Water
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Charlotte Harbor, Lemon Bay, Venice, Estero, 10,000 Islands and the Gulf
The Charlotte Harbor Reef Association
September 2018
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Kadence McCann with a largemouth so huge he couldn't hold it up himself!
Levi Pritchett, redfish
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Zane and Scott Lenart caught this snook wade fishing Gasparilla Sound, just before Red Tide hit
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Capt. JoGene Holaway 7-pound S.W. Florida large mouth black bass caught on a custom colored Bass Addiction Gear soft plastic and then released
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Jon and Ashley Teunis, visiting from Texas, 45-pound black drum caught late August in Punta Gorda
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SUNSEEKER RESORT PROGRESS
SEPTEMBER 2018
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319 condo units which will be ʻlock-out unitsʼ with a door between the bedrooms allowing the owners to rent each half separately. The They bores some test holes at County says the approval they are granting is the old gas station. Thatʼs the REVISED TIMEFRAME only for this site plan and if another develprogress so far. oper comes in, or anything changes, they will I stopped by the County to have to go back to square one. The plans also look at the site plan Sunseeker show the seawall on the Harbor as being consubmitted. Itʼs pretty standard, structed ʻby othersʼ, likely Charlotte County. A but documents with the plan month ago I went to their website and reshow a 2021 date for occupancy. Thatʼs two years quested information on buying a condo. I asked how later than the 2019 date they had been promising. On may units have been sold so far. I have not heard the site plan, the Countyʼs parking formula comes up back. Site plans are easy to produce, the expense is with 3,956 required spaces, but Sunseeker received a in structural and mechanical plans. Until I see those variance for only 1400. Also of interest to me were plans Iʼm sticking with my theory: This is a Flip
WATER QUALITY and SPRAYING natural lake vegetation resulting in a I am no scientist , biologist or exmore limited ability for these lakes to pert on water management. I am a filter themselves. On Lake Kissimmee Florida boy raised on the south end of a traditional super hot spot fishery Tampa Bay, a retired church plant called "Grassy Island" was so dense pastor, I have owned a weekend fishwith vegetation you had to be in a camp home on the Kissimmee River "kicker trail" or an airboat, or you were for over 30 years. Lived and owned a stuck..... that is now all "open water"!! commercial / charter vessel in This year on Lake Lockcoloosa, Lake Kississmee Marathon and commercial fished in the Keys they managed to kill every stick of hydrillia. txt to: 24 years. As son of a three time Bass Masters champiWhere just two years ago produced the prettiest, most onship qualifier in the 70s I have spent massive amounts colorful, healthy Specks (crappie) in Florida, this year the of time for over 50 years, on every Florida lake, and fish were brown/ yellow colored and taste like mud. chain lake system, from Seminole to the Big O, and All Florida water systems (fresh and salt) are interconeverywhere in between. nected, and each depends on the overall health of the Everyone is pointing fingers at Big Sugar, septic seepother. Vast amounts of dying, decaying vegetation seage, and the Army Corps. And all have played a very sigverely limit a lakes ability to filter itself naturally, and denificant role in this crisis. I had never heard of blue/ green plete oxygen levels, severely raising nitrogen levels. To Water LIFE algae as a significant issue until three years ago. Why ? We need to STOP THE SPRAYING !!! If the powers I sent a email to County Commissioner Because it was not a significant issue. But this timeline is that be would stop aquatic weed "control" and just let the Constance concerning the road Bay not coincidence. hydrilla, coon-tail and other natural species grow, let the Shore Rd. being closed, many areas of The "CORE ISSUE " no one is talking about is hydrillia top out and grow for two to three years, Florida the park being closed, the two fishing "AQUATIC WEED CONTROL" chain systems, including Big O, will filter out naturally, piers closed and the general condition of For the past five years the state of Florida has " tripled deplete the nitrogen and phosphorus levels, and the the park. down" on the spraying of aquatic weeds and grasses on water will show vast improvement the first year and In true county fashion I never heard back every lake system I regularly fish, Orange / Lockoloosa, would be pristine and clear by the end of the third year. from him. Harris Chain, entire Kissimmee Basin, and of course Big I have witnessed this first hand at least five cycles on That area is a complete disaster thanks to O. Kississmee in my lifetime. the Sun Seekers Development Plan. This spraying is being done by "private contractors" Obviously there are other measures needed; containI don't think you will ever see anything that are being paid "by the gallon" to spray. On Kississment around cane fields, restoring the natural filtering being developed other than the dump mee alone there are a fleet of six airboats, doing 12flow to the south through the Everglades, etc, but my they have made of the area. hour six-day-weeks. They are not only eradicating invaplan would go a long way fast, and at zero expense, to John Almeida, Punta Gorda sive species, they have wiped out hundred of sq miles of begin to restore Floridas water quality. Pastor Scott Wil
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Contributing Editors:
Photography: ASA1000.com
Senior Editor: Capt. Ron Blago Baitshop: Fishinʼ Frank
Upper Harbor: Cameron Parson
Peace River: Capt. Dave Stephens Punta Gorda: Capt. Chuck Eichner Venice: Glen Ballinger
Estero: Capt. Joe Angius
Everglades City: Capt. Charlie Phillips Kayaking: Bob Fraser
Sea Grant: ʻtaking a breakʼ
Pier Fishing: Bobby Vitalis Diving: Adam Wilson Office Dog: position still open
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SWFWMD - Not Doing A Good Job
tense, they will be slower moving and wetBy Michael Heller ter." Harvey, Maria, Irma, and Hawaii's Water LIFE editor recent Lane - the third wettest storm ever Suddenly every politician is an advobehind Harvey, THE wettest storm ever, cate for water quality, so here's an idea to are all recent. By allowing their approval campaign on: "If elected I will strengthen to stand, Swift Mud is saying NOAA is the criteria under which Swift Mud operwrong and Horse Creek won't ates." Swift Mud is our local ever flood. That gamble, along acronym for the South West with Mosaic's horrible water Florida Water Management Disquality track record is a bad bet. trict; SWFWMD. They are a A rain event like the one we nine member board appointed by had last year, or the one we the Governor. Swift Mud is the might get this month, could entity responsible for Florida's wash radioactive, acid-laden water quality. They are in hiding. mining debris from Horse Way before the Red Tide outCreek into Charlotte Harbor break, southwest Florida anglers and change the Harbor forever. had been complaining of a deWe can't risk that. There is no pleted redfish fishery. The FWC bond or insurance to cover recognized redfish were in danger with the Red Tide so they are SWFWMD authority them. The effect would be felt all the way to Fort Myers. They no longer granting fishing tourwill say 'sorry' and walk away, like they naments redfish culling waivers and they have done before. just made redfish and snook catch and reAnd even without a storm, if the lease only in areas affected by the Red mine is dug they then plan to get rid of Tide. The FWC is adapting, but not Swift their toxic-acid-slurry by diluting it with Mud. Swift Mud is asleep. water from Horse Creek and the Peace In lieu of how wrong the District has been in the recent past and what bad shape River until it meets the SWFWMD standards. Then they will release it down the the State's waters are currently in, now is Peace River to Charlotte Harbor. the time for Swift Mud to take a second SWFWMD has already negatively imlook at the approvals they have just repacted Charlotte Harbor enough. Their cently given to Mosaic's Horse Creek lack of oversight has allowed 71-percent phosphate mine. SWFWMD needs to reof the septic tanks in the area to be dug examine the Horse Creek location from too close to the water. A 2016 Harbor the official NOAA weather perspective; Branch Oceanographic Institute study NOAA says "storms are getting more in-
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Horse Creek at SR 70 last month. This area is a natural filter for water coming south to Charlotte Harbor. The StateĘźs Water Management District says a phosphate mine here is OK
says Charlotte Harbor is heavily polluted with human feces (see related story on page 22), so now, even if every house was hooked up to sewer tomorrow, it will still take decades for the effluent in the soil to clear. Thank you Swift Mud. Of the total water bodies they oversee, only little more than half were determined to be healthy in 2017. I believe the nutrient, phosphate and other levels SWFWMD has listed as acceptable are in critical need of review. After Lake Erie's algae blooms in the late 90s, scientists found that the new lower levels for phosphorous they had previously implemented actually needed to be lowered more, to prevent algae blooms. SWFWMD designates the water in Hillsborough Bay at Tampa as being of
Highly Impaired water quality. It is impaired by phosphate from the phosphate stacks right there. Nothing was done. Green algae started out with three strains of Cyanobacteria in Lake Okeechobee and now there are 10. Had the District called for more discharges from Lake Okeechobee during dry season, as requested by biologists, they would not have needed to flood the Caloosahatchee after the first rains. But they did nothing. SWFWMD now has a chance to make a difference. They need to step back and put a moratorium on every project that could, in any way, affect our water quality. They have been lobbied by Mosaic but they can still stand with the people and rescind the Horse Creek Mine permits. The big question is: Will they do it?
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Upper Charlotte Harbor Looking Good PAGE
By Capt. David Stephens Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor Unless you live on another planet, you have heard about the Red Tide that is devastating our coast. Well fellow anglers I would like to share some of the positive experiences that I have seen on the Harbor last month. Normally this time of year is slow, well this year has been very slow. My good buddy George had a trip booked, so I decided to take a ride with him for bait. We left the dock at first light, because of the recent rains, we had to head down south. We discussed the possibility of not being able to catch bait on the way down. We also discussed being able to keep it alive if we found it. Well I’m happy to report we found bait and kept it alive. However that is not the best part of that trip that morning.
While on our way back we saw close to a hundred birds feeding. I will have to admit I was a little nervous about what was about to happen. As we got closer we could see the splashing of feeding fish. As far as we could see were terns and fish having a feast. In a short period we witnessed ladyfish and mackerel feeding on glass minnows. We also saw several large tarpon chasing the ladyfish. It was nice to see our Harbor so full of life for a change. A couple days later I had a charter scheduled so I planned to make a run to the same area for bait. On my way back I saw the same thing. I’m by no means declaring this nasty ordeal is over. The amount of natural resources that we lost will never be known. All that I am saying
SEPTEMBER 2018
is it was nice to see something positive. So I got back to the marina around 8 o’clock picked my guys up and headed out to the flats. The tide had just started to go out pretty good. I noticed to my left about a hundred yards away a tarpon roll. I shut down for a minute, and all of a sudden juvenile tarpon were rolling all around us. Since the issues we’ve been having I went totally catch and release. So I figured what a great way to spend the morning sight casting these guys with 10-pound gear. Around noon the sun was baking hot, not a puff of wind. So we decided to call it a day. Our final number was 7 or 8 hook ups, and 4 fish to the boat. None of them was over 20-pounds, but we had the tackle to make it fun. We also landed 15-to 20 sea trout, most on the small size 14-to 18-inches. It was just nice to see the Harbor looking somewhat like it should.
If you would like to experience some of Charlotte Harbor’s finest fishing, give us a call or send an email. All of our charters are private and customized to fit your party’s needs. Capt. Dave Stephens, 941-916-5769 capt.dstephens@comcast.net. www.backbayxtremes.com
CANVAS & UPHOLSTERY
Estero Bay: Go Where the Fish Are SEPTEMBER 2018
By Capt. Joe Angius Water LIFE Estero It’s no secret that Southwest Florida has been impacted by both toxic bluegreen algae and Red Tide. Transparency is extremely important during times such as these. I believe in not ‘sugar’ coating the truth and I like to inform our readers on actual current water conditions with a look into the coming months. It’s hurricane season too, so anything can happen. For my area of Estero Bay, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, and Captiva there is discouraging environmental degradation, as well as hints of encouraging signs of life and revitalization. Other Captains and I are finding and catching fish in these difficult-to-fish fisheries. We are putting our time and effort into locating safe areas to fish, so our clients still can experience what Southwest Florida can truly provide. I have taken the liberty, with the help of accommodating clients, to fish in various locations near Marco Island and Cape Romano where the fishing seems to be the
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strongest. As I said before, there are inshore gamefish such as tarpon, snook, and redfish that are still in and near Estero Bay. For me personally, I find it best to allow the fishery that I’ve grown to love so much to rest and bounce back from the devastation. Fishing down near Marco Island proves to be productive and abundant, but not immune from low concentrations of Red Tide. Along the beaches, there are copious amounts of pilchards and threadfin herring. My advice to catching these baits and keeping them alive relies on two things. One being to take the extra time early in the morning to find clean Red Tide free water, load up your live well with that water and then run the recirculating pumps. Now that you have healthy and clean water in your wells, you find these pilchards along the beach by spotting div-
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ing birds and moving water. If you find the birds, you will most likely find the bait. The fishing down south near Keewaydin, Naples Bay, and Cape Romano is impeccable and a great change of pace. Snook are heavily congregated off the beach and under local docks. Big baits, light tackle, and a good cast is much needed for the larger snook. As long as there is a strong current, bait presence and a quiet stealthy approach toward them, anglers have a great chance at one of these linesiders. Fishing in the back bay has also been producing speckled trout, juvenile tarpon, and redfish. To find these species of fish I am primarily looking at mangrove shorelines with a rocky or oyster bar bottom.
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Heavy chumming of pilchards will definitely get them to chew, but tossing a jig head tipped with live shrimp can get them on the other end of your line. Being a charter captain, it can be easy to lose a lot of the “spark” you once had for fishing. It’s days like these where I appreciate and remember the excitement of fishing. While our area undergoes its recovery process it is important to remember that our everyday decision-making influences our fisheries. The way I allow these areas to heal is to venture out and find new waters to fish. In doing so this allows my clients to catch and keep plenty of healthy fish without exploiting the waters that are desperate for our stewardship. I encourage anglers to remain current with the issues at hand, pay attention to detail, and have a positive outlook on how to move forward from this event: We are all not doomed and must remain fighting. This report is transparent in where and how to catch fish. If you are unsure of where to go, feel free to reach out to me or other local captains for guidance. Captain Joe Angius (727)-234-3171 Speak Easy Fishing Charters www.speakeasyfishing.com
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SEPTEMBER 2018
Dollar Bill Challenge 3rd Period WINNERS! Fishing Period #3: July 21 to August 20
SECOND PLACE Mangrove Snapper Julius Acosta 11 inches
FIRST PLACE Mangrove Snapper Daniel Acosta 14 inches
THIRD PLACE Mangrove Snapper Molly Vermeulen 9.75 inches
FIRST PLACE Sailcat Daniel Acosta 19 inches
941-625-1535
Englewood Bait House & offshore head boat 941-475-4511
SECOND PLACE Sailcat Jaekwon Pringle 12 inches
941-584-4575
941- 639-2628
FIRST PLACE Trout Emma Koebel 15 inches
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Dollar Bill Challenge 3rd Period WINNERS! Fishing Period #3: July 21 to August 20
FIRST PLACE Bass Kingston Boyd 18 inches
FIRST PLACE Talapia Jaekwon Pringle 15 inches
SECOND PLACE Bass Justin Medina 15 inches
SECOND PLACE Talapia Luke DʼOrzio 13 inches
Wilson Pools 941-766-1661
THIRD PLACE Bass Jacob Florea 10 inches
FIRST PLACE Catfish Kingston Boyd 28 inches
FIRST PLACE Jack Crevalle Matthew Pringle 24 inches
SECOND PLACE Catfishh Matthew Pringle 13 inches
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NT TOURNAME ENDS Sept. 20! FISH QUIZ # 4 Please Donʼt Guess!! If you donʼt know the answer, just select ʻI donʼt know.ʼ
Complete each Fish Quiz and earn extra credit toward winning the 2018 Tracker Boat! (see rules for additional information)
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SEPTEMBER 2018
Dollar Bill Challenge Online Tournament
Winners: Bring your dollar bill to Fishin Franks (4425-D Tamiami Trail, Port
Charlotte, FL 33980) Show it to him and pick up your rod, lures or t-shirt.
Message from the Tournament Director
Anglers: Now itʼs getting interesting! You have turned in 21 of the 30 species. There are at least six anglers who are within striking distance for winning the boat. We are keeping a list of all the fish caught. When this fishing period ends (September 20 at noon), anglers with the longest fish overall in each of the 30 species will receive an additional 25 points. Anything can still happen! Bluefish, pompano, redfish, cobia, gag grouper, hogfish, Key West grunt, lane snapper and triggerfish have all yet to be submitted by anyone.
Fish Caught So Far....
Answers due before noon, Sept. 20.
SALT amberjack bass barracuda black drum jack crevalle ladyfish mangrove snapper Mayan cichlid pinfish red grouper sailcat snook spadefish Spanish mackerel trout tripletail
Text answers to the phone number you received when you signed up.
1.
a. b. c.
d. e.
2.
The term Match the Hatch means Use a bait that looks like the fish you are trying to catch Use a thatched pattern bait Use a bait that matches the creatures fish are currently eating Heat up your bait with a match I donʼt know
a. b. c. d. e.
The ideal tide is: The Highest tide The High Incoming tide The Lowest tide The Low Incoming tide I donʼt know
a. b. c. d.
Which Hook is most commonly used for soft plastic baits? Circle Hook J Hook Worm Hook I donʼt know
3.
4.
a. b. c. d. e
5.
a. b. c.
Which line is better for use as a leader? Monofilament Braided Dacron Fluorocarbon I donʼt know
Shrimp are the most popular bait in SW Florida because all fish eat shrimp. TRUE FALSE I donʼt know
FRESH crappie catfish gar sunfish tilapia
OFFSHORE FISHING TRIPS
Dollar Bill Challenge Anglers and their immediate families are eligible to fish offshore in September with Capt. Jack aboard the Reef Raider head boat out of the Englewood Bait House. Cost is 1/2 the normal rate as available Call 941- 475-4511 to reserve your spot. Please take and send pictures!
Your text answers should be like this
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Third Fishing Period Quiz, Answers: 1d-2a-3a-4b-5c
SEPTEMBER 2018
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Dollar Bill Challenge 3rd Period WINNERS! Fishing Period #3: July 21 to August 20
FIRST PLACE Myan cichlid Ben Koebel 11 inches
FIRST PLACE Red Grouper Spencer Gant 24 inches
FIRST PLACE Pinfish Emma Koebel 6 inches
SECOND PLACE Snook Ben Koebel 16.25 inches
FIRST PLACE Drum Julius Acosta 19 inches
941-639-8721
941-621-6621
FIRST PLACE Snook Luke DʼOrzio 17 inches
FIRST PLACE Tripletail Spencer Gant 14 inches
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RED TIDE - the Current Battle Assessment PAGE
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SEPTEMBER 2018
On the Line
from the Sahara Desert has a roll in it. There is also a theory that up swells from deep water currents bring nutrient with Capt. Ron Blago rich water that promotes growth of Red Tide. A new theWater LIFE Senior Staff ory speculates that a new algae called brown tide (TriThis month marks the one year anniversary of the curchodesmium) has the ability to fix nitrogen from the air rent round of Red Tide in our area. As usual, our area that can feed the Red Tide. seems to be ground zero for the So what can be done? Well that dedamage done by Red Tide. Repends on who you are. If your a sciencently one of the national news tist, you need more research and of shows did a video on Englewood course more money. There is no denyBeach thatfeatured a family on ing over the years Red Tide research has vacation that rented a place on the been a money maker for Mote Marine. beach until their little boy started If you are a politician you can be like wheezzing and sneezing so they Governor Scott and declare a State of did what most people would do, Emergency and approve $3 million dolthey packed up, demanded a relars in grants to “help combat Red fund and headed back home. That Tide.” If you’re the concerned citizen pretty much sums up the ecoyou can go to your local beach with nomic disaster that Red Tide your friends and lock arms and demand Sand dollars took a hard hit at Englewood causes for resorts, restaurants, that something be done and if your fishing guides and bait and tackle lucky your get on the nightly news. If shops . We can only hope that the Red Tide will run its you’re like me you will work on the boat and the fishing course and we can get back to normal. Remember that one equipment and wait for it to pass. It always does. year is a long time for a Red Tide boom, but back in 1994 captRonB@juno.com we had an outbreak that lasted two years. Let's look at the casualty list so far. Between Tampa Bay and Naples the State estimates they have removed more than 270 tons of dead marine life from our beaches. Sarasota County estimates they have picked up over 66 tons of dead fish in 10 days. As for The Charlotte County School System other species, Mote Marine has picked up endorses this fishing class for 6th grade students. 239 dead sea turtles and 19 dead dolphins. This is the 17th year of this program. Over 1600 children have completed it to date! The FWS has recovered 103 manatees that they believe died from Red Tide and that The Club provides quality rods, reels, tackle and tackle trays number will only grow. In 1996 we had 238 to students who complete the course. manatees dead from Red Tide. Registration forms available at school Sept 10. Students register by returning the form to the 6th grade office at their school, I first came across Red Tide back around or by signing up online after Sept 10 at www.waterlifemagazine.com 1980 when Midnight Pass was closed in The class fee is $12, PAYABLE ONLINE, OR at THE FIRST CLASS Sarasota Bay and fish kills were popping up The class is only offered at Punta Gorda Middle School, in Little Sarasota Bay. Back then I had some but students from Murdock, L.A. Ainger and Port Charlotte are simple questions I wanted to get answered, welcome to attend at Punta Gorda. what causes Red Tide, where does it start, Classes are held promptly from 6:15 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. in the Cafeteria how can it be stopped and how can we prevent it ? The six class dates at Punta Gorda Middle School are: Here it is almost 40 years later and I still seine net pull Tuesday Evenings: October 9, 16, 23, 30, November 6, 13 am looking for answers to the same questions. The class will have licensed Charter Fishing Captains as instructors. Parents are welcome to attend, but must sit off to the side of the room Over the years I've seen a lot of miss-information put out by local media that just Class space and fishing equipment is limited so a drawing will be held if the seems to confuse the issue. This time around class is over enrolled. there seems to be an effort to link blue-green Segments of the Punta Gorda class will be Live Streamed to a page on algae, man made pollution and Red Tide. facebook each week as part of an online class for students who can Here is what I know. Blue-green algae is a not attend at Punta Gorda. freshwater algae that is in epidemic conditions in Lake Okeechobee and that flows evening class There will also be two optional Saturday morning field trips down the Caloosahatchee River to the Gulf. for enrolled students: This algae definitely has a man made compoOn Saturday October 20 there will be an in-the-water Seine Net Demonstration with the FWC at 9:30 a.m, at Ponce Park, in Punta Gorda. nent and that is fertilizer runoff from farm Students will wade out in the water to help collect fish. land in the area. Red Tide on the other hand Please wear sneakers or other water shoes. is a saltwater algae that is always present offFor safety, no flip flops or sandals will be allowed! shore mostly in small concentrations. It is a On Saturday November 3 there will be a 4.5 hour offshore fishing trip from plant that floats around. It's important to unEnglewood. There may also be a second offshore trip. derstand that Red Tide can not live in fresh More information about the offshore trip(s) will follow. water. There are a lot of theories as to what offshore trip kicks off a Red Tide bloom. There is rewatch: www.waterlifemagazine.com,. Water LIFE Magazine on facebook and the Don Ball School of Fishing page on facebook for information. search that shows iron dust that blows in
6th Grade Fishing Club and Field Trips Registration Opens this month!
SEPTEMBER 2018
the
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By Cameron Parson Water Life Charlotte Harbor I generally focus on night time fishing for snook and tarpon this time of year. Both fish are notorious for being nocturnal feeders. The El Jobean, 75, and 41 bridges hold fish throughout the year. So long as the tide is moving there are fish to be caught. The last two hours of the incoming and first two hours of the outgoing tides seem to have the most action.
from Water LIFE magazine
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Shadow Line
This is the US 41 bridge at Punta Gorda. Most any lighted bridge will attract fish at night
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Nick with a nice night snook
I'm an avid swimbait angler, usually throwing lures anywhere from 4-to-12-inches long. Smaller lures will most definitely get bit more often while bigger lures tend to weed out smaller fish... calling for a bigger bite. Some great swimbaits to throw are the Storm Wildeye Swimshad, Savage Gear Mullet & Herring, DOA Baitbuster & Swimming Mullet, and Hogy Pro Paddletails. All of them come in a variety of colors, sizes, and weights. A few of my favorite colors are mullet, bunker, shad, and black/gold. Cameron Parson with a beautiful shadow line snook Be sure to beef up your gear while fishing will pretty much give them away. around the bridges. Reels in the 5000In some cases, I find both species to be 8000 range with 30-to 80-pound braid and holding the same area such as the center heavy rods are a must. Smaller 4000 reels of the 41 bridge or El Jobean bridge. On are definitely more fun, but the amount of other nights, tarpon seem to favor deeper break offs gets expensive and puts an imwater while snook will favor shallower pact on the mortality rate of the fish. This water... even up to maybe just a foot or often turns into "combat fishing� keeping two. the fish out of structure in close quarters. Start off working the bridges like a Locating snook and tarpon at night bass angler would fish a long dock. Pick can be a chore, especially when they apart every piece of the bridge to locate aren’t showing themselves with popping any change in depth, find where water bait or rolling. A fish finder with side-scan may flow a little different, and cover the
water column from top to bottom to find a feeding pattern the fish maybe on. I usually like to start with throwing parallel to the shadow line, starting on the outside of it and making my way into the structure. My experience is that the bite is anywhere from just on the edge of the shadow to the structure, most often towards the bottom. And be sure to let the current do the work. All you have to do is lift your rod. The water is super dark right now, so these fish won't generally wont move anymore than a foot or two before turning away from the lure. Time and patience will be required if you want to target snook and tarpon during the night. It's fishing, sometimes they're eating everything thrown at them and other nights you'll have to work hard for a bite. Just keep in mind that the more water you cover, the greater your chances are for a solid hook up. Quite a few of my greatest fish have been caught fishing shadow lines in our local area. It truly can be some of the most exciting fishing that can be done whether you're on a boat or on foot. Even some of the smallest bridges with the slightest hint of a shadow line will produce fish.
Cameron works at Rio Villa Bait and Tackle in Punta Gorda 941-639-7166
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Readerʼs Photos
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Courtney and Harper Martin's first Mahi Mahi
Local singer Vicky Richmond caught this 5 1/2 foot bull shark out in the Everglades. Her first shark ever. She was great at reeling it in.
37-inch drum caught nʼ released Bud Crihfield
SEPTEMBER 2018
Zory with a small blacktip shark off Fort Myers Beach
Venice Al DiMartino Jenny Hackett, first fish ever! mangrove snapper
Ramildo in from Boston and Ray from Sarasota happy with their catch of catfish, they do put up a good fight
Finley Roberts caught and released this lilʼ bullshark all on her own! Uncle Ian just held it for the pic!. Her goal in life is to be a "Pro Fisherwoman"!
28-inch yellowtail in the Gulf night fishing July 28. Craig Mahoney
Kathy with a beautiful yellowtail, Kathy (and Izzy?) with snappers and a bucket of snappers
SEPTEMBER 2018
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FISH PIX! f r o m Wa t e r L I F E m a g a z i n e
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Capt. JoGene Holaway holding Up His S.W . Florida Everglades fresh water snook. He released it alive after this pic.
Terry Huffman a double red day on the Serenity with Captain Bob. Thank you for being a great magazine full of information on fishing! Editor: without you we are nothing. thx!
Megan Tyler , drum with Capt. Budhead Donna Willoughby, bull shark
Salt Water Capt. John Brossard sharing some time on the freshwater, with Capt. JoGene Holaway. Capt. John is holding his best 4 largemouth black bass. Practicing CPR - Catch , Photo And Release
Mason Caputo (right) and his "Pap" Alan Techner caught this 3-pound 6-ounce large mouth bass in their San Carlos Park community's lake.
Mary Whitely caught tagged & released this this 6 foot Lemon Shark while fishing with her best friends Vicky and Joni. She used a Ladyfish for bait. Capt John Brossard
Large mouth bass caught by Reece and Riley Willis
Jimmy Davis II Holding up his best 4 S.W. Florida Everglades largemouth black bass caught while fishing with Capt. JoGene Holaway. All the bass were released alive.
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SEPTEMBER 2018
f fr ro om m W Wa at te er r L L II F FE E m ma ag ga az z ii n ne e
Sandy does it again! Cooler temperatures on Saturday the 11th brought us this beauty... Released in the Cape Coral canals
Lisa Crihfield., Don't ask!
Cameron Parson with a Peacock Bass in Ft. Lauderdale, using live shiners
Patrick with a Peacock Bass on the same day. Caught around 40 fish between the both of us on live shiners and on the fly
Father and son Dan and AJ Alvarez caught these two Jack Crevalle's on Cape Haze reef.
Randy 37-inch snook Tampa with my brother Russell. The release is below
Katie Goodwin with scallops from Steinhatchee, Florida
AJ Alvarez caught this nice snook on Alligator Creek. Guide was Capt Bill Brickel.
This was closing day of red snapper limited out. Also lane snapper, grouper and porgy. Was a good family day offshore. Andy, Chrissy and our daughter Shaniah
Karen Frost , mahi off Marathon!
SEPTEMBER 2018
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Three Phases of a Summer Tarpon Trip
By Capt. Chuck Eichner Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor Tarpon have consistently been showing up around the Harbor. The key word is “around” and “the Harbor” often includes the Peace River, all waters south and west to the Gulf. It’s a lot of territory. It would seem that tarpon, like all other predator fish, are always following their appetite, so looking for bait pods would be logical. But tarpon don’t follow any logical pattern around here. They can be found anywhere without any obvious reason and moments later they are gone. Where you found them a day ago, or a week ago, generally has no bearing on the day you go fishing. If this fish sounds like a challenge you are right! But, one hook up with a drag burning, leaping and twisting 100 pound fish that pulls so hard you can’t remove your rod from the rod holder .... will keep you in the game. PHASE 1 of most tarpon trips starts with catching bait. The bait varies constantly, so it’s best to have a variety, but that’s not so easy. A recent trip with Dan and Ceb started at daylight with casting for ladyfish. We wanted 12 in the
livewell to start and an hour later left with only 6. I informed my fishermen that we would be riding possibly hours until finding the fish and they gave me a blank stare. Everyone wants to put a line in the water right away, but this is usually not the thing to do with tarpon. PHASE 2 was riding and looking for
signs of tarpon and of course, the wind picked up with a one-foot chop which made it nearly impossible to see fish. After an hour Ceb wanted to drift fish just to get a line in the water and so we did. Lines in the water for over an hour with lively ladyfish tugging away and then two tarpon rolled right behind the
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boat! Ceb’s ladyfish came to the top as a big swirl erupted on his bait and then moments later a literal explosion occurred on Dan’s bait as the tarpon headed south about 100mph! Dan struggled to get the rod out of the holder as 100 yards of line peeled off and the fish went airborne. Shouts of “bow to the tarpon” met with success as the fish peeled more line with the rod buckling like a cattleman’s bullwhip and then a 125-pound silver king leaped and twisted its way to freedom! Exhilaration is the only word to describe everyone’s sentiment on the boat... and yes, we got lucky! So another hour passes fishing the same area and nothing. So on the hunt again. Later, off in the distance, we see a leaping fish and ran to the area to find a pod of tarpon. Lines in the water we drifted as probably 50 fish frolicked around the boat. With no bites I finally picked up a lure and got jammed by a 75 pound silver rocket! Barking orders like a drill sergeant, reel in the lines, start the engine and follow the fish met with one more leap! Then the fish fell back on my line and said good bye. Short and sweet, but exciting! With a couple of weak, beat up lady-
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fish we felt our chances were slim as the tarpon eventually disappeared. PHASE 3 (PLAN B) was to use the now dead bait for shark. Setting up near Alligator Creek we baited big chunks of ladyfish on 7/0 hooks with a short wire leader. It didn’t take long before a rod went off with the drag screaming which turned out to be a 40-pound tarpon that broke the leader. That was totally unexpected! Then another rod buckled with drag burning and a fish jumped! Five minutes later a small bull shark showed itself. Yes, shallow water sharks often jump and man do they fight on light tackle! Finishing up as thunderstorms were coming our way, we landed one more bull shark and then it was back to the dock. To make the best of tarpon fishing you need confidence, a full tank of gas and a mind set to enjoy the bait catching, the tarpon hunt and what ever comes next. Capt. Chuck Eichner operates Action Flats Backcountry Charters He can be reached at 941-628-8040
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SEPTEMBER 2018
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Hudson, large mouth bass
Mackeral on a fly Jack P tied Catch and release Snook Al DiMartino Port Charlotte 41 bridge
Neal Branstetter . Fish: Permit. Loc: Ocean Reef Key Largo, FL Size: 28.5LBS 31 inches. Caught with good friend Joey Rivera Jorden Hays 5 yrs old. Caught on a worm. Brayden Hays 10 yrs old. Caught on worm. In my back yard in Rotonda.
Venice, Al DiMartino catch and release
Patrick Brasington of Port Charlotte. Fished on the New LoAnn out of sanDiego on day and half trip. Caught off the rail on rental gear 285lb Bluefin tuna. Caught July 23. My biggest fish ever.
Allison Jolly, first time fishing...6 yrs old. Catfish and a mangrove snapper.
From left to right Jason Bihari, Justen Baker and Adam Beausoleil with some nice cobia, African pompano and mutton snapper we got while scouting for Lobsters on the East Coast this mini season.
Dave Harper says.....the hotter the weather...the hotter the fishing for peacock bass gets! Summertime is the RIGHT time!
Chris Mac of Naples caught this 6 1/2 foot Lemon Shark while fishing in Marco Island using Ladyfish for bait.
ALL GOOD SEPTEMBER 2018
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and will soon be schooling all over. This time of year I love to also target our inshore shark fishery as it’s exciting, plentiful and provides some easy opportunity for a guest to tug against a beast. The inshore passes are a great place to look for
you are set. It’s fun and when you get them chummed up it often doesn’t take long to hook up. One note, don’t bring them in the boat! There is no need, it damages them and can damage you as well should something go wrong. I wanna’ close with this; a few years ago we had a horrific Red Tide outbreak in the western Everglades, and 10,000 Is-
sharks, as well as channel edges and anywhere a predator can find a target as it comes off or goes into an area change. On bait choices, I say keep it simple, but make sure whatever you choose is fresh. Mullet, ladyfish, heck I use cut catfish all the time and have no trouble finding something to play along. Try an 8/0 or so non stainless hook, a little weight to get it to the bottom or in the column, and a rod with enough backbone to work a fish up to about 100 pounds in a hard current... and
lands. I remember riding around thinking it would never be the same as I looked at all the death. Turns out I was right, but it is far better than before, with quality fish through the area. We need some changes of course, not arguing that, but Mother Nature is a tough old bird, so have faith that the fishing in SW Florida will be strong again very soon. In the meantime the Everglades and 10,000 Islands are open for business.
FISHING AT 10,000 ISLANDS
By Capt. Charlie Phillips Water LIFE / Everglades City With all the bad news plaguing my friends to the north and west of us, I hate to say that the Everglades and 10,000 Islands have had a banner August. Good water, good weather and good fishing have been the norm for the captains around Everglades City in a time of year that is normally pretty quiet. Knowing the normal slow pattern, I had my boat down for updates and repairs and seeing all the success as everyone came in each day, I have somewhat regretted my choice. The inshore bite has been the one to target and I expect that to continue. Several anglers have been targeting tarpon with success in the waters in the big passes and rivers of the area. Using live mullet and ladyfish they are drifting with the outgoing tide, keeping their baits out in front of them using a sock or trolling motor. The thing to remember is natural presentation, so if you are anchored, then as the bait gets to the end of the drift it straightens out on the surface. By drifting the boat along behind the baits you avoid this and cover lots of water. Others have been working the grass and front keys using artificials like the suspending hard plastic baits, worked slow to target oversize trout who are around, snook on the points and cuts, and ladyfish and mackerel on the flats. Another good option is a simple old gold spoon worked along the bar edges and shallows for the redfish that are in the area
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Capt. Charlie Phillips 863-517-1829 e-mail: hopefishing@hotmail.com Web: hopefishing.com
Pictures are from Capt Brandon at Everglades City Fishing Charters who is a good friend and company I partner with.
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ReaderĘźs Photos
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SEPTEMBER 2018
FISH PIX! f r o m Wa t e r L I F E
Brace Whacter with Cpt Fred Gowdy
Paul with a nice snook
Gail Roebuck first black drum..and he swam away good..awesome fight
Cpt Fred Gowdy
This was taken with a digital camera, but, not a cell phone. I hope you can still use it. The angler is my sister, Sally Seymour of Englewood, Fl. She caught the 350 pound Goliath Grouper on a day trip off Stump Pass. I think it would mean a lot to her to see it in your magazine. She could use some smiles at this time in her life. Thanks so much. Steve Seymour
Snook caught by Joe Sheaffer 8/14/18 in Bull Bay Christina Kraus With a 6 foot bull shark caught in the Everglades using mullet for bait.
Emmy and her Pop Pop Frank , fishing in Charlotte Harbor while on summer vacation from Pennsylvania.
Marco Diaz with his first fish of the day, a nice whiting , caught in Gasparilla on shrimp
Greyshark with a baby barracuda in the Florida Everglades
Christine O'Hara - Redfish - East side of Charlotte Harbor
SEPTEMBER 2018
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Molly and Mitchell Vermeulen playing on a Peace River beach, across from Horse Creek. Six miles from this spot is where the phosphate company Mosaic wants to dig their next mine.
Deja-vu Red Neck Campgrounds and Horse Creek By Fishin’ Frank Water LIFE Baitshop Lately my days have been a bit, well... they have been a bit. I wake up feeling great, look in the mirror and Who's the old guy? Some strange-looking old man is looking back at me. The back story is that we had PestGurad from Sarasota tent our house for termites, So I called SWFL RV Rental to get a place to stay while they tented the house. It was great, a nice trailer with all the comforts and we stayed on the property while they did their termite killing. Awesome! However, sitting there that night, on concrete blocks and having a night cap and nicotine... the feeling of deja-vu 14 years ago came right back. We were sitting right there too, 14 years ago, looking at the house from an R.V. right after Hurricane Charlie. Now, once again, we were in the driveway looking at a house we can't use. At least this time it was only 3 days. So we got back in the house and after hauling and carrying everything back up the stairs, many stairs, I was ready for a boat ride. I love fishing Horse Creek, but I just don't get there often... so off I went. Bam! Once again, Deja-vu. I headed up river and as soon as I crossed the DeSoto line there were people everywhere. DeSoto County on the Peace River is full of what we call Red Neck Campgrounds, wonderful little islands with beaches on them. Pull your boat up and party! There were people swimming and drinking, talking and smoking while standing in the water, swinging from ropes into the water; boats and barbeque grilles. What A difference from the current gloom and doom of algae and Red Tide. This was the story all the way to Horse Creek. New comers and salt water people do not realize that right where Horse Creek meets the Peace River there is an amazing little beach which has been a favorite hang out of Locals for decades. If the river is shallow it’s hard to get to, but now the river is flowing hard and it’s deep. If you are going to run up there you
need to know a couple of rules. Do not go fast around the corners, there could be 50 people in the water around any bend. And if you leave trash you will find you are not welcome back. Boats can get little round holes in them up in the back woods. These are the nicest people I have ever met and very welcoming, but this is their back yard; you are welcome, but treat it and the folks and their kids with respect. As to my fishing adventure, well... I make my way up to the Creek and looking north it was beautiful, Horse Creek is as pretty a spot as you will ever see. But when I looked southeast, dang! Thunder boomers building big time. So I tied on my Rapala Rip-Stop and let my boat drift so I could cast the left side just behind the concrete wall. There are some old ruins up there from the glory days of river travel, massive old metal tubes sticking up. They might have been part of a bridge or a tie up at some point in time. I’m not sure. But anyway, I thought with all of the water coming off the Creek the bass or snook would be hanging out in an eddy, so three casts and I got my first hit and then three more casts and no hits and then the rain was still coming. So I started the boat and headed back down river. On the way up I know there were a ton of boats lined up on sand bars, islands and coves. But Red Necks ain’t stupid, so they were hauling butt ahead of the rain too. I was not sure if I should write about the wonderful world of Up-River Red Necks. It is their world and maybe I should keep their secret. But seeing it alive and well and so many happy people out on the River and everyone getting along, I am smiling as I type. No, I did not catch fish that trip, but what I did catch was a bit of Deja-vu from awesome people and a life style which is still going strong. Thank God for Red Necks they give me hope. Enjoy life, be good to each other and to the places we love... like Horse Creek and the River. Fishin’ Franks Bait & Tackle Port Charlotte: 941- 625-3888 Fort Myers: 239-634-1043
The water is clean & fresh on the Peace River!
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SEPTEMBER 2018
Segments of Charlotte Harbor Listed as Impaired by EPA. MICROBIAL FECAL POLLUTION AND ENTERIC PATHOGENS FOUND IN OUR SUB TROPICAL ESTUARY
Water LIFE report According to a Sea Grant partnered report produced by Florida Atlantic University’s Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, Charlotte Harbor is polluted with human waste. The 2016 report, complete with graphics, shows 71-percent of the septic tank drainage fields at the top of the Harbor are too close to the high water level. Some of this is being addressed by new sewage lines, but the report concludes contaminants in the soil are longlasting and the area’ s waterways are all above acceptable levels of numerous alga. High levels of nutrients, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyl-a, bacteria in shellfish and mercury in fish are all cited as evidence. The effect on locally harvested shrimp and crabs was not shown. For the report, the Estuary was sampled monthly for one year at 12 stations in the lower Peace and Myakka Rivers. Monthly water samples and quarterly sediment samples were collected. Long term historical data was taken from public records. The data included canals and estuaries within Charlotte County. The report revealed a history of impaired conditions and advocated additional monitoring. Last month Don Pedro Island was added to the list.
Credit: NASA Earth Observatory In what looks like a work of art, neon-green algae bloom appear to whirl in the Baltic Sea. The image was captured on July 18 by NASA's Operational Land Imager on the Landsat 8.
World Algal Blooms Mix Beauty with Danger
https://www.charlottecountyfl.gov/dept/utilities/Site Documents/Charlotte-County-HBOI-FAUPhase1-2016-Presentation.pdf
red lines, indicate the acceptable levels
By Kimberly Hickok Special to Water LIFE Phytoplankton and blue-green algae blooms in the North Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean are particularly intense this year and are creating some spectacular and enormous green swirls in the water. Algal blooms occur every summer off the coast of Scandinavia, but the events appear particularly intense this year, according to NASA's Earth Observatory. The large swirl in the image is about 12 miles across, and it was likely created by a bloom of cyanobacteria called blue-green algae, the Earth Observatory reported. Diatoms, a type of phytoplankton rich in chlorophyll (the green pigment found in plants and algae), may also be contributing to what look like green paint strokes decorating the surface of the water. The bloom shown here appears to trace the edges of a vortex created by an ocean eddy, which could be where nutrients are rising from deeper water, according to the Earth Observatory. Though these enormous algae spirals are striking to look at, their presence is not necessarily a good sign for the environmental health of the region. Phytoplankton and cyanobacteria consume large amounts of nutrients and leave the water deprived of oxygen. Indeed, highly concentrated areas of algae create what are called dead zones, because fish and other marine creatures are unable to survive when the water becomes severely oxygen-depleted. In the past few years, the Baltic Sea has experienced the lowest oxygen levels seen
in the area in at least 1,500 years, according to research published earlier this month in the journal Biogeosciences. One of the primary causes of the oxygen decline is that human-caused pollution — primarily nutrient-dense fertilizers and sewage — has for decades spilled into the ocean from the Scandinavian countries, fueling oxygen-depleting algae blooms. Although efforts to curb pollution in the past few years have decreased levels of runoff, these measures haven't resulted in fewer algae blooms or smaller dead-zone perimeters. The scientists suspect that's because warm water is less effective at holding oxygen. Nearby, the entire Gulf of Finland is also experiencing record-high levels of cyanobacteria, levels that haven't occurred in at least the past decade, reported the Finnish Broadcasting Company, Yle. The current heat wave in the Northern hemisphere and high levels of phosphorus from pollution and dead organisms are the two key ingredients creating the perfect conditions for an abundance of blue-green algae in the Gulf of Finland area.
We overlaid the latest loop current in the Gulf on top of a 8/24 Mote Marine Red Tide map. Are nutrients rising in the loop eddys?
TWO RELATED ALGAL FACTS Saharan Dust also plays a part.
1. The dust from the Sahara is high in iron. Iron enables Trichodesmium, a filamentous Cyanobacteria, to absorb nitrogen from the air. Trichodesmium is thought to fix nitrogen on such a large scale that it accounts for almost half of the nitrogen fixation in marine systems globally. Nitrogen fixation is converting Nitrogen to compounds of ammonia which algae uses as a nutrient. 2. Just because Trichodesmium, like other strains of Cyanobacteria (Green Algae), and even the dinoflagellete K. Brevis (Red Tide), can photosynthesize sunlight and absorb nutrients from air, does not mean that they do not enjoy a good meal of excess nutrients. In fact they do.
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SCUTTLEBUTT
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Sometimes Unsubstanciated, But Often True
THAT GUY? WOW! There is a rumor going around Punta Gorda that Guy Harvey Hotels is about to buy the PG Waterfront Hotel (the old Holiday Inn)
No SCOOOOOOOOORE Officers responded to multiple reports of a sea turtle nest being disturbed on Marco Island. One of the witnesses had been watching four people using a well-marked sea turtle nest as a soccer goal. One report noted they entered the nest area with total disregard of the posted do not disturb sea turtle nest sign. The subjects had left.
THOSE GUYS? WOW! There is another rumor that the Laishley Marine store in Punta Gorda will be closing soon.
MINI SEASON MAXI TIDES FWC officers heading south from the Boynton Inlet spotted a diver caught in a strong current. The diver was waving both arms as a sign of distress. The officers safely rescued the diver who was almost exhausted. The diver pointed out two other divers from his party drifting in the current and the officers rescued them as well. Other officers patrolling approximately a mile offshore Delray Beach, around 3 a.m. noticed a faint green light in the distance. The officers went to the green light and found a diver who was over two miles away from his vessel. Still other officers patrolling offshore at the Lake Worth Inlet were able to locate a diver who was left behind by a separate vessel. The officers found two more divers just before sunset several miles away from that area.
HOW MUCH WERE THESE TICKETS? Officer Price conducted speed enforcement in the Lee County panther zone. Throughout the evening, Officer Price educated several drivers for speed related violations, including three different drivers for speeds of 86, 99 and 107 miles per hour in the 45 mile-perhour panther zone. One driver said they were driving so fast because they had no cell phone signal and were afraid. A second driver said they were in a hurry to get home and use the restroom. The third driver had no excuse as it was his sixth citation for speed related violations in the panther zone. All were ticketed. TILAPIA SKIN GRAFT Some black bear cubs suffered major burns in the wildfires in Northern California, and are receiving a treatment to help heal their wounds using sterilized tilapia skin stitched to the healthy tissue around the burns.
Several tackle manufacturers have indicated they will cut back on their ʻguide programsʼ They claim what they consider ʻBad Publicityʼ from guides speaking out about water quality has hurt their sales in SW Florida
TEAMWORK FWC dispatchers received a call about a subject loading an extremely large snook into a red minivan with a yellow canoe strapped to the top at the South Skyway rest area. Officers called Pinellas County, who checked the vehicle registration, learned the suspect lived in Hillsborough County and provided a possible address. At the residence in the back yard they saw the van matching the description. The suspect was unloading his fishing equipment and dive gear. The subject said he knew why they were there and went inside his house and brought out a snook that was over 38-inches long. They brought out the citation book. NOT EVEN A THANK YOU Officers responded to a residence in North Naples regarding a bear complaint. The homeowner told them the bear had entered through a screened patio then accessed the home through an open window. Once inside the house the bear rummaged through the trash and removed and ate items from the refrigerator. The bear exited through the same window.
The giant sinkhole, in Polk County that swallowed 215-million gallons of Mosaic the phosphate companyʼs radioactive acidladen water, has now been filled in. It took over one year. The polluted water is now in the aquifer. It wasnʼt the first time this has happened for Mosaic.
SNAKE IN A PILLOWCASE Captiva Wildlife Investigator Saunders received a Wildlife Alert complaint of a subject in possession of an American alligator and a Burmese python in his apartment. The subject admitted to having a small alligator but denied having a python. When confronted with the fact that investigator had seen pictures of the snake in the apartment, the suspect retrieved it from where it was hidden in a pillow case, under the bathroom sink.
I WAS JUST GONNA CALL YOU Officers responded to a report of a vessel against the rocks on US-1 near South Pine channel bridge. It was found that the registered owner was operating the vessel alone, the night prior, when he hit a concrete power pole. The collision caused the operator to be ejected. The vessel continued on plane, hit the bridge, and ended up on the rocks. The operator swam to land, walked to his residence and did not notify law enforcement. Alcohol might have been involved.
SS HOOCH Officers conducting water patrol offshore of Summerland Key watched a sailboat going in circles with an unconscious person onboard approximately two miles south of Little Palm Island. Utilizing the emergency siren, officers tried to wake the subject, who was laying on the stern of the vessel, smiling, but unresponsive. One officer finally managed to board the vessel and saw two bottles of partially consumed alcohol lying next to the subject. When the subject finally awoke he was no longer smiling.
GOOD SAVE! Officer Brodbeck was on patrol in the Jupiter Inlet and saw two kayaks with a total of 5 individuals overturn in the inlet on a strong incoming tide. The current quickly separated the subjects in the water from the kayaks. He responded and instructed all subjects to stop attempting to swim against the current. Officer Brodbeck pulled the individuals from the water one by one and, with the assistance of nearby boaters, both kayaks and personal belongings were recovered. JUST ROWDY ON DOWN Officer Johnston, on water patrol at the Santa Fe River, saw a female subject passed out in a kayak near Ginnie Springs. The subject was sitting in her kayak, completely incapacitated, floating down the River. With emergency lights flashing and lots of shouting, officer Johnston was able to wake the subject and get a slurred verbal response. The subject was not wearing a life jacket and could not produce any required safety gear. Officer Johnston could see an empty bottle of wine in plain view. Note* Weʼre not sure if that qualifies as Boating Under the Influence, since kayaks are, as of yet, unregistered.
Priorities
The Canoe and Kayak launch at Bayshore Park in Port Charlotte has been treated to a fresh sandy beach and a newly installed and rolled parking lot. However the Fishing Pier at Bayshore Park is still closed and now overgrown with creeping weeds. The Bayshore Pier and the Placida Fishing Pier have been closed for over a year. Bayshore since Irma, Placida since a fire 2 winters ago.
Bayshore above, Placida below
Placida Update
Captains at the Placida docks were given their 30-day notice last month. Construction of a new hotel, rumored to be overflow space for the ritzy Inn at Gasparilla, is scheduled to start soon. Removal of the sunken Seminole Trader shrimp boat (above) and the old Placida Queen head boat (below) could happen as early as this month.
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SEPTEMBER 2018
You donʼt know what you donʼt know
By Capt. Sue Nerud Water LIFE Overnighter My passion for boats on the water started at a young age. Growing up in Minnesota, my father was a big-time fisherman. We boated the Great Lakes and the lakes around our home town. He was also was an avid Larson boat lover, which I am assuming is where my love for Larsons started! I met Alpha Mare for the first time in Minnesota. I was hanging by the beach and saw this gorgeous 22 foot cabin cruiser fly by. She was for sale AND she was a Larson cutty cabin. I hailed the owner over to the beach, discussed the boat and asked to drive her. I got behind the helm, and I knew within five minutes she was mine. She had everything I was looking for: The deep V, the big 260 HP Merc Cruiser, and the cabin, including a closed in head. My connection with her was immediate, however, I was in the middle of selling my farm and I didn’t have cash. Hmmm..... So, after further discussions with the owner, I did my first and only barter. I swapped my skid steer for the boat. He needed the skid steer, I need the boat, it was a match made in heaven. Done deal. I spent the next weekend on her at my local lake and that fall my life’s journey finally took me to Florida – that was 14 years ago. Everyone said “you can’t move to Florida, "you can’t take that boat to Florida, that’s a fresh water boat". But I will tell you, this little boat has given me more enjoyment, more pleasure and more fun than I ever thought possible. I believe getting up close and personal with your boat means spending as much time on the water as possible, so I found a marina on the river, packed my stuff in storage, and lived on her for six months. Yes, that was another thing everybody said I couldn’t do! Needless to say, I was a bit unprepared for some of my new adventures in Florida. To begin with, no one told me that a single screw boat has a lot less maneuverability. Especially in the wind. My very first weekend at the marina, I was out and a storm came in quick, as they do down here. It was late, really windy and I needed to get her back. The wind had picked up big time and I simply could not get her into the slip, stern first. I tried several times, in a very enclosed, very full marina and in a tight spot. So, I had to go bow first and then hunker down for the storm. I did not know what a spring line
was, nor do I think I tied her correctly. But, I was safe .... or so I thought. In the middle of the night, I woke up to spewing water over my bow. During the night my bow-pulpit had gotten underneath the dock and under the water spiket for my slip. Dang, not only did it break the water spicket off, but my pulpit was severely damaged. It was at that point, I understood why everyone told me to go stern first into the slip. Lightbulb moment! So, what’s a girl to do? I did the famous “walk of shame “ down the dock and tried to call the dockmaster. Ultimately, the damage I did forced them to shut off all the water at the marina, including the pool, showers and bathroom. The whole marina was looking for the newbie women from MN who caused the issue. To this day, 10 years later, when I go to that marina, people remember that day and still laugh about it and now so do I! It was a very expensive learning experience. My hope is you find my coming columns entertaining, funny and maybe, just maybe, you might learn something along the way. I leave you with a quote: "If you don’t have tattoos on your boat, you’re not boating enough."
SEPTEMBER 2018
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Smalltooth Sawfish: On the Road to Recovery By Tonya Wiley
Havenworth Coastal Conservation
Special for Water LIFE I checked with the Charlotte Harbor FWC folks, and there have not been any reports of sawfish being affected by the Red Tide. Juvenile sawfish are often in lower salinity areas (up river) where the Red Tide can’t live. We are asking folks to call 844-4SAWFISH if they see any sawfish, dead or alive. This helps us monitor the population, and any response they may have. The U.S. Smalltooth Sawfish Recovery Team recently released a video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSRWUjVU3e8&feature=youtu.be) which looks at smalltooth sawfish recovery in the United States, 15 years after its listing under the Endangered Species Act. Our Smalltooth Sawfish Recovery Implementation Team is comprised of a number of partners from both federal and state government, non-government organizations, universities, and the fishing industry. Gregg Poulakis of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spoke about the progress of the team since its inception, stating, “when the recovery team came into existence shortly after the species was listed under the Endangered Species Act, we knew very little about the species. Basically, any question that we asked, or anyone would ask, about the biology or ecology of the species didn't have an answer, so we had a lot of priorities initially, and over the last 15 years we've learned a lot.” The video shows current research on this endangered species before introducing team member and professional charter captain, (and regular monthly Water LIFE columnist) Charlie Phillips of Hope Fishing Adventures. Charlie explains why he volunteered to become part of the team, “I'm an Everglades National Park permitted
captain myself, and the sawfish is the heart of the Everglades. I mean it embodies the area that I fish, so having an opportunity for people to interact correctly with that endangered species is very important and trying to share that with as many people as I can…is why I'm here.” Charlie’s account as a recreational angler segues into the safe release guidance that the team has developed and continues to promote. Should an angler catch a sawfish, our guidance is to leave the sawfish in the water, cut the line as close to the hook as possible, release the sawfish quickly, and report to us the information about the encounter. The video details what a recovered population of smalltooth sawfish in the U.S. might look like. While there is some uncertainty, John Carlson of NOAA Fisheries’ Southeast Fisheries Science Center states, “… sawfish historically were found in areas from North Carolina to the Gulf of Mexico so what we should see as the population recovers, is that abundance trends are increasing as well as seeing individuals in some of those historic areas.” With the evidence to date, the team thinks endangered smalltooth sawfish are on the path to recovery. “Based on the species current status and its life history characteristics, the smalltooth sawfish population is not likely to fully recover for at least 40 to 50 years,” concludes Adam Brame, the Sawfish Recovery Coordinator for NOAA Fisheries. “We are seeing signs of progress, however, and due to these modest improvements, we're cautiously optimistic that the smalltooth sawfish is indeed on the road to recovery.” As always, to report a smalltooth sawfish encounter call 1-844-4SAWFISH or email sawfish@myfwc.com. For more information: Internet: www.SawfishRecovery.org Facebook: U.S. Sawfish Recovery Twitter: @SawfishRecovery
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FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Ryan Lidski from Manhattan NY with a catch and release Atlantic sharpnose shark caught on a shrimp
Ryan Lidski from NY with a catch and release blacktip shark caught in the Everglades using cut bait
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
FISH PIX!
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Jiri Smolik with a 40-inch shark
Steve Lipski from Manhattan, New York with a 6 1/2 foot lemon shark caught and released in the Everglades
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
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SEPTEMBER 2018
September – Predictions and Suggestions
BackBay Xtremes
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Mitchell Vermeulen with a 15-inch tilapia, caught for the Dollar Bill Tournament. Mitchell won an Ethical Angler award when he told us he didnʼt hook the fish himself, but he did reel it in
Capt Dave Stephens www.backbayxtremes.com
941-916-5769
Explore Charlotte Harbor Fish with a Guide Youʼll learn something and youʼll catch more fish!
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
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Alison from MN with her first redfish, part of her first Charlotte Harbor slam, fishing with Capt. Matt
Emily Wilson, snook
Walker Hoke, 8, with a personal best snook this morning
Charlotte Harbor Frank at Fishin’ Franks 941-625-3888
Pompano continue to be a big thing. It looks like September will be another good month on pompano. Maybe because of Red Tide, a lot of them got stuck in the Harbor. There have been a bunch at Bokeelia and Two Pine and going up the Harbor. They are tasty little fish. Fish for them with a jigs under a bobber. They like to bite from the back, so make sure you don’t have anything too long. We have pompano on the north end of the west side and on the south part of the east side. I figure someplace they have to be crossing the Harbor. Black drum are doing really well too. Catch and release of drum right now is off the chart. We have 1000 drum in the Harbor acting like a school of minnows. The brain tease on the drum is they are 10- to 20-pounds in Port Charlotte but in Punta Gorda they are 20- to 60-pounds. We are seeing some weird segregation issue with the black drum this year. Another thing we are seeing with the black drum, and I’d like you to email me if you see it, is black drum that look more like redfish ... or somehow just don’t look right. The research guys are interested in this. There is a chance they may be crossbreeding with the red drum. The research guys are also interested in parasites in black drum. In the winter there are few or no parasites in them but this time of year they are loaded. They think the parasites come from shark poop and a parasite tape worm that lives in the shark. The parasite goes from the spawned eggs to shrimp or crabs, and then they are eaten by the fish and the parasites get out of intestine into the meat.... they think. Snook season is scheduled to be open, if the FWC doesn’t issue an emergency closing because of Red Tide. I think people will be shocked to see all the big snook There are a lot of big fish in the rivers. At the Franklin Lock, on the Caloosahatchee, there are really big snook, looking
for food... and those snook are happy. There are snook in the canals at Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, at El JoBean and in Northport. We still have snook! Trout are on the east side, but only 1 in 10 or 20 is slot sized. We have sand brim in the Port Charlotte canals that have really come on big. Brim are the sleeper fish of 2018. They are like a saltwater crappie, and a great eating fish. They were big in 80s, we called them silver jennies and now they are popular again. Fish with a bobber and a little #6 hook with a piece of peeled shrimp. Shark fishing is still good, more bulls and lemons than anything. A lot of sharks got out before the Red Tide. We haven’t seen any dead sharks. When you see dead sharks Tide is catastrophic.
Lemon Bay, Placida, Gasparilla Sound Jim at Fishermen’s Edge 941-697-7595
One guy has just been going to Lemon Bay. He said its OK. Another guy said Spanish mackerel were at the mouth of Boca along with some ladyfish. There has been some bait coming in too. And guys I know got into the snapper on the north end of the trestle by Uncle Henrys, I talked to some guys on Saturday that went to Bull and Turtle Bay and they got into small trout and small snook on fly. They said the water in Bull and Turtle was good, but some other areas close to it had a touch of Red Tide. A lot of guys are going to El JoBean and launching up there where there are snook and some black drum and still some . Guys doing ok 12- to 15miles offshore, but you have to get through the stinky stuff to get to the good water. Snapper- lane, mangrove and yellowtail are there, depending on the reef and before the sharks come in on you. Guys are into AJ and dolphin too. It just depends how far they go out. Some people are going to freshwater and bass fishing because they don’t want to get close to the water.
SEPTEMBER 2018
The BIG-4
BACK ISSUES @
SAND BRIM in the Port Charlotte canals.
September
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Fish you can expect in
BASS Deeper down, hiding in the shade
BLACK DRUM Big school in the middle of the Harbor
FLORIDA POMPANO on both sides of the Harbor
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Nearshore water temps are mid 80s Fish are lazy Red Tide & Green Algae persist in some areas
95˚ 90˚ 85˚
30-pound-plus grass carp on bread. 8 pound test line, 3 foot Ugly Stick. Aidan Flack, Rotonda
80˚
FISH PIX!
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Snappers out of Stump Pass Rick smith
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from Water LIFE magazine
8 year old Walker Hoke, with his first tarpon landed on an artificial bait
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
75˚
Leland Locke, bass
72˚ 70˚ 68˚ 50˚ 45˚
Capt. JoGene Holaway, sharing his best four S.W. Florida largemouth black bass. All the bass were released alive
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Captain Dave Patton of N. Fort Myers with a monster Goliath Grouper caught the right way, one man and a pole, pulled from Boca!!
FISH PIX!
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Emily Wilson, sail catfish
from Water LIFE magazine
FISH
Redfish caught by Joe Sheaffer 8/26/18 Boca Grande
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Tommy Cycan caught this snook at the Ponce De Leon inlet. Guide was Capt Bill Brickel.
FISHING RIGHT NOW: still depends where
LAST CAST This is the last picture we received before going to print.
Cary Twardzik, 8/25/18, Aboard the SeaLady, With Capt. Bert off Key Largo
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SEPTEMBER 2018