Water LIFE JULY 2017

Water LI FE

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

The Don Ball School of Fishing

July 2017

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Kellie Redmann lands her first tarpon, fishing bright and early with her dad, John Redmann

Glen Ballinger, red snapper, fishing with Capt. Joe Miller out of Venice

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Brandon VanDerVeer, gag grouper from 173 feet on Charlie Vrabel's boat

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from Water LIFE magazine

Shark, 10,000 Islands area Capt. Charlie Phillips

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Joshua Ledbetter, 40-1/2 inch bull redfish. June 16, 2017

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Crossing for a Cure

Paddling Bimini to Ft. Lauderdale

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John Kammerer, 35.5 inch bluefish caught at Bull Bay

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Vol XVI No 7 © 2017

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Jacob Wenzel, Gabrielle Richardson Caught out of Venice with Capt.

Bill Wenzel

Water LIFE Staff Report Last month there was an adventurous paddling challenge that took stand up paddlers from Bimini in the Bahamas back to mainland Florida. The paddle was organized to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Matt Bunting, an FWC fisheries biologist at Murdock put us in touch with this event, Matt was helping event organizer Travis Suit.

In November 2011, at the age of four, Suitʼs daughter Piper was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. Piper has a double F508 gene, a very aggressive form of CF. Her father said: “It was in our first doctors appointment with Piper's CF Team at Nemour's Children's Hospital in Orlando where I first learned that the Ocean could be a key to Piper's longevity.

In the early 90s, based on studies of surfers with Cystic Fibrosis in Australia, it was discovered that participating in saltwater activities is extremely beneficial for hydrating the liner of the lungs, thus preventing life threatening lung infections.

With this knowledge, we set out to bring awareness to this amazing natural truth, and do everything possible to keep Piper in and around the Ocean.”

Last month a group of paddlers, followed by a fleet of boats, made the 50 mile crossing from Bimini. “At one time we had 23 paddlers in the water,” Matt told us.

There were individual paddlers and some relay teams.

To date, the event has raised almost $130,000 for the Cystic Fybrosis cause.

Donations are being accepted through the end of this month at: crossingforacure.com or on their facebook page: crossing for a cure

NO PART of this publication (printed or electronic) may be copied, reproduced or reused without specific written permission from the publishers. (and thatʼs never happened!)

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: Capt. Betty Staugler Beach Fishing: Mallory Herzog Pier Fishing: Bobby Vitalis

On the Cover:

Kellie Redmann lands her first tarpon, fishing bright and early one morning last month, with her dad, John Redmann.

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JULY 2017

The Big Picture

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following the tarpon around Boca Grande, but the inshore shark species seem fewer, smaller and farther between, at least in

By Michael Heller pictures. And in freshwater, in Water LIFE editor pictures, bass continue to look Count ‘em – there are over fat, healthy and seem plentiful.

100 fish in this publication this Along with the pictures month! Watching what’s being there have been other observacaught around the area, month tions. I hear the FWC has been after month, has revealed some seeing a lot of juvenile gag insights into our fishery. grouper in their samplings This year we’ve seen more lately. Two years from now cobia than I can ever rememgags should explode. ber. It used to be all redfish As far as anglers go, the and snook at this time of year, trend has been toward more but recently the number of redwomen fishing. In our 6th fish photos in my in-box has grade Don Ball School of fishdiminished, while snook, on ing classes we’ve seen a the other hand, although not as steady increase in the number numerous as in previous years, of girls enrolling over the last are much bigger and much four years, (online enrollment higher quality fish. Same goes opens next month).

And in the for juvenile tarpon right now.

Fish Pix you guys send in Trout, big last year, are get(keep ‘em coming!)

I am also ting smaller in pictures. seeing more female anglers...

While some say redfish with very nice fish! have been sparse this spring, This is an encouraging dethe black drum have been All velopment which seems to go Present and Accounted For. against a national survey indiLarge schools of black cating the interest in fishing drum have been transitioning might be declining. the Harbor and drumming their That model does not work sounds through the area’s here. Boating is on the up-tick Elizabeth Wong. Hi, would canals for most of this year. I’m FISH PIX! like to share attached photo in SW Florida and fishing will getting black drum pictures of 47 inch (tip) 41 inch (fork) from 10,000 Islands all the way Cobia caught last week in Charlotte Harbor. remain strong, so long as the water stays clean. Clean water up to Sarasota.

Almost tore my arm off! Almost too noble to and quality fish tend to keep Sharks have been a little off, eat! ... but best ceviche Iʼve ever had! anglers motivated. there are still big ones (no giants)

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FISH PIX!

Caroline Sinicki of Carmel, Indiana with her first bull shark!! Caught and released in Pine Island Sound.

FISH PIX!

Mrs. Masse caught this snook in Charlotte Harbor with Capt. Johnny Riggs

from Water LIFE magazine

from Water LIFE magazine

from Water LIFE magazine

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Same Old Tricks MANATEE MADNESS

On The Line With Capt. Ron Blago Water LIFE Senior Staff

With all the rainy weather lately I have had time to watch my favorite TV show, the FWC Meetings on the Florida Channel. There's nothing like watching the FWC commissioners, staff members and experts give testimony on the current hot button issues in hunting and fishing.

What caught my attention in a recent meeting from Tallahassee was an agenda item listed as Collier County Manatee Protection Rule. Now, Collier was one of the first counties to have a State Manatee Protection Plan (MPP); and since Charlotte County just volunteered to join that State program, and since the manatee was just dropped from the Federal Endangered Species List, I was curios to see how these plans work in real life.

A MPP is supposed to be reviewed every 7 years. The county forms a Local Rule Review Committee (LRRC) whose job it is to recommend changes to the MPP. These changes then go the FWC staff who approve or disapprove each proposal and finally the FWC staff summit their recommendation to the FWC Commissioners who approve the plan. What I have learned is that the local people are at the bottom of the totem pole when it comes to control of their local waterways.

Just to bring myself up to speed I read the proposed changes to the MPPs for Collier, Flagler, Citrus and Pinellas counties and found they all contain the same paragraph “The purpose of the proposed rule is to improve protection of manatees and manatee habitat by limiting allowable motorboat speed in portions of the

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county.” As a boater, I take offense to this singling out boaters for special regulations. If you look at the last full year of data (2016) you find that watercraft mortalities only represent 1.58-percent of the total manatee population deaths.

For some time now I have been trying to find out if there has been a manatee speed zone that has ever been removed. I started my search from 1991, the first year they actually started counting manatees in Florida. Prior to 1991 most of the manatee zones were put in place by

Clam Pass and Clam Bay, in Collier County No clamming and no manatees here

local counties and property owners and later were found to be unenforceable.

My search is turning out to be harder then I thought, namely because of the vast number and varieties of manatee zones. Take the latest rules in Collier County, they changed some zones from Idle Zone to Slow Zone. Not much of a change there. In other places they put in brand new Manatee Zones. They even put in a No Entry Zone for an area where they want to build a public manatee observation area. On the whole, I would say that boaters got

JULY 2017

more regulations than before.

There was one interesting controversy concerning manatees that came up in the Collier County discussion.

A group of people went to the FWC Commissioners directly, to ask that a Slow Speed-Manatee Zone be established in Clam Bay. I have never been to Clam Bay or ever heard of it before this meeting. It seems that some local people around Clam Bay were very concerned about manatee protection in this area and others were concerned about boater safety.

Witness after witness came forward telling tales of catastrophic near misses between manatees and boats and boat on boat collisions. The environmental groups sent their best advocates to argue for another Manatee Zone, then the other side had their turn.

The first person up was a FWC staff member. He said that this area is not known as a heavily-used area for manatees. It is not an area where manatees congregate even in winter. He said the last dead manatee found in Clam Bay was in 1996.

Next up was a Marine Patrol officer who said there had not been a reportable boat accident there since 2012.

Then a local boater got up and told the commissioners that there once was a Slow Zone in the area but it was removed in 2006 when it was found to be unenforceable.

The speaker ventured a guess that this was a local dispute between the property owners of South Clam Bay and the property owners of North Clam Bay. The last to speak was a representative of the Marine Manufacturers Association, she pointed out that it was illegal to use a Manatee Zone law to control boaters speed. FWC staff legal representative confirmed that opinion. The motion failed.

So once again, if you want a new Manatee Zone you have to be sure there are actually manatees there.

CaptRonB@juno.com

Redfish on a charter with Capt. Dave Stephens, out of Punta Gorda, last month

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Alexx at Loverʼs Key, fish is a black drum

JULY 2017

Beautiful Specimens

By Capt. David Stephens Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor One of the many crazy things we have to deal with, living in paradise, is the crazy weather. We were praying for rain all spring, now our prayers have been answered.

After going through what was one of the driest springs and early summers that I can remember, the rains have finally arrived. In a matter of a couple weeks we have gone from drought to water everywhere.

Just a short time ago the water color looked like photos you see on post cards from the Caribbean. Now it has that normal summer tea-stained brown color. Don’t think that all of a sudden our waters are polluted or dirty. This is a natural occurrence that happens every summer.

Charlotte Harbor has two rivers on the north side that feed freshwater into the Harbor this time of year. The biggest being the Peace River, which winds its way down from Central Florida. All that rain fall from the middle part of the state eventually runs down the river and finds it way into our Harbor. The water becomes stained from all the foliage and darker sand that we have inland.

On the plus side, the water being feed into Charlotte Harbor is high in oxygen and high in nutrients that our local fish and sea grass covered flats require.

Most of the fish in our fishery can tolerate higher levels of freshwater. Resident fish such as snook, redfish and tarpon have learned to adapt to large amounts of freshwater. Other fish such as trout, mangrove snapper and other migratory fish need a higher salt level.

Over the last couple weeks I have had some of the best juvenile tarpon fishing that I can remember. The local canals have been holding large numbers of these guys, and they’ve been hungry. One of the best things about targeting these fish is, your catching 15- to 25-pound fish.

And we’ve been targeting them on 10-pound tackle.

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Over the past couple weeks we have been in double digits on hook ups daily on our charters, with around half of those fish coming boat side. Many anglers over look these guys for their big brothers, however, if you match the tackle to the fish you will not be disappointed.

Once hooked the show that smaller fish puts on for you will be well worth it. These little guys spend more time in the air than in the water. Most of my fish have been coming on live bait but these small tarpon will also take swim baits and small jigs.

You can get away with a light main-line, but you will need a bigger leader. They have some rough spots on the mouth that will fray your line up pretty bad. I normally

PAGE 7

use a 30-pound leader on these fish, if not you take a chance at being broke off at the hook.

Like their bigger counter parts you can locate these fish by spotting them roll. A stealthy approach will help to get you into casting range. Often, after hooking up, you may have to look for the school again. As much time as they spend in the air, it seems to move the school.

Once you spend some time on these guys you will be hooked, like many anglers have been.

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 www.backbayxtremes.com

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Jaob Wenzel of Sarasota, 14 years old. 1st Scamp Grouper -15lbs.

Caught in Fish Galore Offshore, with Capt. Joe Miller, live pilchard, 2 oz knocker rig spin-rod.

Amberjack Blue shirt Chris Altman, Yellow shirt Brooks

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FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

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JULY 2017

The Southern Sector

10,000 Islands / Everglades City

By Capt. Charlie Phillips Water LIFE / Everglades City The SW Florida rainy season and summertime have come in with a vengeance this year. Just like a switch was tripped, we went from dry hot weather with drought and wildfires to my favorite music, the Everglades Symphony, rumbling, cracking thunder thru the mangroves and the sound of rain pouring from the heavens.

Personally I was happy to see it, like an old familiar friend, but it does change the way we fish down here.

When this pattern begins, our days start

My friend Capt. David Veres with a snook

Oak Island NC Capt. Travis Overmanʼs flounder

a little earlier than normal. We are leaving the dock by 6 am to be on our spot before 7 and fish as much as we can thru noon or a little after. Being out in the Glades or offshore with a big thunderstorm between you and the hill is no fun for captain or charter client, so plan ahead to avoid it.

Inshore and offshore the bite has been solid. Lots of big snook coming out of the big river mouths and front keys as well as offshore on the pieces of structure that dot the area.

I like to use live baits for the inshore fish and switch it up to some of the bigger soft plastics on heavy jigheads worked around the perimeter of the offshore structures. The big female snook out there often have to slam that jigged offering and this is where I will typically catch my largest fish of the

year. Not only snook, but don’t be surprised to have grouper and cobia fall victim to this method as well. These baits offer a way to fish a lot of water relatively quickly and shouldn’t be overlooked.

Still some good permit being caught on those same pieces of structure. A live crab, live shrimp, fly and if you’re really lucky an artificial in crab or fly might work. Be very aware of the bull sharks, and make every effort to not feed the permit to the sharks in your effort to target them. While of course sharks have to eat too, the mighty permit deserves better than that, so use appropriate sized tackle or break them off.

On the inshore side, lots of summertime sharking to be had in the rivers, deep cuts and edges of bars this past month. I used to snub my nose at shark fishing, didn’t have time for it, but that changed when I got off

my high horse and acknowledged how much fun these toothy critters are.

Fresh cut bait does all I need, usually with a 9/0 circle hook and 300lb floruo leader. You can make these rigs at home, or do as I have learned and figure how to tie them on the boat as you need them. It is possible and using the flouro vs wire gives me a better handhold and I think I get more bites than I do with wire.

I very seldom will have a fish cut me off.

The inshore sharks include spinners, bulls, lemons, nurse and blacktips and are a blast on a big spinning rod. Hard drag screaming pulls and even jumps make for a lot of fun so give them a try. I will talk to you next month Capt. Charlie Phillips: 863-517-1829 e-mail: hopefishing@hotmail.com Web: hopefishing.com

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Light tackle, small sharks PAGE

By Fishin’ Frank Water LIFE Baitshop A beautiful day, yes I found one, and I took my sister Pam and my cousin Tracy out for a bit of shark fishing.

I had not checked the tide – for an outgoing tide I like to fish in the north end of the Harbor, around the 20-foot hole or Marker No.1. If the tide is in-coming I like to fish south in the Harbor, like at the Pirate Harbor Hole or down by Cape Haze.

But I had not a clue, so I went in the middle of it all, between Mkr No. 5 and Mkr No. 6, in line between Cape Haze and Burnt Store. I figured if the tide was going out I would be chumming towards Boca Pass. If the tide was coming in I would be chumming the Harbor.

So we get to the spot, you should be east of a line between Marker No. 1 (off Ponce DeLeon Park) and Marker No. 5 (off Cape Haze) as this is the line the big boats travel.

Once I am there, I put out the anchor and then the chum bag, keeping the bag about ¾ the way into the water. The first line out is a med to med-heavy spinning rod - an 8to 15, or maybe 10 - to 20-pound class rod, with a bobber and a short AFW bleeding leader, with a 5/0 hook, 4 feet below a float.

Now the float line or bobber line goes out first. The reason is I like to check the direction of the current is that looking at the water will not tell you which direction the water is really going, but that float will.

If I did not not fall in love with the spot

I anchor at first, it is highly likely I will move the boat at least once... after seeing which way the bobber is going.

When I am here at the south end of the Harbor I want my chum to flow over the gravel bottom. I know the general direction the gravel bottom takes and that gravel bottom, unlike the mud bottom in most of the Harbor, holds a lot of bait, small crabs, tiny bait fish, shrimp and other stuff. Often the chum will get them excited enough about the food that they will come out and that really brings on the larger predators.

So after I cast out the bobber line I open the bale and pull another 30 or more feet of line. Now once the line drifts off with the tide I cast out a free line with no sinkers or floats. This free line with just the leader and the bait will, on a slow tide, be right at the bottom and when the tide picks up a little it will lift the bait off the bottom, going higher off the bottom as the tide moves faster, just like the way a piece of dead bait would drift along naturally.

I have not caught anything on the rods that have a sinker on them, so I decided to up those to larger rods with a larger bait; 9/0 or 12/0 hooks with 250-pound steel leader and a half of mullet or big chunk of bonita.

I think the smaller sharks are staying more off the bottom right now and it is the larger sharks that are feeding deep during the day. You can tell when the larger sharks show up if you have been catching smaller

sharks.... the bite just stops. That is a very good indicator that the big ones have shown up. One of the few predators small sharks have is big sharks.

I like to eat sharks... hey, it is only fair, they would eat me, given a chance so, when I catch one I judge how big a shark I will keep by my cooler - if it will not fit on the ice chest I let it go. Otherwise he’s mine.

Now you should understand I was raised on Wonder Bread and my food is refrigerated or frozen. Meat left out in the sun, or worse yet letting a fish hang on a stringer, will just make it a bacteria factory. Shark will spoil in the heat so ice it down.

For hooks I always use J hooks for shark fishing with the barb bent over as to leave as much of a smooth bump as possible.

JULY 2017

Circle hooks are too difficult to get out of the shark’s mouth and if I happen to break off a J hook with a bent-down barb, that has the best chance of just falling out of the sharks mouth. And there will be no blood all over the boat.

For bait and chum I have been just using the frozen stuff and it has been working.

Try frozen sardines and or thread fins cut in half. If they are smaller-size I put the hook through the head into the body threading the hook from front towards the rear and then cut up the bait just a bit so more smell is released. These are the tricks I used to get my cousin Tracy her first sharks.

I will tell you this, the first hit will be 35 minutes after your chum is out and the first real bite should be 5 to 10 minutes after that. If I am shark fishing I give it an hour, then no bites and I am out of there. Start with the 3 basic rigs, float line, free line and sinker rig. I don’t care how I fish. I only care how I catch.

Try smaller rods with 15- or 20-pound test, leave the drag a ¼ turn looser than when you snook fish – you are fishing open water and out in the open it is better to have more line than heavier line with less yards.

Let that shark run take your time bringing it to the boat. Who wants to grab a green shark – or should I say a shark that is not tired out? Remember, always control the head of a shark. Holding a shark by the tail will get you bit. A shark can pretty much bite its own tail. Control the head.

Frank@fishinfranks.com Port Charlotte 941- 625-3888 Ft Myers 239-634-1043

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JULY 2017

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The Cobia was a Knock Out

By Mallory Herzog Water LIFE Fishing I was joined this week by Andrew Huynh from the popular YouTube channel NoobAngler, and his friend Oz Sittipon Chanarat. Oz is a Fisherman/TV Host for the Discovery Channel. He also has a popular YouTube channel, Bangkokhooker Fishing. He came all the way from Thailand and we had our sights set on tarpon, hoping to help these guys some good Florida fishing footage.

They made the staggering 2 am wake up and three hour drive over from the east coast. Yea, they have tarpon over there, but nothing is like experiencing the migration in Boca Grande.

The guys actually beat me to the dock, eager and ready to hook up to some BIG fish. We set out at 5:45 am. Another gorgeous sunrise with rolling pods of fish.

There are mornings I've sat and tried to count them, just as the sky is lightening, but the sun has yet to come up.

They seem endless, it’s a sight I'll never tire of seeing.

We get in a good position and set up, we bait the hooks and hope these fish are hungry.

We toss a live blue crab rigged to a 6/0 Trokar circle hook into the school. It only was a few moments before Oz had his fish hooked up! I thoroughly enjoy guiding anglers who land their very first tarpon. It’s such a tenacious fight and feeling of victory when you get that fish boat side for a quick snapshot and release. Oz will put a

video together of his catches to post on his YouTube channel. I am anxious to watch and relive the moment with him.

Later we headed off to the next location to try and pull up a few other beasts from the deep. Goliath grouper fishing has been a long time favorite of my husband Andrew's, he enjoys the punishment of being taken to the rail by an ocean giant.

We caught some live jacks and sent them down to the bottom, Andrew didn't have to wait long for a bite. Hanging in there and using the fishing stool, he was able to keep control and pull this fish out of the wreck.

Recently we have started working with FWC to collect fin clippings from these

PAGE 11

fish. They are using the DNA for a research project. Currently there is a workshop coming in October to Charlotte Harbor, to discuss opening a season or limited harvest on this species. They have been protected since the 90s.

As we released his grouper we saw a few surprise visitors hiding under the boat - barracuda and cobia! The guys threw a cuda tube and a live bait at the cobia. Oz hooked, up the cobia bringing this bonus fish to the boat at record speed using a Penn Slammer.

The fish was pretty lively, and I didn't have my fish bat. Oz looks at me and says "Do you want me to punch it?" I replied with something like ... "only if you want to hurt your hand". As those words left my mouth, I watched him knock out the cobia with one punch. Don't mess with Oz! To book a trip with Capt Andrew Herzog Call or TXT 941-661-0304 Visit http://bigbullyoutdoors.com

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FISH PIX!

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

JULY 2017

ReaderĘźs P

Bryce O'Steen - mahi in Cozumel (getting an assist from his brother) Aiden O'Steen and BryceĘźs barracuda.

Captain Gavin, another big snook in th Hazeltine secret fishing hole.

Captain Terry, redfish

David Diggins 29 inch snook in the surf Boca Grande Pass. Catch and release

Eric Sprouse Placida resident caught this red by Boca Grande bridge on a live hand pick,10 lb braid, 20 lb leader

Kristin Smith with a 20lb redfish

Robin Sprague aboard the Calypso: King mackerel caught 9 miles off Stump Pass.

Photo taken in Cape Haze Marina.

Cara Bushemi & Mike Essling - both of Chicago - with speckled sea trout caught on a recent visit to Port Charlotte

McKenzie Monroe, age 10 with her 9 in pi fish. Caught in Lemon Bay .

The big fish (jack) is Scott Cham mit, is Russell Chambers from

JULY 2017

Photos

he

in

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Jaden Berry Fat black drum In Placida

Halle Walker 50 miles offshore proudly displays her red grouper....she caught and landed!

page 14

PAGE 13

Carter and two nice large mouth bass

Nighttime snook 35.50 from my Native Titan kayak. Mike Lahn

mbers from Seymour Tennessee and the smaller fish, a perPort Charlotte Florida

Georgia girl, Haleigh Beard with a snook

Nicholas Kammerer, Boca Grande snook

My name is Jenna Marcusson and that's a catfish I caught at a pier in Englewood FL!

Jacob Collins with a pair of beautiful red snapper caught on the Island Sun

Ned Zobuk.

Ugliest black drum ever!

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Readerʼs photos Txt Us Ur Fish Pix!

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JULY 2017

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

Grant giving Capt. Charley a "thumbs up" for the nice trout

Christopher McKinney with a nice trout caught in Lemon Bay.

Gio Aviles, nice Boca Grouper Pam Barber. It was so much fun!! My very first trout!

Billy Really. Friday 1am, West Gulf Dr beach, Sanibel

Nicholas Kammerer , Myakahatchee Creek Bass

Phenix caught a small inshore tarpon at Don Pedro

Merit showing off a Spanish mackerel

Merit with a mangrove snapper and a thumbʼs up from Dad

Kellan Brooks, 6year-old angler with a shoreline find, off Stump Pass

21-inches, caught in a North Port lake today on my birthday... on artificial. Sorry about bad camera angle, I was alone! Fish was released happy to fight another day. Dustin R.

Caught 5/27/17 6 miles off Key Largo Robin Sprague aboard the Calypso

Please Read Txt Us Ur Fish Pix

We like Fresh Fish so please donʼt send old photos.

We like the First Catch so donʼt send us fish if you are also sending the same fish to another publication, like for instance ... the Charlotte Sun ;-( One or two photos is all weʼll probably

have room for.

Bigger is Better, higher resolution is best. Please donʼt adjust, crop or sharpen pictures.

FISH HANDLING: If you are harvesting your catch do what you want, but If you are RELEASING YOUR CATCH: Use

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wet hands on a fish you will be releasing.

No Dry Towels, it wipes off vital fish slime. Hold big fish horizontally so as not to damage their ʻinnerds,ʼ donʼt hold big fish from the jaw, it could tear or break and donʼt put your hands in the gills.

No Fishy Fish if you are not in the picture it may not get into print.

store this number in your phone!

No blatant Ads ... but if a Guide helped you, itʼs OK to say so.

Txt to 941-457-1316 include (at least) your name and type of fish (txt only, voice calls cannot be answered) You may also eMail pictures to: waterlife@comcast.net

JULY 2017

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PAGE 15

Readerʼs photos Txt Us Ur Fish Pix! see facing page

Joey Keene's 15+ pound Venice largemouth

Cael Newton and his dad Buddy Newton with a big Bull Shark out of Bull Bay

Ariana Ramos, age 11, caught at Naples Docks, May 2017

Darlene Cellamare at Alligator Reef Tyler Gaffney, bass

Patrick O'Sullivan with his first permit

Blackfin tuna caught by John-Victor

Jaxon Newton with his first tripletail

Ned Zobuk with a big ugly black drum.

Punta Gorda

Grouper - Jason Redman, Ontario Canada.

June 16, Gulf Coast 20 miles out from Englewood with Capt. Mike Deto

50 pound cobia caught by David Matthews

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JULY 2017

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Estero Bay: Be Prepared for Big Fish JULY 2017

By Captain Joe Angius Water LIFE Estero

The much needed rain that Southwest Florida was looking for has made its way into our five major rivers and to Estero Bay. Our inshore fish species rely heavily on the seasonal rainfall fluctuations. This month anglers will expect to see high levels of brackish water with juvenile tarpon and goliath grouper dominating those areas. Key factors in being a successful angler in July are to have proper bait, tackle and gear, and to have an understanding of Estero's fluctuating water.

Netting bait in Estero Bay is a task that takes patience and persistence.

The majority of the time I will net bait north from Pine Island Sound or south, near Wiggins Pass, and bring the bait back to fish. I'm definitely not saying that Estero doesn't have bait to net up. The Bay has plenty of pilchards, pinfish, mullet, and crabs to net up for bait. What makes it difficult to get a lot of bait here is the changing water and weather conditions.

Typically I will have a great bait spot that will produce, but a windy-rainy day can push the bait elsewhere making it a challenge to load up the wells. My tip to other anglers would be to always have a backup plan for bait and to not be afraid of making a long run for it; having good bait pays off every time.

Having the proper tackle and gear allows anglers to be prepared for any situation they may encounter while fishing.

As a guide, there are three different setups that I will have on board.

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My first setup is a 7-foot mediumheavy action rod with either a 2500 or 3000 size reel, spooled using 15-pound Spiderwire Invisibraid line. This is great for fishing in tight areas that are usually crowded by mangroves.

The other rig that I'll use is a "goto" for charters. A 7- foot 6-inch medium-heavy action rod with a 3000 or 4000 size reel, spooled with the same 15-pound Invisibraid line.

Perfect for all situations, this is my most versatile setup that I use the most for inshore fishing.

Lastly, is my larger 8-foot extra heavy rod equipped with a 6000 or 8000 sized reel. For this rig I'll have 30-pound to 50-pound Spiderwire Invisibraid to ensure landing any fish that I have on the other end of the line. A setup like this will be used for sharks, tarpon, and goliath grouper.

As summer weather patterns persist, remember to be prepared for any and all situations. The water conditions will vary greatly depending on rainfall, wind, and tidal fluctuations. To have a successful day, don't be afraid to fish around different areas in the Bay or make a big move.

Boat and fish safely by knowing the weather conditions and what it may do while you are out on the water. Follow all the rules and regulations while you are fishing.

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

PAGE 17

Night Fights

Big fish in the dark. Capt. Joe with tarpon, shark and a big sawfish - ItĘźs cooler, less crowded and often much more productive at night, but watch the weather!

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JULY 2017

Sometimes Unsubstanciated, But Often True

SINKHOLE STILL HOLLOW

According to the Tampa Bay Times, phosphate giant MOSAIC expected to be finished by now, filling in the massive sinkhole that opened up under one of its gypsum stacks at its Mulberry processing plant last August, but itʼs taking much longer than expected.

Last month, MOSAIC company officials announced the hole beneath its phosphogypsum stack was bigger than they had thought - double or triple the 45foot diameter it originally estimated.

That means it will take a lot more fillTampa Bay Times photo grout to plug it up than expected, which means filling in the hole will take longer. No one knows how much longer. The DEP estimated 250 million gallons of acid water was released into the aquifer. We would like to know whether the grout they are using is a by-product of their mining operation. We also want to know if local rumors are true that phosphate mining is now expanding south, toward Horse Creek.

The area around Horse Creek at SR 72, late last month was wet and lush-green .

SURE, I BELIEVE THAT Officers responded to a residence in Deland after receiving a report of a fresh alligator head on the front porch. The officers arrived and saw the alligator head where the reporting party said it would be. The head showed evidence of a gunshot or bang stick wound. When questioned, the homeowner said he found the head and brought it home for his daughter.

deaths, and a 11.1% increase in the number of injuries in 2016 compared to 2015. The report highlights the importance of education.

According to the report, 80% of fatal boating accident victims drowned. Of those drowning victims with reported life jacket usage, 83% were not wearing a life jacket. The report also notes that where data was known, the most common vessel types involved in reported accidents were open motorboats (47%), personal watercraft (18%), and cabin motorboats (15%). Charlotte County has over 22,000 vessels registered. This number does not include various types of paddle craft (kayaks, canoes, stand up paddleboards, etc.) In 2016 Charlotte County was number ten in the state of Florida in reported boating accidents.

GATOR CONSPIRACY A statewide investigation resulted in the arrest of five men from Arcadia. The five men were charged with illegal take of alligator, alligator eggs, and conspiracy to commit racketeering.

SKIPPER SKIPPED OUT Officers responded Last month, near Miami, the driver didnʼt to Carysfort Lighthouse after the report of a know the boat was on fire. vessel collision. The operator of a 35-foot Rampage yacht was pulling anchor when he left the vesselʼs helm while the vessel was still in reverse. The operatorʼs actions resulted in the Rampage colliding with two vessels at anchor, a 43-foot Azimut and a 31-foot Boston Whaler. Both vessels at anchor had swimmers in the water. No injuries were sustained and multiple violations were issued.

CATCH AND HARASS An FWC investigator received a complaint regarding a protected 12-foot tiger shark landed on the Bay County Pier. The complainant reported that, after being caught with hook and line, the subjects put additional lines around its head and tail and, with the help of 19 people, pulled the shark up and over the rail onto the pier. However, an angler on the pier said that was only half the story, adding the shark had become tangled up in other fishermenʼs lines, which made it impractical to beach it and remove the hook from its mouth. He said the only courses of action were to cut the lines — which would amount to a death sentence — or bring the shark up onto the pier, which they did using ropes.

“We have a lot of respect for these big fish, and we donʼt want to hurt them,” he said.

COAST GUARDʼS ANNUAL REPORT on recreational boating accidents shows a nationincrease of 7.3% in the number of boating accidents, a 12% increase in the number of

Work last month on improvements to the Placida fishing pier. The Pier at ElJobean was also undergoing renovations.

NOTABLE MENTION

Adrian Grey with a 49-inch snook, caught and released last month at Mosquito Lagoon, on the east coast

Indecision on Barotrauma JULY 2017

By Capt. Betty Staugler Water Life / Sea Grant Offshore anglers may recall in 2008, venting tools were required to have onboard and use when fishing for reef fish in State and Federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The venting requirement was designed to increase the survival of released fish that were experiencing barotrauma, the bloat and internal organ damage caused by pressure change as the fish is reeled to the surface. However, the requirement to “use” venting tools, forced fishermen who complied with the rule to sometimes vent reef fish that were not in need of venting. The venting requirement also precluded the use of newly developed alternative tools such as descending devices. For these reasons, the venting tool requirement was rescinded in 2013.

Even though regulations now don't require the use of a venting tool, barotrauma mitigation is still necessary to reduce bycatch mortality in reef fish. Recent research findings on red snapper and gag grouper indicate venting (Pokeing a hole in the body cavity) and fish descending (sending the fish back down with a weight) are equally effective, when done correctly. Now the Gulf Council is again currently evaluating some form of requirement for barotrauma mitigation.

The results of a 2014 Florida Sea Grant online survey of recreational anglers on this subject indicate 71-percent of anglers who fish in waters deeper than 70 feet have seen barotrauma, and of those anglers, most can identify all the signs of barotrauma (bloated stomach, bulging eyes, organ sticking out mouth, and intestines protruding from the anus). However, only 34-percent of respondents knew what organ stuck out of the mouth. Almost 50% thought it was the swim bladder; in fact, it’s the stomach.

Ninety two-percent of survey respondents indicated they use venting tools to help a fish experiencing barotrauma return to depth. When respondents were asked to

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select the statement that best described the proper way to vent a fish, only 51-percent selected the correct response “insert the needle just under the skin into the body cavity at a 45-degree angle”. Most incorrect responses suggested the needle needed to be inserted all the way into the body cavity – inserting it this far can cause additional

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Red grouper caught by Carlton Hughes of Punta Gorda. Offshore fishermen might once again need to deal with barotrauma.

trauma and injury to the fish…it’s akin to skewering!

When asked to select where you insert the needle, only 63-percent pointed to the correct location (1- to 2-inches behind the base of the pectoral fin), 10-percent pointed to the stomach sticking out the mouth. The stomach is a vital organ and should never be vented.

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Tyler Gaffney, bass and dolphin

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Ronnie Barnes caught a 31 inch Red Fish in Alligator Creek 06/23/17

PAGE 19

Only 9-percent of survey respondents used descending devices. Most who did not use them indicated they did not know what they were or how to use them. Hopefully these anglers responded to FWC’s call for anglers to participate in a descending gear study last month.

Several types of descending gear are available on the market in Florida. Fifty seven percent of respondents use gear that features a weighted lip grip; 32-percent use a weighted hook device; and 24-percent use a weighted basket/crate.

Survey respondents indicated they needed more information on fish venting and descending devices, respectively, with preferred methods for obtaining information identified as magazine articles, fishing shows, websites, and YouTube videos.

Rulemakers are considering the following options: Alternative 1. No Action. Do not require or recommend that venting tools or descending devices be present on board.

Alternative 2. Establish a policy that recommends vessels fishing for reef fish possess either descending devices or venting tools on board.

Alternative 3. Require that vessels where reef fish are on board possess either venting tools or descending devices or require both venting tools and descending devices.

Alternative 4. Develop an outreach program in conjunction with Sea Grant programs, to educate fishermen on the availability and correct use of venting tools and descending devices, including best handling techniques to minimize stress to the fish.

More information about fish venting and descending including several videos can be found at: catchandrelease.org

Capt. Betty Staugler, Florida Sea Grant Agent. UF/IFAS Extension, Charlotte County (941) 764-4346

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Artist Dale Werner catches a Very Nice Tarpon in Estero Bay at night

Available at both Fishinʼ Franks stores 4425-D Tamiami Trail Charlotte Harbor

14531 Cleveland Ave (US41) North Fort Myers 33903

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Sharkeyʼs Pier and the Venice Jetties

By Bobby Vitalas Water LIFE Pier Fishing This snook and black drum were caught on the south side of the Venice Jetty, however snook fishing is out of season, so you have to put them back in the water. I have caught these fish in the early morning hours. If you want to

find the bigger fish, fish in between the rocks, in the deep pot holes. You can also find snook along the beach. Most of the time, these snook stay in schools. They either stay in one area or they swim up and down the beach.

When fishing on the beach, you can stay fishing in one spot, or walking up and down the

beach until you find the fish. If you see bait in the water, try fishing there. These snook on the beach can get pretty big in size.

Another good spot that I have gone to is at Sharky’s Pier in Venice, at the beach, right at the beginning of the Pier. The snook are swimming around the pilings. Sometimes the snook are there and sometimes they are not.

When fishing, I like using artificial lures most of the time. When fishing at the Jetty I use this artificial lure to catch these fish. This lure is made by D.O.A. lures. It is called the D.O.A C.A.L 4-inch shad tail Model #419, color GREEN BACK. It comes in a six pack.

The jig head I am using for this shad tail is the D.O.A C.A.L long shank hook 3/8 ounce weight, color WHITE. The long shank hook is necessary with this lure. They also make this lure in a 3-inch size, so you can try that too. But then you are going to need a short-shank jig head. The 3-inch shad tail comes in a 12 pack.

The way to use this lure is to bounce it along the bottom as you’re reeling it in, or use a slow steady retrieve. For those people who do not use artificial lures, and, you just use bait, try using live shrimp. The hook size I suggest you use with the shrimp is from 2/0 to 3/0 circle hooks. Use the lightest sinker weight possible.

JULY 2017

When using artificial lures at the Jetty, for my main line, I use 30-pound test Power Pro 100-percent spectra, color MOSS GREEN. For my leader line, I use no less than 3-feet of 25pound to 30-pound test Sufix Invisline 100 percent fluorocarbon leader line. This leader line is good to use because it’s nearly invisible in the

water and has high knot strength. Being that the rainy season is here, try to get out there when you can before it rains, especially in the early morning hours, which I had the best of luck with.

So, have a good time fishing!

JULY 2017

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The Fine Line of Fishing

By Capt. Chuck Eichner Water LIFE Inshore The diversity of fishing in Southwest Florida makes it a world class fishing destination. Being lucky enough to live here has lead me to shift from shallow water sight fishing to deep water offshore pursuits and there is a lot to learn.

Each style of fishing is a sport in itself requiring specialized rods, reels and tackle. On a recent offshore adventure I prepared for many hours the day before with grouper and snapper as the target.

For grouper bait, I wanted pinfish and I laboriously cut squid in tiny pieces to bait a sabiki rig the following day.

Pulling away from the dock at 5:30am we spot-lighted day markers as we ran through the Harbor and stopped just offshore of Boca Grande. This is where I always find clouds of baitfish on the bottom, but not today.

Running many miles I looked at the bottom and wondered why no baitfish until I spotted 10 different shrimp trawlers in the area still dragging the bottom.

Frustrated but prepared with frozen sardines, we ran to the promised land, one of my best areas without any live bait! What a bummer after all the prep.

This is a spot I found 7 years ago that always has an abundance of red grouper and there is no obvious bottom structure.

Looking at the bottom machine screen I was delighted to see clouds of baitfish near the bottom which attracts the grouper. Aaron and Joe dropped lines and immediately bowed up with nice red grouper. When we noticed calico pass-crabs swimming by the boat we spent the next two hours dipping crabs and hooking grouper on crabs! This kind of live bait came as a big surprise. And when landing the grouper, they would spit up crabs, so we were “matching the hatch,” so to speak.

This was the first time Joe had fished with me but quickly proved his skill and boated more than half the grouper. Joe was fishing with 30-pound mono line with 50-pound flouro leader on a slip-sinker bottom rig, Aaron and I used similar rigs with 65-pound braid running line.

As often occurs in fishing the tide slowed and so did the bite. We dropped in many other locations without success, then trolled through leaping bonita and under frigate birds with no bites. So, the ol’ captain had to put on his thinking cap.

I went to a ledge that has a drop from 80 to 84 feet of water that is about as long as my 24-foot boat, dropped a buoy marker, set anchor and put out a chum box, while dicing sardines and dropping crushed crabs into the water. Three lines into the water with extra light leader and now I had the hot rod! Big mangrove snapper were hitting the deck with some close to 6 pounds! I was catching 3 to 1

PAGE 21

with everything the same as my angler friends except I was using 12-pound mono versus their 15-pound braid. The rigs consisted of an 1/8oz jig connected to 7 feet of 15-pound flouro. When the snapper slowed we dropped for grouper and two monsters were hooked that we guessed were goliath grouper ... which were no match for our tackle. Moving on back to the original red grouper area, the bite was on again and Joe had the hot grouper stick ... again!

Looking back on the day’s events it was pretty clear to me that we got a lot more bites using monofilament running line. I have proven this countless times in backcountry fishing as well. Our Gulf water fish spend their life eating, breeding and utilizing survival instincts. They generally have larger eyes and with the clear water they pick up on subtle things that are out of the ordinary. Braided line is not only more visible but line passing through water emits a frequency and there may be a certain vibration emitted by braid as well. Whatever the reason be sure to have mono rigs in addition to your braid line outfits when going offshore!

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

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JULY 2017

July – Predictions and Suggestions

BackBay Xtremes Capt Dave Stephens www.backbayxtremes.com

941-916-5769

Fish With A Guide!

Youʼll catch more fish and youʼll learn something new, every time!

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

As far as redfish go, it’s getting better on the east side – more back by the mangroves. There are a series of potholes out by TwoTits that are holding nice sized reds right now. If you don’t know where they are you have to drift across to find them. Don’t get too close, anchor 60 - to 80-feet up wind and make the big cast to them. Crab is the #1 bait, but it’s been hard to find the right size crabs lately. Pinfish are # 2 then shrimp #3, and #4 is cut bait.

From the Radio Tower south, inside the bar, just in front of the trees, that’s where the redfish are on the West side. Then, as you go south from Matlacha, they are on the right side of the slow-speed area. At the top of the Harbor, the Myakka Cut Off has smaller reds, but increased numbers of them. The oversized reds are in the Peace River around Harbor Heights on the Punta Gorda side.

The set of islands near the cut to Shell Creek is holding nice reds, not big numbers, but bigger fish.

As far as snook goes, it’s best on the inside of the barrier islands.

All the docks inside Gasparilla, all up and down the ICW, the docks are loaded up with snook. Snook are about done with their spawn now but they are still in the area.

Outside the bars, at Jug Creek, in front of Bull and Turtle, and in the Pine Island Sound, there will be nice snook until the spawn is over.

Still a lot of sharks, but mostly a lot of little ones. Those you see

are the ones that hatched this year.

Make sure there are no barbs on your hooks when you fish these sharks. That way you can just pop the hook out.

Sharks are hitting cut sardines, pinfish, threadfins, and any cut bait. Lately I’ve been putting the bait 6- to 8-feet below a bobber and just letFISH PIX! ting it drift away from the boat.

Tarpon fishing is just going to explode up in the top of the Harbor at any moment. They are coming up here for all that food-stuff being washed down the river. I am hearing about ladyfish and mackerel and that will bring tarpon up here. It’s a pretty early bite with the tarpon around here. Once the day wears on, you have to look south around Little Gasparilla Pass down to Captiva Pass for feeding tarpon. The Two Pine area has had some nice tarpon too.

On nights when there is no thunder there are thousands of tarpon at the 41-Bridge, but know this: once you hear thunder at night it will be a slow morning tarpon fishing up in the Harbor.

But on the right night, idle out of Laishley Park, stay back 75 feet from the bridge and just look for tarpon swirling in the water. Look for the dorsal fin slicing across the surface. Anchor up and run your baits out on a bobber. If you are fishing a lure, try a clear casting bubble to get the distance.

You can’t be sitting right on the fish at the bridge. If the tarpon move when you anchor up don’t you move.

They will come back.

from Water LIFE magazine

American red snapper, caught 150 miles off Fort Myers by Shawn Fields

There are a ton of sand brim on the east side now, anywhere you find deeper spots under the mangroves there will be brim in there. They are not going to eat a threadfin or a whitebait so rip a shrimp in half, or rip a frozen shrimp and put it on a weighted bobber... you don’t want the bait on the bottom for brim. And peel your shrimp, they won’t chew through scales or shells.

A guy told me there are angelfish everywhere. They are not angelfish they are spadefish and they are around some of the reefs.

Danger Reef, the Phosphate Docks, the Harbor markers... a peeled shrimp is what the spadefish like too. Fussy they are.

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

The fishing has been fine, the biggest thing is still the wind.

Most stuff coming from offshore is either close inside, by the Passes, for mangrove snapper and grouper, or offshore for lane, mangrove and yellowtail.

The really energetic guys have been going for red grouper in 120-plus feet of water. There are

Speak Easy Fishing Charters Captain Joe Angius USCG licensed & Insured Phone: (727)

234-3171

speakeasyfishing.com

speakeasyfishing@gmail.com

Grandson Kenny and Grandpa C.T. with a 34-inch snook taken from a secret fishing spot in Port Charlotte.

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FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Ron Tandy of Port Charlotte with a nice bull red taken with a bow and arrow, near Port Sulphur, Louisiana.

JULY 2017

July

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The BIG-4 TARPON in the Passes, on the beach, River and Harbor holes

Fish you can expect in

COBIA Scattered on the flats and near shore reefs

SAND BRIM Here now, but they will be gone soon

PAGE 23

SNOOK Some on the beaches, more around ICW docks.

Nearshore Temps are now mid 80s the Gulf is hot

95˚ 90˚ 85˚ 80˚

FISH PIX!

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Ralphie Salas with a 150-pound tarpon Boca Grande with NativeSalt Charters.

not really any big ones close in, but fish up to 30-pounds are to be had way out.

Gags, some gags 40-plus-pounds, have been there along with red grouper, but the guys go out 80 miles for them. The Roatan wreck and the Fantastico wreck had guys catching snapper all three days of the season.

There has been a lot of snook, big ones, on the beach and by the pass. I haven’t had that many reports on redfish. One of the guys had some reds above the Tom Adams bridge, on the east side flat, by the park.

The new groin at Stump Pass has a lot of fish stacked up on it already. I hear some snapper are setting up housekeeping there. A diver who just checked it out said there is lot of current coming out of the Pass now.

I’ve had some guys catch pompano this past

75˚

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Ian Roberts of Fort Myers with a nice Tarpon caught in the Caloosahatchee River!

week, inside Gasparilla Pass. Crazy jigs, goofy gigs, jigs tipped with shrimp or with a trailerhook tipped with shrimp, they all work. Most of the fish are in the deeper area where the new bridge went in, there is one deep spot where they sunk some big pilings that was holding them.

There’s still a lot of shark around too. Tarpon is more on the beach than in the Pass and the beach fishermen say it’s still good. There are less boats in the Pass now, all those guys went back to Tampa or Tarpon Springs... or where ever they came from.

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FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Langfang, tarpon, Peace River, Fort Ogden

First Mate Jackie, hooked up with this nice bass in the Hazeltine secret fishing hole

FISH PIX!

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FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

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from Water LIFE magazine

72˚ 70˚ 68˚

Richard Hutchins caught a 62-inch Kingfish right outside of the Venice Inlet.

50˚ 45˚

FISHING RIGHT NOW:

Good

Ileane Stone, beautiful snook

Bass - Andy

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from Water LIFE magazine

Snook - Chrissy

PAGE

24

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WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

JULY 2017