Water LIFE August 2018

Water

LI FE

Charlotte Harbor, Lemon Bay, Venice, Estero, 10,000 Islands and the Gulf

Dollar Bill Challenge Fishing Period #2

The Charlotte Harbor Reef Association

August 2018

Txt Us Ur Fish Pix! weʼll use ʻem!

See page 4

FIRST PLACE Kingston Boyd 16-inch catfish

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Thomad DiMatteo Here you go! Record trout, caught two weeks ago in Ft. Pierce Fl. In the river, not far from the inlet.

Caught on a soft plastic artificial bait.

FISH PIX!

Hudson and Eelin Wagner ages 2 and 4, with a bass

www.waterlifemagazine.com from Water LIFE magazine

FREE!

PAGE

2

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

AUGUST 2018

AUGUST 2018

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

PAGE 3

9/1/18

PAGE

4

EMAIL:

WEWANTYOURFISH! TxtUsUrFishPix

eMail letters and photos to:

but please....

1) No pictures you have sent to other local publications 2) No Old Fish

3) No Blatant Ads 4) No Voice Calls txt to:

941-457-1316

Include anglerʼs name and what kind of fish

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

WaterLIFE@comcast.net

RE CHNEP Editor: The phosphate industry had a relationship with the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) from the start, part of paving the way for the 18,000acre expansion into DeSoto County that will impact all of the estuary.

In 1995, Capt. Nat Italiano and I (Boca Grande Tarpon Guides) served on the CHNEPʼs Citizenʼs Advisory Group. Our group of stakeholders was tasked with coming up with 10 issues of concern/study for the estuary program. Living through the 1967 and 1971 phosphate spills, I naturally suggested CHNEP study the effects of phosphate mining on the estuary.

One of our committee represented the phosphate industry and was dead set against my proposal. The group, however, prevailed, making it part of the 10 issues we proudly presented after two months of negotiations. Then something odd happened. The CHNEP director announced they appreciated our effort, but decided to use 10 different points submitted by their Technical Advisory Committee instead.

Thatʼs when I departed.

Paul DeGaeta, Punta Gorda

SUNSEEKER RESORT

AUGUST 2018

Txt fish Pix ONLY to 941-457-1316

Still no dirt has moved on the Sunseeker site. There have been no permit applications made and no engineering or building plans have been submitted.

Of particular interest last month was a small meeting in Punta Gorda at which Allegiant Airline President and Sunseeker developer John Redmond met with several Punta Gorda City Council members and a few local business people. The big take away from that meeting was Redmond saying: “We might not build any

To Water LIFE I first spotted this cat when I put out a catfish in front of my trailcam. It seems to have a piece of (plastic) pipe junction stuck around its neck. I contacted several agencies and was referred to Big Cat Rescue in Tampa. All of the agencies assured me there were no collared bobcats in Port Charlotte and that the Cat had probably been chasing a rabbit that might have run into a pipe and got the junction stuck around its neck when it withdrew. My first sighting was April 24th. Since then I've been trying to catch the animal. Big Cat Rescue supplied the trap. We're trying to catch it to remove the pipe fitting. The last appearance was July 6th. I've tried raw fish, raw chicken, cat food, bobcat urine (which I ordered online) and cat food. The photo was taken before I could cover the trap. If anyone knows anything about catching bobcats I'd like their suggestions.

Lester Kuhn, Harbour Heights, email: lubasweet@embarqmail.com

Water LIFE inc. waterlife@comcast.net www.WaterlifeMagazine.com Ellen Heller Publisher

condos, we might just build hotel rooms.”

Thatʼs a pretty significant change in direction for this project at this point in time and there was no response from either Punta Gorda council member.

Allegiant is looking for investors and now there is the rumor of a casino. We still say this is a Real Estate Flip.

(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 8 © 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 Peace River: Capt. David 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 Office Dog: position still open

To: waterlife@comcast.net Subject: July Cover Picture Hello, I just read your July 2018 publication and the cover photo is a snook that looks like it has been dead for 3-4 days.

Did you get snookered?? Just curious and you otherwise have a great magazine! Tom Norville Editor Replies: Maybe! I am still not sure. Looking at it again, the eye seems ok but the skin isnʼt soft where he is holding the belly and red tide related dead snook were just starting to show up at that point in time. It is hard to believe a fisherman would lie about something he caught! Thanks! – MH

“I GOT CALLS FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE FROM MY AD LAST SUMMER”

ADVERTISE HERE!

MY VERY FIRST WALK IN WAS FROM MY AD IN WATER LIFE!

Water LIFEʼs 1/8 page ad (this size)

now only $105

call 941-766-8180

4- C O L O R is always FREE

per

month!

The effective & economical month-long advertising solution that works!

WE areTHE WAY to reach people who love the WATER!

JACK PHILLIPS THE ROD ROOM

TOM AT THE BOAT HOUSE “ADVERTISING WITH YOU IS A NO BRAINER! IT WORKS FOR US”

RENEW!! DOCK SAVERS "WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THE RESPONSE TO OUR AD IN WATER LIFE"

The Devil Came for DeSoto AUGUST 2018

Commentary, by Michael Heller Water LIFE We made a deal with the Devil. For years our community has accepted money from the phosphate mining company Mosaic. Their mining was going on out of sight, two counties north, so we allowed them to buy their way into our community like parasites.

We were lucky this time, their application for a zoning change was denied.... but that same week 26,863 acres were approved by Hardee County. Mosaic will be back for Horse Creek. They want what is in the ground.

Around the community, Mosaic gives out money like a drug, hoping if they keep everyone supplied no one will bite the hand that feeds them. We took some Mosaic money too. They bought ads and donated to our kids fishing program. I am as guilty as the next guy.

Their mine almost got traction in DeSoto County because Mosaic bought DeSoto a new rodeo arena. I still want to know why Charlotte County quit challenging Mosaic’s expansion 5 years ago? Is there a money trail to follow?

How about the City of Punta Gorda?

Mosaic has donated to numerous Punta Gorda projects and almost every local charity there. Mosaic gave to the Care Ball, nature festivals, events and fishing tournaments. The Punta Gorda McCrory Law firm represented Mosaic in their Real Estate transactions. They bought

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

UNRELATED, BUT INTERESTING: This is part of the now under-construction concrete walkway on the Harbor side of the US-41 bridges at Port Charlotte. The critical design is supposed to withstand storms, pounding surf and being submerged. We shall see.

ads in the Charlotte Sun and Charlotte County almost named the baseball stadium for Mosaic. We all got sucked in.

The idea of digging a strip mine a few miles up river from the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve, in wetlands that filter and feed the estuary, where so many important creatures spawn, is just wrong. Last year the whole area was flooded all summer. If the weather trends and water level rises NOAA and FEMA are predicting are to be believed, if temperature rise enhances algae growth... which is enhanced by phosphates, then a mine at Horse Creek is totally insane. That area provides a primary input of fresh water to the Harbor.

At Rio Villa Bait and Tackle, Becky told me she once lived across from one of Mosaic’s phosphate stacks and that

when the water got too high around the stacks they would simply put a pipe in and let it drain out into a ditch. “We complained for years but couldn’t get anyone to listen,” she told me.

Mosaic has a 50 year long record of spills and environmental disasters. They paid over 2 Billion in 2016 for a Tampa Bay release. A $2-Billion fine is like an accounting error for Mosaic. And Mosaic had spread so much money around that the local print and TV News Media, the very outlets who could instituted change, have been almost silent.

In Charlotte, the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA), the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) and CHEC the Charlotte Harbor Environmental Center, and even the University of Florida and its Sea Grant

PAGE 5

program; all the groups who are supposedly gatekeepers of our pristine Aquatic Preserve have been taking Mosaic’s money and avoiding controversy. When I read that Mosaic is one of the Major Sponsors for CHNEP, the people who just so happen to do all the water testing in the Aquatic Preserve, I wrote CHNEP suggesting they stand with us against Mosaic’s blood money. “Just don’t take it any more,” I said, but I have not heard back from them. I guess they really need the money bad.

On Sundays I like to drive my Hot Rod out Hwy 72, loop up Slidell Road and cruise back on Clay Gully Road, through Pine Level. It's beautiful farm country with horses and big winged birds. There several creeks with open pastures of native grasses and magnificent stands of trees. This is where they wanted to put the next phosphate mine.

Last month locals here gathered at the Peace River Campground to listen to presentations about phosphate mining.

“The Keane Family is holding out,” a man sitting across the table from my wife said. The man talked about what a terrible thing the mine would be for the people. Then he said “I told my wife if they offered us $500,000 we’re gone.”

We had a choice to make: Take the money or stand up for a pristine Aquatic Preserve. We made our choice over the years and the Devil came to collect.

This time we got lucky, or maybe they threw us a bone. The Devil will be back for Horse Creek. I am sure of it.

PAGE

6

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

We Have Concerns and We Vote!

By Capt. David Stephens Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor I’ve been lucky, I was able to spend my youth growing up on the waters of Charlotte Harbor. Over those years we’ve had some years better than others, however it has seemed the past few have been getting worse every year. I can remember dealing with red tide as a kid. We would go to the beach, and have to leave because of it. We would return the next weekend and things where back to normal.

This year this thing has ravaged our coasts and killed more fish than I can ever remember. The amount of gamefish that has been killed is off the charts.

One of the biggest gamefish that people visit our area for has taken a horrible hit. Snook have been killed this year in the hundreds, possibly thousands. The scariest part of this is those fish where all spawning fish, so the long term effects could even be worse than just the kill itself.

I’m not writing this to point fingers at any one direction. We have a lot of issues that need to be addressed.

Issues as large as the water releases from Okeechobee, to the smallest as being more vigilant about the fertilizer we put on our yards. The biggest news, if you haven’t heard, is the possibility of phosphate mining to the north of us has been stopped for now. Folks, it’s the old saying: crap runs down hill - so we need to open our eyes, because we are down hill! We are at the very bottom, all those feeder creeks, and head waters all flow to Charlotte Harbor. We need to continue to make our voices heard or we

Weʼve Lost A Good One Michael Heller It is with sadness that I note the passing of our good friend Jerry Jensen.

After retiring from a career with John Deere, Jerry moved to Punta Gorda where he became active with the Coastal Conservation Association at the time when the Gill Net Ban was being legislated.

A strong believer in youth fishing and ethical angling, Jerry founded the Charlotte Harbor Reef Association in 1996 to educate young anglers. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Fish Florida license plate.

One of the Reef Association’s first

are going to lose the one thing that we live here for.

This year is an election year, I’m not trying to push any political views on anybody. I don’t care if your Republican or Democrat. We are all Americans living on one of the greatest estuaries in the state of Florida. All I’m asking is to investigate each person that is running to assure they have our state’s best interest at heart, not their own.

Since this is a fishing magazine we need to talk about some fishing. With everything going on in the Harbor we have been keeping the rods bent, but it’s not been as easy as it should. The snook bite has been good on the incoming tide. The barrier islands and potholes have been holding good numbers of fish.

Look for good moving water.

For the most part, they’ve been running 20- to 25-inches, but we have had some fish over 30-inches.

This summer has been a very good year for mangrove snapper. It seems just about everywhere we fish these guys are hanging around. On the higher water, the deeper points have been producing some of the bigger fish. As the tides drop look for fish to move to the outside of bars.

The past few days I have noticed schools of glass minnows showing up in the Harbor. Normally you will see schools of ladyfish and Spanish mackerel mixed in with these guys too. I also recommend keeping a rod

AUGUST 2018

ready for tarpon. This is the time of year that these guys will be feeding heavy before their migration.

Getting out early to beat the heat will help, and remember to keep an eye out for storms.

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

The passing of Jerry Jensen

projects was to install small concrete reef balls under residential docks in Punta Gorda Isles to bolster fish habitat. (photo right) In 1997 Jerry founded the Don Ball School of Fishing, a Punta Gorda class is shown above. The program still teaches area students about local fishing and the local environment. Also in 1997, Charlotte County hired Rich Novak as its University of Florida Sea Grant agent.

Novak joined Jerry’s Reef Association and the Reef Association supported Novak’s work. When Novak began building artificial reefs Jerry saw to it that the Charlotte

Harbor Reef Association supplied working capital and volunteer manpower for the projects.

Among the people who helped build concrete reef structure in a vacant lot next to the cement plant in Punta Gorda was another Reef Association member, Gerald Trembly. Today the two big reefs offshore of Charlotte County are named for Novak and Trembly. I am looking into having a plaque made for Jerry that we can affix to the reef next to Novak’s plaque.

After Hurricane Charley, Jerry started a mangrove replenishment program and raised starter mangroves in his pool cage.

He did so much for our Charlotte Harbor community. He will be missed.

AUGUST 2018

BACK ISSUES @

Lazy Summer Redfish

By Capt. Chuck Eichner Water LIFE Offshore Redfish and high tides are synonymous with a bent rod and a singing drag in August. Most think that really good redfishing starts in October but there are schools making there way around the Harbor right now. When I first moved here 16 years ago I thought that the place to fish for redfish was the mangroves when the tides flooded their roots. This still remains true somewhat, but more fish will be found on isolated structure.

With countless mangrove islands around the Harbor, redfish will wander aimlessly on high tides in search of food. If you are lucky enough to pick the right island, when the water is up, then you will hook a fish or two.

Years ago there were a lot more redfish and you could jump from island to island and generally hit a few with fish and come home with dinner. Times are different now. There are a lot less redfish so you need a different approach to be consistent.

Check out the teeth on Jonah! Jonah caught that nice snook and Gavin is holding it. St Croix would be real happy with me as well!

Redfish have two primary missions in life: to feed and avoid predation.

One of the reasons there are less redfish is that anglers fishing the shallows are not careful. Anglers present a threat to fish by their presence, boat noise, trolling motors, etc. I believe that redfish don’t utilize the shallows as much and find other areas to feed or perhaps avoid the heavily fished areas and avoid many

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

parts of the harbor because of traffic.

To be successful with reds I focus on areas that aren’t good on lower tides but when a high summer tide floods water into the area, redfish instinctively want to visit.

Oyster bars and high spots in the shallows are great places to fish.

The reds hone in on these areas because they hold lots of crabs and shrimp, which are their food.

Lazy summer redfish do not want to chase a bait. Cut crab or ladyfish on the bottom are hard for reds to ignore. Their scent trail will bring them your way. Catfish are the negative side to this baiting technique, but catching a few cats is worth the burning drag of a fat redfish!

Pick your redfish spots on low tide and know how you would like to set up the boat on a high tide. Use the wind to push the boat into position, use an anchor pin to stake the boat, avoid walking the deck and cast your lines out placing rods in your rod holders. Redfish can feel the vibration of you holding the rod. If all of this seems like over-kill to you then you must be catching a lot of reds. If not, all of these lessons were learned the hard way and attention to detail will change the number of bites you get!

Capt. Chuck Eichner operates Action Flats Backcountry Charters He can be reached at 941-628-8040

PAGE 7

Water LIFE is growing and we are LOOKING for a few new contributors

If you are on the water a lot know about fishing... or other water related subjects, if you can write - sort of, and you take good pictures....

Weʼd like to talk to you! email: waterlife@comcast.net

PAGE

8

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

AUGUST 2018

Dollar Bill Challenge Online Tournament - SIGN UP NOW !

Sign Up! ugh Fishing thro Sept. 20!

FISH QUIZ # 3 Please Donʼt Guess!!

If you donʼt know the answer, just select ʻI donʼt know.ʼ

Complete each Fish Quiz and earn extra credit toward winning the 2018 Tracker Boat! (see rules for additional information) Answers due before noon, August 20.

Text answers to the phone number you received when you signed up.

1.

a. b. c. d. e.

2.

a. b. c.

3.

a. b. c. d.

4.

Anglers: You guys are doing great! Keep it up. On the quiz there were a few who didnʼt know the most abundant bait fish in the estuary. The answer was Anchovies. Glass minnows are anchovies. Just think about how many glass minnows there are!

OFFSHORE FISHING TRIPS

Dollar Bill Challenge Anglers and their immediate families are eligible to fish offshore in August and September with Capt.

Jack aboard the Reef Raider head boat out of the Englewood Bait House. Cost is 1/2 the normal rate as available Call 941- 475-4511 to reserve your spot. Please take and send pictures!

Scoring: Currently there are four anglers within 7 points of each other in the race to win the boat.

When the last fishing period ends, anglers with the longest fish overall in each species receive an extra 25 points. Anything can still happen! There are two remaining fishing periods.

The 3rd Fishing Period ends August 20.

Winners: Bring your dollar bill to Fishin Franks (4425-D Tamiami Trail, Port

Charlotte, FL 33980) Show it to him and pick up your rod, lures or t-shirt.

Tides are charted and predicted on the basis of: Mean Higher High Water Mean High Water Mean Tide Level Mean Lower Low Water I donʼt know

Summertime in SW Florida brings Higher Tides Lower Tides I donʼt know Fishing a mangrove shoreline on a High Tide it is best to cast: Close to the bushes 3 feet from the bushes Away from the bushes I donʼt know

a. b. c. d. e

A ʻSolunar Tableʼ predicts good fishing times based on: The Moon The Sun and the Moon The Moon and the Tides The Sun, the Moon and the Tides.

I donʼt know

a. b. c. d. e.

A _________ Knot allows the lure or hook to move more freely Cinch knot Square knot Loop knot Back knot I donʼt know

5.

Message from the Tournament Director

Ben and Emma Koebel photographed outside, after picking up their winnings at Fishin Franks last mont, for the first fishing period.

Prizes: Rods, lures and t-shirts

1) Read the Rules and Sign Up online at www.waterlifemagazine.com 2) Fish any time you want from Cape Sable to Venice, from eastern Okeechobee to 50 miles out in the Gulf.

3) Every month, text us your longest two fish out of 30 tournament species, freshwater or salt. Make sure the dollar bill with your angler number on it is in each picture.

4) The longest fish in each species wins a Shakespeare rod and reel Second place receives MirrOlure MR17 or MirrOlure Top Pup lures Third place receives a Don Ball or Water LIFE t-shirt.

Each month there is an extra credit 5-question Fish Quiz. Text us your answers for a better chance at winning the 2018 Tracker 1032 Boat.

Read the Rules online for complete details. www.waterlifemagazine.com This tournament is a 100% fundraiser for the non-profit Charlotte Harbor Reef Association

Your text answers should be like this

Sponsors make our programs possible! the Charlotte Harbor Reef Assn is a 501 (c) 3 non profit corporation since 1998

First Fishing Period Quiz, Answers: 1a-2c-3c-4d-5b

To Become A Sponsor call us at 941-766-8180

or download the sponsor form at

www.waterlifemagazine.com Thank You for your support!

all donations are tax deductable

AUGUST 2018

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

PAGE 9

Dollar Bill Challenge 2nd Period WINNERS! Period #2: June 21 to July 20

Longest SPANISH MACKEREL SO FAR Emma Koebel 16.5 inches first fishing period

FIRST PLACE SPADEFISH Matthew Pringle 12 inches picture received 7/13 @ 7:30 pm

Second PLACE Spadefish Dylan Shaefer 12 inches picture received 7/17 @ 11:04 am

FIRST PLACE Spanish Mackerel Kevin Jackson 15 inches

FIRST PLACE MANGROVE SNAPPER Spencer Grant 22 inches

Wilson Pools 941-766-1661

PAGE

10

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

Dollar Bill Challenge 2nd Period WINNERS!

AUGUST 2018

Period #2 June 21 - July 20

FIRST PLACE Gar Kingston Boyd 31 inches

FIRST PLACE SNOOK Matthew Pringle 27 inches

FIRST PLACE JACK CREVALLE Ben Koebel 8.5 inches

FIRST PLACE SUNFISH Emma Koebel 5.75 inches

SECOND PLACE SNOOK Luke DʼOrzio 21 inches

THIRD PLACE MANGROVE SNAPPER Dylan Shaefer 8.5 inches

941-639-8721

941-621-6621

FIRST PLACE CRAPPIE Jaekwon Pringle 13 inches

SECOND PLACE MANGROVE SNAPPER Ben Koebel 10.75 inches

AUGUST 2018

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

PAGE 11

Dollar Bill Challenge 2nd Period WINNERS! Period #2 June 21 - July 20

FIRST PLACE BASS Spencer Grant 22 inches

ENTER FISH FROM ANY OF THESE 30 SPECIES:

FIRST PLACE TROUT Emma Koebel 14.5 inches

SECOND PLACE BASS Jaekwon Pringle 17.5 inches

redfish, snook, trout, black drum, cobia, red grouper, gag grouper, amberjack, bluefish, jack

crevalle, triggerfish, hogfish, Key West grunt, spadefish, sail catfish, ladyfish, pompano, bar-

racuda, mangrove snapper, lane snapper, Spanish mackerel,

tripletail, pinfish, bass, crappie, tilapia, sunfish, catfish, gar, Mayan cichlid

THIRD PLACE BASS Justin Medina 14 inches

941-625-1535

Englewood Bait House & offshore head boat 941-475-4511

FIRST PLACE LADYFISH Luke DʼOrzio 18.5 inches

941-584-4575

941- 639-2628

FIRST PLACE CATFISH Kingston Boyd 16 inches

239-935-8575

941-743-7435

PAGE

12

EMAIL:

Matthew Gartner black drum

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

Peter Sanvidge, grouper

Nicholas Kliminski with a 30- inch snook caught night fishing in Cape Coral

AUGUST 2018

Niki Riedel, nice nurse shark Island Court Seafood, Manasota Key

Peter Sanvidge, snook

Here is another one that my 3rd kid caught. Each of my 3 kids got one that day. This one is from the day before. Threw 2 back kept one.

Zoe Mc Carthy 13, in blue romper 50-inch King Mackerel caught off Gasparilla Pass by Sara Spencer of Rotonda West.

Cheryl Williams caught this jack crevalle in Burnt Store Isles.

Evie McCarthy, redfish

Jeff Vermeulen, huge lake trout, Holland Michigan

Redfish, AJ McCarthy

Grandpa Harold Roebuck III with Korbin Roebuck and his first sheepshead

Kristi Moseanko caught this snook with her husband Rod on a live hand picked shrimp from Eldreds. The red tide was in full effect, but we found a few clean pockets The couple was visiting from Davis Ca.

AUGUST 2018

BACK ISSUES @

SMC Seeking Relevance

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

PAGE 13

Will Jimmy Buffett be the Answer?

By Capt. Ron Blago Water LIFE Senior Staff It's been a rough few years for our friends at the Save the Manatee Club (SMC). While they were preaching about the evils of mixing manatees with watercraft, those frisky manatees started coming out of hiding... until over 6,000 of them were counted in the latest survey. It must have been a shock to the SMC members who only 10 years ago were lead to believe there were only 800 manatees and that the manatee was on the verge of extinction.

Any doubts about the current status of the manatee were put to rest last year when the Federal Government removed the manatee from the Endangered Spieces list. I'm sure that many in the SMC hierarchy took that news pretty hard.

Their first reaction was to condemn the move and when that didn't work out, they began to take credit for the increase in the manatee population. Who knew that all those free coloring books they gave out to all the grade school kids could have such a beneficial impact on manatees.

The SMC is not ready to give up and go the way of the Veterans of the Spanish American War Club. They are brac-

ing for another battle, and who better to lead the charge than the top Parrot Head himself, Jimmy Buffet. It was Buffet and ex-FLA Governor and ex- US Senior Bob Graham who are given credit (or blame) for starting the Save the Manatee Club in 1981.

In an effort to pull the SMC flagship off the rocks of irrelevance, Buffet has released a new 30 second public service message promoting the SMC. This new commercial is more in tune with modern-day reality. Buffet, who is the current co-chairman of the SMC, does not mention the word endangered, and he calls the manatee imperiled instead of threatened, which is the term the Feds use.

Buffet does mention the three threats to the manatee's long term survival, cold stress deaths( I guess we can blame that on global warming), Red Tide (already there are 80 red tide deaths this year) and of course the perennial scapegoat watercraft collisions.

It always bothered me that they never mention the one category that annually has the highest number of manatee deaths listed in it: undetermined.

I can understand why it is never mentioned, it would be hard to ask for money to help protect manatees from

They are stacking them like cord wood, at Indian River, where algae and red tide continue.

Manatees breathe the air right above the water, where there are the most toxins. Orlando Sun

the biggest category of deaths: Undetermined Causes. Just like hurricane season, if the SMC survives this current storm there will be another one right behind it.

There are a number of proposed bills in Congress that aim to modernize the 45 year old Endangered Species Act. Several of the provisions will make it harder to add a species to the Endangered List and make it easier to have a species removed from the list. Also, there is a provision that the cost to business must be considered before a

species is added to the list, and that more decisions should be turned over to State Governments who have a greater understanding of what their local species need to prosper.

And here is the one provision that will really hit the SMC hard. A proposal to remove some of the protection measures for threatened species such as manatees. The sponsors of these bills are pushing for a vote in congress before the midterm election. It should be an interesting few months ahead.

captRonb@juno.com

CANVAS & UPHOLSTERY

PAGE

14

Readerʼs Photos

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

text us ur fish pix - see page 4

Katie Corgiat from the Twin Cities Minnesota, with a estimated 500-pound Goliath Grouper caught in the Everglades on a live catfish

Captain Gavin Hazeltine getting dinner in the Bahamas

Caught on Joe Miller's boat Trey Anderson with his first Red Fish

Cobia. Catch and release.

Christopher Shadduck jr, 20-inch snook

AUGUST 2018

FISH PIX! f r o m Wa t e r L I F E m a g a z i n e

Draydog Darby getting this one with the Hazeltine clan

Cynthia from Sarasota, red grouper

Chris Shadduck 37-inch snook caught on a mirrolure.

Cameron Smith, barracuda, Blind Pass

I got a nice black for open season.

Fishinʼ Frank said 80-pounds!

Iʼll go with 65! LOL

Tim Sheppard caught and released this 36inch snook off Goodland using artificial bait.

AUGUST 2018

BACK ISSUES @

FISH PIX! f r o m Wa t e r L I F E m a g a z i n e

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

PAGE 15

ReaderĘźs Photos text us ur fish pix see page 4

Caught on Joe Miller's boat

Got this girl at Fort Pierce inlet the other day on a tiny minnow fly!

Fish released heathy

Angela Daughtrey, fishing in Pine Island with Cast and Blast Charters

Mike Wagner, hogfish

8-foot hammerhead shark being videoed that Jessica Sheppard caught during a fishing trip with her father Tim Sheppard

Casey with a 41-inch snook

Stevie Sorrentino John Rook and his son caught this blacktip shark off Naples using cut bait.

Rick Abrams reeled in this mangrove snapper.

Tucker with a snook

Thomas Dematteo Fishing Fort Pierce in the river

Buddy Fochler with a huge freshwater snook caught off the East Trail in Naples using a rubber frog for bait.

PAGE

16

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

AUGUST 2018

FISH PIX! f r o m Wa t e r L I F E m a g a z i n e

Jack Cronin with personal best snook, fishing the oyster bars.

Sarah Shepke With a 3 1/2 blacknose shark caught off Naples beach.

Zory with a redfish caught off a canal in the Cape

Betty Beatty with a 3 1/2 foot blacktip shark that was eaten by a Goliath Grouper and spit out to be caught and released off Marco Island. Fishing with Capt John Brossard

Brian Teunis, 30” Permit, 1st ever! 100ʼ Deep on wreck Gulf of Mexico out of Boca Grande Pass, 25lb line

Nicholas Stewart, 40lb bull

Camren Rogers of Randolph NJ visiting grandfather Rich in Punta Gorda. Cam's first Jack.

Caleb Granger caught this 10 lb Jack off masonʼs dock in BSI

Ashley Wells- Goliath grouper

Kelly Stewart, 20-pound mahi mahi

Doreen 5.6 Cape Coral canal bass

Thank You, All of You!

Ashley Wells- Permit

This month we have a record 124 Fish Pix!

And this month I hope you all elect candidates who will work for clean water

AUGUST 2018

How Can It Be? Just Is!

By Fishin’ Frank Water LIFE Baitshop Who would have thought, fishing is getting great again. The upper Harbor is alive with giant schools of black drum, pods of tarpon and big schools of thread fins.

There are reports of nice schools of lady fish and pompano. How can this be? Don't know, don't care, sometimes just is, is a wonderful thing. And by the way, there has not been any Red Tide north of Cape Haze this year, Now OK, the fishing being good is a strange thing, but here is the really weird thing, there are hundreds of big redfish In the Harbor and what I am hearing is about over slot redfish being caught. These big old bull reds are each year starting to stay around more, or they could be left overs from the old stocking programs. It is thought that redfish which were not native and just released as young adults possibly do not migrate out of the Harbor they way native born fish do.

Why not? Well salmon released into a lake will not go to a river to spawn, so it is possible that could be why redfish which are way too big to still be here, are here. Or they could be just lazy and prefer living in mom and dad’s garage.

How do you catch them? Today I was reminded of an old trick; Put the shrimp, large or small, in a white bucket or cooler and provide bright light. Just do not have the bulb close or you will cook your shrimp. Shrimp will try to match the color of their surroundings and turn very clear, sort of white in color, which make them stand out like a sore thumb, and bam/pow fish on.

However the best way to get fish right now is dead bait, a blue crab cut in half or top off, cut mullet is a very

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

PAGE 17

This allows you to slowly, very slowly, reel the shad in so it is barely moving but the tail is still going. A heavier jig head and you have to reel too fast to keep it off the bottom.

Another old trick is to use jointed lures. You know the ones slit in the middle. Jointed lures can be reeled in very slowly while still having great action.

Now about those huge schools of 60 pound black drum in the Harbor. How do you catch them? First you have to find them.

Just watch the surface of the water and look for water out of place. Look for something different, a different color, waves that are going side ways to other waves. You are not looking for fish jumping out of the water, you are looking for fish displacing the water or churning up the bottom.

FISH PIX! Donna Willoughby caught and released this bull shark What should you use for them? Crabs, in Charlotte Harbor shrimp, or cut bait, but rigging is key. A bait under a bobber or float is better than a sinker. Think if of it this way, you can see good bait right now too. I forget how may fish love multhe fish so a sinker would take you down past them too let. Yes indeed, dead sticking is the way to go – in other fast. Try a small split-shot... just enough to help you cast, words, cast your bait out and let it sit until the fish starts and get your bait to sink a little but not too fast. Free line moving away. Unless there is a lot of current where you is the best way with no sinkers or floats. These black are, the less weight you can use the better. drum will often be schooling from the surface all the way If you feel a bite do not move the bait, often when I to the bottom. think I have a bite, I will pull the bait a little to try and Funny very few people are going fishing compared to make the fish think its food is getting away. If you do that normal years and we have some great fishing. This kind trick now the fish is likely to just let it get away, too of makes it even better as there are not many folks out much effort. Hot water has very low oxygen levels and there, so head out enjoy the quiet time. the fish are sleepy.

Fishin’ Franks Bait & Tackle If you are a person who uses lures, lets say a paddle Port Charlotte: 941- 625-3888 tail with a jig head, find a paddle tail with a large tail and Fort Myers: 239-634-1043 one that is very soft and then use a 1/8 or lighter jig head. from Water LIFE magazine

PAGE

18

ReaderĘźs Photos

FISH PIX!

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

text us ur fish pix - see page 4

AUGUST 2018

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

Bob with a 35 from Blind Pass

Katie Goodwin with a Gar from the Everglades

Megan Bennett, blue crab

Just now Blind Pass 41-inches baby!

Greg

40 inches last nite at Blind Pass

Dominic Shepke with a 3 1/2 foot Blacktip shark caught on Naples Beach His first shark ever.

Greg 39 inch snook from Blind Pass

Carter with a 3 foot blacknose shark caught off Naples using cut mullet for bait.

Caught this 5 lb largemouth bass on a deep diving crank bait bright green and orange at Lakes of Tuscana Lenny Ostrowski

Dylon Jacobs with a huge Spanish mackerel caught off Naples using a gold spoon for bait.

Dylon with a 8 foot hammerhead caught, tagged and released off Naples using blue runner for bait

Matt Shepke caught this giant 450 pound goliath grouper 1 mile off Naples beach.

It was released unharmed

Brendan Cronin from Ft Myers with his personal best snook, age 11 4 1/2 pounds Peacock Bass. Tim Flack , 4 lbs Aidan Flack South Florida, Beats fighting red tide.

Sweet nurse shark Brandon Gasiorowski, Middel Beach

AUGUST 2018

TACTICS

FISHING

By Capt. Charlie Phillips Water LIFE / Everglades City August in the Everglades is not for the weak of heart. Hot, muggy, mosquitoes and yellow flies that will make you anemic. Then to top it off, add in a real chance of getting lightning struck and it’s easy to see why it’s not for everyone.

Typically, in these waters, as we get to the July 4th holiday we all semi shutdown till the fall. I will run a few trips between now and September, but it’s really pretty quiet.

All that said doesn’t mean there is not good fishing to be found, not at all, just got to adjust your patterns and then it’s easy to find success.

This time of year I like to be gone in the dark and on my spot as the sun shows up for the new day. It’s cool and generally pretty calm and it’s the best way to maximize your day this time of year.

‘Been throwing topwaters to get started around bars and points, looking for snook on the hunt. The water is calm and when the tide is flowing good it allows a fast way to cover a lot of water looking for fish. It’s also a great way to stop your heart ..... seeing that explosion as a predator makes their attack.

On the higher tide stages, still some trout to be caught, though it has slowed down a bit. If you want to target trout, look at the tide charts for days that the high tide is before 8 am and make plans to get out and

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

10,000 ISLANDS

AT

fish your areas while the water is still cool.

Popping cork with a soft plastic and a suspending hardbait are my choices right now.

On the grass areas, this month I have seen several big tripletail free floating around.

They are a little harder to spot now as you need to be looking for them all over, but they are still there.

PAGE 19

Stealth and a good cast is usually all I need to invite one to the boat. Also been some nice permit around as well in those area. Live crab is my choice offering, free swimming or hung on a float and drifted in front of the boat so it moves in a natural way is how I find success. Won’t catch one everytime, but it’s a great way to target these powerful fish in an area away from the sharks on the offshore structures.

Want to close this month with a question for you captains. In a recent survey, members of the Florida Guides Association reported declines in redfish populations thru their areas. These tend to be from around Naples to Tarpon Springs in general. Are you seeing the same thing in your waters?

And if you are, what is the reason you believe? Love to hear your thoughts on this as we look to see what steps can be taken.

Email me at hopefishing@hotmail.com Yall be safe out there and see you next month!

Capt. Charlie Phillips 863-517-1829 e-mail: hopefishing@hotmail.com Web: hopefishing.com

Pictures courtesy of Everglades City Fishing Charters as I have been on the hill since July 3rd. Capt Brandon, Austin and Tyler have been finding success lately with these great catches. These guys are good friends and run a solid business, I want to make sure I don't take credit for their efforts.

– CP

Amazine Deal!

80' Waterfront!

Only $199,500

Call the Captain! Fast Harbor Access Home is in Immaculate Condition! Beautifully updated waterfront home, large lanai, tile floors, updated kitchen, new dock.

Move in condition! Exceptionally priced at $199,500!

Burnt Store Isles

Deep Water Sailboat!

Punta Gorda Isles

Call the Captain! Top Location in Punta Gorda- Wide Turning Basin! Perfect for sailors and large cruisers. This lot has a brand new seawall and is oversize. Only $169,000

Under Contract

Call the Captain! Waterfront Palace With 180 Degree Waterviews! 4,000 sf plenty of room for family and friends. 5BR/4BA/2CG with pool and 175' of waterfront. $699,000

Sold!

Punta Gorda Isles

Call the Captain! New Home in PGI, Only $387,000!

On deep water, fast access with double intersecting canals. Just remodeled 2018, like new, 3/2/2 with many high end appointments

Port Charlotte

Call the Captain! Waterfront Dreamhome Huge Lanai and Tropical Gardens! Perfect for the boating lifestyle. Modern open floorplan, seawall & dock. Immaculate! $339,000

105' Waterfront!

Burnt Store Isles

Call the Captain! Fast Access to Harbor,

quiet cul-de-sac location, sailboat waterfront with no bridges, seawall and close to town. Golf course community as well! Only $189,000!

PAGE

20

Readerʼs Photos

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

text us ur fish pix - see page 4

Chris McCorkle, Boca Grande FL

AUGUST 2018

FISH PIX! f fr ro om m

W Wa at te er r

L LI IF FE E

Capt. Lou Silva getting some big ones while filming in Boca

Corri Kolling and her first Goliath grouper at power pole reef.

Matthew Johnston/ barracuda

Easton, Bass fishing

Matthew Johnston- Goliath grouper

;-) Please, donʼt send us pictures you send to other local publications

Doris Young catches her first cod fish in the Gulf of St. Lawrence Newfoundland while fishing with Captain Rick Kelley from Punta Gorda.

Rob Horton, 32-inch, 13-pounds

Redfish 30-inches

Estero Bay: If It Swims...Catch It! AUGUST 2018

By Capt. Joe Angius Water LIFE Estero As many anglers can concur, August is one of the hottest months to fish throughout the year. The overwhelming heat and humidity starts almost immediately when I leave the front door at five o’clock in the morning.

Weather conditions such as this challenge the avid angler to get on and off the water as early as possible to beat the Florida heat. This doesn’t mean that the late afternoon and evenings are ‘bad’ for fishing, but getting out early allows anglers to fish during the more bearable parts of the day.

With that being said, it’s easy to realize that inshore gamefish such as redfish, sharks, snook, and tarpon become lethargic later in the morning as they prowl the shallow grass-flats. For my clients and I

BACK ISSUES @

this translates to countless sight fishing opportunities early on in the morning for large game.

This summer I reminisce about having the opportunity to fish alongside Captain Ray Van Horn a few years ago. Before filming the episode for The Gypsy Angler, Ray and I prefished Pine Island Sound in August. It wasn’t the prefishing that I’m used to when tournament related, which can create a fast-paced high intensity environment while scouting for fish. Instead, pre-fishing with Ray was like fishing with an old neighborhood friend.

There was a lot of story sharing, getting used to the others fishing style, and who can cast the fastest to vulnerable fish.

One thing that Ray did and said, I will never forget or take for granted, which was “If it swims, catch it!”.Ray’s comment was made as a shark exposed itself out on the grass-flat we were fishing.

From there I witnessed his childlike enthusiasm fishing for something that I would normally not even think about catching.

Fishing experiences like this can be

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

rare to come across and the lesson I learned from him that day couldn’t hold truer.

Since then I’ve learned to lighten up more towards guiding my clients when we’re searching for specific species. If an opportunity presents itself, don’t let it swim away from you, try to catch it. The only exception I may have toward this rule is casting to a catfish - although sightcasting to catfish is great practice for clients, I often don’t recommend it.

A lot of my favorite summer time grass flats have been affected by the Lake Okeechobee water releases, but it’s not stopping me from exploring new areas.

Estero Bay has been extremely productive with several different fish species to be caught throughout the day. On the right tide, sight-casting for redfish can prove successful, challenging, and extremely rewarding. My advice for fishing this area

PAGE 21

is not to get hung up on fishing the shallow backwaters, to move accordingly to where the fish are feeding and not to forget how abundant our near shore reefs can be.

Don’t let the water quality issue discourage you from fishing. Instead take advantage of the areas that are healthy and productive. Remember that clean-up efforts and short-term solutions, although helpful, are not the answer to the underlying issue. Fight back by educating yourself and others through fishing.

Captain Joe Angius (727)-234-3171 Speak Easy Fishing Charters www.speakeasyfishing.com

PAGE

22

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

Readerʼs Photos

FISH PIX! f r o m Wa t e r L I F E m a g a z i n e

text us ur fish pix - see page 4

John and Jada McGovern with a 6 1/2 foot lemon shark caught with a catfish for bait. Caught in Rookery Bay Thank you! For every nice fish we catch, we catch about 12 of these, as Iʼm sure you know!

Steve Wigington with a 450-pound Goliath grouper caught off shore in Naples. He used a chunk of (bonita) for bait

John McGovern with a 6-foot lemon shark and released in the Everglades. it was caught with a lady fish for bait.

Nolan McGraw off shore middle grounds American red snapper

Austin Aguirre 10.2-pound bass Brandon Warner off of Venice inlet.

Small shark

Matthew DeCraene with his first snook

Bill Forfar been catching tons over here near Alligator Bay

London Wigington with a 50-pound stingray he caught and released off Marco Island fishing with his grandpa and grandma. He used a ladyfish for Bait.

Wolowicz Two cobia. Catch and release. Plus tuna

AUGUST 2018

Rusty Gill. Pompano 50 miles out from Stump Pass

Andrew Tessmer slinging the snappers Charlotte Harbor

Brandon Gasiorowski, bass fishing, Myakka River

AUGUST 2018

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

SCUTTLEBUTT

PAGE 23

Sometimes Unsubstanciated, But Often True

PHOSPHOROUS The Environmental Protection Agency announced a plan to meet a goal of cutting phosphorus entering Lake Erie by 40% through voluntary efforts by 2025. Also last month, Ohio declared the shallow western basin of Lake Erie “impaired,” a step toward tighter regulations of phosphorus from farms and wastewater plants. Algal blooms in Lake Erie were a problem in the 1960s. The blooms faded after regulations were implemented that required wastewater treatment plants to cut phosphorus. But in the mid-1990s the blooms returned, and they have been surging more recently. Today, scientists point to farm runoff as a major cause of blooms. For Lake Erie, the Maumee and Sandusky rivers are the greatest contributors of phosphorus, with 87% of phosphorus coming from sources that include farms. Environmental groups want tighter limits on use of fertilizer, which typically contains phosphorus.

STICKER SHOCK Florida's vessel inspection law went into effect July 1, 2016. The law prohibits local and state law enforcement from "stopping a vessel for the sole purpose of inspecting it for compliance with the safety equipment carriage and use requirements" ..... if it displays a Florida safety inspection decal issued by law enforcement on a previous stop. Two years later, according to the FWC, in a state with 922,557 registered boats, 7,572 decals have been issued, 7,223 by FWC, 349 by other agencies.

ALGAE BLOOMS WORLD WIDE Harmful algal blooms increased in frequency in the northeast Arabian Sea over the past decade, reports NOAA Fisheries, who is using Argo ocean monitoring buoys for data. ARGO is a global array of 4,000 data collection floats supported by 30 countries. ARGO allowed U.S. and Indian scientists to observe that a lack of oxygen isnʼt the issue. Rather, gradual warming in the northeast Arabian Sea is creating layers in the water column that reduce circulation, so nutrients arenʼt being replenished at the surface—thereby creating conditions for the algae to thrive.

LANDING DATA On January 1, it will be mandatory for foreign shrimp products to be accompanied by harvest and landing data for shrimp and abalone imports entering the U.S.

BLUE WAVE A blue marlin satellite-tagged on July 21, 2017, during the Bermuda Triple Crown Billfish Championship has won the 2017-18 IGFA Great Marlin Race after swimming 5,089 nautical miles

dropped one of the occupants off at the dock, the vessel exited the area and headed east on the Alafia River away from the boat ramp. The individual that was dropped off to back the trailer in got in his vehicle and left the boat ramp. FWC Officers located the vessel, truck and occupants at a local bar. He was arrested.

SNAPPER SNATCHER An FWC officer was on marine fisheries patrol in Matlacha when he saw a fishing vessel returning to the boat ramp. He approached the vessel to conduct a fisheries inspection, at which time the sole occupant of the vessel began throwing live fish out of the boat. The officer commanded the subject to stop, STOP! - but he continued to throw fish into the water. The subject was detained and it was found that he still possessed two undersized mangrove snapper. The subject was issued a notice to appear for possession of undersized mangrove snapper and obstructing an FWC inspection.

JELLYFISH TO THE RESCUE At the European Union project GoJelly, researchers are working to solve the micro-plastic challenge by using nature.

GoJellyʼs goal is to develop a so-called biofilter made of the mucus produced by the jellyfish. The mucus can actually adsorb both micro and nanoplastics. The idea is that the biofilter should be used in, for example, municipal water treatment plants, to stop plastic particles from getting into the sea.

The researchers are currently focusing on identifying species of jellyfish that produces the most mucus, and to find effective methods for harvesting and storage of the jellyfish. In addition, the project will drive the cultivation of jellyfish to provide itself with both research material and enough jellyfish for biofilter and other products. Jellyfish can also be used for human food, feed, and fertilizer.

OCEAN DISCOVERY An unexpected find of southern bull kelp on an Antarctic beach has revealed the longest known biological rafting event ever recorded. DNA samples taken from the kelp revealed that one specimen drifted from the Kerguelen Islands in the Southern Indian Ocean and another from South Georgia BIG ʻUN A gator, measuring 13-feet, was captured in Shamrock Park, in Venice,

ALCOHOL WAS INVOLVED FWC officers stopped a vessel to conduct a safety inspection. The operator had watery glassy bloodshot eyes, was drooling and spitting while he talked... and had a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage emitting from his breath. He was also yelling insults at the officers and behaving in a disorderly manner. The subject unsuccessfully attempted to push one officer off the boat and into the water. He blew a .178 and was taken directly to jail.

SLOPPY ESCAPE Officers saw a vessel approach the docks at Williams Park Boat Ramp.

The operator of the vessel appeared to see the officer and switched vessel operation with one of the other occupants. At the dock the FWC officer told the vessel occupants she was going to conduct a boating safety inspection. The operator advised he was dropping one of the occupants off so they could back the trailer down the ramp. The officer told the operator they could load the vessel before she conducted the safety inspection. After they

in the South Atlantic Ocean. The kelp drifted an estimated 12,400 miles, passing through what were thought to be impenetrable currents and winds. New ocean modeling, trying to understand how the journey occurred, has highlighted that kelp and floating pollution is likely to be reaching Antarctic shores more regularly than previously thought.

CONFLICTS OF USE U.S. offshore wind developer Deepwater Wind has adopted a procedure to prevent impacts to commercial fishing gear from its activities. Deepwater is currently in active development on utility-scale wind farms to serve Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Maryland.

THEY HAVE BIGGER PROBLEMS In the future, how will the world deal with third world countries, like Haiti shown here, and their uncontroled ocean pollution?

PAGE

24

EMAIL:

ReaderĘźs Photos

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

text us ur fish pix - see page 4

Chandler Irons, redfish. Chandler went fishing with her daddy, Zach Irons, and caught this redfish all by herself out near Pirate Harbor.

AUGUST 2018

FISH PIX!

W Wa at te er r

L LI IF FE E

m ma ag ga az zi in ne e

Mason and Wyatt Wyatt's first kayak adventure and a snapper

Wyatt and his bass Jacob's 1st Tilapia

Wyatt's barracuda

Estero Bay redfish caught by Matthew and Aubree DeCraene

Peter Sanvidge, thatĘźs me!

Luke Nicklas , small bass

Dolphins runningh with us - Adam Wilson

My dad said to text y'all about the first fish I caught in the intercostal water way at Nokomis, Emily

My son Hunter Gill and friend who lives in Englewood Scott Eby in arm brace. We live in Republic Mo. thx 50 miles out from Stump Pass

Nice pic of Fred, my granddaughter, Abby and Mr. Snook. Thought you might like to see it.

Robin Vandenbroeck, Backdraft Charters

Melinda Myszoglad with a mangrove snapper she caught on her first outing on the new boat at Bayview Park in Naples. It was released after the picture.

AUGUST 2018

BACK ISSUES @

New Strategies for Saving Sawfish

By Tonya Wiley, shark fin soup in Asia.

Havenworth Coastal Conservation The SSG’s Global Sawfish Strategy for Water LIFE aims to minimize threats through fishIn a new International Union for Coneries management, species protection, servation of Nature (IUCN) report, Sonja habitat conservation, trade limitation, and Fordham, Deputy Chair of strategic research. To enthe IUCN Shark Specialist able success, the group Group and President of also set forth objectives Shark Advocates Internafor education, outreach, tional, charts a path to savcapacity building, reing sawfish. sponsible husbandry, New strategies for savcommunication, and ing the world’s sawfishes fundraising. The update were the focus of a special report is the product of session of the Sharks Interan expert workshop held national conference held in in November 2017. It inJune in Brazil. The event cludes the latest populafeatured an expert panel reviewing a new tion status information and details sawfish report from the Shark Specialist significant advances over recent years, Group (SSG). including the listing of all five sawfish The IUCN experts highlighted species under the Convention on Migraprogress in sawfish research and consertory Species (CMS). vation, in line with the SSG’s 2014 Because the U.S. has implemented relGlobal Sawfish Conservation Strategy, atively strong protections for sawfish and while amplifying alarm bells about the immediate risk of losing these iconic species in many places around the globe.

Sawfish were once found in the coastal waters and rivers of 78 tropical and subtropical countries. Today, all five species are classified as Endangered or Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Mortality from targeted and incidental fishing is the main cause. Sawfish rostra are valued as curios and for traditional medicine in many countries, while individual teeth are prized as spurs for cockfighting in much of South America and the Caribbean.

Sawfish fins are exceptionally valuable for Charlotte Harbor has a sawfish population. Often they can be seen around the base of the I-75 and US-41 bridges.

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

associated habitat, the SSG has characterized it (along with Australia) as a “lifeboat” for the species. The Caribbean is one of four regions designated as a “beacon of hope” because significant yet under-protected sawfish populations persist and are in need of urgent attention.

The SSG has developed tailored, shortterm sawfish conservation strategies for each of these regions, based on varying circumstances, and outlined them in the new report.

For the Caribbean, two coinciding 2017 policy developments complement the CMS listing and provide important opportunities for beneficial regional change: the listing of Smalltooth Sawfish on Annex II of the Protocol for Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife for the Wider Caribbean (SPAW Protocol) and an official recommendation for sawfish protection from the Shark Working Group of the Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission (WECAFC).

To formulate the Caribbean strategy, experts examined countries’ association

PAGE 25

with these treaties, likelihood of still having sawfish, and policy track record.

Successful efforts to stem Florida sawfish declines and secure an international trade ban position the U.S. well for a leadership role. The SSG is encouraging the U.S. to partner with the Netherlands and Bahamas to spearhead sawfish initiatives for the wider Caribbean. Cuba, Colombia, and Costa Rica were identified as key countries needing immediate research and/or protection.

Other regional priority actions outlined by the SSG for the Caribbean include:

National sawfish protection promotion through SPAW, WECAFC, and CMS

Habitat conservation promotion through SPAW and UN projects

Largetooth Sawfish listing in SPAW Protocol Annex II

Expanded membership by key countries: SPAW Protocol, WECAFC, and CMS

Surveys for Nicaragua, Panama and Honduras

Assessment of regional fisheries’ interactions with and use of sawfish.

The other “beacons of hope” are the Amazon Delta, the Western Indian Ocean, and Australa.

Panelists stressed that, despite some good progress, time is running out for many sawfish populations. The update document lays out next steps under the strategy and meaningful actions that people all over the world, from all walks of life, can do to help turn the tide.

The SSG Global Sawfish Strategy Update, the full Strategy, and associated materials are available at www.iucnssg.org.

PAGE

26

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

AUGUST 2018

August – Predictions and Suggestions BackBay Xtremes Capt Dave Stephens www.backbayxtremes.com

941-916-5769

Julianna's first bass, in Venice

Charlotte Harbor Frank at Fishin’ Franks 941-625-3888

Fish with a Guide

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Cheryl Sanders, Summer Redfish

Youʼll learn something and youʼll catch more fish!

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Grandpa Harold Roebuck III and Carter Roebuck with his first fish

We have been lucky with no red tide or green algae up in Charlotte Harbor. Up here there are schools of black drum numbering in the thousands hanging in the middle of the Harbor, giving us unbelievable fishing. Historically they stay around for a couple of weeks so you have a really good shot a this school. Then they will split up. P.G.I. is nuts with black drum right now; 40to 60-pound fish. Also there are schools of tarpon in the Harbor. The trick is to find them. They are either at Two Pine or El Jo. They don’t seem to be going up river. Guys jumped some big ones at the mouth of the Myakka last week. Same reports at Matlacha, they could be anywhere.

The number one thing on the flats right now is big oversized redfish in crazy numbers. One guy caught 30 some of them, the smallest in the 26 inch range.

The slot fish are not as easy but oversized is plenty.

We’ve had good reports of pompano around and a few reports of Spanish and some fairly decent shark, mostly smaller, in the 4foot and under range. It’s been an impressive bite.

I’ve been hearing from places up and down the coast that if you go out deep you can find fish. The best fishing right now is obviously out in the Gulf, but you’ve got to get out over 7 miles now because of the red tide. The Red tide is going down to 20-feet be-

cause of the wind mixing it with the waves. Bottom fishing is Spanish mackerel, black fin tuna, snapper and grunts. The grouper are still way out because they are looking for the cooler water. More people going out to 100 plus feet now than I’ve ever heard of since I’ve been here. Guys are finding top waters work out there too.

Lemon Bay, Placida, Gasparilla Sound Jim at the Fishermen’s Edge 941-697-7595

I’ve been outside cutting the palms and raking leaves - the conditions are miserable right now, on the water. News-2 told people they shouldn’t go anywhere near Boca Grande. It’s dead out here.

Inshore, I’ve had some friends fishing above the Tom Adams Bridge and they have been doing fine catching redfish and snook and a few trout up there.

There are tarpon up in the Harbor and fish are at El Jo too, but inshore at Lemon Bay and Boca... there’s not a whole lot of action until it (red tide) clears.

Offshore has been good. with dolphin, a lot of snapper - mang and yellow and gags and red grouper. The fishing is good, but you have to get out past the tainted water. You’ll need frozen bait or have to catch live bait once you are way out.

In freshwater, bass are hitting, but they are deep.

Use shiners drop-shot to the bottom. Fish are in deeper water with shade.

The BIG-4

AUGUST 2018

BACK ISSUES @

TARPON in the upper Harbor. Getting restless.

August

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

Fish you can expect in

BASS Deeper down, hiding in the shade

BLACK DRUM Big school in the middle of the Harbor

REDFISH Schooling in the Harbor, moving around.

PAGE 27

Nearshore water temperatures are almost 90!

Fish are lazy Red Tide has been around the area 95˚ 90˚ 85˚

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Calvin with a 38

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Harold McClelland.

33-inches, 14-pounds.

On board Pappy"s Turn. Charlotte Harbor.

Give me reds till I'm dead, Bud Crihfield

80˚

75˚

Christian VanDerVeer home on leave from the 4th Fighter Wing stationed in Goldsboro NC where he works on F-15's, with a healthy African pompano from 200 feet.

72˚ 70˚ 68˚

FISH PIX!

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

from Water LIFE magazine

50˚

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Gail Roebuck with nice mangrove snapper

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

7-foot lemon shark from Sanibel Pier last weekend. Greg

45˚

Drew Glickmanʼs biggest snook 37-inches, caught on a sandwich sized pinfish in P.G.I. From Lee

Dr. Fred Swing caught this snook in the Ponce De Leon inlet. The guide is Capt Bill Brickel

LAST CAST

FISHING RIGHT NOW:

depends where

Below is the last picture we received before going to print: Armor Catfish, Peace River at the US 41 Bridge, Olivia Gil

The Snook are hitting artificial on the Myakka River. Chrissy, Andy and their new daughter Shaniah

Jackie White with a nice 6 pound lobster from mini season on the East Coast.

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

PAGE

28

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

AUGUST 2018