Water LI FE Charlotte Harbor, Lemon Bay & the Gulf
The Don Ball School of Fishing
July 2015
More Arrogance Hacking Up a Protected
Offshore
Page 16
Toothy cubera
Species
Page 4
Kids Summer Doings Page 21
Man Eating Shark! Page 15
I Love Snook Page 14
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Corrections Department Lt. Mike Francis of the FWC in Fort Myers called to say this picture we ran last month showed a tarpon over 40 inches out of the water. “Iʼd have issued him a citation,” the lieutenant said.
On The Cover:
Commentary by Michael Heller Water Life editor On this month’s cover Capt. David Stephens is holding the remains of a goliath grouper that someone had filleted.. David found the remains floating on the Myakka We say: There was a skin of water side of the upper Harbor and notified Maleft and you can see it. Look at the reflection under his knee. The FWC rine Patrol who said they had several simiregulation needs to be more specific. lar cases a few years ago. They are looking for your help. Michael, If you are a local fisherman I wouldn’t The article on horseshoe crabs in be surprised to hear that at one time or anthe June issue is interesting, but the other you have heard someone say (or you attribution of the photographs is incorrect. I took the photos at Fisheryourself said) “I wonder what goliath man's Village and showed them to grouper tastes like?” I have heard the deRalph Lennon, with whom I work at bate as to whether a fish that big would be King Fisher. He wanted to show too tough to be tasty. Now someone has them to Betty Staugler, so I emailed taken it too far. Even if a shark attacked the them to him for forwarding to Betty. I wasn't aware of their publication until I saw the article in goliath and some hungry fisherman with starving kids and a sick dog found the reWater Life. I would appreciate a nod in my direction for mains he couldn’t take a chunk out of it. the photos in your next issue. The law says you have to leave it floating. Thank you, Bruce Kuechmann When Charlotte County’s past Sea Hi Mike, Grant agent Rich Novak (they named a reef Read with interest Capt. after him) was alive, he was involved with Ron Blagoʼs article about the Bluefin Tuna Tagging Project in North Stump Pass and enjoyed it. Carolina. He made no bones about telling I would however like to me they tasted bluefin that had died, sushi point out that there is NO style, right on the deck, cutting out chunks Palm Island in the area that he references a couple of times. There is a Knight Island where his story is based. Ken Stead, Cape Haze Marina
like the slab missing from the goliath. He told me someone had brought soy sauce and wasabi aboard. But it was legal. When the manatee issue was big and Rich was alive we used to wonder what manatee tasted like too. So once, when Rich went to the Florida Marine Research lab in St Pete he asked if he could take a piece of manatee meat from a freshly dead animal they brought in that day. He said his request was ‘not very well received.’ The point is; It has to be legal. So who is responsible for the goliath? The answer is, in a way, we all are responsible. Here in Charlotte County, when it comes to fishing, we more often than not live in a culture that looks the other way and won’t point out their peers. I see it in tournaments and commercial fishing and I see it in recreational fishing and in guided fishing too. “Just don’t mention my name’ is what I hear the most, from guys who are not willing to stand up straight and speak the truth. That’s not just wrong it’s cowardly wrong. I’d bet there was more than one person around when that goliath was cut up. At some point, someone could have simply said No! Stop! I don’t want to be any part of this! Someone knows something so all that is required now, for bad things to continue, is for good people to do nothing.
Barracuda limits are coming: The State is considering creating a recreational and commercial slot limit of 15- to 36- inches, Ccreating a recreational daily bag limit of two fish per person, and creating a commercial vessel limit of 20 fish. Amberjack will go up from 30- to 34-inches
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Independant - Not affiliated with any other publication Vol XIV No 7 © 2015
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Contributing Editors:
Photography: ASA1000.com Senior Editor: Capt. Ron Blago River and Shore: Fishinʼ Frank Charlotte Harbor: Capt. Billy Barton Diving: Adam Wilson Punta Gorda: Capt. Chuck Eichner Venice: Glen Ballinger Estero: Capt. Joe Angius Kayaking: WRITER WANTED Sea Grant: Betty Staugler Offshore: Capt. Jim OʼBrien Beach Fishing: Mallory Herzog Circulation: Robert Cohn Pier Fishing: Bobby Vitalis Office Dog: Molly Brown (in memorium)
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Sticky Subject JULY 2015
Michael Heller Water Life editor If fish came with a users manual, the first line would say hold horizontally and keep submerged. That would be pretty much universal for all the different ‘models.’ Last month, in the publication whose name shall not be spoken here, I read an article by Capt. Rhett Morris. I’ve known Rhett for a long time and he’s a really knowledgeable guide. The article fueled an ongoing debate about lifting large tarpon part way out of the water for a photograph. The FWC regulation says fish over 40 inches may not be taken out of the water, so as long as some part of the fish is in the water it is not illegal. One under-informed local guide read what Rhett wrote and briefly posted on facebook about this publication condoning the practice, which at times we have. We have run photos of big tarpon in the boat with just the tail in the water and I talk to the guides who write for us about it. But we don’t tell our contributors what to do. If it’s legal it goes in print. If it’s illegal we say so. Capt Rhett, in his article, had said when a big tarpon is brought up vertically and you hear a ‘burping’ sound, that sound is the fish losing the air from its air bladder. He wrote: “ it is the last bit of air being forced out of the air bladder, once that is out it takes hard effort for the fish to force more air in because the sides of the collapse bladder stick together.” Rhett is a well respected fisherman. He handles lots of tarpon. He knows a lot more about tarpon than I do, but how exactly does he know that burp was the last bit of air in the fish? Tarpon have gills and they also breathe air. As I understand it, they have an air bladder that fills when the tarpon ‘roll’ and ‘gulps’ air in. I figure there is some physiological ‘valving’ that keeps that air in place; maybe
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a little escapes, but the last air? The air bladder walls sticking together made no sense to me either. That bladder would have to be pretty wet, taking in wet air and water as the fish rolled and gulped. And with all the air gone it’s just wet tissue. Mother Nature designs her stuff pretty well. Why would it stick? How could it stick? I called Carole Neidig at Mote Marine. I worked with Carole on our Kids Cup Redfish Tracking Project. She is one of the senior redfish/tarpon fish-biology experts at Mote. Carole said she hadn’t heard the last burp theory either and that she couldn’t imagine the air bladder sticking together. So I called Capt. Rhett and asked him where that idea about the air bladder drying out came from, was there a scientist that told him that? Did he read it somewhere? It turned out, Rhett got LIVE RELEASE Chris Cenci released this nice redfish into some clear water at ahead of science on this. He told me the Jacksonville. Live release technique has come a long way in the last 10 years. ‘air bladder sticking together’ was his theory and that he “had never had that conversation with photo? I think it is best to keep them totally submerged, a biologist.” Emotion had come before science and I hate but I still say no... it’s not bad to hold them up if you are man enough to hold the fish off the boat (see picture on it when that happens, especially in print, because then page 6), but if you have to drag the fish against the boat, trusting people believe it and when they eventually find knock its scales off and wipe off the slime - if you damthe real truth it often sets the greater cause backward. Could that ‘burp’ really be a warning sign, a check en- age its gills or its jaw, that would be bad. Last month I heard the FWC chairman was in Boca gine light, of sorts, for tarpon? Maybe. But if it is, it Grande Pass to observe tarpon fishing there. Word is, he means you have gone way too far already. saw snagged fish, a fish hooked in the eye and illegal jigs What it comes down to is clients wanting to get their in use. The tarpon fishery will continue to come under picture taken with a fish they might have just spent $800 extreme scrutiny so truth and accuracy are more importo catch. I bet a camera on a selfie stick could solve this. tant now than ever. Is it bad to lift a big fish partly out of the water for a
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Close Encounters PAGE
By Capt. Chuck Eichner Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor Inshore Brian Sabo has fished with me for over 10 years. He arrives from up north coming to Punta Gorda to fish for a variety of species which I generally have suggested to have the best fishing. Brian has experienced incredible snook, redfish and trout fishing. He has landed just about everything that swims around here except tarpon. Tarpon are often a fish of close encounters with a successful day being measured in hook-ups not boat side landings. I have had Brian come in April, May and July which are months I normally can count on for excellent tarpon fishing. I am a solitary fisherman so you won’t find me fishing in the pass or community spots on the beach. With that said there have been quite a few hook ups, fish up to 150 pounds jumped, lines snapped and hooks physically broken, along with a broken heart. Tarpon fishing is very addictive. Once in your blood the pursuit of this fish will cloud your vision long after your fishing trip is gone. Men have moved to Florida, quit their jobs and left their families because they become so possessed with this fish, literally! On this occasion I had Brian arrive in June. This is a month where most anglers quit tarpon fishing and in general after
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Holding a big tarpon away from the boat is the best thing for the fish, but it takes strength.
12:00 noon on the water, most boats have gone in because the mid-day sun is brutal. Along with this sun comes no wind and extremely flat waters, the perfect recipe to visually see tarpon on the surface. The first rule in tarpon fishing is to be where the fish are and the summer conditions here make this much easier. With an early start we caught ladyfish for bait. It seemed that the smallest ladyfish would jump off and the big ones made it to the boat. So with 12 mixed size ladies, off we went in search of the silver king. With lady luck in the livewells we stumbled onto tarpon immediately. Large hooks pierced through the roof of the ladyfish mouth and then free lined into the
JULY 2015
water, we patiently drifted as the fish disappeared. Suddenly, a truck size splash erupted behind the boat and 100 yards of line was burned off the reel as Brian struggled to get the rod out of the rod holder. Jump after jump this 150 pound monster pulled drag that was wrenched down so tight that you could not pull it out by hand. Repeated 50-yard runs proved the strength of this fish. Thirty minutes into the fight the line went limp and our hearts sank. A heavy Owner 8/0 hook was broken in the thick part! Regrouping, re-rigging and lines re-deployed I put a super large ladyfish on a broom-stick thick 8’ rod named “KingKong.” This was serious business and I brought out the big gun. In short order an explosion hit behind the boat, rod buckling and Brian grunting as he pressured the fish in the hot summer sun. A 100-pound tarpon leaps to the sky and 30-minutes later I turn and reach for the yellow fish gloves to complete the task. Then Brian announces ‘He’s gone!’ I look back into the water and see tarpon scales floating everywhere. What happened? And the reply was ‘a shark ate him!’ This was in the middle of the Harbor so if you are thinking about a jet-ski or water skiing, think again! Lines out again, King-Kong in the rod holder and wham! Brian gets a third shot at the silver king. Bowing to the king with every magnificent jump and head shake our mission was accomplished! A beautiful 120 pound tarpon was boated. As the third day of our 3 day fishing jag winds down we reminisced on going 4 for 8 on tarpon! That is 4 fish landed (including the shark attack at boatside) and three others. Add to that 4 sharks, 3 boated and one enormous, one we can only guess was 8 feet! ‘Epic fishing,’ were the words my good friend Brian used to describe his experience. No long trip to Costa Rica necessary for this kind of fishing, just a short boat ride out into beautiful Charlotte Harbor. Brian went home with tarpon fever for which, I am told, there is no cure. Capt. Chuck Eichner operates Action Flats Backcountry Charters and can be reached at 941-628-8040
JULY 2015
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Captains Like To Fish Too By Capt. Billy Barton Water LIFE Inshore The summertime on the water here in Southwest Florida never ceases to lack in excitement! Not only are the grass flats full of schooling redfish and big snook to partake in, but big fish such as tarpon, sharks, goliath grouper, and cobia are all over Charlotte Harbor as well. They arrive in herds, making their presence well known. Over the last month or so I've actually been able to get out there and catch a good amount of quality fish myself. This has been a nice added bonus, the reason I started guiding in the first place is because I love to fish! I'm a Gemini, I always make sure to go ahead and book myself some birthday fishin’ during the first part of June. Tarpon are at the top of the list when it comes to the fish that I want to catch personally. They're just too exciting of a fish to neglect and the most gratifying to put to the boat! I have some fantastic little brothers who know how to take care of their big
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brother and I'm a lucky man they are just as addicted to fishing as I am! So we all headed out during the week of my birthday to enjoy the tarpon action down on the Gulf beaches. Blue crabs were the bait of choice and the tides were right. The sun came up on Gasparilla Island and it wasn't long before
Tripletail to the left, big snook above
we found some fish rolling that looked relaxed and ready to eat. I made our way over on the trolling motor. It wasn't too long after that I was hooked up with a good fish and I had an ear-to-ear smile! We got an early start and it was well worth it! About a half an hour later I boated a great fish which had to weigh in
over 150 pounds. It made my birthday, I can't lie! After we landed my fish and snapped a few photos, we went back at it! It was too early for the birthday fishin mission to be complete. We all needed a tarpon! We made our way back to the school of fish and the boys threw a cast or two. It wasn't minutes later that my little brother Matthew was on with a great fish! You have no idea how much this makes my day. Matt’s fish after a great battle was boatside in no time at all. Now all eyes were on Austin. Unfortunately when we turned around after fighting the second fish, there were boats all over that small school that we originally had to ourselves. The fish looked over pressured now and aggra-
vated so we continued to move along the beach in search of other fish. Then I ended up having a trolling motor issue and wasn't able to get it working properly. Suddenly I was pretty bummed out. We had just gone 2 for 2 on fish over 100 pounds. I had to get my other little brother a fish, but the boat traffic was heavy and I had no way to sneak up on them. So the game plan at this point was now to go to the grass flats and catch some snook and redfish. As we ran down the beach, a school of fish popped up 100 yards in front of us. The fish were rolling hard in one direction towards the pass. There were no other boats around. I told the boys to get their rods and did a big circle around these fish giving them plenty of room. We were at a disadvantage without the trolling motor and we were only going to have one shot.
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I positioned the boat in front of them and waited for the fish to come to us. Both the boys made their casts (which were both perfect). Minutes later I was in disbelief as Austin’s drag dumped off of his spool and his big silver fish leaped through the air! We were on, and the birthday luck was with us again! Austin did a great job in battle and secured us a solid 3 for 3 on birthday tarpon over 100 pounds. But it was still early in the day, mind you. I couldn't have been a happier guy and I was very proud! Not every day do you land every tarpon you hook and not every day does each person on the boat go 1 for 1! We quit while we were ahead! I had one other birthday fishin trip that week on the grass flats. During that trip, I caught my new personal record snook at 47" and almost 30 pounds! Get this, I caught it on a tiny little pink Fishin Franks spinning rod! Go figure! The birthday luck was definitely by my side this year! These were fishing trips I will never forget! I'm grateful that I have good friends and family in this
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world who take the time out to take me fishin every once in a while! After all, the salty life I live all started with an addiction to fishin! You never know when your lucky days gonna’ be. That's what keeps you coming back and I wouldn't have it any other way. Don't forget to keep our waters clean and show respect to your fellow boaters! Till next time Capt. Billy Barton owns and operates Scales-n-Tails Fishing Charters. http://www.puntagordafishingcharter.com 941- 979-6140
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Frankisms and Fishinʼ Facts By Fishin’ Frank Water LIFE Baitshop Summertime, summer time, sum, sum, summer time, summertiiiiiime ..... It’s when the weather forecast is HOT with beautiful mornings and a chance of torrential rain in the afternoon. The weather people could just use a loop recording. The tarpon are moving back into the Harbor after the spawn and the feed is switching from crabs to fish - be it lady fish or thread fins. By mid month it will be time to get out the D.O.A. Bait Buster and swimming mullet lures as the threadfins and whitebait will get harder to find. The trick right now is the bait is following the tides. The bait is more susceptible to the salinity, so when the tides comes in the bait moves up and as the tides fall the bait will move down towards the Gulf. The hunt for bait is trying at best right now. My advice is to start looking at different places. Every one tries Marker No. 2 or No.1. Those are good places to find bait as both markers have 4 pilings which provide the bait with more shelter from predators, but many of the single piling markers will hold bait too. The only way to know if there is bait is to try one. With bait getting harder to find, lure fishing will get to be more the normal way to hook up your tarpon - don't forget the hitch-hiker rig with your Bait Buster rigged below a bobber since casting a lure for hours can be tough. Put the Bait Buster below a float about 5 feet and let the bobber do the jigging for you. Another question is why are there the king mackerel here in the Gulf? They should be far north by now, following the cooler waters. Now this is just a Frank-ism, (my idea) and it may not be a true-ism, but it explains why, for the last few years - and it only started just a few years ago, the kings have migrated north then returned to hang out here all summer long, Here goes: The kings will go past us in the spring following the perfect water temperature 68 to 72 degrees, which the kings like best. Then all of a sudden, a month later, the kings are back, scattered all along the coast. I started watching the Gulf water temperatures on
the weather and tides pages and right now it is 87.8 degrees off Naples. 89.2 off St. Pete and 86.7 off Pensacola. So about 1 degree difference from North Florida to us. The kings, once they get to the Panhandle and the water warms up, start heading back south stopping where ever they find good feeding. It is no longer a temperature thing like it was in the 70s, 80s and 90s. In the 2000s the weather has changed enough so there is little to no difference in temperatures, so now it is just about where the easiest meal is. I bet we see a run with a lot of kings this fall as the water temps drop. The kings will all start moving south if the Gulf gets cold enough. And north again in the spring as the water warms. So there are still two king mackerel runs, but once it is warm they scatter out looking for food. I am going to I-Cast the national fishing trade show this month. This year I am looking to add 3 new lines of lures. We will be adding more colors and style to the ones we have, and trying to find what will be the next Storm twitch, still the number one fish catcher, best selling lure of the last 3 years. If you have a lure or brand of lure, you think I should be looking at let me know. How do I choose what will be the next great lure? It all comes down to one person catching a fish with it, then telling a friend, who tells another - and if each of them catches a fish with it, it will be a hit. But if it only works for the first person, and not the second or third - which does happen a lot, then it’s a loser. My best guess is that lures which work really well for a few people and not other is that they need to be worked in a very certain way and that can make it or break it. Watch the heat, try to get out while it is still dark, just as the sun starts to show, the fishing will be at its best until 10, then slow down and by 2 in the afternoon it will be at its slowest. Try to be back in by 2 and then think about going out at night after the threat of storms is past. Night fishing in July is excellent and it is cooler and, best yet, the big fish are here to play with now. We call it vampire fishing - this is the time. And you won’t get sunburned. Be safe. Frank@fishinfranks.com 625-3888
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I got this email at the store last week: Hi Frank , I thought I would like to bring my grandchildren to a pond for some fun fishin today, so I stopped by, bought some wiggles and some corks and went to a nearby pond to try our luck and enjoy some quality time together. I was thinking to catch a few bream, maybe if we were lucky, a small bass. I brought my fly rod along just in case I couldn't find any live worms. Brianna caught her first fish on the fly rod popper! A beautiful bass and after the picture we released it unharmed to be caught another day. We decided to make a move and Justin catches this 37-inch grass carp on a Zebco 202! What an amazing day. Just wanted to share our Father's Day fun with you and say thanks ! Steve R. Englewood
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Estero Bay: Lerthargic Redfish
By Captain Joe Angius Water LIFE Estero Bay
Redfish are simply my favorite fish to catch. There is nothing more breathtaking than to pitch a piece of bait in front of a floating redfish, watch it flare its pectoral fins in excitement and pounce on your once living pinfish. The only problem posed this time of the year is that the summer heat has forced the redfish into a state of lethargy. This may discourage and frustrate a lot of inshore anglers, moving them toward the beaches in search of snook and tarpon. Though the snook and tarpon bite may be hot, I’m always in need of catching redfish. So, how can the task of catch-
ing redfish during the summer months be made successful?
Bait is and always will be my top priority when it comes down to being successful out on the water. In the case of catching lethargic redfish, there are only a few different types of baits that I like to use: live/cut pinfish, live/cut white bait, cut ladyfish, and cut mullet. The redfish in Estero Bay have been going crazy for cut and live pinfish. The live pinfish do extremely well early in the morning because the water temperature is still down and the redfish remain active. Later in the morning and afternoon cut pinfish and ladyfish can’t be beat. Pinfish can be found on almost any grass flat with clean-moving water. Chum the grass flat around you and make a few casts with your cast net. If those casts don’t seem to be producing, you may want to chum more or move to a different area on the grass flat.
The best part about using cut bait is that you can store and freeze the baits from your previous fishing trip and use them for your upcoming trips. Sometimes after my charters I will go out and catch ladyfish and cast net mullet to freeze for my next trip. This will save me time and ensure that
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I have enough bait for these elusive and lethargic redfish.
When it comes to catching these slow moving redfish there are a few things you must know. The number one mistake that happens more than often is the use of the wrong leader strength and material. I’ve noticed that 30-pound test leader material may be too thick and I’ll have to drop down to 25-pound or 20-pound test. Also, I’m a firm believer in fluorocarbon leader, opposed to the cheaper monofilament leader line material. After adjusting your leader, be sure you are using the appropriate sized hook. This depends on the size of your bait and the redfish being caught. For pinfish and white bait I’ll use a 2/0 Owner hook. For my larger cut ladyfish and cut mullet I’ll only use a 4/0 Owner hook. The larger hook leaves a gap for the bait to “compress” down and allow a successful hook set into the fishes’ mouth. My last tip to you is to chum generously. Anchor up on your flat or oyster bar, cut a bunch of bait, and chum the water around you. This will create a scent trail in the water, bringing the fish to you. Have fun fishing and don’t let the fish get to your head. It’s way too hot to become frustrated out on the water. Throw some cut bait out along the mangroves and relax under your bimini top, as you wait for your trophy redfish to strike. Be sure to follow all of the rules and regulations put into place, regardless of what everyone else around you is doing. Good luck!
Captain Joe Angius (727) 234-3171 Speakeasyfishing.com FlatsHQ.com Speakeasyfishing@gmail.com
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Getting By In July
By Capt. Betty Staugler Water LIFE Sea Grant
July 1st means RECREATIONAL GAG GROUPER SEASON for us here in the Gulf. Anglers can harvest 2 gags within a 4 grouper aggregate (gag, red, black, rockhind/redhind, scamp, yellowfin/yellow mouth) during the open season, which lasts until December 3rd. Gag groupers must be at least 22 inches total length to legally harvest. Donʼt forget you need to sign up for the Gulf Reef Fish Survey, a free add on to your fishing license if you are going to be targeting reef fish in federal or state waters. This requirement applies to all anglers including Florida residents age 65 or older who otherwise would not need a fishing license. Speaking of gag grouper, did you know that gag groupers are born females but later can become males (known as protogyny)? Scientists believe that this transformation is triggered when a grouper is the in an aggregation that are about to spawn and there are too few males in the population. Once a grouper changes from female to male, itʼs permanent. Adults spawn in February and March in large offshore aggregates. Juvenile gag utilizes the shallow seagrass beds in high salinity areas within the (Charlotte Harbor) estuary during early stages of growth. Mangrove lined shorelines, seawalls, and jetties can also be a suitable habitat. Some people who have caught the juvenile gag in seagrass beds have called them ʻGrass Grouperʼ mistakenly thinking they are a different species. The state record for a Gag Grouper caught is 80 lbs 6 oz. July 10 – 19 begins the TRAP CLOSURE FOR BLUE CRAB here in southwest Florida. All blue crab traps, recreational and commercial must be removed from the water during this time, with the exception of traps that are tied to personal docks. The traps closure every other year allows the state to remove lost and abandoned traps. Traps are much easier to remove from the water while they still have buoys attached. Although traps must be removed from the water, harvest of blue crabs using traps legally tied to personal docks or other landing gear is still allowed during the 10 day trap gear closure. During the last trap closure a couple of fish-
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ermen reported losing their bait fish traps. Although legal to remain in the water, when all the other traps are removed, bait fish traps are sitting ducks for theft, so I would suggest anglers remove these during the closure as well. Did you know that blue crab Callinectes sapidus means beautiful savory swimmer? Blue crabs are sexually dimorphic, meaning they have distinct male and female forms. Males have blue claws and a narrow abdominal apron (referred to as the Washington Monument). Females have red-tipped claws ("painted fingernails") and a broad abdominal apron (referred to as the Capitol dome). A female blue crab will only mate one time, during her terminal molt, although she may store sperm and spawn multiple times.
August 1st is this yearʼs GREAT BAY SCALLOP SEARCH. Now in its seventh year, the scallop search is a volunteer event aimed at documenting the health and status of bay scallop populations in our local waters. Bay scallop populations fluctuate widely from year to year even in areas of the state where populations are healthy. Here where populations are collapsed small variations in water quality conditions can mean the difference between an overall scallop count of a few hundred and an overall count of one. Regardless the scallop count is the only adult population survey conducted in our local waters which makes it an important event. The scallop search is a lot of fun too. Hopefully youʼll consider donning a mask and snorkel and joining us this year. Event details can be found on page 9. Now for some fun facts about bay scallops: Did you know that bay scallops are hermaphrodites meaning they have both male and female sex organs? Bay scallops reproduce by releasing eggs and sperm into the water. As fertilized eggs hatch, the young larvae are planktonic (free floating) for about
If you like to read, this is a wonderful informative book about blue crabs and watermen. It takes place around the Chesepeake Bay, but much is the same as here.
two weeks. Larvae then settle to the sea floor as spat (a juvenile), attaching to seagrass blades with byssal threads. Bay scallops lose this byssus and become free-swimming as they grow. Bay scallops in SWFL are protected from harvest, but recreational harvest of bay scallops is legal in state waters from the Pasco-Hernando County line to the west bank of the Mexico Beach Canal in Bay County between June 27th and September 24th.
Capt. Betty Staugler Florida Sea Grant Agent UF/IFAS Extension Charlotte County (941) 764-4346 http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu www.flseagrant.org
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AQUATICA Water LIFE underwater photos by Adam Wilson
Above Left Droping down on the wreck Roatan Express. Right: Itʼs blanketed with lionfish!
Why does the lowly lobster have to pay for The Sins of Lionfish? FWC is allowing 1 additional lobster to the lobster bag limit for every 10 invasive lionfish a lobster diver brings in. How does that work ?
Diver Adam Wilson notes “Lionfish hang out upside down in the wheelhouse. Iʼve never seen any fish do that.”
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By Capt. David Stephens Water LIFE Harbor Over the past few weeks I have been experiencing some of the best snook fishing I have ever seen. I recently ran a couple of charters that made me remember why I love my job. I was contacted by a new client that wanted to book me for two days - nothing out of the ordinary - I have clients that book multiple days all the time. After talking to the gentleman, he explained there would be four of them. Again nothing out of the ordinary. He told me that it was going to be him, his son, his grandson and With their tarpon: Ezekiel Cajigal, left, and Austin Rector his grandson’s friend. He said caught numerous snook and both had a it was very important that the young boys tarpon. So that worked out well. caught a lot of fish and that he would not The week before, I had a charter that be fishing. was the complete opposite. I was booked I have fished many family trips since I for a full day with one client. Mr. have been a guide. In over 15 years of Schmidt wanted to join me early to catch guiding clients this was a first. Mr. Rector bait. That turned out to be a great decisat back with his son and watched, and sion because it was one of those overcast, when I say watched, I mean in two 6-hour it’s-going-to-rain-any-minute days. He days of fishing he watched his grandson was interested mostly in snook fishing so and his buddy catch over 150 snook and we hit a couple snook spots and caught a not one time did he ask to fish. Honestly, good number of fish. It didn’t take long to I’m not sure I could have done that. I realize that he was an avid angler, so I have had grandpas in the past that would asked if he would be interested in a tarpush their grandkids out of the way to pon? A couple days earlier I had found fish. And to top it off, we found some tarsome juvenile tarpon on the flats. They pon back in one of the local canals, so at were very aggressive. We caught three the end of the second day, both boys had fish including one on a top-water on the first cast - we caught a lot of fish that day. I went to a couple spots to try to get a trophy snook to the boat but I was not able to – but when you catch over 50 snook and a tarpon on top water you really can’t complain! This is a great time of year to get out and enjoy some of Charlotte Harbor’s great fishing.
JULY 2015
Below: Jeff Schmidt
If you would like to experience some of Charlotte Harbors best fishing give me a call or send me an email. All of our charters are private and customized to fit you and your parties needs. Capt. Dave Stephens www.backbayxtremes.com 941-916-5769
JULY 2015
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MAN EATING SHARK
On The Line By Capt. Ron Blago
Water LIFE Senior Staff
Just when you you thought it was safe to go back in the water. Remember those words from the teaser preview of one of the greatest movies of all time, Jaws. I can hear that music theme running through my head anytime something bad is about to happen. That movie taped into man's most primal fear; the fear of being eaten alive. Rightly or wrongly, that movie changed the way we look at sharks forever. I was living in Sarasota around the time that movie came out; and as a proud member of the Sarasota Shark and Sport Fishing Club, I was at the forefront of the shark fishing frenzy. The membership of the club doubled over night and monthly tournaments brought crowds of people down to the docks at Hart's Landing to watch the sharks being weighed. A shark had to be at least 100 lbs to qualify. World record hammerhead and tiger sharks were caught in our local waters. We were considered the noble warriors, keeping our shoreline safe from villainous sharks. People loved and respected us. That didn't last too long. The practice of finning sharks started to get a lot of publicity. The idea of cutting the fins off a still breathing shark and throwing him back in the water to drown seemed pretty cruel to most people, but frankly I don't think it was that prevalent in our area. We had a few members of the club that finned a few sharks that they had already killed; but they couldn’t find anyone that wanted to buy the fins. Things were different on the Atlantic side of Florida. Back when commercial fishing was the king of Florida waters, there were a number of commercial longliners that routinely caught large numbers of sharks as bycatch. The dead sharks were usually thrown back in the water. The Florida Dept. of Agriculture, which had some control over commercial fishing at the time, decided that this was a missed opportunity and declared sharks an Under Utilized Species. In government speak, that means there is money to be made here and we are going to help you get it .... and take our share. The Department of Agriculture started a program to encourage people to eat shark. Every fishhouse and
A half-eaten dolphin that was possibly eaten by a shark washed up on a beach at the Jersey Shore last month. The animal was a 3-foot-long newborn that authorities said likely died and then was eaten.
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seafood restaurant seemed to have one of those “man eating shark posters” on the wall. Most people know that mako shark tastes a lot like swordfish and a slab of marinated black tip on the barbeque is good eating, so the number of sharks caught increased dramatically. As with most gold rush mentalities, the sharks started to disappear, especially the big ones. The pendulum started to swing the other way and regulations were increased and shark fishing was looked down upon. Current fishing rules allow a person one shark a day and two sharks per boat. There are 10 species of shark you are allowed to catch and 25 species that are prohibited to catch. Good luck trying to figure out the difference. Recently, there has been a number of tragic shark attacks involving children in Florida. Has something changed? Have sharks suddenly developed a taste for human flesh? Not likely. Sharks are very efficient eating machines. When bait and schools of fish are close to shore, sharks will swim in for a quick meal. If you happen to be standing in their way; well, bad things happen. Remember to be extra careful early morning and around sunset and be on the lookout for schools of fish close to shore. Getting bit by a shark is very rare, as a matter of fact you have a greater chance of being crushed by a falling vending machine than being bit by a shark; but it does happen. As one old timer once told me; The bite from the smallest shark is worse than the bite from the biggest dog. It might be time to take another look at our shark fishing rules. I don't see a problem with increasing the recreational bag limit or removing the boat limit. I also could see a limited commercial season during the summer months on the Atlantic coast. captronb@juno.com
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Hogfish Bonanza
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Capt. Joe Miller, Offshore Galore, has the spot for hog fish, as seen in these photos from a trip last month out of Venice Inlet.
Happy to be Fishing
A legend in his own time, Capt Eddie Tomer owner of Capt Eddie's Family Seafood Restaurant in Nokomis, shows a seafood sampler from an offshore trip last month.
$2 off any haircut!
JULY 2015
JULY 2015
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Fishing Venice Jetty for Snook
By Bobby Vitalas Water LIFE Pier Fishing Snook are a lot of fun to catch because they give a good fight. This snook was caught at the Venice Jetty, on the south side. I caught these snook in the early morning hours, till about 11:00 am. Snook fishing is great right now at the Jetty. Unless it changes, snook fishing is out of season in July, so you have to put them back into the water. To find the bigger snook, fish inbetween the rocks, in the deep pot holes. Most of the time, I use artificial lures when I cast. I have been trying this new lure for a while and it does allow me to catch fish. The lure I am using is the Berkley Gulp saltwater 3 inch shrimp color, (pearl white with a chartreuse tail). It comes in a six pack. The good thing about Berkley Gulp is that it comes with its own strong scent. When not in use, keep it closed in its bag so it does not dry out. The jig head I am using for the artificial shrimp is the D.O.A C.A.L short shank 3/8 ounce weight color (chartreuse head). Sometimes if the water gets really rough, I will go to a 1/2 ounce weight, but most of the time, when the water is calm, I use the 3/8 ounce weight. If you want to use bait for snook there, you can use live shrimp, or you can catch bait there at the
Jetty by using sabiki rigs. When using bait to catch snook, I suggest you try free lining, which means no bobber or weight. The hook size to use is anywhere from 2/0, to 3/0 Owner or Gamagatsu octopus circle hooks. Mangrove snapper are also biting there, but some of them are small. The bait to use is also live shrimp and you can also use the small bait there that people are catching with their small casting nets. Sometimes you will see the bait fish swimming in the water, and sometimes you will not. The hook size I suggest you use for the snapper is from 1/0 to 2/0 long shank hook do to their sharp teeth. If you are using live shrimp for the snapper and the snook, then I suggest you use the smallest sinker as possible. When spin casting with artificial lures, I use 30-pound test SUFIX ADVANCE SUPER line (BRAIDED), color (green) as my main line. For my leader line, I use no less than 3 feet of 25 pound test SEAQUAR 100 percent FLUOROCARBON leader line, which is invisible in the water. When tying your leader line to your jig head, I suggest you use the RAPALA knot because it will create more action out of the jig. If you have not used lures a lot, well, it will take some practice. So, if you want to use lures to catch snook with, try this lure.
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SAILING: BUDGET BOATS FOR THE HARBOR By Peter Welch Water LIFE Sailing Have you dismissed sail boat racing and cruising as being only for rich people? You can enjoy all the Harbor has to offer in a ten plus year old $3000 boat with a $300 motor! Add a trailer and that rig can explore similar bodies of water through the US and Canada. I started that way and have returned there to best fit current goals and budget. There are over 50 boat designs that might suit your budget and usage mix of racing and cruising. Scan the candidates at www.sailboatdata.com via a search between 20 and 23 foot boat length (the minimum for racing and the maximum for easy trailer towing/launching). The beam should be 8 feet maximum and the weight under 3000 pounds. A lifting keel or centerboard boat with trailering draft less than 1 foot is desirable to allow easy launch and retrieval at low tide. The mast should be deck stepped to ease installation and removal. Two boats that fit the criteria and have many satisfied owners are the San Juan 21 and the Catalina 22. The Catalina 22 has the proportions
of larger boats. That results in adequate side decks for passage to the bow for sail storage or anchoring. Those proportions also result in the cabin too low for standing head room, so there is a “popup” roof for comfort at anchor. The interior incorporates space to sleep four, cook, and hold a chemical toilet. The centerboard version is preferred for racing and trailering. The boat has modest sail area for its weight and would be deemed “slow” for most days on Char-
lotte Harbor. The racing rating considers normal local winds. So the boat may better its rating and be a winner in stronger winds. However in normal cruising situations it will lead one to use the outboard more often. The boat weighs 2250-pound and has a minimum draft of 1.7 ft. This will make it more difficult to tow and launch than the San Juan 21 that is 1200-pound and .7 ft. draft. The San Juan 21-2 has a fixed and raised cabin roof to increase cabin room. This looks “strange” or practical
depending on your priorities. Since the raised structure extends to the bow it should have a dryer cockpit than the Catalina when sailed into larger waves. It has more sail area/displacement than the Catalina, is a faster boat and will be more fun to sail most days. The racing handicap is adjusted for this so the racing skipper has to use the tactical options that offers. Crew weight will have to be moved to windward sooner and reefing the main sail will be required at lower wind strength than the Catalina.
Don’t let esthetics play a dominant role in your purchase. Focus on sound structure and seller demonstration of function of all systems. If you don’t feel qualified to assess performance and safety aspects of structure and systems find someone with that knowledge or hire a surveyor. Most sailboats that are raced have an owner’s group blog where problems and remedies are discussed. Local sailing clubs are a great knowledge base for the boats profiled. Get out there for family recreation and pwcboats@aol.com skill building.
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Sometimes
FWC officers received a picture of a Facebook post showing two male and one female subjects cleaning an American Alligator. Through investigation, they were able to identify the three suspects involved and determined that the alligator harvested was illegal. Arrest warrants were issued for all three subjects.
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Unsubstanciated,
Federal agents sniffed out more than fried fish on a flight from Jamaica to Miami and seized more than 2 pounds of cocaine sealed inside
An FWC officer was patrolling out in the Gulf of Mexico, off of Fort Myers Beach when he observed a rental boat with approximately 15 people on board. The officer followed the rental boat back to the local rental company to speak with the manager. A misdemeanor citation was issued.
tion the livery operator was issued a misdemeanor citation for renting a vessel to the public that was not in seaworthy condition.
Deep beneath the surface of the Mediterranean Sea, the sunken Egytian city of Thonis-Heracleion, long forgotten by time, was rediscovered last month.
manner and that the rubber band must have gotten wrapped up on Officers were working plain the hook by accident. He then clothes and in a marked vessel showed Lieutenant Ruggiero anin Boca Grande Pass. The offiother Tarpon jig that was supcers watched as a large crowd of vessels were shuffling for position in hopes of catchOfficers responded to a vessel ing Tarpon. Officers that sank with eight people on used their unmarked board in Lee County. There were vessel to mix in the minor injuries to two people oncrowd and look for vioboard. After a thorough investigalations in regards to This is no fancy fish jewlery, this is the new the Boca Corvette stingray emblem. It is made in China! Grande gear rules. After a while, the officers obposed to be rigged correctly, but it served a man fishing also was an illegal jig. A notice to with an illegal tarpon jig. appear was issued for the violaThe officers radioed tion. Lieutenant Ruggiero and he made way FWC officers received a call through the crowd and from dispatch in reference to a stopped the vessel. The local boater being threatened by a man began to alter the man with a shotgun. When the ofTarpon jig as Lieutenant ficers arrived by land it was disRuggiero got him away covered that the operator of an from the crowd of boats, anchored sail boat had become but Lieutenant Ruggiero upset that wakes were rocking his directed him to stop vessel. The man was placed what he was doing. under arrest for aggravated asUpon inspection, it was sault with a firearm. More officers determined that the man were called to the scene to assist was fishing with an illein removing the man from the gal Tarpon jig. He said This had to happen. Fishermen using water and get him to the County drones to spot fish. Is this going to be legal that he did not intend for Jail. in money tournaments? it to be fished in such a
But
Often
JULY 2015
True
The barge installing the Rapa Nui artificial reef installation off Deerfield Beach, flipped over during its sinking last month and landed on top of the 15 Easter island-style statues. Most of the sculptures were destroyed.
Officers were dispatched to Fish Eating Creek in regards to an alligator bite. One of the camper始s dogs was bit by a gator and that the camper shot the gator. The camper advised that the gator let go of his dog which sustained injuries to its hind quarters and will be receiving stitches
Officers conducted a detail in upper Tampa Bay, as a result of commercial Blue Crabbers alleging that their traps were being robbed on a regular basis. The officers set up in various locations waiting to see if the traps would be robbed. After several hours of surveillance, a local crabber was seen in the vicinity pulling traps that did not belong to him. He was subsequently charged with 10 counts of felony crab trap molestation, 10 counts of misdemeanor theft of blue crabs from traps, and possession of stone crabs
THE BOOBS Place names have evolved around Charlotte Harbor. The West Wall, Indian Fields, Two Pine, Jug Creek are names that have been around for a long time. A few years ago we added the Holiday Inn (a huge white residence near Colony Point) and The Elephant始s Butt, (a little double-cove south of Ponce Point) Now today we have this spot at the mouth of Trout Creek. Seen from the air it takes on a certain anotomical likeness so we are calling it The Boobs. That white spot is a boat fishing above the left one.
JULY 2015
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River Report
Kayaking Cow Island ce
PAGE 19
Peace
A
Pea
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Riv
er
Cow Island A Boat Ramp Liverpool Ruins
Cow Island is south of Nav-A-Gator but the Port Charlotte Kayak Club put in at the Hunter Creek boat ramp, came out the Liverpool cut-off, crossed the river and paddled upstream about a quarter of a mile to get in. We happened upon them last month and followed them to the spot marked ʻAʼ on the aerial to the left. Thatʼs where the paddlers are in the photograph above too. From there the group wandered through the Deep Creek area but we could not follow behind them. That day the water was up a little but for the most part, last month the Peace River dropped again when the rain stopped.
Up river, at the Horse Creek confluence, the water was barely deep enough for our boat and this big ʻthingʼ was sticking up past the Iron Pipes. We saw two boats and two airboats all morning.
On the north-east side of the Peace River, at the US 41 Bridge, a new County park is under construction. When completed it will have a boardwalk crossing under US 41 for pedestrians and bikes, a water taxi dock and two fishing piers along with parking, restrooms and landscaping. May 2016 is the first-phase completion date
Under Contract
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quick access to Ponce Inlet. Corner lot, ready to build situated amongst beautiful homes. SOLD $500,000!
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Home! 4/2/3 Built 1999, 2376sf air, short seawall and in great condition. Updated kitchen and baths with tile floors. SOLD! 459,000!
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Call the Captain! PGI Power Boat Home with Gorgeous Lanai! 3/2/2 pool home with quick access to Bass Inlet. Many updates, built in 1974 with 1575sfAir. SOLD! $309,000!
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20
The Olʼ Fishʼn Hole With Capt. Jim OʼBrien
Hey ya - all it's another month in paradise. Boy I'll tell ya it's HOT, HOT, HOT out on the water. We went out hole hopping on the 32 foot Contender the other day and the sun was straight down and 95 degrees. We soaked towels in cool freash water and put them around our necks, poured water in our hats to keep the ol noggin cool, ha, and drank water like a fish. Well there is a lot of action going on in the Gulf. Our story for this month is with good friends of mine from the U.K., Peter Boulton and his son Matthew from California also Walter Jennings and me. My fish'n buddies I talk to, to see what they and their friends have been catching said 'monster sharks on most of the offshore wrecks and reefs from 20 miles on out.' The barracuda are big, bad and hungry on all the offshore reefs. You will be very lucky to get a live bait down to the bottom or bring a big grouper or snapper back to
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the boat without being cut off. The red grouper are chewing real good in 100 to 140 feet of water, best baits for these big guys are live pin fish, squirrel fish, spot tail grunts and I am still doing very good on chunks of mullet topped with a strip of squid combo.
The snapper is from inshore to the deeper offshore reefs and wrecks. There are some big mangs being caught from the box cars out past the Bayronto. The guys are cutting the bigger pin fish on an angle and sending them down to the bottom, if you can get some small live pin fish that's even better. There are some nice size yellow tail and lane snapper mixed in with the mangs. The guys I talked to don't know anyone who has caught any big cobia, but there are a lot of small ones being caught on the inshore reefs. ( Novak ) I seen a small school of permit on the D- 9 Reef. I could not get a crab on fast enough, with a hundred big hungry barracuda down there these permit looked like they was doing 100 miles an hour. I
think they knew they was in deep do- do if you know what I mean. We seen Spanish mackerel and bonita mixed together in big schools in 75 to 80 feet of water. We didn't catch the first AJ at any of the offshore reefs and we were using blue runners but them big ol barracuda loved every one of them. Well my story for this month was fishing with a good friend that's fished with me for a lot of years. He and his family are from the U. K.. I don't know how many grouper and snapper we caught and lost to the monster barracuda but I can tell you this I have to go get another spool of
JULY 2015
fluorocarbon line and another big box of hooks cuz I'm a little on the lite side right now. HA! We fed big barracudas from 155 feet of water back to D- 9. I'm sending a picture a friend of mine sent me of a friend of his that was fishing off Fort Lauderdale, with a Capt. and caught this golden hammerhead. This one was 8 feet long and the Capt. said this was a big one. They usually run 4- to 6-feet. I never heard of one the Captains say they are rare. It was caught by Peter Sorrentino DON'T FORGET guys GAG GROUPER opened JULY 1 and AJ's don't open back up till JULY 31. Well that's all I have for now. It's time to get out of here so if you have a good ol fishn story or a recipe for cooking fish we can share with our readers or if you want to book an offshore charter with us give me a call ( 941 ) 473-2150 AND REMEMBER, GET OUT AND SNORT SOME OF THAT CLEAN SALT AIR, C U Z IT’S GOOD FER YA ! ! !
JULY 2015
Kidʼs Fishinʼ Fun
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John and Hunter Perry
By Mallory Herzog Water LIFE Fishing School is out for the summer. Kids are craving adventure and mom and dad are looking for fun and inexpensive activities. Fishing, camping and exploring our parks is a great way to get them out of the house and close to nature. There are plenty of beautiful areas to take the kids to for the day. From a quick morning trip to a day of fishing and fun in the sun. I found a few local kids that are making the best of their summer vacation. Children 16 and under do not need a Florida fishing license. John and Hunter Perry are brothers and fishermen. They love spending their summer days with their parents and friends on the water. They like all species, but they especially like heading off shore to pull up some grouper or get a shark on the line. You can count on these guys to bring home dinner! We have a number of great near shore reefs full of life offering grouper, snapper, barracuda and more. Giada Grabowsky is only 3, but is already a highly skilled fisher-woman. She loves spending her days on the boat or exploring our shorelines, toes in the sand and her fishing pole in hand. She makes the most out of any fishing trip and isn’t afraid to get dirty! She enjoys our local piers and beach front parks with mom regularly. Frozen or live shrimp is a great bait for such adventures. Rylan Slattery has fishing in his blood and it shows. On the water with mom and dad, catching larger fish than most adults.
Tayler Perry
Did you see the size of his snook?! I asked him why this snook was his favorite to catch and he explained how he got it out of the mangroves three times, all on his own. It’s his biggest catch ever. Nice job buddy! Gavin and Logan Spencer never turn down a day on the water with dad. Whether it’s exploring back water man-
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Aiden and Lane Perry
site, filled with groomed bike trails and outlooks on to the water. You can kayak and fish there as well as explore Lake Osprey and South Creek. Kayaks and canoes are also available to rent. There is something in this park for everyone. The Lester Finley Barrier Free Nature Trail is breathtaking. It is accessible to those with sight, hearing or mobility impairments. It has a wheelchair accessible fishing dock, butterfly observation area and drinking fountain. There is a fee of $5 to enter the park. This is a great place to take your kids. www.floridastateparks.org You can contact Big Bully Outdoors Charters for a trip with Captain Andrew Herzog. Call 941-661-9880 or BigBullyOutdoors.com
Giada Grabowsky
groves on the boat, or going on land pier or beach fishing for sharks, these guys know how to have fun. They also enjoy family camping trips in state parks such as Cayo Costa (close to home) and the cool waters of Weeki Wachee Springs (to our north). These are the memories that will hook your kids for life. The Perry kids are growing up fishing! Tayler, Aiden and Lane have caught more fish than some of the adults I know! Tayler the oldest, showed the boys how freshwater fishing is done, catching a nice bass. Aiden guides younger brother Lane towards fishing success. They enjoy freshwater and saltwater fishing. We are lucky to live where both waters are easily accessible. Florida is abundant in gorgeous parks to explore. One of my favorite is Oscar Scherer State Park. It’s a 1,381 acre state
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The Spencers
Rylan Slattery
22
Charlotte Harbor PAGE
Frank at Fishin’ Franks 941- 625-3888
What will happen now is the tarpon will start moving up into the Harbor more, switching from crabs to a baitfish on the bite, but because the rain is starting, there is not going to be a lot of bait. To find bait you have to look up and down the bars. Look down south when it
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July – Predictions and Suggestions
is going out and when the tide is coming in look north of Pirate Harbor or look halfway up the west side - and same thing
Christina Moesley got this snook barefoot
This gal, Kristine Love, caught half of the snapper caught, fishing with Billy Swanson. She was awesome!.... the email said.
with the threadfins: outgoing/south, incoming/in the deep holes. It’s almost the same with the tarpon you really have to look for them more. They will be at the 41-Bridge at night and moving out at daybreak. In the morning they leave the bridge, go to Fishville and then over to the mouth of the Myakka.... then they scatter from Hell to breakfast. In the middle of the day they are in the deep holes in the Harbor. Snook have been excellent along the beaches. May was the end of the snook spawn and we have a lot of fish moving back into the harbor now. The are hungry after spawning, historically they will go to Pirate harbor then up the east side and the lower half of the west side where we are now getting a nice snook population, but the majority are still along the beaches. We had a bunch of
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JULY 2015
fish go into the Gulf and become reef fish this year, whether they stay will be the question. In July the bait will change and we
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The BIG-4
TARPON Coming up from the south and retreating
will see a lot of tiny whitebait this month, we are dealing with a fresh hatch and they are hard to deal with. You need a small cast net, 1/4-inch or smaller. We are looking for a good month on trout here this month and I don’t know why. They are hanging around hog island, Bokeelia and off Bull Bay. Some north, on the east side, are averaging 18- to 20-inches They should be gone by now but the water is warm everywhere. We have had quite a bit of redfish back up in the canals where they shouldn’t be this time of year and there has been a nice bunch of fish on the west side, a couple of 200-fish-schools south of Matlacha - between there and Ding Darling, all too big and it’s hard to find a keeper. Spanish mackerel made another appearance, but they should thin out now, they have been on the near shore reefs all along the beaches, a real surprise visit. Kings are out there too, and pretty good numbers of bonita and cobia in the Gulf and here in the Harbor. And weird upon weird there are triptail up in the Harbor now. March is usually the end of it for them. I don’t think they can go anywhere much cooler, either so if there is food they will hang out. We have a lot of fish, up on those long incoming tides. Shark fishing is going to be good here. July will see an increase in bigger sharks up in the Harbor. They have all given birth now and they are hungry again. There have been lots We went out for red snapper. I took Christian VanDerVere and his buddy Steven McMahon. We went with Charlie Vrabel out of Punta Gorda to a wreck in 110 feet of water off Sanibel. We caught huge vermillion, lane, mangrove and red snapper mixed with cudas, aj's and almaco jacks. Charlie reeled up a goliath. I'm guessing it was around 200 pounds, so it was just a teenager. Steven McMahon (backwards hat) has an almaco. They are legal to keep as they are an unregulated species. They look similar to an amberjack but with a deeper body and higher dorsal fin. Adam Wilson
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Fish to expect in
SNOOK Catch and release only look on/near the beaches
of goliath up in the canals, one guy caught some 40-to 50-pounders off his dock. Bass fishing doing pretty good, purple and green are the soft plastic colors.
July
REDFISH Way back in the bushes staying cool
PAGE 23
Gulf Temps are high 80s SHARKS Still all over, more rain will move them south
The Harbor is 3- or 4-degrees warmer
WARNING
Very HOT - Very EARLY
Jim at Fishermen’s Edge 697-7595
Fishing is good. There is a lot of action this way in the snook business with good luck on fishing the beach monster with big threadfins and whole mullet. Guys catching 20 plus pound, 45-inch monsters around Little Gasparilla and Stump Pass. Redfish have been caught up in Lemon Bay and down to gasparilla, all slot fish with some tournament 7-to 8pound fish. There have been small cobia up in the Harbor, mostly lower slot, caught on pinfish. Red grouper fishing has been great Flounder are around and the mackerel and snapper bite is really good in the passes on the outgoing. The Tom Adams Bridge Pier is back open and they say they are catching a lot of snapper. There is some confusion on ABOVE: Jon Michael Reinhard caught a huge true black grouper snapper having different requirements about 60 miles off with Bad Habit fishing charters. He said it was about 117 pounds and a ʻBig Dogʼ. He used a squirrel fish for bait. for state and federal waters. And there is quite a bit of tarpon. They went out to spawn and now they are back. We got 3 in 3 hours, all 100 - to 110- pounds. We were fishing with squirrel fish. They didn’t jump, they just hit the bait and went screaming off into the sunset.
95˚ 90˚ 85˚ 80˚ 72˚ 70˚ 68˚ 50˚ 45˚
FISHING RIGHT NOW:
Great!
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