Water LIFE Aug 2006

W a t e r LIFE Charlotte Harbor and Lemon Bay Florida

Keeping Boaters and Fishermen Informed

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August 2006

Red Tide

the new environmental Cash Cow Page 24

Real Life Hurricane Kit Page 24

New House Progress

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Hammerhead an Official Record

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Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

August 2006

Water LIFE

Always Something New

August 2006

By Mi chael Hel l er Water LIFE Editor Becky Reynolds, World’s Records Administrator at the International Game Fish Association in Dania said “It’s official.” Official that Bucky Dennis is now the holder of the all-tackle world’s record for hammerhead shark. “It was caught on 100 pound line, and weighed 1280 pounds,” Reynolds said. They tested the line, 100 pound Power Pro, and it broke at 107.83 pounds. “Well within the IGFA’s specifications,” Reynolds said. “You’d be surprised at how many records are lost because the line breaks at a higher than permissible rating.”

Dennis had to submit a line sample, a photo of the shark, a photo of the scale, and a photo of the rod and reel he used.

Those are the criteria required for the record, Reynolds said. “We go by the angler’s honesty and integrity.” she added, noting that “when there is a major catch like this one, we also contact other people to verify the record.” Reynolds declined to say who the other people were. “Jim Willis was captain of the boat,” she said.

IGFA rules specify that once the fish is hooked no one else is allowed to touch the rod, reel or line until the fish is brought in. “You can’t touch anything above the leader,” Reynolds explained, saying that

the leader for the all-tackle hammerhead record could be as long as 30-feet.

Bucky Dennis will receive a certificate from the IGFA attesting to his record within a week. The previous record holder was Allan Ogle of Punta Gorda.

On another front, inside sources tell us the state has (or is just about to) approve another 1.2 billion (with a ‘B’) gallons of phosphate sludge to be dumped into the Gulf of Mexico. Rain filled phosphate holding ponds at Piney Point near Tampa must be lowered and apparently the only option the state has is to dump it in the Gulf. Why the phosphate industry is not forced to come up with another option is not clear. Last year when they dumped a huge amount of phosphates into the gulf anglers up and down the coast protested that fishing had suffered. Many anglers question if it is acceptable to keep the near-shore estuaries clean by polluting the off shore reefs.

On a related issue, red tide is now back in our area. There are dead fish inside Boca Grande and in the sound at Pine Island.

The red-tide concentrations are listed as ‘high’ in Pine Island and ‘moderate’ in Gasparilla Sound. Hopefully, rainwater runoff from the Peace and Myakka rivers will help keep the red tide out of the upper parts of Charlotte Harbor.

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One of the cool things we saw last month was this black-nosed shark caught in the harbor.

Just a little over three feet long when fully grown, these sharks are normally found offshore.

They have an unusual set of teeth with rear ones that look like human zmolars.

Speaking of ‘time,’ this month marks the two year anniversary of hurricane Charley, the small, compact, buzz-saw-ofa-storm that in two hours set our county back five years. After Charley, it took most local families the whole first year to settle their insurance claims and then another year to rebuild. Compounding matters is the still problematic construction industry trend of taking on too much work, charging inflated prices and turning out a more-often-than-not shoddy job – a

3

job which winds up being completed way after deadline. We started our own house last August and we’re just now moving in.

That’s considered almost record time.

This past year has been difficult. A lot of us have been off the water and working two jobs trying to get our lives back together. It has been a slow excruciating process, but a lot of the time it has also been fun. I’m not sure if we’re headed back to the future or just back to where we left off, but at least we are in motion.

Water LIFE

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Letters and e-mail to Water LIFE Magazine

To Water LIFE In the July 6 issue of the local Port Charlotte newspaper, columnist Brian Gleason complained about the Corps Of Engineers and the National Marine Fisheries delay in issuing the Bayshore Park development permit due to a last minute request for information related to whether the area is a nesting ground for sea turtles and whether the seabed along the shore provides habitat for the endangered smalltooth sawfish. Mr Gleason stated with authority that no sea turtles nest there and about the possible sawtooth fish habitat he wrote "fat chance". He was more maddened by the inquiry regarding sawfish habitat, as he explained, because "The fish is so rare, signs are posted asking people to report sightings and catches of the endangered species". He closed his column by writing, "So, no matter what, if you see a smalltooth sawfish, mum's the word".

To me, that sounds like he is encouraging people to disregard requests for help toward the preservation of a truly endangered and unquestionably native species. I wrote Mr Gleason an email asking how he could present such a disdain for sawfish in view of his history

of fervent support of increasingly stringent legislation and enforcement of manatee protection measures when manatees have tripled in number in recent years in spite of dramatic increases in development and boat traffic on local waters, and further, how he could state that there was a "fat chance" of the park area seabed providing sawfish habitat when his own newspaper's weekly fishing and boating section had reported the recent catch and release of an unusually large 13 foot sawfish in the Peace River not far from the park site. Mr Gleason rapidly replied that he was disgruntled with the delay in the permit and that his closing line encouraging people to not report sightings or catches of sawfish was a joke and that he stands by his words. He further stated that he hasn't seen much of an effort to protect the sawfish, implying that it must not be very important.

I wrote back to call his attention to available websites, starting with www.sawfish.com and the Mote Marine site and felt obliged to explain the obvious to the wise and omnipotent columnist that protection programs for the sawfish and many other endangered species have been limited

because the bulk of limited available funding for such efforts has been directed to "save the manatee" causes as a result of the politics and court actions he so vehemently championed toward "saving the manatee", a far less endangered species and one that by its mere presence serves to destroy huge quantities of native seagrass beds which are necessary for the existence of most of our native fish species.

It's truly amazing to see such a 驶legend in his own mind始 exhibit such an irresponsible and cavalier attitude toward the preservation of truly endangered and truly native species, not to mention a complete lack of logical thought processes, and still be able to retain such a huge soapbox as a widely published newspaper column.

I guess I'll have to add yet another pound of salt to whatever I may, or may not, read in that paper in the future.

Jim Ballew, Port Charlotte

Dennis's pending world record hammerhead. What a fish!

Well, Captain Randy Knowles of the No Slack and I ran into him while we were all fishing for Goliath Grouper last week and, as we found out, there are plenty of other big fish lurking around Charlotte Harbor besides sharks! This 6 1/2 foot grouper was estimated at 464 pounds. Taken on 80 pound class stand-up tackle, it put up a battle of biblical proportions!

The fish was released unharmed. My back is another story.

David Spletzer, Brooklyn, NY

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Fishing / Environment: Capt. Ron Blago Charlotte Harbor: Capt. Robert Moore Gasparilla: Capt. Chuck Eichner Port Charlotte: Fishin始 Frank Offshore: Capt. Steve Skevington Technical Advisor: Mike Panetti Sailing Advisor: Bill Dixon Kayaks: David Allen Sea Grant: Betty Staugler

on the COVER:

Chris Pack with the second place catfish in Fishin Franks July Shark Tournament. The cat weighed 4.23 pounds.

on our WEBSITE:

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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 Links to Realtors: Connect with our real estate advertisers

Water LIFE

Flatsmasters Red Plug Challenge August 2006

S t aff R eport “If it's not the wind, it's the rain. It wouldn't be a Flatsmasters if the weather wasn't bad!” one competitor noted at the Captain’s meeting, but neither wind nor rain stopped 85 teams from weighing fish in the third leg of the Maverick Boats Flatsmasters Series-RedPlug Challenge presented by Ingman Marine.

The captain’s meeting saw a torrential downpour - a harbinger of things to come. In addition to the regular meeting, sponsors were in attendance with products on display from TH Marine, Minn Kota, Odyssey Batteries, and J&C Drydock Marine. “It was great to see our sponsors taking the time to promote their products to the anglers,” tournament director Jerry Cleffi noted.

Saturday morning the teams lined up in front of Harpoon Harry's for the start. The early bite could make the difference in this plugs- only event, so an early starting number in the sequential start was a big advantage.

When the scales opened at 1:30 p.m. there was one team ready to weigh in. Team Family Boating Center captained by Kevin Little, weighed in first with a very respectable 14.60 lbs. ... and then there was no looking back as they held the No.1 position all day.

Team Haulin' Reds was close behind and rounding out the top five was Team Ft. Myers Marine, Team Yellowfin Yacht, and Team KenRite

Construction.

Day 2 in this Flatsmasters event is a bonus – the Top-5 Shootout.

Five teams are invited back on Sunday to fish head-to-head, each starting with a clean slate, to determine the Flatsmasters Redplug Challenge champions. On Sunday there is the additional pressure of a SunSports TV camera on board each boat.

The Shootout started wet as rain squalls moved through the area all morning. Some of the early reports that came in were most teams were dodging storms, avoiding red tide, and still catching a few fish.

Sunday was Team Haulin' Reds turn to come back early as they showed up at the dock around 12:30pm.

Keeping their fish under close supervision, with plenty of oxygen and Rejuvenade additive in the livewell, they had to wait until the 3:30 p.m. weigh in.

As the weigh in time approached the other four teams began to arrive at the dock, take # their place in line and wait. 1 2 In this weigh in each 3 team brings one fish to the 4 scales at a time. After the 5

five teams weigh their first fish, it goes back to team #5 and then each team weighs in their second and final fish.

Early trouble hit team KenRite Construction and they posted a zero for the shootout with no fish, but still managed a top-5 finish and their second top ten-10 of the year.

They are now third in the standings.

After the last redfish was weighed, Team Haulin' Reds (Mike McCarty, Kenny Hyatt, & Bill Conner) ran away with the show. Their 14.80 pounds bested the second place team from Family Boating Center by 4 pounds.

The final leg of Flatsmasters series, the RedSnook Challenge will be on September 16th at Harpoon Harry's in Fishermen's Village.

Below are the July Red-Plug top5 results. Overall Flatsmasters team standings will appear here next month.

Capt Mike McCarty Kevin Little Jeff Simes Mark Leiberman Todd Rebol

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MAGAZINE

Team Haul N' Reds Family Boating Ft. Myers Marine #1 Yellowfin Yachts Ken-Rite Construction

Top Left:Team Haulin' Reds (Mike McCarty, Kenny Hyatt, & Bill Conner) ran away with the show weighing in 14.80lbs in the Top5 Above: Weighmaster Cleffi with one of the winning fish.

After the first day, team Family Boating Center captained by Kevin Little, were in first place with a very respectable 14.60 lbs.

Angler Bill Conner Steve Herndon Wayne Quick Wylie Nagler Clay Rebol

Angler Kenny Hyatt Jason Thompson Ralph Jones Kevin Barker Ken Lowa

1st Fish 7.40 5.20 3.30 3.20 0

2nd Fish 7.40 5.60 4.20 3.40 0

Total 14.80 10.80 7.5 6.60 0

Water LIFE

Page 6

Completely remodeled 3/2/2 pool home on Saltwater canal.

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WHY WAIT TO BUILD!! This 3/2/2 pool home overlooks a lovely waterway, has 1614 sq ft and was built in 2005. Home features many upgrades including Granite kitchen countertops, wood cabinets, ceramic tile, walk-in shower and more. This home also comes fully furnished with beautiful furniture. This is a must see!!! Bring all offers!!.

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Centrally Located 3/2/2 Home Built in 1990, with 1549 sq ft. Shows pride of ownerhip, only lived in seasonally. New roof, soffit, fascia & gutters. Tile throughout except Living rm & bedrooms, breakfast nook, eat-in kitchen, master bath has dual sinks, walk-in shower & his ʻn hers walk-in closets. A great family home. MLS # 639512 $ 209,900. Call Andy Rodriguez at 235-5648.

Large 2/2/2 Waterfront home With 1525 sq ft, located in Warm Mineral Springs. This home has 2 master suites, 2 docks, seperate dining room, newer A/C and water heater, and more!!! Come take a look at this one!!! MLS # 637855 $265,000 Located in Gardens of Gulf Cove.

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August 2006

MAGAZINE

Still under construction, Beautiful 4/3.5/3 pool/spa home on oversized corner lot, 2589 sq ft of living area, with all the bells & whistles, solid honey oak cabinets, solid surface counters thruout, hurricane code windows, seamless glass window at nook, 8ft sliders, corner garden tub in master bath, 2 A/C units, MLS #628706 $549,900 Call Ellen at 235-

Best priced home in Deep Creek....3/2/2, 1320 sq ft, built in 2000. Nothing to do but move in.

Home shows like a model, some of the features include open living , Dining & kitchen to enjoy, bay window in breakfast nook, wood cabinets, pantry, tile throughout except bedrooms, master bedroom has trey ceilings & walk in closets. Home is located on nice quite cul-de-sac. MLS # 637920 $229,900.

Call Ellen McCarthy at 235-5648

Beautiful 3/2.5/2 pool home on Saltwater canal, with 1937 sq ft, built in 2001.

This home is located in Collingswood Pointe area, and has 108 feet on the intersecting canals, Only 20 minutes to the Harbor. Some of the features include , solid surface counters, breakfast bar, walk-in closets, intercom & security systems, sprinklers, storm shutters, jetted tub in master bath and more. Don‚t miss this one!!. MLS 635104 $549,900 Call Ellen at 235-5648

Gorgeous 3/2/2 pool home, 2060 sq ft, built in 1989. This home has so much to offer including hardwood floors thru-out except for tile in baths & foyer, 2 breakfast bars in kitchen, bay windows, 4 walk-in closets, master bath has jetted corner tub with a view, dual sinks,& vanity, beautiful landscaping and the list goes on. Great home for entertaining, You won‚t want to miss out on this one!!!!. MLS # 634149 $259,900 Call Rieka at 235-5648.

Gorgeous 3/2/2 Pool Home sits on 5 fenced lots, 2071 sq ft, built in 1990. Former model home has many upgrades.

Living, family and dining rooms, intercom system, tile throughout except 2 bedrooms, cathedral ceilings, storm shutters, huge laundry room with tub & built in ironing board, 2 driveways, 3 butterfly gardens & more. This is a must see!!!! MLS # 639101 $459,900. Call Ellen McCarthy at 235-5648

Deep Creek Beauty!!!

3/2/2, built in 2003, 1596 sq ft, this open & airy home has everything you want, living,family, & dining rooms, vaulted ceilings, 2 pantries, walk-in closets, plenty of storage, custom window treatments, breakfast bar and more.

Nordic spa also included in price of home. MLS # 638693 $229,900 Call Donna Brooks at 235-5648

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Beautiful 3/2/2 pool home built in 1991, 1503 sq

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A REAL CHARMER - This 3/2/1 home sits on an oversized corner lot and has 1815 sq ft, and was built in 1970. Some of the features include, new roof, a/c, hot water tank, appliances, and new saltwater heated diamond brite pool. This home is a must see!!! Call Today before its gone!!!!! $225,000 MLS # 634705 Call Gerry at 268-4249

Sailboat canal pool home in prestigious beach complex area, 4 bedrm, 3 baths, 2 car garage. This home has all the bells and whistles with 3799 total sq, Ft., 2,777 sq ft. under AC, built in 1998 with pride of ownership. Magnificent interior with niches, alcoves, arches, transom lights, roman showers, garden tub, walk-in closets, wood cabinets, and more. Pages of upgrades, call to see today. Offered at $798,000 MLS # 635844 call Ellen at 235-5648

ON THE LINE

Water LIFE

August 2006

Fishing with Capt. Ron Blago

Parkin’at the Fishin’Pier

Englewood is a pretty lucky town when it comes to fishing. Located on Lemon Bay, it has a newly dredged pass (Stump Pass) leading to the Gulf of Mexico. It’s got clean water and abundant sea grass beds and three public boat ramps for easy access to the water. It also has a fine old, popular and well used fishing pier; the Tom Adams, sometimes called the Ainger Pier.

The pier is actually the remains of an old wooden bridge that connected Manasota Key to the mainland before the Tom Adams drawbridge was built. The folks back then were smart enough to see the benefit of keeping half the bridge and turning it into a fishing pier for the local community. It has been sort of a local tradition to buy a few dozen shrimp at the Englewood Bait House right across the street and fish the pier for a few hours. The place doesn’t have much for amenities, no lights, cleaning table or running water. Just a pier, a few port-a johns and a parking lot.

Well, at least it used to have a parking lot.

As humble as the pier was, it was always there, open 24 hours a day, everyday, and a lot of fish were caught from it. I remember helping out the JC’s one year with their Kid’s Pioneer Day’s Fishing Tournament. That year we had 126 kids on the pier catching fish.

Talk about hooks flying by your nose! I still can’t believe we made it through with nobody getting hurt.

I talk about the pier in the past tense because I’m starting to get the feeling that the days of the old pier are numbered. Crazy talk you say – they’ll never take down the pier.

Well remember that little boat ramp that used to be right across the bridge? It’s gone now.

The county said it was dangerous, a disaster waiting to happen ...even though there had not been a recorded accident there for 25 years.

They needed to put sidewalks in – funny how the sidewalk only goes as far as the end of the Sandpiper Key condos. In case you are tempted to jump the curb and drive down to the old boat ramp, they planted large palm trees there to block your way. I guess it’s a prettier sight for the folks who will be living in those million dollars condos they are building across the street.

Things have a way of disappearing in little pieces at a time. Remember Mad Sam’s Restaurant? First it was there and now it’s gone. In its place is a new construction project. There is a big sign out front advertising 35 new luxury condos on Lemon Bay. The trouble is that the construction workers have taken a liking to the parking spots all along the public right away including the ones meant for the fishing pier. If you don’t get to the pier by 7 in the morning, you don’t get a place to park. There is another public parking lot right near the pier but as luck would have it the county has given permission to the company repairing the Tom

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MAGAZINE

Cars belonging to workers at a near-by condo project clog the Tom Adams Fishing Pier parking lot. One of the supervisors assured us the Tom Adams Pier parking lot would return to normal in three weeks.

Adams Bridge to store their building materials there. And of course that project keeps getting delayed.

Some people feel that the parking is a temporary situation and that when the condos are done everything will be back to normal, but I don’t think so. Consider the plight of those new owners looking out the window of their new million dollar mansions and seeing the locals and their families on the pier for a day of fishing with their pickup trucks and old cars parked in front of the million dollar condos. And of course the sound of laughing children and the sound of night time snook fishermen may keep them up at night.

The new owners may even complain that the pier is hurting the value of their property, and the pier has got to go.

It will be slow at first- No parking on the public right away (like at the Placida boat ramp). Then the parking lot goes; then no fishing at night or early in the morning.

Finally the county says they don’t have money for needed repairs and they close the pier ‘temporarily.’ And before anyone notices; it’s gone and all that’s left is the palm tree they planted at the entrance. And the beat goes on.

Capt Ron can be reached at (941) 474-3474 for comments, information or to book a chartered fishing trip

42' Post Marine Sportfish 1978 -T/310hp Detroit dsls 6-71N, depth, fish finder. VHF, GPS, 3 bats. New 7.6KW gen. A/C all gauges, and more $229,000

28' Bertram with new Indmar 275 hp engines in 1991.

Private stateroom forward with V-berths, lower helm and dinette. Great fishing or cruising boat. $25,000

34' Cruisader Flybridge 2002 -Custom made boat to specs of a SW FL offshore capt. Reef permit and commercial fishing gear available. Asking $150,000

24' Wellcraft 2400 Coastal, 1997, single 225 Johnson Ocean runner. Lift kept, no bottom paint.

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23' Chriscraft 232 Sport Deck, 2000 model, single Volvo 65.0 G.I. I/O. Seats 13 and price includes 2005 tandem aluminum trailer. Asking $25,900

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18ʼ Boston Whaler Dauntless 1999 model with single 135 Mercury saltwater series. Asking $19,995

22' Wellcraft 220 Coastal 1999 model with single 200 hp Johnson Ocean Runner. Asking $22,500

28' Prokat Prosports CC 2003 - T/225 Yamaha 4strokes, only 227 hrs., fully rigged for offshore fishing. Tri-axle trailer included. Asking $84,900

26' World Cat 266SF 2000 -Twin 130hp Hondas, custom T-Top. Asking $51,900.

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28' Sea Ray Sundancer 2006 Twin 220HP Mercruisers. Like new condition, lift stored.

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25' Proline WA Cuddy 1998 -225hp Mercury EFI. Clean boat, lift stored. Asking $28,500

25' Carolina Classic 1997 - 300 hp Volvo Duoprop, clean boat thatʼs ready to fish! $43,900

Water LIFE

S h a r k , S t i n g r a y, C a t f i s h : B l o o d y Page 8

S t aff R eport Bloody water ran from the drain plug hole as Bucky Dennis pulled his trailered boat away.

Bucky like the other shark fishermen had loaded his catch – 2 sharks, 2 rays – in the bottom of his boat and since the sharks had to be gutted before they came to the weigh in, the boats were dirty with blood. But blood is a part of shark fishing: bloody boats, bloody bait, bloody chum and then bloody sharks. More often than not there is probably angler blood mixed in as well.

Fishin’ Franks’ second summer shark tournament turned out to be another severe weather challenge. Held late last month, 307 anglers signed up to fish all night and bring their catch back by 9 a.m. In the end, 8 sharks, 7 rays and 32 catfish made it to the weigh in.

There were dead fish, killed by red tide, mostly dead pinfish, west of Marker No. 5 where Ollie Tipton and Chuck Hepp were fishing.

“When the tide started moving the bite came on,” Ollie said. Hepp caught the winning shark, a 76.5 inch lemon on his spot. “We had both our sharks by 8 p.m.,” Hepp said “...then we ran from the weather.” The big shark paid $1290, as did the big catfish. “I’m a happy camper,” David Deon said after weighing in the winning catfish, a 4.68 pound specimen.

The biggest stingray paid $900, it measured almost 38 inches across and was caught by Bucky Dennis who last month landed a 1200plus pound world record hammerhead.

Of interest at this event was what at first appeared to be a small lemon shark. “That’s a black-nosed shark,” marine biologist Gregg Poulakis noted. Black nosed sharks have human like teeth (see photo on page 3). The one brought in to Fishin’ Franks’ tournament came from the Venice jetty.

“Normally those animals are found in deeper waters offshore. Lots of times when you are grouper fishing and sharks circle your boat they will be black-nosed sharks,” Poulakis added.

Two DNF catfish specimens

August 2006

MAGAZINE

Good Fun!

Top Photo: A lemon shark and a short handled home made gaff .... scary-short for shark fishing!

Bumps called ʻscutesʼ on the back of a stingray may help the animal to regulate itʼs temperature like the bumps on the back of an alligator

The eye of a black nosed shark. Shark eyes have a membrane that helps them see in the dark.

Water LIFE

August 2006

Great value in this waterfront lot on Pine Island. First class job on rip rap seawall, docks, pilings for your lift. Community boat ramp and park. $299,000.

Waterfront Restaurant in the heart of Matlacha.Sold with equipment, furnishings, new Tikki hut.Owner may finance. $999,000 On the Intracoastal Waterway of Pine Island Sound and Sanibel , prime property with deep water dockage, boat lifts, 3/2 with pool, privacy.

1.7 million .

Pristine Bay Views. Beautiful easy care 3/2 villa The best fishing and boating in SW Florida. $1,150,000 Living and Loving Life in SW Florida.

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Contractor custom home. Just beautiful.

Great water access and 2 boat lifts.

Cottage next door available for complete family compound. $975,000

Page 9

MAGAZINE

FWC notes Manatee still not off endangered species list

S t aff R eport The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is seeking public input on Phase 2 of its listing process, prior to reclassification of the bald eagle, gopher tortoise, Florida manatee and Panama City crayfish.

Phase 2 is development of species-specific management plans that outline management needs and protections necessary to guide species’ recovery, or in the case of the bald eagle, ensure it stays recovered.

This process was set in motion at the June Commission meeting after FWC Commissioners voted to accept staff’s recommendations to move forward with reclassifying the four species. The peerreviewed recommendations were based on each species’ risk of going extinct.

No change in a species’ status will take place until the management plan is developed and approved by the Commissioners. This process may take more than a year.

Local, county, state and federal agencies, stakeholders and the public are encouraged

to submit written comments on managing each of these species. Comments must be received by 5 p.m., Aug. 8.

Comments should focus on topics outlined in the draft management plan template, available at MyFWC.com/imperiledspecies/mgt_plan_t emplate.htm. Main topics include the species’ conservation needs and any economic and social factors that should be considered in managing each species in Florida. In addition, state, local or regional rules or ordinances that reference FWC species listing categories should be identified. Relevant topics not included in the template should be provided as well.

Send comments for each species to: Management Plan Comments, DHSC, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, 620 South Meridian St., Mail Station 6A, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1600 or e-mail manatee_plan@myfwc.com.

A second 45-day public comment period will follow the release of the draft management plan.

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Water LIFE

Page 10

Simple Fishing

Hot Weather and Plenty of Action

By Capt. Chuck Ei chner Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor Fishing trips aren’t always about catching big fish. Most of us are happy to be on the water and experiencing all that nature has to offer. Targeting certain species or just getting the rod bent is usually enough. Summertime is hot weather fishing but despite this the tidal environment still dictates when and where the fish will be. If you can get up early and be on the water before the break of dawn you will likely find the fish more aggressive and reckless. Usually an hour after sun up the fish will settle in to their hot water habits- lethargic. Gamefish typically will not chase a bait very far this time of year.

On this particular outing, I planned on fishing the higher stages of an incoming tide and the top of the falling tide. The only problem was that the high tide was 3:00pm and it was 94 degrees out. I couldn’t coax another fisherman to join me but just had to fish. My focus was to get the rod bent with no particular species in

mind. In fact, I mainly fished new spots wishing for lady luck. My first duties were to locate saltwater shiners, technically Pilchards. I chose to fish the east side of the harbor and idled the outside bar until I found huge pods of roving bait. The only problem was most were way too small. Eventually I spotted small bait that wouldn’t clog the net and caught enough to fill the well. The baitfish numbered in the thousands, yet were extremely afraid of the trolling motor but not too bothered by the gas engine- a good tip to keep in mind when searching for bait.

My fishing started fast and a little lucky. I chose an outside island and fished a white sand hole on one end. The blackwaters of the harbor make these sandholes light up under sunlight so these spots are easy to pick out. Easing in, I anchored and chummed live pilchards into the sand hole. About as fast as they hit the water fish were plucking them off. Racing to grab a rod I nose hooked a small bait, cast and immediately banged a nice snapper. A

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fat 12 incher that fought like twice his size. Another cast another beauty. Funny thing about snappers this time of year, they can be found on the grass flats near the islands and not always under the mangroves as they’re name implies. Reaching into the well I pulled out a super size pilchard. I figured big bait- big fish so I hooked up ‘Ol’ Duke’ and pitched him out hoping to prove the theory. Rip, zaaamm, bang and my drag was screeching!

Figuring I had a monster snapper on my line, I was mentally patting myself on the back for being so brilliant. Five minutes later I was dipping a beautiful jack, so much for brilliance – Duke caught jack, I mused, but what a good start.

The spot then got quiet so I motored to an oyster bar and fished with no success.

Heading further into the back country I fished a cut in an island that had live mangroves hanging over the water. I figured a high falling tide might stage a few redfish there. There was good shade from the bushes but I could easily see the bottom, so I didn’t expect much. Same drill as before, chummed livies and flicked a free lined bait under the bush. Apparently, there was a group of marauder snook of about 14-inches which made for great action on repeated casts. Amazing how they hide in shallow water! There were a few huge whomps on bait from bigger snook but they never fell for my bait.

Then, the bite quit as fast as it started.

With the 5 o’clock hour approaching and storms building over land I high tailed it into the Punta Gorda Isles canal system just to be on the safe side. Casting the seawalls and docks are a great way to fish an outgoing tide. The trick is to add split shot to your line to get the bait to flow downward in the water column. You want your bait to ‘glide in the tide’ and not sink straight to the bottom. Canal water is significantly cooler from 3-feet under the surface and deeper and that’s where the fish were. The first pass down a seawall met with a huge fish that plucked a frisky pinfish pitched into some riprap in front of a seawall. He said see-ya-later about as quick as I laid the steel on him and sawed off my leader. I re-rigged and made repeated pitches to the seawall allowing

August 2006

my bait to free float down into the water column. Wham, rip- gone! Ok, now I pulled out a heavy outfit and started over again. Same seawall, slightly more weight added to adjust my sink rate because of heavier line- wham! Fish on and I leaned heavily on this fish as he ripped drag headed downward in 12 feet of water. Moments later a 7# goliath grouper came boatside- what a battle and so it went with 2 more of these battlers coming in.

Easing further into the canal system, I fished a dead end canal area pitching small pilchards around docks. There I found mangrove snappers, big mangrove snappers. Some fish pushed 15 inches and I saw some that looked much larger. Mixed in were big sheepshead; weren’t they supposed to head out to the gulf a few months back?!

A terrific short day on the water and I had the waterways all to myself. It may have had something to do with the 105 heat index. No truly big fish or glamour fish, but what great sport on a few gallons of gas.

A few l essons I l earned or rel earned thi s day were: Trolling motors can run baitfish away from cast netting range.

The fish still have incredible visibility in the dark tannic stained waters.

Light monofilament was less visible to the fish and produced more strikes than braid.

Mangrove snappers gang up on certain grassy flats and are easy pickins’.

Live baits that the fish have to really chase to catch will probably not get eaten.

Trim their fins with scissors to slow them down.

Fish a lot of spots and keep moving.

The fish are usually heavily concentrated once you find them.

There’s hardly anyone fishing in the summer afternoons.

Try some uncomplicated fishing on Charlotte Harbor. With a hook, leader, line and well full of shiners you never know what you’re gonna catch.

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

Diving the Middle Grounds August 2006

By Adam Wi l son Water LIFE Dive Report Made a run out to the middlegrounds for the full moon in July. We have been running the southern grounds out of Clearwater for a while, but this was a charter trip on the Jolly Rogers II with Capt. Jim Zurbrick out of Steinhatchee.

Hiring a local expert is always money well spent for whatever type of fishing you do. Any good diver and fisherman is always learning.

The middlegrounds is a divers paradise. Most of the depths range from 80 140 feet, just at the edge of recreational diving limits. Thirty to 60 foot of visibility is common, and with a few days of light variable winds, top to bottom viz isn't unusual. It is amazing when you can put your face in the water at the back of the boat and see schools of grouper and snapper cruising a ledge 100 feet below.

And the long distance of almost 100 miles from shore keeps the reefs virtually pristine. The abundance and quality of fish there give you an idea of what closer coastal reefs used to look like before phosphate mines and massive fertilizer filled river runoffs.

Besides the huge amounts of quality sized fish, the extreme bottom structure is what amazes most divers. Spanning almost 350 square miles, the grounds contains huge crevice and cave riddled limestone ledges, some with drop offs of 50 feet. Imagine a ledge the height of the Sun Trust building in Murdock! Rolling hills the enormity of a warehouse surrounded by cement truck sized boulders and fields of greek like columns and pinnacles jutting out of the bottom dozens of feet all make up a dream like terrain.

With such drastic reliefs, us Port Charlotte boys were captivated by the bottom finder. Finding a 3 or 5 foot break off Boca Grande is monstrous, with most of our fish coming off 1-2 foot ledges. That makes Watching 20 foot ledge after 30 foot ledge go by every few minutes excruciating, while waiting for the captain to throw the buoy on just the right spot and give you the signal to gear up and jump in. This is where years of experience come in.

Not every large break in the grounds contains mass quantities of scaly beasts.

There needs to be an adequate display of bait and fish on the bottom finder, or what Capt. Jim called an ‘Ed Sullivan’ you know boys, a ‘reeeally big show.’

Following the buoy line all the way down to the weight is also important in finding fish. Strong currents can blow you off a choice spot if you linger too long on your descent. Dropping on the mark doesn't always guarantee trophy fish either. A great way to fire up a seemingly deserted spot is to start pulling the trigger. Blue runners, grunts and other bait fish wig-

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Hereʼs our end of trip carnage. The hog fish in the right picture was 15 pounds. The guy next to me with the stringer of grouper is Carl Gill.

gling on a shaft can make a not so hot by 6 fish, with most of my snappers been to the middlegrounds and you are sure spot really turn on. Gag and red grouper, coming off the absolute hot nighttime to get a fantastic story. When my friends snapper and hogfish can all appear like bite. Red snapper are incredibly leery and and I reminisce about diving there last apparitions out of the haze, hovering just can be very difficult to shoot. And roundweek, last month or last year it never fails at the edge of the visibility, curious about ing out the trip with only two out of the to send goose bumps down my neck. It is the commotion in their backyard. But don't allowable 10 hogfish bag limit, but with undoubtedly one of the last remaining farforget, the same commotion that brings in both fish totaling 25 pounds it's hard to off places that is still breathtaking and the reef fish, also brings in predators high- complain. unspoiled. A place that easily brings to er up on the food chain.

Ask any diver or fisherman that has life a child hood dream of that one perfect A few weeks ago we had a cute little remora, a.k.a sharksucker, appear toward the end of a real fishy dive. My buddy and I glanced at each other, knowing the man in the grey suit wasn't far behind.

As we started our ascent he Platinum Award Winner 2005 Saltwater- Great Condition, Quick Out! Immaculate Luxury Home. Over appeared below us, a 7 foot For Fishing or Real Estate: 2/2/1 Updated, 80‚ Seawall, Dock, Open 2200 sf, 3/2/2, Huge lake view across shark, starting his ever Floor Pan. Really nice home! $309,900,!

Just Ask The Captain fairway. Walk to clubhouse. $399,900! tightening circle, honing in on the scent trails pouring Sailboat Waterfront Bargain 120 of Seawall, off our stringers. Being Treasure Island Sailboat Canal with immedidown 130 feet, an ascent ate open water access.

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PGI Priced to Sell Luckily this shark, like 10 Minutes to open water, 3/2/2, over 2200 Pirate Harbor most sharks we see, wasn't sqft, Immaculate, Best Double Lot! aggressive. Never lowering priced home in its class Dry lots in waterfront $575,000 his pectorals or swimming community, Rare opportunity- incredible erratically, he was really price $178,000 just curious. It is encounPunta Gorda Isles Condo with Deeded ters like these that, for me, Blackbeard Blvd.Dock! Immediate out evoke a deep respect and Saltwater Lot, 100‚ to the Harbor, large Concrete Seawall, love for the ocean.

2/2, Updated, close to Large Wooden Dock, And for anyone Fishermanʼs Village, Deep Water, Great Make offer $299,900 thinking that spear fishing Location, Sailboat $375,000 is ‘easy’ or ‘cheating;’ even Deep Creek Lake with hundreds of spear fishTranquil Beach Home Luxurious pool House Gulf waters 20 ing dives under my belt, tt with waterfall planter. minutes away. Deep 3/2/2 – over 2100sf, took me two full days of water, sailboat, magnificustom features, high diving to achieve my two cent views, boat house, ceilings, designer 2 lifts, wood floors day allowable bag limit of kitchen. $349,900 $650,000 Bring Offer!

10 grouper. I fell short of my 20 snapper bag limit

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Red Tide and the Fallacy of the Fatal Flaw

By Capt. Ron Bl ago Water LIFE Senior Guide Years ago when I was a young man in school I took a course in logic. I remember the instructor warning about deriving conclusions based on a false assumption.

If your primary data is wrong or inaccurate then every measurement and conclusion based on that data will also be wrong and inaccurate.

It’s like building a house; if the foundation is off then the frame will be off and so will the walls, the windows, the roof; everything is dependent on the precision of the step before it.

When I got involved in the manatee mess back in the late 80s I used those basic rules of logic to examine the conventional wisdom of the day which was, that the manatee was on the verge of extinction and that boaters where the biggest threat to the manatee’s survival.

I found that premise to be fatally flawed and set about asking some tough questions and letting our readers know what I found out. Fifteen years later, after millions of dollars have been spent and even more millions of man hours have been wasted, we have more manatees than ever before with a lot of people thinking that those manatees were always there, but no one bothered to accurately count them.

Now, a new controversy is beginning: RED TIDE. We all get to be in on the ground floor of this dispute ... and we all have a stake in this fight.

There are a few things about red tide that most people agree upon. Red tide has always been with us; it kills fish, manatees, turtles, birds porpoises, pets and probably people – especially if they eat shellfish. It stinks and it’s bad for business and we all

wish it would go away ... but it won’t.

A small skirmish has broken out in the scientific community which I am pretty sure will turn into full scale war if both sides don’t come together and make peace.

What’s at stake is at least $5 million a year in research grants to study red tide. One side is trying very hard to change the publics’ perception of red tide.

Their basic premise is that the outbreaks of red tide are getting more frequent and more severe, and the cause of this epidemic is the increase in man made pollution especially the pollution coming down the Caloosahatchee and the Peace Rivers.

Remember that prevailing wisdom is determined by the media and ‘experts.’ After all it was the local newspapers who for years were telling us how much the manatees were in trouble and who was responsible, and the experts of course were the folks at the Save the Manatee Club.

With red tide, the main-stream media has found their white knight (or Don Quixote as the case my be) in Larry Brand, a marine researcher from the University of Miami who has said publicly that he knows for sure that red tide is caused by man made pollution. He came to that conclusion not by doing any in-the-field research, but by re-analyzing other people’s research. He said the proof was always there if only they were smart enough to see it.

I’m sure that he feels if he could get a piece of that $5 million he would be able to prove his

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case.

On the other side is the Florida Marine Research Institute. Their position is that they have been studying red tide for over 50 years and have analyzed over 64,000 records containing data collected from over 78 agencies, institutes, universities and researcher; and frankly if there is a link between red tide and man made pollution, they are not seeing it. That creates a problem; two people seeing the same thing and coming to totally different conclusions.

Now along comes a third party, Mote Marine Lab in Sarasota.

Mote has always been considered the diplomat in the marine research business and has learned that to get the really big research grants you have to stay middle of the road. They say that their research so far has not confirmed the link between red tide and man made pollution; but that doesn’t mean it’s not there. I’ve always said that if Mote Marine had a coat of arms, their motto would be ‘we need more research – and more research requires more money’.

In an effort to clear the air and try to get everyone working in the same direction, Mote has just finished hosting a red tide seminar attended by 70 red tide experts (who would have guessed there were that many?). The cost of the meeting was $100,000 paid for by NOAA. If they can answer the questions about what causes red tide and what we can do to eliminate it, or at least diminish its effects, it will be money well spent. But we have to remember when we hear the media say that ‘experts now feel that red tide is linked to man made pollution,’ they are just making that up.

Capt Blago cane be reached at

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Shown here, workers spray clay on a red tide bloom in South Korea.

Locally, the Florida phosphate industry has hinted that spraying phosphate clay on Floridaʼs red tide blooms might be the answer.

Phosphate Industry Has to be Watching Red Tide Research

St aff Rep o rt According to a phosphate industry report, clay spread on red tide algae blooms may kill them. Clay, the report says, has been used in Japan, China and Korea to control or suppress red tide blooms. South Korea has done the most with the idea of using clay to control red tides to protect that country's extensive marine mariculture industry. In that part of the world red tide is a major economic problem because people eat, and make their living harvesting and selling, fish and shellfish.

When added to the seawater, the clay particles attaches to each other and to microscopic organisms like the red tide algae, eventually growing into aggregate particles that settle to the ocean bottom. If they settle deep enough and are not resuspended or don't escape, the organisms die. Studies done in Korea also indicate that the clay does not build up on the ocean floor, but that may not be the case in other locations.

The study sponsored by the Florida phosphate industry indicated that Florida phosphatic clay works better than other clays because it is very fine and stays in the water for a long time. It also has a high concentration of a mineral (i.e., montmorillonite) that is very sticky and key to the clay's ability to capture a number of the algae organisms.

What the report doesn’t dwell on is that the phosphatic clay produced as part of Florida's phosphate mining operations is radioactive.

The matrix that is mined contains roughly equal parts of phosphate, sand and clay. The clay and sand are separated from the phosphate, which is chemically converted into phosphoric acid and used to make fertilizer. The clay is stored in settling areas that take up to 40 percent of the land that is mined.

Radioactive settling areas remain the consistency of pudding forever. While the soil is nutrient rich, the settling areas have limited use because of their load bearing capacity. Finding uses for the clay and settling areas that exist is a FIPR research priori-

Fishing the Dog Days of Summer August 2006

By Capt Robert Moore Water LIFE Senior Guide The phrase ‘dog days of summer’ has lived up to its meaning for me over the last month. Although I know even warmer days are ahead, I sincerely hope the fishing on the flats gets hotter. There is nothing I hate more than writing with any hint of negativity – after all we are talking about fishing, whether you’re fishing or catching, it’s all good! – but honestly, I have been somewhat disappointed with my fishing, especially in the backcountry for snook and reds, lately.

Are the fish just not here? In my opinion, yes they are here, but they are obviously not where I am looking. At mid day the water temperature gauge on my boat flickers between 88-90 degrees when I am on the flats. That is pretty hot. Over the years of putting that fishing puzzle together I have found when the water temperature gets over 85 degrees the fishing goes down hill. I feel most fish have moved off the flats seeking cooler water in deeper areas.

But in August and September, although it’s usually hotter, I believe you will see more action on the flats.

August and September are the height of our rainy season and with two major rivers draining into Charlotte Harbor, usually by mid August the rivers are flowing and beginning to crest. The cooler fresh water

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will considerably lower the overall water temperature on the flats. There are several web sites on the internet that will tell you the height of the Peace and Myakka Rivers (as of late July both rivers were down, and actually lower than previous years in July). When the flats cool off the action rises. Until then, my attention is been diverted by the action that continues daily in the deeper portions of Charlotte Harbor.

The most consistent action of the summer so far has got to be the Spanish mackerel bite going on throughout Charlotte Harbor. A 1/2 ounce silver or gold spoon has been my best bet for covering a lot of water. Look for congregations of diving birds around pods of bait. The mackerel are usually what pushes the pods of bait to the surface, therefore attracting the feeding birds. I prefer to use a 12 inch leader of 80-pound monofilament instead of wire. My experience is that you will get three times more hits on mono than wire.

Make your cast right into pods of bait on the surface. The key to success has been to retrieve your bait very fast and never give your lure any slack. Mackerel are a very fast fish and if your retrieve is too slow they will inhale your bait down to the leader. Then their teeth are cutting away at you leader as you fight them.

Eighty pound mono will hold up against a few cuts here and there but not forever.

Nic Marshal (left) and Ryan Moore show off a nice Spanish mackerel caught last month.

The great thing about finding feeding mackerel is you will usually always find an assortment of other feeding fish with them. Cobia and sharks are usually not far behind. I have also found that tarpon have been hanging within close proximity of large schools of feeding mackerel.

Tarpon action has been a little slower over the last month, but as I write this several large schools have begun to make their way up the Harbor. The outgoing tide has produced the best bite. Large threadfin

herring in the six to seven inch range have produced the most strikes followed by large pinfish. In the early morning and late evening both the Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte canal systems are holding lots of juvenile fish in the 10-25lb range. Also, I have had several reports of tarpon of all sizes up the Peace River as far as Liverpool. Good luck and Tight Lines!

Capt Robert Moore can be reached for comments, fishing information or to book a charter at (941) 637-5710

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Texture, Paint and Cabinets ...

This New House Part 15

By Mi chael Hel l er Water LIFE editor We must be getting close because all my work clothes are now covered with paint instead of concrete. After we got the drywall hung and taped Jim Stevens came in and texture-sprayed it. The drywall texture process is necessary to cover the taped seams of the individual drywall boards hung in the interior. In our case 212 boards, to be exact.

Texture spraying involves applying a watery liquefied mixture of gypsum with a high pressure air gun. It’s a noisy, messy process. The gun ‘screams’ loudly as the spray goes on. Hearing protection is required. After covering the windows, Jim ‘fogged’ all our ceilings on the first day with a thin layer of white. Then he came back the next day and sprayed over the walls and white ceiling with texture. The texture coat goes on in a controlled splatter pattern - Jim then ‘knocks down’ (flattens) the splatter with a big acrylic paddle.

The finished result is elegant. Jim’s work shows a soft subtle detail that has already inspired complimentary comments from other contractors. Our ceilings look like a finely detailed bride’s veil. The walls are equally perfect.

When Jim finished the texture spray he came back a third day and hand-sanded the round corners and window openings. What a great job!

Then, the next day, my friend ‘ACMike’ came over to set the air conditioning units. Suddenly we were ‘under air.’ This was a big step forward. We were no longer sweating, in fact we were shivering. Two tons upstairs, four tons downstairs. On a ‘test-dive’ we got the temperature down to 65. Moisture ran out of the condensation pipes in a stream and the house started to dry out.

My fishin’ friend Mel who lives in Miami is in the barrel, drum and bucket business. As it turns out, he supplies 5-gallon pails to Povia Paint, in Fort Myers. Mel hooked me up with the owner of Povia, and we cut a deal on paint. I had a painter lined up who was going to do the exterior but he flaked out. I knew I didn’t want to do the exterior myself – the AC had me spoiled already, so while we were waiting on the exterior, my wife Ellen, my friend Bob and I started painting the interior.

One morning when I ran over to True Value Hardware for some more roller covers I ran into Gary Arnold, owner of Spectrum Paint. Gary and I struck up a conversation and then he followed me back to the house to check it out. We cut a deal and two days later Gary and his crew started painting the exterior.

From the start I could see Gary’s guys were professional painters.

They’ve done this before. Gary’s price was fair and he got the job done on schedule. I’d recommend him to anyone. But there was one problem. When it was done, we hated the way the house looked. What we thought would be a subtle brown turned out to look more like a dirty diaper. It was nothing Gary did, we simply picked the wrong color.

So we had Gary paint it all again. The house took over 200 gallons in all!

While Gary was doing the outside the first time I started on the plugs and switches for the interior electric - 83 outlets and 36 switches. We used the Leviton ‘Vizia’ line of digital switches that not only dim the lights but fade them out when you turn them off – expensive, but nice. I only hope they hold up to the typical Florida power surges we get. I put in a whole-house surge protector just to be sure.

Long about the time I finished the electric, Jimmy Fry’s guys from Cabinet’s Plus in Punta Gorda arrived to install our cabinetry. They too turned out to be professional-quality craftsmen, assembling the various modules that made up our kitchen and two baths. Then the guy who does the Corian countertops came by and cut out cardboard templates for his shop. The house is starting to come together.

Our one little stumbling block this month (if you don’t count painting the house the wrong color!) was the sewer line.

Jack from H2O plumbing came out and dug up the yard to hook up the house to the sewer, but he could only find an old 3-inch plastic line. I went up to Charlotte County Utilities and talked to the lady behind the desk who told me I’d need to hire an engineer and retain a licensed sewer contracting company to design and install the 4-inch tap I was looking for. “Why don’t you just reduce it to three inches?” another worker suggested. Both were bad ideas.

The lady handed me some paperwork that she said could take four months to get approved. I asked to speak to one of the guys in the back.

To make a long story short, the guy in the back told me who to call and in a couple of days he had the problem solved. Thank you Charlotte County Utilities.

So on Monday July 24, we took a mattress over to the new house and spent the first night. It was one year to the day from when we got our permit.

MAGAZINE

August 2006

we spend our first night in the new house.

Photos from the Top:

Jim Stevens sprays the drywall, then he ʻknocks it down and finally Jim and his wife Brenda clean up the mess and scrape the floors.

All clean and aired out, the house looks good in the afternoon light.

Cabinets installed, cardboard templates for the countertops are cut out.

Spectrum painters work the exterior while my wife Ellen paints the second bedroom.

Insert: Ollie Tipton and his crew plant the first of three 16foot palm clusters to replace trees Charley broke off.

Peace River Pastime

Water LIFE

August 2006

By Fi shi n’ Frank Water LIFE Senior Guide The Peace River, is where the tarpon are.

From the I-75 bridge to the Nav-A-Gator the tarpon are rolling and feeding. Schools of shads are moving up and down the river keeping the tarpon in a holding or feeding pattern.

Early, late or mid day the tarpon can be seen rolling. Head up river and just before you get to the I-75 bridges slow to an idle and start watching the water. While no two waves look alike there is a pattern and a sameness to the movement of the waves, but not so when rolling tarpon break the surface. You have to learn to scan the surface and get used to the look of the waves.

Then look for something different.

Look for something out of place; white foam, a splash, the silvery side of a tarpon, waves that move in the wrong direction.

Things like these indicate that something is or has happened there. Do not be discouraged if you don’t see much the first time. It is not that the fish are not there. You are just not seeing them. This is very much like learning a new language. At first you only recognize a few small words then soon whole sentences are clear to you. Spotting fish requires practice. The cool part is the river is a great place to hide out on windy days, or when rain threatens. Use the Harbour Heights boat ramp. It’s close to the fish and an easy in and out. Harbour Heights has one of the nicest riverside parks in the county, two fishing piers and lots of stuff for the kids to climb on.

While you’re going slow looking for the tarpon you might as well do a little trolling. The smaller Rapapla X-rap in black and silver has been working great on everything from tarpon to jewfish. Sorry but I just can not be politically correct.

They will always be jewfish to me and yes, that is right, there are jewfish in the river now. Lures with black as their primary or secondary color have been the ticket.

Along the shore line, trolling for snook as well as tarpon has become the Peace River Pastime. In the 1980s most of us trolled the canals and the river around Harbour Heights for snook using a paddle tail shad on a 1/2 once jig head. This was the best way the catch fish until something trendier came along. But do you think fish follow fashionable fishing techniques the way we do?

Traditionally, the one major difference to trolling in the Peace River is how far back from the boat the lure is run. Fifty to 150 feet of line is common for a river troller, while in deeper water it is usually just beyond the bubble trail of the boat – maybe 20 to 75 feet. But the farther back you keep your lure from the boat on the river the more fish you will catch.

Leave it to my dad to do the opposite of that. He was pulling a Sprite out of the Lettuce Lake creek and jumped a tarpon 30

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feet behind the boat. What a sight! A 50 pound sliver King jumping 6 feet. The water spray going every where. How cool is that?

THERE ARE TWO MAIN WAYS TO TROLL ON THE PEACE RIVER.

Either with the rod at a 90 degree angle to the boat pointing at the shore line – with this style you pilot the boat so you lure goes close to the shore line or docks to get the lure as close to the fish as possible.

The second style is running with the lure strait behind the boat and with the lures as far back as possible so the boat itself chases the fish out of hiding as you motor by then as the fish moves back to its original spot as they almost always do the lure comes along . If the fish is moving anyway and not snoozing, the chances of a bite are increased.

With a chase and bite style (or the 2nd way) it is very important to run the lure as far back as the curves of the river permit so you do not snag.

This works with tarpon. When you see one roll move the boat in that direction and what ever you do, do not touch the throttle, a change in the sound of your engine will alarm the fish and most often they will not bite. A steady noise is one they hear coming and I think that while fish are watchful they are not threatened. It is when the sound changes or stops they become wary. Boats come and go all day, but the ones that stop threatens them.

LIVE RIVER

BAITING

TARPON

UP

I like to use shrimp or threadfins under a bobber. From hook to bobber should be about 4 feet. Shrimp can be bought at our store now and threadfins are readily caught in the upper harbor. Do not keep many threadfins as they will not live long even in a good live well system. As far as tackle, a medium-heavy spinning or bait casting rod and reel combo is best. River tarpon in August are tarpon to catch on your snook/redfish tackle. They average around 30 pounds of muscle and jumping ability.

Remember; troll along until you see a pod of tarpon feeding then use an electric motor or drift by them. Cast the bobber just to the side of the feeding fish, not into the middle – that would spook them right out of there.

If you were eating dinner and someone threw a lure on the table you would move out too. The trick is not to let them know you are there. Sneaky is the key.

Forty pound test leader with 12 pound mono line and a 4/0 hook is more that enough for this outing. For you braided line guys, go for at least a three foot leader. With the mono line 18" is more than good.

I am worried that another brain dead politician has permitted another billionplus gallon phosphate dump into the Gulf of Mexico. Could there be enough money

This tarpom was golden in color because of the stain of river water.

to payoff enough people to do such a thing again? Sadly I guess there is. They should be ashamed, I am embarrassed for them.

Because we will be dealing with this again for the next few years I would like to remind you it is very unlikely that red tide will come into the upper harbor; that is from Cape Haze north to Port Charlotte.

The peace River and Myakka River are running strong and river water kills red tide. At least for now, we the sons and daughters of the upper harbor are safe ... at least until the rains stop. Then who knows??

The good news is we do not live along the coast. It looks like those poor souls are going to have a bad time of it again Good luck and have some fun. Go fishing! It seems like everyone here has been stressed since the time of Charley's visit.

Business is summer-slow. There has never been a better time to enjoy the wonders of Charlotte Harbor and the rivers. Relax and enjoy. We really do live in the tropical paradise we dreamed of.

Fishin Frank can be reached for fishing at

Page 16

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

Pirate Redfis Tourn August 2006

A benefit Charlotte Football T

e sh nament August 2006

for the Port e High School Team

Water LIFE

school’s athletic programs will benefit from a

By El l en Hel l er new weight room. “Last year the event Wat er LIFE The weather was perfect, overcast with lit- bought the football team new blocking sleds,” Ingman added. tle or no wind – the sun hidden behind the The two fish that won, weighed 6.85 and clouds. The Pirate Redfish Tournament was a 7.95 pounds and were tournament quality fish benefit for the Port Charlotte High School that could easily have won the FLW or football team. This was the second year for Redfish Cup events. For local angler Capt. the event, and as tournaments go it was a Danny Latham’s team having the two winsuccess. A field of 78 teams weighed in 58 ning fish got them the keys to a new fish, five of which were 7-pounds or greater.

The event help raise over $15,000 for the school’s Capt. Name Team Name Angler 1 1 Dan Latham No Name John Ochs athletic department. “This 2 Ozzie Fischer Century Wolcott Marine Tony Smith year we are using the 3 Tony Rowan Team Knee Deep John Baxter money to revamp the 4 Wayne Kerry Big Hit Wayne Kerry Jr. weight room,” tournament 5 Jay Withers Maverick Mike Manis 6 Rob Kendrick Hammered Heads Robert Yates sponsor Gary Ingman said, 7 Paul Lambert Bent Rods Donnie Lambert noting that “not only the 8 John Newman Tarpon Tide Charters Beni Newman football team, but all the 9 Mike Wedell Motley Crew Larry McLean 10

tion!

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MAGAZINE

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Page 17

Maverick flats boat, motor and trailer - the first place prize.

One of the nice things about the event was the $2500 prize for the fish with the most spots. Clay Grasland weighed in a red with 19 spots and took home the cash. “You don’t have to have a big redfish to win the spots prize,” one angler noted. “Actually some of the smaller fish have more spots.”

Billy Shaffer

Angler 2

Richard Freund Terry Brantley Josh Smith

Jeremy Barnes Paul Scott Bill Davidson Donnie Levensen Dean Wilson

Red 1 6.85 6.75 7.35 6.70 6.20 6.15 6.25 6.70 5.95 7.20

Red 2 7.95 7.50 6.55 6.60 6.95 6.90 6.70 6.10 6.80 5.55

Total 14.80 14.25 13.90 13.30 13.15 13.05 12.95 12.80 12.75 12.75

4418 North Shore Dr. Harbor front H This completely remodouse! eled 2/2 pool home is located directly on Charlotte Harbor and the breathtaking view is unsurpassable. Sit by your pool and enjoy a Florida sunset every evening. A new dock will be installed at this price. Call me today for more details on this one of a kind deal. MLS# 622782 $990,000

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Page 18

Water LIFE

Area Real Estate News

MAGAZINE

PROVIDED BY: Dave & Marlene Hofer RE/MAX Harbor Realty(941) 5753777dhofer@remax.net mhofer@remax.net Recent area news i tems:

1. Preliminary Charlotte County tax millage rates are out. Because total taxable valuations rose about 50%, millage rates can decrease by approximately 20%. Just to prove that she is worthy of retaining her County Board seat, Sarah Devos proclaimed that the millage rate should remain the same as last year.

She feels that taxpayers would get spoiled if they were to get a tax decrease and wouldn't be a supset if rates had to go back up in future years.

2. Englewood will be getting a new playhouse. The new facilitywill accommodate 300 in its 37,000 sf facility.

The old facility would only seat 94.

3. Sarasota County will purchase an additional 100 acres for $3 million to expand preserves on the Myakka River.

4. Charlotte County proposed massive assessments to take over responsibilities for improving and maintaining roadways and drainagesystems in various rustic areas. Residents of Charlotte Ranchettes, South Punta Gorda and other derelict neighborhoods predictably booed the proposals to improve their long neglected communities.

5. Lee and Collier Counties are evaluating plans to make a portion of I-75 a tollway to pay for plans to expand the stretch from Ft. Myers to Naples to 10 lanes.

6. A community shopping center will be developed on ToledoBlade north of Lakeside. Anchor tenants haven't been disclosed, but bigbox stores are anticipated.

7. Progress even comes to Ft. Ogden.

The sleepy little townout on Rt. 17 received a proposal to build 90 townhomes. News must not have gotten out there that the multi family craze has come and gone already.

8. Syd Kitson appeased the Sierra Club by withdrawing his plan to build 1400 "in law" apartments as part of his Babcock Ranch plan. He also did a great job in convincing them that his program was ecologically well planned.

9. Charlotte County is moving forward on its $15.5 million plan to acquire The Buck Creek Preserve in Englewood and the Myakka El Jobean Park. These sites will add 113 acres to protected

August 2006

nature areas in the County.

10. Punta Gorda will squander only a little more money to try to pressure Ron Oskey into speeding up the City Marketplace development. Marilyn Smith- Mooney is suggesting that Beall's ought to be pressured to resolve its differences with Oskey so that the development can go forward.

11. The incomplete Preserve at Windward Condo complex in Placida will go up for auction on August 9. 7 unsold condos and a site for 90 more will go to the highest bidder.

12. FGCU has decided that the campus site offered by Stock Development out on Bermont Road is too remote to make a good college campus. So it's looking for ideas of how to get a 150 acre site AND money to develop it from another benevolent developer. This is another opportunity that Charlotte County needs to take advantage of to create amore diverse environment for our residents.

13. Charlotte County CRA will receive about $2.2 million fromtaxes this year instead of the $1 received in past years.

The additional funds will be put to good use in Laishley Park.

14. WCI Communities has announced the proposed development of 78 acres on Burnt Store Road just South of Notre Dame. A total of 390 single family homes are contemplated.

Other Ti dbi ts:

Commercial real estate insurance is not available at all now and will come at a very dear price after hurricane season.

Hopefully our state insurance commissioner will recognize that something needs to be done before the entire development process comes to a halt.

Brunswick Corp, one of America's largest recreational boat manufacturers is predicting a huge slowdown in sales and profits this year. Just another indicator that oil prices and flattening nationwide real estate prices are affecting retirement plans for many.

S al es S tati sti cs:

Median lot prices recovered slightly during June. Median prices are still 27% below last year. Home prices remained stable, probably because of the increasing availability of reasonably priced spec houses in North Port and Port Charlotte.

Upper end sales continued to be very quiet. Condominium sales totaled only 14 in the area vs. 264 new listings.

August 2006

ScuttleButt

Water LIFE

Sometimes Unsubstanciated ... but often true!

Invited Back Capts. Mike Mahan and Rob Moore have been invited back for the 2007 ESPN MadFin Shark tournament.

The fishing will likely be in the Keys, but speculation remains that the venue could switch to Boca Grande. The tournament will air on ESPN next summer.

Boca Lighthouse Beach Because of vandalism, Lighthouse Park at the tip of Boca Grande will close at sunset as per existing park regulations. HOWEVER fishermen who want to fish from the beach at night can apply for special permission to access the property after hours. Anglers who register at the lighthouse will receive the combination to the lock at the gate.

the shore, I was waving like crazy to get them to go on the outside, but instead he kept going. He made a remark as he sped by “your way out there..” Well my fish were ʻin there.ʼ I understand Punta Gorda has a ordinance that boaters must maintain idle speeds in water less than 6 feet. I sure would like to see that law enforced.

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Flatsmasters Scholarship Program Starting with the '06/'07 school year, The Flatsmasters and The Flatsmasters Junior Angler Tournament will award a $1,500.00 scholarship to a Charlotte High Graduating student who is pursuing an education in the Marine Biology or Fisheries Research/Management field. Details and Applications will be available in January 2007 Buzzing the Flats A note from Dale Haskell:

In the last two weeks I have been on a school of tailing redfish 200 yards from shore and have had a boat fly by me an spook the school. I had a boat go inside of me one morning less than 50 yards from

Page 19

MAGAZINE

Capt Angel Tores and Kimberly Osborne will tie the knot on Sept 2nd. The Tarpon will probably not be at the wedding.

Kayaking on Fisheating Creek Page 20

By El l en Hel l er Water LIFE Publisher “Nice day for boating!” I shouted above the pounding rain and furiously swiping windshield wipers in the truck. We both laughed and actually it was a great day for kayaking. Sometime earlier in the week the plan had been casually coming together as Fish Eating Creek kept surfacing in Michael’s mind. Saturday we decided to go for a ride and see what was calling him to this creek off Lake Okeechobee.

We drove out of the rain and had a pleasant 45-minute ride into the middle of the state hopeing to rent a kayak.

Here is a personal confession; I am a sucker for tourist traps!

Worlds Largest Tepee, South of the Border, Real Indian Villages, The North Pole, Rattlesnake Ranches etc, they all suck me in like a Hoover. (Hoover Dam?) So it was no surprise when I let out a gasp at the sight of “Gatorama” along the road in bum-yuck no-where.

“Maybe on the way back” was the most excitement I could get from my partner and it lacked both enthusiasm and sincerity.

On our first try we went to the wrong place along the creek for renting canoes, so we doubled back to try another direction. I had one more shot, Gatorama loomed ahead and I had to talk fast. “ OK let’s just stop and check it out. See how it compares to Gatorland in Ft. Myers. We can just look in the gift shop,” I said. I was getting close to pleading, but he was slowing down. So I said it, “No more than $10. We will not spend more than $10 to see gators.” That did it and we turned in. I seriously did not want to see the poor big beasts cooped up in slimy ponds, but I wanted to see what was inside. I am a sucker. We did a quick lap in the gift shop and saw the posted rates of $10.00 each. We politely left. I didn’t even use the rest room.

In the car I looked at the brochures we picked up and there it was: Fish Eating Creek boat rental, so our stop was not for naught.

At the creek we had our choice of numerous canoes or 2 kayaks, yaks it was. The man in charge of the boats had a wonderful midchest-length white beard and looked like one of the Seven Dwarfs, maybe Doc, because of the wire

Water LIFE

frame glasses, or Smiley because he was also very nice.

The water was high from all the rain and running swiftly. We decided to paddle upstream and float back. Sounded easy, but it wasn’t.

These rental kayaks were adequate but much tougher to paddle than other boats I have tried. My back never felt quite right in the seat.

Pretty quick in the trip some ants that had been the previous kayak occupants found me. One in particular got my immediate attention when he traveled up my shorts and bit me on my thigh. There were only a few and I won the battle swiftly, but it was tough to squish the ants and paddle upstream simultaneously, otherwise I lost ground.

But I loved it.

The bow continually fell off, left or right, into the 4 knot current so correcting or over correcting was a constant battle at first. But further up creek we found paddling easier and the surroundings more than compensated our efforts.

Because the water was so high the creek was all over the place and a little tough to follow, arrows on posts every now and then assured us we were on the right path. We went about two miles upstream enjoying the intermittent shade from trees and clouds and stopping periodically for Gator Aide breaks. During one rest stop we heard the real thing croaking as only gators can croak, deep and resonate. It was extremely silent so his voice sounded huge and I felt small and vulnerable.

The cypress trees were truly magnificent, the bases of their trunks feminine in form. Some were worn smooth, like alabaster sculptures, from years of water flow. Others had shapes resembling the old fashioned hooped gowns of southern belles with hanging moss for their lace. The current and high water made it tough to avoid touching these trees either with your kayak, paddle or hands. At one spot Michael pushed himself off of a tree with his hand and a big black spider ran down inches from his touch.

This was not a Jesus bug or water spider – it was big. I made such a fuss we had to go back so Michael could see his near brush with death, but he poo-pooed me in typical male fashion and we went on our way. From then on, I watched where I put my hands.

Distant thunder was growing

August 2006

MAGAZINE

less distant and we knew the storm was inevitable. When you know you are just going to get wet, no matter what, rain can be very pleasant.

In the thick of the rain we decided to stop fighting Fish Eating Creek and let it have its way with us. Sometimes backwards, sometimes sideways we floated effortlessly back the way we had struggled to come and soon the rain had moved on. On their way up stream one small powerboat all but stopped when they saw us so we could float by. Then we passed a party of 4 or 5 small boats with moms, dads, kids, coolers and fishing poles all heading up stream.

Other than those two encounters we were undisturbed all afternoon.

We floated with our eyes closed, we floated stretched out on our backs watching the clouds, and we raced without paddling, generally soaking up some quiet time. Near the end of our expedition we watched a gator swim lazily back and forth from shore to shore in a type of farewell gesture. I thought of Gatorama and was glad I hadn’t contributed to the business of holding these ancient creatures prisoners.

“Doc” was at the dock when we got back and he noted “You made it back!” Pretty observant fella, nonetheless we pulled our yaks ashore and smiled. Michael took the paddles and headed for the boathouse. Eager to help I grabbed my life vest from my yak. I walked over and snatched up Michael’s vest from his boat and WHOA! there was that big black spider up close and way to personal for me. When I showed it to him, Michael just laughed and said he guessed the spider just needed a ride!

*

FisheatingCreek

Lake Okeechobee

DRIVING DIRECTIONS, ABOUT 1 HOUR: Take HWY 17 east from Punta Gorda, turn Right on Hwy 74 and follow it to Hwy 27, turn left and go about 1 mile, the Fisheating Creek campground is on your left. Kayak and canoe rentals are available. Call ahead to make reservations.

Newest Pending IGFA World Records August 2006

By Pete Johnson, S peci al to Water LIFE fron the IGFA

Each month the IGFA highlights documented fish catches from across the globe. IGFA world records coordinator Rebecca Reynolds has selected nine new potential records before the committee:

Several million bass fishermen would have loved to have been for a moment 11 year old Mackenzie Hickox, of Daytona Beach, Fla., U.S.A., who landed a 15 l b 12 oz (7 12 kg) l argemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) fishing Spruce Creek Fly-In, Daytona Beach. She took just five minutes to land the fish using a strobe spinner. Mackenzie is hoping to replace the current junior female record which is 12 lb 10 oz caught on Feb. 23, 1997.

Fly-fishing Annone Lake, Italy Paolo Pacchiarini, of Milano, landed a 32 l b 0 oz (14. 51 kg) northern pi ke (Esox lucius) in ten minutes using his hand tied fly on 10 kg (20 lb) tippet. The current record is 30 lb 8 oz caught 10 years ago.

Photo is in his living room.

Also on fly Curtis Olmstead, Milan, Michigan, U.S.A., landed a 27 l b 8 oz (12. 47 kg) muskel l unge (Esox masquinongy) fishing the Delta River in Michigan using a clouser minnow on 8 kg (16 lb) tippet. The current record for a muskie on that tippet is 21 lb 0 oz caught Oct. 17, 2003.

Mark Bachmann of Welches, Oregon, U.S.A., is hoping for a record for the 31 l b 0 oz (14. 06 kg) Cal i forni a yel l owtai l (Seriola Lalandi dorsalis) he landed while fly fishing with10 kg (20 lb) tippet in Loreto, B.C.S., Mexico.

The fish fight took 45 minutes. The current record is 22 lb 4 oz caught July 19, 2004.

It took 90 minutes for Victor Sommers, Balboa Island, Calif., U.S.A., to land a 45 l b 9 oz ( 20. 69 kg) whi te seabass (Atractoscion noblis) while fishing Laguna Beach using 3 kg (6 lb) line class. The current record is 43 lb 7 oz caught April 10, 2004.

In Japan, Norikazu Fukinaga, of Yokohama-Shi, Kanagawa, landed a 5 l b 11 oz (2. 60 kg) stone fl ounder (Kareius bicoloratus) in twelve minutes fishing Kashima, Ibaraki, Japan.

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

Fishing the River Mincio in Italy, Guenther Schwierzy, of Bissingen, Germany, landed a 228 l b 6 oz (103. 60 kg) wel s (Silurus glanis). Using an eel for bait it took Guenther 25 minutes to capture the huge fish. He has applied for a potential all tackle record. The current mark is 202 lb caught August 16, 1999.

Luis Mago Corrochano, Valencia, Venezuela, landed a 26 l b 0 oz (11. 79 kg) speckl ed peacock (Cichla temensis) fishing the Rio Pasiba in Venezuela for a potential 10 kg (20 lb) line class record. It took Luis 12 minutes to rein the fish

in. The current mark is 24 lb 0 oz caught January 15, 1982.

Page 21

An all-tackle record has been applied for by Chongdae Lim, Kangnam-gu, Seoul, Korea who landed a 70 l b 8 oz (32 kg) A si l ver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)in 28 minutes while fishing Andong-s, Kyungsangbok-Do, Korea. He may double the current record which is 35 lb 4 oz captured on the Danube River in Austria in 1983.

CONGRATULATIONS TO: BUCKY DENNIS IGFA WORLD RECORD HAMMERHEAD – WEIGHING1280 POUNDS CAUGHT AT BOCA GRANDE, JUNE 2006

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Water LIFE

Page 22

August 2006

MAGAZINE

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This property offers access to Charlotte Harbor via the Elkam Waterway.

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19349 Abhenry $589,900 Attnetion-Serious Boaters!! All you need is your boat, poles and tackle when you buy this fisher- friendly home. Offering 99 ft of seawall with sailboat access via the Countryman waterway, this property already has a 10,000# and a 20,000# boat lift in place, Tiki Hut with water and electri to clean your catch of the day.

- 3 bed rooms, 2 bath, 2+ car garage, custom pool added in 2003. Call Nancy Grube at 941-661-9737 to see this beauty.

Boat of the Year August 2006

Water LIFE

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MAGAZINE

By Bi l l Di xon Water LIFE Sailing Contributors The Charlotte Harbor Boat of the Year races are over and results were announced at the West Florida PHRF annual meeting. Winners included: S pi nnaker Fl eet 1st Rooster Tail Dave Flechsig, 2nd Bama Slammer Bob Knowles, 3rd Crime Scene Peter New. Non S pi nnaker Fl eet 1st Fancy Free Jerry Poquette, 2nd Learning to Fly George Buckingham 3rd Journey On Bob/ Mary Anderson.

True Crui si ng Fl eet 1st Diva Gorda Rudy Gottschlich, 2nd Ironic Breeze Chuck Taylor, 3rd EZ Rider Jim Deeble.

Mul ti hul l Fl eet 1st Bahama Hunter Tom Bragaw, 2nd Anhinga Robert Libbey, 3rd Tri Umph Doug French.

The ‘06’- 07 BOTY competition starts Labor Day Weekend with the Summerset Regatta. This is a distance race from Ft. Myers to Naples on Saturday and 2 buoy races in the Gulf off Naples on Sunday. The distance race is worth double (10 points) for showing up. Other regattas in the BOTY series are: PPYC’s Golden Conch in January, PGSC’s Leukemia Cup in February, PGSC’s Conquistador Cup regatta in March and the Key West Rendezvous in June For ‘06-’07 Charlotte Harbor BOTY series, West Florida PHRF has given us 2 fleets each in Non-Spinnaker and in True -Cruising class. The splits will be determined later, but will be based on length and displacement as well as

Boats approach the starting line during one of the Leukemia Cup races in April

PHRF handicap. In general though, there will be a small, slow boat fleet and a large faster boat fleet in both True Cruising and in Non Spinnaker categories. This will provide us an additional 6 trophies and WFPHRF trophies are Nice! We tried the fleet-split concept out this summer.

Because of the reduced number of race boats available, we combined the large fast Cruisers with the large fast Non Spinnaker boats; the smaller slower boats of both types

were likewise combined. I thought it worked well and I was a misfit large slow boat. Since the Club’s fall series starts August 20, long before we can expect the first snowbirds back, I am betting that we will do a similar thing with about the same boats for the fall PGSC series.

Check the PGSC web site PGSCweb.com, call or email me for info on either BOTY or the fall PGSC series.

A P P

Hurricane Survival

Page 24

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

August 2006

Itʼs up to you

Before you decide to ‘wait out’ the next hurricane look carefully at the pictures on these pages, made by a man in Magee, Mississippi last summer when the eye of Katrina passed over.

A Realistic Hurricane Survival Kit

Charley, the storm that hit Punta Gorda in 2004, wasn’t a typical hurricane. First of all it was fast moving, in a couple of hours it was gone. It was small and compact and there wasn’t any tidal surge. That’s not typical. In the wake of Charley we had emergency supplies coming in almost immediately. There was plenty of ice available and we had more bottled water than we needed. At one time we had 8 donated cases stockpiled in the living room. We were turning water away. We had free food on the street corners and Red Cross heater-meals delivered to our door, but that’s not the way it’s going to be if we are visited by a big hurricane. So with that in mind here’s our idea of what’s important (and what’s not that important) to have in our hurricane kit and think of your kit not only as supplies for after the storm but supplies to help you prepare.

Food: Supplies for a week at least. Chances are you’ll be hot and tired the first week so you’ll only eat one meal a day. Peanut butter and jelly on crackers and trail mix worked for us. Keep it simple, buy things that are individually packaged. Tang, Gatoraide or

some other powdered added for water will break up the monotony and give you some sugar. If you like hot food, pack a sterno or two in your kit, but in the storm’s aftermath I’ll bet you’ll be hot enough for a cold meal.

A smal l generator and gas: We used 40 gallons of gas from our boat in the two and a half weeks after the storm when we had no electric. Our generators were off all night.

Extensi on cords: If you have a generator you’ll need long cords. Some homeowners rigged up a cable from their generator to the house via the electric outlet on the stove or directly to the circuit breaker panel to selectively power fans and the refrigerator. Be sure you know what you are doing if you try this and get the wire and connectors you’ll need ahead of time.

Cash Money: We didn’t spend much money in the first two weeks, but with no power transactions in local stores will be cash only.

Roofi ng Nai l s: The short stubby ones with the big plastic or tin washers on them are what you want. If your roof is still attached and FEMA comes in to ‘tarp’ it, you’ll need roofing nails to keep the tarp on after FEMA leaves. What we learned about FEMA and the Army Corps of Engineers is they mean well, but the people they put up on the roofs do less-than-adequate work in many cases. If you can’t get up on your roof to do the re-nailing that will be required, the cash money you have may come in handy.

Tapcons and other Fasteners: Don’t wait until the hardware stores sell out.

August 2006

Water LIFE

Page 25

MAGAZINE

Photos from the eye of Hurricane Katrina

Ropes: You’ll be dragging things and lashing things down. Ropes will come in handy Li ghts: Flashlights are nice, a bulb light is good if you have a generator but a simple oil lamp was the best at night for light when you didn’t want the generator making a racket.

Cl othes: You might wear the same clothes for day’s on end - you won’t need too many changes of clothes.

Fi rst Ai d ki t: Prescription glasses, required medical prescriptions, and then all the usual stuff: peroxide, Neosporon, bandaids, bandages cotton swabs and treatment for puncture wounds. You’ll step on a nail at some point I almost guarantee it. Sunscreen, aspirin and anti-biotics are good to have and Lomatil or other anti-diarrhea medicine are in my kit as well. I keep a needle and thread, several different scissors, a good sharp pair of tweezers and a scalpel in my kit. It all helps when you are digging out splinters or doing other ‘surgery.’ And put a couple of cans of spare-tire air in the kit too. Your car tires may need doctoring at some point as well.

Fi rearm and ammuni ti on: You’d be surprised at how many people were armed 24/7 after the storm. It will be up to you to take care of yourself for a while after the storm.

Tool s: If you are a homeowner, make sure the stuff you have will be accessible after the storm. Know how to turn off the gas service.

Chl ori ne tabs for the pool : A small generator won’t run a big pool pump, but it

will run a small submersible pump just fine. We used a wire trash basket a hose and a submersible pump to construct a make-shift recirculating system for our pool. With that running a couple of hours a day the pool water stayed clear, we swam and cooled off in the pool and neighbors came over to do the same. Left unattended and without electricity a pool will go to green in short order after a storm.

Camera: You’ll want pictures of the damage to dispute your insurance company Radi o or TV: - Nice but not necessary for survival after a storm. You’ll hear everything you need to know, numerous times, from your neighbors.

Cel l Phone: - Probably useless until there is power to the cell phone towers. There is a move afoot to require cell phone tower owners to have emergency generators but it’s only an idea at this point. Support the move.

House phone: If you have an older analog or dial phone you may be able to use it.

Many phone lines are underground and worked after the storm. Newer AC powered plug in style phones won’t work without power.

Cl orax: - Remember the mold scare? Has anyone died of mold since Charley? I don’t think so, but if you have a lot of water in your house an early wash down with diluted chlorine bleach will go a long way toward keeping mold at bay. A rubber bladed squeegee for the floors would be a nice tool to have on hand as well. If your carpet is soaked pull it up immediately.

Water LIFE

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Redfish Cup announces East/West Format

S t aff R eport Officials from the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup, announced an ambitious plan for 2007 and the future of tournament redfishing. The 2007 season will mark the fifth anniversary for the Redfish Cup fishing circuit, and will feature 10 tournaments and more than $1.1 million in guaranteed purses.

For 2007, the Redfish Cup will consist of an Eastern and Western Division, with each division holding three "Open" events.

In addition, three "All Star" events will offer elite qualifying teams almost $400,000 in prize money throughout the season.

The Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup Championship, will pit the top 15 teams

MAGAZINE

August 2006

from each Open division against each other in a three-day showdown for the $75,000 winner's check.

"There are more anglers wanting to fish competitively on the saltwater side everyday," said Mike McKinnis of Redfish Nation, LLC, which owns and operates the Redfish Cup. "We want to make sure that everyone has an opportunity to have some fun and live their dreams."

Each Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup Open event will pay $40,000 to the winners with a guaranteed minimum payout of $100,000. Entry fee for Open events will be $1,000 per team per event and teams may fish as many events as they wish.

Teams looking to qualify for the Championship must compete in all three

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The Kids Cup will again be aligned with the Oh Boy! Oberto Redfish Cup in 2007. Tentative plans call for the Redfish Cup to be in Punta Gorda in late May or early June. The Kids Cup will take place the weekend before the Redfish Cup with the Kids top-5 fishing the final day.

Open events in a division. The top 15 teams after the three Open events will receive an invite to the no entry fee Championship.

All Star events will feature the top 30 teams based on a three season rolling

points total, which allows for teams to become All Star eligible throughout the season. The top 30 All Star eligible teams at the end of 2006 will have priority entry into the season-opening All Star "Ice Breaker."

Water LIFE

August 2006

Fishing the Manta Ray kayak

By Ben Turpi n The boat one Kayak writer called “the best piece of tackle you’ll ever own ” comes in 12 and 14-foot lengths with a rudder option. The deep keel keeps the boat tracking well and the low profile helps reduce wind resistance.

Certainly there are faster boats on the market, but not with this many hot fishing features.

What are the things that make a great fishing

MAGAZINE

kayak? A boat that is stable and well laid out and one with the ability to customize. Some anglers want to have more than two rods on their boat and prefer not to have them both behind.

That usually leads to custom rod holders up front with 1, 2 or 3 rod capacity; and more rod holders in the rear with a milk crate for all the goodies, a 5 gallon bucket for a bait well, spin off hatches for dry (ok, semi-dry) storage, anchor lines fore and aft, tow lines... the list goes on and on and every boat ends up different.

The new Manta Ray from Liquid Logic can take 3 flush mount rod holders behind the seat

on either side, making it easy to put all your rods on one side so your not snagging a tip on a back cast.

The boat’s surface is horizontal to the water so there are no funky angles for the rod holders.

Carry handles are flattened so your not snagging them at an inopportune time when casting or landing a fish. The fore deck has a water tight hatch with bungies, there is a host of dry storage in the spin off hatches: one in the deck just before the drink holder and one just behind the seat with a plastic liner so that your keys and snacks stay dry. Recesses in the plastic make

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Page 27

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Page 28

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

August 2006

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August 2006

Water LIFE

Protecting Yourself When You Sell, Donate or Dispose of Your Vessel

By Betty S taugl er Water LIFE / Sea Grant We’ve all seen them, abandoned and derelict vessels. Some are found floating, others sitting on the bottom or in the mangroves. On land, they’re common sightings on vacant lots, in the woods or along deserted streets. So now you may be asking yourself; What exactly does abandoned and derelict vessels have to do with protecting yourself when you sell, donate or dispose of your vessel?

Di d you know – If you sell or donate a vessel to another party (including donation through the County’s Amnesty Program), and the transfer of ownership is not recorded to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV), you may be held responsible if it is later found abandoned or derelict (FSS 705.103 & 823.11) or if the vessel or its registration numbers are used illegally.

If you dispose of your vessel (including disposal through the County’s Amnesty Program) and you do not report the disposal of the vessel to the DHSMV, you may be held responsible if it is later found

abandoned or derelict or if the vessel (FSS 705.103 & 823.11) or its registration numbers are used illegally.

And if you are found liable for a derelict or abandoned vessel, you may also be held responsible for any costs incurred to remove and properly dispose of the vessel. Failure to pay could result in a lien on your property. You may also have your registration privileges revoked (including motor vehicles & vessel) (FSS 705.103 & 823.11).

If you are found liable for a derelict or abandoned vessel, you may also face criminal or civil charges if the vessel is found leaking fuel, oil or other hazardous substances, or if the vessel causes an accident (FSS 705.103 & 823.11).

It is unlawful to deploy your unwanted vessel as an artificial reef. Violators, in addition to the penalties above, could face first to third degree felony charges (FSS 370.25). Further, any motor vehicle, vessel, aircraft, container, crane, winch or machine used to reef an unwanted vessel that exceeds 500 pounds or 100 cubic feet will be considered contraband and is subject to forfeiture (FSS 403.413).

MAGAZINE

You are required by law to notify the DHSMV within 30 days of the sale, transfer or disposal of any vessel (FSS 328.64). You should not rely on the new owner to do this for you.

Notification of sale, transfer of ownership or disposal may be made at the County Tax Collector’s Office. You will need to bring applicable supporting documents which may include a copy of the Bill of Sale or Transfer, or a Receipt of Disposal (from Landfill), as well as any or all title documents. The following link is for a form that I found on the DHSMV website for vessel sellers to fill out and

Page 29

take with them to the Tax Collectors Office. www.hsmv.state.fl.us/forms/notice.html The information above was found within the cited sections of the Florida State Statutes. These Statutes are all publicly accessible at www.MyFlorida.com For more information about the County’s Amnesty program call 764-4360.

Remember when selling, donating, or disposing of your vessel to follow the law because it will protect you.

Betty Staugler is the Florida S ea Grant Agent for Charlotte County. You can reach her at 941-764-4346.

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Page 30

August Fishing Report Charlotte Harbor

Ro bert at Fi s hi n' Franks Po rt Charl o tte: 6 2 5 -3 8 8 8

August is always a tough month because you are going into the hot part of the summer and both rivers are flowing at their maximum. Right now tarpon are going to be easy to find if you are willing to get up at sunrise and be on the water when it’s glass-calm out.

You’ll see them rolling at the mouths of the Peace River and the Myakka around Hog Island ... and anywhere in the middle of the harbor. It’s a big area to cover, but you’ll see fish rolling. Live bait like

August 2006

MAGAZINE

threadfins and menhaden that start to show up at this time of year are best. Menhaden are wonderful tarpon bait. The one and only artificial lure that produces tarpon consistently is the DOA bait busters in the trolling model.

Either drift fishing for tarpon or still fishing where you are just waiting for them to move by works out very well. Bigger live baits are better because the smaller Spanish mackerel will eat the smaller baits

Continued on facing Page

By late summer the majority of our baitfish have completed spawning. This will bring large schools of fry to the flats.

Match the hatch by downsizing your baits. The Old Bay Side 4-inch Saltwater Shadlyn is the perfect size to mimic these juvenile baitfish. Best colors in the stained waters are Avacado Gold and Tuxedo used on a 1/8 ounce jig head.

Tight Lines!

FISHING

Capt Mike Mahan was off Boca Grande when he saw these guys fishing a golf cart out of the Gulf.

Old BaySide 4-inch Saltwater Shadlyn in Gold (left) and Tuxedo

August 2006

BIG-4 BIG-4

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

S harks caught are going to be Augustʼs Augustʼs Target Target Species Species smaller through August and into September. The wonderful thing about sharks is they are abundant and they make great fishing. Most of the sharks caught this month will be in the two to four foot size range so MACKEREL are in the harTRIPLETAIL are still on the SMALL SHARKS are all over TARPON are best in the light tackle fishing is the best techbor and offshore crab traps and buoys the harbor Pass and on the beach nique. Try using 10 to 15-pound test line to enjoy the sport of shark fishhook with the biggest live shrimp you the same money in gas you can probatoo, but I don’t know if ing. Anchor at Marker No. 1 or Marker can find. Or, if you are fishing up in the bly drive to the keys and catch them a they are still here with the No. 8 at the mouth of the Myakka or red tide. try the artificial reefs for sharks. Hang a harbor, they will take a small white bait lot closer in.

- say 3 inches. They are a good fighting S nook are doing their last spawn at There have been some chum bag over the side and use some fish, but you’ll have to pull them away the first full moon in August. The fish pretty good offshore fish frozen sardines or cut mullet for bait. from the pilings as fast a possible or will still be on the beaches and in the caught. They are going a Rig with 50 to 100 pound steel they will wrap you and break you off. passes and some of the near shore long way, to 150 feet, for leader and a 6-0 or a 7-0 hook. If you S pani sh mackerel should stick wrecks and reefs, but it’s very tough to grouper, both black and are doing catch-and-release, crush the around this month especially if the red catch them off those wrecks. For some reds. A friend of mine got a barb on the hook. tide doesn’t creep up in here. Red tide reason it’s hard to get them to eat any50 pound black last week.

Cobi a will be with the sharks. It is was listed in high concentrations in thing when they are on those spots.

We’ve had some big ambercommon for them to swim up to the jack, and bl ackfi n tuna – boat while you are chumming for sharks Pine Island, Captiva and Redfish Pass at the end of July. Mackerel will stay conLemon Bay at the moment there is a or drifting on the outside of the bar at sistently smaller – in the 12 to 18– Ji m at Fi shermen’s Edge variety of really good fish if the flats. Cobia will be with spotted inch range in the harbor with the bigger Engl ewood: 697-7595 you go far enough off shore. eagle rays or manatees this month. I Don’t have too much to tell you The only other thing is don’t know why, but you very rarely see ones offshore 2 to 10 miles out.

Redfi sh are small right now and now. It’s pretty slow. People have gone yel l owtai l . Guys are cobia with the cow nosed rays. will be that way until the middle of to the Keys for lobstering and snapper. catching a lot of yellowtail This whole past month has been next month when the bigger reds start There’s not much happening in offshore. There should be incredible for tri pl etai l . I’ve had peocoming back in from offshore. That’s Englewood and with the red tide a lot of some dol phi n offshore ple all month asking me about rigging now, I’ve had reports of and catching tripletail. What I told them when they will start to school up heavi- people are coming and going elsewhere. ly, but for now there are rat-reds for the There is so much water all over the smaller ones, but not the was to go to any crab trap buoy, to a state they just take a road trip. really big ones like you get channel marker, anywhere between Boca most part.

Mangrove snapper has been really But there are some mangrove in the keys.

Grande and the 41 bridge. With the spotty, but offshore the snapper bite has snapper at Boca Grande, Stump Pass Freshwater fishing is prowater clarity being low you’ll have to and at the trestle areas. There are redductive. A lot of guys are blind cast for tripletail with 1-0 or a 2-0 been unbelievable for lane and yellowtail ... but that’s 20 to 30 fi sh around, but they are scattered. catching bass when the miles out.

Yesterday we saw quite a few nice redafternoon rain cools the Permi t should be on fish in the 24 to 25 inch range at the water off in the Rotunda and the offshore reefs for the pass eating shrimp. There are also plen- east Englewood little ponds. next month as well. ty of snook around, some big ones to The Rotunda ponds have In the 40 to 50 mile be caught ... but a lot of little ones. quite a bit of catfi sh blue water range the We’ve had some big snook in the 30 too. bl ackfi n tuna and inch range and there has been some And out in my schoolie dol phi n will still cobi a around. parking lot we had a be good this month, but for There were some permi t around bunch of walking catfish.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Powered by

n August 2 Shark Angling Secrets with Capt.Mike Myers of Reelshark Charters at West Marine, Venice 408-8288

n August 3: Outboard Maintenance seminar at West Marine, Venice 408-8288

n August 4-5 Inshore Redfish Challenge, Cape Coral Yacht Club (239) 573-3122

n August 12: National Marina Day Discounts and give-aways at Nav-AGator, DeSoto countyʼs only marina

Dick Rotterbush with a blacktip shark caught in July

n August 12-13: Redfish Nation Tournament, Jacksonville, Florida

Register at 888-698-2591 www.redfishcup.com

n August 20: Sailboat Race, Fall Series #1 Punta Gorda Sailing Club

n September 16: Flatsmasters Red Snook Challenge Punta Gorda n October 7: Richest Redfish Challenge, benefit for Good Shepherd Day School, by Laishley Marine, at Fishermenʼs Village

n October 28-29: Flatsmasters Championship Punta Gorda

send us your events waterlife@comcast.net

Page 31

Fishing

just OK

RIGHT NOW:

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August 2006