Water LI FE
Charlotte Harbor, Lemon Bay, Venice, Estero, 10,000 Islands and the Gulf
The Don Ball School of Fishing
August 2017
Txt Us Ur Fish Pix! see page 14
FISH PIX! FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
from Water LIFE magazine
Kellie Redmann lands her first tarpon, fishing bright and early with her dad, John Redmann
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
FISH PIX!
www.WaterLifeMagazine.com from Water LIFE magazine
FREE!
PAGE
2
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
AUGUST 2017
No Warranty
Sweetwater 2286F $14,957
2011 Nautical Rhib rescue boat $24,877
1996 Action Craft 18SE Yamaha F115 4-stroke $14,987
2011 SeaDoo GTX is 260 $7477
2011 SeaDoo GTI SE130 $4,967
New Yamaha Wave Runners GT1800 starting at $6599
2016 Polaris RZR 1000 high lifter $16,997
2016 Harley Davidson FLTRXS Road Glide $19,997
Includes Trailer
2016 Cushman shuttle 4x Golf Cart $6987
TYPE
MAKE
Trailer
EZ Loader
Waverunner Jet Ski
Go Cart UTV M/C
Auto
Yamaha
Kawasaki
Hammerhead John Deere
Harley Davidson Chevrolet
August Specials!! MODEL
YEAR
PRICE
Tandem axle
2017
$3,495
GA800 SX-R
GTS150R
Gator 825i Ultra LTD
Monte Carlo
2017 2017 2015 2015 2013 2004
$13,888 $8,888 $1,500
$11,987
$13,877 $1,800
AUGUST 2017
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @ WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE 3
PAGE
4
EMAIL:
AUGUST 2017
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
Now a
Fort Myers store !! Fishinʼ Franks#2
14531 N. Cleveland Ave, (US41) N. Ft Myers 33903 • 239-634-1043
eMail letters and photos to:
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Derek Sandefur, 35-inch snook
WaterLIFE@comcast.net
Gentlemen, It is a shame that the subject photo on page 18 in your July 2017 issue made it to press. The only really notable thing about the photo is how very obvious it is that Photo Shop was used. If that is in fact a 49-inch snook, then the lady in the boat is about 48-inches tall or less. I read your publication and read it every month. But this is an insult to any real fisherman. Respectfully, Richard West Cape Coral
Txt fish Pix to 941-457-1316
Editor Notes* Yes, I blew it with that photo. For a while I passed it off as being a wide angle lens.... but I still had my doubts. In hindsight, using that photo appears to have been dumb. Thanks for keeping us honest! – MH
Water LIFE inc. waterlife@comcast.net www.WaterlifeMagazine.com
Michael & Ellen Heller Publishers
(941) 766-8180
FishPix, text only number 941.457.1316
217 Bangsberg Rd. Port Charlotte, FL 33952
Independant - Not affiliated with any other publication! Vol XVI No 8 © 2017
NO PART of this publication (printed or electronic) may be copied, reproduced or re-used without specific written permission from the publishers. (and thatʼs never happened!)
Contributing Editors:
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
My name is Dustin Butera caught these fish Saturday night on the full moon, 20 miles offshore out of Venice, snapper fishing
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
On the Cover:
Went out with my friend Charlie Vrabel from Punta Gorda. We were fishing for grouper and red snapper out in 170 feet when Charlie hooked into this shark. This answered the question as to whether or not jack crevalle was suitable for reef fish bait! Perfect hook set in the mouth corner allowed him to get it to the boat with his relatively light grouper tackle. It eventually did cut the leader, but not until after we got to see this beautiful girl up close for a minute! Iʼm not great on shark i.d., but I think sandbar shark? The dorsal fin was centered over the pectoral fins and she was a brown color on her back in the sun. Between 6-7 feet long and maybe 300 pounds we were guessing. – Adam Wilson
Photography: ASA1000.com Senior Editor: Capt. Ron Blago Baitshop: Fishinʼ Frank Peace River: Capt. David Stephens Punta Gorda: Capt. Chuck Eichner Venice: Glen Ballinger Estero: Capt. Joe Angius Everglades City: Capt. Charlie Phillips Kayaking: Bob Fraser Sea Grant: Capt. Betty Staugler Beach Fishing: Mallory Herzog Pier Fishing: Bobby Vitalis Diving: Adam Wilson
“I GOT CALLS FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE FROM MY AD LAST SUMMER” ADVERTISE HERE!
$99 per month!
RENEW - LEONARD AT TOP NOTCH CANVAS
“... A LOT MORE CALLS FROM YOUR PUBLICATION THAN FROM ... THAT OTHER WATER PUBLICATION”
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
TOM AT THE BOAT HOUSE “ADVERTISING WITH YOU IS A NO BRAINER! IT WORKS FOR US”
Free on your Device too!
RENEW!! DOCK SAVERS "WE ARE VERY HAPPY WITH THE RESPONSE TO OUR AD IN WATER LIFE"
C h ec k A r o u n d - s e e w h er e l o ca l a d v e r t i s e r s a r e p u t t i n g t h e i r h a r d e a r n e d d o l l a r s
The Other Woman AUGUST 2017
By Michael Heller Water LIFE editor The Paramount boat ‘factory’ (it was two brothers and a grade school buddy in a rented building) was on the other coast, in Dania, practically right behind the Bass Pro Shops. In 2002 I had a 19-foot Key West bay boat, but I was looking for a new ride. Phil Maszak, the staff photographer at the old Mercury Marine Mercabo Test Center in Placida had mentioned what a great boat the Paramount was, so one day when I was over in Dania, dropping off magazines at Bass Pro, I went by the Paramount shop to have a look. The talk about Paramount was if they didn’t like you they didn’t want you driving one of their boats. I think they were selective about their customers – I heard it was a ‘cult thing.’ We hit it right off and soon afterwards, they agreed to build me a boat and let me take pictures and be involved with the construction. That way I would get everything just the way I wanted it, this was a huge enhancement to the deal. We added an extra livewell, extra bracing, rigging and access. I was there when two 55 gallon drums of resin to build this boat were delivered. I waxed the molds and helped pull her parts out when they were dry. Mercury rigged and powered the boat at their Placida facility. We used it for a
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @ WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
few brochure pictures for Mercury advertising and then I settled in with her, learning to appreciate her speed and how much smoother a 21-foot boat is over a 19-foot boat in the waffle-iron chop that is Charlotte Harbor. She is a wood boat. Narrow with a 7foot beam. Her deck is a matrix of 6inch wood squares glassed together. The stringers are laminated and encapsulated
PAGE 5
everyday use on my boat. In 2003 when we had 20-inches of rain in one weekend our seawall collapsed, leaving the boat on its davit pad, sunk down behind the rubble. We built a platform and slid the boat back into the water using a soaped up carpet and a lot of muscle. Another time a lift cable snapped, dropping the stern 4 feet. It wasn’t a problem. I’ve run the boat as far as Marathon in the Keys to the south, Tampa Bay to the north and Mos10 year old Lane Warren having a quito Lagoon to the east. It’s rescued FISH PIX! great day on the water with this upper slot redfish caught out of Placida. several people from dire circumstances, including a school principal and his teacher wife who thought they could paddle a pool float across Gasparilla Pass on a strong outgoing tide. They were clueless. Two good dogs have grown up and passed on, knowing this boat. I’ve had newborns, grand kids and my 98 year old uncle Harry aboard. Uncle Harry even drove her around for a while. There have been plenty of fish and wildlife too. Once, coming up the Harbor a pelican flew straight into the boat and knocked himself out cold. I circled around and picked him up, pulled some baitfish out of his mouth and sat him on the deck. He probably remembers my boat too. Eventually he flew away. Ditto with the 100-pound tarpon that jumped aboard and then flopped off. This has been a good boat. I am currently replacing the gauges, recovering Butera, 56-inch barracuda the cushions and polishing out the glass. FISH PIX! Dustin out of Venice I figure she’s got a bunch of years to go. from Water LIFE magazine
marine wood. The boat is so stable you can stand on the gunnel and it won’t roll over. At speed, only the pad on her bottom is in the water. At speed is 62. Bob Icenogle of Bob’s Jackplate fame, set up the jackplate that’s doing daily duty on the transom today. Acon Marine in Sarasota came up with the stainless cleats and fittings that still shine flawlessly. When Charlotte County Sea Grant Agent Rich Novak was laid to rest on one of the Artficial Reefs that he built, the one which now carries his name, my boat took us out to scatter his ashes ... in 7-foot seas. Rich would have approved! Mercury developed an improved primer bulb after extended testing in
from Water LIFE magazine
PAGE
6
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
The Here and Now By Mallory Herzog Water LIFE Fishing Inshore fishing is HOT around Boca Grande and Charlotte Harbor. Temperatures soar past 90 degrees by lunch time, but Capt. Andrew has found just where these inshore fish are cooling off and searching for an easy meal. On recent charters, guests have hooked into plenty of snook and redfish. These fish are devouring live bait and are keeping cool underneath the bushes. Pinfish has been a fish favorite this month, especially since the white bait in the area is still a bit small. Fish your free-lined on a 3/0 circle hook or a Rockport Rattler jig head (a red drum favorite). Fishing the bar? Aim your bait or lure for the deeper potholes. I love using artificial when drifting the bar. It allows you to cover a large area quickly. Gold spoons and mirror lures are great for sand/ grassy areas. Be careful, they are sharp as Capt. Andrew was reminded while dehooking a ladyfish! The BIG fish are still eating as well. Sharks are cruising our passes and
beaches. A few are hanging out in Charlotte Harbor's deeper holes. The Fleming Family had a blast while on vacation in Boca Grande. They had a trip set up, but they were eager to get out a day early so we picked them up after a morning trip and ran them a few miles out to hook into some goliath grouper. There had been big jacks out here earlier in the day, our plan was to hook up on a few using artificial baits (metal jigs and a popper) and turn them into something bigger! Dad (James) and son Swope hooked up on some huge jack crevalle. The perfect bait for giant grouper down below! The guys really gave it their all, hooking and catching multiple goliath grouper. Swope even jumped IN the water with his catch for a memorable photo! These guys also help me wrap up the first set of fin clippings for FWC. They have a study going on using this specie’s DNA. Day two we were on the search for tarpon. We cruised the beach until we found a pod of fish. Every spring/ summer these migrating fish begin to flood our
AUGUST 2017
beaches. This is my favorite place to fish tarpon. It’s quiet, not as chaotic as fishing in the pass. Anglers seem to enjoy it as well, there is thrill in the hunt. Tarpon fishing is sight casting on a whole other level. The guys were true fishermen and hung in there during a slow morning bite. We must of fished this school for about an hour before they finally began to eat. Their patience paid off, and they were rewarded. Mac landed a nice tarpon, it put on a show – getting in plenty of jumps – making for a memorable catch. James (dad) captured these incredible photos of his fish. We sent him home with a scale from the tarpon, a
hook and the leader he used in landing his fish. There’s nothing like catching your first tarpon, especially in Boca Grande. Thanks again for the fantastic photos! To book a trip with Capt Andrew Herzog Call or TXT 941-661-0304 Visit http://bigbullyoutdoors.com
Pool Home
Under Contract
Punta Gorda Isles
Punta Gorda Isles
Call the Captain! Completely Remodeled With
Sold!
Burnt Store Isles
Call the Captain! OVERSIZE SEAWALL,
ROOM FOR A 3-CAR GARAGE AND OVERSIZE LOT! 105' of waterfront, southern exposure and dock $199,900
High End Appointments! Intersecting canal views, 5 minutes to harbor, 3/2/2 with 1800sf Air. Granite/wood in kitchen & baths. This house looks like new! $339,900
Call the Captain! The Perfect Vacation Home Is
Now Available! Island Style Pool Home With Quick Harbor Access. 80' of seawall, dock, spectacular curb appeal, updated with oversize garage. $309,950
175’ Waterfront
Under Contract
Punta Gorda Isles
Call the Captain! SOUTHERN END
BIRD SECTION, 140 FEET OF WATER FRONT! Sailboat waterfront with fast access to harbor. $189,900
Pirate Harbor
Call the Captain! Quick Harbor Access
Possibilities of a Detached Garage! Rarely available oversize lot has a huge water frontage, located among beautiful homes. List $149,900
Under Contract
Deep Creek
Call the Captain! FORMER MODEL HOME Absolutely Stunning! 3/2/2 pool home with 2140sfAir. High ceilings, granite/wood kitchen & baths. List $275,000
AUGUST 2017
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @ WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
Let Your Chum Do the Work By Capt. David Stephens Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor Well folks, summer is in full swing here in South West Florida – it has been blazing hot and raining everyday. For the most part, the weather has been holding off till the afternoon, although we have had some close calls in the AM too. The biggest thing is not to let those storms get in between you and the boat ramp – enough talk about the weather, let’s talk fishing. The water on the flats is probably as dark as it gets, so sight fishing has been non existent. I try to get a little more bait this time of year to let my chum locate fish for me. Sometimes finding the potholes can be a little tougher. A little extra live chum in the water can help solve this problem. For the most part the snook action has been pretty steady. Normally this time of year the fish in the north end of the Harbor are on the smaller side. The average snook is around 20-to 22-inches, however lately we have been starting to have some bigger fish show up. With the higher summer tides we have been focusing on mangrove shorelines. The barrier islands with moving water have been producing the best action.
For the anglers out there that like a fresh fish dinner, we have good news for you. The mangrove snapper bite has been very good. We have been catching some really nice mangs lately, some pushing inches. The deeper shorelines and points have been producing well. Also, the potholes have been holding good numbers of these fish. The smaller bait we have has been working very well for them. You might want to drop down on your hook and leader size. I like a number 1 circle hook with 20-pound fluorocarbon leader. The last week we’ve been seeing some redfish move in the area. On my last few charters we have caught multiple reds. We had a first time angler 14year old David Landers put a Grande Slam to the boat on his first time fishing. He caught a very nice snook and red, then finished it of with a juvenile tarpon and a trout. It’s great to see the love of the sport of fishing in the young anglers. He also accomplished something that not many seasoned anglers have. The flats have been holding a lot of juvenile tarpon this summer. We have been having very good success targeting these guys the last couple weeks. Some days have been better than others, but we have hooked up on a daily basis. Last week Forrest was able to hook 10 and landed 6, also rounding
out the day with a Grande Slam. So folks even with the hot weather and summer rains, the fishing has been good. I recommend trying to get out on the water early to beat the heat and storms, just remember,
if you do have to fish later in the day, please pay close attention to the sky.
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
PAGE 7
8
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
It Starts With the Seagrass
PAGE
By Fishin’ Frank Water LIFE Baitshop Well, good news and some OK news for the waters of Charlotte Harbor. This year we have seen a tremendous number of sawfish, nurse sharks and flounder. The drought we had experienced over the winter did just what it should have done.... and that is allow much more seagrass to grow. The grass has expanded on the flats and outside the sand bars around the edges of the Harbor. This is just what was needed to create more habitat for bait fish, shrimp, and of course small crabs and the forgotten bait here, worms and small eels. Yes, we have a few species of salt water worms and they are loving the new grass beds. To understand this you have to go back to (I believe) the spring of 1995, when we had 18 inches of rain in a couple hours and then the rain kept coming, destroying much of the seagrass habitat we had on the flats and almost all of the grass beds in water over 5 feet deep. Then, in around 2010, we had a two year drought, I could be off a year or two, but the drought lasted for two years and many fresh water canals only had a foot or so water in them, and the Harbor, with no rain, was so clear you could see bottom in the 20 foot hole. The second year of the drought we spent a lot of time looking at the bottom features of the Harbor, rocky/stone bottom, where the mud bottom was and where the grass beds had returned. After the two year drought, things went back to normal with dark water in the summer and clear water in the winter. I have never again seen the bottom in the 20 foot hole.
OK long time in getting to the point: the flounder and the sharks like the same habitat, a sand bottom mixed with grass patches, so the Harbor is getting healthier and the many fish we did not see for years
60 inch saw fish released unharmed by T. Menard on 07/18 Fishing with Uncle Mike off Myakka river tributary
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
are coming back. Snook populations are growing steadily and this had little or nothing (in my opinion) to do with the closed season, but it had everything to do with the rain. The rain was timed perfectly for the snook to get a bit of fresh water just before they spawned which pushed them out to the Gulf, before the eggs were released and that ensured they would float – snook spawn in fresh or salt water, but in fresh water most of the eggs sink to the bottom and never hatch. The salt water, being more buoyant, allows them to float and
Woodys Guns
We do hydrographic printing, on anything ...on site!
then hatch. That perfect timing of the rain has given the snook a huge boost in numbers. Redfish are coming back in to the Harbor after a year of very poor numbers, the number of redfish catches on the flats of the east side and Pine Island and in Gas-
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
John Markel caught this nurse shark in the Harbor
parilla Sound are increasing. Now the just OK news is that the reds have come out of hiding, but overall number of redfish are down and I believe that it is due to the red tide we have been getting at least every two years, right during the redfish spawn. People see some adult reds dead from red tide and think that is bad, well yes, but not nearly as bad as the millions of dead tiny baby redfish which are too small to be noticed. Judging by what I can see, we are having maybe 25percent of the redfish which should be hatching, actuality hatch. And then with
AUGUST 2017
predators very few make it to slot size, compared with non-red tide years. If we can get through this fall without a major red tide incident, we will see a huge jump in the numbers of redfish within two years. Yes, it could take a couple years for the reds to make it to slot sizes, but fish
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
grow at vastly different rates, just like people – some kids get huge quick and some stay smaller and get a growth spurt later – so the good news is: don’t freak out about the numbers of redfish. We have the same amount or even less people fishing and the number of redfish tournaments are way down from what they were. All it will take to get bunches of redfish back here in the Harbor is a little less run off of nutrients, so there is no red tide this fall.
Best Kept Secret! - CALL Zealand Virtual Tour: YOU TUBE 24260 Henry Morgan
Joshua Ledbetter, 19inch flounder, caught in Englewood
Frank@fishinfranks.com Port Charlotte 941- 625-3888 Ft Myers 239-634-1043
NO DEED RESTRICTIONS Live Your Life Your Way All inclusive, for the rest of your life!
Home of the $ 9 99 Transfer Fee Concealed Carry - live fire, private range, training
Guns • Gold • Jewlery • Pawn Loans as low as 10% MOST JEWLERY REPAIRED WHILE YOU WAIT
5218 Duncan Road, Punta Gorda, FL 33982
9 - 6 Daily, 9 - 4 Saturday
914-916-9694
Zealand 3/2 Pool Home, two docks, 12 miles to Cayo Costa and Boca Grande. Tarpon, redfish and snook fishing. Manatees and sea turtles, Go shelling or nap on your boat! $329,000
Wilson - Realtor
941-661-7980
AUGUST 2017
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @ WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE 9
Estero Bay: Sweat, Blood and Fish PAGE
10
By Captain Joe Angius Water LIFE Estero Sweat seeping through my long sleeve Reel Legends fishing shirt at 5:00am, while hooking the boat trailer to the hitch of my truck, is a sign. As the boat gets
gassed unattended, I sweat as I fill my ICON cooler with fresh Aquafina bottled waters and a bag of ReddyIce that has been broken to pieces by me striking the bag against concrete next to the gas pump. This surely should be a sign. With the Florida West coast sunrise shy, beaming a fisherman’s first-light slowly becomes envious of what it exposes; rosette spoonbills foraging in the mud under a red mangrove tree, dolphins swimming against the incoming tide next to the channel marker across from Flippers on the Bay, and me, launching a boat full of hope and curiosity for what the day ahead holds. Sweat has become the sign of dedication, confidence, stamina, patience, hopefulness, and less of the substance that mixes well with the saltwater on my shorts and shirt and in my beard. In the morning before work, sweat is now part of my routine for the month of August. There’s no way of beating the heat during the day even after a chilly afternoon Florida rainstorm. The heat and sweat forces me to become lethargic, where exerting too much energy exhausts me faster. This is true for fishing as well. Redfish, snook, trout, and tarpon are all looking for conditions where the energy they exert is less than what they are
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
consuming in their diet. Understanding this habit of theirs gives me the advantage of knowing what variety of baits work to catch them, as well as knowing when and how to adjust my tackle to get these stubborn fish to bite. In Estero Bay there are three baits that I will always try to have in my livewell before a guided fishing trip. Large pilchards, half-dollar size pinfish, and live shrimp must be in my boat. Luckily, live shrimp is almost always available and can be bought at any bait shop. Buying live shrimp isn’t expensive, it’s easy to get, and reduces the sweat that I have to put out early on the morning. Now that I’m one-third of the way there in bait, all that’s left for me to do is hunt for pilchards and pinfish. Though it’s a far run, I like to chum and net bait around Picnic Island in Pine Island Sound and scan the Sanibel Causeway with my downscan sonar for live bait. The best advice I have for anglers netting their own bait is to be in three to five feet of clean water and to chum very heavily. Be patient before moving around the grassflat in search of bait and don’t be afraid to use a lot of chum. The Sanibel Causeway is great too, but holds more threadfin herring than pinfish and pilchards. The redfish bite has been top notch in Estero Bay with pinfish being the primary bait of choice. I would recommend using the pinfish live first before cutting
it. Free lined, under a popping cork, or lightly weighted down seems to be all effective. Also, speckled sea trout have been honing in on live pinfish as well. Snook have been feeding heavy on large pilchards along deep channel edges and mangrove shorelines. When the tide begins to slow and switch, the snook seem to want to --feed on live shrimp. I’m not exactly sure why, but on my last trip they turned down live pilchards, pinfish, and mullet only to take a shrimp offering. Juvenile tarpon will hit both live and artificial baits. Most all of my success with backwater tarpon has been due to crankbaits like the X-Rap or twitchbaits similar to the Mirr-O-Dine. Even though the tarpon can roll in areas all day long, anglers will have the best luck catching
AUGUST 2017
them early in the morning and right before dark as the brutal hot sun sets. At this time every year, since it’s my birthday month, August is a time for me to reflect on life and how I’ve grown as a man of God. The most productive way for me to self-reflect is through fishing. Being a professional guide has strength-
ened my knowledge and respect for the world around me. I’m blessed to have met every single client that has stepped foot on and off of my boat. The relationships that I’ve built over the years have shaped me and made every drop of sweat worth it. Note to self: Don’t take any day for granted and use the hours in your day wisely.
Captain Joe Angius (727)-234-3171 Speak Easy Fishing Charters www.speakeasyfishing.com
AUGUST 2017
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @ WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
Fast Action with Small Baits By Capt. Chuck Eichner Water LIFE Inshore Fishing is most often a combination of luck and skill. Every fishing trip is different on Charlotte Harbor and this combination varies as does the conditions ... with some days being more skill than luck. But on many trips it is the other way around and on one trip in particular it was dumb luck where I learned techniques that I still use today. It was a mid-July charter trip and at daybreak I cast netted baitfish that were all very small. Baby pinfish and tiny pilchards had shown up, but no useful size bait fish. On my next throw of the castnet I netted 3 catfish so my luck was not so good. Getting catfish out of the cast net is miserable and dangerous and I was out of business with the net. With that, I told my customer we were going fishing! As I rode to my first spot I had to figure out a way to use these micro baits. On a higher tide phase I used size 2 hooks with a split shot up the line so I had enough weight to cast the baby pinfish. I anchored the boat bow and stern off an oyster bar to hold it steady and pitched a rod out and handed to my customer. Seconds later he shouted, fish on! Three hours later he had boated 12 redfish from 4- to 8-pounds. I could not believe my luck this day using bait I would normally have thrown back!
It dawned on me that our grass beds in the summer are full of tiny pinfish so this is certainly a primary food source and I was only “matching the hatch.” Since that trip I use small pinfish frequently for snook, redfish and trout with tiny hooks and a split shot for weight to enable casting. Once you cast your line out, your bait is on the bottom so you can’t move it much or it gets caught in the weeds. Another approach to using these tiny baits is a float. In particular, a weighted float that gives you the casting distance you need to get the micro-bait where the
fish are. In August the Harbor is full of tiny white baits and you can net them with a small mesh net. Also in August the Harbor and beach areas are full of mangrove snapper and these small baits are dynamite! Fish for snappers near docks, against mangrove islands and along sand holes on the Intercoastal Waterway where many of the snapper migrate. I frequently see snapper over 15-inches around here. Fishing this time of year is based on the storms and this year seems worse than ever. Rarely is a day without a storm to worry about, but you can use it to your ad-
PAGE 11
vantage. After a storm passes, the skies are cloudy, the water may be a little stirred up and all the boats are off the water. Under these conditions the biggest snapper around let their guard down! If it is breezy it is even better. For August you can count on fast action with small baits. Basic hooks, line, split shot and floats are all you need to catch snapper and redfish. Expect snook, trout and baby grouper to also bless your lines!
Capt. Chuck Eichner operates Action Flats Backcountry Charters He can be reached at 941-628-8040
PAGE
12
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
AUGUST 2017
ReaderĘźs P
FISH PIX! f r o m Wa t e r L I F E m a g a z i n e
Bud Crihfield, 7/20, dinner from Charlotte Harbor.
Hunter Blomgren in a Punta Gorda canal catching 30+ inch snook with live bait
Austin Ruth II, age3, with his first fish, a beautiful brown trout, caught and released with dad, while visiting Colorado
Matt Intihar, 39-,38-,41- and 39-inch, all from Englewood Beach, on the live target mullet Actually the 41 was on a X-rap
Schools out for the summer, Johnny Redmann lands a nice snook.
Matt Clark, 16, from PA. 22-inch red grouper csught out of Stump Pass Right: Matt Clark with his first Mahi Mahi, also out of Stump Pass
Venice angler Glen Ballinger with a 102-pound Halibut, caught in Homer AK
Brandon VanDerVeer, gag grouper from 173 feet on Charlie Vrabel's boat
Connie Montgomery caught this
Hayden Bowles, first snook on Siesta Beach, with a Zebco 202
Stephanie Tro Leh
AUGUST 2017
Photos
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @ WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
Txt Us Ur Fish Pix! see
page 14
PAGE 13
FISH PIX! f r o m Wa t e r L I F E m a g a z i n e
Randy from Port Charlotte with chicken mahi mahi from Stump Pass and a 28-inch red grouper also out of Stump Pass
Doodlebug, with a little red, Port Charlotte Pier
Brian Massey Bass
s drum while on vacation
out - My first snook high Acres
Ty at Ponce DeLeon Park. First snook and now he's Hooked!
Tex Faulkner caught this 30" Red Grouper off Boca Grande.
Dalton, 16 years old... first time backwater fishing with Captain Eric with Whitneys Bait Shop, Sanibel... a beautiful redfish
Cam and Sara Fannin, mangrove snapper and snook! Punta Gorda, FL
Matt (cuda) V. Visiting from NJ, off Mary's reef
Sean Richards of Hollywood CA. Caught this nice 40-pound barracuda while bringing in a mangrove snapper! Ultra light, night fishing on power pole reef! Priceless!!
PAGE
14
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
Readerʼs photos Txt Us Ur Fish Pix!
FISH PIX! f r o m Wa t e r L I F E m a g a z i n e
see below
AUGUST 2017
9 year old Caleb Norfleet from TN and his first lane snapper while fishing with his Grandfather out of Stump Pass. Also, Caleb with a grouper
Debby Gentry, Cape Coral. First red grouper and it was a keeper!
Tyler Adams 33in snook
Nice flounder. Caught at Stump Pass. Ileane Stowe Jesse Craddock and Dalton Conrad with a pair of nice black grouper aboard the Miss Kim out of Stump Pass, Englewood
Braden Wallace 14 Atlanta Ga. Sailcat caught off dock in Lewis Creek, Port Charlotte.
Dusty Helton 24-inch redfish caught at Indian Mound Park
Snapper, Wes Martin and Capt Clark Wright
Nicci Hogeback of Punta Gorda, three-and-a-half foot black tip
Please Read Txt Us Ur Fish Pix
We like Fresh Fish so please donʼt send old photos.
We like the First Catch so donʼt send us fish if you are also sending the same fish to another publication, like for instance ... the Charlotte Sun ;-( One or two photos is all weʼll probably
have room for.
Bigger is Better, higher resolution is best. Please donʼt adjust, crop or sharpen pictures. FISH HANDLING: If you are harvesting your catch do what you want, but If you are RELEASING YOUR CATCH: Use
txt to:
Bill Ginn, American red snapper 60 miles offshore
941 457 1316
wet hands on a fish you will be releasing. No Dry Towels, it wipes off vital fish slime. Hold big fish horizontally so as not to damage their ʻinnerds,ʼ donʼt hold big fish from the jaw, it could tear or break and donʼt put your hands in the gills. No Fishy Fish if you are not in the picture it may not get into print.
Barbara Brock with a catch and release snook
store this number in your phone!
No blatant Ads ... but if a Guide helped you, itʼs OK to say so.
Txt to 941-457-1316 include (at least) your name and type of fish (txt only, voice calls cannot be answered) You may also eMail pictures to: waterlife@comcast.net
AUGUST 2017
FISH PIX! f r o m Wa t e r L I F E m a g a z i n e
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @ WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE 15
ReaderĘźs photos Txt Us Ur Fish Pix! see facing page
Carl Gill and Bill Ginn 30-inch American red snapper Rachel Lowe first fish of the day
33.5-inches 10-pounds. Had to hold Emory McClelland by the belt loop to keep him from being pulled over! Strong bull red in Charlotte Harbor. On board Pappy's Turn.
Gabe R with a mangrove snapper at Laishley fishing pier.
Emma Eggleston with her first striped bass, Cape Cod July 2017 Ross Gallagher on a nice tarpon with Crooked Rod Charters
Clark Howard, Cape Coral 2 nice red grouper. With lane snapper for good day out in the Gulf
Cousins Miller and Jakob Clark out with Capt. Matt
The Englewood Ford fishing trip on July 13. From left to right. Mike, Rob, Mickey, and John. Left: Mickey Mullins caught this grouper off the coast of Venice.
PAGE
16
EMAIL:
Early OnLine Registration is Now Open
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
AUGUST 2017
at: www.waterlifemagazine.com or at the: DonBallSchool page on Facebook 6th Grade StudentsONLY at Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Murdock and L.A. Ainger middle schools. Early Register by printing out the form and mailing it in, this month.
2017 Don Ball School of Fishing Classes Need Your Support
Please Be A Sponsor
941-769-3222
941-255-1555
We are the Don Ball School of Fishing
Please consider helping us in our 16th year of teaching kids about local fishing and the local environment.
941-637-8383
NOW IS THE TIME! You can help buy rods, reels and tackle or help send 6th graders on the 2017 offshore trip... NOW IS THE TIME! Sponsorship levels from $250 to $2500 Your logo here next month, you get a sponsorʼs T-shirt and many thanks from the kids. Call Donna at 941-815-1734 We are a 501-c-3 non profit
941-743-7435
Donations are tax deductible
Sponsorship form available online at: Waterlifemagazine.com
954-235-4444
954-927-8361
941-625-1535
Sponsorʼs logo and phone HERE for Aug & Sept.
941-766-8180
AUGUST 2017
Economic Impacts
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @ WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
By Capt. Betty Staugler Water Life / Sea Grant Economic impacts measure the level of economic activity in a given area. They may be viewed in terms of: (1) business output (or sales volume), (2) value added (or gross regional or domestic product), (3) business taxes, (4) personal income (including wages) or (5) jobs. Any of these measures can be an indicator of economic wellbeing. Below is a snapshot of the marine recreational and commercial industries and activities in Charlotte County, surrounding areas, and the state of Florida, their economic consequences and impacts. When evaluating the different economic statements, it's important to note the economic indicator being used and the year of relevance. Recreational Saltwater Fishing Activities I In 2010, 22,323 recreational saltwater fishing licenses were purchased in Charlotte County resulting in over $600,000 dollars in sales. This does not include any special endorsements like tarpon tags or crawfish stamps (source: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission – FWC). I In Florida, recreational saltwater fishing resulted in over $12.2 billion in economic impact and supported 114,898 jobs during 2014 (source: NOAA Fisheries of the US). I In 2013, independent marine bait and tackle retailers along Florida’s Gulf coast generated $601 million in sales impacts and $160 million in income impacts, supporting 4,402 jobs (source: NOAA). I In Charlotte County, artificial reef activity resulted in $22.7 million dollars in economic output and supported 306 jobs in 2009 (source: Florida Sea Grant). Commercial Saltwater Fisheries Activities I Total dockside value in 2016 for Charlotte County landed products was over $1.9 million (source: FWC). I In Florida commercial fishing and seafood production (including harvesters, producers & dealers, importers, wholesalers & distributers, and retail) resulted in $18.3 billion in sales and supported 92,858 jobs during 2014 (source: NOAA Fisheries of the US). Boating Activities I 22,310 vessels were registered in Charlotte County in 2016 (source: Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles – DHSMV). I In Charlotte and Lee counties, the economic impact of recreational marine industries (retail boats and related sales) in 2015 was over $376 million and supported 5,000 jobs (source: Marine Industries Association of Florida).
$9
PAGE 17
I In 2015, the recreational marine industries economic impact in Florida (retail boat and related sales) was $15.3 billion and supported 183,000 jobs (source: Marine Industries Association of Florida). Beaches – I In 2016, between 82.5 and 86.2 of the approximately 406,700 visitors to Charlotte County, visited a beach (source: Punta Gorda Englewood Beach Visitor and Convention Bureau) I In 2013, Florida’s beaches generated $40 billion in economic impact and supported 500,000 jobs (source: Florida Department of Environmental Protection) Economic Summary I In 2013, ocean-related businesses provided 11.5% of the total jobs in Charlotte County. This represents a 53% increase in ocean jobs since 2005 (source: NOAA and National Ocean Watch program). I Tourism and Recreation comprised 96.8% of the ocean-related jobs in Charlotte County in 2013 (source: NOAA and National Ocean Watch program). I In 2014, there were 314 coastal and ocean related firms in Charlotte County supporting 5,058 jobs, over $92.9 million in wages and over $185 million in gross domestic product (source: National Ocean Economic Program). I Florida’s coastal counties account for 79% of the state’s overall economic productivity (source: NOAA’s State of the Coast, 2010). I The economic impact of visitors to Charlotte County in 2016 was $552 million (source: Punta Gorda, Englewood Beach Visitor and Convention Bureau). Capt. Betty Staugler, Florida Sea Grant Agent. UF/IFAS Extension, Charlotte County (941) 764-4346
Mohawk Images
Special to Water LIFE from Adam Wilson Hit the Mohawk last weekend. She is really starting to fall apart. All of the higher structure has collapsed and is laying off the starboard side. She has a list to starboard around 30 degrees and has broken in half just forward of the engine. There is always a boat fishing on this spot, always (or multiple boats). There are very few fish here, with the exception of a nice school of yellowtail snapper. But I guess when you put a 3 foot tall buoy on something 30 miles offshore people are going to be drawn to it.
There was a friendly Goliath Grouper chilling under a ledge in 90 feet. Good sized fish, around 300 pounds.
Hurry, before they are all gone! Buy a shirt - help teach a kid to fish!
Lucky FISH PIX Shirt
all proceeds go to support kids fishing!
only
Available at both Fishinʼ Franks stores 4425-D Tamiami Trail Charlotte Harbor
14531 Cleveland Ave (US41) North Fort Myers 33903
Pompano at the Venice Jetty PAGE
18
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
By Bobby Vitalas
Water LIFE Pier Fishing Pompano fish are fun to catch. They give a pretty good fight the way they twist and turn in the water. This pompano was caught at the South side of the Venice Jetty. I have caught these fish in the early morning hours. If you find one pompano, you are going to find another. The pompano average weight is from one to two pounds which is most common. And, they are a good eating fish too. The legal length to keep the Pompano in this area is from 11 inches or more measured
from the fork of the tail. Also, you are only allowed to keep 6 Florida pompano you catch per harvester per day. When fishing at the Venice Jetty for pompano, I use artificial lures. The artificial jig I use is called the Eupro by Sure Baits Power Jigs. The weight I am using is from 3/8 ounce to a 1/2 ounce weight. The color of the jig is pink and white with a yellow fly. The model number is SP3703/8-PKW or model number SP370-1/2-PKW. Sometimes the water at the Jetty can get rough there at the channel; so, I use a 1/2 ounce weight. If you want to use more than a 1/2 ounce weight there, you can, then go to a 3/4 ounce weight.
AUGUST 2017
You can try many other pompano jigs, such as the Silly Willy jig. Other pompano jigs come in many different brands, colors, and weights. A good spot to catch pompano at the Jetty is where the boats travel in and out of the channel or at the end of the Jetty. When catching pompano at the Jetty, the way to use this jig is to cast out as far as you can. As you’re reeling it in, give it sharp jerks every so often. You can also try putting a small piece of shrimp on the jig too. When using jigs at the Jetty for pompano, for my main line, I use 30-pound test Power Pro 100-percent Spectra, color moss green. For my leader line, I use no less than 3-feet of 25-pound test Sufix invisline 100-percent fluorocarbon leader line. So, if you want to have fun catching pompano, try using these jigs. Good luck and Happy fishing!
KAYAKING: Trout Liked the old Mirrodine
By Bob Fraser Water LIFE Paddlesports I had a kayak charter trip set for last week, but the client had to postpone at the last minute. Since it was a nice day with low winds predicted I made a solo trip to Gasparilla Sound. I usually take a few dozen live shrimp with me, but today I decided to use artificial bait. My two choices were a dark green back suspending mirrordine (Mirrolure) and a Zman soft plastic. I ended up catching all the trout on the mirrordine. The water quality was very good even though we had some rain recently. It took me awhile to find the trout, but I finally found them 2 hours before high tide. I have several spots I like to fish in Gasparilla Sound. This day I decided to put in behind Uncle Henry's Marina by the walkway to the Boca fishing pier. There are some nice grass flats in that area around some sand bars. The other place I like to put in at is 19th Street going towards Boca Grande. I tried several grass flats in the area without a single bite. After two hours of
fishing, I paddled back to the first grass flat I tried and found the trout hungry. Every second or third cast I was hooking up with a trout. I also lost a few as well. I ended up catching over 25 trout, most of them being too small to keep. I did take three home for dinner; they were 15- to 18-inches long. All the fish looked healthy, even the small ones had some meat on them. A week later I took my son, son-in-law
and grandson fishing to the same spot I caught the 25 trout, but this time with different results. What a difference the rain makes in the backwater of the Harbor. The water looked like a big mud puddle, it was so dirty and stirred up from the heavy rains we had that week. We took some live shrimp with us, but it didn’t help. My son caught the only trout of the day. We caught a few trash fish, but that was about all for our four-hour trip. I usually don’t go fishing after we have had several days of hard rain, I like to wait for a few dry days, to give the water a chance to clear up, but this was a guy’s day out since the ladies were out doing something. Bob Fraser 941-916-8303 www.kayakfishingwithbob.com bobmfraser@gmail.com
The Southern Sector AUGUST 2017
10,000 Islands / Everglades City
By Capt. Charlie Phillips Water LIFE / Everglades City Like the old song, it’s been HOT HOT HOT down here in Paradise this past month. Temperatures have been scorching with the rumble of thunder and heavy downpours to cool things off more afternoons than not. This time of year the majority of Everglades City fishing captains have lots of downtime. It’s our slow season as conditions are tough for the average charter client to deal with, but that doesn’t mean the fishing is poor. On the contrary it’s a great time of year to get out early and be back in by lunch, before the daily monsoon. Inshore, the speckled trout action has
Atilano with his limit of trout caught.
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @ WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
been just short of amazing, with triple digit catch numbers being very easy to obtain if you find clean water, on a high tide and some grassy areas like those places down by Rabbit and Pavilion Fakahatchee Bay as you come off of the Faka Union Canal Keys. A popping cork, soft plastic combo is all morrows slot fish. Never ever should you you need to cover water and find fish. There grab them with a rag or handle them more will be lots of shorts in the mix, release than necessary as it’s a death sentence. them in the water and with care as that’s to- Even if you see the fish swim off, it’s very likely it will die later on from the loss of its protective slime. Lots of jacks, ladyfish and mackerel out there as well now, with a tarpon thrown in here and there to make your heart race as they decide your cork is exactly what they need for a quick snack. My clients ask me when this happens “Captain, what do I do?” as the silver king loses its mind when he feels the jog hook. My response is always “enjoy the ride, it will end soon”!! Offshore I have been finding some solid red grouper fishing in about 40 foot of water. Lots of mangrove and lane snapper out there as well right now. Mike and Chris with red grouper
PAGE 19
On a trip to Scottland last month we came across Mr. Duncan Swinbanks who owns a store called Tackle and Books in Tobormory. An avid fisherman and world record holder, he has the only tarpon, Iʼd say, for 1000 miles in his shop. He found this at an old castle estate sale and picked it up years ago. Its an old mount and I thought a very interesting find, so far from home.
Pretty easy to run out and catch a limit of these fine eating fish with simple tackle. For the snapper a lighter rod with enough weight to get to the bottom, 30-pound leader to a 2/0 circle work and for the grouper I like to use gear with enough backbone to get big fish off the bottom, 65pound mainline (usually braid for me) to 60-pound flouro and a 7/0 owner circle hook. Bait of choice for me is fresh chunked up grunt. Make sure to tighten the drag way up and be ready for the hard fast bite. August is shaping up to continue the trend of some hot weather but great fishing. Hit the water early, make sure to drink plenty of water and keep an eye to the sky. Capt. Charlie Phillips: 863-517-1829 e-mail: hopefishing@hotmail.com Web: hopefishing.com
CANVAS & UPHOLSTERY
PAGE
20
SCUTTLEBUTT EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
AUGUST 2017
Sometimes Unsubstanciated, But Often True
MYLAND Indonesian officials announced they had re-named the waters northeast of the Natuna Islands, at the far southern end of the South China Sea, the “North Natuna Sea.” Indonesian officials were quick to emphasize that they were not renaming the entire South China Sea, only the part that falls under their claimed exclusive economic zone.
THEY HAVE ONE OF THOSE? An FWC officer on plain-clothes patrol saw two fishermen along a beach. After watching the men fish for a while, he conducted a fisheries inspection near their vehicle. The inspection revealed that the men were in possession of two undersized snook and an undersized pompano. While trying to identify the men, one of AIRLUMINUM Researchers at Peter the them gave a name which came back as Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic Univer- ʻbad information.ʼ The officer then used sity in Russia have developed a new his portable electronic fingerprint foam-core aluminum sheet material that identification system and discovered the man had an active warrant. Both men were arrested
HIDING IN THE BUSHES While on land patrol, Officer Hargrove saw three subjects fishing near a weir. He hid in the bushes and after 10 minutes of observing, he announced himself and approached the subjects. Only one could produce a valid saltwater license. He then asked if they had caught anything and was told “No, nothing”. The subject returned with a bucket and placed it on the ground. Inside the bucket were three undersized and out-of-season snook and three bluegill, all deceased. All three subjects were issued a notice to appear for possession of out-of-season snook and possession of undersized snook. They WONʼT DO IT AGAIN An FWC officer on were all also issued citations for harvestland patrol in Cape Coral looked into an ing snook without a snook stamp and no SUV parked next to a bridge that was a fishing licenses. popular fishing location. He saw a subject throwing and retrieving the cast net several times and putting his catch into a bucket next to him. The officer approached the subject as he was pulling in his net and asked him if he had any could greatly increase the buoyancy of luck. The fisherman explained that he aluminum-hulled vessels so the density had caught some sand brim and showed of structural materials can be decreased him the bucket next to him. The officer even lower than the density of water. asked if he had caught any other fish Such structural elements will be unsink- and the subject answered that he had able. Where have we heard that before? not.The officer then asked the subject to unlock the rear door to the SUV as he alWeeks Fish Camp RECORD ATTEMPT Nigel Hookʼs #77 ready knew there were snook in the on Estero Bay in Bonita Springs is for sale. The asking price is almost $22 million. Lucas Oil SilverHook race boat will make back. Upon opening the door, the subject Last year the owners tried to obtain an Offshore World Speed Record atbegan saying he was sorry and that he approval for four 20-story condos on the tempt from Key West to CUBA, this wouldnʼt do it again. A citation was issite, but later withdrew the request. month, on August 17. sued.
Subway Beneath the Sea
New York Cityʼs old subway cars are being repurposed as artificial reefs.
AUGUST 2017
Care Taker or Careless? THE DEATH
OF
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @ WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
SNOOTY
On The Line
Perspective by Capt. Ron Blago Water LIFE Senior Staff
Snooty the manatee, the long suspected Godfather of the Manatee Mafia, was found dead in his tank Monday morning by guards at the South Florida facility where Snooty had been held for over 60 years. Snooty, whose real name was Ivan Snootski, was reported to be born somewhere in the former Soviet Union. It is thought he was brought to the Parker Aquarium in Bradenton as part of manatee witness protection program. Snooty was last seen alive at a public party at the museum to celebrate his 69th birthday. Rumors were flying as to what occurred at the party. Snooty had long complained about his heavy work load as the top billed entertainer for the museum. The three shows a day, six days a week had taken its toll on Snooty who had expressed his desire to retire to Miami for his last days in order to be with his long time manatee associates. It has been reported by un-named sources that ever since the manatee had been removed from the Endangered Species List, funding from the Clinton Foundation and from George Sorros have dried up, leaving a large financial hardship at the museum. Heated discussions were supposedly overheard between officials and staff members as to what should be done about Snooty. Anonymous sources have reported that these same officials were seen, later, talking to a Russian lawyer. We now know that at around 5:30 pm the party ended and the public left the building. Here is what we think happened to Snooty.
This is not Snooty and this manatee was very much alive, in the Charlotte Harbor estuary, watching Capt. Dave Stephens catch bait, one morning last month. We have long maintained that if Snooty was released and not kept in captivity life would have been better for that animal. Some people argued Snooty could not be released to the wild, others disagree but one thing is for certain, due to the carelessness of his care takers, weʼll never know.
PAGE 21
Sometime after the museum was locked for the night the security cameras were turned off. According to the report, an underwater hatch leading to a tunnel where water pumping equipment was stored, had been pried open. Museum officials said that this hatch had not been open in the last five years. Somehow Snooty was lured (or forced!) into the tunnel and because of his large size (over 1,300-pounds ) when he reached the end of the tunnel he became trapped and was unable to turn around and save himself. Snooty's official cause of death is being listed as “ Undetermined.” Now there were three other cellmates in with Snooty in the tank that night, all suspected members of the Manatee Mafia. Randell a.k.a. the Hit Man(atee), Gale a.k.a. Killer Red Tide and Baca a.k.a. the Butcher. The three have now released a joint statement saying they heard nothing, they saw nothing and they know nothing. That's their story and apparently they’re sicking to it. We may never know the truth about the circumstances surrounding Snooty's death, but some questions do need to be answered and those responsible brought to justice. It is hoped that a congressional hearing will summon witnesses and that a special investigator will be appointed to determine who turned off the security cameras and who opened the hatch. Was this a tragic accident or a planned assassination? I hear a memorial service to celebrate Snooty's life is being held at Rocko's Exotic Seafood House. After the ceremony, a fund-raiser and cookout is planned. When interviewed for this story one unidentified patron at Rocko's said; “... we all loved Snooty, he was a loyal solider and a good earner; but shit happens.” Friends of Snooty have asked that in lieu of flowers a donation of Romaine lettuce be sent to Snooty's favorite charity: Manatee Lives Matter. CaptRonB@juno.com
PAGE
22
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
AUGUST 2017
August – Predictions and Suggestions Charlotte Harbor Frank at Fishin’ Franks 941-625-3888
BackBay Xtremes Capt Dave Stephens www.backbayxtremes.com
941-916-5769
FISH PIX!
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Hilda Wheeler's Snook
Anthony Martinez's Trout
In the middle of the Harbor there are still some nurse sharks and bull sharks, a good assortment, mostly in the lower hole down by Pirate Harbor. The tarpon are mixed in with the sharks, kind of a strange scenario, you go from catching shark to catching tarpon. You wouldn’t think tarpon would be hanging with the sharks. I guess tarpon may be a little stupid this year. On the east side, outside the bars, there are some other small sharks and schools of ladyfish. It is also possible other species of schooling fish are there too, like bluefish and Spanish mackerels. We are still hearing pompano, here and there. It’s just been such a weird ride and that holds true for the lower half of the Harbor, Gasparilla Sound and Pine Island Sound as well. We are seeing the same thing in the deep and shallow areas. Down through the passes snapper and grouper fishing has slowed down, it’s still good, just slower. In the Gulf there are a lot more schoolie fish between 3 and 20 miles out. You could run into anything that schools – the fish are
either going to be on you... or they are going to be gone. It’s going to be a Clint Eastwood type of August... So do you feel lucky, punk? There are a lot of fish in the Gulf now: from tuna to mahi, bonita, cobia ... the list goes on but it’s literally do you feel lucky and are you there when the fish show up? I think there must be a lack of debris in the water, there are no weed lines, the fish seem to just be coming up to the boat for the shadow. Keep an eye on your boat you’ll see fish underneath. This is the time of year to be trolling a Rapalla or a Storm Twitch, a skirt not a popper, you want a lure that stays close to the surface but doesn’t actually splash the surface. The old Ghost Twitch still rules for this. Inside, we’ve had a lot of reports in the Port Charlotte canals of guys using red wigglers and catching Myan cyclids and sand brim on those lures. Soooo... if you’re up in the canals and not doing well with live shrimp try fishing a wiggler, fish maybe a foot off the seawall and just off the bottom. The cyclids don’t seem to be bothered by the salt. First thing in the a.m. or early evening, the white horney toad frog is what is doing well
Bud Crihfield, 20-inch Red 7/28. The Harbor has been very good to me this week. Hate to go back to Ohio!
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Speak Easy Fishing Charters Captain Joe Angius USCG licensed & Insured Phone: (727)
234-3171
speakeasyfishing.com
speakeasyfishing@gmail.com
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Jerry Pirillo, co-pilot with a great 29 1/2-inch red grouper, out in 95 ft on the Gulf, with Capt. Doug Wright
Capt Doug Wright with a nice 29-inch red grouper caught in 90-feet between the storms we were out running. Fun Day ... an adventure!
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Nicci Hogeback of Punta Gorda, 120lb goliath grouper
AUGUST 2017
August
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @ WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
The BIG-4 TARPON On the beach, in the Harbor holes
Fish you can expect in
GROUPER Good on the reefs Deeper water means bigger
SPANISH MACKEREL Gasparilla Sound to Cape Haze
SNOOK At the piers and trestles, early and late
PAGE 23
Nearshore water temps are now high 80s slow down!
95˚ 90˚ 85˚
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Yes that's a Vermilion , 23 1/2-inches, caught on the Roatan wreck this weekend, Glen Ballinger
right now. Just slow twitch it through the grass for bass. One thing I’ve been hearing is redfish are coming out of hiding. Any place you were finding a few reds before.... there are more in those spots now... and we don’t know why, but they are there. From the Myakka Cut Off down to St. James City there are more redfish showing in the schools right now. By next month this may turn out to be good.
Lemon Bay - Placida Gasparilla Sound Jim at Fishermen’s Edge 941-697-7595
Everyone must be at Islamorada for lobster mini season, cause it’s quiet around here. There’s been some good fishing around, not so much in the Bay, but offshore has been really good. A lot of people doing well for snapper and grouper. There’s been a lot of red snapper action, big mangs and yellowtails. It seems like they are going to 80 feet out to 120 feet for the good red snapper and really nice mangs. I’ve seen so many nice fish pictures, nice reds and gags in the same area. Out there, they only have to worry about sharks.
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Going further than that you’re liable to catch anything. Friends got 7 blackfins, some yellowfin and a blue marlin. They were catching doplphin, bigger ones with the blackfin tuna. You never know when you are libel to get into blackfin mixed in with some bonita. Guys trolling got bonita and blackfin at the same time. Up the coast some guys said they were seeing them in 60 feet. There are big migrations of baitfish along the coast right now. Guys have been catching bait off Stump Pass Beach with a cast net. I heard the net was so heavy they couldn’t pull it in. Lot of snapper close in, in the Ppasses. There are still tarpon in there at the end of the incoming and start of the outgoing tides. And there are quite a few tarpon up in the Harbor. Scattered on the beach, there have been some really nice pods but there have been too many boats trying to work them. Inshore the snook are around and groups of smaller redfish in the surf. Quite a few by the new groin at Stump Pass. There are also Spanish mackerels, tons of them and pompano too. The fishing has been pretty good.
Tom Smith from Englewood Caught this 55# Cubera Snapper
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
80˚
Nicholas Stewart 36 inch snook
75˚ 72˚ 70˚ 68˚ 50˚ 45˚
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Joeys 12 lb 4 oz Venice Largemouth
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Austin Huyck. El Jobean bridge. 36 inch black drum
FISHING RIGHT NOW:
Good
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
LAST CAST
We save this space every month for the last Fish-Pix that comes in before we go to print. This month itʼs:
FISH PIX!
from Water LIFE magazine
Jace Gavignet visiting from France caught his first snook. This was his first fishing trip
16-inch sheephead caught on a shrimp with a pink jighead... Sara Fust. Loving every minute of it!!!
PAGE
24
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
AUGUST 2017