Water LIFE March 2014

Wa t e r

Pe Aq u Pa rm at ic ge i a t 14 -1 tin 5 g Low Viz

LIFE

Charlotte Harbor, Lemon Bay & the Gulf Keeping Fishermen and Boaters Informed since

1996

The Don Ball School of Fishing

March 2014 Why Kill Ladyfish?

Page 5

Page 22

Fresh Fish!

Current Photos

Page 8

Toothy Sheepshead and other catches

Fishing Report

They are Everywhere

Page 9

Page 26

www.WaterlifeMagazine.com

Always FREE!

PAGE

2

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

MARCH 2014

MARCH 2014

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

PAGE 3

PAGE

4

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

MARCH 2014

Tune in to the Radio Fishinʼ talk show with

Fishinʼ Frank @ FishinFranks.com

LETTERS

Water LIFE inc.

email: WaterLIFE@comcast.net Mike (Photo at Right) Fishing Monday in heavy fog. Ran across this derelict boat anchored from the stern. There was plywood covering it. You can see the yellow line anchoring it. I reported it to the coast guard. Here's the pics and the coordinates. I was off Gasparilla Pass. About 10 miles out. Do you have any idea why anyone would do this?

Lester Kuhn Editor Replies: No, I just canʼt think like that.

PICTURES AND A NOTE FROM DUSTIN SMITH: All these fish were caught this week during this split personality Florida weather. Wondering if you could feature one in Waterline? Thanks, Dustin Smith WE WROTE DUSTIN BACK: We are Water LIFE, lol! I know, It's my fault! I created both publications. As long as you didn't send the photo to the other guys, I'll try to use it. Let me know. Artificial bait?

DUSTIN RESPONDED Lol! I'm sorry, no didn't send it to anyone else... Yes sir, Artificial ... BTW, your paper is better:)

Dear Water LIFE I just read two pages from the last Water LIFE Magazine and am totally interested in becoming a subscriber. I went to your website but could find no info on how I might obtain this status. I noticed that the cover stated Free but not where. I live in Venice and would like to know how to be a regular reader.

John Mather

Editor Replies; Myakka Oyster Bar, Cooks, West Marine, Silent Sports or read us online, also free at www.waterlifemagazine.com All the ads are live linked there.

waterlife@comcast.net www.WaterlifeMagazine.com

Michael & Ellen Heller Publishers

(941) 766-8180

217 Bangsberg Rd. Port Charlotte, FL 33952

Independant - Not affiliated with any other publication Vol XIII No 3 © 2014

No part of this publication (printed or electronic) may be copied or reproduced without specific written permission from the publishers.

Contributing Editors:

OUR QUESTION TO THE NEW ANGLING GROUP: RESPECT THE FISH

Photography: ASA1000.com Senior Editor: Capt. Ron Blago River and Shore: Fishinʼ Frank Charlotte Harbor: Capt. Billy Barton Family Fishing: Capt. Bart Marx Punta Gorda: Capt. Chuck Eichner Venice: Glen Ballinger Kayaking: David Allen Sea Grant: Betty Staugler Offshore: Capt. Jim OʼBrien Gulf Fishing: Capt. Steve Skevington Circulation: Robert Cohn Office Dog: Molly Brown

What's your 'take' on tournaments that encourage anglers to bring back fish on ice (trout and ladyfish so far) and then donate the fish to various causes. Is it ethical for a private for-profit tournament to do that?

Is that respect?

Thanks

Michael Heller Hey Michael,

Thanks for your question. We do not support any tournaments offering cash prizes (or prizes with significant monetary value). We only support non-profit, catch-and-release tournaments which focus their efforts on education and conservation.

on the COVER: An 8 pound sheepshead shows its big sheep-like teeth aboard a Charlotte Harbor charter with Capt. Billy Barton last month. Those teeth could bite off your finger!

The "donated fish" thing is nothing more than a PR stunt, and we all know that.

Respect the Fish

We don’t just count the people we reach, we reach the people that count!

ADVERTISE HERE!

$99 per month!

Water LIFEʼs 1/8 page ad (this size)

still just

call 941-766-8180

The effective & economical month-long advertising solution

4- C O L O R is always FREE WE areTHE WAY to reach people who love the WATER!

www.waterlifemagazine.com in print - online - and always FREE

Online: TURN THE PAGES EVERY MONTH Back Issues to 2004 Kids Charters Fishing Classes Tides Weather Sailing Kayaking Diving One-click Links from the address in your ad to your website

O ur web sit e is Eas y to n a vi g at e

Water LIFE on your Device too!

Advertisers: Your Ad will look BETTER on our NEW clean white paper!

“Like a good day on the water”

Kill Your Limit?

MARCH 2014

By Michael Heller Water LIFE Publisher In January the Charlotte Sun Newspaper ran a kill tournament on trout. This month they are involved in a kill tournament targeting ladyfish. They will donate the fish to a charity, but why? Why the kill tournaments? Who’s idea is this? Why not catch and release? It is counterproductive to promote our Harbor as a living breathing estuary when the local newspaper encourages people to kill fish.

This is a women’s tournament for ladyfish, but anyone can enter. People were talking about this. It could have been a fun event had it not been a kill tournament, but now it’s just another fish-kill.

Whose idea was it to take fish from the fishery and donate them? That should be an individual decision and not a mandate for entry by a tournament. If they want to donate something let them donate their own money, not everyone else’s fish.

Where would the fishery be if we started putting redfish in the Fry-Daddy at the weigh-in instead of releasing them?

There is nothing wrong with giving a fish or two to your neighbor when you come back from a successful day fishing, but telling people to bring back 10 of any species dead in a bag is ethically wrong.

We teach kids in our 7th grade program about fishing, we teach: Limit Your Kill – the Sun is asking the opposite. We teach: Take only what YOU will use. Doesn’t that apply here? Am I missing something?

Are we teaching the kids the wrong stuff?

I think not!

I’ll keep reporting on tournaments.

Tournaments are a part of the public

BACK ISSUES @

image of local fishing and as such they have a place and a responsibility to be ethically correct. People keep telling me ‘times have changed.’ It’s time to prove it.

What the Sun is doing is not the same as giving a fish to your neighbor, the Sun is orchestrating a ladyfish harvest. They say they hope for around 400 pounds of fish.

To gain some PR from the event the Sun will donate the fish to CROW, the Clinic for the Rehabilitation Of Wildlife, on Sanibel Island. I went to CROW last month to see what they did there and what their rescued birds were currently eating.

It wasn’t ladyfish. I saw finger mullet, sardines and threadfin herring. The clinic buys the fish from a commercial supplier for between $1.50 and $2.50 a pound.

CROW is not running out of money for critter food, in fact, they just built a beautiful new visitor’s center. A staffer told me sometimes they get donations of leftover baitfish from the local live-bait shops, but they never had a donation where people

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

PAGE 5

Birds at CROW - a pelican and night heron are shown here, both were fed small baitfish.

went out and killed fish for them.

I imagined the Sun’s dead ladyfish donation might have looked like moneysaved to CROW, but that group’s association with a kill tournament didn’t make sense so I sat down briefly with CROW’s Executive Director Stephen Calabro to discuss it. “It does seem odd,” Calabro said, surprised at my question, and then adding that “CROW isn’t a fishery-facility but a mammal-facility,” ... as if that mattered. ‘How big is a ladyfish?’ he asked me.

The fish and fish pieces I saw in the CROW hospital feeding area that morning were all relatively small. ‘We have a big freezer downstairs, we can stack the ladyfish and cut them up smaller,’ a CROW hospital worker told me.

CROW was founded in 1968. They treat over 4000 animals a year. I watched their doctors, interns and volunteers take care of the animals that morning: if I was

a sick mammal I’d want to be treated at CROW. The equipment, attention and genuine caring was all first class.

Right now, Charlotte Harbor anglers are talking and messaging about how to improve Charlotte Harbor. A new CCA chapter is forming and a new group, Respect the Fish, has come on the scene.

Suggestions going around between anglers include: planting seagrass, building oyster beds and digging ditches in the upper Harbor’s perimeter to create more nursery for juvenile fish. Nowhere in any of it has anyone ever suggested thinning the ladyfish population. Mother Nature brings tarpon here to do that.

PAGE

6

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

Single Handed Pictures By Capt. Billy Barton Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor

Editor notes* – Capt. Billy called me early this morning, he had been in the emergency room the night before with a severely infected thumb, a victim of too much bacteria and not enough rest. “I’ve been fishing every day for the last three weeks,” Capt Billy had told me a day before, but now he was hurting.

“What did it was I was filleting a bunch of fish from one of my charters for Kingfisher Fleet, and I got a spine from a porgy under my fingernail. It went up all the way up to the quick,” Capt. Bill had said, wincing.

People who had seen Capt. Billy the days before had commented that his thumb was twice the size it should have been. He had a big knot on it too, Kingfisher Fleet Captain Ralph Allen told me. But Capt Billy didn’t want to see any of his charters disappointed.

So this month we have all of Capt. Billy’s pictures, but none of

Deli, General Store – and More!

Fast, Fresh Breakfast and Lunch - Open to the Public Call or text your order: 941-677 - 3137

Open Tuesday - Saturday: 7:30 am - 7:00 pm, Sunday 7:30 am - 4:00 pm

his fishing wisdom.

One of the things Capt.

Billy told me when he sent his pictures along was about a young man named Adam a second grader who, a long with his mom, fishes with Capt. Billy every year. “Adam caught a black drum and it was an incredible fight. It was the biggest fish he ever landed,” Capt. Billy said. See photo above.

That was no surprise since big fish are Capt. Billy’s specialty.

Another mention was of the redfish that had a gaping wound on its back, I’d guess from a prop strike.

The fish fought like normal and swam away when it was released.

There would have been some good stories this month, but Capt. Billy had to get his hand better before he did anything else.

Get well, Capt. Billy, we hope to see your words of fishin’ wisdom here again next month. – MH Capt. Billy Barton, Scales & Tails Fishing Charters 941- 979-6140

MARCH 2014

Snook Reopens in Gulf State Waters MARCH 2014

BACK ISSUES @ BACK ISSUES @

The recreational harvest season for one of Florida’s premier game fish, snook, reopened on March 1 in Florida’s Gulf of Mexico State and adjacent Federal waters. Snook season in Gulf waters had been closed since the devastating freeze of 2010 when thousands of snook died. The season will remain open through April 30. In the Gulf, anglers may keep one snook per day that is not less than 28 or more than 33 inches. A snook stamp on your saltwater fishing license is required to keep snook, unless exempt from the license requirements. Only hook-and-line gear is allowed when targeting or harvesting snook.

ITʼS ALL IN HOW YOU HOLD ʻEM Our friend Alan Grant shows us itʼs important to hold a big snook horizontally!

Alan retired from Pool Sharks in Englewood, last month after 13 years and is now fishing whenever he wants, which is pretty much what he tried to do before ! Catch ʻem up, Alan! Send more pictures!

Reef-Fish Angler Registration Considered

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is hosting several public workshops in early March to gather public input on a proposal that would improve recreational reef fish data collection. The proposal would create a mandatory permit or registry system for Gulf of Mexico recreational anglers who target reef fish like red snapper, grouper, amberjack and gray triggerfish. The wording ‘anglers who target’ could be an out for anglers who don’t want to bother registering.

CCA Florida is an advocate of the program. CCA believes the proposed Gulf Reef Fish permit will enhance data collection in Florida's Gulf waters making it easier to generate better data for management.

The workshops are scheduled for the following locations and times in our area, other workshops listed on MyFWC.com: Monday, March 3: Fort Myers (6-8 p.m. EST), Bass Pro Shops, 1004 Gulf Center Dr. Tuesday, March 4: St. Petersburg (6-8 p.m. EST), Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, 100 Eighth Ave. SE. Reef fish species include groupers, snappers, amberjacks, triggerfish, porgies, Snapper – Capt. Billy Barton, mid Feb, Kingfisher Fleet sea bass, hogfish and tilefish.

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

PAGE 7

PAGE

8

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

MARCH 2014

FRESH FISH!

Last Month’s Pics This Month’s T ips

Report by Capt. Jim OBrien TRIPLE TAIL - are still out around the crab traps – if you see anything floating on the surface check it out. Best bait: a real small silver spoon tipped with shrimp or a flutter-jig tipped with shrimp, either one ought to bring dinner home.

AMBERJACK - are still crushing big pin fish and blue runners out off the offshore wrecks.

MANGROVE SNAPPER - are still biting good on the inshore and offshore reefs. Use shrimp or, if you have any fresh bonito, that is also good bait.

RED GROUPER - are chewing good in 100- to 110-feet of water. We found that stink bait was working better than live bait. Mullet chunks with squid pieces or whole squid worked well.

SHARKS - are in Charlotte Harbor, Boca Grande Pass, and on the beaches. Chunks of bonita or a whole mullet cut on the sides to let scent out.

SHEEPSHEAD - the boys are telling me there is no shortage of these tasty guys. The trestles, El JoBean bridge, around the bridge pilings and some of the inshore reefs all have sheepies. Best baits, fiddler crabs and sand fleas. Take the sand fleas and boil them in an old pot till they turn pink and then ring the dinner bell.

Capt. Joe Miller of Fish Galore Offshore, out of Venice, gave us these happy anglers with numerous different species (from top, clockwise) amberjack, triggerfish, tuna, snapper, true black grouper, amberjack

Tommy Ali, above. Raven Ali , below.

My wife Raven surprised me with an offshore fishing trip for my birthday. We went 60 miles off the coast of Sarasota aboard Let Er Rip a 31ft Contender, Captained by Albert Rivenburgh. Our friends Eric Egan, Doug Whisler and Dennis also went along. We were put on fish right away and then it was all day rippin' lips with constant double and triple hook ups. We all can't wait to do it again.

Doug Whisler, above , and Albert Rivenburgh with AJs

MARCH 2014

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

Manatee Survey: Good News and Bad News ON THE LINE

By Capt. Ron Blago Water LIFE Senior Staff On Jan. 24 and Jan. 27, the FWC finally conducted an aerial survey to determine an accurate population of manatees in Florida. The last survey was done in 2011 when 4834 manatees were counted.

This year the results were 4831 manatees counted; almost the exact number found in 2011. Reaction to this latest bit of information has been amazingly underwhelming in the media. It's hard to believe that just 20 years ago the headlines were full of the prediction of gloom and doom for the fate of the manatee in Florida. This time it was really hard to find many people who would make a prediction of the manatee's future.

Facts are such stubborn things and when you consider the high death toll the last three years due to cold snaps and red tide outbreak you might think that the manatees are doing pretty good. Another stubborn fact is that since 2011, 1674 dead manatees have been reported; that's 35% of the known population and yet the population remains constant. How you interpret these facts, in my opinion, is determined by whether you make money off of manatees or manatees cost you money.

The first reaction is total denial; like biologist Holly Edwards who said: “It's impossible to draw any inferences from this survey.” You may have a hard time convincing people that there are more manatees than you found; but if you counted 4831 manatees, you have to admit there are at least that many, and that is a lot more than the 1,267 they counted in the first survey in 1991. And some folks are still blaming man for everything, like this Tampa Bay Times quote “If there were a poster child for a species undeniably damaged and persecuted by human kind, it might be the Florida manatee.”

It may not seem fair to lump together all humanity for persecuting the manatee so Mote Marine has narrowed the field with this statement: “The most immediate threat to its (manatee’s ) survival is collisions with boats.”

If a lie is big enough and you tell it long enough, people will believe it's true.

No organization has pushed that lie and profited off the manatee more than the Save the Manatee Club. According to their 2012 IRS 990 form, they brought in $1,122,639 and paid 61% of that in salaries to their 26 employees. Including the $87,310 they pay their long time executive director. Now that's a non-profit organization we can all be proud of!

I always felt that the three greatest cons I have seen were, the Pet Rock, have a Star Named After You and Adopt a Manatee.

So what impact will this latest survey have on manatees and manatee protection plans? Not much I'm afraid. The manatee was put on the endangered species list not because of the size of the manatee population, but because of what threatens it: loss of habitat and collisions with speeding boats. Le’s face facts, we can't make any more habitat and no one is going to give up their boat. That means we can have a million manatees in Florida and they will all still be considered endangered.

Captronb@juno.com

Call 255-1555

PAGE 9

Almost Gator Bait PAGE

10

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

Torry Island Campground, Lake O

By Capt. Chuck Eichner Water LIFE Road Trip Lake Okeechobee is the nation’s premier largemouth bass fishery and with a drive time less than 2 hours from Punta Gorda, we have quite the opportunity for adventure and incredible fishing. Late February and early March is absolutely prime time at the “Big O” with bass in prespawn and spawn mode making them particularly accessible. With this as my calling, my wife Joyce and beagles name Gator and Finny, spent 4 days camping at a park named Torry Island Campground.

Located on an actual island in the southern end of the lake it offers everything a fisherman could want and your boat can stay right behind your campsite with only a minute to the lake! Most campers here use an RV, as we did, and after setting up I zoomed into the wilderness with little idea of where to fish. Heading towards the middle of the lake through tight bulrush channels I put the boat up high on step to create a path to open water.

Suddenly an alarm went off on my motor and I turned around to see white smoke pouring out of the engine.

Certainly not the kind of start I hoped for! The next hour I troll-motored in the direction I came from, waiting for the engine to cool down with prayers for a recovery.

Luckily the motor started and I headed closer to camp and fished for an hour down a gorgeous stretch of lily pads and aquatic grasses. One lucky cast with a Devils Horse prop-bait met with a blow up. A miss and a follow up with a tube-bait brought a fat 15” bass aboard as did

With the dog tied on, and my underwear hung out to dry, I went back to fishing.

several others in quick succession. A good start for an hour of fishing. Then it was back to the camp!

As dark approached a buzz filled the air outside the RV as millions of mosquitoes surrounded the area. Open-

MARCH 2014

ing the door only once to let the dogs out allowed 50 mosquitoes in, we spent the next hour killing them, surprisingly half were full of blood, which of course splattered anywhere they were struck. With that Joyce was pointedly in a bad mood and the Okeechobee excitement went down hill.

But the next morning was beautiful and a walk in this enormous park was grand until we walked back to the camp to find an alligator, far from the waters edge and near our RV. Beagles would be snack food for a gator and I did not want my beagle named Gator to become an urban legend! We had selected the most remote area to set up where no other campers were….wrong! So after relocating camp, our day then began with zipping out into the lake and heading over to the stretch of aquatic grasses where the bass bit so well the night before.

Casting Gambler Big EZ’s and Reaction Innovation’s Skinny Dippers, a thrashing wake was created every cast by the large plastic tail on the 6” swim bait. Over lily pads, skirted onto hydrula grass and in between standing bullrush we cast. The hits were explosive and we had 3 hours of just plain crazy fishing.

Quite a few nice bass were caught, but most missed the target. The key to fishing this type of top water bait is to pause after a bass inhales your bait so that he can shuffle the lure down further into his mouth which is the key to getting a good hook set.

We topped that good fishing off with a bit of large shiner fishing. Slim’s Fish Camp is adjacent to the park where you can pull up by boat and get nice live bait. At $2 each these wild shiners were dropped below a cork and tossed into the salad mix. Joyce managed a really nice one and many others were lost before days end.

The third morning’s fishing started off with unexcontinued on facing page

MARCH 2014

continued from facing page

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

backwater area of dirty brown water which I thought was a bad thing, but my confidence picked right up when a bass slurped my top water bait. For the next 2 hours lots of bass were hooked including a 6 pounder!

The last day of our Torry Island campground adventure involved biking the area, riding on top of the levy and exploring the Sugar Cane Golf Club course situated amongst active sugar cane fields. The scenic ride took a scary twist when a gator positioned on the edge of the trail snapped at me as we went by. The clubhouse manager described a much bigger gator that lives in that area of the course and

pected excitement. Changing the shiner rigs back to top water baits, the boat slid up against a field of floating hyacinths. I cautioned Joyce to watch for gators as I focused on lure tying.

Out of the corner of my eye I detected movement in back of the boat and I turned to see Finny (my 20 pound, 2 year old beagle) half walking/half swimming across lilly pads and floating hyacinths.

A quick glance out for gators and I made a leaping swan dive into the Big O. Immediately my legs were entangled in 4 feet of dense spaghetti like vegetation as I thrashed my way to Finny and put the grab on her. Holding her up Joyce with a nice bass. The camera might and barely able to move with the have gotten wet! octopus like grab of the lakes aquatic entanglement, Gator jumps said not to worry. in swimming our way! Gator is an 8 year old beagle I learned several lessons on this adventure which that hates the water . You could not normally coax included packing a dust-buster vacuum to suck in into a swimming pool with a T-bone steak, but she the skeeters inside your tent or RV, tie the dogs on was coming to us! A true sense of urgency overthe boat when fishing, plan on being inside after came me as the two dogs I was holding thrashed and 5:00 pm and expect a gator to appear at any moI swam our way back to the boat. We had been seement, any day, on land or water! ing large alligators pretty much everywhere we went If you are looking for adventure, perhaps a fisherthis trip and the thought of one grabbing me in the man and a golfer, then Lake Okeechobee and Torry water was frightening!

Island Campground is the place for you.

Safely on board, my clothes hung out to dry, Capt. Chuck Eichner operates Action Flats Backcounadrenaline still pumping, we got back to fishing. try Charters and can be reached at 941-628-8040 or go to Heading out into parts unknown I slid into a his website www.Backcountry-Charters.com

PAGE 11

GLOBAL Temperatures

Global Chart Published by NOAA, Feb 20, 2014, 5:17 PM EST

The National Climatic Data Center says even though it was generally colder than average east of the Continental Divide and in parts of Siberia, it was warmer than average everywhere else.

Conservationists in Russia始s Astrakhan region have drilled more than 25,000 holes in the ice to prevent a major fish kill in the area始s waters. Thick ice and snow results in a lack of dissolved O2 in the water since the ice blocks sunlight from oxygen-producing plants.

North American fish populations could be in similar danger.

PAGE

12

Snook Behavior

By Capt. David Stephens Water LIFE Inshore March is that magical time of year when things here on Charlotte Harbor begin to change. We have had a pretty cool winter this year in South West Florida but nothing compared to our friends to the north. Now big changes are coming. What I consider to be one of the best game fish that inhabits our local waters is coming out of winter hibernation and will be feeding to make up for their lost fat reserves. If you have not guessed yet, I’m talking about the snook. During the winter months they move to deep water haunts where the depths offer more of a consistent temperature. However those days are hopefully in our rearview mirror, so let’s talk about how and where to catch snook this month.

With the warming water snook will be hungry, very hungry and spring time is one of the best times to not only catch big snook but to catch a lot of them. As the mercury levels start to make their steady spring increase the Harbor comes alive.

The lush grass beds begin to grow, baitfish return to the shallow flats and snook fishing comes back to Charlotte Harbor.

Locating feeding fish can often be eas-

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

This was a two for one. Not sure if the snook was trying to eat the trout, or the bait was hanging from its mouth and the trout was trying to eat it and got hooked.

ier said than done. The shallow flats will be the feeding grounds during the early spring months. The majority of snook will not be far from deep water access until they feel the last cold fronts are a thing of

MARCH 2014

the past. The local flats that are close to move to a different area.

If you would like to experience some of deeper canals and creeks are great places Charlotte Harbors best Snook fishing give me to locate fish. Our local rivers such as the a call or send me an email. All of our charters Peace River and the Myakka River are are private and customized to fit you and your also great fisheries during the spring party’s needs. Capt Dave Stephens 941-916months. If you decide to venture into 5769 www.backbayxtremes.com these areas be very careful, there are a lot of sand bars that are hard to see due to the darker water there.

Snook feed on a wide variety of baits, from artificials to shrimp and cut baits. My bait of choice is sardines, but locating these guys can be tricky. Try looking around Marker No. 2. If you are unable to locate live sardines, pinfish and large shrimp will also get their attention. For the anglers that prefer to throw plugs there is nothing like seeing a big snook hit a top water bait. I have seen them knock a Zara Spook two feet out of the water.

First light is the best time for top water. As the sun gets higher in the sky, shallow sub surface plugs become very effective.

Pilchard and mullet pattern designs work very well.

The key to catching numbers of snook is to stay on the move.

Nice snook but sometimes my thumb gets in the way!

If you are not being successful

MARCH 2014

Reds & Snook

Sounds Good Doesn’t it?

By Fishin’ Frank Water LIFE Baitshop Busy is the key word of the month; Talks, Talk Shows, The Store, A Tent Sale, OK and I went Fishin’ too!

Terry and I got in the boat, it was the first time we were out in it, an old skiff we picked up, we decided to do a little pre snook season looking about. I want my snook and I have two months to find him. March and April are both open to catch and eat snook. So we headed out the canal and we looked at each other and we both had the same thought, let’s just go hide and fish. It was too much like work to have to go look for snook, so the first cut between two islands we came to we pulled in idled along until we found a little deeper water and dropped anchor. The water was around 3 foot deep and there was a light breeze blowing... perfect.

We cast out a select size shrimp free-line, trying to get as close to the mangroves as possible. It was not long before the little tugs started; bump, bump, bump, not really pulling just tapping / bumping the bait. Finally I had to try a hook set, swish of the rod tip jerking back hard and firm but nothing. The shrimp has had all of its legs chewed off, in sort of a circle, half moon pattern from the tail.

Hummm? well it was sort of a pin fish tap, just not as vigorous, I had a hunch.

So I ripped the shrimp into two pieces tossed it back up under there, Bam! ka-bam, a 16-inch redfish was fighting mad and trying its best to pull me out of the boat instead of me pulling him in, Ok not really fair, I am 185 pounds he was 3 and I kicked his little butt.

But it did confirm my suspicion that it was a small redfish trying to eat the shrimp but its mouth just was not as big as needed. So it was trying to tear off pieces from my shrimp. Oh, and I had switched to a circle hook. The only fish in the world where using a circle hook is better than a “J” hook is a rat red, if it fits into its mouth a rat red will bite and swallow in one movement.

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

So Terry and I caught a few reds and then two catfish and it was time to move. We stopped at another spot, fished a little while and then called it quits.

I always find it funny when people come in the store and want to catch reds and have to have live shrimp. I have caught more reds on dead shrimp then I have on live.

Now snook is anVinny Madsen with a 44-inch Snook-A-Potamus caught February 24 other story. I have caught thousands of pulls, and who ever pulls the hardest wins. snook on live shrimp and only a few on dead The whole fight happens right at your feet, so shrimp. But when it comes to snook, I am a hold on tight to your fishing rod. lure guy. Snook is the best fish for people who Snook tend to lay just behind the pilings like lures, who like trying to fool a fish into and when a bait goes by they dash out, grab thinking it is seeing a real bait. Snook will hit the bait and try to get back behind the piling top-water, sub-surface, jigs off the bottom, where they were. Once they feel the pressure pretty much any lure or style of lure you can from you they become a head-thrashing tailthink of. Just keep in mind that snook are a whipping jumping crazy-fish. shoreline fish, not an open water fish.

Good luck! Be a nice person: take a shrimp The easiest best way to get your snook reout for a night time walk on the pier. Snook quires a 7 foot 10- to 20-pound-class rod at have very keen senses, if they see you they least a 40-size reel and you should use at least don’t leave, they just don’t bite, but even a 20-pound line with 30-pound to 50-pound snook can’t see you in the dark. leader. For shrimp, a live shrimp, select-size Frank@Fishin’ Franks.com 941-625-3888 or larger.

Place the shrimp on the hook by going in from the bottom of the head and out the top. The point of the hook should be even with and just about at the horn of the shrimp. Walk on the pier about 10 feet, move your rod tip over the side of the pier and keeping the tip of the rod as close to the pier as you can with out snagging your jig head on the pilings, start walking out the pier. Step on each board as you walk. If you are on a concrete pier you should take half steps. Soft sole shoes are a must, walk quiet and slowly, you walk out the pieron one side and then back on the other side, keeping your shrimp-on-ajig-head just off the bottom. Tighten your drag, this is: you pull, the snook

PAGE 13

The Lure of Lures

By Fishin Frank: On Saturday March 15 weʼll have a number of casting tanks set up in the parking lot out front of our store. You will be able to observe or try out different lures and see how they swim.

Some of my favorite lures are the Bomber long A series.

The Bomber rep will be there on March 15th. And I like the DOA. Cal Shad - tail #443 – Mark Nichols the owner of DOA will be casting that lure and others in our casting tanks for you to watch and try. Mike Rice, brand manager C.E.O. type guy from Penn will be there, Did I mention Gary Loomis of T.F.O. Rods and Barry the owner of Star Rods. And: Rapala, Quantum / Fin-nor and Lick em lures they will all be there and Eric Batchnick the owner of Mirror-O-Lure will be there on March 15, showing you the proper way to use a MR-17 which is the number one selling twitch bait ever!

This is really cool and, yes, I am bragging, but you can come to Fishin Franks Saturday March 15th and meet more owners or heads of Tackle Companies in one day in one place, than anywhere ever!

The owners of RockPort Rattlers, the amazing new Jig head with the rattles in it, are flying in from Texas for the tent sale. I mean, come on, ... Gary Loomis is going to be in our parking lot. O.M.G !!

PAGE

14

EMAIL:

Permitting in the Aquatic Preserve

By Capt. Betty Staugler Water LIFE / Sea Grant I commend the new CCA president Capt. Greer for having discussions about engaging in conservation (and restoration of habitat) projects. In regards to permitting, they will each have different hurdles but as long as the projects are well thought out, objectives are clear, methods are appropriate and sufficient monitoring will take place to evaluate success (or not), they should be permitable.

How long it could take to permit such projects is really hard to estimate. A lot will depend on how complete an application is when submitted and whether or not the permitting agency, or other agencies that comment on such permits, have questions or concerns about the project. It's been a number of years since I have applied for any permits, but in the past I have had them take anywhere's from 30 days to 2 years to receive.

STARTING WITH OYSTER RESTORATION, the major hurdle here is with Charlotte Harbor being designated a small-tooth sawfish critical habitat. Juvenile sawfish require shallow muddy or sandy substrate and as a result NOAA has frowned on projects that would remove such habitat.

However, recently the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program developed an oyster restoration plan for Charlotte Harbor and concurrently, the Nature Conservancy has been working on resolving permitting issues pertaining to oyster restoration. As a result of these combined efforts a pilot project is permitted and shovel ready (or

shall I say oyster ready) off Punta Gorda. I would encourage the CCA and others who are interested in oyster restoration to jump onboard this project. A volunteer coordinator with the Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves has been hired to recruit, train and coordinate volunteer activities. Readers can email her at Katheine.aug@dep.state.fl.us If the CCA wishes to go it on their own, I would still encourage them to make contact with the CHNEP and TNC who can

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

MARCH 2014

AQUA TICA

the restoration be monitored?

These questions relate to how many permits will be required.

So lets say the plan is to use red mangrove propagules planted above mean high around Cape Haze Point. The state (Florida Department of Environmental Protection - FDEP) could require a permit to collect the propagules. Another permit (from the Florida Park Service) would definitely be required to plant the propagules. This is because most of the shoreline sur-

ation for a mangrove project might be to see if the County would be interested in having mangroves planted on County owned properties where they are removing exotics.

FINALLY, SEAGRASSES. When you are dealing with seagrasses, you are most likely back in the Aquatic Preserves. A permit from FDEP would definitely be required. On a hunch, this may be the most difficult to permit. Some questions to consider, what is being restored

New mangrove growth is apparent as the lighter yellowish green in this aerial shot just before Christmas.

Close ups of this area are shown to the right

provide them with help navigating the permitting process and ensure the site selected is appropriate.

MOVING ONTO MANGROVES, here at least one and possibly two permits may be required. Some considerations to think about, which mangrove species will be restored and how? Will volunteers be using propagules (the seeds) or plantings and if the later what size?

Which shoreline will be restored and will that occur above mean high water or below? How will

rounding Charlotte Harbor is part of the Charlotte Harbor Preserve State Park. If, you say OK I'll use plants purchased from a nursery and plant them below mean high, well then you are in the Aquatic Preserve and they would have a say, in addition to the State Park whose boundary extends into the water. Also, some things to consider if using plants, FDEP is going to want to make sure that plants used are not introducing any diseases (for instance boring beetle is a problem in some areas). A consider-

(prop scar?). What method will be used? Which seagrass species will be used? How will the restoration project be monitored? I have never done any seagrass restoration, but if the CCA wants to pursue this further, I would be happy to help connect them with someone who has.

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

A few of the Eas to have su

The marine gro

MARCH 2014

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

The East Side Islands

A

Capt. Dave Stephens released a trout back back in the East Side islands, last month.

One of the things that affected the fishing after Hurricane Charley was the lack of mangrove overhangs which many local species used for cover from the sun. The mangrove roots extending into the water were home for small baitfish and crabs which attracted more fish. Today these overhangs are re-growing.

Top: st Side Islands, notibly those on the 驶outside,始 appear uccomed to the storm and are not coming back Below: owth on the bottom is not all lush, green, seagrass but it is alive and part of the food-chain.

Islands or Keys?

A key (also called a "cay" but still pronounced as "key") is actually a special type of island which is formed on the surface of coral reefs. Ocean currents pick up reef debris (particles that have broken off the reef as well as skeletal remains of reef dwellers) and, due to tidal flows, deposit them in a particular area. Eventually, these debris (which simply looks like sand to us) accumulate, and an island (known as a "key") forms.

An island is a much more general term meaning a piece of land which is completely surrounded by water. Islands are generally either continental, meaning they are part of a larger continent's continental shelf (like Greenland, for example) or volcanic, meaning they are formed from the lava of an underwater volcano. As we've already learned, though, an island can also be formed from reef debris (and then it's known as a "key").

PAGE 15

PAGE

16

EMAIL:

Put Out the Bonus Rod

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

By Capt. Bart Marx Water LIFE Family Fishing Last month was a very productive month.

The snapper bite, just off the beach in 30- to 50-feet of water was very good. The State of Florida limit for mangrove/gray is five snapper per angler and a 10-inch length requirement. On a few of our trips we meet those requirements. This time of year the snapper that are plentiful are mangrove and lanes.

When you have a spot offshore that you think holds snapper, anchor over the spot and start some chum.

Get all your rods ready for frozen baits first shrimp, sardines, whitebait, etc. Use these baits to start the bite and the fish feeding.

When you catch some of these bottom dwellers they purge on the way to the surface creating a natural chum slick under the boat. I start with 30-pound set ups, line and leader. Knocker rigs with circle hooks are required by the State. As you are doing this, I like to put what we call a bonus rod out that is rigged for king mackerel, using a float and wire leader. Mackerel have teeth that are sharp. Usually some live threadfins or pin fish or even frozen sardines will produce.

Cast it out behind the boat and continue your bottom fishing. Grunts, porgies and triggerfish all could be on some good bottom. As the bite slows, try some of the different frozen baits you brought to the feast.

Next, you could change your leader to 20pound or have some 20-pound rigs ready to switch to. And when it slows again the feeding frenzy needs some live baits added to the mix. I like live shrimp. Also, I like to bring greenbacks, whitebait quarter-size pinfish, for live bait too.

Fishing the natural ledges and hard bottom spots are lots of fun. Using this method will help catch more fish and keep you from pulling the anchor too many times.

Inshore this month you should have plenty of reds and trout to harvest. Snook

MARCH 2014

and black drum are on the move and snook is in season again!

If you would like to come along with Capt. Bart Marx give me a call and we can get you hooked up. Call to book your Florida fishing adventure. 941-979-6517 or email captbart@alphaomegacharters.com Remember singing drags and tight lines make me smile. <*(((((>{

MARCH 2014

PIER FISHING FOR

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

PAGE 17

Flounder

By Bobby Vitalis Water LIFE Pier Fishing Flounder are fun and easy to catch.

Flounder are also a good eating fish too.

This flounder was caught from low to high tide in the afternoon at Tom Adam’s Bridge pier. Their average weight is from 1 to 2 pounds; which is most common.

Flounder have a flat body with two eyes on the same side, with a brown body.

Flounder stay close to the bottom water. The legal length to keep flounder in this area is from 12 inches or over.

There are two ways to catch flounder.

Either go spin casting, or use bait. I like spin casting most of the time. The artificial lure I am using is the D.O.A C.A.L, 4-inch jerk bait model #404 color (new penny). The jig head I use with the jerk bait is a D.O.A - C.A.L short shank 3/8oz. weight color (chartreuse head).

For those who use bait, try using live or dead frozen shrimp. Shrimp can be used to catch many different species of fish. There are ways to put the shrimp on the hook. I suggest you put the shrimp on the hook by; #1 Put the hook through the

center of the body or #2, put the hook through the fork of the tail. The hook type I suggest you use is owner circle hooks, size 2/0 to 3/0. When spin casting, as my main line, I use 30-pound test SUFIX ADVANCED SUPER line (BRAIDED).

For my leader line, I am using 3 feet of 25-pound test 100-percent SEAQUAR FLUOROCARBON leader line. (This is my favorite). There are ways to tie a knot to the jig. I suggest using the RAPALA knot. Note: For those people who like catching sheepshead, they are biting at the pier too. The way to catch these Sheep head is to use live Fiddler crabs.

The sheepshead are around the pilings under the pier. So, have fun fishing.

At the Dome Market for Over 30 Years!

** Hundreds of Items At or Below Wholesale **

Just COMPARE OUR PRICES!

Our Wholesale

Retail Item 7' Fin-nor Spinning Rods $79.95 $29.00 Rapala Pliers w/case $61.89 $28.50 Quantum Advantage Reels $45.95 $30.00 Quantum 7' 702m SpinningRods $39.95 $18.85 60 size Fin-nor Rod & Reel Combo $159.95 $88.00 60 size Shakespeare Reels $26.95 $18.50 3/0 Circle Hooks 100 $35.00 $15.79 Shakespeare Crappie underspin combos $29.95 $18.88 Rod & Reel Repairs – REEL QUICK SERVICE!!

18

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

Pressure Relief PAGE

By Tom Spencer Special to Water LIFE Recently I’ve had the opportunity to head offshore to experience the thrill of deep water fishing in the Gulf.

We planned each trip a few days in advance, watching the weather, gathering our intel, searching for the best numbers we could get our hands on. We were determined to come back with a cooler full of fish and great stories to tell. Eventually we did come back with our bounty, but we also came back a little wiser.

Anyone that fishes knows that the fish don’t always cooperate. Some days the fish are there and the bite is strong, other days they are nowhere to be found. Then there are the days where you can see the fish, either visibly or with your fish finder, and you just can’t get them to eat. Often this can be the result of overfishing the location and the fish. Day after day, week after week, we fish the same spots. This often leads to the fish becoming pressured, stressed, and sometimes just plain smart.

Go to any pier and watch the boat traffic. You will see boat after boat come and work the same areas, not catching anything. Many of the places we fished offshore were established, published, public reefs and coordinates that are available online. These spots tend to get a ton of traffic, especially on weekends and holidays. With all the area available to fish in the gulf, you will often see boats relatively close. I’ve seen two boats fishing the same small artificial reef less than a quarter mile apart.

Our first trip found us around 20 miles out. Working these reefs and coordinates, we could see fish on the

structure, but we were unable to get a bite. We tried everything in our arsenal: live bait, squid, cut bait, lures, jigs, you name it and we tried it. We tried several different locations and fishing styles.

After several hours we managed to land a nice cobia and a yellow tail snapper. Not exactly a full cooler, though I wasn’t going to complain as it was still a great day on the water.

The next time we ventured offshore, we spent some time looking for bait and then started working some of the published reefs. We caught a few undersized amberjacks before heading deeper offshore. At around 40 miles out, we spotted a handful of loggerhead turtles cruising along the surface. We started drift fishing an unpublished area using jig heads with live shrimp and some bottom rigs with squid. Before long the drag on my spinfisher was singing and we were hauling in some beautiful red grouper, mangrove snappers, grunts and porgies. At the end of the day we had our cooler full of fish and headed back in During the ride back to the ramp, I started to ponder why we were so successful this time compared to the last time we were out. Then it came to me: PRESSURE! The first time we had ventured out was on a Saturday. There were boats everywhere and the reefs were overworked

MARCH 2014

and the fish were on to us. The second time we went out was on a Monday. We were out there with less competition and with slightly more relaxed fish.

Sometimes we need to give the fish a breather, a chance to regroup and have a bit of pressure relief. Remember that fishing isn’t always about catching. Take some time and search out new spots, don’t fish on top of each other, and have fun just being out there!

MARCH 2014

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

FWC proposes 2014 Gulf recreational red snapper season

The Olʼ Fishʼn Hole

With Capt. Jim O’Brian Water LIFE Offshore Hey ya - all how has your fish'n been?

Mine has been good. Our new port diesel engine is running very strong we got about 28 hours on her now. We started our charters Feb 6th with Wayne Clements, Griff Griffits, Chuck Black, Frank Shank, Dick Pertino, and Ken Schneider.

We all had a good time. The grouper bite was funny. I pulled up on one of my spots 31 miles out and my screen filled up with fish. We were marking a lot of grouper well let me tell ya we threw the kitchen sink at them and couldn't buy a bite. We stayed on them for awhile cause I knew when they sarted bitting it was going to get crazy but nothing absolutely nothing bit so we hauled anchor an went to another spot. The machine showed some fish, we caught a few but nothing spectacular. Well we hauled anchor again and went to another spot, it was 12:30 and by 1 o’clock the rods was bending over. We put 80% of our fish in the cooler on an afternoon bite.

We caught 7 nice red grouper, some nice mangrove snapper, jolt head porgies and a bunch of reef porgies, then we started catching big trigger fish. I mean BIG UNS, wow! Then someone's pole bent over

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) proposed 2014 Gulf recreational red snapper season dates in state waters. This proposed season will be brought back before the Commission for final approval at its April 15-17 meeting in Tallahassee.

The 2014 proposed season, if approved in

and when the fight was over we had a nice big American red snapper in the boat. I have fished this area for years and I have never caught American red snapper. This really blew ol' Capt's mind. Are the BIG UNS starting to come in a little closer?

Wouldn't that be nice. Don't worry we let her go but my mouth was drooling, so was a few others. Ha! It was lucky for that fish it was out of season.

I heard we might have a 51 or 52 day season coming up sometime in April, that would be great instead of the few weeks we get in the summer.

The picture with one red grouper is Brian Runge when we were breaking the new engine in, we took 2 rods with us. At first when you're breaking these engines in you run them up over an idle then back down. Brian would throw a rod out while we were drifting about the 4th time we stopped Brian yelled out I got dinner for tonight. I snapped his picture, it was a 22 inch red grouper. So that goes to show you always have a rod or 2 handy cause you never know.

Well I think I have flapped my gums long enough so if you have a good ol fish'n story or a recipe for cook'n fish that we can share with our readers or if you just want to book an offshore charter with us aboard the Predator II call us ( 941 ) 473 -2150 GET OUT AND SNORT SOME OF THAT GOOD CLEAN SALT AIR CUZ IT'S GOOD FER YA ! ! !

April, would be 52 days long, starting the Saturday before Memorial Day, (May 24 this year) and remaining open through July 14, closing July 15.

The Commission could choose to change the season length and dates at the April meeting. Starting the season the Saturday before Memorial Day could increase recreational fishing opportunities for anglers by giving them the chance to fish for red snapper in state waters during the holiday

PAGE 19

weekend.

The federal season is scheduled to be 40 days long, starting June 1 and remaining open through July 10. This season is subject to change if NOAA Fisheries data indicate that the recreational red snapper quota will be caught before or after the end of the federal season.

State waters in the Gulf are from shore to 9 nautical miles. Federal waters extend from where state waters end out to about 200 nautical miles.

PAGE

20

EMAIL:

Bad Hooksets

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

MARCH 2014

We receive a wealth of photos every month, most are local, but some are from other places around the world. The two main themes we see are people holding hooked fish and people who have been hooked themselves. We save those pictures. Here are a few from the last few months.The little trick of looping a piece of leader and backing the hook out will not work here.

Water PREDICTION

This winter始s record snowfall in the north and mid-west will mean record snow melt and runnoff to the south. Watch the Mississippi in the coming months, the outflow could bring back the huge dead area south of the River始s mouth.

$2 off any haircut!

Propane-Powered Outboards MARCH 2014

Special to Water LIFE From Pete Johnson Since Lehr Outboard’s entrance into the marine industry three years ago, the company has been turning heads and winning technology awards for innovative small, clean-burning, propane-fueled four-stroke engines.

Lehr’s latest advancement, a 15 hp outboard, made its debut at the Miami International Boat Show last month. Both the new 15 and its 9.9 hp brother feature the world’s first internal electric start battery weighing less than two-pounds and eliminating extra weight and clutter of a typical lead acid battery in the boat. The 15 hp motor comes in 8”, 15” or 20” shaft lengths and uses a standard five gal.

BBQ propane tank.

The man behind Lehr is Capt.

Bernardo Herzer, a traveled sea captain with a passion for engines, air quality and the marine environment. He led the research for Lehr’s earth-friendly technology in producing the world’s first OEM propane-powered outboards.

Upon seeing the positive impact his first green products had on the environment, Herzer continued applying his patents to create products with higher power and cleaner emissions which could run more efficiently on propane. “There has been a lot of media coverage about the negative impacts on marine engines of today’s gasoline blended with corn ethanol,” said Herzer. “It has ruined many outboards.”

“Propane has so many benefits over gasoline: higher 110 octane and lasts indefinitely, it’s lower in cost, there’s no risk of gas polluting the water, no ethanol or fuel-related issues, zero evaporative emissions, easy no-choke starts, no priming, no carburetor gum-up and no winterizing,” he said. “Gas is difficult to transport and store. Most sail boaters’

BACK ISSUES @

disdain gas, plus the carbon monoxide fumes it produces can be harmful.”

Herzer and his new technology were featured on the Jay Leno’s Garage TV show. Leno, like Herzer, is a long-time proponent of propane which is plentiful in North America and reduces our nation’s dependence on foreign oil.

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

PAGE 21

The smaller models can use a Coleman style canister, the 9.9 and 15 use a BBQ tank

PAGE

22

INTO THE FOG

March 15: Leukemia Cup One Design March 22-23: Leukemia Cup Big Boat

EMAIL:

Opinions differed, one sailor said it ʻdidnʼt look too badʼ another said it was ʻdangerousʼ, they all had fun.

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

MARCH 2014

Light winds and fog on Saturday were nothing Liz Clark (shown) couldnʼt handle, but in the end, Joe Blouin topped David Silverman to win the Will White Cup, named for the Desoto County author of "The Sunfish Book," a must-read for sunfish sailors. White is one of the founding directors of the Regatta

Richard Stevens (left) watches as Keith Rice andf Mike Mead battle it out at the mark. They finished 1,2,3 overall, in the Weta class with Rice in front.

Visibility was at times less than 25 yards.

Kudos to the Charlotte Sun’s Brian Gleason, other organizers and all the ‘leg men’ (and women) involved with last month’s Charlotte Harbor Regatta. Doing all the boots-on-the-ground work for an event that brings hundreds of people together is a work of love for the sport, the community and the people in it. Brian and I might not always agree editorially, but we’re on the same page with that event.

Nice work Brian! – MH

MARCH 2014

Kayaking

BACK ISSUES @

The Revitalized Snook Haven

By David Allen Water LIFE Kayaking Snook Haven is unique among kayaking venues in SW Florida and not only because of the beautiful water trails the Myakka River has to offers. For over 50 years Snook Haven has gone through one transition after another and the changes continued until recently. I realize that the “ancient history” of this site may not be compelling to those looking only for a place to kayak, but after kayaking in this area for many years, I’ve found that a little knowledge about the areas we paddle makes it more enjoyable.

Going back almost 90 years, the site was first used as either a fishing camp or a way stop for smugglers importing booze into the U.S. during Prohibition – take your choice. During the 1930s, movie producers found the site ideal for exotic jungle movies. Everyone has heard about the Johnny Weismuller movie, ”Revenge of the Killer Turtle” and seen the Killer Turtle logo that is still used today.

Whether this movie was actually made at Snook Haven is still an open question, but apparently a movie about the French Foreign Legion did use the Snook Haven setting for a movie in 1931.

Over the next few decades, the property changed hands a number of times, but

in 1987 the State of Florida designated the Myakka River as a “Wild & Scenic River” and in 1988 Snook Haven was opened to the public as a fishing camp with a boat ramp and a cook shack, the site of the current restaurant.

During the 90s and beyond, several owners tried to make the venture profitable but had little success. Then in 2006 Sarasota County purchased the 2 ½ acre site for $2.6 million and began a search for a concessionaire to operate it. Again, making the site profitable seem elusive and several concessionaire’s failed, the last one left owing the county $40,000.

After being closed for a number of months, Snook Haven was finally re-

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

opened in February of 2013 and may finally be in hands that are strong enough to operate the site profitably.

The Pachota family, owners of Sharky’s on the Venice Pier, finalized an agreement with the county to operate Snook Haven. Backed by their years of success running Sharky’s, Snook Haven should regain its title as a unique Florida landmark and restaurant. Try it! The lunch menu is fantastic.

Now on to paddling Snook Haven.

It has long been one of our clubs’ favorite paddles as it has all the beauty and wildlife we have come to expect paddling in Florida. There is a large parking area adjacent to the Myakka and restrooms near the restaurant. There is no fee for parking or launching kayaks.

There is a concrete ramp near the restaurant that can be used to launch your kayak and they also have kayaks for rent.

The Myakka River at Snook Haven is still tidal, although the difference in water height is minimal. The river winds gently north with little current except after a heavy rain in the summer. The river banks are lined with a variety of trees to keep you cool in the hottest weather and

PAGE 23

provide cover for the wildlife that abounds in the area.

In past years, using Snook Haven as the pick-up-point, the PCK (Port Charlotte Kayakers) have taken a longer paddle downstream from the Lower Lake in Myakka State Park east of Sarasota. This is about a 10 mile downstream paddle that has some of the most beautiful sections of the river. For those not up to a 10 mile paddle, about 2.5 miles above Snook Haven Curry Creek enters the Myakka.

Take a left turn into Curry Creek, and you can explore as much or little as you wish.

But you can also paddle down Curry for about 8+ miles and you will be at the Historic Train Station in West Venice. We have done the paddle several times and it is very enjoyable. So there you have it.

Some interesting (I think) historical information and some information on paddling.

The Port Charlotte Kayakers meet each Wednesday evening at 5:00 PM at Franz-Ross Park adjacent to the YMCA on Quesada St. Come early as the meetings are brief. For more information call Dave Allen at 941-235-2588 or dlaa@comcast.net

PAGE

24

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

MARCH 2014

SCUTTLEBUTT

Sometimes Unsubstanciated, But Often True

SEA KAYAKER SUNK Sea Kayaker Magazine has ceased publication after 30 years and 158 issues. The publisher, Sea Kayaker Inc, will continue to offer various events as well as a new digital publication, Open Water, an alternative online journal for all paddle sports.

COULD NOT SHUT UP A traffic stop was conducted and upon approach, the passenger of the vehicle got out and started yelling. After issuing the driver a citation for expired registration, the officer spoke to the passenger who was in possession of an open container of vodka. The subject allowed the officer to search his bag. The officer found a clear plastic bag filled with cannabis and a glass pipe.

Additional citations were issued.

PLASTIC BAG LIMIT While approaching a vessel, the officer noticed one fish floating a few feet from the stern of the vessel. The officer identified himself and instructed all four occupants not to throw anything into the water.

After collecting the dead fish and re-approaching the vessel, a large bag of fish was discovered floating behind the vessel. One subject eventually admitted that he had put it in the water. He was charged with ʻover the bag limitʼ of snapper. A charge of interference with an FWC officer is pending.

FLIMSY EXCUSE An FWC Investigator was contacted by the owner of a local fish house in reference to an employee stealing fish from their fishing vessel. The vessel was docked in front of a security camera which caught the employee leaving the premises and then returning when the captain had left for the evening. The employee returned with an accomplice and removed ten golden tile fish from the vesselʼs fish hold, which weighed approximately 100 pounds total. He also took a fish tote and fish gaff. After interviewing the subjects, they admitted to taking approxi-

to rent a PWC. It was later discovered that multiple exams given throughout the day also showed failing scores, but were also given a passing grade. Officers charged the business owner and heʼs probably back to doing the same thing again by now.

Dust storm on the indian ocean

mately 20-30 pounds of fish and claimed they took it to eat with their families. Arrest warrants were filed for the subject and his accomplice who helped with the theft. They were both charged with burglary, grand theft and grand larceny.

CHEATINʼ IN THE LIVERY Officers participated in a livery detail targeting a business who was falsifying test scores in the Lower Keys. During the detail, an undercover officer rented a personal watercraft from the business. The officer was given the required test for a temporary boating certificate, which he intentionally failed. Although the officer failed the exam, he was given a passing score and received his temporary certificate and allowed

BBMP Largemouth bass are the most popular recreational fish in North America. Florida anglers and visitors enjoy some of the most exciting bass fishing in the world. The FWC created a Black Bass Management Plan (BBMP) that was approved in 2011. The planʼs holistic approach includes essential habitat management, fisheries management and public interaction components.

The FWC asks anglers for input on the statewide regulation review of largemouth bass, via surveys as well as listening sessions around the state. FWC Open Houses are part of a continuing input process between the FWC and local anglers.

MOON MINING BIDS CLOSE THIS MONTH NASA is now working with private companies to take the first steps in exploring the moon for valuable resources like helium 3 and rare earth metals.

Initial proposals are for the Lunar Cargo

This is the photo Allegiant Air uses online to promote our area.

Punta Gorda

INITIATIVE ON HOLD The Federal Communications Commission was on track to send government contractors into the nation's newsrooms to determine whether journalists are producing articles, television reports, Internet content, and commentary that meets the public's "critical information needs” as defined by the administration. The study identified eight "critical needs": information about emergencies and risks; health and welfare; education; transportation; economic opportunities; the environment; civic information; and political information.

Harbor Access

Call the Captain! Fabulous Modern, Newer 3/2/2 Pool Home in Burnt Store Lakes with gorgeous granite kitchen, beautiful tile, refinished pool, enormous master bedroom set in a serene location. Walk to golf course, drop kayak into canal to harbor. Immaculate! $295,000

20 Min. to Gulf!

80' Waterfront!

Harbor Access

Punta Gorda

Call the Captain! Tremendous Waterfront Custom 3/2.5/2 Pool Home built in 2005!

Designer touches, Movie Star Pool, Granite Kitchen & Baths, 100' Waterfront, No Bridges and 5 Minutes to Harbor! $599,000

Punta Gorda

Call the Captain! DRAMATIC EXECUTIVE STYLE LAKEFRONT HOME 4 Car Garage! Custom home builder’s home with Million dollar appointments. Like new '2006', over 2600sf Air $449,000

Transportation and Landing by Soft Touchdown program (CATALYST). One or more private companies will win a contract to build prospecting robots, the first step toward mining the moon.

The contract will be a “no funds exchanged” Space Agreement Act, which means the government will not be directly funding the effort, but will receive NASA support. Final proposals are due on March 17th, 2014. NASA has not said when it will announce the winner.

TOURNAMENT ADVICE From Save the Tarponʼs Feb. facebook postWritten for the PTTS tarpon tournaments, but this applies to local trout and ladyfish kill-tournaments as well.

Fishing is both a privilege and a responsibility, and each one of us is a steward for the resources we cherish. We must work to ensure the longevity of our resources so future generations may create their own memories and live their own adventures.

A Save the Tarpon spin off, Respect the Fish are anglers ʻwho believe in old school ethics and new school conservationʼ http://respectthefish.com

Burnt Store Marina

Marina Home

Call the Captain! Stunningly beautiful Courtside Landings home within sight of the marina. High end touches throughout this home, meticulously maintained boasting a 3/2/2 with pool, granite/wood and pretty front porch. Golf, boating and restaurants within walking distance. $279,900

Punta Gorda

Call the Captain! Best Waterfront Home Value in Punta Gorda! 2/2/1, 1400sf Under Air, huge fenced yard, updated bathrooms, open floor plan, many updates and boat dock $150,000

Luxury Vivante Condo

Punta Gorda Isles

LUXURIOUS IN PGI, Premier 3rd floor, enormous executive retreat, wide open water views, large lanai. Custom woodwork, granite, tile private elevator. Amenities beyond belief. Call for The Best Priced Condo! $469,000

Call the Captain!

MARCH 2014

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

PAGE 25

Trash Talk

By Capt. Orion Wholean Water LIFE Gasparilla/Boca Boca Grande Pass State Park is a highly sought after area where people come to enjoy the day, cast out a line and experience the amazing views of Cayo Costa, the sun set and see some of Boca Grande's history. As many know, the fishing here is amazing and the possibilities are endless. One day you may jump a tarpon in the middle of February and the next catch a shark well over 300-pounds.

But the fishing right from the beach that we all know and love may be ending just like that. New rules are coming into play which may ban shark fishing from the beach and cut down on night fishing. Right now you are able to buy a night pass to the park for one person or a complete family, but you are only allowed one vehicle.

The problem really is about trash and disrespect to the park.

Not all of the problems here can be attributed to fisherman, but some of them can and that is what will ruin it for everyone. The solution to trash is simple, what you bring to fish on the beach you bring back with you when you leave. Cur-

rently itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s very common that bait bags, soda cans and fishing tackle get left behind. Although it may only take two minutes to check over the beach, people have become accustomed to simply leaving their trash. Maybe we do need a few simple rules to help prolong our ability to fish the pass in a land-based scenario.

Beach shark fishing this

year has spiked to an extremely high amount of fisherman trying to learn the art of sharking. The best bet is to take a guided trip and learn the "guide" lines and regulations that have already been set up for us. Hopefully we will all learn and treat natures beautiful parks with respect and have years and years to catch that fish of a life time right from land.

To see some awesome pictures from recent trips check out Gasparilla Big Games facebook page, and book a charter today!

Reach Capt. Orion at (941) 249-0177 or visit www.Gasparillabiggame.com

PAGE

26

Charlotte Harbor

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

March Fishing Forecast

Frank, at Fishin’ Franks 941- 625-3888

Gulf temperatures are all over the place, it’s cool in some spots and chilly in others.

It’s an amazing array of temperatures for the fish and what it’s doing is bringing in a variety of fish. Right now we have big pods of tarpon at Burnt Store, Matlachea, the ICW and outside of Punta Rassa.

These are big fish in the 100 to 150 pound range, definitely not juvenile locals and they are all in the southern part, which means they just got in. It shouldn’t be like that till April or May and we saw them at

the end of February.

Because of the erratic temperatures we have pods of tarpon and schools of Spanish mackerel from the Gulf all the way up to the 41 bridges. The thing is, usually by the time tarpon get here Spanish are gone.

There are blacktips and sharpnose sharks, tons of sharks, underneath the schools of mackerel. Smaller trout are just inside the bar on the East Side, most of them are just under slot, a few keepers.

Back by the islands - they are one here one there, but they have been on the upper end of the slot – and in the Peace River the trout are bigger, 26-inch trout, nice fish, up there – not a ton of them, but you’ll catch over 20-inch trout up there from Harbour

IFA Redfish Tour March 8-9 Punta Gorda

IFA Kayak Redfish Tour March 9 - Punta Gorda www.IFAtours.com guaranteed pay back!

style paddle tail shad for the snook, like the ones you’d use on a tarpon jig. White is fine for color.

Arcadia is at 1.7 feet of water in the river so there is no water coming down and we are getting salt way up past the bridge.

South of the inner bumper system at the 41 bridge is a good school of Spanish. Try any small spoon or anything shiny as it goes through the water for the mackerel. There has been a little whitebait at Marker No. 2 and there are some threadfins coming in so the Spanish are there too. A minnow style lure is better bait over there, the spoon are not as good since they are looking for the minnows.

Start east of the marker and troll past it, then when you get a hit start casting.

The Myakka River has redfish and mackerel on the western shoreline from the center of the river, on the Gulf Coast side. From Cattledock north, there are a lot of fish on that shoreline. In the Harbor the whole West Wall has a lot of reds. They get

Heights up to the power lines. The Storm Twitching Lure is the trout lure on the River, it’s a one-piece 3.5 inch bait that doesn’t look special but it is. Try the Twitch Stick # 614.

The tarpon are real good by the power lines too and there are two ways to catch them; try catfish or silver trout. First throw small jigs at the I-75 bridge and catch some silver trout for bait.

The silver trout like the jigs tipped with a piece of shrimp meat. Then fish the whole silver trout with the tail cut off, or fish the catfish with no pectoral or dorsal fins. The idea is to have a fluttering bait. I use about an 8-0 hook, put the bait on and throw it out. Peg them with a sixounce sinker on a sliding rig so they don’t tangle up or wire wrap it on (like the old guides used to do for tarpon). You have to let them go anyway so a few jumps will be enough.

Up in Whidden Bay, past the boat ramp at Harbor Heights, Fishbone Charters put Brad Stanius on this nice black there are big snook. Try an old drum last month. They are here, you can hear them.

Charters

Offshore Fishing Trips: 1/2 day • 8hr • 10 hr • 12 hr We help put your charters together

Shark, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper, Kingfish, and MORE!

Nighttime Trips Available

Capt. Jim OʼBrien USCG 50 ton license since 1985

941-473-2150

MARCH 2014

bigger as you go south – up against the mangroves. In 4 feet of water there are Spanish and bonnet sharks. Cast with the current outside the bar, chum with lots of little pieces of shrimp and cast where you threw the shrimp. In 10 minutes you’ll be catching bonnets, trout, Spanish macks and bluefish. Grab the bonnets by the head just like you would a wayward child. If you grab the tail you are just asking to get bit. continued on facing page

BackBay Xtremes Capt Dave Stephens www.backbayxtremes.com

941-916-5769

MARCH 2014

continued from facing page

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

The BIG-4 Fish to expect in March

Fish to expect in Turtle Bay has tons of trout and in the middle of Bull Bay there are lots of trout. Bull Bay also has a bunch of ladyfish in it, right out in the middle. When you TROUT Big trout further come in past the fish shacks REDFISH West Side Wall, bigger SHARKS Bonnets and sharpSNOOK Back in season this south in Pine Island Sound month! Try the Peace River fish to the south nose all over the Harbor go halfway to the other side, stop just west of center.

Out in the Gulf there are AJs and King mackerel and schools of cobia in 15- to 20-feet of water. The cobia are looking like they want to spawn again, I dont know what’s up with that.

You will see a tan color on the bottom, toss a jig with a 10-inch bass worm on it. I’m using the shad that is lighter on the bottom and darker on the top, rig it on a 3.4 oz bucktail, use the worm as a trailer to make an eel presentation for cobia.

Freshwater going crazy, bluegill are starting to feed real good, bass are hitting really well.

June bug and plum crazy are the bass baits – anything that looks like it came from outer space is what is catching bass. Try the Scatter Wrap and the Shad Wrap or one of the lizards.

Some fish are already off the beds and some are looking to start. The fish are all in different time Quality redfish have been cruising around. This zones because of the difference in water tem- one from a trip with Capt. Billy Barton Sheepshead have been big this year. This one on a peratures all over. Right now you can drive trip with Capt. Karl Butigan around and find pre-spawning fish, spawning catch snook, white bait is starting to show up. fish and bedding fish all on the same trip.

Offshore pretty dynamite amberjack and Jim, at Fishermen’s Edge, red grouper. If you go far enough, you’ll be Englewood: 697-7595 been catching blackfin tuna, mutton snapper I’m hearing pretty good inshore stories, the and nice big red grouper – out in the 40 mile sheepshead bite is happening on fiddler crabs, range. Guys are catching porgy and Key West they are big fish and there are plenty of them. grunts and you dont have go that far.

There has also been a bit of pompano and One guy had a cobia, 70 pounds – that was seatrout. They are catching some nice redfish, a big one, on a handpicked shrimp! He said he you have to work for them, try shrimp under a had six shots at the fish before it finally ate. cork on the pothole areas in the back, on a high Still plenty of trout, I caught 6 on jigs the tide, when you can get in. Finally the tides are other day. Mackerel are around, there are starting to get a little deeper. As soon as they bluefish and sharks if you want to fool with see the boat they high tailed it to Timbuktu. I them. All in all, the fishing has been pretty am seeing guide pictures. They are starting to good.

PAGE 27

Gulf Temps are 69

and warming up.

Many fish are moving around

95˚ 90˚ 85˚ 80˚ 72˚ 70˚ 68˚

Lemon Bay:

www.fishingpuntagorda.com

50˚ 45˚

FISHING RIGHT NOW:

Very Good

live bait is returning

PAGE

28

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

MARCH 2014