Water LIFE April 2008

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Charlotte Harbor and Lemon Bay

Keeping Boaters and Fishermen Informed Since 1997

Producers of the

Kids Cup Tournament Program

KidsCup Tournament

This Month!

Tear Down the El Jobean Trestle?

Page 20

April 2008 KIDS CUP

Stellar Vis Gulf Diving

Page 20

Catch & Release Shark Tournament

Fishing ESPN始s Madfin Page 18

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Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

March

2008

April

2008

Water LIFE

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Water LIFE

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LETTERS

Mi ke In the March edition Capt. Kelley wrote on wakes. I have a couple of comments: I don't understand why he feels a move from ‘no wake’ to ‘minimum wake’ is good. No wake is defined as the minimum speed at which you can maintain steerage.

Minimum wake is more subjective and defined as “slow speed, bow settled fully in the water, no white water off the bow and minimal wake.”

Obviously minimum wake creates more wake than no wake. Further, all boaters push the limit and no wake becomes minimum wake or worse in actual practice and minimum wake becomes what ever you think you can get away with. Therefore if wakes are bad, why does the Capt. laud a move to change ‘no’ to ‘minimum.’?

As to the comments on boaters interfering

with fishermen on Alligator creek: The run from our homes out is 30 minutes and all at minimum wake out to the beginning of the outbound channel which is marked, ‘resume speed.’ The fishermen want to anchor along side the ‘full speed’ channel and fish, therefore expecting all boats to slow down for them.

This is a small confined area and the fishermen need to be respectful of the boaters and not anchor along side a marker designating full speed for boaters. The very act of throwing off throttle when you see them creates a horrendous wake. There are lots of other areas to fish.

Life is give and take, particularly for boaters and fishermen. We need to respect each other.

TO

W AT E R

hundred post cards to licensed captains in Charlotte County.

The list was sent to captains who have a county occupational license. We asked them to indicate the areas of the Sea Grant position in Charlotte County that affect their businesses. We started receiveing replies immediately.

So ofar, all but one captain who responded is in favor of keeping the Sea Grant Agent’s position on the county roles.

April

2008

Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor Magazine

Michael and Ellen Heller Publishers

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Vol VII No.4 © 2008 Water LIFE

WRITE US! e-mail (preferred) Waterlife@comcast.net Regular MAIL: 217 Bangsberg Rd. Port Charlotte, FL 33952

Michael Attached (above) is the picture I showed you at Fishinʼ Franks of the fish that my son caught. Details are as follows: On March 13, 2008, while Lance Corporal Jonathan W. Jones, USMC was home on leave he caught this black drum on the Manchester Waterway, Port Charlotte. The fish weighed 22 pounds

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and measured 36-inches. Jonathan is from Arcadia, he graduated from Desoto County High school in 2005 and enlisted in the Marines that same year. He has completed one tour of duty in Iraq and is scheduled for a second tour in April. His favorite past time is to fish.

Chaun Jones, Port Charlotte

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Contributing Editors:

Fishing / Environment: Capt. Ron Blago Charlotte Harbor: Capt. Robert Moore Gasparilla: Capt. Chuck Eichner Port Charlotte: Capt Andy Medina Offshore: Capt. Steve Skevington Real Estate: Dave Hofer Sailing Advisor: Bill Dixon Kayaks: David Allen Sea Grant: Betty Staugler Diving: Adam Wilson

on the COVER:

12 year old Wyatt Carter, last yearsʼ Kids Cup Champion, with a slightly oversized red about to be released.

on our WEBSITE:

WWW.charlotteharbormagazine.com

Realtors: Links to advertisers

Tide Graphs: For local waters

Weather: Links to all of our favorite sites.

Back editions: Pages of previous editions Artificial Reefs: Lat. and Long local reefs

Manatee Myths: Read the original plan to create sanctuaries and refuges, as spelled out by the United Nations in 1984

Kids Cup Updates, Fish Tracking and Tournament Information.

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2008

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

That picture reminds me of a story Mi chael Hel l er Water LIFE Editor This is the month for our own Kids Cup Tournament so I’m thinking kids. 2003 was the last year of the CCA’s Kids Fishing Day event.

I was thinking kids then too, when I arrived early, at Fishermen’s Village, to watch the kids sign in. There were 187 of them.

Finally the last boat left the dock and a few ‘alternates’, kids who signed in at the last minute, were left standing there.

I was ready to head for my boat when one young man caught my eye. Maybe he was 13 years old. He was walking back to his parents, he did not look happy.

I approached his dad and introduced myself. I told him I was a photographer and I was going out on the water to take pictures of the kids fishing, that I wasn’t going to fish myself, but if it was OK with him his son could come along with me for a boat ride. The dad said ‘sure’ and the boy’s face lit up. I’m sorry today I do not remember their names.

We took off and headed out to Colony Point where another boat was already fishing. I got some pictures there, then we headed across the harbor to the west wall.

I was looking for other boats when something caught my eye, a fin rolling across the surface. It disappeared and then reappeared, coming closer. It was about 30 yards away.

A tarpon!

The one rod I always have on the boat usually has a gold spoon on it. That’s my go-to;

anytime–anywhere lure. We watched the tarpon roll again, then I whipped that little gold spoon with its red feathers out as far as I could and handed the boy the rod. ‘Just reel it in,’ I said, and he did.

It didn’t take a second cast.

Woooosh! the spoon was gone, the line peeled out and then a 100 pound tarpon jumped skyward, twisting and stretching, glittering gold and silver in the sun.

The fish spit the bait right away and it was over... but that was enough. Goosebumps ran from my neck down my arms. We looked at each other in disbelief. It couldn’t have been more perfect.

That’s the reward of taking kids fishing. It just feels good. Those are the kind of memories that don’t wear off, the kind that only get better with time. I bet that boy still remembers too.

The CCA quit having its Kids Fishing Day that year because their lawyers said it was too risky – pairing up kids and adults and boats.

So with help from my wife Ellen and from my friend Capt. Ralph Allen and with the support of Laishley Marine and Palm Chevrolet and West Marine and Fishin Franks, from Jerry Jensen and so very many other loyal local supporters and sponsors the Kids Cup was born.

The Kids Cup is a tournament where kids arrange for their own boats and boat drivers and parents give written permission for the kids and adults to be together. It’s a sad commentary on our society that we have to do it

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Last month Capt. Angel Torres sent us this picture of a tarpon on the Peace River with its gills flaired, thrashing like a giant snake. If you look closely, Angelʼs lure is stuck sideways in the tarponʼs mouth. Angel landed the tarpon, removed the lure and freed the fish. More on page 30

Fishing Tips for Red Drum

Water LIFE

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April

MAGAZINE

2008

Bait, Habit & Habitat

By Captai n S teve Eggers Special to Water LIFE I have a buddy who goes fishing for redfish all the time. Unfortunately he does not go out catching. I ask him all of the time, ‘How many fish did you catch?’

His normal reply is this, ‘Bud, I fished all day long and did not catch a thing!’ I used to find that hard to believe, but I guess it could be true. With that and the upcoming Kids Cup Tournament in mind, I would like to give you a few tips on how I catch the ever-so-famous red drum.

Baits

Redfish will eat a variety of different baits. Shrimp, crabs, pinfish, finger mullet, white bait, and threadfins are also choices for live bait. A variety of different lures, from Sebill to Gulps, will work for the more experienced angler. Even though I have used all of these baits to catch redfish, I never have a good day unless I pay attention to what they are eating at the time. I usually do this by

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looking in the water around the area where I am fishing and observing what food source is available.

Sometimes I notice some blue crabs, finger mullet, small bait fish etc.

Then I will use some of the bait that is either there or purchased from my local bait shop. If I’m fishing with artificials I use some lures that mimic the baits that I think they are eating.

When all else fails, I will try to put a bait on that will put out a lot of scent and put it in the vicinity of the redfish.

Ninety-percent of the time a redfish can not resist anything that smells good and is not moving.

Habit

Usually redfish are a creature of habit. They will move around with the tides. Often times finding redfish may or may not be easy. The hardest part is to find out where and when they are feeding.

Tails across a shallow flat or fish swimming stationary in a creek will indicate

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Hereʼs a healthy redfish from one of Capt Steve Eggerʼs fishing trips.

feeding fish. Also, big schools often swim together to feed.

If you find the Redfish and they won’t eat, just be patient and see what kind of habit they follow. Once you pay a little attention to them you will surely figure them out. Just remember, slow stalking and slow presentation always works.

Habitat

Now you know about the baits and what to do when you find them.

So where do you start looking?

Redfish can be found almost anywhere that holds a good food source, some type of water movement, and some bottom other than hard sand. My favorite place to start looking is in creeks. The reason I look here is because the tide going in and out will normally produce a muddy bottom.

Redfish love the muck. If I get out of the boat and have mud to my knees, then I am in the right spot or close to it.

Another area to look for reds is

around any oyster bar. Oyster bars will normally hold some type of crustaceans.

Team that up with a ripping tide and you will see a feeding frenzy.

Now that you know the area to look you will have to check under the bushes, across several miles of flats, in all of the creeks and so on. After a full day of looking, I may catch one fish.

That is ok with me, because every single fish I catch gets me closer to all of his buddies that will be more than happy to eat as I approach the fish quieter each time.

Whatever you decide to use, wherever you decide to look, always remember, take my tips along with everyone else’s and develop your own style. It is still all about having fun on the water and will always be a better day than work.

Take a kid fishing, with the Kids Cup coming up this month there are many kids looking for a fishing buddy to donate some time and take them out for the day. I have fished the Kids Cup for three years now. The look on your kids face when they catch fish is and always

April

2008

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April

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Water LIFE

IFA Punta Gorda MAGAZINE

S t aff R eport The consensus was, it was not the best weather for fishing. Blue skies and the passage of a cold front were what most anglers cited as the reason only 35 of 105 teams weighed in fish at the IFA tournament at Punta Gorda on March 9. The event was scheduled for March 8, but the wind was blowing at 35 knots and tournament officials decided to postpone the Saturday tournament until Sunday.

Originally there were 127 boats entered. Anglers, almost everyone we spoke to said in spite of the weather Saturday would have been a better fishing day....if they could have gotten to the fish.

A few anglers ventured out Saturday in spite of the small craft warning, hellacious winds and surf.

At least one boat did not come back that same day.

On Sunday Bart Schad, tournament director, said we've already had one angler call in and say he had been thrown out of the boat and another team, one of the teams that went out Saturday, spent the night on their boat, hard aground just a quarter mile south of the Burnt Store Channel. ‘That boat will be there for a couple of days,’ Above an IFA boat high and dry south of Burnt Store. another angler Left: The winning fish with, Travis Tucker and Scott Binneo noted. The boat, Below: IFA boats, launching before dawn at Laishley Park ramp. a 19 foot Pathfinder, was apparently prefishing south of Burnt Store, behind the sandbar, in some of the little creeks and crevices along the shoreline. Apparently they were there when the wind shifted and the tide ran out. The bottom in the area where they were fishing was all oyster bar and when the boat settled there was nothing they could do.

Other teams were more upbeat.Travis Tucker and Minnows."

Scott Binneol were one of the happiest teams. They Local knowledge apparently played a big part in weighed in two seven-plus pound redfish for a combined Sunday's fishing. Two of the top five teams were from weight of 14.61 pounds. They went home with the first the local area and most teams noted they had success in place prize, a new Ranger Banshee boat. We were fishing the Gasparilla Sound area. That Pathfinder at Burnt Store a Banshee Travis noted, now we've got two! Tucker said wasn’t the only one aground. There was a boat back in they babysat their fish all day, sight fishing and catching Turtle Bay, another angler noted. The weather and the "9 or 10 fish using Exude Dart and Gulp Sinkin’ tides just weren't cooperating.

For some there have been better days

Gulf Council could be fixin’ to make adjustments Page 9

By Adam Wi l son Water LIFE staff The photo is from Wednesday night’s council meeting in St. Pete. This month is the last round of council meetings before a final plan is adopted regarding gag grouper, amberjack, and triggerfish. I didn't make the Naples meeting Thursday, but the turnout up north was good. I would guestimate over 200 recreational/charter

fisherman. FRA and CCA were both there to speak. Overall, about 60 people got up to speak. I didn't at this one, it was mostly the same things being said over again, i.e. bad or poorly obtained data from mrfss, rising costs of offshore fishing, and the impact of lower bag limits and off-seasons on Florida's fishing economy. I think everyone is going to agree on one thing, skyrocketing fuel prices will save more grouper than any new regulations!

The Gulf Council's preferred solution, the regulation they are pushing, is going to a three grouper bag limit, where only one could be a gag. This would allow us to have three red grouper instead of one, or one gag and any variation of others to fill out the limit. The preferred new law would also include a three month closure – probably from mid January to mid April.

The charter captains were most upset about this one and I can't blame them. I couldn't imagine being out of business for three months.

TRACKING: What We’ve Learned So Far Water LIFE

Page 10 Fish # 10 10 28 67 65 59 24 62 44 43 35 35 32

Area where first was caught Hog Island Hog Island Cayo Costa Cayo Costa Bull Bay Alligator Creek Upper Matlacha Pineland Cayo Costa Bull Bay Turtle Bay Turtle Bay Cayo Costa

Size Size caught (mm) re-caught 654 737 654 673.

540 559 514 533 451 521 476 533 565 Unspecified 470 572 514 572 489 641 489 508 489 470 521 559

By Betty S taugl er Sea Grant / Water LIFE This month marks one year since the last Water LIFE Magazine Kids Cup and our inaugural Redfish Tracking Program. The goal of this project is to learn how tournament caught and released redfish respond to being caught, transported to the weigh station, and then released in a new location that may be several miles from where they were caught. You may remember last year we asked if you catch your fish in Pine Island Sound and release it in the upper Harbor, will it go back to Pine Island Sound or will it stay in the upper Harbor.

A show of hands last year when Tournament Director Michael Heller asked that question at the Captains dinner indicated about a third thought the fish would go back, a third thought the fish would stay, and a third simply didn’t know.

In preparation for this year’s tracking project, we’ve been critically reviewing our efforts from last year and the data we received. Following is a summary: Dart Tags: At the April 28th, 2007 Tournament every redfish weighed in received a yellow dart tag (68 fish total). Each tag contained a unique identification number. This tag is visible to anglers and data is received from these tags if another angler re-catches the fish, records the tag number and location the fish was caught, and reports these finding via the phone number listed on the tag. Recapture information helps us learn about fish growth, migration patterns, and survival rates and recapture rates.

Dart Tag Resul ts: We received thirteen calls to the Redfish Hotline. The first recapture came on June 24th,

Date re-caught 10 Aug 07 10 24 Jun 07 08 Sep 07 26 Jul 07 18 Aug 07 11 Sep 07 20 Feb 08 06 Nov 07 22 Nov 07 26 Jan 08 08 Sep 07 24 Jun 07 29 Jun 07

April

MAGAZINE

Area where fish was recaught Peace River - N. Shore 1 Mi West of 41 Bridge Punta Gorda Boaters Club Gorda Point - South of Ponce Ramp CH - 1 mi N of Pirate Harbor Alligator Creek Fort Myers Beach - Bird Key South of Ponce Park Alligator Creek CH - Pirate Harbor Alligator Creek Gorda Point - South of Ponce Ramp Punta Gorda Point - West Shore Punta Gorda Isles Canal 0

when not one but two of our redfish were recaptured.

The most recent recapture came on February 20th, 2008.

Two of the thirteen recaptures were actually from redfish that were recaptured twice. Ten of our recaptures were released with dart tag intact, one was released with dart tag removed and three redfish were harvested. All but one recapture came from the upper Charlotte Harbor area and of these all but one (#10) was recaptured along the eastern shoreline. Our furthest traveling redfish (#59) was recaptured near Ft. Myers Beach on September 11th.

S oni c Tags & Tracki ng: In addition to the dart tags, 20 randomly selected tournament redfish received a sonic tag. The sonic tag was surgically implanted into the redfish by scientists from Mote Marine Laboratory and Progress Energy. The sonic tag is not readily visible to anglers. Data was received from these tags using 15 under water sensors called VR2s (VEMCO). Mote and Sea Grant deployed VR2s along the path that we suspected redfish to travel. The sonic tags were also tracked using a unit deployed off of the side of a vessel. This unit is called a VR100. The sonic tags were designed to remain active for about six months with hopes of allowing us to generate data on the long-term survival and movement patterns of tournament caught-and-released fish.

S oni c Tracki ng Resul ts: We received 41,210 lines of data covering eighteen of the twenty sonically tagged redfish. All eighteen fish recorded had at least seven days of recorded movement data associated with them. This is a good indication of fish survival. All of the fish observed via the sonic tracking gear, were observed during the first month after the tournament.

Distance traveled (mi) 1.73 0.16 1.46 5.82 3.21 28.05 1.51 3.21 7.78 3.21 1.46 1.57 .20

Fish status Released with tag Released with tag Released with tag Harvested Released with tag Released without tag Released with tag Released with tag Released with tag Harvested Released with tag Released with tag Harvested

2008

And, all observations were made in the upper Harbor within close proximity of the release location. Three of our fish were recorded at the U.S. 41 Bridge, eight were recorded in Bass Inlet and eight were recorded in Dolphin Inlet (Colony Point). Two of our sonically tagged fish were recaptured and reported to the Hotline described above. The first, Fish #65 was recaptured in August and the second, Fish #28 was recaptured in September.

Mortal i ty S tudy: We held back 15 redfish last year for 48 hours to evaluate their health status. Five of the 15 were implanted with dummy sonic tags (non-transmitting tags) and had dart tags, five had dart tags only, and five had no tags. At the end of the mortality study (Monday morning), the five fish without dart tags received them and all of the fish were released.

Mortal i ty S tudy Resul ts: We lost one mortality study fish. That fish was one of the five implanted with a dummy sonic tag and dart tag. The fish was sent to the FWC-SERF lab at Port Manatee where a necropsy (animal version of an autopsy) was performed. The necropsy determined that this fish was in distress prior to being caught in the tournament. Surgery notes from the tournament indicated large quantities of clear fluid in the stomach cavity. The necropsy determined that the fish had suffered peritonitis (an infection of the stomach cavity). It appeared that the fish had not eaten for several days prior to the tournament, as its stomach and intestines were completely empty. The remaining 14 fish were all healthy at the time of release (end of the mortality study).

So, did any of our fish from last year go back to their original capture location? Long and short is no they did not, although, Fish #10 appeared to be heading in that direction. Fish #59 on the other hand, may have gone back and kept on going, and going, and going.

Thi s year we have some exci ti ng new changes and i mprovements for our study. The biggest change is that we will be using a much stronger sonic tag. This tag will allow us to track fish movement three times the distance that we were able to achieve last year. The tag also has a much longer life (2+ years), so we should be able to get some great information.

You can follow this project as it unfolds by logging on to the Kids Cup Tracking website from the link at: www.kidscuptournament.com Please keep in mind that it is a pretty labor intensive process downloading data from our underwater equipment and getting it on the web, so plan for a two week to one month delay.

Many thanks to the researchers, tournament staff, tournament participants, and volunteers who were a part of the redfish tracking project last year, and to the sponsors who made the tracking project financially possible.

Betty Staugler is the Florida Sea Grant agent for

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2008

M.Heller Water LIFE Magazine 4/08

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2008

Letter Takes County Parks Director to Task

BOAT LIFT COVERS

• • • •

April

MAGAZINE

By R obi n S t ubl en

I think Parks Director Laura KleissHoeft drives around in a Charlotte County Government provided automobile and looks for places to throw away tax payer dollars.

Her latest project to make herself appear more informed and important is to dismantle the old train trestle on the Myakka River. This little project will cost the taxpayers of Charlotte County $98,000.00. She states that parts of the trestle are falling into the water.

I doubt that Kleiss-Hoeft has ever fished around the trestle, but those who do on a regular basis say her statements are just not true. For some reason this does not surprise me. If you remember she told County Commissioners that the Harold Avenue Rec. Center had 5,000 young people attending the dances held there. The same dances that were canceled a few weeks later for lack of interest. When she went before the Commission several years ago to request that all boaters pay a fee to use County boat ramps she told Commissioners that she estimated that

boat ramps would be full 100% of the time on weekends. She made that statement the Tuesday before Superbowl Sunday and of course we never have storms on weekends. She has paved parking lots in nature areas. Wanted to increase parks and boat ramp fees. Reduced library hours of operation.

Just a few weeks ago she wanted to spend over $300,000.00 of taxpayer's money to install lights on a baseball field for The Charlotte Redfish baseball team. It did not matter that they are going to play all their games on the road. It did not matter that the field is a practice field.

The bottom line is this. It is my opinion, that this woman manipulates her facts, misinforms the Commissioners and distorts projects in order to get her way. I believe that if the Charlotte County Commission truly want to cut their budget and reduce the wasteful spending they should instruct the County Administrator to tell Kleiss-Hoeft that her services are no longer needed.

Secure the trestle and let it reflect the old Florida that once existed in Charlotte County.

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April

2008

Donʼt Touch El Jobean

By Capt. Ron Bl ago Water LIFE Senior Staff The El Jobean fishing pier, which crosses the Myakka River in Charlotte County is truly one of the last remaining historical fishing landmarks we have left in our area. Once a railroad bridge that carried phosphate to the loading dock at Boca Grande it was converted to a fishing pier year ago (well, actually two separate piers, a north and south pier with the space between them left open to allow boat traffic between Charlotte Harbor and the river.) The place was a fishing landmark especially for snook fishermen. I remember back in the 70s driving down from Sarasota to try my luck on a little night time snook action at El Jobean. Back then it was an accepted fact that more 20 pound snook were caught off that pier than any other place in Florida.

The pier was a great spot to hang out – it had its locals and its legions, but it also had one problem – it had a bad habit of catching fire. Fishermen would use gasoline lanterns at night to attract fish and a few cook stoves to make coffee; throw in a cigarette butt or two and you can see how accidents happen. Normally this was not a big problem, after all the pier was surrounded by water: A few 5-gallon buckets and the fire was out.

Unfortunately there was that one time that changed the El Jobean pier forever. I remember the day. It was dark and windy when I drove over the Rt 776 bridge on my way to a meeting in Murdock; there were only a handful of people on the pier at the time because of the high wind. The story goes that sometime that morning, lightning hit the pier and started a fire; by the time someone called the fire department (which if I remember correctly was located just off the end of the bridge) the pier was burning pretty good. In the past, the fire department would stay on the 776 bridge and squirt water on the pier; but this time they had strong head winds and the water wouldn’t reach the pier so they called for the Charlotte County fire boat. Unfortunately it had been out of service for some time, so they called for the City of Punta Gorda’s fire boat but it was also out of service.

Eventually they commandeered some guy’s pontoon boat to bring the fire hoses to the pier and put out the fire; but by then a good portion of the pier had turned to charcoal. Local people immediately started to lobby to have the pier repaired as in the past, but this time not everyone agreed. There were budget problems, planning and design problems and of course permitting problems.

Everything now had to be environmentally safe, handicap accessible and of course fire resistant. The pier stayed closed for over a year until the county found enough money to repair the north end the pier only. This frustrated fishermen to no end because the south end was where most of the big fish were caught. Vague promises were made that the south end would eventually be repaired and put back in service. Time marched on and people accepted the fact that half a pier was better than no pier at all.

The subject of the El Jobean fishing pier popped up again at the March 9, 2004 meeting of the Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners . If I read the minutes correctly it was decided to make an effort to repair and re-open the south fishing pier to the public.

At that time the new El Jobean bridge was being built and there were promises made that there would be a parking area for people using the pier. But that never happened and the south pier just sat there, not bothering anyone – until now.

Now it appears that someone in Charlotte County

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Recreational anglers like to fish the ʻoldʼ end of the El Jobean Trestle. On this day there were 12 anglers under the 776 bridge working their baits in the incoming current under the old trestle.

Below: Anglers like to troll the trestle as well. The trestle attracts not only fishermen and fish but birds and other wildlife as well. Changing the habitat in a manatee zone might be illegal as well.

government woke up recently and thought that this tion, the very problem someone said they wanted to would be a great time to remove the south pier. And they avoid in the first place. The decking serves other funcalmost got away with it, had it not been for a few sharp tions as well. It’s now a bird sanctuary. It may not be a Paul Revere types from Gulf Cove, namely Niel Heisner pretty one, but the birds like it. They are fishermen too. of the Gulf Cove Fishing Club and Randy Roberson It’s also a fish habitat. The decking provides shade to the who runs a web site called www.gulfcoveonline.com fish under the pier. That’s why a lot of people fish there.

They found out that the county was looking for someA lot of people fish there. one to remove the south pier and was willing to spend a There is one other practical reason why the south pier half a million dollars to do it. That was a bad plan. should remain as it is. People who fish from piers and They rallied the troops and sent e-mails to the compeople fishing from boats don’t mix very well. Under missioners and the Parks and Recreation director. They the current situation; those fishing from the pier use the got favorable responses from commissioners Patrica north side and those fishing from a boat, fish under the Duffy, Tom D’Aprile and Tom Moore. It seems that the south side. Everyone is pretty well satisfied with that someone in the county hierarchy was concerned about arrangement - why not just leave it that way? boater safety and felt that the pier was falling apart and As of now the commissioners have decided to posthad the potential for creating obstacles to navigation. pone any action at the El Jobean pier; but the incident But that just wasn’t true; the pier has been there a long does raise some serious questions about the lack of comtime and will probably stay the way it is for a long time munications with the public on projects concerning boat to come. ramps, fishing piers and other projects that affect fishing What really got a lot people’s attention was the timand boating. Had it not been for the sharp eyes of those ing involved. Charlotte County, like most counties in people in Gulf Cove, the El Jobean pier would be gone.

Florida, has had to deal with major cut backs due to Now I wonder what other plans are out there that we lower tax revenues. Services have been cut, raises have don’t know about. been postponed or eliminated (at least for the little guys) and people have already lost their jobs. It definitely is a bad time to spend a half a million dollars to remove a We specialize in repairs pier that’s not causing a problem for anyone.

Zipper replacement Vinyl glass So as a result of the local replacement opposition, the county came Torn canvas Stitching up with an alternate plan to AND small custom made products just remove the decking on the pier for $98,000. Bad idea Hatch covers Carpet runners again! The decking provides Vinyl cushions Console covers Windlass covers Dash covers the structural support for the Storage Covers Biminis pilings. Without that support, the current and tide will Office: 941-764-7079 Mobile: 941-286-5653 eventually loosen the pilings and cause a danger to navigawww.affordableboatcanvas.com

Affordable Boat Canvas

Fishing: Here & Now!

Page 14

Screaming Reels

By Capt. Andrew Medi na Water LIFE Staff April is going to be a busy month on the water and tournaments are a huge part. Our own Xtreme Tournament is on April 12. It’s real casual, you can sign up at the dock the morning of the event. We get recreational and hard core tourney anglers alike and try to keep the Xtreme a fun event with a chance to make your pockets jingle.

Next up, April 19, is the Kids Cup, a chance for all the young anglers (10 - 16) to get a taste of tournament fishing. If you look at it like I do, most of the kids you will see fishing in the Kids Cup will be the same young adults us old timers will be fishing against in some of the larger tourneys in the not too distant future. I welcome this because the youth angler keeps the sport of fishing growing and they keep us older guys

Water LIFE

on our toes as well! The Kids Cup proceeds go to the Don Ball School of fishing, a program set up in our area schools to teach angling skills, conservation and other water related values. I am proud to be involved as an instructor in the program and I thank the kids and project organizer Jerry Jensen for given me the chance to teach.

Last but not least, April 26th brings out the big guns in the Oh Boy! Oh Oberto Redfish Cup. This is a professional tourney with a select field. The field is limited to what they feel are the best of the best. There is a lot of fun at the weigh in – watching the fish come in, listening to the stories. It’s truly a fun filled event. I know what some of you are saying, I hear it all the time. ‘Too many tournaments, our harbor can’t handle that pressure.’ Well I will go out on a limb here and tell you “yes it can” We have plenty of

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fish in our harbor. No shortage, by no means. And the fish that are caught are well taken care of. Almost all the fish that come from local tournaments are released alive and well.

Penalty’s for a dead fish in a tournament are steep. With today’s live wells and aeration systems the fish are just in a spa for a few hours, then it’s off to swim another day.

Now let’s talk about the redfish in our harbor. Fat, is the only word that describe these fish. And when you find them, you can literally set up shop in one spot and let the fish come to you. The best live bait we have found is live shrimp on a jig head. Not moved just laying there under the bushes. Low water seems to be the ticket. If you prefer artificials try throwing a Rip Tide shrimp under a popping cork outside the bar.

The big boys have been hanging out front of Turtle Bay bar.

Pine Island sound has also been producing some nice slot redfish. But it seems like the

Capt Medina found this nice fat 24 inch red that still had room to grow!

Gasparilla fish are a little thicker, a little heavier.

Snook are still chewing pretty well too. A lot of snook have been caught on top water plugs.

Just about any of the shore lines in the harbor will produce a nice snook. The fish seem to be going into more of a summer pattern. My suggestion is, if you want a shot at a keeper line sider, just keep hopping shore lines and weeding through all the small ‘snooklets.’

Now is the time I wait all

22' Catalina Sloop 1990, single 8HP Yamaha (new). This Catalina has a pop top for added head room and a trailer for running to the keys. $8,900

30' Catalina 1989, single 25HP Universal Diesel. Comfortable cockpit, sleeps 6, full galley. Full bimini with dodger Rigged for single handling. $34,500

21' Aquasport 215 Explorer Walk Around Cuddy has been lift stored, owner has kept it in top condition. 200HP Johnson O.B.This boat is an excellent value. $17,900

28' Carver Voyager fresh water cooled twin 5.7L Mercruisers. Very roomy with 11'1" beam. Large flybridge, marine head w/shower, airconditioning, full galley.$18,500

23' Donzi 235 Sport 1998, with a 2006 220HP Mercruiser 4.3. Interior like new and trailer is included. $18,900

30' SeaRay 300 Weekender, 1989. Always been lift stored out of the water. 260HP Mercruiser Inboards. $24,900

23' Four Winns 230 Horizon, 2001. Fast 230 27' Sportcraft hard top, 1991. 270hp HP Volvo Penta I/O, Bimini top, swim platMercruiser. Great fishing / cruising. Lift kept, form with boarding ladder. This boat is in enclosed head, sleeps 2. Make offer. $19,900 imaculate condition. REDUCED $22,900

18' Glastron GX180SF, 2000. Single 150hp Johnson. Fish 'N' Ski is like new condition, only 168 original hours. She is lift stored.

Trailer included in sale. $11,900

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PRICED TO SELL! $21,900

24' Pro-Line Walk Around Cuddy, 225 Yamaha 4 stroke Will sleep two, full hard top, salt water wash down plus color electronics! $29,900

2008

20' Sea Hunt 202 Triton, 2004 Yamaha 4stroke 150 with 150Hrs! Center console has an entry for the porta pottie. Stored inside in excellent shape. $20,900

year long for, reports of tarpon being jump down south around Pine Island. A few fish have already been landed in Boca Grande Pass. This gives us hope for another fantastic tarpon season.

Good luck to all the kids in the Kids Cup. Bring in your fish no matter what size so it can be tagged. Be safe on the water and just have fun.

Capt. Andrew Medina can be reached for charters or for information at: (941)456-1540 or on the

34' Catalina MK II,2001.Single 35HP Universal diesel. sleeps seven in airconditioned comfort.

"Sea Breeze" has four sails including spinnaker. Full electronics.REDUCED $94,900

23' Sea Swirl 2300 Stripper, 2000.

Single 200HP Evinrude. Nice walkaround cuddy, good for coastal fishing, cruising and diving. $24,900

21' Regal 2120 Deck Boat, 2005. 220HP Volvo 4.3L MPI. JUST REDUCED $3,000 like-new with less than 25 engine hours and transferable hull warranty. $22,900

April

2008

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Page 15

WHAT A DREAM HOME, 4 BEDRMS POSSIBLE 5 OR BONUS ROOM ON 2ND STORY. 3 1⁄2 BATHS, 3 CAR GARAGE 2,589 SQ FT ALL BRAND NEW POOL/SPA HOME ON HUGE OVERSIZED CORNER LOT WITH UPGRADES GALORE. SOLID HONEY OAK CABINETS, CORIAN COUNTERS THRU OUT. BEAUTIFULLY LANDSCAPED, DONʼT MISS VIEWING THIS HOME, $499,900 CALL ELLEN 628-6954

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Page 16

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Last Minute Updates for Anglers Fishing in The Kids Cup THERE WILL BE PA R K I N G I S S U E S

By Mi chael Hel l er K i ds C up Tournam ent Di rect or Our tournament is the same day as the Punta Gorda Block Party. We didn’t plan it that way, we hold the Kids Cup the week before the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup and that’s the way it worked out. So what does this mean to the Kids Cup competitors? Punta Gorda Police Chief Chuck Reinhart set up a meeting with us to discuss the Block Party. ‘You’re not going to be able to park in the empty lot across US 41 from the Laishley Park Boat Ramp,” Chief Reinhart told me. “The lot will be roped off,” he added. That space, what used to be the old Punta Gorda Mall, will be used by Charlotte High School.

Additionally the Chief told me it is his city’s policy to hold back ten trailer-parking spaces at Laishley Park boat ramp when there is a tournament in town. That’s so other anglers not in the tournament have access and parking at the ramp. That leaves 36 spaces at Laishley Park for us.

There will be no other trailer parking allowed anywhere in Laishley Park, and for safety and emergency vehicle access, on this weekend trailers parked illegally, anywhere, ‘could be towed,’ the Chief said.

As a parking alternative we suggest parking at the Charlotte Justice Center. The IFA tournament used the Justice Center for their overflow last month and it worked fine, although the trailers were parked ‘poorly.’

There is plenty of room at the Justice Center, there is parking on both sides of the building. We’re going to have someone there to ‘help’ you and we plan to have a shuttle

April

2008

Kids Cup LIVEWELLS Rule Clarification Note **

The FWC called to say they would like us to amend our tournament rules con cerning livewells for the culling waiver. ʻlivewell size of 2.4 cubic feet or 18 gallons minimumʼ is what they want.

Previously the rules stated livewell size would be approved by the tournament director. That will still be the case, but the above sizes now apply. If you have a smaller well you can still fish in the Kids Cup, but you cannot cull your fish under the culling waiver. there if you want a ride. We think it would be nice if the 36 spaces that are at the Laishley Park ramp were left for boats that are fishing with the younger Kids Cup anglers.

Also, as a courtesy, it would be best if boats were not left tied to the outside of the launch dock for very long. If someone with a 10 year old angler needs to leave a boat there for a few minutes while he parks the truck that’s OK, but if you have a 15 or 16 year old and you can work it out safely, please tie up someplace else in the marina while you put the trailer away.

Of course there are other options. There is the ramp at Ponce De Leon Park in Punta Gorda, there is the Beach Complex across the river and there is even Darth Park, up Riverside Drive where six or eight trucks could park.

We are sorry for the inconvenience, but the chief and I both agreed that since the Kids Cup is on the weekend before the Redfish Cup we had no choice on the date our tournament is held.

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2008

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MAGAZINE

Afterwards

Now let’s think about after the weigh-in.

Block Party will be in full swing. To get from Laishley Park ramp back to Harpoon Harry’s for the awards ceremony will be difficult. If the weather is good, consider leaving your boat on the water for the awards.

If you are going to drive back, the whole downtown will be shut off. You can go north on the US 41 Bridge without a problem but to get to Fishermen’s Village you will have to come back southbound and then navigate the downtown. Trailer parking might be available in the Fishermen’s Village area. It’s going to be catch-as-catchcan and we’re going to have to deal with it.

Don’t forget, this is a big day for the Kids – stay cool, have fun and catch fish.

New Award

Speaking of ‘Catch Fish,’ we want to tag as many fish as we can, so to that end, Captain Andrew Medina from Medina Fishing Charters is helping by donating, a very nice Crowder rod and Quantum reel combo to the angler who brings in the lightest weight legal size redfish.

ENTRIES STILL COMING IN

Application forms for the 2008 Kids Cup tournament are still available online at www.kidscuptournament.com. Some area bait and tackle shops may still have printed applications as well. Additionally you will be able to sign up right up until the cap-

tain’s meeting at the Best Western on Friday April 18 at 5:30 pm. Please remember that entries are capped at 125 so if you wait too long there may not be a slot left. Except for those signing up at the Captain’s meeting, applicants must send in their application form by mail. The year before last we had 124 entries. That year we reached 124 several days before the Captain’s meeting. Then another Kids Cup envelope showed up in the mail. ‘This is the last one,’ I said to my wife who is the co-tournament director. “We we’re at 125 and we we’re full!” I opened the envelope. There were two applications in it.

Two brothers! So in 2006 we had a field of 126.

Call (941) 766-8180 for more Kids Cup information or go to:

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April

2008

Fishing ESPN?s

MadFin A Catch and Release Shark Tournament

By Capt. Robert Moore Water Life Pro Guide Staff Catch and release is a practice used in a lot of tournaments now a days, but one not usually associated with shark tournaments. In 2006 some folks at ESPN and TV production company JM Associates (the same guys that do the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup) decided that showing sharks being killed on national TV wouldn’t make all that great a show, so the idea of the Madfin Shark Series, a made for TV catch and release shark tournament, came into being. To add to the drama they decided to offer bonus points for getting the hook back.

Now you may not put much thought into having to retrieve a hook from a shark until you have to actually do it. Getting a hook back can be much harder than it sounds, especially when you have a really angry shark that has the hook stuck in its mouth. My partner Capt. Mike Mahan and I have been fishing this tournament since 2006 and the first time we attempted to get the hook back from a shark it was a real task. We needed to get the hook out to be competitive and after a long 10 minutes we managed to do it.

Honestly, up to that exact moment, we had always let the shark keep the hook as a memento of our time together.

This year we got our third opportunity to compete in the Mad Fin and now newer and more improved products have been introduced to help get the hook back from a mouth full of teeth.

The ARC De-hooker was given to all anglers in this year’s tournament. It was not mandatory that we use it, it was simply offered as an additional tool to help anglers.

ARC has been around for some time, they offer a

variety of sizes in dehookers.

In my opinion the one main obstacle for this com- Capt. Mike Mahan casting (left) and de-hooking a shark (above) with fellow Capt. Robert Moore in the ESPN Mad Fin Tournament at Key West last month. pany is going to be trying to teach everyone who owns one how to use it. boat in three days of competition and had a 100-percent It’s not hard, but if you don’t know how it could be hard. hook retrieval success rate. Not one shark left our boat With the curly end on the dehooked pointed up you with the hook still in his mouth and we still had all our put it on the line and twist it a quarter turn so the line fingers at the end of the event. In previous years we used goes into the center of the dehooker. Then holding the an assortment of other de-hookers. The pistol grip deleader away you slide the dehooker down the line until it hooker was our favorite but it did not allow us to get contacts the hook. Bring the leader and the dehooker parevery hook back easily like the ARC did, especially if allel and pull up on the tool.... It’s easier to understand if the hook was down deep or in the throat. you watch the video on their website.

Shark Tournaments are evolving. Today there are speAfter a five minute class my partner and I understood cially designed tail loops, and the measuring tape has the principle and used the dehooker during all three days been ‘wrapped’ into the design on the side of the boat so of catching sharks. We brought over thirty sharks to the helicopter footage can show the animal’s length.

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$$ S AV E !

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Magnificent Seven (snook)

April

2008

By Capt. Chuck Ei chner Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor The hint of fog as we left the dock turned into a white blanket as a soft west wind pushed in from the gulf. The fog was so thick that running a comfortable distance off the east side bar made it impossible to see land. I generally find that fish don’t bite in the fog, but I hoped by the time we filled the well with bait the fog would have lifted.

We were super-lucky to stumble into pelicans diving after running only a quarter mile. I threw the net a few times and filled the well. A slow boat ride with careful navigation lead us down near Boca Grande. We fished in sheltered water hoping the warm late morning sun would stimulate the snook into feeding.

The wind was out of the west – a few spots on the leeward side of the island were probed without a bite. Idling a good distance off the banks we rode for nearly another mile and didn’t see a fish.

Not a good sign. Plan B was Cayo Pelau, an island located near the ICW with good deep water and hidden secrets nearby. Unfortunately, about the time we eased into my spot a storm cloud came over head so we beat it for Turtle Bay where pelicans diving in just about every direction told me there was plenty of bait. I figured that would be good for trout fishing. Allowing the wind to blow the boat against a sand bar we dropped the anchor and pitched out some free swimming pilchards. In minutes we had fish slurping and began catching fat speckled trout from 16 to 18 inches.

Nothing like trout to save the day however we soon had several dolphins cir-

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cling the boat. Believe it or not the trout continued to bite but now each one went into the livewell for later release in a dolphin free area.

With a slow incoming tide reluctant to put enough water on the flats to search for redfish or snook we chose a deep channel leading into a shallow basin and free-lined a few baits. Two handsome snook were hooked before the wind picked up and broke anchor loose.

We fired up the motor and moved on. I chose to fish a deep water point that frequently gets run over by boats.

Normally, I wouldn’t give this spot a thought, but it was late Sunday afternoon and most boats had gone in for the day.

Setting up a long cast to the mangroves we pitched out a half dozen free swimming pilchards and put out our lines. I still had little confidence in the area and after 10 minutes without any signs of fish I was ready to move. Good thing I didn’t! My next cast met with a hard slam and a big snook rolled off and took to the air! This fish was pushing 40 inches and put on an aerial show that was made for TV. The fish began moving towards the shore. I looked at my reel helplessly while my 10-pound Power Pro with a 30-pound test leader spooled off. Then the fish bit through my leader. I grabbed the next rigged rod.

A quick dip into the well and another fat pilchard hit the water- Wham!! Fish on again. Another monster snook, perhaps 3 feet, the drag singing was underway then my line went limp. This one bit through the leader too. Frantically and I do mean frantically, I ripped through the console looking for 40-pound fluorocarbon and grabbed for my heaviest outfit with 20pound spooled on the reel. Meanwhile, Joyce gently lobs out a cast well into the deeper waters of the area and leans back on her rod. I had given her my light outfit with 10 pound monofilament and 25-pound leader. Still, Joyce managed to fight the fish to the boat, but

19

Capt. Chuck with one of the “Lucky 7”

with net in the water the fish lunged repeatedly and then sawed her off on the outboard. About this time the wind picked up and slid the boat closer to the fish. This shook me up because bigger fish are far more wary and you never know what might shut them down.

Now we were both spooled up with 40pound fluorocarbon leaders and 20-pound braided line reels. A few free swimmers were pitched out and then out lines went back in the water. Ten minutes, 20 minutes and no bite. Sparks were flying through my brain as I analyzed what had happened. Was it the boat drifting, even though we were still pretty far from the honey hole? Was it the heavier leader, the extra wind or perhaps the fish were full? About that time Joyce yells ‘got one!’ A beauty indeed, and she fights it like a pro. About 10 minutes of battle and we slide a 34-inch snook back into the water. Then I get a bite which turns out to be a nice trout. Joyce patiently amused at my trout catching abilities lays the steel on yet another big snook.

Once again a nice fish pushing the 3 foot mark is landed and released. Then, I get into the act and hook, fight and land my own nice snook. The last bite of the day was luckily on my line and a ripping tight drag tells me its big.

A magnificent jump and Joyce comments it looks like a tarpon. Several more jumps confirm it’s a snook before the monster jumps skyward one last time and says ‘see-ya-later’. Of course, every fish that I lost was a monster, certainly the biggest of the day.

Seven big snook in about 14 casts.

Three were landed and released to fight again and as usual my wife out-fished me. The four snook that got away are growing bigger by the day. This trip will likely be a legendary one for the both of us to share for a long time.

Capt. Chuck Eichner is a local charter captain. For information or to book a guided fishing trip call 941-505-0003 or go to his website: www.back country -charters.com

F l o ri d a F l a t z Fi s h i n ’

full & half day charters

Kids Always Welcome!

Capt. John C. Morrison (239) 289-3653

www. floridaflatzfishin.com

Bayronto

Page 20

Always

a

Good

By Adam Wi l son Water LIFE Diving With half of last month still closed to grouper fishing in Federal waters and the non-stop, high wind and seas, diving has been tough. Average wave height for the latter part of March had to be over 5 feet.

That usually makes a mess out of the visibility inside of 20 miles and also makes for a rough ride out, but we did manage to sneak out in between fronts to find good visibility out past 80 feet and lots of fish still around.

On our last trip we made our first stop in 100 feet at the Bayronto.

Shipwrecks offer so many different photo opportunities with large structure, tropical and reef fish, invertebrates and mollusks, free swimming bait and jacks and other divers also. Vis was around 40 feet that day and the fish were plentiful. I was really focusing on taking photos and trying to figure out the best settings for my new camera down at the darker depths.

For the best results with a typical point and shoot camera, I have found leaving the camera's exposure and focus on auto works best. I do turn up the

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

April

2008

Dive

white balance a little, or use the cloudy setting, and I also increase the color saturation. This tends to bring out a little more color, especially on photos taken deeper than 30 feet.

That focus quickly shifted when I noticed a small 30 pound cubera snapper investigating me from the outskirts of the visibility. I employed my usual tactic for shy fish by pretending I didn't see him.

Relaxing my posture and being careful not to make eye contact, I slowly glided along the side of the ship. Unfortunately this snapper had seen these tricks before and matched my pace to stay far outside my range. Sometimes the best offense against a leery fish is to just become completely disinterested, peaking the fishes curiosity to come in for a closer look. So back to the photography I went.

My dive buddy Carl found an expensive Delta anchor and several feet of chain. We cut off the excess rope and Billy attached his lift bag and added just enough air to make it float perfectly neutral in mid-water. He swam the lift bag and anchor over to our own anchor for retrieval at the end of our dive. When we swam away from our new treasure, a medium sized 200 pound goliath grouper

Above: Adam Wilson shows off a nice gag.

Right: Exploring the old steel hull of the Bayronto

charged the hovering anchor and quickly opened its giant mouth, trying to inhale the whole thing, chain and all! It then swam out over the sand and instantly transformed to a very dark and mottled color pattern, seemingly frustrated about not being able to swallow the whole rig. That's when I realized the couple feet of now unraveling rope still attached to the chain looked very much like several large squid tentacles squirming in the current. This big guy was just looking for a meal and he couldn't figure out why the rope wasn't working out.

Like a puppy with too big of a bone to carry, it was funny to watch him swim up to the waving rope again and again, trying to decide just how he was going to get his lunch.

Our dive ended at the ship's stern, never again seeing the cubera snapper.

We had strategically placed our anchor, allowing us to circumnavigate the entire 400 foot wreck. After unloading our guns and beginning the ascent, a school of

cobias appeared below us heading forward, parallel along the port side of the ship.

These fish were big, about seven in the 50 pound class, and they were surrounding a single cobia of a size I have never seen before, easily over 100 pounds.

From eye to eye this one monster fish looked to be twenty inches across his head. But they spooked and we were long into a dive with little precious gas remaining.

It is very easy to be overcome with excitement and adrenaline when seeing huge fish. This is when self discipline is crucial. Sometimes you have to let go and remind yourself life is far more valuable than the biggest fish or the shiniest treasure. People have died chasing both.

Always stick to your dive plan and your buddy. Back on the boat you can always swap tanks and go down again. We did, but unfortunately the cobias did not appear a second time. Just seeing them will fuel my dreams until we can get back out.

On The Line April

Water LIFE

2008

MAGAZINE

Fishing with Capt. Ron

By Capt Ron Bl ago Water LIFE Senior Staff It wasn’t that long ago that a big tournament would draw about 20 boats and a $1,000 first prize was considered big money. In fact, a lot of the local tournaments just offered fishing equipment as prizes. One year my total take was three Igloo coolers and two 6 foot cast nets; and I was one of the winners. Things have sure changed since then. A good tournament will have at least 100 boats and offer prize money up to $100,000. No wonder our area is getting so much attention in the fishing world. Back in the day, it was all snook fishing for the inshore tournaments. The biggest fish (dead or alive) won the money. After awhile, as big snook got harder to find, there was a 1 pound bonus if your fish was released alive; and so the catch and release saltwater tournament was born.

Snook had a few problems with being a premier tournament fish. First off it was hard to catch a big one. In most tournaments the guy who caught a 20 pounder went home with the money and it was usually the same guys. After awhile people felt they didn’t have a chance against these guys so entries for the tournaments dropped and without a lot of entries there wasn’t much prize money to give out. Then there was the closed season for snook that eliminated four months of the fishing season.

But the biggest problem, why snook never caught on big as a tournament fish, was that it was primarily a

Photo by Capt. Steve Eggers

South Florida fish with no regional or national following .

All of these problems were solved when a few smart people decided to substitute the redfish for snook in a few tournaments. First off because redfish had a slot limit, which meant it wasn’t ‘the biggest fish wins it all’ anymore. That meant more people had a chance to win the top prize. Redfish has no closed season so you could schedule tournaments year round. But best of all, there were redfish all along the Gulf Coast from Texas to Florida. That allowed redfish tournaments to go regional.

Redfish became the equivalent of the freshwater bass.

Redfish easily take to artificial baits with the gold spoon being the traditional method to find reds in the open water. They will also take small top water plugs in shallow water but with the redfish’s mouth being on the bottom of their head, the fish really has to want that plug to get caught. By far the most popular artificial used to catch redfish is the jig with plastic tail. You can

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21

use it in the grass flats or throw it in a pot hole, in the mangroves, or under a dock. It will work anywhere.

Even though the jig has been around forever that doesn’t mean it can’t be improved. Just look at all the different shapes and colors at your local bait and tackle shop. One of the latest developments has been the increase in scented baits. I guess Berkley has been one of the leaders in this movement. Several years ago they came out with their Inshore Power Bait, which had a fish scent in it. They worked pretty well but every catfish and pinfish would take a bite out of it. Then they introduced the EXUDE baits. These had a water soluble fish stimulant in them that was supposed to trigger a feeding response in fish. They worked better, but boy did they smell bad.

Then came the Berkley Gulp baits, and now the new Fishbites Xtreme that have 400 times more scent dispersion power which they too say is better than live bait.

Fishbites Xtreme Release is the latest This is some pow- ʻchemical weaponʼ available erful stuff. The question is does it work? I can only tell you that last week I was fishing with a friend and there was no bait to be had. I’ve had a pack of Gulps in the boat for awhile so I threaded one on a jig just like I would for any other plastic tail and threw it under my favorite redfish dock.

Four cast-four redfish. That’s better than live bait.

Capt Ron can be reached for questions or charters at941-474-3474

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Flatsmasterʼs Plug Slam Page 22

We were going to use this space for the winners photo (sorry Bevis) but right before we went to press we had a phone call about Saturdayʼs big snook – whether we had a photo that made the fish look too big. We were at the weigh in. Hereʼs our photo of the fish. It was close, but the fish fit!

Water LIFE

THEY KNOW HOW TO HOLD ʻEM Captʼs Mike Manis (r) and Jay Withers pose with their three fish.

They squeaked into the Top-5 with a big snook that just barely fit inside the 33 inch line. It was one of only three snook weighed in by 96 teams in Saturdayʼs fishing. Sunday saw Lyn Bevisʼ Team Harbor ReMax with Brian Hindman and Bing Blackburn win with a 1.78 trout, a 4.91 red and a 6.49 snook. The other teams headed south but Bevis went upriver for his snook, which turned out to be the only snook of the day.

MAGAZINE

April

2008

Water Ski Show Raises Manatee Zone Questions

The nationally accalaimed Sarasota based Ski-A-Rees club put on a show at the Punta Gorda Seafood Festival last month. Fishermen asked how can they do that in a manatee zone?

TWIC Card required for licensed captains S t aff R eport According to the United States Transportation Security Administration, “all mariners holding US Coast Guard issued credentials” (and that includes charter captains) are being required to obtain a TWIC identification card. The plastic card will have a secure fingerprint id on it and a magnetic strip with your information. To obtain the card you must go (in person) to either Tampa, Miami or West Palm Beach ... twice!

First you make an appointment to go

get your fingerprint taken, then when your card is ready you go back again, in person, to pick it up. They won’t mail the card.

The card will cost $132.50 and be good for 5 years. All those with Coast Guard issued credentials must have this card before September 25,2008.

Speculation is that this card will replace the captain’s license which is an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of paper that you are supposed to carry with you...also for five years.

Phone 1-866-347-8942 for more information or visit: www.tsa.gov/twic

April

2008

R Re ea all E Es stta atte e N Ne ew ws s PROVIDED BY: Dave & Marlene Hofer RE/MAX Harbor Realty (941) 575-3777 dhofer@remax.net Recent area news i tems

1. In a resounding statement of the obvious, Syd Kitson cited the ice cold housing market for his withdrawal from the Murdock Village development proposal with Charlotte County. Taxpayers now have about $26K per lot invested in this 876 acre project.

2. A new subdivision at Burnt Store Road and Notre Dame was approved for 633 homes on 132 acres. The land was originally purchased during the peak of the land frenzy for what equates to about $3,500 per homesite. Small wonder that Charlotte County’s foray into the land development business at $26K isn’t working out so well.

3 .

The Wyvern Hotel, now under construction on NB 41 next to Laishley Park topped out this month. Across the street, plans are moving forward on a 106 room Sheraton Four Points on Joe Suriol’s property and a Hilton Garden Inn on a portion of the City Marketplace property.

Within the next year, we should be well on our way to having the much needed short term housing for our visitors.

4. SWFMD signed off on the parking garage structure. Still no word on whose pocketbook will pay for it.

5. Publix postponed, indefinitely, its plans to build its distribution center near the Charlotte County Airport. An Orlando area site has won out because of its more central location to Publix’s retail centers.

6. The 1% sales tax is due to expire at the end of this year. Voters will go to the polls in November to see if the $20 mil-

Water LIFE

lion revenue source will be continued.

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MAGAZINE

7.

Charlotte County will increase height restrictions from 35 ft to 65 ft in coastal locations. A 60’ hotel is now planned at Placida Road and Gasparilla Road on the Cape Haze peninsula.

Developers will be expected to pay "vig" to the County in the form of community benefiting amenities as a trade off to overrule longstanding (or obsolete, depending on your viewpoint) regulations.

8. State Farm has announced cancellation plans for 50,000 of its most hurricane prone policyholders.

Ironically, the Florida "insurer of last resort", Citizens, has announced a second consecutive 10percent decrease in reinsurance exposure.

As a result, premiums should continue their downward trend in our area.

9. The Cincinnati Reds spring training at Sarasota is all but history after the 2009 season. Goodyear, AZ is offering to invest $32 million to attract a $150K spring training commitment from the Reds.

Looks like Sarasotans will miss out on the pride and hundreds of dollars of economic stimulus that come with hosting a major league franchise.

10. Gabe Bove has officially withdrawn his application to install a boat lift under a reconstructed Colony Point Drive.

Opposition by neighbors was overwhelming.

11. The State of Florida passed HB733 to provide up to $15 million in tax credits to encourage the development of additional jobs in the state.

TOP OF THE WY The view from the roof of the new Wyvern Hotel in Punta Gorda is spectacular. According to the foreman on site, the hotel should be completed by September. The open roof includes a rooftop bar with built in planters, lush landscaping and rooftop pool.

Lakes, CT on the Massachusetts border.

Fares start at $45 each way. Punta Gorda boat tours is offering 5 hour trips from Laishley Marine up river to include lunch at the Navagator restaurant. City council voted to ban fishing from vacant lots without owner’s permission - still ok to park on them, just leave your fishing pole at home.

S al es S tati sti cs:

Contrary to daily news media hype, inventories of both homes and lots are down about 15% from year ago levels.

That’s certainly not a reflection of better

sales volume, merely more people resigned to stay where there are for now. Legendary distressed real estate mogul, Sam Zell, recently opined " "I think (housing) starts have already pretty much bottomed out," Zell told CNBC Tuesday. "I think sales will start to occur, and we’ll start to clean up the inventory." His opinion was based on Fed Chairman Bernanke’s recognition that this is a serious problem and that they will continue to stimulate investor activity by lowering interest rates. Cynically referring to the inevitable boom and bust cycles of speculative real estate, Zell quipped "...So greed overtakes fear and the

12. In an effort to close the budget gap, Charlotte County Commissioner Tom D’Aprile is proposing to introduce a new tax on real estate transactions. Yes, this is the same commissioner that fought to roll back impact fees on new development.

That’s a true "zero sum game": waive fees on the front end of new construction and raise fees on completion!

In other news:

Skybus has announced a new nonstop service direct from Punta Gorda to Windsor

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Custom Work is Our

Page 24

By Bi l l Di xon Water LIFE Sailing The 15th Annual Conquistador Cup Regatta is in the history books. The largest regatta in memory, 68 boats entered, 16 from out of town. The out of town boats took home a bunch of our trophies too. It was a different regatta from all the others, no Rooster Tail, the 2008 Conquistador races on Saturday Cup winner March 8. In case you forgot, it blew like stink with peak gusts reported at 44 mph, lulls in the upper 20’s.

Good call by event organizer Bob Knowles and principal race officers Gene Fuller and Roger Strube. There would have been some spectacular photos if we had tried to race that day!

It was still plenty windy Sunday the 9th and the boats completed a four or six mile Buoy race before they raced the 8.5 mile reverse start Conquistador Cup. No one admitted to missing the time change Saturday night, but several boats did not make the first race.

Daylight savings and 14.5 miles of racing, but no one was late for the after-race party at 4:00. Good boat speed!

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MAGAZINE

April

2008

A clustered fleet approaches the mark. One boat looked like it gave up some bottom paint as it sliced through the line on a different tack, on the way to the mark.

Dave Flechsig won the coveted Conquistador Helmet.

His boat R oost er Tai l will be featured on next year’s T shirt. Interestingly enough, Dave was followed by two more S-2 7.9’s before the first multihull, A qui l a finished. I am working on buying an S-2 like those, but it will be a very, very long time before anyone puts a tin hat on me. Last year’s winner, Dan Kendrick on Ti ppecanoe, finished 16th. More my pace.

Winners of the abbreviated regatta by fleet were:

Spinnaker 1 – Big Sky, Jim Gundersonʼs Melges 24 from Marco.

Spinnaker 2 – Rooster Tail, Dave Flechsigʼs S-2 from Port Charlotte

Multihull – Aquila Paul Perishoʼs F-24 from Cape Coral Non Spin1 – Fancy Free Jerry Poquetteʼs Soverel 39 from Burnt Store Non Spin 2 – Morgan Bill Curtisʼ Morgan 24 from Port Charlotte Cruising 1 – Sabre Yachts.com Gregg Knightonʼs Sabre 42 from Sarasota Cruising 2 – Island Time, Joe Barrettʼs Catalina 320 from Naples

It’s not the end of sailing! PGSC has two more spring series races in April; Pete Welch has two Saturday Non-Races in April. The summer series starts in May and the Key West Rendezvous is May 15 -20. Check the Club web site at ww.pgscweb.com

April

2008

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

Kayak Festival This Month

By Davi d Al l en Water LIFE Kayaking

Events in Charlotte County

Charlotte County is arguably one of the best kayaking areas in Florida. Not only do we have the most interesting and varied water trails and blueways, but we also have solid support for kayaking from various local agencies and groups. That was never more evident than in March when two events, the Senior Games Kayak Races and the Great American Cleanup, were held. And coming this month, even bigger and better, on Saturday April 12, the Charlotte County Kayak And Wildlife Festival will be held at Port Charlotte Beach Park.

The Great Ameri can Cl eanup One of the most active and successful groups involved in keeping our shorelines and waterways free of trash and debris is Keep Charlotte Beautiful. The parent organization, International Coastal Cleanup, sponsors cleanup programs in all 55 U. S. states and territories and in more than 100 countries worldwide. Glenda Anderson leads the local cleanup efforts from her office in the Port Charlotte Environmental Park She does a most impressive job organizing 3 or 4 cleanups a year with over 1,000 volunteers participating each time.

The Port Charlotte Kayak Club is an active partner in all environmental activities including the cleanups. Our club has contracted with the Adopt-A- Shore Program to clean up a stretch of beach from Muddy Bay, to Rock Creek, a mile and a half down the shoreline. Even though we do the cleanup at least 3 times a year, we still collect over 1,000 pounds of trash each time. Old tires, dock-boxes, lawn chairs, lots of styrofoam, cans and bottles are among the collected items.

Everyone in Charlotte County can help with the organized efforts to keep our shores clean and inviting. When you are

on the beach or on a boat, put your trash in a proper container or bring it back to shore for disposal.

Charl otte County S eni or Games -- Kayak Races Once a year, Charlotte County Parks and Recreational Department sponsors the Senior Games.

The games are a weeklong series of competitions in almost every sport and activity one can imagine. The Port Charlotte Kayak Club assists Jim Flynn, a manager with the Parks Department organize and run the kayak races. These races are held at Port Charlotte Beach Park and include a 3-mile and a 6-mile race.

This year’s races were a little more challenging than usual due to the high wind that were out of the southwest, directly in line with the first marker buoy.

Jim McKinzie, a long time kayak club member, graciously provides a powerboat to set the buoys and to act as a safety boat, following the racers around the course.

The Medal winners this year were; John Galvin, Gold Medal (overall winner with a 3 mile time of 48 minutes, 34 seconds) and Ron Norvelle, Silver, finishing second overall. Also winning Gold Medals were Peter McDonald, Robin Saur, Jean Galvin, and John Reinagel.

2008 Kayak & Wi l dl i fe Festi val Coming on April 12, the major Kayaking event of the year in Charlotte County.

Sponsored by Charlotte County and the

Page 25

The Port Charlotte Kayakers stand behind a hill of bagged trash after this yearʼs clean up

parks and recreation department. The Kayak and Wildlife Festival is a one-day event that includes something for everyone. The Port Charlotte Kayakers provide many of the volunteers needed to help the Festival run smoothly and efficiently There are guided tours of the surrounding mangrove channels, a child/adult tandem race and more competitive races of 2.3, 5, and 9 miles. James Shadle, award winning wildlife photographer and Florida Master Naturalist will be a featured speaker. There will be other seminars on wildlife, kayak building, paddle building, and kayak fishing. Terry Dash, the consummate outdoorsman, is always entertaining and informative. There will be

free kayaks available for your trial paddle, and demonstrations of proper kayak paddling techniques and kayak rolling.

Music, food vendors and much more will make this a day you don’t want to miss. For more information check out the web site at http://festivalsande vents.com/featurefestival.php

The Port Charlotte Kay ak ers meet each Wednesday ev ening at 5:30 PM, at the Port Charlotte Beach Complex . All paddlers, or potential paddlers interested in finding out more about the sport and our club, are welcome. For more information, contact Dav e Allen at 941-235-2588 or:

Offshore Report

Page 26

By Capt. S teve S kevi ngton Water LIFE Offshore This March has been one good month for fishing ....if you could get out – we had a lot of very windy days.

But a lot of big fish did come to the boat and a lot of great fishing memorys were made.

The list of fish to hunt down this next month is a long one, I will start with my favorite.

Number one on my list is kingfish.

Trolling for these guys is probably the most effective way to fill up a box.

One thing we know we need for kingfish of any size is a super smooth drag and a lot of line on your reel.

Slow trolling live sardines over hard bottom and clear water is all but a guarantee for big kings this month.

Some of the smoker kings will be found on wrecks from 20-30 miles out, and some will be right up on the beach, you’ll just have to put the time in to find the ones your looking for.

The first permit of the season have started showing up on area wrecks.

They have been taking jumbo live shrimp and yellow jigs.

Cobia have started their migration up the coast, look for mudding rays just off the beach, or try your favorite wreck and a lot of chum.

A lot of very big sharks will be hooked-up this month. The trick to finding these guys is simple, chum, chum and more chum – then hold on tight!

The sharks are right up on the

Water LIFE

2008

beach at the moment.

It’s real hard to top boating a six or seven foot black tip shark early in the morning.

Amberjack are still out there just begging to pick a fight with anyone willing to put a big live bait out over a deep wreck. This kind of fishing involves a long ride offshore and a strong back.

There's still more going on offshore this month. The gag grouper bight is still hot in water about 60-to 90-feet.

Drifting with live pinfish until you hook-up with a quality fish is a great way to find gags. Once you find them anchor-up and test your strength with a few.

April is also a great snapper month with the yellow tail snapper stacking up on the deeper pots and mangrove snapper piling up on those same wrecks with the amberjack.

It's really hard to do anything wrong this month ....except not go fishing at all.

Capt Stev e can be reached for charter at (941) 575-3528 or at www.paradisefishingcharters.com

$329,000

Doug & Judy Kaff

Price Reduced!

Two Lots on Corner of Fleming & David

60ʼ ON THE WATER with seawall and new dock. Lots cleared with water and sewer available

Price Reduced!

April

MAGAZINE

Gulf Cove Lot CHILCOTE TERRACE Cleared, filled, with seawall and dock. 3rd from Myakka in area of upscale homes. 98'X125' $399,000

Great New Bayside Complex. Gated with private

elevators and coded entry .

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Unit 1: 2 bedrooms, one bath Unit 2: 1 bedroom, one bath

New Const. Direct Gulf Front New Condos: 3 bedroom 2 1/2 bath. Two Pools, elevators, under building parking ON THE BEACH! a. $999,000 "The Palms " full gulf views SOLD! $769,000 "Barefoot Beach" Bldg 1 Turn-Key furnished, generated b.SOLD! over $31,000 in rental income last year...full gulf views c. $499,000 "Barefoot Beach" ...Bldg 2 entire floor no common walls d. $1,199,000 "Boulder Pointe" direct gulf front, 2 pools and tennis court

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Judykaff@earthlink.net

April

2008

SCUTTLEBUTT Sometimes Unsubstanciated, But Often True

Mosqui to Lagoon Doomed? East coast anglers are trying to muster their troops to fight off the proposed closing of a large portion of Mosquito Lagoon. The area, adjacent to the Kennedy Space Center launch facility, could be closed for security reasons when the center expands to accommodate additional sites for commercial space travel.

Charlotte Harbor FISHING GUIDES

Water LIFE

$5 to Park at Punta Gorda Ramps? Punta Gorda’s city manager is asking the city council to approve a $5 parking fee for Laishley Park and Ponce de Leon boat ramps. At Laishley Park we heard that could be in violation of the federal Magnuson–Stevens Fishery Act which provided funds used to construct the ramp. There was a specific requirement that no fee would ever be charged.

Boats Are Movi ng Greg Postal owner of Starboard Yachts in Punta Gorda was the second dealer to tell us this. Boats are selling. Interestingly, right now with the Euro worth 55-cents more than the dollar, some boats are selling to buyers abroad. Postal tells us he’s sold several boats that have gone to Sweden, we also heard of one that went to Russia. Postal’s example: He sold a 34’ Wellcraft for $20,000. For an additional $16,000 the boat was trucked to Jacksonville, cradled and shipped to Sweden .

“They’ll use the boat in Sweden for a season and then sell it there for $60- or $70,000,” Postal predicted.

The LINK S ti nks – Tell us what you think, they asked, so now you know.

What a waste of taxpayer dollars! With money so tight right now Charlotte County has decided to publish its own slick newsletter. The LINK, a glaring example of self serving publishing has the county commissioner’s own pictures on the cover. Printed on expensive glossy stock with expensive printing and filled with stuff like: “Water conservation critical,” No kidding!

County begins weekly radio show,” Who Cares?

“Courthouse reopening celebration.” Yawn...zzzz .... and then they include a pie chart of the county budget. It is not cheap to print and mail out copies to 85,000 households.

We know this. All this crap would be right at home in the local daily paper. Citizens need to put a stop to this kind of unnecessary spending.

Darth Park Boat Ramp - We’d never heard of Darth Park or that there was a ramp there, so we drove out Riverside Drive, (the extension of old Marion Ave. through Solana) and turned left on Darth. This looks like a good protected Peace River launch when the wind is from the south. Whether this ramp will charge $5 for parking is still unclear (see above).

Fol l ow Your Tel l Tal e Heart Telltale was originally the word used to refer only to a compass which the master of a ship had on the ceiling of his cabin so that he could read the ship's course while lying in his bunk.

S urvi vor S hri mp Keep a couple of dozen shrimp in a bucket for a week in a salty local canal. The live shrimp feed on the dead ones and by the end of the week, the

Page 27

MAGAZINE

Charters

20–50 mile trips We help you put charters together • Grouper • Snapper • Kingfish • Shark • Tarpon and more!

Capt Jim OʼBrien

USCG 50 ton license since 1985 Bus: 941-475-5538 Res: 941-473-2150 visit us at www.captjimsbigfish.com

Capt. Bart Marx, USCG Licensed & Insured Light Tackle Fishing Charlotte Harbor & SW Florida

(941) 255-3551

www.alphaomegacharters.com email:captbart@alphaomegacharters.com Half Day & Full Day trips.

Card Ad Guides ONLY $40 / Month ONE SPACE AVAILABLE! 941-766-8180 BOOK NOW – SPRING IS HERE TARPON ARE ALREADY APPEARING IN THE PASS – SNOOK AND REDFISH ARE BITING This is the time to book a Fishing Charter!

Page 28

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

April

2008

The Water Water LIFE LIFE Distributor始s Club

Cooks Sportland

4419 So. Tamiami Trail S. Venice 493-0025

is the Water LIFE Internet Provider

Pick up a copy of Water LIFE at any of these and 120+ other locations. Water LIFE is not affiliated with any newspaper or other publication and is distributed at select locations around the state. These free ads to our loyal distributors rotate on a monthly basis.

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We Call ʻem Sand Brim

April

Water LIFE

2008

MAGAZINE

The Commercial Perspective

By Kel l y Beal Peace Ri ver S eafood Water LIFE Punta Gorda Spring is in the air! That means the boys will be bringing in the sand brim, aka Irish pompano (even though it’s not in the pompano family), aka sand perch, aka goats, aka punchmouth. The real name is mojarra, but in these parts we call it sand brim.

Whenever a customer comes up to me and says “Hey - can you tell me what fish this is?” they are usually talking about sand brim. Sometimes they’ll call on the phone and say “its got a funny mouth that goes out and down,” I know right away - it’s a sand brim. They are mostly found in south Florida in shallow water

with a mud or sandy bottom.

In the 50s and 60s the Jones family caught so many sand brim one of the brothers got the nickname ‘Sand Brim’ Jones. Johnny Jones was one of the crew on his father and uncle’s boat and can remember the days when the stop-nets would yield up to 10 or 12 thousand pounds of sand brim. He said the sand brim bunched up in the spring when the weather was warm, so you had to bring them in quick before they would go bad.

The mullet, on the other hand, would run during the cold weather so that (of course) allowed them to catch more mullet.

Sand brim is still in demand in many markets. I know we carry sand brim at

Peace River Seafood Restaurant and Market (shameless plug!) and it sells out quick.

Many people like it pan fried. It’s a delicious white flaky meat. James ‘Alph’ McPherson has been catching sand brim for years. His favorite way to prepare it is scaled and gutted, a little salt and pepper, roll it in corn meal and deep fry it!

I always recommend folks to cook the whole fish. Gut it, of course, but unless you cook the whole fish bones and all you are going to lose a lot of meat. As it is, sand brim doesn't have a huge amount of meat, but it definitely has enough for a good meal. I tell the fisherman it must be as big as their hand in order for our fishhouse to take it. Lucky for me they all have large hands!!

The pay on sand brim to the fisherman goes anywhere from .75 to 1.15 a pound.

It's not often caught with hook and line, most catch it in the cast net. Those fish are smart and can weasel themselves out of a net, quick. So fisherman throw the net many times for sand brim to make it worth a day’s pay.

If you haven’t tried sand brim you'll be pleasantly surprised how good it is. You can find it at any seafood market that sells Florida fish. We really encourage our customers to eat the local fish - when in rome eat roman fish!

Don't forget to support your local commercial fisherman. Be healthy and be happy - enjoy seafood!

Charlotte Countyʼs Complete Swimming Pool Supplys Pool Repair and Maintenance Store

Specializing in Heaters and Pumps

575-2525

Located in the Punta Gorda Crossing Shopping Center Next to Publix

Mon-Fri 9AM-5:30PM Sat 9AM-3PM

“Green Pool” Clean Up & Maintenance

Page 29

Man O War Offshore

Adam Wilson Diving and UnderWater LIFE Here are a couple of photos of one of the Portuguese man-o-wars we ran into 30 miles off Boca Grande last month. These creatures are usually found much further south. I actually got a little nematocyst from a tentacle through my glove on my right pinky finger while taking one of the U/W shots. Felt like my finger was literally IN A FIRE, not good. Even with the wetsuit on, if you surfaced under one and got the tentacles around your face, once again, not good.

Page 30

Fishing Report

April

Charlotte Harbor:

Robert at Fishin' Franks Port Charlotte: 625-3888

It’s getting real fishy real quick. The ki ngfi sh showed up last week out of no where. They’re in the pass, two miles off the beaches, and 20 miles offshore – kind of scattered everywhere. If the weather warms up fast they will run through here in no time, but if it stays cool at night it will keep them here a little longer. Live blue runners are the best ‘candy’ for them.

Hard baits and big spoons work too.

There are some S pani sh mackerel mixed in with the kings off the beaches and there are Spanish in the Harbor.

Those fish should stick around for several months. Anywhere there are birds diving, chances are there are Spanish mackerel mixed in with them.

Tarpon are here too. In the pass it’s still a little sporadic in the morning, but there are fish from Matlacha to Captiva and Boca Pass. Early morning has been

Water LIFE

best. They’re not real big in numbers but they are fishable numbers. Down south Sanibel had tarpon and 10,0000 islands has been real heavy with them, so these fish we are seeing here are the beginning of the line. Matlacha in the hole above Two Pine has been good and up in the Peace River there are fish feeding and moving around consistently. If it happens as quick as everything else, it won’t be long before there are tarpon all over the Harbor.

The fish out in the passes and at Matlacha are devouring the jumbo shrimp. Those are the phenomonal bait for them. Jumbo shrimp are 5- to 6-inches right now.

S nook, this is the last month before we have to start letting snook go. They have been tough to catch on artificials in the daytime, but live bait is another story.

Placida Pier at night has a ton of really nice fish on it. Also, there are fish already on the beaches at Stump Pass and Little Gasparilla Pass – those fish are already staged up. There are also a lot of nice snook around the Bull Bay, Turtle Bay area. Shrimp are good for snook bait but whitebait is starting to improve. They are not feeding on the pinfish in the Harbor, but out along the beaches they seem to be

MAGAZINE

April

2008

more inclined to take a pin.

There are also a lot of nice redfi sh moving out of the passes, mainly in the evening, that’s the time to catch them, but there are some being caught there in the daytime as well. Legal and larger redfish are on the flats at Whidden Creek and north of Pirate Harbor. There are also a lot of fish on the west side, but those are the smaller size fish.

CAPTAINʼS REPORT: Capt. Capt Angel Torres sent us this: This will probably be Iʼm sending you snook, reds, shark and tarpon pictures all from the last 2 week's! We had to land the tarpon because it the last month for had the lure across its mouth and it was stuck but we got it sheepshead. The out and it swam away strong. Up-river I was using Long-A Bomber's, size 18. We jumped 11 tarpon in a few hours.

Placida Pier and the There are also plenty of sharks on the west wall. In 4 hours of Phosphate Dock will be fishing 8 broke us off, we landed one, all 5-to 8-feet, all on the bar. loaded up when the fish that ventured up into the Harbor start migrating back out that way. The near shore reefs like Trembly and Novak will be the last good spots for sheepshead this month.

Offshore, be ready with a freelined crab because permi t should start showing up, if they are not already here already.

Li ttl e tunny will chase the bait balls in toward the beaches soon, but now they are still out in the 60-80-foot foot range. With no rain they could follow in close Capt Dwayne Frenchʼs custom made tarpon jig is cast with a ring that will accommodate a 70-pound to shore soon.

Cobi a and sharks are starting zip tie to meet current pass fishing regulations. Most other jig heads cannot accommodate such a big zipto move around quite a bit now. tie and there for break away, illegally.

Lots of small bul l sharks, bl ackti ps and l emon sharks in the 3 to 5 foot range are here now. I haven’t heard of any real are sharks south of the bar off Cape Haze big sharks yet, but that will happen by point and in the intracoastal. Sharks are the end of the month, I am sure. There moving.

April

2008

Fishing Report Lemon Bay:

Jim at Fishermen’s Edge, Englewood: 697-7595

BIG-4 BIG-4

Water LIFE

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MAGAZINE

Aprilʼs Target Species Aprilʼs Target Species

KIDS CUP THIS

KINGFISH are here now. Get ʻem while you can!

Fishing been pretty good, there has been a lot of action around the neighborhood: redfish, tarpon and snook.

Ki ngfi sh are migrating up now.

There are a lot of bigger solitary fish in Boca Grande pass. Closer to the beach one guy got a 61 incher with his grandson, the kids was only 48 inches tall so that fish was bigger than the kid!

Guys are catching boni ta close to the beach, maybe 4 or 5 miles offshore. I guess there are still pods of bait on the beach that’s why the kings and bonita are close by.

The other big action is the tarpon. They are finding them around Pine Island and coming into Boca Grande pass. Guides are fishing shrimp and pinfish, that’s what they are using now. Squirrelfish won’t come into play until it warms up.

Same with crabs.

In the back country there has been a lot of bait around so 40 or 50 snook in one day was not out of the ordinary for a few days last month.

There are also pompano around, quite a few in the pass. I’m still selling a lot of pompano jigs. The beaches, all of Englewood and Manasota

REDFISH have been showing up BIG

beach, are loaded up with whi ti ng.

For whiting use small little hooks with shrimp, that’s the whiting bait.

Last week there were still quite a few cobi a around. Eels, power eels or the salty black sinko on a jig head or a 10 inch black worm the cobia can’t resist them. The other thing is S pani sh mackerel . There are some here and there, seems like on a tide change you can find them, not a ton of them, but some. And there are a lot of sharks around, some big ones on the beach – some big bulls – 6 or 7 footers.

Grouper and snapper, mostly reds, have been pretty decent. A lot of guys were going out far when the

SNOOK are very good this year

TARPON are showing up already

CAPTAINʼS REPORT: Capt. Steve Eggers sent us this: I thought maybe you would like to have a picture of some early resident tarpon. This one is out of the Peace River and one of eight fish we jumped!

Calendar of Events

n April10: Using a dehooker, Laishley Marine 639-3868

n April 12: Xtreme Redfish Tournament, Banana Bay Motel, Charlotte Harbor,sign up the morning of the event or call 456-1540

Magazine 5th annual Ki ds Cup Tournament, Punta Gorda.

Applications online at: www.kidscuptournament.com. 125 jr anglers 10 – 16. $100entry, fundraiser event (941) 766-8180

Boater Card. $25 941-697-9435

n April 25-27: Oh Boy! Oberto Redfi sh Cup and Ki ds Cup S hootout at Punta Gorda.

n May 1:Fl atsmasters Redfi sh Cl assi c, Punta Gorda 941-637n April 19 & 26 USCG Aux– Two n April 12 the Charlotte County day Boating Safely program, Lemon 5953 Kayak And Wildlife Festival Port Bay Park, Englewood, Basic infor- n May 31: Charl otte Hi gh Charlotte Beach Park. mation a safe boater needs to know. S chool Redfi sh Roundup, Completion qualifys for Florida n April 19: Water LIFE fish on your bait of choice.

THE ALL NEW 2008 F-450 KING RANCH SUPER DUTY

Fishing

RIGHT NOW:

Very Good!

April

2008

FMstr

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

Classic Tournaments at 941-637-5953

2/9/08- KayakSlam Series-Cape Coral- Cape Tool & Tackle Kayak only tournament, trout, redfish, snook, lures only, photo release Flatsmasters Series

3/1/08- KayakSlam Series- Clearwater- Joe's Crab Shack Kayak only tournament, trout, redfish, snook, lures only, photo release

3/22/08- KayakSlam Series- Ft Myers- Joe's Crab Shack Kayak only tournament, trout, redfish, snook, lures only, photo release 4/5/08- KayakSlam Series -Sarasota Kayak only tournament, trout, redfish, snook, lures only, photo release 5/10,11/08- Maverick Boats Flatsmasters Series- Redfish Classic 2 redfish, bait of choice 5/31/08- Charlotte High School Redfish Roundup 2 redfish on bait of choice 6/14/08- Florida State Firefighters Assn. Redfish Tournament- St. Pete Beach 2 redfish on bait of choice

6/21/08- Junior Flatsmasters Tournament- Punta Gorda 3 age groups from 7 to 18 years old- 1 red-

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