Water LIFE Jan 2020

Water

LI FE

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

FISH PIX! Water LIFE magazine

The Charlotte Harbor Reef Association

January 2020

Hey! Caught this huge amberjack, 30 miles off Boca. Iʼm 15, Dylan Leahy

Jenna Marcusson.

Mangrove snapper caught on El Jobean Pier

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I took my pal Preston Lampereur from Green Bay Wi. fishing in the Gulf . We got this 300+pound Goliath Grouper.

Ron Smits - Bokeelia.

Stingray for bait .

weʼll use ʻem! see page 4

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Christian with a 45-inch cobia. fishing with Capt. Paul Fec out of Stump Pass

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SUNSEEKER RESORT PROGRESS REPORT

Hereʼs where construction stood on the day after Christmas. I didnʼt realize the project will overhang out into the Aquatic Preserve, that must have been a difficult permit to obtain (sarcasm alert!). I read they will bring 300,000 vacationers here the first year, but thatʼs only 60% of the people they could bring here. If all 680 rooms were always occupied by only two people theyʼd have 496,400 guests a year.

What will all those people do? Where will their water come from and where will their waste go? How will our taxes change? These are all good questions – MH

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Water LIFE inc. waterlife@comcast.net www.WaterlifeMagazine.com Ellen Heller Publisher

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AQUATIC SPRAYING Governor Ron DeSantis, #WAKEUP How much longer can we wait? I mistakenly thought if we were able to embarrass FWC enough they would be forced to change their policy. So for 18 months I have freely guided filmmakers, news crews, and now national news to every corner of our state, to drone video this atrocity.

We have filmed everything from no target species, never turning nozzles off, dozens of federal label violations, wildlife violations, including willful , purposeful, chasing and spraying birds with contact poison.

I have traveled up and down this state attending and speaking boldly and we have literally " handed em their ass" and they double down in denial.

For this I have been totally self funded to the tune of over $19K on a barley middle class income. I did this for what I love and future generations that deserve so much better. These folks have No SHAME! They have decimated the lower food chain in lower Kissimmee basin and that is exponentially happening everywhere else.

Unless others become "Actively involved,” we will lose what's left. If we cannot unite anglers, hunters...and yes, all the left coasties too, we are going to lose our state as we know it.

At some point, some level of civil disobedience may be required. As a retired pastor I have helped many walk through more emotionally troubling situations than most can begin to imagine. Watching this purposeful poison of all freshwater systems and doing everything in your power to effect change, with zero results, is far and away the most emotionally troubling of all. Pastor Scott Wilson

JANUARY 2020

Include anglerʼs name and what kind of fish.

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Last Cast

Win Kron caught a 3.88 lb bass Last picture before and released it

we went to print

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Baitshop: Fishinʼ Frank

Upper Harbor: Cameron Parson

Peace River: Capt. Dave Stephens Punta Gorda: Position Open

Boca Grande: Mallory Herzog Estero: Capt. Joe Angius

This Monthʼs Gold Star $25 Winners

Everglades: Capt. Charlie Phillips Kayaking: Bob Fraser Sailing: Fran Burstein

Pier Fishing: Bobby Vitalis Diving: Adam Wilson

Lindsay Carolla, Columbus OH. Largemouth bass in Rotonda golf course pond

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A Significant Loss for the Fishing Community

By Michael Heller Water LIFE Editor Jim Mackey has been giving this publication fishing reports from Englewood for 19 years – up to and including the report in this month’s edition. Thank you Jim, one last time. Next month there will be no report from Jim. Jim is closing his bait and tackle shop, the Fishermen’s Edge. He has sold the property. Next month you will see a roofing business there.

Jim opened ‘The Edge’ in 1991. “At one point I had four guys working here,” Jim told me last month as he was packing up. But it’s been mostly Jim alone, for the last how-ever-many-years. Jim has been a one-man-band, but not because business has been slow.

“Guys I know have been coming here for years.... and they have never bought anything but shrimp,” Jim said, slowly shaking his head from side to side in reminiscence. “I bought those 20 packs of hooks years ago,” he said, pointing at the wall, “... and I think I still have 19 of them hanging there.”

“Everybody is a transient here, there is no sense of community,” Jim observed matter-of-factly. He’s not bitter, he is sad.

The phone rings and Jim answers it.

He takes 5 minutes, mostly listening.

He ends the conversation with: “OK, I’ll put a dozen aside for you.” Our eyes meet, he looks away.

Jim worked six days a week, often 10 hour days for as long as I have known him. He repaired everybody’s rods and reels, he supported kids tarpon fishing and the High School fishing club. I’ll remember Jim as one of the people who kept local fishing alive in tough times.

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tion in the area since the day he opened.

Guides came in to buy bait, “they’d tell me what’s going on out on the water, they shared their stories and their problems with me,” Jim said ... but they bought their tackle some place else.

“I had one guy who came in here six or seven times to buy a rod, he kept coming in to look at it and handle it, wiggle the

Jim Mackey talks about his decision to close the Fishermenʼs Edge in Englewood

Unfortunately, it was not a reciprocal thing. “I just can’t do it any more, I can’t pay the phone bill or the electric. I come home after a week and ...” Jim reaches down and puts his hands in his baggy pockets and pulls them both inside-out, empty. He shrugs his shoulders and looks at me. Now I am the one looking away.

Jim has been a hub of fishing informa-

tip-end and feel it out, over and over.... and then he went someplace else to buy it... but he still came in to get shrimp and ask about the fishing.”

There is sadness in the air. It is inescapable. I think back about the fishing camps and our own kids events that he provided bait for. I think about how the good guys are often taken advantage of. I

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wonder, could I have done more?

Two men come in with a bait bucket.

They had to walk past the sign on the door that said Going out of business, closing December 23. ‘Gimme a dozen,’ one man says, reaching his shrimp bucket forward for Jim to take out back and fill. I wait for one of them to say something about the store closing. They don’t.

Jim takes the bucket and slips out the back door to where the shrimp tanks are.

He nets up some shrimp and empties them into the bucket. I don’t think he really counted them, then he adds some extra water, to make sure the shrimp stay alive.

Jim is still doing it right, even if he is doing it for the last time. That’s Jim. He hands the bucket back to the men, they pay him $2.50 and walk out.

“This is a garage-sale community, Jim observes; I know what he means.

To the left of the front counter is the rod repair area. “I must have strung a million miles of line here,” Jim tells me, surveying a rack of different colored threads.

We shake hands and I say goodbye, but I can’t bring myself to leave yet. Looking around for one last time I ask: ‘What are you going to do with all this stuff?’

“There is a guy from Lakeland who is opening a tackle and gun shop. He is coming down to get it. The local guys don’t want to buy anything until my last day.

One local guy told me he was waiting until I was really desperate, but I’ll give it away first.” I nodded, I understood.

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All the Necessities for Success Cameron Parson Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor Winter time is here without a doubt. Days can be fairly windy and chilly, making for a slow bite. In winter, northern winds seem to blow most of the water out of the Harbor and that creates negative tides. It's that time of year. That being said, slow fishing makes for slow presentations and negative tides means fishing in areas where fish often get stuck or move to find warmer water.

Canal intersections and drop offs are great places to find fish. There are various areas in both the Punta Gorda Isles and Port Charlotte canals. The bottom may drop to 20 or even 30 feet, but it's also dark and holds a little warmth. Even just a few degrees will make all the difference.

Winter flats fishing will take place predominantly in potholes. Some can be up to 8 or 10 feet deep. Fish will stage in them to soak up the direct sunlight during low tides and move as the tide works its way back in.

Back bay areas are often shallow, but have dark and muddy bottoms that will hold more heat due to color and the lack Cameron and Ryan with a goliath released of current while shark fishing. RyanĘźs first Goliath

flow. Snook, trout, redfish and various other species can often be seen sunning themselves.

Troughs on the insides of the bar will still carry enough water for fish to hide in. Bait such as pinfish and glass minnows always seem to be in these troughs with the bigger fish not too far behind them. A good indication that the bait and fish are there is birds diving on the surface.

DOA Jerkbaits and Gulp!

Shrimp are excellent choices now.

Both can be rigged weedless, on jigheads or under a popping cork. Live shrimp will get the quicker bite in most cases, especially if there are any sheepshead or snapper around. But the bait needs to be on the bottom and worked slowly, sometimes almost crawled along.

Though the water may be pretty chilly, I thoroughly enjoy wade fishing on the negative tides. The chill goes away after hooking the first fish! I usually focus on water that's roughly knee deep on somewhat of a windier day and probably mid-shin deep on a sunny/calm day. The water is clear and sand spots are easy to pick out.

A friend and I headed out to do a little wading about mid December. Wind was 15 to 20 knots. Almost no water, lower than expected and not much hope of getting some drag pulled. Water depth was ankle deep for probably 500 or so yards...not looking good.

JANUARY 2020

We continued to walk until we found a deep enough trough that would maybe hold a few fish. A jumping mullet gave it away, the water was just above knee deep, and the temperature felt a few degrees warmer. It was everything we needed to have some success.

My presentation was slow, almost dragging the weedless jerkbait on the bottom with the slightest twitch. Within 10 minutes, I had a good bend in the rod the felt like I had snagged bottom at first. Hook set!

Drag screamed for about 20-yards or so and then the head shaking began...this was a solid redfish for sure!

This fish fought pretty well due to the cool water temp and still refused to give up while I was trying to unhook it. A quick photo was taken and the fish was set free.

I'm sure we would've caught a few more fish, but we decided to leave as the wind progressively got worse, gusting to what seemed like 30 knots at times.

But, we found the pattern....a slight temperature break in knee deep water with a slow presentation. All of the necessities for success were there.

Catch some fish!

Cameron Parson can sometimes be found at Rio Villa Bait and Tackle in Punta Gorda: 941 639-7166

JANUARY 2020

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READERʼS PHOTOS Send us ur fish pix! Weʼll use ʻem!! see page 4

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Jack Kramer 27-inch grouper

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Angler is Jeff Harrison this is a 47-inch cobia

Adreanna Quiring large mouth bass Her first time going bass fishing!

Ethan Mix, 11/30/19 slot snook in Fort Myers

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from Water LIFE magazine

Left to Right: Taylor, Wesley, & Trey 3 Jacks caught in Charlotte Harbor between the north and south bound 41 bridges.

Angler is Jeff Harrison Spanish mackerel

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Christian Fec with a 45-inch cuda - fishing with Capt. Paul Fec out of Stump Pass

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Jeff Harrison. jack

Cameron “Crevalle Cam” Bushey with a beefy Port Charlotte Jack!

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Nice Bonnett Head Shark. caught by Kathi Pierce, Englewood

Tom Canto with a giant cobia caught off Bonita Beach recently.

JANUARY 2020

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Stalking the Winter Fish

By Capt. David Stephens Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor So far our weather has been great – we’ve had a few cool days, but it warmed back up quickly. Fortunately this has kept the snook bite going pretty well, even though some of the cooler mornings didn’t produce until the water temperatures warmed up.

The magic number seems to be around 70-degrees. During the cooler months these warm water fish migrate to areas with deeper water to keep warm, however on cool days with lots of sun they will migrate to shallow areas to warm up.

In my experience these fish can be pretty stubborn, but if you can find their hole, you can have success catching them and it’s normally not too far away!

Most winters we get a few cold fronts stacked up and that will make a significant change in the water temperatures here.

Luckily for us, we have other species of fish that are not affected as much by cooler water. Probably one of the most sought after winter fish is sea trout. Some of the best trout days I’ve had were after some really cool weather.

These guys like to bunch up in deep potholes and creeks when the water temperature drops, but a couple days of warm weather will have them back out on the flats.

Shrimp is my go to bait for winter trout. If I’m fishing areas with a clean bottom, I use shrimp on a chartreuse jig head.

In areas that have oysters or grass, I use a popping cork for trout.

Another species that will become easier to target during the cooler water temps will be sheepshead. This time of year these guys school up to spawn, so larger concentrations can usually be found.

Small crustaceans and mollusks are their main food source.

fluorocarbon leader. Depending on the current flow, I use just enough weight to make contact with the bottom.

Shrimp would be my bait of choice, because it’s easy to get. If you can get some fiddler crabs or fresh sand fleas they work very well.

Finding structure is a must. Some of the best places for sheepshead are old docks and rock walls. Deep creeks with hard bottom will also hold good numbers of fish.

These guys can be rather difficult to get hooked up on. If you ask 5 different sheepshead anglers how to catch them, you will, likely, get 5 different ways.

My recommendation is to keep it small. I use a No.1 hook and 20-pound

When fishing sheepshead, most people will tell you if you felt the bite, you’ve already missed him. Winter doesn’t mean the fishing stops. It just means you gotta fish different.

If you would like to experience some of Charlotte Harbor’s finest fishing, call or send me an email. All of our charters are private and customized to fit your needs.

Capt. Dave Stephens, 941-916-5769 www.bayxtremes.com

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SAILING

By Fran Burstein, Water LIFE Sailing The 2.4 mR Canadian American Championship Series began on December 10 with the Midwinter Regatta that was followed two days later by the US Nationals. These regattas are the first of a five regatta series that all take place on Charlotte Harbor this winter and are hosted by the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club. Twenty one Canadian and American sailors are registered to compete in the series.

2.4mR sailing associations are located worldwide. This fleet is highly competitive making for exciting and close racing. Two former Olympic sailors, Dee Smith from the Golden Gate Yacht Club and Alan Leibel from the National Yacht Club in Toronto, took first and second place in both regattas. Coming in third in the Midwinter Regatta was Jeffrey Linton from the Davis Island Yacht Club in Tampa. The third place in the US National Regatta belongs to Tony Pocklington from the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club.

January 4 -Harbor 20 Championship Fall Series # 1- Isles Yacht Club January 5- Punta Gorda Sailing Club Winter Series-https://www.pgscweb.com January 18 – 19 Golden Conch Regatta – Platinum Point Yacht Club January 25 – Harbor 20 Champions Series Winter Series #2 – Isles Yacht Club January 25 – 26 2.4mR Can/Am Edge Mid Winters – Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club

SHARKING EMAIL:

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By Capt. John Brossard Water LIFE Shark Fishing The water is still warm enough for summertime sharks. With the warm weather between cold fronts, the water temperature has stayed in the 70s and that means the sharks are still actively feeding and are staying around our local areas.

Lots of small blacktips and sharpnose and blacknose sharks are being caught on the near shore reefs and off the beaches.

There are the occasional bonnet-head around the backwaters also.

On my charters there has been a tremendous amounts of blacknose sharks being caught on every trip. It certainly makes for a fast pace trip when you get 5 or 6 sharks per hour when the tides are in between and moving well. It keeps us busy between the bigger fish that customers want.

Shark Of The Month: BLACKNOSE SHARK : The blacknose shark is a species of sharks common in the tropical and subtropical waters of the western Atlantic Ocean. This species generally inhabits coastal seagrass, sand or rubble habitats, with adults prefer-

ring deeper water than juveniles.

Adults get to 23-pounds and around 3 1/2 feet. They are very easily confused with the lemon shark except this fish has a smudge of black on its snout, hence calling it a black

JANUARY 2020

nose. They are edible, but catch and release is preferred. They are a very sporty fight on medium tackle. They are known to cruise in schools.

Capt John Brossard 239-777-9279Capt John Brossard

239-777-9279 sharkchaserfl@gmail.com sharkchasercharters.com

JANUARY 2020

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ESTERO BAY: New Tactics for a New Year

By Capt. Joe Angius Water LIFE Estero Exceptional fishing has been the norm here in Estero Bay. Redfish numbers are high, juvenile snook are littered throughout the bay, and speckled sea trout are starting to show up in quality and quantity. Don’t get me wrong, there are days that can be challenging. But even through those tough days, quality fish can be caught.

Slowing down your bait presentation and using light tackle will increase your chances of tricking finicky fish. Sometimes when switching your tackle isn’t enough, remember to take your time fishing an area by covering a lot of water and slowly trolling along mangroves or oyster beds.

One of my best charters I’ve had occurred a couple of weeks ago where my two clients caught over 50 mid-sized redfish. Unfortunately none were upper or over-slot fish but, nevertheless, it was one after another and non-stop action. We came across this spot by very slowly trolling and drifting the mangroves. Every 70- to 100-yards of coverage I would drop the Power-Pole and fish the area completely. Finally on one drift I dropped the

anchor and then my client and his fiancé were reeling in fish after fish. Light tackle was key, as we were using 30-pound fluorocarbon leader, one No. 5-sized split

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shot, and a 2/0 Owner hook. Our bait of choice was cut pieces of shrimp.

In many situations I want to push pole clients along a mangrove edge or over a shallow flat, but this technical fishing can be overwhelming and difficult.

It’s this time of the year where stealth is extremely important when fishing the backwaters. Realistically, push poling clients is only practical with one or two anglers and it’s very advantageous if they have fishing experience. My next best bet is to use the trolling motor and Power Pole anchor. Without those tools it would be very difficult to set my clients up for a successful day of fishing.

As we enter the new year remember to explore and enjoy what Southwest Florida has to offer through fishing. Don’t be afraid to try new tactics or techniques when stealth becomes a priority out on the shallow flats.

Be versatile by targeting a variety of fish species when others are lethargic or lockjawed. Have a happy New Year and I will see you on the water!

Capt. Joe Angius (727)-234-3171 www.speakeasyfishing.com speakeasyfishing@gmail.com

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JANUARY 2020

READERʼS PHOTOS Send us ur fish pix! Weʼll use ʻem!! see page 4

I caught this 25 & 1/2-inch tripple tail on December 6th.

My first one ever. I am from Indiana and I moved to Englewood 3 weeks ago for retirement. I used to love to fish and now I am addicted. See you soon!

Tom Amrhein

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from Water LIFE magazine

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FISH PIX! Lovely Lisa Scott from London UK first largemouth 2 lbs in Bradenton

from Water LIFE magazine

A Gasparilla Trout caught by Joe Sheaffer

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from Water LIFE magazine

Ryan Cook (7) first spotted sea trout with Jeff & Grandpa Mickey. Off St James City

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from Water LIFE magazine

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Wayne and Rocky catching some triple tail just south of Venice!!!

from Water LIFE magazine

Captain Harold Roebuck with a nice king fish on Thanksgiving Day

from Water LIFE magazine

Crystal Hamsher landed this massive Jack all by herself at her home in Port Charlotte.

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from Water LIFE magazine

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John A Prondecki, DMD, Goliath Grouper , Caught 11/30/2019

Shelby Alberts: got a barracuda!

from Water LIFE magazine

F f

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Skyler Bushey Port Charlotte canal shark!

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A nice trout caught by Joe Sheaffer in Bull Bay 12/6/19

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Art with his red grouper

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John's red grouper, same trip with Art

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Billyʼs red grouper.

Same trip with John and Art

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ine

Dustin out fishing the old man!

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Brodys first tilapia

Tom Novosel with a 250 lb.

Goliath grouper released. fishing with Capt. Paul Fec out of Stump Pass.

Here's Ron again with his first trigger fish released to the Gulf.

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Chris Dans of Punta Gorda caught and released this 31 inch, 11-Pound snook on the Peace River

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Ron from Cape Coral.

With his first groupers.

Dave Fec with a 29” Red Grouper fishing with Capt. Paul Fec out of Stump Pass.

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Jerry Bueno, Florida sheepshead

Damian and his niece Haley with a goliath that was safely released while shark fishing

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Snook, Reds and Sheep Heads PAGE

By Mallory Herzog Water LIFE Inshore/Offshore The chill of winter is settling into our area for the first time this year. It’s finally starting to feel chilly most mornings and evenings. We've had back-to-back cold fronts and a wet start to our SWFL winter.

Windy and wavy conditions have prevented nearshore fishing, so we've hung out mostly inshore with our charter guests.

Snook have been everywhere looking for food, they have been snatching up most live baits you drop in front of them. On cooler, sunny mornings, snook lay up in shallow water to warm up – be careful not to get too close to the mangroves or you will just run them over! Same thing goes for the beach, snook - they swim right in the breakers.

Even on a rough day, snook are cruising looking for food. As the mullet move around our beaches and passes you will start to see more BIG snook in the area.

Redfish have been hanging around underneath the mangroves. If you look for deeper water and good mangrove coverage, you are sure to find a redfish.

This time of year they LOVE jumbo shrimp on a jig head or a small pinfish on a circle hook. Cut the pinfish tail a bit, to help get the scent out there. You can use a float but, I often end up with trout this way. Fun to catch, but not to keep this time of year.

Looking for FOOD? Sheepshead, mangrove snapper and cobia are also invading out waters. Cobia love Charlotte

JANUARY 2020

READERʼS PHOTOS Send us ur fish pix! Weʼll use ʻem!! see page 4

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

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from Water LIFE magazine

Michael Ribas with a nice redfish out of Port Charlotte

Steve caught and released a nice 4.5-pound bass

Dr. Katie Swing caught this redfish in Charlotte Harbor.

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from Water LIFE magazine

Harbor during the winter months. They are curious and often pop up or swim by when you least expect it.

The last one I caught, chased a snapper up to the boat. Capt. Andrew threw a pin-

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from Water LIFE magazine

Mike Bianculli caught this snook on Alligator Creek.

fish down next to it and hooked up quickly.

Mallory’s husband, Capt. Andrew Herzog, operates Big Bully Charters.

He can be reached at 941-661-0304 by phone or text

JANUARY 2020

Report from the Ponds

By Nicholas J Water LIFE Bass Addict Winter is finally here and while most of the Country is ice skating and ice fishing on frozen ponds, we Floridians are still fishing our ponds in a tank-top and shorts... looking for monster bass!

Since my last report, the water level and temperatures were staying steady with some exceptionally great fishing weather from Thanksgiving into the first 2 weeks of December. I hooked a lot of bass including two absolute trophy heart-breaking pond monsters that I lost off the hook within a couple of feet off the bank. Then the third week of December we got a couple of nasty rainstorms with swirling gusty winds that messed up the pond water levels and dropped the barometric pressure.

The bite and fishing was tuff for the whole week, but finally on Sunday December 22, on the second day of winter, with wind and rain,

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I suited up and hit the ponds looking for one last chance for another trophy monster before the end of 2019.

My Sunday morning prayer was answered by 9:25 a.m.

After a few casts in a small golf course pond - off the green - a true 23-inch lunker largemouth slammed it hard, right off the bank, in the tall water reeds.

I got a great hook set, got it on the bank for a picture and a release. Then, 35 minutes after that, in another pond, I hooked another big lunker in the hard rain and wind, this one on the frog two nice fish in one morning, at this time of year... I couldn't be a happier bass-fishing addict....lol.

The good news is bass behavior is slightly changing, the big lunker bass are slowly coming out of the deep and moving to the banks for some sun and looking for bait-fish to start fattening up for the spring spawn. Your chances of hooking one are better now, if you are put-

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ting in the casting time.

The bait I recommend, what I have been hooking a lot of bass on lately, is the Bass Pro Shops 4 1/2-inch Crack Craw in Blue Flex & Sooner Run colors. If you are casting deep, or into rough waters use a regular or weedless 3/8 jig-head hook. For dead still water, to work the mid, top and bank, use a 1/4 jig head hook.

Bass are starting to hit lures and baits on a faster retrieval at times at mid and top water levels, but I still use a slower presentation and retrieval for the ones bedded out deep. I am still using my Sticko's and Booyah frog here and there, but primarily I am plugging the Crack Craw and getting more constant hits – with its awesome action and presentation, it spices things up.

Us Bass Addicts have only 2- to 3months before the spawn kicks in and the big mama bass move up to the banks tickling angler’s hopes and dreams and the possibility of hooking the double digit Lunker Bucketmouth of a life time. Get your rods, get your reel's, get your hook's, get your bait's and get out and hook one today!......Happy New Year, Water Life Readers!

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JANUARY 2020

Blakeʼs pufferfish

Kids Offshore

Water LIFE Staff Report On the first Saturday of December we took our Be the Fish, Punta Gorda middle school 6th grade class offshore with Capt. Jack, aboard his boat the Reef Raider. After two previous weathyer cancellations the group had dwindled but the weather and the seas on this day were perfect and everyone caught fish. We brought a small shark, gag and red grouper, grunts, snapper, lizard fish and some squirrel fish aboard and all were released.... all except for one that came back to the dock where Capt. Cayle filleted the fish so the students could see how it was done. And like last year, Dennis and Marjorie Bolonis left us a bag full of snacks for the kids to enjoy. Thank you again! Next in our Be the Fish program for local 6th graders will be our inshore fishing day this spring. Students will be notified well in advance. I have posted these pictures on the BeTheFish facebook page.

Gracieʼs squirrelfish

Tommyʼs grunt

Rylandʼs snapper

Zachʼs gag

Coleʼs lizzardfish

Masonʼs shark

JANUARY 2020

TOP 10 from 2019 On the Line

By Capt. Ron Blago Water LIFE Senior Staff At the end of each I go through my notebooks looking for the top stories of the year, and also the news that I thought was important which never made it to the main street media; so here we go: #10 The US is now energy independent; and we are now even exporting energy. No more gas lines or kissing OPEC's butt. The world consumes 96.92 million barrels of oil a day; at $60 a barrel that's $5.8 billion dollars every day.

The top three users of oil – US 20%, China 13%, India 5%. #9 The US government owns more than 640 million acres of land, that's one quarter of the country's land mass. The Dept of Defense controls over 25 million acres - that's roughly equal to the size of Kentucky. The US government owns 79.6% of Nevada, but only 13.0% of Florida. These figures do not include lands owned by State and local governments. #8 Sarasota Bay Watch, a private non-profit group has put over 250,000 clams in Sarasota Bay to help clean the waters of the bay. They have also started to build small artificial reef like structures that can be placed under docks that provide habitat for other creatures that will also filter the water. With all the money being spent to study our water quality; it's good to see some people are actually doing something to improve our water quality. #7 In November, Charlotte County

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cushions canvas covers spent over $100,000 at the Ainger Creek Boat Ramp to put a concrete mat at the end of the boat ramp. Was this was an attempt to solve a problem that really never existed? I'll leave that for others to

The County took the damaged ʻTʼ off the end of the Bayshore Pier, but left the pilings.

debate. Now the County wants to totally rebuild the entire park. They want to replace all the seawalls and move the ramp.

The estimated cost is close to $1.1 million. This is still in the planning stage; but I have to ask myself what additional benefits do we get for spending that kind of money? It's still just a parking lot for people who want to put their boat in the water. The County does charge a parking fee, and last year they brought in about $25,000; at that rate they can pay off the repairs in 48 years. #6 There have been repairs done on our boat ramps and fishing piers last year. Unfortunately the news of these closures never seem to make it to the public in a timely manor. It started with the Placida fishing pier (which the county now calls the Boca Grand fishing pier ) and continued with the almost two year closing of the Bayshore fishing pier. If nobody on the staff of the County will

step up and take responsibility to see that the public is informed of these closings; then make it part of the contract that the people doing the work post a sign that says: this facility is closed for repairs on such a date and is expected to re-open on such a date. It's really that simple. #5 When the old Marine Fisheries Commission evolved into the current FWC, one of the goals was to cut back on the rules and regulations on recreational fishermen and to limit any rule changes to just once a year. Well it didn't take long for that plan to run off the rails. By now most people know that trout, red fish and snook fishing is closed in Southwest Florida until at least Ma 31, but are still opened in the other three zones of Florida and some of those zones have different bag limits, Federal and State regulations, size limits, bag limits, closed seasons and geographical zones are a big ball of confusion. The FWC has to stop trying to micro-manage every single fish in Florida. #4 Ozone Hole shrank to record size – Unusually warm temperatures above Antarctica in October 2019 caused the ozone hole to shrink to its smallest size on record; according to NOAA scientists.

I guess global warming is not all bad. #3 The Endangered Species Act has had it's first update in 45 years. The new changes will not apply to the over1,600 species that are currently on the endangered or threatened list. The new rules require a proposed species to provide a cost benefit analysis estimate for adding a plant or animal to the list. It will also place restrictions on which areas can be designated a Critical Habitat. Ac-

cording to National Geographic, modern biologist are identifying new species at a blistering pace of 1,800 new species a year on average #2 Red Tide comes and Red Tide goes. By historical standards 2019 was a mild year for red tide outbreaks. During the first week of January they had only one manatee death caused by red tide, but from October 26 through the last week of the year they found 18 more. This is a pretty small number compared to the 289 they recovered in 2018. What bothered me most in 2019 was the spotty and inconsistent timing of red tide sampling in our area. During the peak of the outbreak in November, Lee County was testing at 28 sites and Sarasota County was testing at 38 sites, some sites were tested every day. In Charlotte County they only tested at 5 sites and by the time the results were made public the data was sometimes a week old. People want to know were the red tide is right now, not where it was last week. #1 Get ready for this headline... Boaters Kill Record Number of Manatee in 2019. Unfortunately this is true; 130 manatees deaths were attributed to watercraft in 2019 . Of course saying watercraft were not implicated in 77% of all manatee deaths is also correct. You can also say that watercraft accounted for only 2.12% deaths of all the observed manatees in Florida in 2019. It all depends on how you view the manatee universe. Of the 574 manatees mortality in 2019, 38% were found in Lee and Brevard County - Charlotte County accounted for just 4.8% of the total.

Captronb@juno.com

Forgotton Myan Gods PAGE

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By Fishin’ Frank Water LIFE Baitshop Right now, fishing remains good, but in 1990 I remember we had some of the worst fishing ever. Things like fishing get better and then they get worse. So right now, starting 2020, I would say we are seeing fishing.... kind of in the middle.

Snook fishing is a big part of fishing here in Southwest Florida.

Snook are a really cool fish which gets its name from the Dutch word for pike, which is snoek, but to be really southern we say it with an OOOK, like spook.

I bring up snook because for some people snook is the species that presents a reason to come fish Southwest FISH PIX! Florida. Snook are tasty, they jump and fight like a bass on steroids, plus they get pretty big.

Snook eat live bait, dead bait, shrimp, fish, and crabs and they will hit top water lures, sub surface crank baits, jigs or spoons. I don't think a snook ever met a from Water LIFE magazine

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lure it did not like.

And best of all is they are under the docks and piers... so if you don't have a boat, snook is still a fish you can target.

Boat or no boat, natural bait of artificial lures, snook is that fish you would drive a

Skyler Bushey big Port Charlotte snook!

couple thousand miles to catch.

And here is me, after more than three decades in the tackle business, I am still excited about teaching people to catch these back water monsters.

READERʼS PHOTOS Send us ur fish pix! Weʼll use ʻem!! see page 4

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Al Wade with crevalle jack caught in PGI canal.

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

I am musing about snook as I sit here remembering when snook season used to close at midnight on December 31 and we would snook-in the New Year, sitting in a boat under the 41 bridges, with a big chunk of mullet placed right at the end of the wooden bumpers on the end of the high tide, waiting for a smash on the other end of the line.

Those big snook over 40 inches did more than just hit, they smashed the bait, and what a challenge it was to keep that fish from wrapping the line around the bridge pilings. The noise of their huge gills raking as their head thrashes back and forth is still clear in my mind.

If you ever had buck fever, that would be the closest thing; you freeze up, then explode into the fight. Yes, it is that cool!

And you can still do this at most bridges after dark, once the car traffic slows down. The snook are still there and I bet they are wondering where we went and why we don't come out to play anymore. They are, in a way, like a forgotten Mayan God. Maybe one day the State will give us a half day Snook season from 6 p.m.

December 31 to Midnight.

Raul Jimenez Sail fish

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

from Water LIFE magazine

Humberto and Wifey with tripletail

Doubled up in Estero Bay passes Capt. Fred Gowdy

from Water LIFE magazine

from Water LIFE magazine

FISH PIX!

Frank@fishinfranks.com Port Charlotte (941) 625-3888

FISH PIX!

FISH PIX!

JANUARY 2020

Fishing after school Lane Schippert

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Levi with a nice Jack on Christmas day, with Mom and Dad. Fish was one of five!

Cameron Smith, Cape Haze

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Christopher Perry proudly holds his 7-pound bass.

Jim Breunig permit fish

Welcome to 2020 in the Everglades & 10,000 Islands JANUARY 2020

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By Capt. Charlie Phillips Water LIFE / Everglades City I like to take off the big holidays to enjoy time with family and friends and have continued that tradition this past season as well. One thing I like is ending the year on the deck of my boat doing some fishing myself. I like starting the new year on the boat with my wife as we see what trouble we can find in the Glades.

Leading up to Christmas we had some of the strongest winds I encountered in months. It made things challenging, but hey, if it was easy everyone would be doing it!!

As in past years, for a guide the holidays were a blur of last-minute trips as people on vacation decided to do some fishing.

This year has started off well with lots of great fish chewing both inshore and

offshore (weather permitting) so what are you waiting for? On the offshore side, we got into some big schools of hour jacks recently that gave my guest a workout. For those that don’t know, hour jacks are Jack Crevalle that weigh from 20 to 30 pounds and make even the strongest man grunt and sweat for an hour. They are lots of fun, and when the conditions are calm we target these fish using topwater plugs. They compete so hard for the bait its amazing to watch and if one comes off, another has it instantly.

Also got into some slab snapper, slot pompano and a few tripletail the past few weeks. Using live shrimp on 2/0 circle hooks with appropriate weight for what

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you are targeting, we have had no trouble finding good eating fish to invite home for dinner.

Inshore, we found yet more solid mangrove snapper in the deeper cuts and channels during the bottom of the low tide stages. When the current slows down, we can target these fish with lighter weights and gear making it a blast and also very productive.

There have been some big sheepshead

and smaller grouper in there as well. It’s not unusual to pick up juvenile red, gags and goliaths back to back when targeting these snappers, especially on the bigger shrimp.

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In the backcountry, in-between fronts on the warm sunny days, we have done well on small tarpon and snook using topwaters on the flats. Concentrating near the creek mouths and areas these fish are feeding, it’s not unusual to pick up double digit snook providing a lot of fun in a short amount of time. Many will be small, with a big one in the mix to keep you on your toes.

I hope you all have a wonderful start to your 2020. May this year be all that you want it to be. Don’t squander the opportunity, make the most of each and every day, and I challenge you to fish more often and bring a young person on every trip you can. Be well and be safe.

Capt. Charlie Phillips, President, Florida Guides Assn.

Owner/Captain, Hope Fishing Adventures Everglades City, Florida hopefishing.com 863-517-1829

READERʼS PHOTOS Send us ur fish pix!

Weʼll use ʻem!! see page 4

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

$25 WINNER from Water LIFE magazine

Caught 12/8/19 - Matlacha Jason Price / Redfish

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Brayden Hays 12 yrs old, Englewood, snook

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Max Riesbeck with a 42-inch cobia

Dennis Stazer 2ft king and a 2ft bonito, taken off Citrus Reef Englewood

Bayne Mcnamara age 7 large mouth bass

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Lucas first Spanish mackerel and first triple tail.

Outside Venice Inlet

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Kim Breunig large mouth bass

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READERʼS PHOTOS Send us ur fish pix! Weʼll use ʻem!! see page 4

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

JANUARY 2020

5-pound largemouth bass Golden Gate canals Capt. Fred Gowdy

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Nice keeper size tripletail off Estero Bay Capt. Fred Gowdy

4-pound peacock Golden Gate canals Capt. Fred Gowdy

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

$25 WINNER from Water LIFE magazine

Irene Valentino with a very healthy pre Christmas bass!

Jack Holder first bull red Venice Louisiana.. I know I sent twice, experiment. Ed notes: 2nd one was higher rez

First triple tail for Mike, thanks to Capt. Balsinger

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

John (the Snook King) Slattery with a 37-inch snook. Love your Magazine !

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Ashley Lawrence, from Cuyahoga Falls Ohio, black drum caught off Aunt Kimʼs dock in Port Charlotte

FISH PIX!

Brian Gonsalves with a 29-inch red grouper caught off Gasparilla Pass from Water LIFE magazine

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Mike Perkins cobia north of Sanibel

Richard Gatzki with a nice triple tail from Fort Myers FL

JANUARY 2020

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SCUTTLEBUTT

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Sometimes Unsubstanciated, But Often True

NOT SO FANTASTIC PLASTIC Recently, scientists have been investigating the most remote regions of the ocean, sending remote subs to the Mariana Trench, the deepest point of the ocean, where, according to research published in the Journal of the Royal Society Open Science, every amphipod captured had at least one plastic fiber in its stomach.

use GPS. We ask: could this have some relation to the climate?

RESEARCHERS THINK a cannon and anchor found close to each other last month off St Pete are likely from the same 17th century shipwreck.

Really?

CRAB PERMIT NOW REQUIRED Starting Jan. 1, recreational harvesters age 16 and older who fish with THE EARTH'S MAGblue crab traps need to comNETIC NORTH POLE plete an online, no-cost According to new satellite recreational blue crab trap data, the north pole is registration before placing moving at an unprecetheir traps in the water. A simdented rate towards ilar requirement has been in sheepshead teeth Siberia, The North Pole is effect for recreational stone a wandering point on the crab traps since Oct. 15. This surface of Earth's Northern Hemisphere allows the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conat which the planet's magnetic field - creservation Commission (FWC) to collect ated by molten iron within the planet始s information about the fishery. core - points vertically downwards. The latest World Magnetic Model, which THIS IS GREAT! FWC's Boating and tracks the movement of the Earth始s magWaterways, Derelict Vessel Removal netic field, shows that the magnetic north Program has revised its guidelines. FWC is moving at a rate of 30 miles per year. will now pay 100% of all removal costs This is the fastest recorded shift of the incurred by counties and cities. AppliEarth's North since the mid-16th century cants are no longer required to match at and could cause havoc for navigation 25-percent to receive assistance. Applisystems, including smartphone apps that cations will now be accepted on a contin-

uing basis without deadlines. State funding may now be used to assist with derelict vessels tied to public and private property that are there without the consent of the property owner. Grants for derelict vessel removal funding are available to city and county governments only.

THAT始S ALL THEY GOT? Two FWC officers observed a male and female fishing from the bank at Highway 2 Boat Ramp on the Yellow River. As they approached the couple to check their fishing licenses, the male subject jumped into the river

and started swimming down river. One officer drove across to the west side of the bridge and located the subject in the middle of the river. The subject refused to comply with verbal commands, so Lieutenant Molnar entered the waist deep water and took the subject into custody.

The subject was booked into the Okaloosa County Jail for obstruction of a Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation (FWC) Officer始s command and issued a citation for not having a fishing license.

We say: Gotta be more to this story!

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The BIG-4

Nearshore water temps are now in the low 70s fish are moving closer to shore

TRIPLETAIL Big ones in the harbor, smaller offshore

95˚ 90˚ 85˚ 80˚

75˚ 72˚ 70

68˚ 50˚ 45˚

FISHING RIGHT NOW: VERY GOOD! Capt. Jackʼs

Englewood Bait House

live shrimp etc.

Head-Boat Offshore Fishing

941- 475-4511

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Fish you can expect in

SHEEPSHEAD ICW docks and moving to the piers

JANUARY 2020

January

COBIA Offshore closer-in reefs, sides of the Harbor

SNOOK In the creeks and canals. Some in the River

January – Predictions and Suggestions

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

Strange the amount of sand brim that are around. A guy in PGI had a big blob of sand brim in his canal. This is the first time I have heard they were catching them one after another in PGI. They were using pieces of peeled shrimp on a No. 6 hook, let to drift or under a bobber.

Been some small cobia caught.

Tripletail and cobia are probably the hottest thing right now. Out in the Gulf you will find more tripletail, but the Harbor has the big ones. Right now if you are looking for dinner, they are the best bet. But the safest bet, that would be sheepshead.

Any of the ICW structures are holding good sheepshead right now – it doesn’t have to be the Placida Trestle, any dock, bridge, or even up in Ski Alley along the coast, they all have nice sized sheepshead right now.

There are still quite a few black drum around. Drum are good eating but there is not a lot of meat on them because of the big head. You’re only allowed one, over 24.

Just for fun, we have a really nice snook thing going on, using lip lures.

Try fishing ElJobean or up the river by the Islands around the Nav A Gator for some nice snook. Around the corner from Ponce, throwing shrimp and just freelining, guys have caught some nice 20- to 36-inch snook.

Some Captains have been going south along the Gasparilla Sound towards Bull Bay... it’s the temperature there, if it’s 70 throw out a little chum and the snook are everywhere. But below 70, they are hard to find.

When the wind stops, and it will stop one day, try to get out 15 miles to 70 feet. I’ve heard king mackerel and tuna are in the area. It’s best to find your grouper spot and then freeline some other baits for the rest.

Bass continues to be real good we are selling shiners by the truckload.

Guys are keying in on purple right now. Crappie fishing is hot throughout the area, good crappie fishing now.

Lemon Bay, Placida, Gasparilla Sound Jim at the Fishermen’s Edge

FINAL REPORT, BUSINESS NOW CLOSED It’s all based on the weather. Fishing in the back country has picked up.

There has been bait around and guys have been catching loads of fish. In Whidden Creek and Catfish Creek the snook and the trout have really come in. Guys have been catching 19- to 20inch sea-run trout - the ones with the orange mouths - when they come out of the Gulf. A lot of them were catching them on shrimp – there were some on fly, but the shrimp was more productive. Top water was also good at the right time of day and they caught them pretty well. Some guide friends were teaching their people to fish both fly and spinning reels and a number of the guides are switching to single hooks on their lures.

Pompano and whiting along the beach is really good at Little Gasparilla; Boca Grande Beach has also been pretty productive.

Guys are also catching mackerel close to Stump Pass and Boca Grande, but that was before the wind started blowing. There are a lot of small sharks out along the beach and some close in as well.

Offshore has been really productive with a variety of tripletail north from Stump Pass to Manasota and Venice.

Maybe the more migratory ones are coming from the north and some guides say they stage up along the way.

Hogfish, snapper and big red and gag grouper. The snapper fishing has been really good too with some nice yellowtail being caught.

Guides are either saying there has been a lot of porgys or they got no porgys. They must be bunched up, but the triggerfish and grunts are around everywhere. The only other thing is the smaller tarpon that are around in the creeks and local ponds. They even have some in the Rotonda canals.

Editor Notes: Thank you again, Jim, for all the years of fishing reports, friendship and faith. We wish you health and happiness in the next chapter of your life! MH

BackBay Xtremes Capt Dave Stephens www.backbayxtremes.com

941-916-5769

Explore!

Fish with one of our Guides

Youʼll learn something and youʼll catch some fish!

JANUARY 2020

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