Water LIFE August 2009

W a t e r LIFE

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C Ch ha ar rllo ot tt te e H Ha ar rb bo or r a an nd d L Le em mo on n B Ba ay y

K e ep ing B oa te r s & Fis he r m e n Inf orm e d S inc e 1 9 9 7

P r o d u c e r s o f t h e K I D S C U P To u r n a m e n t

Why Care?

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Tarpon What始s the Right Bait?

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Lobster Season Cobia still in the Fishing Report

Diving with Adam Wilson Page 12

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Open until MIDNIGHT Friday & Saturday L e t t e r s t o : Wa t e r L I F E @ c o m c a s t . n e t

Boca Guides Take Jig Fishing Suit to Court

From the Boca Beacon’s BocaNut w ebsi te The battle over the use of the socalled break-away jig is moving from Boca Grande Pass to a Tallahassee courtroom.

The Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association, a group comprised of local, traditional live-bait tarpon guides, is asking a Leon County court to find that the device, also known as a “pass jig,” is being illegally used to snag or snatch hook tarpon.

The guides association wants the courts to order the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to recognize that the jig violates state law and the FWC’s own regulations.

The FWC is named as the lone respondent in the petition for declaratory relief filed with the court this week.

Specifically, the guides association is asking the court to find: - That the break-away jig is a snagging or snatch-hooking device used to impale or hook tarpon in areas other than the mouth of the fish.

- That the jig is a break-away device contrary to FWC regulations.

- That angling techniques used by

“jiggers” in Boca Grande Pass are causing irreparable damage to the tarpon population and the conservation efforts of the guides and “the true sportsmen of our state.”

- That the FWC be instructed to recognize the ruling of the court.

Should the guides association prevail, it is likely the FWC – barring an appeal by the commission – would be required to ban the use of the jig in Boca Grande Pass.

This little tarpon just jumped into our boat! – Ed

The big Sarasota boat ramp is a fine place to launch your ....truck?

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August 2009

Status Report

Manatee Rule Review Committee Sarasota County

By Patrick McCarthy Committee Member Early in the process it was clear to me that the so called scientific studies are seriously flawed. The "coin" maps are developed from a "sampling" that is run through a computer "model" that produced a very colorful document.

Unfortunately the only thing "scientific" about it is it was created by scientists. Much of the other information provided was out dated (boater compliance report), Inaccurate (2008 seagrass maps) or otherwise questionable data.

As lay people, we were ill equipped to interpret this information in a meaningful way.

These issues were pointed out several times throughout our deliberations. To say that we did not use that information is fine, but you must understand the reason we did not use it was because we did not trust it.

Frankly, I will stand by my statement that the State of Florida was forced by special interest groups, at threats of expensive lawsuits, to create this system of (manatee) management that results in a constant chipping away at the rights of the taxpaying citizens of this great state.

These special interest groups will never stop until power boating is banned or made so unpleasant that people will just stop boating. My example of the Myakka River as the future of boating in Florida if this wave of restrictions is not stopped should resound with every boater in this state.

Also the anecdotal testimony was conflicted. Some people are saying they see manatees all the time and others are saying they never see them.

There is a reason for this. Those of us that fear more manatees mean more restrictions NEVER see any manatees.

Those of us who think by reporting manatee sightings they help show that the manatees are doing well and we don't need more restrictions, will gladly tell you how many manatees they see every time they go out on the water.

I for one learned my lesson several years ago and I will NEVER report a manatee sighting ever again. That is a direct result of the Save the Manatee Club's lies and propaganda campaign.

We (the boating public) are prepared this time. It will be interesting to see what the FWC brings back to us in the fall.

I feel that this LRRC has done a great job considering the obstacles we faced. I would like this letter to be added to the record as we don't really have a chance for rebuttal at our next (maybe last) meeting. County staff has done a great job helping get this important work done on time.

I thank each and every one of you.

August 2009

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This is Phosphate Mining 1,000,000 trees gone...

A message from Water LIFE Magazine

MAGAZINE

August 2009

Water LIFE Magazine inc.

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Not affiliated with any other publication Vol IIX No8 漏 2009 Water LIFE

No part of this publication (printed or electronic) may be copied or reproduced without specific written permission.

Contributing Editors:

Senior Editor: Capt. Ron Blago Charlotte Harbor: Capt. Mark Bennett Port Charlotte: Capt. Andy Medina Gasparilla: Capt. Chuck Eichner Offshore: Capt. Steve Skevington Commercial Fishing: Kelly Beal Sea Grant: Betty Staugler Real Estate: Dave Hofer Inshore: Fishin始 Frank Diving: Adam Wilson Kayaks: David Allen Sailing: Bill Dixon Office Dog: Molly

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Punta Gorda fisherman Dave Hansen with a 42 inch, 17.5-pound, cobia caught last month, sight fishing from his pontoon boat at the top of Charlotte Harbor

on our WEBSITE:

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RealEstate: What始s happening NOW!

Fishing Resource Guide: Everything you ever wanted to know

Don Ball School: Class Report

Artificial Reefs: Projects and progress lat/long for local reefs

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

August 2009

Water LIFE

Is it an FWC Problem?

By Mi chael Hel l er Water LIFE Editor Last month over 3,500 people logged onto the Flatsmasters release-video topic on Florida Sportsman’s Southwest Florida forum and so far, over 1,100 people have looked at the video on YouTube. It is clearly a subject of interest.

I went to the July 18 Flatsmasters event by boat to see how things were going. The weigh in started at 3:30.

Eighty six redfish were weighed and it wrapped up before 4:30. Capt. Danny Latham, with his dad Homer and Capt.

Matt Haig won that day with a 7.9 and a 5.77 pound fish.

After they were weighed the fish went to the release boat. The old FLW Redfish Tour was the first saltwater tournament I ever saw using a release boat. Before release boats, I remember anglers in tournaments at Burnt Store and Gasparilla were sometimes given their fish back to release, but the thought was... too many anglers just took them home for dinner, so when the Tournament Culling Waiver came into existence, the FWC required tournament staff to release all the fish.

Whether the release boat concept was thought up so dead fish found floating in the marina the next day weren’t associated with the tournament – or to keep the fish alive, is still a subject of debate.

Our local dolphins have figured out tournaments mean an easy meal for them.

Often they patrol the dock at Harpoon Harrys and wait for tournaments to release

fish. We’ll soon see if the dolphins figure out the redfish release boat as well.

I watched them put all the fish into the three tanks on the release boat that Saturday and then I followed the boat out.

The crew, a whole different and more mature looking group than the young guns in the release-video, began releasing fish, far from shore, while the boat was moving. The driver of the release boat appeared to be trying to keep the boat turned away from me. After about a dozen fish were tossed overboard I thought I had enough pictures, so I left.

The following weekend I went to the X-Treme Redfish Tournament at Laishley Park. I wasn’t there five minutes when someone told me about ‘all the dead fish’ at that Flatsmasters tournament the week before. “One whole tank was dead.” I was told. Now I wish I had watched all the fish they released that day, but I didn’t.

Tournament fish are going to die in the summer heat, that is just the way it is, fish die from the heat even without the help of tournaments, so why should tournaments go to extremes to keep fish alive?

Not simply because pictures of dead fish are bad press, but because tournament events are perceived as less than sporting when they continually kill things ‘by accident’ – It’s just not a Catch and Release’ tournament if the fish don’t swim away and survive. And it’s no good to juice a fish up with stimulants and shock it with ice-water just to keep it

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A ʻnew crewʼ now opperates the Flatsmasters Tournament release boat. Seen here they are releasing redfish after the July 18 Flatsmasters plug event.

flopping through the weigh in. It has to survive to be a value to the fishery.

That’s the whole idea, otherwise the fish becomes a prop for the show and the tournament is a Kill Tournament.

Since the FWC issues a Culling Waiver exemption for redfish tournaments we think the FWC has an obligation to monitor and learn from what they do. If they need more manpower to do that, then charge a fee for the exemption permit.

When it’s hot, we think the FWC should require all tournaments to open their weigh-in scales at 9 a.m. We think tournaments should also be required to regularly monitor temperature and dissolve oxygen in their holding tanks.

The FWC should also look at specify-

ing the size of the holding tanks the tournaments use and the size of the tanks on a release boat. How much water does it take to sustain 86 redfish for an hour?

A good place to start would be for the FWC to look at exactly when a tournament reports how many fish were dead. Is the report from the time all the fish were released, or does it represent only how many fish were brought to the scale dead?

And in multiple species tournament we think the report should cover all species.

We can learn from these things.

The FWC has outlined procedures for tournament anglers to follow, now it is time for the FWC to look at outlining acceptable procedures and guidelines for the tournaments themselves to adhere to.

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Which Bait for Tarpon?

By Capt. Mark Bennett Water LIFE Tarpon It always seems like this time of year we have a lot of tarpon around in a bunch of different places – in August, they are always on the move.

Tarpon will be thick in one place today and gone tomorrow – everywhere one minute and then gone the next. It is late season/post spawn; the fish are on an endless quest for food, constantly changing locations to utilize the best tides at a certain food source. Unless you are a tarpon this movement can be very hard to predict.

I think the reason we have more tarpon in the Boca Grande/Charlotte Harbor area than anywhere else in the state is the abundant bait supply that is here. Tarpon are large fish that need to feed every day. They are built to move great distances in a very short amount of time.

They can move from the back of the Harbor to Boca Grande pass in one tide. I feel locating bait sources is half the battle to finding and catching tarpon consistently this time of year.

There have been fish caught from the beaches all the way back to the rivers. We have caught fish from 40 pounds up to 180 pounds lately. This is my favorite time of the year for tarpon and I think some of the best

August 2009

tarpon fishing of the season is still ahead of us.

Here is a recent reader’s question on tarpon bait: Capt. Mark: I am always hearing guys talk about different tarpon bait. Crabs, threadfins, squirrel fish etc. How do you know when to use a certain type of bait over another?

Bill, South Gulf Cove This is a very good question. Most of the time I keep crabs on hand. They are relatively easy to keep alive for long periods of time and they are the staple bait for tarpon in this area. If I encounter tarpon early in the morning, because they are already in my bait well, crabs are an easy choice.

Later in the day I often make a little time for catching some pinfish, threadfin herring or large scaled sardines (whitebait). A lot of times it is purely trial and error to find out when one will work over another. If they don’t bite a crab, I might throw a pinfish, sardine, or even a pumpkin seed to entice a strike. There are other times when, say pinfish were working all week over everything else, so then pinfish are my first choice. Sometimes, especially on the flats, there is prevalent bait they are feeding on. Those times you are out of luck unless that is what you have in your well. When that happens, the next morning we are on the hunt for that particular type of bait even before we start to look for tarpon.

Just like all other types of fishing, it can be a guessing game as to Above: That silver underwater form is a tarpon. It appears to be in the grip of a hammerhead. what bait to use and where Photos By: Jenni Bennett to catch them. Sometimes Top and Left: July tarpon on the line for Capt. Mark. the bait is harder to find all worth it when the big fish hits the air. I hope this than the tarpon. helps in your quest for success with tarpon.

I have found it is always best to have a variety of Till next time, baits at your disposal and to try different things to find Keep the line tight and bow when they jump. success. There is no magic formula or bait for success Capt.

Mark Bennett can be reached to book a trip or for with tarpon fishing. I think bait is just one of the chalcomments or questions at: www.tarponsnook.com lenges that we face when tarpon fishing. No matter how or at (941) 474-8900 hard you have to work to fill your well with bait, it is

August 2009

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Siesta Time Fishing Water LIFE

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By Capt. Chuck Ei chner Water LIFE Inshore

Fishing in the hot summer of Southern Florida is much like a working day in Mexico.

You start your day very early, have lunch around noon and by mid day you take a siesta. Set your schedule for summer time fishing on Charlotte Harbor in just the same way. There is a hot bite that starts about 6:15 as dawn is breaking so you need to have your lines in the water early. The ideal tide is a high incoming to the top of the outgoing tide when you’re fishing the bushes.

Redfish, snook and occasionally a small tarpon will wander into the shallows, feed along the mangrove edges and also skirt the oyster bars along the flats. My approach first thing in the morning is to use a top-water bait like a small Zarra Spook or a Yozuri minnow or similar bait where you can impart a “walk-the-dog-cadence” which will bring tremendous strikes from redfish. Bait fish are very plentiful this time of year and the scaled sardines about 1 - 2 inches are everywhere in the Harbor, so small baits are the ticket. Larger plugs will sometimes be avoided by the fish so you have to match the hatch.

Typically after the first hour of the morning you’ll notice that instead of blasting your baits the fish will start to boil on them and miss them, then shortly thereafter they will stop hitting your top water baits completely. That is the signal to go sub surface.

If you locate an area where you’ve had a lot of blowups it’s good to go back to it with a sub surface lure like a jerk shad or maybe a spoon to see if you can still pick off a few fish.

Ultimately, the bite will quiet down as the water warms up so the thing to do is go out and catch bait then come back to some of the areas where you had strikes first thing in the morning.

On a recent trip I had great strikes in the morning on plugs then caught reds on a small weighted swimbait after the topwater bite quieted down. Returning with bait I came back to the very same area using cut ladyfish and the redfish were red hot again – with fish up to 25 inches.

The key to this fishing tactic is to start early in the morning, cover lots of water as quickly as

you can and try to narrow down the areas where the fish are concentrated.

With lower tide phases and hot sun, the focus of my fishing turns to the deeper waters of the harbor. Sharks, jacks, ladyfish, Spanish mackeral, cobia and an occasional kingfish will be found in the cooler deeper waters of the harbor this time of year.

The easiest fishing method to bring fish to the boat is to drop a chum block on the bottom and put live baits or chunk-baits out. Typically within a half hour you’ll have fish eating behind your boat in nearly any waters that have good current passing from it.

Generally speaking around any of the channel markers in the deeper waters of the harbor would be a good place to target.

Last week I had a trip that followed this format, where the morning bite was good and as the day moved forward we shifted to the deeper waters setting up near marker 8 and the visiting anglers from Maryland got a real taste of southern fishing.

After a good morning bite we set up a chum line with cut bait and free lined a variety of baits including cut ladyfish and free swimming sardines. Lindsay, Autumn, Brian and Russell were my guests that day and they managed to catch many different species including trout, redfish, jacks and ladyfish in the morning. Deeper water fish were mainly sharks, but Brian fought a fivefoot kingfish for over an hour only to finally have his line bit off just before we were about to put the gaff in the fish. This incredible fight took us well past siesta time.

The winds picked up and when the sea breeze starts and the wave action on the harbor becomes a bit unfriendly, it’s time to head in. Now it was siesta time!

The culmination of a fantastic day on Charlotte Harbor was a blackened redfish and a shark-steak grilled to perfection, then it was time for that nap under a shady palm.

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

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August 2009

Capt. Chuck and the happy group from Maryland on Charlotte Harbor

Offshore with Capt.

Steve

August 2009

Capt S teve S kevington Water LIFE offshore Fishing this time of year normally conjures up images of monster size red grouper and piles of lane snapper stacked up in the cooler. This year has proven to be no exception. Every grouper trip we ran this July saw a limit of red grouper. running out to about 80-feet of water seemed to do the trick; then just a matter of drifting over the hard bottom spots with cut bait on circle hooks and the fish did the rest.

With tighter rules on these fish, getting a limit is just not the same challenge it used to be. But with that being said, it leaves a lot more fish in the water and no one can say that two 30-inch red groupers are not enough food on the table. In fact, one grouper that size feeds a family of four for two days, I know that to be a fact.

The snapper have been a night time thing for the last couple of weeks. The wrecks have had the best action, but the bigger ledges after sun-down have been pretty good too. These night time snapper like the live shrimp best, but the cut sardines and squid are getting chewed up too. If you have never done a night time snapper trip, you need to book one. These fish are big and downright hungry after dark. It's something every angler should do at least once.

Tbe barracuda are stacked up on every wreck and artificial reef in the Gulf right now. Catching these fish is something that a lot of people would turn their noses up at, but if you bust out the light tackle and a good attitude, you could end up having a lot of fun. Try tossing a yellow cuda tube out in front of these guys and hold on.

They have a run and jump routine that more than qualifies them to be a poor man's sailfish.

These same wrecks still have a ton of small kingfish all over them as well. I guess they will be around as long as the bait stays with us.

The deeper wrecks have a lot of permit still looking for passing crab. Light leader and lots of line is all that's required here.

A lot of big dolphin were caught this last few weeks off boats getting out past 50 miles. Weed lines were holding the most fish, but the big ones were out in the open, caught while blind trolling.

The shark bite is still going strong out in the harbor as well as out on the beaches. Cut bonita is working best. And don't be surprised to catch a few tarpon while shark fishing.

Capt. Stev e operates out of Pineland Marina. He can be reached at: 941575-3528 for fishing information or to book a charter trip. He is running a $125 pp full-day

8/13/2004 Hurricane Charley

It始s changed course... it始s heading right for us!

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grouper/snapper special this month.

Top: Capt. BobDekurlenaere put this fellow on a nice kingfish but a 驶cuda wanted it more.

Middle: Dana Blewett with another king, this one intact.

Bottom: Lester Kuhn loves them grouper!

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August 2009

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R E P A I R S

New Fuel Tank

Above, Left to right: Work at All Fiberglass Repairs in Punta Gorda 1) The foam which held the old tank in place had to be dug out.

2) The fuel tank compartment was sanded clean and then gel coated.

3) A new sub-floor for the tank was then made out of marine plywood.

4) The sub floor was matted and glassed into place.

5) Scott and Johnny put the new fuel tank, coated with coal-tar epoxy and cushioned with neoprene on the bottom into place. Later the sides were foamed in.

The going price is $6 to $8 per gallon of tank size to have a new tank fabricated out of 1/8 inch aluminum. Figure another $75 to $100 on top of that for the coal-tar epoxy coating.

Labor to remove the old tank, install the sub-floor, do some deck ʻsurgeryʼ and then put it all back together took about 14 hours.

Coal-Tar Epoxy Marine Plywood (left) differs from the Home Depot stuff in that the layers are more uniform and have no voids in them and it is specially treated to resist rotting. A half-inch 4x8 sheet of Marine plywood costs over $100

Chuck at Macʼs Metals in Port Charlotte applied two coats of two-part Coat Tar Epoxy to the new tank his shop built.

Coal-tar epoxy is very thick and because of the coal and the tar it stays more flexible than other epoxys. It is the perfect coating for an aluminum fuel tank on a saltwater boat. Look at the drip on the can in the picture at the left to see how thick it is. You have to use an ʻadhesiveʼ roller to apply this stuff! Macʼs Metals, keeps coal tar epoxy in stock.

The Elusive Bay Scallop

August 2009

By Betty S taugl er Water LIFE / Sea Grant Bay scallops (argo pecten irradians) occur throughout Florida’s Gulf Coast and up to West Palm Beach on the Atlantic Coast. Bay scallops are known as bi-valves, meaning two valves (shells).

Scallops open their valves when feeding or breathing and close it when predators approach. Bay scallops feed by filtering particles from the water. It accomplishes this by funneling water across two pathways called siphons. One pathway takes the water in where the particles are skimmed off and then the second pathway expels the remaining filtered water. A single adult scallop can pump as much as 15.5 quarts of water per hour.

An adult bay scallop can reach sizes up to three inches. In the water, they are recognized by their many tiny blue eyes that line the rim of each shell. These eyes detect movement. When threatened, a scallop swims away by quickly closing its shell, expelling the water inside which propels the scallop through the water.

Bay scallops live the majority of their lives in shallow water seagrass meadows. They prefer higher salinity waters (over 20 parts per thousand) and require good water quality conditions.

There was a time when bay scallop populations in SW Florida were healthy enough to support recreational harvest. Today, recreational harvest of bay scallops is only allowed in state waters north of the Pasco-Hernando county line to the west bank of Mexico Beach Canal from July 1 through September 10.

In the last couple of years, we have experienced what appears to be a resurgence of bay scallops in SW Florida. It is important to note that although we have them this year, we may not next year.

Bay scallops live a very short life, only 12-18 months. Each fall adult bay scallops reproduce, sending millions of tiny eggs into the water column. Although a bay scallop can produce both eggs and sperm, it cannot do it at the same time. So, each egg relies on other scallops for fertilization. Fertilized eggs become floating larvae within 36 hours.

The free floating eggs and larvae

can travel considerable distances away from their source. After another two weeks they become tiny spat and settle out on seagrass blades. From here, they develop their shell and eventually drop to the sea floor.

From the time spawned until adulthood, bay scallops are preyed upon. Only one out of the millions of eggs released will ever reach adulthood.

In order to deem an area recovered for recreational harvesting, several large interconnected local populations (a meta population) must reach sustainable levels. This is to ensure sufficient scallop populations are nearby to replenish an area when it collapses for whatever reason.

The free floating larval phase described above connects local scallop populations and is the critical link in maintaining the larger meta population. If a local population becomes disconnected from the link, it will eventually become extinct unless the link is reestablished. A perfect example of this is Pine Island Sound.

Several years ago, researchers attempted to restore scallop populations in Pine Island Sound.

The restoration appeared to be highly successful with scallop recruits at higher levels than anywhere else in the state. But then something happened. Many theories exist, could have been freshwater releases, red tide, illegal harvest…it doesn’t really matter. The numbers plummeted and there were no other healthy scallop populations nearby.

Today bay scallops are slowly coming back to Pine Island Sound, but until bay scallop populations in this area are linked to other healthy bay scallop populations at a larger meta population level, a single bad event could again wipe out our gains in this area.

How are scallops monitored?

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission have an ongoing monitoring program to evaluate bay scallop populations. Bay scallop recruitment is monitored monthly by deploying collection traps, allowing bay scallop spat to settle and then collecting the traps and counting the spat. Adult populations are monitored by snorkeling a defined area and counting scal-

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lops found. 2009 survey results for the big bend areas open to recreational harvesting indicate abundances will be lower than they were last year.

Surveys in other areas are ongoing at this time.

How can you help?

Volunteer to be a part of the Great Bay and Sound Scallop Search on September 12th in Lemon Bay and Gasparilla Sound (see below) or give me a call for more information.

Betty Staugler is the Florida Sea Grant Agent for This is what weʼre looking for, the Florida Bay Scallop Charlotte County. she can be reached at Kids Cup Fish Return Report 941.764.4346.

Sea Grant is a Univ ersity of Florida IFAS program.

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Photo: Florida FWC

DIVING

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with Adam Wilson

By Adam Wi l son Water LIFE Diving The July lobster mini season is over, but the regular season opens this month on August 6th. If you weren’t brave enough to venture to the east coast or Keys don’t worry, lobster season remains open through March 31st, and you definitely avoided a crazy circus. I like to go down to the Keys just before lobster season. Most hotel rates are cheaper, it’s about as least crowded as it gets and there are plenty of lobsters around to find and photograph.

We find lobsters off our coast as well.

Typically there are fewer, but when you do find some they rarely need to be measured due to their big size. We also find shovelnose lobsters here which have no season, size limit or bag limit and are just as tasty.

It is illegal to spear spiny lobsters.

They have to be landed whole so they can’t be stuck on a stringer either. It’s always a smart idea to have a mesh bag handy, like in a bc pocket, just in case you discover a ledge or pothole loaded with bugs. When you find one lobster take a very close look, chances are there are more nearby. Finding lobsters here is a good sign you are diving a spot no one has hit in a long time, if ever, so the spearing is sure to be good also.

When I find spiny lobsters I will keep a smaller one in my pocket all day.

When threatened, a lobster will whip his antennae up and down, scrapping the antenna bottom back and forth on the base of its horns. This makes a grunting sound, similar to a tree frog, but deeper

Water LIFE

pitched and faster. Anyone that has tickled lobsters from their home and tried to grab one is familiar with the “ree ree ree” squeal of a lobster. Sound travels further and faster in dense seawater and the sound of a lobster in distress is the dinner bell for many fish like triggers, groupers, hogfish, snappers, amberjacks and I have even had tarpon come in to investigate the unusual sound. If the lobster has simmered down and is enjoying the free ride it is easy to just move the antenna back and forth on the horn to crank them up on your own. The legs and antennae of lobster will always start a reef fish feeding frenzy when crumbled from above.

You wouldn’t think such an armored and spiny creature could possibly have any predators, but almost every fish on the reef enjoys a lobster dinner. Once in the Tortugas my buddy and I were harassed all the way to the surface by a lowly nurse shark. Even poking him on the nose and gills with our guns wasn’t enough to fend off the voracious critter.

He wound up following us all the way to the boat. The docile “catfish” of the reef can become a relentless vacuum once tipped off to your delicious bag of bugs.

Triggerfish can literally tear a lobster apart limb by limb to expose the tasty flesh inside. Goliath grouper have a more subtle approach. They simply open their enormous mouths and inhale the lobster whole. Investigation of goliath grouper stomachs almost always turns up remnants of lobsters. And everyone knows about the golden ticket of fishing a deep wreck or reef with a whole lobster for cubera snapper.

Lobsters have powerful mandibles on the underside of their bodies, or carapace, used for feeding on dead fish, crustaceans like sea urchins, clams and mussels, and gastropods (sea shells). They don’t usually bite people. Not because they can’t, but because the typical barely legal lobsters mouth just isn’t big enough to fit any human parts into. Spiny lobsters in Florida can reach sizes close to 20 pounds and once over a size of about 5 or 6 pounds care should be taken in han-

MAGAZINE

dling. Although they won’t actually try to bite you, if a wayward finger does happen to slip into their jaws while collecting, they will lock on and not let go.

The crushing pressure is immense and usually results in the loss of said appendage.

Where the tail segments join together is also an area of concern, even on little guys. When the tail is flipped under the body to propel itself backwards the segments of the tail roll and fold tightly together like a pair of shears. Gloves are essential for lobster harvesting. Although rare, I have seen a few divers missing fingertips that were lost to big lobsters. And if you need another reason not to shove your hand in a lobster’s home, don’t forget they often roommate with razor sharp toothed moray eels.

Right now is a great time to hunt our area for lobsters.

The visibility between the depths of 50 and 100 feet has been very favorable. Smaller reefs with a low relief and lots of live, hard bottom will be the place to find them.

Finally, if you ever think you are saving money by harvesting your own lobsters, trust me you are kidding yourself. Buying tails from your local seafood market might seem expensive, but it’s usually much cheaper than harvesting your own when you do the math. Going for the love of the hunt and a good time with friends is really the only reason to go, with some sweet & delicious dinners just a nice added bonus.

August 2009

August 2009

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

Page 13

The Incredibly Durable Manatee

Stakeholders Verses Special Interests

By Capt Ron Bl ago Water LIFE Senior Staff With the recent change over to digital TV, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I now get the Florida Channel on my 10 year old TV. I’m too cheap to pay for cable, so I went out and bought a digital antenna. So at 2AM I’m watching a replay of the June 17th meeting of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission from Crystal River. It's been over 5 years since I was a regular at these meetings, but it was good to see the old gang is still there, making their regular appearance in front of the commission.

I had to give up going to the meeting frankly because of financial limitations.

Unlike the special interest members that were paid to participate in these meeting by their organizations, I , like most people, had to pay my own way and just couldn’t afford it any more. It was back in ‘99 when the old Marine Fisheries Commission and the Freshwater and Game commission merged to form the new FWC. If I remember correctly, the main reason for the merger was to take politics out of the decision making process. I’m afraid that with all of the seven commissioners being appointed by the governor; that really hasn’t happened.

What got my attention that night was a discussion of a staff proposal to change the imperiled species listing process in the State of Florida. As you may remember, for the last three years the FWC has tried to remove the manatee from the endangered species list and downlist it to the threatened category. The Save the Manatee Club, with the help of Governor Crist, has been able to stall that effort by asking for a review of the listing process.

The SMC realizes that by losing the endangered title the manatee will lose some of the special attention of the environmental community and that will probably mean less financial donations.

It is important to remember that there are two endangered species lists; one federal and one for the State of Florida. It appears that the Feds are about to take the manatee off their list and the new State proposal requires that if a species is removed from the Feds list it must also be removed from the State list. So that presents the problem of what to classify the manatee.

The SMC recognizes the seriousness of this problem and as they say on their web site “the name that is selected for the single Florida-only category is important and must convey the significance of these species and the value placed on their protection.” They definitely don’t want to see the Endangered Manatee changed to the Doing Just Fine Manatee. The FWC hopefully will reach a decision on this by the end of the year.

The next item that caught my attention was a discussion of the review of the Manatee Protection Plans that are in force in 13 Florida counties including Sarasota County. Some of you with good memories will remember former State representative Lindsey Harrington from Punta Gorda. He sponsored a bill that required that local residents and not special interest groups have input into local manatee matters. I was surprised to find out that Sarasota County may not have complied with at least the spirit of the Harrington bill in the selection of Jessica Koelsch of the Ocean Conservancy to be a member of their review committee. I remember

Above: These are the two most famous manatees in the world. Snooty, (right) a ʻliferʼ at the Parker Aquarium in Sarasota and Moe, a rambunctious youngster who swam from Crystal River to the Dry Tortugas before they dispatched a helicopter and a ship to bring him back.

Moe had a radio transmitter on him and it was thought he might swim to Cuba. By doing that Moe would have proven that manatees in Florida were intermingling with the manatees in the Caribbean. They brought Moe back and put him in the tank with old Snooty, but Moe was just a little too ʻamorousʼ for Snooty, so Moe was released.

Left: Jessica Koelsch and friend at Crystal River photo: David M Barron/Oxygen Group

Jessica when she was a researcher for Mote Marine, she did a two year aerial survey of the manatees in Charlotte County. For the last several years she has been the leading manatee expert for the Ocean Conservancy, a leading environmental group. To be on a Sarasota County advisory board you must be a Sarasota County resident and I’m not sure she is. If I’m wrong I’ll apologize, but that’s not my main problem. I like Jessica, she is nice, pleasant to work with and even easy on the eyes - everyone likes her and that’s the problem. When she appeared before the FWC in Crystal River the commissioners acted as if she was their daughter coming home from college.

Pleasant is one thing, but gushing over someone who is a hired gun of a special interest group is way out of line.

Lets look at some of the articles that are on the Ocean Conservancy web site.

Remember that the last aerial survey found a record number of 3,807 manatees in Florida, the highest number since they

began being counted in 1991. Jessica said that the manatee would be OK for the next 15 years, but that the manatee would be in trouble in the next 50 to 100 years.

Talk about long range forecast. As a scientist, Jessica has been able to quantify the future danger to the manatee. Here is a quote from an article she wrote “there is a 8.6% chance the manatee will reach quasiextinction levels in the next 100 years.” I guess this is what passes for sound science these days.

I only point this out because rumor has it that Sarasota County wants this review committee to recommend an additional 20 miles of slow zones for manatee protection without requiring any proof that the existing slow zones are effective in preventing manatee deaths. So if you wake up someday soon and find out it is one giant slow zone from Venice to Englewood you will have every right to be quasi-pissed.

Capt. Ron can be reached for comments or information at captronb@juno.com

Screaming Reels

Page 14

By Capt. Andrew Medi na Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor As August comes into play, don’t expect things to change drastically. Last month we noticed water temperatures around 92 degrees on the flats, that’s hot to us, imagine how the fish feel. I have said this before, so I guess, I will go ahead and say it again. Fish won’t stay in an area where they don’t feel comfortable. If the fish feels pressured or water is too hot they will move. This move may not be far, just enough so they can relax a little. It may be to an area with more cover, or deeper water.

I think our fish will eventually turn towards a deep water pattern. And now I am one step closer to proving that to myself.

Last month while fishing with some good friends from Texas, some of the American Rodsmiths crew who came down before the ICAST show in Orlando, we set out to do a little tarpon fishing. But the cards were stacked against us from the beginning. Flood tides and the lack of tidal movement made it hard to buy a fish. We checked the canals and bridges and the fish were just gone. So, we decided to do what I do, and chase redfish and snook instead.

We covered a lot of ground and really

Water LIFE

Donʼt Expect Much Change

produced nothing to speak of, and these were areas I knew were holding fish. So I made the decision to switch to deeper water.

As soon as we pulled up to one area and let out some chummers it was obvious the fish had come off the flats and settled there.

Fish were coming off the bottom and exploding on the greenbacks we had thrown out. Within just a few minutes rods were bent and lines were getting stretched. The area was loaded down with redfish and snook.

The water we were fishing is about 9 feet deep. With the pressure on the flats and the water temperatures so high this again confirms our fish are visiting some areas most anglers’ overlook. Another case of this behavior was a flat just outside Whidden’s Creek. I experienced a similar pattern, although the school of redfish I found there would come up on the flat to feed. Then they would drop down to the edge of the Intracoastal and stay in the 4 or 5 ft-of-water range.

The fish that are residents to the flats and manage to stay there will eat. You just have to be a little slower on your approach and how you fish them. The snook seem eager to eat once you get them chummed

MAGAZINE

up. Most of the time you can keep them on a feed as long as you have a well full of chummers. Larger snook have been all up and down the west wall, and some fish over 40-inches were caught last month. I would almost bet those fish will not leave that area for a while due to all the bait pods there. The redfish we refer to as bush donkeys are a little more sluggish with the water temperatures, but if you catch them on a good tide, in numbers, all bets are off.

For the most part, the baits are going to have to have more soak time. If I am specifically targeting redfish. I normally do not use live bait. My personal preference is cut bait; this may be mullet, ladyfish, or crab. In my opinion, a big redfish will not turn down an easy meal. I have caught most of my larger redfish on artificials or on cut bait.

I always look for fish that are milling around. There is a big difference between milling around and running scared. Scared fish are the ones you see doing Mach 1 down the shore line. Those fish, no matter how far you chase them, won’t eat. All you’re doing is chasing and throwing baits at them. I don’t waste my time.

The milling fish on the other hand, are the slow movers. These fish are actually in search of food. If you have seen fish milling on a shore line, the best way to approach these fish is with cut bait. Power pole (anchor) off the shore line where your longest cast can be made that will still get your bait to the bushes. Let the bait soak, when a fish swims close and picks up the scent, he will find it.

The use of a larger circle hook is vital in fishing cut bait. All though most anglers use #2 circle hooks for live bait, I have found that with cut bait a #2 is able to get swallowed along with the bait. So this is where I will switch up to a #4 or even a #5, depending on the first fish I catch and how large he is.

Tournaments: With all the flack tournaments are getting on the web forums (it seems every where you turn there is a horror story about tournaments, and how they are affecting the environment or the fishery) I find myself stuck between a rock and a hard place. First is my love and devotion to tournament fishing. I absolutely have a passion for the sport of red fishing. Ever since I was a kid

August 2009

watching bass tourneys on television; I knew I wanted to be part of it. When redfish became the new bass, I could not wait.

I have fished a lot of tournaments and plan to fish many more. I am also the tournament director for the XTreme Redfish series here in Charlotte Harbor. I like tournaments.

The other part of my dilemma is how I feel about the estuary. I agree with a lot of the concerns that anglers and conservationists alike have. Care and handling is extremely important. Returning the fish to the water in equal condition as before he was hooked not only keeps the fishery healthy, but insures that fish are around for our kids.

I think if we all find some mutual ground and educate the anglers, tournament and recreational alike, instead of pointing fingers, the sport, the fishery and the estuary would all benefit.

Capt. Andrew Medina can be reached at (941)456-1540 or on the web at www.fishfloridatarpon.com, to book a trip or fishing info.

Water LIFE

August 2009

Frankʼs Thanks

By Fi shi n’ Frank Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor Hi boys and girls. I want to thank you for being with me as I look to my 25th year of working at Fishin’ Franks. I had brown hair when I first started.

August 8th, 1984 was my first day at Fishin Franks. Dumb as a bag of rocks, I was just like every-one. I would put a piece of bait on, toss it out see what I would catch. I had no idea I would end up having fished most of North America, Europe, and Central America. When I started I had a testing lab set up for myself out back and would destroy all kinds of tackle, finding out how and why things broke, what materials made better rods, why some reels cast better than others. I learned and have had a great time teaching what my mistakes have taught me to others.

With a customer base from 3 years old to 103, I have learned old school and still try to learn new things. Here in Southwest Florida there is freshwater fishing, flats fishing, off-shore-deep-water bottom fishing, trolling, kite fishing, surf/ beach fishing, bait, or lure fishing, bank and pier fishing, shark fishing, tarpon fishing, reds, snook, bass, Hold on I’m feeling like Bubba Gump again. There are so many different types and styles of fishing you can do here in Southwest Florida, it has been one heck of a ride. It takes three years of working the floor just to be able to answer most of the questions you get asked.

Shark fishing has always been part of the Southwest Florida fishin’ experience.

What a great way to spend the day with friends or family and get dinner at the same time. The July Shark and Catfish Sting-ray tournament went well, the winning shark was an 85 inch lemon shark.

The S.S.S. tournament (shark, stingray, sailcat) hit its peak last year with 412 entries. This year we had about half of that. I think a profound lack of money kept many people from entering, plus, all

Page 15

MAGAZINE

XTreme Redfish Tournament 1) Brandon Varney and Paul Lambert 13.23 lbs $ 900.00 2) Mike McCarty and Heather McCarty 12.22 $380.00

3) Joshua Reager and Brett Gunnells 12.11 lbs $160.00 A younger Fishinʼ Frank, in a rare photo wearing a T-shirt with sleeves still on it!

the big cat-fish weighed-in in the last tournament scared off some possible contestants. The large shark was a deterrent for a few, and I am sure thoughts of problems with the tournament made some stay out. We have a lie detector in place again and Alan Ogle, rod-and-reel repairman par excellence and world record holder, is judging sharks.

Maybe that kept a few out, maybe better they did not join.

This is how the entry's over the last few years have been: 2003-131, 2004-177, 2005-141, 2006-307, 2007-353, 2008-412, 2009-217, At 217 entrees the prize was 30 times more than the entry fee. Not bad, no long lines and good prizes. Over the years we had as few as 85 people and as many as 645.

Next year on the 2nd Saturday in June it will be the 25th year of the tournament and we are going to have some very cool things to help celebrate. When we first did the tournament it was for something to do, tourists and snowbird were gone.

You could play baseball on U.S. 41 midday and not really be interrupted.

Things have changed. We used to be open from 6 am to 6 pm, then later and for a while we were open 24/7. Big, small, good times and bad, thanks for sharing these years with me and the gang.

Let us build one for YOU!

Big Fish went to Tyler Zylstra and Steve Zylstra 7.07 lbs $180.00 We had 19 boat's , total of 17 fish weighed in, 2 dead.

One of Capt. Mike McCartyʼs two fish

Next Tournament August 15 Laishley Park

Tyler Zylstra, Big Fish, 7.07 lbs

Capt. Andy Medina measures a fish

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Page 16

Keeping Kids Up Right

Water LIFE

Young sailors in the Charlotte Harbor Yacht Club program gain some valuable experience

Cookinʼ Catfish

Attention: Fishin' Frank

Two weeks ago the grandsons were visiting from Washington State, and curious to try fishing off the dock. We live just off Lemon Bay and the intracoastal. We tried to get shrimp, but it was one of those stretch of days when the gulf was so rough that the shrimpers did not get out.....and the bait shops near here had no live shrimp. Pulling a frozen package of sardines out of the freezer, we chopped up some inch-size pieces for the boys to use for bait.

Being 'city kids', there was a learning curve on just casting to get the bait out in the channel, let alone use any skill in 'working' the bait.

When those kids got the bait in the water, they thought they should set the poles in holders, like they saw some 'older' fishermen do......leaving the bait to drift untended along the bottom with the pole pointing towards the sky.

By the time they turned around to pick up their soda-pops, the pole was dancing and dipping, and they were catching catfish steadily. What with turning them loose, we thought we might be catching the same ones over and over. They caught both types of catfish, including some fair-sized sail-cats. I had heard that 'sail-cats' were good to eat, but an older neighbor who came over to 'advise them youngsters' said, 'only fresh-water cats were edible'.

So: I read with interest your article in the June WATER LIFE about how tasty the cats were that were caught in salt water. Thanks for including directions on how to clean them.

Do you have any suggestions on cooking them?

Thanks, Karen Powersmom@yahoo.com

Frank Responds

Sail Cats are considered a game fish in many places, Florida is not one of those places. I believe it is because in Florida you have someone who has been here three days asking some-one whose been here three weeks what's good or bad.

Sail-cats get their bad reputation from the copious amounts of slime they are covered in.

Other than that, they hit lures, spoons or any live bait and hit very hard, many times taking rods and reels into the water with them.

Catfish are fighters and yes a good eating fish.

To clean a salt-water cat fish, understanding that there is no meat in the ribs or head.

Unlike a freshwater Catfish you cannot We wouldnʼt eat this skin them easily. Filleting is the weird lumpy sailcat way better option. So I lay the fish on its side the cut down to the center just to the bone.

Turning the knife towards the tail cut along the backbone to just before the tail, at that time flip the cut section over the tail laying it out flat behind the fish. Then starting at the tail end, gently slice the meat away from the skin. I do not cut the fillet off of the fish as the weight of the fish helps hold the skin as I cut away the fillet.

Here's the possible disgusting part, sailcats not hard-head catfish, may have the same parasite in them as sea-trout and blackdrum, which are small white round headed things in the meat, they do not bother people at all if you discount the disgusting thought of them. They can not hurt you or even bother you in any way. While hard-head catfish do not have the parasites of the sail-cat they can often taste muddy which is why their nickname is mud-cat, which comes from the flavor of the meat not where they live. Not all hardheads are muddy tasteing, but you can not tell by looking which will taste good and which don't. The sail-cats are all good tasting.

Recipes for cooking salt-water catfish are many and varied. You can grill them or bake or even fry ʻem – the whole Bubba Gump list.

Here is one I like and is a little different: You get Aunt Jemima instant pancake mix, the one where you just add water, but you just add beer – not a regular beer, use an import or one that actually has beer in it. Alcohol content is a good clue, the more alcohol the more beer.

Mix according to instructions in an over size bowl. Now cut the catfish fillets into 3/4 inch cubes plop them into the mix stir wait a minute or so pour off standing water, mix again then deep fry until golden brown. Makes a great meal or a treat you can serve on a platter at football game parties. Tartar sauce or cocktail sauce makes good dipping with fish cubes. Enjoy!

MAGAZINE

By Bi l l Di xon Water LIFE Sailing

I was talking to Sharon Winesett (USPS stalwart and local activist) the other day and she commented on recent publicity for youth sailing lessons at Charlotte Harbor YC. I told her that the Isles YC and the Community Sailing Center also have youth learn-to-sail programs.

The Community Sailing Center continues a 30+ year tradition of a few old men teaching kids to sail because they cared, and then later getting organized and insured by the Red Cross. When the Red Cross Nationally backed out of sailing programs, the Charlotte County Chapter continued to insure and sponsor the local effort as long as they could. When that ended, Dennis Peck and a few others formed the Charlotte Harbor Community Sailing Center, got themselves certified as US Sailing Level 1 Instructors, and bought their own insurance with financial support from the Punta Gorda Sailing Club. IYC used a Community Sailing Center Instructor for a couple of years, CHYC has their own instructors.

July and August are prime times for teaching sailing. Winds are light in the

August 2009

morning, water is warm, days are long and most importantly kids are out of school. The CHYC kids were learning in Optimist Dingys, the world wide standard little kid boat. The Community Sailing Center uses Sunfish, a higher performance boat for learn-to-sail, and it owns some Bic O’pens, a planing single handed design for experienced kids. IYC uses their club owned small boat fleet of JY 15’s.

There have been attempts, even a HS sailing team, to provide sailing experiences for kids after they learn to sail.

Currently the Community Sailing center runs group sailing and racing every Wednesday afternoon and two Saturdays a month. I am told that one of the objectives of CHYC’s coming Flying Scott fleet will be to provide crew spots for kids. Individual big boat owners provide occasional crew spots for kids in the Punta Gorda Sailing Club PHRF series, but the loads on lines are such that these need to be young adults.

The Community Sailing Center also has lesson at other times of the year, and offers adult learn to sail programs.

Contact Dennis Peck at 627-6650.

2008 JOHNSON OUTDOORS Key Paddlesports Dealer – East Coast

August 2009

Myakka Kayakers Snook Haven

Set back a mile or so from River Road, on East Venice Avenue, under a canopy of oak and cypress hanging with Spanish Moss, is one of the more interesting and historic kayaking locations in southwest Florida. For over a half-century Snook Haven, perched along the lower Myakka River, has gone through one transformation after another. A fishing camp in the 1930s, then movie producers considered the location for a series of Tarzan Movies and even cleared a road to access the river. Apparently no movie was ever made at Snook Haven, but the legend of the "Killer Turtles" remains to this day.

More recently, Snook Haven has been a no-frills cafe with a honky-tonk biker bar and a laissez-faire attitude. This attitude kept many anglers and kayakers from enjoying this beautiful stretch of the Myakka River. Then, in 2006, Sarasota County Commissioners purchased the property as part of a program to the protected land along Florida's only state-designated "Wild and Scenic River�. So Snook Haven has evolved into a great kayaking launch, an interesting place to have lunch or dinner, often with live entertainment, and with some of the most

Water LIFE

beautiful scenery to be found anywhere.

Last week, with sparkling blue skys above us, the Port Charlotte Kayakers made the short trek to Snook Haven for a Sunday morning paddle. The camp grounds and restaurant hadn't changed much since our last visit; still the funky alligator signs and references to the "Killer Turtles", the same rutted dirt road leading to the water...what's not to like?

The parking lot was beginning to fill up as several groups of canoers were also launching at 9 a.m.. It's not a particularly easy put-in as most of the river banks are fairly steep and the water is knee-high or higher. However, all got out on the river without incident.

Heading north, upstream, there was little current against us as we paddled through this green wonderland of oak trees, cypress, with only a few homes on the riverbank to hint at civilization. From Snook Haven, the broad river winds gently north, gradually becoming somewhat narrower, but very different from Shell Creek and Prairie Creek that we paddle more often. Surprisingly, we saw little wildlife; not the usual flights of birds overhead or fish jumping in the river. On the positive side, we didn't see any alligators either, although alligators are most often seen in great numbers on the upper Myakka above the dam in Myakka State Park.

We paddled about one and a half hours upstream, had a brief break and a snack

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The green and winding Myakka River near Snook Haven.

and started the easier, with-the-current, paddle downstream. We hadn't gone far when we began to hear the low rumble of thunder in the distance, and the cloud cover was quickly shutting out the sun.

We have paddled in the rain before, it can be refreshing on a hot day, but lightening is another matter. If there is lightening in the area, we get off the water and under shelter as quickly as possible.

We were about a mile north of Snook Haven when the river started to dimple with raindrops. Soon it was a raging downpour and lightening was flashing all around us. The raindrops on my sunglasses quickly made it impossible to see where I was going. We all got to the

launch area drenched and quickly got under cover, and after the rain slackened a bit, loaded the kayaks onto our cars. Then, of course, the rain began to slow down and stop. Some of us had planned to have lunch at the wonderful restaurant at Snook Haven, but the thought of sitting in wet clothing in an air-conditioned restaurant didn't seem like a good idea.

Still, even with the rain, we had a great paddle in a very beautiful river, and will do it again soon.

The Port Charlotte Kay ak ers meet each Wednesday ev ening at 5:30 pm at Port Charlotte Beach Park . All are welcome to join us to learn about k ay ak ing. For additional information, contact Dav e Allen at 941-235-2588 / email to:dlaa@comcast.net

Page 18

R Re ea al l E Es st ta at te e N Ne ew ws s PROVIDED BY: Dave Hofer RE/MAX Harbor Realty (941) 575-3777 dhofer@remax.net www.harborparadise.com Recent area news i tems:

1. The Charlotte County assessor finalized 2009 values at about 16.4% below 2008. Both the County Board and Punta Gorda city council felt compelled to reduce taxes by an equal amount.

Time will tell whether cost cutting will extend beyond just getting the fluff out of their budgets.

2. North Port's taxable valuation declined a worse than expected 21.09%.

Current budgets will be pared back again along with increased millage rates to make up for the shortfall of valuations.

3. The Environmental Protection Agency has made it clear that time is running out for septic systems in Charlotte County. The County is working on a time line for phase one to bring more than 20,000 homes onto their

Water LIFE

existing system, mostly in Port Charlotte South of Rt. 776 and west of Rt. 41. There are a total of 45,000 homes with septic systems in the North Port-Port Charlotte area.

August 2009

MAGAZINE

4. The Punta Gorda Parking Garage, scheduled to open before Labor Day, has landed three prospective tenants to occupy about 30% of the commercial space being developed. A frozen yogurt shop and a cupcake shop will join the previously announced Irish pub to become the first tenants.

5. Federal stimulus funds will provide $46 Million to Sarasota County and $20 Million to Charlotte County to provide small business financing to new businesses moving into the County.

The Counties will issue bonds at their favorable tax exempt rates to be passed on to small businesses. The Fed will reimburse borrowers for 45% of the interest paid on that bond money.

6. Best Buy will replace the vacated Circuit City store in Port Charlotte on Rt 41.

7. American International College has entered the six month process of

applying for a license to establish a branch in Florida, hopefully Punta Gorda. Kudos to Tom Kerr and TEAM Punta Gorda for their efforts in promoting our community for this influential enterprise. The institution will be opening its first branch outside of Massachusetts since its founding in 1885.

In other news:

Up the Street Gourmet just opened for business to great reviews at 329 E. Virginia in Punta Gorda.

S al es S tati sti cs: Sales Statistics:

Signs of life in Rotonda as median house prices rose to $237,000.

House inventory generally is now down 55% vs. last year at this time.

Housing starts nationally are now 52% below June of 2008. That will eventually translate into unmet demand in the resale market.

Visit us at www.harborparadise.com to view any available properties from Venice to

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Water LIFE

August 2009

SCUTTLEBUTT

Page 19

MAGAZINE

Sometimes Unsubstanciated, But Often True

Pass Asses Officer Jason Semeyn responded to a boating accident in Boca Grande Pass. Two boats were tarpon fishing the pass and became territorial over a pod of fish. A licensed captain onboard one of the vessels tilted the engine with the intent to prop wash the other boat and operated the boat in tight circles in an attempt to scare the tarpon away. During this altercation, one of the passengers fell to the deck then went into the water, sustaining minor injuries. The operator was cited for careless operation.

FWC Acts on Red

Snapper The (FWC) last month voted to adjust the recreational harvest season for red snapper in Gulf of Mexico state waters to account for over-harvests in 2008. The Commission took this action after receiving support from several fishing groups and conservation organizations at its public hearing in Crystal River. The National Marine Fisheries Service has estimated that recreational fishers in the Gulf exceeded last year's annual red snapper catch limit by about 1.2 million pounds. A federal law requires that harvest levels

must be reduced in the year following a previous year's over harvest.

Consequently, the NMFS shortened the recreational red snapper harvest season in Gulf federal waters (beyond nine nautical miles from shore) from June 1 through Sept. 30 to June 1 through Aug. 14. The FWC has now approved the same season change for state waters.

What about Manatees?

If the FWC mirrorʼs the Federal regulations then why hasnʼt the manatee been down listed in Florida??

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Page 20

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August 2009

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August 2009

Crabbers Say 10 Days is Too Long

The Commercial Perspective

By Kel l y Beal Water LIFE Commercial Fishing There is a new FWC rule to have a 10 day closure of blue crab traps around the state. This rule was basically put into effect to resolve some user conflict issues and remove any potential navigational hazards. This 10 day closure was in no way a resource issue. Because of that fact, my question is: Is 10 days really necessary??

I can understand three or four days, but a 10 day closure is ridiculous.

The crabbers of Charlotte County in partnership with Sea Grant participated in a derelict trap removal on the Peace River on July 13th. These guys who are already out of work for two weeks went ahead with their own boats and money for gas and proved they are the ultimate of good stewards of the water.

It takes the average full time crabber three to four days to get all their gear out of the water. Then you have to find a place to store the amount of traps you own, hopefully you're lucky enough to have property or live in a neighborhood with nice neighbors who understand the situation. Then, once the ten days are over you need another three to four days to put them back in the water and give them a chance to accumulate crabs. So a ten day closure really turns into a three week unwanted hiatus. For what?

We did the clean up last month in one day. So the restaurants that were counting on crab had to get them from Louisiana or North Carolina, while able bodied Florida crabbers were out of work. So our money got spent out of state. The crews that work on the boats were also out of work, they don't make money until the traps make money.

I can already hear those CCA members say "Well, they can just take a vacation, use their two weeks", to which I say “Our vacations aren't 'paid' vacations.

There are enough up and down times of the year as it is.”

Don't get me wrong. This clean up event is needed and it's a good thing. The only thing we're saying is 10 days is too much.

Right now the guys aren't catching very much crab. Not because it's overfished - it's impossible to overfish crab in the fashion we crab. They don't harvest

Water LIFE

any crab under five inches - once a female is five inches she has already expelled two million eggs. The only fishing that negatively affects the resource is dredging and we don't do that here.

We use traps that have three cull rings allowing all juvenile crab out. The reason the guys aren't catching is because we are in a down cycle.

Everything comes in cycles. If you look at the (crab) landings from 1982 to present day you'll see a pattern of peaks and valleys. It peaks out about every 7 to 8 years, goes down and comes back up. It also mimics the droughts which are also cyclic.

In speaking to the crabbers they all agree they would be willing to participate in these trap clean ups, but believe it could be done in the manner in which we did it on April 6th.

On that day the crabbers did the clean up while the working traps were in the water and we had a specific criteria of what was considered derelict. It brought positive awareness to navigational hazards and got the problem traps out of the water in one day.

I would just like to say I believe the industry does a fine job taking care of their gear and for the most part are very responsible when it comes to watching their costly traps.

River Watch

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MAGAZINE

Above: The water is up on the Peace River as seen in this photo in front of the Water Plant inlet.

Top Left: A tiny crab on a watersoaked palm frond Left: Ernest Estevez from Mote Marine tells us these little clams we found at Horse Creek are Corbicula, an exotic invasive species. “I collected them from Horse Creek in the mid 1970s” Estevez wrote back.

Below: Up the side channel past the water plant the vegetation is clean and green. You can see the waterplant at the center of the photo in the distance.

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August Fishing Report

Water LIFE

August 2009

MAGAZINE

Charlotte Harbor:

Robert at Fishin' Franks Port Charlotte: 625-3888

Tarpon are finally good in the harbor. They are stacked all over in the 20 foot hole and all the way to the Intracoastal. And they should be here until the end of September. Best bet is to drift or use a trolling motor. Throw live threadfins, catfish tails. If you want to fish artificials it’s still the D.O.A. Bait Buster. There are also tarpon out on the beach and those fish should stay there all through August.

Fishing all over is best early morning or late evening after the storms have rolled through.

Sharks should be plentiful for the next month and a half or better. Most will be the smaller bonnetheads, bl ackti ps and spi nners. Cape Haze, the Burnt Store bar and Pine Island Sound are the shark spots right now. Lighter tackle is the fun ticket with the little guys. Anchor up, use a lot of chum and, if you chum they will come. Use ladyfish or cut mullet or even live large threadfins for the sharks. Finding the larger sharks in the harbor takes more patience, but if you go out into the Gulf on some of the near shore wrecks, the bigger l emons and bul l sharks and possibly even a sandbar shark should be there.

Shark Week is the first week of August on the Discovery Channel.

Estero Bay Report

The Snook bite has been slow due to all the rain but we are still able to bring good size fish to the boat using scaled sardines. We are finding small to midsize tarpon using pinfish and scaled sardines at the bridges in good numbers. Trout can still be found on the grass flats this time of year. There are lots of permit schooling offshore on wrecks that can be caught on pass crabs.

Shown here Steve Greenfeld with a tarpon caught on a charter with Capt. Steve Nagy in Estero Bay. Capt. Steve Nagy can be reached at: (239) 398-1528

Top Row: Capt Angel Torres and anglers with tarpon and shark.

The mangrove snapper on the near shore wrecks right now are incredible! This summer has been the best mangrove snapper bite we have seen ever and from what we are hearing it is that way is all over the state. For most of them, daytime, night time... all is good. But for the biggest fish, those over 6 or 7 pounds, night is still best. Frozen shrimp, cut bait, live small whitebait, the snapper will take it. The trick is to use a 10 to 15 foot long fluorocarbon leader because snapper are real spooky and the offshore waters are pretty clear right now.

This is the time, when the water is warm enough, when yel l owtai l and l ane snapper and schoolie dol phi ns come in closer to shore. We have had several reports of sai l fi sh in 80 or 90 feet of water. Capt. Dan Cambern landed an 80 pound sailfish from 80 feet of water off Boca Grande last week.

Permi t are off-and-on but should be out there for a while. Problem is they are scattered, one wreck will have them and the next wreck won’t. Live crabs are by far the best permit bait.

S pani sh mackerel are still in the Harbor from Marker No. 5 out to the Gulf. There are also some ki ngs hanging around. Just look for the schools of bait.

Redfi sh are being caught in deeper water. Guys are catching nice fish in random spots, but nothing is consistent. Look around the Intracoastal where there is deeper cooler water that is moving. Cut bait, threadies torn in half, chunks of ladyfish, or frozen shrimp work best this time of year. Night fishermen at Stump Pass, Englewood Beach and the Venice Jetty are reporting oversize redfish in the surf.

S nook are plentiful on the beaches and in the passes.

They are hitting small white baits and larger threadfins.

Cut bait like ladyfish or mullet seem to be most productive for the larger fish. Take your time with all the fish in the heat and resuscitate them.

Tony Tresi with two nice mahi-mahi caught aboard the Predator II in July with Capt. Jim OʼBrien.

RESULTS!

Fishin Franks July Shark Tournament Shark: 1) Henry Croy 84-inches – lemon $900

2) Andy DeBois 76 3/8 – lemon $600 3) Chuck Ferraro 75 5/8 – lemon $300 4) Daryl Carter 72 3/4 – lemon $200

Catfish: 1) Jerimy Bergman 5.2-pounds $900 2 & 3 tie: Larry May/Sean Pack 4.76 $450 each 4) Ross Updike 4.64 $200 Stingray: 1) Daniel Bergman 39-inches $640 2) Jerimy Bergman 36 3/4 $400 3) Ross Updike 35 3/4 $200 4) Steven Schmidt 35 1/2 $150

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August 2009

Fishing Report .

Lemon Bay: Jim

at Fishermen’s Edge, Englewood: 697-7595

Water LIFE

The The BIG-4 BIG-4 SHARK: Lots of small species

all around the Harbor, bigger Most of what I am seeing ones offshore is snapper fishing. There is mackerel around, in and out of the pass on the tide Recreational change.

There is whi ti ng on the beach Anglers and tarpon are in and out of the Right: Christian pass and also on the beach. We’ve VanDerVeer 11, with a nice seen a lot of sharks – a lot of American snapbl ackti ps inshore. per, caught on Offshore guys are catching red hook and line snapper and red grouper if they while his budgo out far enough. There are AJ dies were diving below him. and permi t on the Boxcars. It must be something on the bottom Below: Punta that keeps them around there. If Gordaʼs Dave you can find crabs they are good Hansen with a bait for permit, otherwise shrimp tournament quality redfish will work. from the east Dol phi n are around and peo- side of Charlotte Harbor. ple are catching them. The No1 Hooker boat landed a 40-pound dolphin last week.

Inshore, there are plenty of snook around, tarpon are up in the Harbor and some cobi a are mixed in with them.

Redfi sh could be anywhere.

The fish are moving around.

Over in Pine Island Sound guys are doing pretty good on the trout and there are still some ki ngfi sh around. They are hitting sardines and baits on a float.

It’s dumb luck but they’ve been getting ‘em.

MAGAZINE

Fish Fish to to expect expect in in

TARPON: More fish are moving up the Harbor now.

August August

COBIA In the Harbor at the 41 Bridge and around some of the markers

SPANISH MACKEREL: Still plenty of mackerel from Mkr. No. 5 out the pass.

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August 5: Redfi s h Summer Sho o to ut, tournament, tarpon Lodge, Pineland 239-839-4999

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Various observances around Punta Gorda, scheduled first opening of Laishley Crab House Restaurant August 14-16: S t. Pete Open, Spearfishing Tournament August 14-16: Grouper Grab, FishTale Marina and Pinchers at Holiday Inn, Fort Myers Beach. 239-850-1707 August 15: Xtreme Tournament, Laishley Park, sign up at dawn 941-456-1540 September 19: Fish for the Fund Charity Tournament, Cape Harbor, Cape Coral 239-541-4185 Send calendar information to: waterlife@comcast.net

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August 2009

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

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