Water LIFE Dec 2006

W a t e r LIFE Charlotte Harbor and Lemon Bay

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Keeping Boaters and Fishermen Informed

December 2006

Eating Local Green Mussels Page 12

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Diving With Adam Wilson

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Trout 0n A Fly Page 16

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Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

December 2006

Water LIFE

December 2006

Lots of People Want to Plant Red Mangroves

By Michael Heller Water LIFE Publisher Talk about planting red mangrove trees around Charlotte Harbor is on the increase, but due to the sensitivity of making any changes to state protected lands, it’s been low key. Evidently adding or subtracting from the sum total of protected mangrove trees is a delicate subject in some circles.

It is difficult to assess the developments, but here’s what I know so far: According to Jaime Greenawalt– Boswell an environmental scientist with the Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program, the NEP is currently having talks with a diverse group, including; Florida Sea Grant, Marine Forest Research, FDEP, Charlotte Harbor Buffer Preserve and Sate Park, FWC-FWRI, FDEP, Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserves, Charlotte County Natural Resources, FGCU, Charlotte Harbor Reef Association, Capt. Ralph Allen of the King Fisher Fleet and the PGI Fishing Club. The people in this group represent most, if not all, the movers and shakers in the boating, fishing and environmental world of Charlotte Harbor.

The public hasn’t heard much about all this because the players are apparently still working out the game plan, but it looks like all the right people are going

to pull together to make this happen fast.

Boswell says that mangrove propagules (banana-shaped seed pods) travel (float) no more than two miles from the tree they fall from. So they are looking at those areas that are at least two miles from live trees as the places where new growth should be started. The basis of the measurements are made from a map of Hurricane Charley’s track through the Harbor. Boswell outlined the next steps in a correspondence to the group: The Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program (CHNEP) is seeking assistance from the boating community to fill a gap in our knowledge about the shoreline condition throughout our estuaries. Many of you, as representatives of various groups and organizations have expressed an interest in this program. We will be holding a steering committee meeting in mid-December to hash out the details of this project. The goal of the CHNEP is to create a digital map of the shoreline that would be available for public use. We are aiming to begin data collection this winter in Charlotte County.

At the meeting we will: 1) determine the categories of data that will be collected, 2) discuss the methods to use in collecting data, 3) create a list of groups/organizations to target for participation, 4) determine a reasonable

Page

MAGAZINE

Alligator Creek and the lush green carpet of mangrove trees, as seen in July of 2003, one year before Hurricane Charley

timeline for data collection.

But privately, some people say that time is really of the essence and that planting new red mangroves should begin immediately. “They will study this to death,” one member of the NEP’s group warned. “This needs to be started, right now, this winter.”

An interesting thing is happening.

There are some ‘alternative environmentalists?’ (AEs?) who want to apply common sense to the problem. “What are they going to do, throw us in jail for planting trees?” one ‘AE’ asked. “I want to see what it takes to make these trees grow.”

To date I have heard four different peo-

3

ple talk about planting small areas of trees on their own. They all say that we simply cannot wait any longer to begin.What could it hurt? Everything is dead there already.

A few fishing guides I know have volunteered to plant trees. You would think the state would jump at the chance to have volunteers like them do some of the work.

In the end, this project is going to cost a lot of money. Grant money will be one source of revenue, volunteers and donations will make up the rest. We need more red mangroves for fish habitat and we don’t care who plants them. What we don’t need is Brazilian pepper trees.

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Water LIFE

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MAGAZINE

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December 2006

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Beautiful 3/2/3 canal pool home on 2 freshwater lots..

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Cold Weather Brings Hot Off Shore Action

December 2006

By Capt Dan Cambern Water LIFE Offshore There’s something about a good cold front that gets fish biting. To be more specific, the best action is usually just before or a day or two after a front pushes through. I think it’s mostly due to barometric pressure changes. It also helps to let the seas calm down and let the wind turn from a strong north blow to a northeast or easterly direction.

Now that winter is here we won’t have to run as far offshore to catch grouper as they move in closer to spawn and we can also start trolling for them, which is one my favorite ways to catch them. A lot of my customers are surprised when I tell them we can troll for grouper and some like it even better than traditional bottom fishing. For one thing it doesn’t require the brute strength necessary to get a large grouper up off the bottom quickly to keep him from getting back in his hole or whatever structure he happens to be on.

Trolling is an especially good way for kids or elderly people to catch nice grouper.

I like to use deep diving lures such as Mann’s stretch 25’s, 30’s, or even 40’s, depending on the depth we’re in. Running them just off the bottom you can entice that large grouper away from his structure, and once he is hooked and being dragged away by the moving boat he doesn’t have a chance. Well, almost always, because if you let them have any slack at all they will take advantage of it and shake off.

Water LIFE

Obviously, you want to get the lure close to the bottom because that’s where the grouper live, right? While this is true, I have also found that grouper will swim up quite a way to eat a lure. It seems that the sound of the rattle inside of the lure gets their attention. As long as the water is clear enough for them to see it they will come up and grab it. The deepest I have trolled up grouper was at 106’ with a stretch 40 running about 55’ deep which means the fish came up more than 50 feet from the bottom!

The trick to getting these lures as deep as possible is to use a thin diameter braided line such as Power-Pro which is my personal favorite. I use 50- 65-pound test line with a 5’- 6’ of 80-pound mono leader or a couple of feet of 64-pound wire leader if there are lots of kings or cudas around. Trolling speed and the amount of line you let out will also affect how deep they run. I troll at about 4 to 5 knots and let out over 200 feet of line to get a stretch 30 down to about 48 feet.

You can experiment with lure colors and also other brands of lures as there is a wide variety to choose from. I generally run a red/white combo on one line and experiment on the second line. Gold/ black and silver/black have produced gags over 20 pounds as well as plenty of big kings.

Trolling more than two deep lures is a recipe for disaster with a huge tangle, but it doesn’t hurt to run a ballyhoo or lure on top for a shot at a king, bonita, black fin tuna or possibly a sailfish.

MAGAZINE

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5

Above: Curt Vilt with a 22-pound gag Below: Robert Masula and his son with a couple of nice gags caught while trolling.

One more thing I’d like to add is that if the water temperature drops down to the 50’s or low 60’s after a real cold night it’s better to wait until late morning or early afternoon before you start trolling. The fish get real lethargic on those cold mornings and don’t seem to want to chase lures until later in the day. Start with cut bait such as squid or sardines to get some scent in the water and wake them up.

On a related note I just received an email that confirmed the rumors that there will be a one month seasonal closure for the recreational red grouper, black grouper, and gag grouper fisheries in federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico from February 15 to March 15 2007. The seasonal closure will occur annually, and coincides with the commercial grouper fishery closure established in 2000.

Captain Dan Cambern runs Hammerhead Charters out of the Placida Fishery boat dock s and can be reached at 941-625-6226 or 941-380-6226 or on the internet at: www.hammerheadcharters.com

This Holiday Season

Give the Gift of Fishing

Local guides will be happy to provide a GIFT CERTIFICATE for a half-day or full-day fishing trip for your favorite sportsman. see page 24

Water LIFE

Page 6

MAGAZINE

December 2006

Christmas Gifts for fishermen: Donʼt be afraid to Come In!

PLACIDA LOSES AN OLD FRIEND

By Capt. Dan Cambern Hammerhead Charters Harry VanPetten would walk the docks when he was back in port from shrimping at the old Placida fish house.

With his trusted lab Jake by his side he would come down and see what the charter boats had caught that day and talk about fishing. You could tell he liked to fish and we would swap fish stories until it was time to call it a day.

I had only known Harry for a few years before his tragic death while down at Fort Myers beach where he was having his shrimp boat Miss Cindy II repaired. A soft spoken man who could say a lot with just a few words, he will be missed by all who knew him.

When I asked Miss Cindy, who was Harry’s wife and Becky, their daughter, who together own and operate Miss Cindy’s Placida Seafood Market if I could put in some kind words about Harry they were gracious enough to write down some of their favorite memories.

The following is written in their own words: Harry was born in Arcadia, Fl. and his family owned and operated the VanPetten Funeral Home for many years. His family moved to Boca Grande in the 50’s where Harry raised a lot of hell playing pranks and got into all kinds of trouble. He loved having fun and he was a wild and crazy guy.

When he was 17 years old he lied about his age and enlisted in the army to serve his country. He went to Vietnam and served two tours earning two purple hearts, two bronze stars, one air metal, sharp shooter and many other honors.

Harry returned home from war in 1970 and met Miss Cindy in 1972, and were soon married. They had two daughters, Rebecca VanPetten Caspolich, and Wendy VanPetten Porter. He had four grandchildren and was happily married to Miss Cindy for 34 years.

Harry was a true fisherman who found his calling at the age of ten. As a commercial

fisherman he was very well known and respected by many.

He could sit on the boat for days at a time and would spot the mullet way before anyone knew they were there. He knew when the fish were going to come out of the creek.

After the net ban in 1995, Harry went to shrimping but fishing was his passion. He worked hard as a fisherman, but even harder as a shrimper.

He would go out to sea for a week to sometimes two weeks depending on his catches.

There wasn’t anyone who Harry didn’t like or who didn’t like Harry. He had many friends! Any time someone needed a hand or help, Harry was the first one there. He didn’t have any enemies. He would tell his family and friends ‘There ain’t many of us left!’ That was his famous saying.

The one thing he loved the most in this world was his family. If you were to mention them you would see the twinkle in his eyes and a story

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would unfold. Harry loved and enjoyed cooking. He made the best swamp cabbage and smoked mullet. He wouldn’t give out his recipe either!

When he cooked anything he made enough to feed an army.

Every Thanksgiving he would always make the turkey do a dance and all the kids just loved it.

He is loved and will be missed dearly.

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Contributing Editors:

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

on the COVER:

A spotted sea trout, caught on a fly in a 20 knott wind. See Capt. Chuck Eichner Page 16

on our WEBSITE:

WWW.charlotteharbormagazine.com

Links to Realtors: Connect with our real estate advertisers Tide Graphs: For local waters

Weather: Links to all of our favorite sites.

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

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

ASA1000 Photography and Hot Rod Cars

Water LIFE

December 2006

INSHORE Following the Mullet

By Capt Robert Moore Water LIFE Staff Winter has finally arrived and lots of changes are taking place. The water temperature is dropping and the tides are super low during daylight hours. These changing conditions will also mean changing my tactics as well. Last month I wrote about targeting sand holes to locate fish. This approach will last throughout the winter, but for the next couple of months I will add another factor while trying to locate the right sand holes.

That factor will be mullet. The larger the school the better. And not schools of small mullet, but very large mullet as well. My belief is that a wide variety of fish like redfish, snook and trout will follow schools of mullet during the winter months. I have heard lots of explanations from different anglers as to why this occurs. My own explanation is they are simply using the mullet as another ambush tactic when they try to blend in with a moving school of mullet.

I am not necessarily changing the areas I like to fish or running around the flats looking for large schools of mullet to fish. I am simply returning to the shorelines and flats where I like to fish and the first thing I will look for is ‘activity’ from schools of mullet.

Mullet will do many things that can be interpreted as ‘activity’. The first thing to remember is that if you are in an area and there are schools of mullet but they are not very active in any way then the tidal movement in that area is slow or none existent and more than likely the bite will also be very slow. If you come back to that same area and observe the mullet moving around and leaping out of the water then, more than likely, any predator fish mixed in with them will be active as well.

The ‘activity’ I am referring to is mullet moving along the surface, swirling, leaping from the water and creating a disturbance on the surface. If you stop and scan a flat or shoreline for a few minutes you can observe this very easily.

When I see where the schools are working that is the area of the flat or shoreline I will work. And do not count on the mullet staying in one area for very long. As they move you must quietly move with them. The tide will usually dictate which way they will move.

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MAGAZINE

Mullet in a grass bed. Do other fish use mullet schools as anmbush points?

As for the depth, the only important factor that I have found is that the best results come when it is less than three feet deep.

Now, as for how to fish a school of mullet, I simply look for sand holes or sandy bottoms where the mullet are active. A variety of baits will work.

With live bait such as shrimp I will cast into the middle of the school with an 1/8 ounce jig head and let my bait sit on the bottom and let the fish locate it. Just make sure the bait is sitting on sandy bottom and not buried in the grass. Dead cut bait such as ladyfish, mullet or sar-

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dines will also work well. Artificial lures such as gold spoons, soft plastics or top water plugs are also very productive. I find with artificial lures you can cover more area of the schools of mullet than with live or cut bait resulting in more opportunities.

Fishing in amongst large schools of active mullet is not the only way to catch fish during these colder months but it is definitely a great tactic that will produce over and over for you. Good luck and tight lines!

Capt. Robert Moore can be reached at

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Save The Manatee Clubʼs Next Big Lie

Water LIFE

Page 8

By Capt Ron Bl ago Water LIFE Senior Staff I bet you thought the Florida manatee had been down-listed from endangered to threatened. If you did, you would be wrong. The Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) has so far only voted (unanimously) to accept the recommendations of their scientific staff and several panels of marine mammal population experts that recommended the down-listing of the manatee. In order to change the manatee’s classification to threatened, the FWC must first approve their ‘first-in-30-years’ Manatee Management Plan. Who knew you could go 30 years without a plan?

This has given the SMC another opportunity to wage a counter attack against the rich, evil, watercraft owning, sportsfishing club which asked that a population study and management plan be produced in the first place. If I was a more sensitive guy, I might think that they are talking about me and my fellow CCA members.

Everyone knows, especially after this year’s elections, that if you tell a lie big enough and often enough, people

will begin to believe it.

The SMC new big lie is that this new MMP, which comes before the FWC in June 2007, does not protect manatees enough and may even result in a potential for a 50% population loss in the near future. The SMC bases this prediction on the elimination of warm water discharge from our power plants during the winter season.

Back in the late 50’s and early 60’s when Florida was primarily a winter tourist destination, the power companies started planning for the future by placing coal and oil powered plants on public waterways. The power plants produced large quantities of heated water which was dumped into the local waterways. Some of the local environmentalist at the time warned that this was not a good thing to do because it was artificially changing the natural environment.

People noticed that manatees rather than travel south to warmer water, would stay the winter in this artificially produced warm water environment.

Organizations like the SMC, lobbied the State for money to build observa-

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Seasonal SPECIALS.

MAGAZINE

December 2006

Save the Manatee Club Losing Money

Save the Manatee Clubʼs financial information from www.charitywatch.org

tion decks and parks where people could see these wild manatees. Back then there weren’t that many manatees so it was no big deal; but now the population has skyrocketed to over 3,000 manatees and the power plants have switched over to natural gas and don’t produce that much free warm water any more. The SMC has calculated that if the warm water is turned off, 50% of the manatee population may go belly up. How ironic is it that? The SMC’s own efforts to protect the manatee could result in the biggest threat to their survival?

One solution is to force the power companies to continue to produce warm water and discharge it into the public waterways. We can always fine them if they don’t produce enough thermal pollution for the manatees. Of course we will allow them to pass the expense on to us.

It’s funny how expensive manatees can be. The FWC estimates that they spend $11 million dollars a year on manatee research and protection. The Feds spend an estimated $1 million a year. That’s $12 million a year, and

with an estimated population of 3,000 manatees, we spend about $4,000 annually on every manatee we’ve got.

Consider that the oldest manatee I know is in Bradenton and he is 58, we could be looking forward to spending about $232,000.00 for every manatee in Florida. Maybe a 50% reduction in population might not be such a bad thing.

Expenses are agai n outstri pi ng revenue for the Manatee Cl ub

Too Much Time on His Hands

Dear Water LIFE: I just read where the dead manatee found in Biscayne National Park on Nov.10th had died of natural causes and not at the hands of some sick pervert. I also read that the SMC is offering a $10,000 reward for information on the identity of person who removed the tail and fins.

For discussion purposes only; Is it illegal to assault a dead manatee? I know there are alot of threatend species around. Supposed I came open a dead eagle in the middle of the road that had been run over by a few careless motorists and I go over and kick the carcass, can I be arrested?

If not, can I turn myself in and confess to being the manatee mutilator and collect the $10,000 reward; and stay out of jail?

One more hypothetical; If you needed a taxidermist to mount a tail and some fins, who would you call?

Water LIFE

Page 18

December 2006

MAGAZINE

Tracking Sawfish in the Charlotte Harbor Estuary

By Capt. Betty S taugl er Water LIFE / Sea Grant Sawfish are modified rays with a shark-like body. The earliest sawfish arose about 100 million years ago. These sawfish were distant cousins of the ones we see today, which appeared about 56 million years ago. Sawfish get their name from their ‘saws’, which are used to locate, stun and kill prey. They feed mostly on fish, but they also eat crustaceans.

At one time, sawfish were abundant, but unfortunately they were never studied. With few remaining, it is important to learn about their

life history, biology and ecology so that conservation efforts will be successful. This has been the premise behind the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission’s (FWC) sawfish research in Charlotte Harbor which began in November 2004. According to Gregg Poulakis of FWC, sawfish research efforts are focused primarily in the Caloosahatchee River (from the Mid-Point Bridge to the Miserable Mile) and in the upper Harbor (from I-75 on the Peace River to the mouth around Hog Island). The majority of FWC’s captures and the majority of angler reports continued on following page

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December 2006

continued from following page

FWC’s research includes both random and directed sampling for sawfish using a variety of gear. For instance,a 600-foot seine is used to sample in the shallower waters, whereas a mini-longline is a used in deeper waters.

All captured sawfish are tagged and released. In 2005, 23 sawfish were captured, with one recapture, and so far in 2006, 29 sawfish have been captured, with 10 recaptures. Recaptures were made anywhere from 2 weeks to 14 months following the original capture.

Captured sawfish have been between about 2 (newborn) and 7 feet long.

Three types of tags are placed on each captured sawfish. The first is a ‘PIT’ tag. This is similar to the tags put in dogs and cats. It’s injected under the skin and is about the size of a grain of rice. The tag is picked up by researchers during recapture using a scanning devise. These tags are the most permanent of the three. The second tag is a ‘roto’ tag. This tag is brightly colored with identification numbers and contact information on it.

These tags, located on the 1st dorsal fin, are used for angler reports.

Information on how to report a sawfish catch is given at the end of this article.

The last tag is an acoustic tag. It is about the size of a AAA battery and is located on the 2nd dorsal fin. These tags transmit at a specific frequency to a series of moored hydrophones that

Water LIFE

record underwater activity 24 hours a day. Mote and FWC have hydrophones in the Caloosahatchee from the Miserable Mile up to the Franklin locks. These hydrophones collect information for a variety of tagged species including snook and sharks. The information obtained using this method provides a general picture of where sawfish are and where they are moving within the hydrophone array.

Gregg also uses a manual tracking method where a hydrophone is deployed off the side of a boat and feeds information to an onboard speaker to fine tune movements and behavior information inside and outside of the array. Roto tags and acoustic tags last a few months to one year. For more information on sawfish and the research described above you can visit http://research.myfwc.com/sawfish Smalltooth sawfish are listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act, which makes it illegal to harm, harass or handle them. Accidental captures do occur while fishing for other species. A sawfish hooked or netted should be released immediately.

Sawfish: Safe Release Guidelines

From the Museum of Natural History Warni ng: Sawfish are powerful ani-

Page 19

MAGAZINE

A small tracking tag is attached to the rear dorsal fin of a sawfish. Similar tags could be used to track other fish, such as redfish or snook.

mals that can cause serious injury. For your safety, and the safety of the sawfish, use caution if you do hook or net one of these animals.

If hooked: Keep sawfish in the water at all times. If it can be done safely, untangle the line if it is wrapped around the saw and remove as much of the line as possible. Cut the line as close to the hook as possible. Do not handle the animal or attempt to remove any hooks on the saw unless you have a long-handled de-hooker.

If you do encounter a sawfish, you can greatly help conservation efforts by providing the following information. n Your name, phone number, and email address n Date, time, and location of the encounter

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n Number, size, and fish behavior n Your activity at the time of encounter n Information on any tags (look for number on tag), scars, or marks Please report this information to any of the below contacts: Gregg Poul aki s, FWC e-mail: sawfish@myfwc.com phone: (941) 255-7403; Col i n S i mpfendorfer, Mote Mari ne Laboratory email: sawfish@mote.org" phone: (941) 388-4441 George Burgess, Fl ori da Museum of Natural Hi story email: sawfish@flmnh.ufl.edu phone: (352) 392-2360.

Betty Staugler is the Sea Grant Agent for

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Page 20

Water LIFE

KAYAK FISHING: A Lifetime of Angling at Age 15

By Kent Freshwater Special to Water LIFE Snook fishing from a kayak is both fun and challenging, especially when a family of dolphins decides that your snook would make a good dinner.

On October 30, I caught a 28-inch snook from my Prowler 13 Ocean kayak by the lights in the channel along the pilings near Tom Adams bridge in Englewood. From the way that snook fought, I thought it was a lot bigger. I caught a 33-inch and a 35inch snook that have made every other snook I've caught seem small.

One of the biggest obstacles to bringing in a snook isn't caused from the fish itself, but from the dolphins that swim alongside the kayak and stare at you as if they are expecting you to share. Dolphins will try to steal the snook right off your line.

Another thing I have learned from fishing for snook from a kayak near structure is; don't anchor. If you anchor and hook a big snook, you won't be able to fight the fish and control the

situation.

Fishing from a kayak has its advantages. Kayaks are smaller than regular boats, so you can fit into tighter spots.

With most boats, you have to anchor away from the structure and cast toward it, with a kayak you can be right next to the structure and fish the whole area.

This means more fish.

Another advantage is that you can go through very shallow water and fish in grass flats without harming the environment. My Prowler 13 is rigged for sportsfishing. It has three fishing pole holders. One is in front of the seat and two are located on each side behind the seat. This means I can troll or carry an extra pole and fish from the front or sides.

For fishing at night, a kayak must have a stern light. Everyone must also wear a lifejacket and have an emergency whistle or other emergency sound equipment. I rig my pole with 20-pound braided line and 20-, 25- and sometimes 30-pound fluorocarbon leader with no swivel.

MAGAZINE

December 2006

Kent Freshwater, 15, lives in Englewood and has been fishing since he was 5. He started in a backyard pond castnetting for gar. He has been fishing at the Tom Adams bridges since he was 8. Last fall Kent moved up to kayak fishing. According to his mother, someday he wants to get a fishing boat and go after the big gamefish.

It's important that the drag is not too tight or too loose. If it is too tight, if the fish goes into the piling, it will break your line and you will get pulled around more. If the drag is too loose, you can't pull the fish in and you might lose it.

I like to use Yo-Zuri, Bombers, Rapala and Gulp shrimp with a jighead

for snook. If the snook aren't hitting well on artificial, I go to live shrimp by taking a small flashlight and going along the pilings and grabbing them by hand or with a small dip net.

Fishing from a kayak isn't easy, but if you like to catch lots of fish, it beats fishing from the pier.

Real Estate News December 2006

Recent area news i tems: PROVIDED BY: Dave & Marl ene Hofer RE/ MAX Harbor Real ty (941) 575-3777 dhofer@remax. net 1. November's Charlotte County election brought in Richard Loftus to replace Matt DeBoer, while Adam Cummings retained in seat on the board.

2. Punta Gorda City Councilman David Phelen passed away and was replaced with Bill Albers, the current President of the PGI Civic Association. The November election brought in Harvey Goldberg and Charles Wallace. So the City Council is now dominated by younger, forward thinking members with extensive managerial experience.

3. Joe Suriol picked up his lance once more to joust with the Punta Gorda City Council. Although he received a huge variance to permit him to build the 204 unit Harbor Inn and condominium on this 4.6 acre site, he is stumbling over the timing of a condition, that he had already offered. The city approval was conditioned on the granting of a waterfront easement for public use at the time of commencement of the development rather than the required completion date.

Bringing this seemingly inconsequential technicality to a court of arbitration for resolution seems to be the wrong tactic for a developer in need of a whole com-

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

Page 21

Inside the new waterfront PORTOFINO RESTAURANT (this was the old 驶Breakers始) on Bayshore Rd in Port Charlotte.

Now completely re-done with dining tables around panoramic windows overlooking Charlotte Harbor and there is a new bar with live music and food service and an upstairs dining room designed in marble for special-occasion dining.. The night we stopped in they were still in shake-down mode, but here始s what we had: Drinks: one premium bar call drink, with a side of club soda and one fruit juice mixed drink. For dinner we had a calamari appetizer: light, flaky with a nice marinara sauce. Then the Portofino salad: cold crisp iceberg lettuce, Italian tomatoes, olives, ham and grated parmesan with a house Italian dressing; good salad. Then linguini with shrimp and a white wine garlic and olive oil sauce. Nice sized portion and again good flavor, plus the linguini cooked to perfection. Total tab $27. We始ll be back!

munity's support.

4. Charlotte County Board gave Kitson & Partners the nod over Forest City to develop Murdock Village.

Unlike Forest City's, Kitson's new vision includes a 50 acre allocation out of the 870 acres for the construction of a new FGCU campus.

5. The site committee of FGCU selected the Hudson Sun River site on US 17 near the DeSoto County Line in rural east Charlotte County to construct its new campus almost entirely at the expense of a New York developer hoping to establish a new community from the remaining land holdings. The FGCU trustees also voted to accept the recommendation of their committee. The State Board of

Governors, however, nixed the site because of policy violations and what they termed "lack of consensus" among County leaders. It also feels a mandate not to encourage urban sprawl by building outside of existing developed areas. To top off their profound lack of communication, they played the environmental card, citing the potential loss of sensitive open areas if the farms out by the new Wal-Mart distribution center were to be developed. Their spokesman said "... the ball is now in Charlotte County's court...". Since the state is not supplying the funds to acquire the site, build the buildings or infrastructure, it sounds like it SHOULD BE the County's decision.

Contintinued of page23

Charlotte Harbor FISHING GUIDES Water LIFE

Page 22

MAGAZINE

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December 2006

CCA

Ta k i n g I s s u e w i t h t h e

An Opinion

By Fi shi n’ Frank

This month I would like to discuss ... maybe just ‘cuss,’ the C.C.A. In many ways we very desperately need a group like the C.C.A. to keep fishing as a part of our heritage. Now here’s the BUT: but we have to be very careful or the C.C.A. will become another Save the Manatee Club. They are now fighting for more regulations, needed or not. The local chapter is fighting against the black salty, a bait fish that the state and other scientists say is not a problem.

The C.C.A. fought the good fight and the net ban happened and unlike the Lone Ranger they did not ride off into the sunset to wait for another injustice, they stayed and people started making jobs from the group.

But when you have a job you have to justify your paycheck, so you begin to look around at what you can do to keep this going. OK, maybe get involved in making more laws about fishing. Hey people are catching too many fish. That's not right, let’s cut back the limit. And on and on.

Any group that always thinks they are saving us from ourselves and they always know best is, in my opinion, usually wrong. The correct answer is always somewhere in the middle.

At first the C.C.A. would not fight against the phosphate mine because it was not politically correct then, when it became a popular cause, they joined in.

Now they are upset about a bait fish that is to be used in saltwater. The black salty is a very close cousin to the common gold fish. We sell them in our store, but this is not about us possibly losing a product to sell. This is about common sense.

Both the salty and gold fish are illegal to use in fresh water. Think about all the millions of gold fish sold in the state of Florida. To think that some do not escape or get released into the water, or even used for bait by resourceful fishermen is ridiculous. But to this day goldfish have not become a problem. Another cousin of the back salty is the grass carp. The state of Florida introduced them to the waterways for weed control and made them protected. I am not aware of any body of water overpacked with grass carp.

The arguments are as follows. Are black saltys going to get loose? Yes. Will some survive in our local waters? Probably yes. Is this going to be a disaster? No. Who knows, maybe the darn things will develop a taste for armored catfish. It is very likely they will compete with the very invasive species of plecostomus, walking catfish and armored catfish which are all loose in our canals.

The worst case is, we end up with another fish that grows to 30 pounds, fights good on a rod and reel, and is edible. Would this be a bad thing? No one complains about Oscars in the Everglades, a non-native species that has become a favorite; or peacock bass in Miami. Do you want to get rid of them? Give me a break. Just because it is not familiar to you does not mean it is bad.

CCA we need you to fight long liners, to keep watch so the net ban is upheld, to fight the phosphate mines. Fight all the good fights, but do not fight when there is nothing to fight about. We did our homework.

We gave samples of the black salty to the state. We tried to look at all sides of the issue before we ever sold the first one. Who did you check with?

December 2006

Real Estate: Contintinued

6. The Charlotte County Assessor will be hearing the pleas of non homesteaded tax protestors over the next couple of weeks. He will be asked to defend downtown vacant land valuations of more than $100 SF. Hopefully, he finds a way to fend off the meltdown that is now occurring with commercial development as a result of the triple whammy of skyrocketing insurance, impact fees and now, real estate taxes.

7. The City of North Port voters passed its sewer bond proposal this month. Current development plans call for the existing customer base of 13,000 households in the Northeast section to increase to more than 33,000 over the next 10 years.

8. The City of North Port is also considering the annexation of some 54 square miles to its land mass as it zeros in on becoming the largest city in Sarasota County.

9. On a more modest note, the City of Punta Gorda is considering annexing existing properties along the US 17 corridor. The City estimates that it will cost upwards of $22 Million to bring the area up to current standards for utilities, roadways and drainage. They project an increase of approximately $162K in annual tax receipts as a result of the incorporation. $162K on $22Mil that's a tidy 8% return.... er, no, I guess it's

Water LIFE

only .8%! Well, what's another tax increase?

10. City of Punta Gorda is evaluating the merits of building a 3 story parking garage next to the courthouse on Herald Court. The garage should house 300-400 cars at a cost of about $22,400 per space. The city hopes to get most of that cost recouped from parking impact fees levied on future commercial developments. For example, a modest restaurant of 2,400 SF will require 40 spaces at a cost of $400,000! Although cheaper than the County's schedule, other impact fees would approach an additional $425K. I guess when we start paying $10 for a gallon of gas, we won't mind spending $250 for a hamburger!

11. City of Punta Gorda will be hiring a development director to seek out and encourage new development in this community. We're hopeful that the issues mentioned in items 6 & 10 above, don't necessitate that "miracle worker" be one of the job requisites.

12. Charlotte Tech Center will move into a new 85K building in January at 18300 Cochrane in Port Charlotte.

13. John Cannon Homes is proposing to build 1278 units on 440 acres adjoining Myakka Pines Golf Club. No zoning change is required of this high end builder.

14. The developers of the Loop expect to break ground in late 2007 on what is expected to be a 1 million square

MAGAZINE

foot retail center with 400 residential units on Jones Loop Road at Taylor Road. This exciting development is expected to be even larger and more successful than their existing centers in Orlando and Massachussetts.

15. Home Dynamics was approved to build 2 story condos south of Burnt Store Village on Burnt Store Road. The 270 units met with little staff and council opposition. Further roadway improvements are becoming more urgent in this area.

16. The Punta Gorda Housing Authority will seek $14Mil in bond proceeds to finance the redevelopment of 170 units on Myrtle Street. No local tax support is required for the repayment of these bonds.

Other area developments in the works:

New restaurants will be opening next month. Lemoncello is building a new building on 41 south of Burnt Store Road. This Italian restaurant will be operated by the former owners of the highly successful Mama Nunzio's restaurant in town. Portofino is now open on Bayshore in Port Charlotte west of the 41 bridge. The owners of Coral Rock Cafe are working out the logistics of presenting another quality Italian restaurant to our market. The owners of the Red Fish Chop house on restaurant row are changing their motif to Asian. ‘ Zen’

Page 23

will open around the first of the month with an awesome selection of Asian dishes. Best of luck to all of our new enterprises. The Microtel will start construction soon, expecting to open its doors in August at 4056 Tamiami Trail in Port Charlotte. The City will soon commence construction of a 700 ft boardwalk extending from Fisherman's village eastward.

S al es S tati sti cs: WCI Communities, one of America's premier condo developer reported 9 new condo sales nationwide in the quarter ended September 30. Contrasting those results to 333 sales in the same period a year ago is a sign of the times .... or maybe a sign of significant pentup demand that will surface to reduce our existing oversupply of inventory.

Median home prices are now 12% lower than a year ago. This is more indicative of demand still holding up for lower priced homes being purchased by working families and tepid interest in upper end retirement homes.

Lot sales south of the Peace River fell to only 3 during the month as speculators continued to stay away and would-be builders are put off by escalating costs, taxes and insurance.

These statistics are intended to assist in analyzing trends in supply and demand and not to indicate specific market values.

Please visit us at www.harborparadise.com to view any

Water LIFE

Page 24

December 2006

MAGAZINE

Lack of wind drives sailors to drink

Too much wind would probably have had the same effect

By Bi l l Di xon Water LIFE Sailing

November’s Pitcher of Beer race to Cabbage Key turned into a motoring contest.

Smooth waters did however make for a nice cocktail raft up and a wonderful opportunity to decorate your boat. Seventeen boats and 40+ sailors enjoyed themselves in this year’s edition of one of PGSC’s oldest events. Since there was no race, Donna Greve and Wally with their Palm Tree and Tiki Hut won the decorating contest and with it the ‘Picture of Beer’... and they get to run next year’s event.

Dinner on Cabbage Key was a lively event after the Dingy raft up for Happy Hour. There

was however some grumbling about $25 for a cheeseburger. I had a fish sandwich; I would want to mount a cheeseburger that expensive on my wall.

Some people got to go to Cabbage Key for breakfast on Sunday morning. Those of us with dogs aboard spent the early hours on a nearby nameless key splashing after Frisbees in the shallow warm water. The trip home was also a motoring event, but it was a nice day and a pleasure to be out on the water.

Snowbird season is here again. I saw a bunch of pale faces at the November PGSC meeting. In addition to crowded restaurants, highways and stores, that means more boats racing and cruising. We desperately needed the S-2 snowbirds to fill out the spinnaker fleet, and hopefully 2007 Race Fleet

Captain Tom Bragaw can rustle up some snowbird multi hulls to race against. Tom was the only multi out there for many of the summer and fall series races. High on Tom’s Xmas wish list is a cruising multihull fleet. If we can get 3 entrants PGSC will score and trophy the cruising multi’s separate from the Corsair and Farrier race boats.

December of course has holidays, decorated canals, and boat parades on the 2nd and 16th. PGSC is running a special decorate your boat and crew race on Dec. 17 with no entry fee. Perfect for non racers, we can get you a temporary handicap, awards for decorations and costumes, and your own personal uncrowded start time. All for free. Then you can join us afterward at some local restaurant and lie about why you did-

Boat Buying Tips

n’t win, just like we racers do.

E-mail me for details: dixonwj@comcast.net The Golden Conch Regatta is right around the corner, Jan 6, 7 at Platinum Point YC. It is a great regatta, counts toward

the Charlotte Harbor Boat of the Year Series and you all should compete. Check the Platinum Point web site for details: www. ppyc.sail1.net.l

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Many boaters use a new boat dealer to trade in their old boat against the purchase of a new boat. The benefits of trading in your boat are the speed and ease of the transaction; generally youʼll have little, if any, downtime, which is especially critical in the boating season. Not all dealers take all trade-ins – it depends on what you are trading in and what you are buying. There can be tax advantages to a trade-in; check with me and I will help make the trade easy and worthwhile!

Dinner on Cabbage Key was a lively event after a Dingy Raft Up for Happy Hour.

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December 2006

Water LIFE

Page 25

MAGAZINE

Photos Below: In the end, Oui Oui let off to finish 4th in the Non Spinnaker A Class while Frolic finished second. Frisbee ended up 7th in Non- Spinnaker B

SAILING:Know when to hold ?em know when to fold

We weren’t even paying attention. The fleet had tacked solidly to the south and then east before laying over on a run around the first mark. The fleet was taking the mark, an inflatable buoy labeled ‘A’, on a reach, more like sailing past it than actually ‘rounding’ it.

But Oui’ Oui’ a big Swan 40, somehow came up on the mark from the southwest. Two smaller boats were in line, set to graze by the mark on their port sides, when Oui’ Oui’ came barreling down on us all.

Oui Oui took us on her starboard side slithering past us like a uboat; silent with only that tight muffled noise of dacron sails full of wind and power.

The second boat approaching the mark was Bill McLearn’s red hulled Able 24 Frisbee. He must have seen them coming. There was a collective hard look at Oui Oui as she bore down on them. Clearly, McLearn could have been first boat to the mark...but it may not have been pretty. Coming from the southwest it would have taken a difficult crosswind jibe-like move to get Oui Oui around the mark. Had they faltered or rounded-up they very well could have been t-boned ... right in the galley.

So, Oui Oui said No No! She let off ever so slightly and bore away just a tad, from the mark. That was it.

McLearn was first to the mark, Oui Oui second.

One small ‘cluck’ in a game of chicken that is sometimes sailboat racing.

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Above: Oui Oui, a Swan 40, bares down on Frisbee (right) and Frolic (left) just as Frolic is alongside the mark.

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Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

December 2006

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

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December 2006

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

Cold Water Heating Up

Page 27

Capt Steveʼs Offshore Report

By Capt S teve S kevi ngton Water Life - Fort Myers Beach Well it’s that time of year again; grouper and snapper fishing is flat out hot! This is the time of year when offshore ledges and artificial reefs load up with hungry gag grouper. Catch them in the right mood this month and they will try to tear your arms off... and this month they are almost always in the ‘right mood’ with cooler water tempera-

tures. Gag and black grouper will move in closer to the beach now than any other time of year and with all that traveling when they do get there, they’ll normally show up hungry. The shallow water grouper bite should get really good this month.

Just a little bit further offshore we’re finding lane snapper piled up on hard bottom. Almost any bait they can fit in their mouth is going to get gobbled up.

Throw in a lingering kingfish bite here and there and you’ve got the makings of a hot December day on the gulf!

My favorite way to fish these guys is to start out in about 30 feet of water trolling with a couple of downriggers.

When you hook a quality fish, a nice kingfish or gag grouper, just start a slow circle. When the bite slows down, drop an anchor and soak some live bait’s on bottom. You’ll be surprised how many fish you connect with.

For those of us looking for tackle busters, the amberjack are back. These fish have been showing up bigger andmeaner for the last couple of years, due in part to good management.

Just about any live bait dropped out

over a deep wreck will get slammed right now.

Nighttime grouper fishing has been great this month as some of the bigger fish become just a little less shy after sunset – having a frisky live bait down on your favorite ledge right at sunset is a surefire way to get that ‘write home to mama’ size grouper to swallow your hook.

After dark, the whole world down there changes. The bigger snapper that didn’t want to eat all day long can no longer see that hook and leader that was spooking them all day.

Nice fat yellowtail and mangrove snapper just seem almost suicidal as they hit cut sardines and frozen shrimp.

There’s a lot of fish out there right now, so if you can pull yourself out of those big lines at the mall long enough, I will try to keep a seat open for you on our next trip.

You can reach Capt. Steve at 575-FLAT or at 276-0565

Page 28

This New House

Part 17

Water LIFE

The Neighborhood Invasion of the ʻBig Houses”

Across our canal itʼs easy to see how much bigger and higher the new houses are.

By Mi chael Hel l er Water LIFE Editor My wife ran into a friend in town a couple of days ago. “How much longer are you going to write about that house? Aren’t you living there? Haven’t you milked that story long enough?”

This fellow never had a problem coming right to the point.

‘No’ is the answer, “...not quite yet.”

This, it turns out is not just about building a new house, these stories are about rebuilding our lives. I’ll quit when things are ‘a little closer to nor-

mal,’ but that hasn’t happened yet.

I can still dig pretty-much-anywhere on our property and find some smashed smitherene of our old life. Not necessarily storm smashed stuff, although there is still a lot of storm glass around in our landscaping; but I’ll find a blue piece of tile from my old bathroom, a piece of wood from the parquet floor in the living room, maybe a fleck of the green plaster from the living room walls. No one else would know what it was, pieces crushed up in the demolition and left now for future archaeolo-

MAGAZINE

gists to rediscover. Or to be a future oyster bar. But I know.

A lot has changed in our neighborhood. The biggest thing is the invasion of the ‘big houses.’ I call it an invasion, even though I’m one of the invaders. FEMA made us do it. I would have been very happy to roll the dice again and still live at our old 7.5 foot elevation. In the event of another Category 4 storm, I’d still do the same thing I did last time...get out!

But now we have a big cement house with a finished floor elevation that is 5 feet higher than our old floor.

If anything, these big new houses may give us all a false sense of security.

Time will tell, and I hope I still run.

What’s become evident, as new houses sprout up, is the disparity in elevations when compared to the old neighboring houses. In areas like the Edgewater corridor of Port Charlotte, where so many houses were torn down, the contrast is striking.

This neighborhood was hit with what residents all pretty much agree was an outbreak of small tornadoes.

Parts of the eye wall were dangling down like dreadlocks. Finger-like appendages touching one house, and skipping over the next.

Now the new houses are here, many with steeply sloped tall metal roofs that magnify their already disproportionate size.

Where once people in the older houses had a view out a side window with sunlight coming down from above there may now be a tall cement wall to contend with and no sun at all.

I’ve already noticed the shadow from our own second floor roof and how they stretch across the street and cover half of our neighbor’s garage in the early morning. With all this new cement and the new contours on the ground what will happen with the old drainage and run-off when we have our next big big rain event? Some of these new houses are simply built on mounds of dirt.

What will wash away, or undermine and what will remain is also a question.

December 2006

How real estate prices will be effected by the advent of the ‘Big Houses’ is another important concern.

And the fabric of our neighborhood has changed as well. Gone now are the travel trailers that people lived in for the first two years. Where once we were a seamless knit of residents, today we are a patchwork of more transient types.

There are houses for sale, vacant lots for sale, houses for rent, construction trailers, pick up trucks, heavy machinery, concrete pumpers, trash dumpsters, boats, motorhomes, generators running, nail guns hammering, still more pick up trucks and trailers.

Not much real construction inside our house this month. Our GE Monagram high end stainless steel dishwasher, the one we bought from Bill Smith Appliances, coughed up its pump after less than a month. The GE washing machine squeaks like a subway train and the service-rep tells me I have to accept the noise. We narrowed the source to a metal rod that rides on a metal plate. ‘Bad design’ I said. “Yeah it is,” the service guy concurred, “...but that’s the way they make ‘em. You could put some lithium grease on it, if you want to,” he added.

So, new GE owners: – don’t forget to grease your brand new GE washing machine when you get it. Come on!

This is the holiday season. Things can’t end on a sour note. Not on holiday. I look down our block and there are holiday lights wrapped around the palm trees and icicles on some roofs. There are red bulbs in the bushes and out back, on the canal side, a neighbor across the water already has his pool cage decorated. In the next canal over, some neighbors are rigging up Santa on a sleigh for the mast of their sailboat.

There are two lighted boat parades this month. I’m going to put our boat in the water tonight and see what else is lit up around in our neighborhood. The holidays are here and this community is still a great place for night boating at Christmas. I’m glad that hasn’t changed.

Water LIFE

December 2006

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MAGAZINE

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Page 30

December Fishing Report

Charlotte Harbor

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

I’m thinking sheepshead are going to be the number one species this month because they’re here in good enough numbers right now and that’s three to four weeks early. For shore fishermen, sheepshead are great. Placida, El

Water LIFE

Jobean, even the beach at Boca Grande or the jetties at Venice, anywhere there is structure ... sheepshead ought to be there. They feed on fiddler crabs which are their favorite. Sand fleas or peeled pieces of shrimp are other sheepshead baits. Since you are fishing around structure, you have to beef up the tackle a little bit. A 12-to 20-pound test line with 30- to 40-pound leader is the best sheepshead rig.

Anglers in boats will find sheepshead Continued on facing Page

MAGAZINE

December 2006

Maybe this is more of a ʻfishyʼ picture than a fish picture, but we thought it was a good ʻcatchʼ for December. Ho, Ho, Hold on!, Santa!

December 2006

Continued from page 30

BIG-4 BIG-4

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MAGAZINE

Decemberʼs Decemberʼs Target Target Species Species You’ll sometimes find sheepshead tailing around the oyster bars.

Seeing them tailing, a lot of people get them confused with redfish but they are just looking for crustacceans. Sheepshead are measured to the fork of the tail, with 12 SNOOK are moving into the TRIPLETAIL Starting to SHEEPSHEAD are moving TROUT Handle with care, canals move into the harbor now. in and big ones are out front season closed! inches being minimum.

S nook season closes Dec 15.

Right now, snook fishing is startcast the area and give it a chance. When is usually just perfect. sheepshead to ing to really pick up at this end of the harIf you time it just right, during the full you do find them, just use your live crapsnapper and snook bor and in the rivers. El Jobean at night moon and the new moon this month, there pie minnows under a float and you’ll limit are under there. I’ve will be very good for the shore fisherman. out. The limit on these fish, they are 1.5 will be millions of mul l et running had reports of 28 inch In the PGI and PC canals right now we are through the passes and out into the Gulf or 2 pounds each, is 25 per person, per trout caught, mostly starting to see a lot of nice legal size day. Crappie are either scaled and cooked or in Whidden Creek to spawn. It’s an unbelievable spectacle to snook. They are also starting to catch see – a mile long school of mullet; sharks they can be fillet. It’s a white flaky meat where the nice grassy some nice fish at the San Souci trestle with no fish flavor at all. gather along the side, a few mackerel, an patches are. right now. Shrimp is definitely the best occasional tarpon, osprey and eagles overSheepshead are snook bait gong since when the temperahead, everything gathers to feed on those starting to show, but Lemon Bay ture drops the white baits disappear. mullet. the water is still Redfi sh start to become a little more Ji m at Fi shermen’s Edge They are getting $1.10 a pound for warm and they aren’t scattered right now. Fish the deeper sand Engl ewood: 697-7595 mullet roe, so a lot of guys will be lookreally biting yet. holes on the east side of the harbor and Lots of success stories with snook and ing to net mullet. Near shore reefs like There are bl ack around Bull and Turtle Bay. The water is redfi sh as of late, but on the low water Trembly and Novak are loaded with fish; drum and mangrove shallow this time of year and the redfish days you have to be able to get into where snapper around too. mangrove snapper, grunts, porgys will be in the deeper spots. This is the the fish are holding. In the deeper pockets and sheepshead. Now the barracuda Offshore there was a time to use circle hooks when you target in the back country there are 20 redfish in move in closer to shore because of the little bite of ki ngredfish. The fish are getting smaller now one hole, 20 to 30 trout in the next one. higher salinity in the water. Gags will fi sh out along the and there will soon be mostly small ‘rat There are also a lot of snook in the move in a little bit closer as well. beach. There have reds’ around. canals, The bayou at Boca grande is loaded been some kings at Crappi e fishing is going to do nothFl ounder are starting to show up in with l adyfi sh and the snook are starting ing but stay good for most of the winter.

Venice and then the really good numbers. Along the edges of to get in there now. A lot of the seawalls You don’t need a boat because it’s all next day they were at any sandy channel, over around Bull and act like a radiator in the afternoon, giving freshwater when crappie fishing. Drive Boca Grande. Mary’s Turtle Bay and at Cape Haze Point you’ll around to any freshwater canal in Rotunda, back the sun’s heat. A lot of fish are reef and Helen’s reef find flounder in the sand now. Out along Northport or Port Charlotte, they all have attracted to the warmth. Casting under are producing some the Boca Grande beaches all the way nice concentrations of crappie. Fish with a some of the boats in the canals is good good fish. through December and into January you’ll small white tube-jig or a beetle spin. Fan- right now too. Anything from Porgys, Key find some nice flounder in these waters.

West grunts and an Tri pl etai l are still out offshore but occasional straggler with this cold weather they may start to grouper have come migrate inshore soon too. Look offshore in from offshore around the stone crab traps. We had a reguand some scatFishing lar in the store who caught a 12 and a 19 tered pompano RIGHT NOW: pound tripletail last week ... on 4 and 6 have been pound test. That’s cool! Free-lining a close to the shrimp or hanging a crab in front of them pass, but they

Very Good!

Christmas Lights

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December 2006

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

Page 32

Screaming Reels:

December 2006

Water LIFE

Just Think Deep

Capt Andy Medi na Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor Christmas is coming soon. The woman folk are out spending money. I say let them – that gives us a bartering chip. While they are out shopping we can be fishing. And this is a good deal, because now is the time to be on the water.

I feel I do my best with tides reaching negatives most of the time. It’s not only because the fish have no place to hide, because there is still plenty of water and if they don’t want to be found they turn into ‘Jimmy Hoffa’.

But when the water falls to unbelievable lows, the fish – not just any fish, but all the fish, will start seeking out deeper spots. It may only be a couple of inches deeper, but it’s better than what they had.

So we want to look for the deeper spots.

Fishing the last part of November was spectacular. With more upper slot size fish being caught than I could remember in previous years ... and now, it’s only gonna’ get better.

December will bring more negative tides. The trout fishing has been going full force. Trout are catch and release only this month but the shore line inside Ponce Inlet, or the Pirate Harbor channel will pretty much keep your rod bent most of the day. Another good spot is around Alligator Creek. The markers there seem to hold some nice ‘specs’ this time of the year and they’re pretty eager to eat a shrimp under a cork. A dozen shrimp probably won’t last you long at Alligator Creek. You either bring plenty or switch to an artificial shrimp after you locate the fish.

The good thing about ‘plastics’ is, you can catch fish after fish on the same bait. Most of the time, at least, unless they chew the tails off or something. I like Riptide’s shrimp flavored realistic shrimp, in a natural color with a chartreuse tail. Rigged on a flutter hook if I’m on potholes, or under a popping cork, otherwise. Both ways produce a lot of fish. Remember to try and not handle small specs too much. If possible, grab the hook and remove it with the fish still in the water. You don’t want to be touching the trout’s skin.

For you all that like the catch and release snook action, here are my three rules: boats, boats, and more boats. You

Capt. Andrew Medina caught these nice keeper snook and redfish on the busiest shopping day of the year.

may not believe this, but there is still plenty of white bait around. It just takes some looking, but when you find it a couple casts will have your well full.

With the lack of water, when I’m out to target snook I pay close attention to boats that don’t move. We’ve all seen them in the Punta Gorda canals. People who buy boats to keep up with the Joneses and then don’t use them. Or people who just don’t have time for them. I find time for them, and so do the snook.

A free lined ‘greeny’ under a boat could easily produce a good linesider. In the afternoon, move out to the flats where the sun has a better chance of warming the water. Snook like that too.

On a fly, a green and white clauser has produced many short snook, consistently. This is just a ton of fun for anglers just starting out. Remember snook season closes Dec 15.

On the redfish subject; keepers are being caught in the cut-off. And in the Midway canals. A lot of anglers have trouble fishing for deep water reds, but with a little practice and forgetting everything you know about patterns of shallow water fish you should do pretty well. Just think deep. Now go get them.

And have a safe and Merry Christmas.

Capt. Andrew Medina can be reached at (941) 456-1540 or on the web at www.bentrods4u.com

MAGAZINE

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Page 10

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

Now let’s change from bobber to poppin cork. A poppin cork is hollowed out on the top to make it more like a surface popper lure so the more a kid jerk’s it or splashes it the more trout and lady fish they will catch. Cold weather brings in the trout and ladyfish. It is like a ‘Perfect Storm’ of holiday fishing.

Make sure the kids are far enough apart so they do not hook each other and set the bobber just far enough from the hook so they can cast – sometimes Capt. Andy Medina, shown holding a ʻfish gripperʼ teaches in the eight week Don Ball School of Fishing program at Murdock Middle school. Four Charlotte County and one Sarasota County school in Northport now offer 12 inches sometimes the extra curricular course on local fishing taught by local fishing guides. three feet.

The correct hook is also important.

A Mustad 37140 #2 is Getting Kids Into Fishing the best bet. This is a wide gap hook. It is safer because of its shape. It is harder for it to hook the kid, but it always hooks the upper lip of the fish and almost never gut hooks. The 37140 is hold a fishing pole and be quite content

By Fi shi n Frank kind of a half-circle-half-J hook. A circle just to be with you ...as long as you Water LIFE Port Charlotte hook is the safest style of hook. For a talk. Yes talk about the birds or the water Back to basics circle hook try an Eagle Claw L702g-1 or school or whatever. It seems to be a Ok, I got to say it. It’s the Holiday Circle hooks are more than likely the girl’s way of being close. season. Yes that’s kind of obvious, I better choice for kids and someday I will But be warned. Letting children enjoy know, but it’s important because everyhave to change my recommendation, but the fishing experience can lead to you one has kids or grand kids here, and what when I started fishing I remember my never going fishing alone again, unless do you do to keep them busy? Well if elder yelling “set the hook, dummy.” I you sneak out the poles the night before. you are reading this, the answer is take Everyone I have ever talked to remembers guess you do remember those first fishthem fishin. fishing as a kid. Right down to who took ing experiences because to this day I When you are fishin with kids it is always set the hook ... and with a circle them and what they caught. Even when important to remember that little boys hook it pops it out of the fishes mouth they did not catch anything they still would rather play in the bait bucket than every time. remember the day. fish. It is much more fun to grab a When you rig a kids fishing pole The one thing kids, boy or girls, do shrimp and watch it jump while he imagmake sure there is enough weight on the like is bobbers. They can see it move. A ines a shrimp Indy 500 in the bucket cirline so they can cast. Use a weighted bobber seems to make fishing more real cuit. Let them play. It makes their day poppin cork and a No. 5 split shot, to kids. It gives them something to focus more fun and if all the shrimp die then sinker so when the kid casts it will go on. you just fish with dead bait. Watch him somewhere.

May times I have seen chilAll kids have a hard time setting still, and try to remember the time when dren trying to cast throwing as hard as so casting and jerking the rod and reeling shrimp in a bucket would be so interestin are fun and make fishing something to they can and the line barley touches the ing and cool. water because it has no weight. With do rather than something to wait for.

On the other side, little girls will

What Do You Need?

December 2006

even a 1/2 ounce of weight the line can be easily cast. No weight is the most difficult cast you can make.

Beginners and fish make a dangerous combination, not knowing what you are doing will kill a lot of fish and maybe get you hurt. Here are a few simple ways to avoid this: First of all, when you get a fish it is exciting, so stop and take a breath. Slow down reel the fish close, then take a wet rag, yes a WET rag to hold the fish. If you use a dry rag it will take the slime off of the fish. Then, even though the fish swims off the fish will die within two days. A WET rag will not strip the slime and the fish will live on, no worse for the experience. The slime that is so important for the fish’s survival is what makes them hard to handle. When you grab a fish, do it with sure movements and hold on. If the fish starts to slip from your grasp, let go and try again. When a fish slips and you try to re-grab the fish remember, the head is on the hook, so now when you go to squeeze, you may get the hook. It’s not what you intended but that's what happens. Simply let go and try again.

Fishing is not, and should not be work. Relax and take it easy. Kids 3 years old will enjoy being part of your trip. The concept of holding the pole and waiting for a fish to bite comes at 5 or 6 years of age. Then they get it. Hold the pole and when a fish bites the hook the fight and the fun begin. It is important for kids to enjoy the experience even if it’s different from what you had in mind.

Holidays spent fishing with children can be the best memories of all. My advice is take your time and enjoy the day, only part of it is catching fish.

Sometimes the best memory is just being there and watching a youngster play in the bait bucket. One last thought; the only bad fish you can catch is the one you complain about. To a child reeling in a fish, a little catfish is just as thrilling as a snook. Remember it's all good,. if you let it be.

Frank or Robert can be reached at

MIke

We Service All Brands of Outboards

On the LINE December 2006

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

FISHING WITH CAPT RON BLAGO

Capt. Chuck Eichner with a nice winter red caught around Thanksgiving.

By Capt Ron Bl ago Water LIFE Senior Staff I’ve put the long pants back on and started to wear a jacket in the mornings – a sure sign of winter. I even saw my first flock of white pelicans in Lemon Bay. I remember people up north telling me that we had no seasons in Florida just wet and dry, but the older I get the narrower my comfort range becomes. I work my best between 68 and 78 degrees, just like the fish I hunt.

Last month I did a lot of hiking and canoeing around Gottfried, Ainger and Oyster creeks; checking things out before they get totally developed. I saw more snook in these shallow waters than I’ve ever seen before. It shows just how clean and valuable as a fish nursery these waters are. The lack of rain has left the water gin-clear and the fish super skittish. You have to really sneak up and be extra quiet if you want to have success with these fish.

This is the time to use the push pole.

Trout season is closed and snook season will close Dec 15th, that leaves redfish left as a gamefish to try for.

Speaking of redfish I was buttonholed

by Bob Leonard of the CCA at the last MAC meeting and he asked me how I felt about closing redfish season in December. I’m not a big fan of that one and asked him where he came up with that idea. He and a few other Charlotte Chapter CCA members had attended a FWC meeting in Fort Myers to discuss changes in the redfish regulations. It seems not many people showed up for that meeting. Closing the season was one proposal but the most popular suggestion was to

change the slot limit to 20 to 26 inches. Bob wanted to know where the fishing clubs, guides and the press were. Good question. A lot of us were taking a nap on this one. All is not lost; these are just proposals so far, if you want to express your opinion, Byron Stout of the News Press is going to put the State’s Redfish Workshop questionnaire on their web site and forward the results to the FWC, for anyone who wants to be heard on the subject. Check out: www.new-press.com I’ve been asked to send a message to the group of so called fishermen, fishing of the Forked Creek area in Lemon Bay. You have no right or reason to keep a dozen undersized redfish or keep out of season trout. You know better than that and you are an embarrassment to all the rest of us that obey the fishing laws. You were seen, you were warned and if you keep doing it, you will be caught. Do the right thing.

The next Fishing College has been scheduled in Englewood. The 5th College of Fishing Knowledge will start Wed. Jan. 17th from 2pm to 4pm at the Englewood Sports Complex 1300 S. River Road in Englewood. The College will meet each Wed. for six weeks with the last class on Feb. 21. The cost is $30 per student, payable to Sarasota Parks and Recreation Dept. This year you can register in person or by phone with a credit card. For additional information call the Sport Complex at 941861-1980. Of course your’s truly will be the head instructor. Seats go fast so register early.

Call Capt Ron with y our fishing ques-

Now Open in Fort Myers Alico Road Exit, 1-75

P a g e 11

Page 12

Diving with Adam Wilson Water LIFE

December 2006

MAGAZINE

Green Asian mussels are tasty’ invaders

By Adam Wi l son Water Life Underwater Offshore is where the action is going to be for the next several months if you want a big trophy fish. Large amberjacks are already here in the 100 foot depths. Let me warn you now, be very confident in your scuba skills before pulling the trigger on these fish. They can be curious at times, appearing to make an easy target, but even a smaller 20 pound AJ can get you into trouble extremely fast. These fish never stop swimming, ever. They are incredibly quick, notoriously strong and have a tiny kill spot the size of a quarter consisting of either their brain or spine.

They are not an easy fish to land on hook and line or with a speargun. I have personally been wrapped up by one in a matter of seconds. Once being cinched tight around an anchor rope with my arms at my sides, unable to move, while the fish's tail whacked my mask askew. Luckily for me on that occasion my buddy was right behind me and had me unwrapped in no time.

Scenarios like this easily lead to a panic situation in a hurry, so always have a buddy nearby when wrestling reef donkeys. I admit I still hesitate for a second before putting a bead on a large jack anymore. Any place you find jacks you are also likely to find bottom fish like grouper, snapper and possibly hogfish too. The thick blanket of cuda's covering each reef and wreck are thinning out faster with each passing cold front, so if light tackle snapper fishing is your bag, it's just about time to break out the ultra lights with 10 pound test.

Inshore diving for crabs has been a popular pastime when the winds are blowing with the approaching cold fronts. Unfortunately somebody in Lemon Bay thinks it's smart to cut our crab trap buoys off, leaving our traps lost on the bottom. You know who you are and hopefully you'll get yours.

We have been seeing new residents at all of our crab spots, large green Asian mussels. Attached to bridge pilings, navigational markers and even on abandoned junk, they appear to be thriving in our warm and salty waters.

Apparently they first arrived in Tampa Bay roughly 7 years ago via cargo ship bilge water, where they immediately began clogging intake pipes for power plants and threatening native oyster beds. Through tides and currents they have worked their way into Charlotte and Lee county waters also. I have noticed an increase in the number of horse conchs and whelks in the same locations. Each cluster of mussels seems to have a horse conch steadily munching from one mussel to the next.

Maybe this will be the key to controlling the non-native mussel invasion in the future.

Some locals have taken a more hands on approach to eliminating the alien invaders. My friends and I recently made a delicious pot of seafood gumbo, making sure to include several recently found mussels. Asian green mussels have been a major food source for the coastal Indo-Pacific region for many years. The same common sense rules apply to harvesting mussels as oysters.

Because mussels and oysters are filter feeders, eating microscopic plankton,

they easily absorb toxins from the water. Never harvest shellfish from a state closed area or from polluted waters. Red tide also eliminates any thoughts for harvest. Only harvest during the colder winter months.

Because Asian green mussels ( Perna viridis ) are a nonnative species there is no size or bag limit. Limiting your catch to what you can eat right away is According to Betty Staugler of the Sea Grant office in Charlotte always wise with County, Asian green mussels are OK to eat, so long as they shellfish, although come from clean moving water and there is no red tide around. they can be kept on ice for a day or two. salt, pepper, garlic and a can of beer.

A great way to enjoy recently gathBring to a simmer and add your musered mussels is by simple steaming. sels, continuing to simmer for another Melt enough butter in a stove top pot 7 or 10 minutes, until the shellfish to cover the bottom. Add sliced onion, opens. Don't eat any shellfish that don't

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December 2006

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

Page 13

Water LIFE

Page 14

December 2006

MAGAZINE

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Fisher-Woman December 2006

Water LIFE

Page 15

MAGAZINE

The quest for elusive fish

By Ann S zeztaye Special to Water LIFE What do you get when a Northern girl moves to the Florida coast for some sunshine, warmth and water?

A fisher-woman! Sound silly? It is not an entirely unusual phenomenon.

Women are finding that the peace and quiet of a day on a boat with a line in the water is a great way to alleviate the stress of work, hectic family life and anything else that comes with the dayto-day responsibilities.

Out on the water, there are no phones ringing (okay, maybe), laundry piling up, dishes waiting or the kids being kids. And fish don't play favorites ... "The one that got away" is a story you can hear at the dinner table told by mom or dad, brothers, sisters and significant others.

As a relocated Jersey girl, I have found that there is much to be said for an afternoon or evening on the water, just quietly casting a line. It is a Zenlike experience, whether you're actively catching a redfish, snook, snapper or tarpon, or just feeling the lure of

nature, listening to the quiet sounds on the water. Fishing isn't just a man's sport - it is a chance to feel connected to something bigger.

Sound a little dramatic? Perhaps. Of course, I cannot deny the sheer joy of going out with "the guys" and being the one to bring home the fish, but there's so much more.

In four years, through my friendships with Frank and Robert at Fishin Frank's, I've learned to fish and navigate the waters of Charlotte Harbor down to Cabbage Key, which has turned out to be one of my favorite post-fishing spots. I even feel a confidence that now I can take friends and family out on my boat and share some of the same wonderful experiences I was exposed to.

A sport traditionally dominated by the "guys" was somewhat intimi-

dating, but some of the local Captains helped out and were happy to share their perspective of how to catch, release, respect, and appreciate fishing and the creatures on these waters.

Now I've even introduced my Northern girlfriend and her eight year old daughter to the tranquility and freedom of an afternoon on the water. With any luck I will continue to raise her awareness of the natural beauty of the South West Coast of Florida - all through the experience of a boat, a pole and the quest for elusive fish.

So ladies, when someone asks you, "what would you like to do for relaxation? say: Lets Go Fishing!” It's more than a guy-thing, it's an "us" thing!

"It's not what is happening to you now, or what has happened in your past that determines who you become. Rather, it's your decisions about what you focus on, what things mean to you, and what you are going to do about them that will determine your ultimate destiny."

– Anthony Robbins

Itʼs not a Guy Thing!

Top: Keri Phiefer and a nice snook.

All others: Ann Szeztaye with some of her fish

Water LIFE

Page 16

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Fly-ing in the Wind

December 2006

MAGAZINE

A remarkable number of fish were caught

By Capt. Chuck Ei chner Water LIFE Inshore Fishing A fishing trip that is planned well in advance is always at the mercy of the weather gods. When the long awaited day arrives we always hope for flat calm water and sunny skies. High tides with strong flow would be nice as well.

Of course, now we are in the winter season and at best you can expect sunny skies and a breeze with low tides the norm. Danny Adams from North Carolina is an experienced fly angler and was joined by his father-in-law Don on a recent day on Charlotte Harbor. We had been in the middle of a major cold front for 4 days with 20 knot winds and 60 degree temperatures.

On the phone the prior day I confidently assured Danny that the fishing should be good despite the conditions.

Our only limitations would be navigating on the open harbor.

That morning I loaded the Maverick flats boat with a snowmobile suit, gloves and a winter hat. When I disconnected the power cord from my battery

charger it was stiff and couldn’t be coiled. We were leaving the dock in Punta Gorda but it might as well have been Montauk New York!

The day started with deceptively flat calm water and sunny skies which seemed just perfect. My first stop was at 9:30 a.m. in a deep hole that I hoped speckled trout would have moved to during the cold overnight. Our fishing was to be simple – cast a light jighead with shrimp trailer and yo-yo it off the bottom. Instantly we were on the fish with small trout coming to the boat.

Don cast to a nearby sandbar and banged a larger trout. With beautifully clear water Continued on facing page we could

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December 2006

Continued from facing page

bigger trout which were laying in the shallows sunning themselves. A good tip to remember as the small ones were deep. As we cast and worked different areas we began to focus on the shallows that the sun had been hitting from the east. Departing from the deep water idea was good because Danny whipped out his fly rod and began to catch snook after snook. Not big fish but scrappy eaters that just couldn’t resist a shrimp imitation clouser.

The last of the outgoing tide had stopped and we decided to fish shallow flats hoping for redfish to push in with the incoming tide. Of course, this was the signal for the wind to start howling.

Blind casting Texas rigged shrimp resulted in blowfish, flounder and catfish.

Our next stop was a large pothole adjacent to a sandbar. Tide was pouring into the depression and sunlight was shining bright on the bar. With an 18 knot wind at our back I struggled to hold the boat position and ultimately anchored both the bow and the stern.

With remarkable tenacity Danny backcast into the wind while standing on the deck, dropping fly line onto the lower deck floor. It took 3 fly changes to find just the right one and then the trout began to bite.

Water LIFE

A deep clouser in shrimp pattern with red head fished with a fast strip and we had found the mother-load.

Nearly every cast for the next hour was a fish. The sizes ran from 14- to 18- inch, terrific sport on an 8 weight outfit. As a guide, I just marveled at the skill and determination Danny exercised under the horrible conditions.

Don, on the other hand was content to bang countless trout on a jig and shrimp. The shallow bar adjacent to deeper water was again the ticket for the bigger trout. In a while, conditions actually worsened and even with a double anchor we couldn’t hold.

The next feat was to catch redfish.

At this point the tide was up about a foot so we methodically worked mangrove shorelines with shrimp. It was a patience game, but a short flip cast under a mangrove lead to Danny’s first redfish. An experienced angler that

MAGAZINE

recently landed false albacore on fly up to 18 pounds yet he couldn’t believe the strength of an 18-inch red. When an 8 pound red inhaled his bait, ‘out of control’ would be the best description of what followed.

Drag burning 20 pound braided line was ripping off the reel heading straight to the mangroves. Danny pointed the rod at the water and pulled back hard to break its stride and the fish moved out of the bushes. I breathed a sigh of relief as the battle ensued in open water.

Then, another rush for the bushes with rod buckled, drag screeching and then the rod went limp. Gone!

Page 17

The big fish had sawed off the line and again the old saying is replayed one more time- ‘the big fish got away’! A remarkable fish and a memory that will last until the next big redfish encounter.

A handful more fish were caught before we were done and we logged a total of 7 species. A beautiful sunset signaled the end of the day with a 20 knot wind at our back as we rode the waves back to the dock. A remarkable number of fish were caught

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

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