concentrate on fishing the mangroves close to the launch area. By this time the tide was getting stronger and we drifted along a mangrove shoreline.
about historic catches or the location of any old sawfish saws is also appreciated. Remember, due to their protected status it is illegal to target, harm, harass, or handle sawfish in any way. While it is technically illegal to catch a sawfish (except with a research permit or in a fishery where incidental take has been authorized) captures do occur while fishing for other species. Any sawfish caught while fishing must be released as quickly as possible. The number one rule to remember when handling and releasing a sawfish is to leave it in the water at all times. Do not lift it out of the water onto your boat or a pier, and do not drag it on shore. Tonya@havenworth.org 941-201-2685, www.havenworth.org
Information on smalltooth sawfish recovery planning can be found at https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/sm alltooth-sawfish
Tax-deductible donations to help us continue our mission to promote the sustainable use and conservation of marine resources through research, outreach, and education can be made at https://www.oceanfdn.org/donate/havenworthcoastal-conservation
My client caught a few more snapper and a red. Fishing about 20 feet from the shoreline and casting within a few feet of the mangrove trees, my client shouted to me, “I have a nice one, he’s pulling me into the trees.” His line got tangled in the branches and the front of the kayak was buried in the trees. He tried to reach for the fish but it came unhooked. He said it was a nice snook, at least 3 feet in length. My client has read about snook taking out line and making a run for cover. He said the snook lived up to its reputation. It’s fun fishing out of a kayak and having the fish pull you around. Unfortunately, in a kayak, the fish usually wins the battle when he heads for structure, such as the mangrove trees. It was nice to get on the water again after all the red tide and storms we’ve had. I sure hope the red tide is going away and staying away. Bob Fraser 941-916-8303 www.kayakfishingwithbob.com
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NOVEMBER 2018
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Sometimes Unsubstanciated, But Often True
This fishy surfing photo was taken at St Augustine by Dave Macri, owner of the Blue Sky Surf Shop. The surfer is Golden Fletch.
MID COURSE ASSESSMENT Last month a congressionally mandated report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine asked the managers of the 18year-old Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) to conduct a “midcourse assessment.” They dictated that the evaluation account for likely conditions in the wetlands in the future, and model how existing restoration projects would fare under various, predicted, sealevel rise scenarios. Editor Asks: Does this mean donʼt do as much, because it will all be underwater soon? SEEMED LIKE A GOOD IDEA Captive Wildlife Investigator Zimmerman received a complaint about two subjects who were in possession of a raccoon inside of their hotel room in Sebring. Investigator Zimmerman responded and contacted the defendant who appeared to be under the influence of controlled substances. The subject went to jail, the racoon received a bath and a few hot meals.
REALLY BAD IDEA An individual had requested a vessel inspection for a homemade vessel and an FWC officer was dispatched to conduct a vessel inspection on the 14-foot Jon boat. The officer inspected the vessel and discovered the vessel`s HIN number had been removed, but the vessel was still displaying a manufacturerʼs decal showing it was manufactured by Monark. The subject was told he could not use, sell or register the vessel until the investigation was complete. Days later, the officer noticed Florida registration numbers and a decal were now displayed on the vessel. The subject stated they were accidentally put on the wrong boat! It went downhill from there. Felony charges were brought for grand theft and possession of a vessel with altered or removed hull identification number (HIN). The subject pled no contest. He was sentenced to serve thirty months incarceration in the Florida State
Prison. FALLOUT EVENT FWC Officers Winton, Fogle and Hazelwood were on water patrol in the Caloosahatchee River when they saw several subjects swimming next to a vessel in a high vessel-traffic area. The officers approached to ensure that the subjects were safe, at which time they noticed that two of the subjects were drowning and were unable to stay above the surface of the water. Attempts to grab the subjects and throw life rings to them were unsuccessful, so officers Fogle and Hazelwood entered the water to assist. The officers worked together to pull the subjects out of the water and place them in recovery positions until EMS arrived on the scene. Once EMS arrived, the officers began an investigation into the incident. The subjects had fallen overboard and two separate operators of the involved vessel were arrested for boating under the influence. ICY BOX Scientists with NASA's Operation IceBridge survey program recently spotted a rectangular iceberg floating off the Antarctic Peninsula's Larsen C ice shelf. According to NASA, they concluded its shape likely indicated that it recently calved and the ocean had not yet had much time to wear away its corners.
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txt us ur fish pix
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FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Barbara Brock catch and released snook the entire day on Gasparilla Island, Boca Grande Fabulous Day! clear water again and Fish on!
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Ed Starcher Lemon shark
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Becky Beatty with a Naples caught Snook it was released unharmed after photo.
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November – Predictions and Suggestions Charlotte Harbor Frank at Fishin’ Franks 941-625-3888
BackBay Xtremes Capt Dave Stephens www.backbayxtremes.com
941-916-5769
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Steve Strodel of Punta Gorda with a 35-pound Amberjack.
Explore!
Fish with a Guide
Youʼll learn something and youʼll catch more fish! FISH PIX!
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Bill Mercier of San Diego with a nice 40-pound Amberjack
Dave Servis of Punta Gorda with a 45-pound Amberjack
Tarpon are still good around the Harbor. The cooler weather will push a bunch out, but some will stay in the Harbor. We’ve been hearing about blackfin tuna in the Gulf, but still no reports on migrations. So that next cold push should bring us a ton of king and Spanish mackerel. We have pompano off Cape Haze in front of Turtle Bay. There are also some over by Two Pine and a few off Hog Island. There are really big cobia on the near shore reefs, out to about 60-feet of water, in good number and nice size too. There have been cobia at Alligator Creek Reef and a few at Danger Reef, these are fish to 40-some inches. Redfish are coming in, in numbers like the old days. The fish are not in their old haunts, they may have moved off a little, but there are a lot of redfish, some big schools by Two Pine or south of Matlacha and over at the Indian Fields. The slot-sized -and-up reds have been by Turtle Bay, not that slot size matters. Snook is the one impressing people now. The ten degree temperature drop we had has gotten the snook moving. The PGI, and PC canal systems all have amazing snook fishing in them now. The ICW has tons of snook around Placida and snook are doing really well on the east side of Charlotte Harbor. They are not real big, say up to 30-inches. On the west side they are in the creeks and they are bigger at Tippiecanoe Bay. Not much snook in Peace River except at Shell Creek. Goliath grouper have been on the fish lights in Punta Gorda along with tarpon, snook, and catfish. It’s just crazy. I have no reports on spadefish, but we’re starting to see sheepshead coming up into the Harbor. Sheepshead fishing is not good yet, only fair, which for this time
of year is really good. Tripletail have showed up out in the Gulf. It’s still hit or miss one day, nothing the next day and then it’s the best tripletail fishing you have ever seen. Grouper fishing is crazy now. At the bait shop, everyone seems to be buying squid wings. Reds and gag grouper, in 40 feet or less feet, there are tons of shorts, but out at 60- to 80-feet, you will probably get your legal limit of any grouper you want. In the freshwater, bass continues to be really good throughout Charlotte and Sarasota with average size of 4-pounds. Fish soft plastics in the daytime and top water or just-below-thesurface baits in the evening. Cichlids and tilapia have gone crazy too, you can get an easy dinner right now. Not much crappie fishing yet, but this month should be better.
Lemon Bay, Placida, Gasparilla Sound Jim at Fishermen’s Edge 941-697-7595
Starting to see more people going out fishing again. Good reports around Lemon Bay, into Gasparilla and up in Charlotte Harbor. Guys went out today to drift fish. There are still tarpon around and we’ve had numerous catches of snook and redfish, all on artificials. Guys are throwing topwaters and fluke-baits like Zooms with weedless hooks, to get close to the mangroves. We’ve been catching nice flounder, there has been a bunch of jacks and ladyfish in the back country. People are saying they are seeing sheepshead too, really nice ones. A guy told me he saw tripletail on the beach already. Offshore, Spanish, kings, snapper, red grouper, gags and cobia are all around. Lot of bass opportunities around South Gulf Cove and at Rotunda. The neighborhood ponds are doing ok. Fishing seems really, really good now.
NOVEMBER 2018
The BIG-4 SHEEPSHEAD Under the trestles, piers and docks
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Fish you can expect in
REDFISH Schooling inshore from Burnt Store south
MULLET in the upper Harbor canals and Pine Island area
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AMBERJACK Nice fish on the near shore reefs
Nearshore water temps are low 80s Fishing has been good but we keep watching for algae blooms
95˚ 90˚ 85˚
I got this toothy 52-pound Cubera diving in 65-feet out from Boca Grande last month. Jason Bihari
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Melissa Aniskewicz caught this 25-inch redfish with a top water spook, wading on the flats!
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FISH PIX!
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Joe Leonti, black drum
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80˚
24-inch channel cat fish caught by Luke
75˚ 72˚ 70˚ 68˚ 50˚
Pulled this 46-inch 30-pound giant out of Charlotte Harbor on Sunday morning. Caught on 10# PowerPro with 30# fluorocarbon leader. Reaper rod with 4000 Quantum smoke. She hit a top water, skipped under the dock.
45˚
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Christina Kraus from Naples caught this 41 inch female snook in her back yard using a home made buck-tail jig. It was released.
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Danny Thomson - Peacock Bass
FISHING RIGHT NOW: VERY GOOD Text Us Ur Fish Pix! see page 4
LAST CAST
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Tom the mailman from Cape Coral with two nice red grouper. 100' out of Boca.
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Corey Shadduck 26-inch red on artificial
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Snook caught by Joe Sheaffer Charlotte Harbor 10/24/18
This was the last picture we received before going to print this month
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NOVEMBER 2018