Water L I F E
Charlotte Harbor, Lemon Bay, Venice, Estero, 10,000 Islands and the Gulf
The Don Ball School of Fishing
June 2016
Reader始s Photos Page 12-13
Dancing With Tigers Page 7
Kid Tournament Page 17
txt us ur fish pix! Hank Baker with a May snook
see page 4
Sarasota to Havana Race Restarted After 50 Years
SAILING Page 20
www.WaterlifeMagazine.com
FREE!
PAGE
2
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
JUNE 2016
JUNE 2016
First Time Fishermen
By Michael Heller Water LIFE editor You are only fishing until you catch your first fish, but from then on you are a fisherman. Punta Gorda is a fishing town. They can dress it up with new stucco and fancy it out with fresh paint and upscale eateries, but it’s fishing that is the common denominator that runs through the blood lines here. The Reel In The Fun Kid Tournament was held last month, put on by Downtown Bait and Tackle Shop, it was held at the city park pier, on a beautiful Saturday morning. The turnout was big. By the time I arrived a crowd had already gathered under the shade pavillion and spilled out onto the driveway as they received their instructions. Large tables were set up under the pavillion with numerous gifts, raffles and awards, all donated by local merchants. I looked around. There were kids here who had never caught a fish. For some that would change today. In the Reel In The Fun Kid Tournament, kids were separated in age groups. The tournament aspect was anglers kept track of how many fish they caught and reported the results afterward. I arrived just in time to see the
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @
youngest group, the 3- to 5-year olds, lead the procession of all anglers down to the pier. The excitement was effervescent. I’m used to smaller scale pier tournaments, 10 or 15 kids, spread out along the rail, but not on that Saturday. On that day over 100 kids accompanied by parents, some grand parents, many siblings and friends all marched out onto the pier to pick a fishing spot. Volunteers from Team Punta Gorda helped Bobbie Leahey and her bait shop staff distribute shrimp and cut bait to the anglers and then the fishing was on. Parents baited hooks and kids began catching fish. A turtle was hooked and released at the end of the pier. There were a lot of fish caught. (pictures on page 23). What stood out to me that day was the calm way the event unfolded. There was a huge turnout, but at the same time it was a mellow gathering. The spadefish were plentiful and I watched a number of parents instruct their children on technique and show them how to wait for a nibble and then hook a fish. If I was near by when someone caught a fish I’d walk up and ask “Can you hold that fish for a picture?” Sometimes I’d get a funny look, who me? And then they’d gently take the fish from the adult helping them and hold it up proudly. A big smile would usually follow and for some, it was the moment they first became fishermen.
WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE 3
Hi Water LIFE! This is my 4 year old daughter Sophia Egizi. She just landed a 15 pound Black Drum on her own ... ok, I had to hold onto her because it would have pulled her in! She caught it using a shrimp, on a canal off Old Burnt Store Road. She's now a fishing addict and Water LIFE has replaced her bed time stories;-) Thanks, Bob Egizi
Correction & Clarification
In a recent edition of the Charlotte Sunʼs WaterLine section, a story by a local fishing captain paid tribute to the passing of the newspaperʼs publisher, Derek Dunn-Rankin. In the story, the captain claimed that the WaterLine section exists today because of Derek DunnRankinʼs ʻforesight and business acumen.ʼ It was a nice tribute, but thatʼs not the way it happened. The WaterLine section of the Charlotte Sun exists today totally, solely and entirely because of my wife Ellenʼs and my foresight. We brought Derek the idea of a boating and fishing section for his newspaper and it was an entirely new idea to him when we presented it. As to his business acumen, I will admit, he knew a good thing when someone dropped it in his lap. I had designed a prototype WaterLine to
show him. I named it WaterLine to go with the Sunʼs Sunline internet service which they were just starting. I even gave WaterLine its cute capital ʻLʼ in the middle. I took the pictures, I wrote for it, I edited it, I laid it out and proofed the press. Ellen sold the ads – just like we do for this publication today. There were a number of reasons why we left the Sun after only a few years. The main problem was the business deal I made on a handshake with Derek continued to change and then the Sun didnʼt want me to write the truth about manatees. At the time there were lots of manatees and boaters werenʼt the manatees biggest threat, but the Sun didnʼt want me to say that. They thought they knew better. “Dumb it Down” the Sun told us, but thatʼs not something a newspaper we work for says. We quit and started this publication so we could continue to report honestly. That is why there is Water LIFE and WaterLine today.
PAGE
4
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
JUNE 2016
Tune in to Radio Fishinʼ anytime! Talk shows with Fishinʼ Frank @ FishinFranks.com
eMail letters and photos to: WaterLIFE@comcast.net
What is a Sverdrup? How much water moves around the tip of Florida? The Gulfstream moves through the Straits of Florida, between Key West and Cuba, at a speed of 3.5 nautical miles per hour, at a volume of 30-sverdrups. The sverdrup, named in honor of the pioneering oceanographer Harald Sverdrup, is a unit of measure of volume transport. It is used almost exclusively in oceanography, to measure the volumetric rate of transport of ocean currents. Its abbreviation is Sv. It is equivalent to 1 million cubic meters per second or 264 million US gal per second. The volume of a Sverdrup can be appreciated by comparing that flow with the total flow of all the rivers of the world, combined. The total flow of all the rivers of the world is two sverdrups. The water in the Gulf Stream flows from 30 Sv in the Florida Current to join a 70 -Sv flow off the Carolinas and eventually a maximum of 150-Sv south of Newfoundland at 55°W longitude.
About Txting us Pictures:
Two questions:
941 457 1316
How can the water level in the Gulf be higher than the water in the Atlantic? Aside from wind and waves, a factor effecting the water height is the effect on water depth of the spinning of the earth. This spin moves water northward from the equator in the Northern Hemisphere with a constant force, so the sea level off Cat Cay and Bimini in the Bahamas is 10-inches higher than the water off Miami. On our side of the state, the southeast trade winds normally push water into the Gulf of Mexico, establishing a level generally four inches higher than the water in the Atlantic Ocean. This forms a hydraulic impetus for that portion of the Gulf Stream. There are also other minor considerations working on the water levels. There is a deep cold fast current which runs northward into the Gulf along the Mexican coast, and a weak southerly current, an underflow, along the eastern Florida coast running counter to the Gulfstream. These different currents all contribute to the difference in height.
Fishing Captain Wanted
Are you a full time captain? Have you been at it for more than 5 years? Do you like teaching kids about Fishing? The Water LIFE magazine Don Ball School of Fishing has an opening for a teacher this fall. This is a paid position. For more information Email waterlife@comcast.net
store this number in your phone now!
We like Fresh Fish so please donʼt send old photos.
We like the First Catch so donʼt send us pictures you are sending to another publication, like for instance, the Charlotte Sun ;-( Bigger is Better, higher resolution is best. Please donʼt adjust, crop or sharpen your pictures. No towels! Hold ʻem with wet hands.
Send Where? Email to: waterlife@comcast.net or txt them, include your name, and kind of fish to 941-
457-1316
(txt only, voice calls will not be answered) Best Picture Wins You donʼt really win anything, but if itʼs a better picture of a bigger fish or something cool or unusual, it has a very good chance of getting into the magazine or even onto the cover! Look at this monthʼs cover - itʼs a texted picture!
The eastern portion of the Spring Lake Park boat ramp parking lot will be temporarily closed until Friday, July 1 as Edgewater Drive Phase 2 Improvements (supposedly) continue.
Water LIFE inc. waterlife@comcast.net www.WaterlifeMagazine.com
Michael & Ellen Heller Publishers
(941) 766-8180
217 Bangsberg Rd. Port Charlotte, FL 33952
Independant - Not affiliated with any other publication! Vol XV No 6 © 2016
NO PART of this publication (printed or electronic) may be copied, reproduced or reused without specific written permission from the publishers (and thatʼs never happened!).
Contributing Editors:
Photography: ASA1000.com Senior Editor: Capt. Ron Blago Charlotte Harbor: position open Baitshop Commentary: Fishinʼ Frank Peace River: Capt. David Stephens Diving: Adam Wilson Punta Gorda: Capt. Chuck Eichner Venice: Glen Ballinger Estero: Capt. Joe Angius Everglades City: Capt. Charlie Phillips Kayaking: Bob Fraser Sea Grant: Capt. Betty Staugler Beach Fishing: Mallory Herzog Pier Fishing: Bobby Vitalis
On the Cover:
Hank Baker displays a beautifully muddy snook, caught and released up the Peace River last month. Sail to Cuba photo - Jeanne Ezcurra
“I GOT CALLS FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE FROM MY AD LAST SUMMER” ADVERTISE HERE!
$99 per month!
Water LIFEʼs 1/8 page ad (this size)
still just
call 941-766-8180
LEONARD AT TOP NOTCH CANVAS
“... A LOT MORE CALLS FROM YOUR PUBLICATION THAN FROM ... THAT OTHER WATER PUBLICATION”
The effective & economical month-long advertising solution
4- C O L O R is always FREE WE areTHE WAY to reach people who love the WATER!
www.waterlifemagazine.com in print - online - and always FREE
TOM AT THE BOAT HOUSE “ADVERTISING WITH YOU IS A NO BRAINER! IT WORKS FOR US”
Free on your Device too!
C h e ck A r o u n d - s e e w h er e l o ca l a d v e r t i s e r s a r e p u t t i n g t h e i r h a r d e a r n e d d o l l a r s
JUNE 2016
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @
WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE 5
6
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
Snook Holding Away From Mangroves PAGE
By Capt. David Stephens Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor When the time comes that you have to keep an eye over your shoulder for thunder storms, it’s finally summer. In summer the Harbor will be turning its normal tea color but it’s not ther same as the brown water we have seen coming from Lake Okeechobee. The water we are going to get this summer is naturally
tannic brown and the estuary here depends on it. Think of it as a natural ‘flush out’ and remember, this water is not polluted. Personally I look forward to the water getting a little stained. It makes it a lot easier to get my clients closer to the fish. Of course, for the sight-casters out there, it makes it a little bit tougher. Depending on how much rain Mother Nature decides to give us, it can dictate what areas of the Harbor is the fishiest. For the most part, a large majority of our fish have a high tolerance for fresher water. Fish such as snook, redfish and tarpon can tolerate lower salt levels, while fish such as sea trout, mangrove snapper and most of our migratory fish need higher salt levels. When we are getting high levels of rain in South West Florida, and you want to target fish that need higher salt levels, you may need to head closer to the passes. One of the easiest ways to test the salt level is to taste it. The Peace River is one of my favorite fisheries, often the water can be too fresh. The further I go up river the more often I test the water, by sticking my finger in and tasting it. Lately we have been experiencing some of the best snook fishing on the flats. For the most part, the fish have been holding out of the mangroves. The area where you would normally anchor has been the hot spot, but as the water temperatures continue to rise that will change. Also, there is not much forage for them to eat in there. I have really good news for the anglers that like to bring home dinner. The mangrove snapper fishing has been picking up. These little guys are a great fish to target, and are great on the table. This is a species that you will benefit from the darker water when targeting. They have very good eye sight, so the stained water will put you at the advantage. Small pinfish and smaller sardines will get these guys biting, small pieces of cut bait also work well. Since summer is upon us, remember to keep an eye on the sky. If you would like to experience some of South West Florida’s finest fishing give us a call, or send us a email. All of our charters are private and customized to fit you and your party’s needs. Capt. Dave Stephens www.backbayxtremes.com 941-916-5769
JUNE 2016
JUNE 2016
In Other News
The wind machine was still blowing full force but that didn’t stop the fish from biting. We have had a great month with clients, catching some incredible fish. The Gulf is already hitting that 80 degree mark making for some very happy fish. We ended our Gulf snook season (it’s closed now) with a 32-inch snook caught by client Heather. She decided to tag her catch instead of harvesting it! – Mallory
The tarpon are here and hungry! They are still not on the beaches in big numbers yet, but they are heavy in our passes. Threadfins and blue crabs have been what the tarpon are after lately. Client Sheila hooked her first tarpon right on the sandbar, she got to experience sight casting to a tarpon in 4 feet of clear water. What a day, and what a battle for her. This fish fought for 45 minutes, Sheila stayed tenacious and won, getting her boatside photo and a scale. – Mallory
Dancing with Tigers ONLINE EVERY MONTH @
WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
By Mallory Herzog Water LIFE Fishing Ted caught our biggest catch this month. We were out on a near shore rubble pile and had set some baits out in the water. Almost right away our bait was eaten, but reeling it to the surface it didn't feel heavy. We started to see color and it looked like a shark, but it kept growing in size before coming up to the surface and shocking us all when a huge tiger shark sticks its nose out of the water and spits out the bait. It then puts on a show as we struggled to gain our composure and get another bait on the line. At one point it bit the trolling motor leaving a few scares. Then it swam off into the distance. Everyone on board was thrilled to have seen this shark. It’s not every day you see a 800-to 1000-pound shark swimming by. Unfortunately no one captured video or a picture of the moment and unless we could
PAGE 7
BIG BITE! Mallory with a shark-bit stingray that was being used as bait. Below: Tedʼs second tiger shark of the day.
hook it again it was just going to be another fish tale. This time it was quiet, our bait sat on the bottom for about 30 min before it was picked up again. When the reel went off it was slow and steady, setting hook did not even phase this fish. Before we knew it Ted was down to braid on the reel. Was this the same fish we hooked and missed earlier?! We started to chase the fish so Ted could gain line, the fish was staying near the surface. We caught up to it and saw it was a tiger shark, about the same size as the one we ran into earlier. What a fight, over an hour battling this fish. As much line as he would gain the fish would take out. Towing the boat about two miles until Capt. Andrew had the chance to leader the fish. Ted caught a 12-plus-foot male tiger shark. A fish of a life-
time and an incredible "fish tale" to tell for years to come. We attempted to tag the catch but were unsuccessful due to none of the tools on board being able to penetrate its skin! Adult male tiger shark can grow to 14-feet. Although we can’t be sure, data from tagging suggests the life span of a tiger sharks in the wild is around 27 years, although some have lived to 50 years. Tiger sharks are currently listed as near threatened and are protected in Florida state waters. Sharks of this size are kept IN the water for their safety and ours. After a few quick photos we released the shark. Congratulations to Ted on his incredible catch! You can contact Big Bully Outdoors Charters for a trip with Mallory’s husband, Capt. Andrew Herzog. Call 941-661-9880 or visit BigBullyOutdoors.com
Cosmetic Repairs • Stress Cracks & Bad Caulking Replacement
Rob McCloskey Gel Coat Specialist 239-771-0252 29 years experience Licensed & Insured / Lee & Charlotte Counties
10,000 Islands / Everglades City: Permit
PAGE
8
By Capt. Charlie Phillips Water LIFE / Everglades City The slow fishing down here in the Everglades appears to be getting out of the gutter and back into the normal, more predictable, pattern. The winds have laid down, the water has cleaned up (some days better than others) and there is less traffic on the water as our seasonal friends head back north. With the wind not blowing gale force this past month, I finally had some time to get offshore and fish my shallow water wrecks and rocks with great results. The permit bite has been outstanding for us, with some high quality fish coming aboard lately. If you have never caught a permit, try to change that when you can, as these guys are what gets my heart pumping. If you have caught a hard fighting Florida pompano, add somewhere between 5 and 35 pounds, with the same amount of attitude and speed and you have the permit. Bait is easy, live crabs are king!! Down my way, the only place to buy them is Everglades City Bait and Tackle, but you better be there before me in the morning to make sure you get a few.
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
On the tackle, I would recommend at least a 6000 series reel with a rod that is very castable but has good back bone. Remember, we are targeting these fish off the wrecks and towers in our area. And when hooked, they are going to do all they can to try and stay with the
Steve Isabella and Gabrielle with one of a pile of sharks, caught and released
school which includes wrapping you around the wreck a dozen times if you don’t have heavy enough gear to stop them. The 6000 series reel, with a good drag, is a great choice, but if you’re hav-
ing trouble, keep getting bigger until you can control the fight. For the mainline, I will usually have a 40-to 65pound braid, down to a leader of 40-pound flouro finished with a 2/0 Owner Circle hook. Ol’ rubber-lips has some big eyes, but not-so-much in the mouth department. No teeth, just the crushers in the back of the throat, so the 2/0 works well for making the connection, but make sure the hook you use is high quality, as it’s not hard to straighten hooks with these hard fighters. Head to the structure you are fishing, and start looking for schools of permit moving around the area. When you see them, cast your live crab ahead of the school 10-feet or so and get ready. When you feel the bite start taking up your slack to let the circle hook do what it does. Too late and you will have an empty hook as the permit will suck the crab in, crunch him and your hook just falls right out of the crushed shell. So it’s really important to try and maintain contact with your crab the entire time. While you’re at it, keep an eye out for cobia too. We have had some great catches this month of our brown bomber friends around the same areas we are tar-
JUNE 2016
geting permit. Crabs, artificial, fly and live baits will all do the trick. Up the leader to 50- or so pounds and the hook to a 7/0 for more hookups. Also be looking for tripletail right now. They have been everywhere lately, from crab floats to markers, to free
swimming the grass, I have seen them all over. Keep an eye out. Inshore, the trout bite has been outstanding down in the grass areas, by Pavilion Key. A popping cork with a live shrimp or artificial is about all you need to get the job done. I like to start in the 3-foot depth area and explore in and out from that, paying attention to where I catch fish. It’s great to finally get back on solid fishing again, down here in my slice of paradise. I hope to see yall out there, if I can help with anything, give me a shout. Capt. Charlie Phillips: 863-517-1829 e-mail: hopefishing@hotmail.com Web: hopefishing.com
JUNE 2016
Estero Bay:
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @
WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE 9
A Sea of Silver
By Captain Joe Angius Water LIFE Estero Bay One of the most amazing aspects of Estero Bay, at least to me, is the true backwater creeks and river systems it has to offer. With water that’s pitch black, it often exposes a reflection of a humbled and frustrated angler or a silhouette of a bull shark prowling around the boat patiently waiting for an easy offering. In the midst of these distractions, there is something happening underneath the dark-soulless surface of the water. We wait and we
watch. Then without a moment’s notice, the surface tension of the water is broken by a sea of silver and all hell breaks loose. The sea of silver is the rolling backs of tarpon after they’ve taken a gulp of air only to return to the depths of their sixfoot, oyster bottomed, hole. When the weather, tides, and moon phases are right, the backwater creeks come alive and re-
semble a Jacuzzi from all of the rolling tarpon. These fish typically range from five-pounds to 30-pounds. The best part about these fish is that they can be found all day long and most often are aggressive toward any live or artificial baits. Locating backwater tarpon isn’t usually the difficult task at hand, but it is the catching part that becomes frustrating. Once I have found an area that produces active tarpon, either a deep creek bend or grass flat, I’ll begin chumming the area with live white bait. Tarpon will usually blow up on the live chum at the surface of the water. If that doesn’t happen, they may be eating in the middle or bottom of the water column. When I figure out how they’re feeding I’ll make a long cast to them with a four- to five-foot 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. To ensure that my bait is presented to them as natural as possible I’ll use a 2/0 inline livebait Owner hook. Remember that sometimes the backwater tarpon bite can be difficult to achieve and it’s important to know when to move on to the next area. A lot of anglers believe that if you don’t see them roll then they’re not there, but that is far from the truth. I’ve poled over areas where there are 30 to 50 fish stacked and sitting motionless. When I’m fishing off of the beach, I rely on my Garmin sonar to help me mark fish at the bottom. As always, treat these inshore gamefish with respect and be sure to revive them
completely before returning them to the water. If you’re fishing for the larger tarpon off of the beaches, use the heaviest gear possible to fight and land them as soon as you can. This will ensure their survival from predators after release. Be mindful
of other boaters, even if they’re not mindful of you. Enjoy your time out on the water and experience what Southwest Florida has to offer. Captain Joe Angius Speakeasyfishing.com (727) 234-3171
Red Grouper Basics PAGE
10
By Capt. Chuck Eichner Water LIFE Inshore The summer months are prime time for red grouper fishing in the Gulf of Mexico. When water temperatures reach the high 80s red grouper appear in massive numbers. Many years ago I did not realize there were so many grouper in our waters. Like many others I focused on man-made reefs and rarely caught a legal grouper. Then when searching open waters I found it was easy to catch small undersize grouper. Like most anglers I did not want to venture too far out with only one engine and I stayed within 20 miles of Boca. Fast forward the picture 7 years and you will almost never find me fishing a public reef and I generally don’t turn on my bottom machine until I get 25-30 miles out. You will certainly see interesting features on the bottom in shallower water, schools of bait and fish, but not bigger grouper. The key is water depth and in summer months it is 75- to 90-feet of water, which puts you around 30-to 35miles offshore. Once you are far enough out, turn on your fish finder and run your boat on
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
plane as slow as possible, keeping a good bottom image. I like to zoom way in and study the bottom and 10-20 feet above it. Bottom changes of 2-to 5-feet in a small area often hold grouper, but the key is baitfish. Baitfish residing on or near the bottom will have red grouper under them. Grouper don’t look like much on the screen and resemble little squiggly lines just off the bottom. There is however no substitute for countless hours watching your bottom machine in order to know how to pick them out. To be truly successful at this game you need to target fish not drift fish. To target fish, position the boat upwind of your spot and drift towards it. If we hook up I repeat the same drift however I don’t find setting up a drift near the fish and letting winds and tide float the boat over the bot-
tom very productive. Drift fishing over a one mile stretch is relaxing, but identifying a feature on the bottom to fish and sitting on top of that will produce lots more fish. I have many spots that I expect 4 rods to bend over as soon as our baits hit the bottom. Many spots were found while fishing over bait clouds that we later discovered were above of a swiss-cheese bottom with live bottom (coral, plants, etc.) on top of the holes. The rigs and bait for catching red grouper are pretty straightforward. Rig 4feet of 50-pound leader to a large swivel, attach a sliding sinker on your running line and tie onto the swivel. A 5/0 to 7/0 circle hook is a good bet when using pinfish or frozen sardines or squid. All of these baits work all the time but some days one will out fish the other. The other
JUNE 2016
option is to rig a bucktail to hook your bait on. Red grouper pull super strong when you first hook them and the first 5 seconds can make or break (literally) you catching the fish. I prefer a high speed conventional reel which allows me to gain more line per reel handle turn when the fish first takes the bait keeping them from running into a hole and cutting me off. For safety, a satellite phone guarantees that if you break down you can call for a tow. Cell phones don’t work offshore and there is no guarantee your VHF will make contact with a tow company or the coast guard. Capt. Chuck Eichner operates Action Flats Backcountry Charters and can be reached at 941-628-8040.
JUNE 2016
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @
WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
How to Walk Your Dog Underwater
By Fishin’ Frank Water LIFE Baitshop This year we have seen a rise in people coming to Charlotte Harbor for the first time and who have dreamed of catching a tarpon for years. And we have also seen a decrease in people who used to come here regularly, each year in the past, to look for tarpon. The tarpon are here and the fishing has been OK, but the going-fishing part has been hampered by winds and some rainy days over the last month. The tarpon bite has been, and continues to be, mixed. Luck is a huge factor this year and the Tarpon Gods appear to be sending their blessings mostly to the beginners. Hook-up after hook-up are being reported by peo- The 4-inch, just under $11, Rapala Sub Walk is the perfect size and color for tarpon now. ple who just put on a bait, toss it out and wham, then it’s TARPON ON! the waves bounce it. For us veteran anglers it has been more of a struggle. Now fishing the Rapala, is much more difficult, it is Lures, which are my way of tarpon fishing, got shook up like using a top water lure below the water. And yes, you last year and this year, the Rapala Sub Walk appears to walk-the-dog with it. have beaten the D.O.A. Bait Buster as the number-oneWalking the dog with a lure is like tapping your head hook-up-lure with tarpon. I doubt the Rapala thing will and rubbing your belly at the same time. You have to last, but for right now it is king. keep the tip of your rod working sideways with a jerking Here is the catch; anyone can use a bait buster, even if action while reeling in the slack at the same time. all you do is cast it out and reel it in, it will give you a What this is about is when you jerk your rod tip sidegreat chance at hooking up a tarpon. OK, proper use of ways to the lure (away might better describe it) and then the Bait Buster is better. Me, I like to cast it out, let it move the tip forward, you create slack. Then you sharply sink, and then add a big lift to the rod.... slowly reel in jerk the line, causing the front of the lure to be thrown to when the line tightens, again big lift to your rod tip. It is the side. The next jerk throws the front of the lure to the a lot of work. I sometimes will just put the bait buster 6 opposite side, which gives the lure a slashing action. feet below a bobber set it over the side (as it is too long This making slack and whipping the line tight is hard to cast) and then drive the boat away from it and just let
PAGE 11
to master, but once you understand it and get good at it, it produces great underwater action that fish have a hard time resisting. When done on the surface, with a Zara Spook or Skitter Walk, the walk-the-dog action makes a lot of noise splashing and it brings a lot of attention to itself. Under water, the walk-the-dog action, with either a MirrOlure Catch 2000 or with a Rapala Sub Walk, also makes it a very noisy lure. The side to side action creates a tremendous disturbance and it really gets the fish’s attention. The Catch 2000 is smaller so the Rapala Sub Walk is the only one big enough for tarpon. The idea is big bait big fish, if you use a smaller lure you will catch more, but while you are fighting a mackerel or whatever, just know that could have been when the tarpon you were waiting for hit. This month is going to be the month of big tarpon. Sightings of 175-pounds or larger fish will be common, not-so-much the hook up on these big fish, but spawn is going to settle down and then the big tarpon will be hungry. And then, Hello - it’ll be hook up time. A last word about the Rapala Sub Walk, it comes with two treble hooks, you will want to flatten the barbs on the front treble hook, Yes crush them flat. Then replace the back treble hook with a VMC single hook made to replace treble hooks. You cannot replace the front treble hook and still get the proper action from the lure, the lure is designed to have the weight and the drag of the treble hook on the front, but it’s not a problem to replace the rear treble with a single hook and still have the lure retain the proper action. Have fun, the tarpon are up in the holes on the Harbor, and working the beaches, it’s worth it all to see 6 feet of glimmering sliver jumping to meet the sun.
PAGE
12
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
Reader始s photos
txt us ur fish!
JUNE 2016
see page 4
Doug Marra, 33 inches on the nose. Nite before, my buddy Rick Fontain caught one 32 7/8.... he has the beard.
Gregory Rasczyk , May 22, 2016 with Captain Mike Manning. Boca Pass. Estamate fish at 200 lbs
My son Joseph Eubanks with a 20" trout
Debbie Mason caught a 6.2 pound 29-inch snook off her dock in Punta Gorda
Caught this bonefish from my kayak off Islamorada. My name is Donnie Finkelstein.
Jody Reed , Cape Coral , Grass carp on an ultra light
Chandler Smith, 38-inch Snook
Black drum safely released. Caught at Matlacha bridge. Biggest fish I ever caught off a bridge. My name is Evelyn Rodriguez.
JUNE 2016
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @
WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
My name is Connor Jenkins. I caught this tarpon out of a Fort Myers golf course pond using a DOA jig last week!
Chrissy Mosley with a fine bass
PAGE 13
Richard Hutchins off of Venice Beach
Jason Trexler 42" to the fork Port Charlotte
txt us ur fish!
My son, Michael, got to see his first Tarpon up close and personal while I was night fishing, Brandon.
My son, Dillon Murrin caught this bass in Englewood pond this past Sunday.
Jeff Kormann and Bud Corbin of Bonita Springs May 14, caught this 100 lb Silver King off Sanibel
Doris Young catching redfish and snook with Captain Rick Kelley
Shelby Cornell. Tarpon fishing at Port Charlotte!
Last week I went on a fishing trip to the Keys and while a friend and I were there we caught two sawfish roughly 9'-10' in length. Both fish were released, but because of safety issues for us and the fish we could not get in the picture. John Perkins
14
Two Lake Hancock Projects PAGE
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
Updates from the National Estuary Program
The first project provides added storage in the lake by raising the normal operating level by 1.3 feet. The higher lake level will reduce the number of days the Peace River experiences low flows that are below established levels and can be harmful to the ecosystem. This will improve the health of the river and help to reverse some of the impacts from groundwater withdrawals and land-use changes in the watershed. Water levels in the lake are maintained by a water-control structure located at the outlet stream from the lake. The old structure was built in the 1960s and was only capable of maintaining an elevation of 98.7 feet (National Geodetic Vertical Datum of 1929 [NGVD29]). This structure was breached during high flows in the 2004 hurricane season. A new structure was built to maintain the higher elevation in the lake and store more water, thereby providing better flood protection in addition to storage. Construction was completed in April 2013. Additional improvement projects necessary to raise the lake level were completed in April 2015. The control structure was raised to the new elevation in August 2015. The lake quickly filled and by September 2015 it had reached the new operating level of 100 feet NGVD29. The second project will improve water quality as releases are made from the lake. The Southwest Florida Water Management District completed construction of a 1,000-acre wetland in June 2014. The project is located at the south shore of Lake Hancock at a site that was once used as a phosphatic
The new 1000 acre wetland is built on an old phosphate waste site
waste clay (clay that was in the ground, below surface sands, and mixed with phosphate and sand) settling area during phosphate mining that took place in the region from the 1950s to1980s. Earthen berms remaining from the mining operations were improved and used to contain water in the constructed wetland. Precision grading leveled the pits to achieve about 900 acres of emergent marsh. A pump station was constructed at the south shore of the lake to pump water into the containment areas. Water flows slowly across the wetland and makes its way to the discharge point, a journey that takes from one to two weeks. Physical, chemical and biological processes occur in the wetland, which reduce nitrogen and phosphorus loads in the water. The objective of the project is to reduce by 27 percent the annual nitrogen load that would have been discharged from the lake to the Peace River. Operation of the system to date has focused on promoting growth of emergent wetland vegetation to achieve nearly complete coverage across the wetland cells.
Sea Grass Increasing in Charlotte County
JUNE 2016
The Southwest Florida Water Management District’s (SWFWMD) Surface Water Improvement and Management (SWIM) program maps seagrass in five estuaries spanning the five coastal counties of Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, Sarasota and Charlotte. This is the third consecutive survey by the SWFWMD to show increases for the Charlotte Harbor system from 2008 values. The study also shows gains in Lemon Bay and Sarasota Bay. The results show Charlotte Harbor gained 985 acres of seagrass between 2012 and 2014. The area now collectively supports 19,896 acres of seagrass beds, the largest amount of seagrass measured since 1996. Seagrass acreage in Charlotte Harbor has remained around 18,000 acres since 2000, making 2014 estimates another significant gain toward the protection and recovery of seagrass in the system. Lemon Bay, a smaller system, gained 166 acres, a 5.4 percent increase.
The Three Different Types of Sea Grass
Shoal grass is a narrow-bladed grass often found in areas that experience diverse conditions. This grass is very tolerant, being found in the mouth of rivers where salinity and light fluctuate depending on freshwater flow out of the rivers, in very shallow waters where it becomes exposed during extreme low tides, and in deep waters where light is limited. Turtle grass is a widebladed species that is found throughout the estuary in areas where the salinity and light are more stable.
Manatee grass generally does best in areas with higher salinity, but it can tolerate relatively low light conditions.
shoal grass
turtle grass
manatee grass
CANVAS & UPHOLSTERY
Baitfish Biology
JUNE 2016
By Betty Staugler Water LIFE / Sea Grant Pinfish, Lagodon rhomboides are a common baitfish, in the United States found along the coast from Massachusetts to Florida and from Bermuda throughout the Gulf of Mexico to the Yucatan. Pinfish are important prey for many economically important fish, including grouper, snapper, spotted seatrout, red drum, snook, ladyfish, and flounder. Pinfish are very hardy and tolerate a wide range of temperatures (from 50 to 95 째F) and salinities from true freshwater to full saline ocean water. Pinfish live up to 7 years and become sexual mature at 1 to 2 years of age and 4.3 inches or larger, standard length, SL, measured from the head to the end of the fleshy body...where the tail starts. Pinfish migrate offshore to spawn from late fall to early winter, although one study found evidence that some spawning may also occur inside Tampa Bay. Pinfish larvae are transported into estuaries by ocean currents. Interestingly in Tampa Bay and Choctawhatchee Bay in the Panhandle, a study found that post-larvae (less than a half inch) settle in both shallow areas (less than 5 ft. deep), and deep water areas (greater than 5 ft. but less than 12 ft.) within one month of spawning. In Charlotte Harbor however, they only settle in shallow water areas. Then, one to three months after showing up in Charlotte Harbor's shallow areas, they begin to appear in the deeper areas. In Charlotte Harbor increased temperature may favor hatching success, larvae growth, or both. Or temperature may affect transport of pinfish larvae into the estuary. This same correlation was not found in Tampa Bay or Choctawhatchee Bay. Pinfish are voracious predators and feed on an assortment of prey over the course of their development. Their dietary shifts appear to be related to changes in mouth size and tooth structure. Pinfish are sight feeders and therefore feed little at night. Scaled Sardine, Harengula jaguana (white bait) occur in the western Atlantic from New Jersey and Bermuda southward throughout Florida and the Gulf into the Caribbean and down to southern Brazil. Scaled sardines are fast-growing, shortlived marine and estuarine schooling fish, commonly found over sand and mud bottoms and on and around seagrass meadows. They are generally found in estuaries from spring through autumn, and prefer higher salinity waters. Scaled sardines live just over one year and grow more than a half inch per month. They become sexually mature when they reach 3-3.5 inches, standard length (SL), and spawn offshore, typically 3-12 miles. Spawning occurs at night from January to September, with peak activity occurring from April to August depending on loca-
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @
tion. One study found spawning lasted longer in the southern Gulf of Mexico and another study from the Tampa Bay area found evidence of year-round spawning. Spawned eggs hatch within 24 hours. The larval stage lasts 1-3 days and most larval development takes place in nearshore and inshore waters. They become juvenile 25 days after hatching. Adult scaled sardines feed exclusively on plankton and possess gillrakers for straining prey items from the water. Key predators reported for scaled sardines are sea birds, king and Spanish mackerels, little tunny, gag, bluefish, crevalle jack, yellowfin and bluefin tuna, and dolphin. Spanish sardines, Sardinella aurita occurs throughout the Gulf of Mexico, northward to Massachusetts and southward to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. This species is also common in the eastern Atlantic, Mediterranean Sea and the western Pacific Ocean. Spanish sardines form schools in coastal waters from inshore flats to the continental shelf, often around piers and reefs, and prefer clear, saline waters. In the Gulf of Mexico they are found from along the shore, mainly over sandy bottom, to a depth of 130 feet in the summer, and to between 130- and 260-feet in spring and fall, and out to a depth of 650-feet in the winter. In Florida, the primary fishery for Spanish sardines is located in Tampa Bay. Juvenile Spanish sardines prefer inshore nurseries and feed on phytoplankton (microscopic algae). Adults move offshore to spawn and feed on zooplankton (microscopic animals). Predators of Spanish sardine are numerous and include little tunny, gag, and king mackerel. Spawning occurs at night in the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Most spawning in the eastern Gulf occurs over wide areas where depths are between 30to 160-feet, although some eggs and larvae have been recovered from much greater depths. In the western Gulf, larvae have been reported from as far out as the Continental Shelf off Texas. Eggs and larvae have been collected in the eastern Gulf in all seasons, but are not abundant from May to September. Larvae begin actively feeding three days after hatching, and metamorphosis is complete in about 18 days. Spanish sardines live to around 5-to 6-years. Threadfin Herring, Opisthonema oglinum (greenies, greenbacks, shiners) occur from Cape Cod to Florida along the Atlantic coast, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean and along the Caribbean coast of Central America to Venezuela. Atlantic threadfin are nearshore, pelagic fish that form dense surface schools. They feed on plankton, but occasionally consume small fish and crustaceans. Threadfin herring are estimated to live 7-8 years. Females reach maturity at 5.7
WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE 15
B Majkowski sent us this photo, throwing the net for baitfish, in the Pine Island Sound.
inches fork length (FL) and males at 5 inches FL., at ages one- to two-plus years. Adult threadfin herring generally follow a seasonal north-south and inshoreoffshore migration pattern along the west coast of Florida. Schools of fish move south in the fall and concentrate in the winter within 10 miles of shore. Threadfin herring spawn over a wide area in the Gulf of Mexico and south Atlantic and over a period of several months. Spawning can occur from February to September but peak spawning is from April to August. Most spawning takes place within 30 miles of shore over the inner continental shelf at depths less than 100 feet. The primary spawning area for threadfin herring is located in coastal wa-
ters from Tampa Bay to just south of Fort Myers. Spawning generally occurs when water temperatures exceed 78 degrees F and when salinity is above 35 parts per thousand (full strength sea water). Eggs and larvae are generally found over the inner continental shelf off the west coast of Florida. Juveniles occur in the same areas as adults and are found in estuarine waters during the summer months. Adults and juveniles form schools near the surface and generally remain in schools throughout their life. School size increases in the fall prior to migration offshore. Capt. Betty Staugler, Florida Sea Grant Agent. UF/IFAS Extension, Charlotte County (941) 764-4346
PAGE
16
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
JUNE 2016
Bacon Encrusted Grouper with Ranch Sauce
By Nicole Coudal Water LIFE Delicious!
Grouper is a great fish that can be prepared in several ways and it’s always delicious. It’s also pretty sturdy, so it can handle direct grilling, searing and sautéing. A while back I created a recipe on my blog for "Crunchy Scamp with Basil Cream” -- it was coated with crunchy Panko and it was really yummy. But as Emeril says, this recipe “takes it up a notch” by adding bacon to the Panko. That’s right — BACON. Why didn’t I think of this sooner? The crunchiness of the Panko crust gets even better with the surprise flavor of smoky bacon. Folks who know me well have heard my motto that “bacon makes everything better” and it’s so true! If you haven’t worked with Panko much, you really must try it. It’s a Japanese-style bread flake typically used for deep frying, and it gives food that crunchy texture we all love. The flakes stay crispy longer than standard breadcrumbs because they don’t absorb as much fat. Because of this, it’s especially good with delicate seafood.
I paired the cooked fish with a ranch/dill sauce -- that combo of bacon and ranch is always a crowd pleaser. My recipe even inspired the owners of LeftCoast Seafood Company in Venice to add it to their menu (with my permission, of course), so if you find yourself in Venice, stop in and give it a try! INGREDIENTS
Ranch/Dill Sauce 4 Tb. sour cream 2 Tb. plain lowfat yogurt (or more sour cream if you don’t have it) 1 tsp. white vinegar 1 small garlic clove, mashed & minced ¼ tsp. kosher salt ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper ¼ tsp. onion powder ¼ tsp. sugar
2 Tb. fresh dill, chopped 1 tsp. lemon zest
Fish 4 slices bacon 1 lb. Grouper (or other white, flaky fish), cleaned, de-boned, 4 portion sizes ½ - 1 c. Panko (depending on how large fillets are) 1 egg, beaten 2 Tb. coconut oil Kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper INSTRUCTIONS
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare Ranch/Dill Sauce by whisking all ingredients in a small bowl. Refrigerate at least 1 hour. Taste and adjust for seasoning before serving. Cool bacon in a non-stick/oven proof skillet until crispy. Cool on paper towel then mince into tiny pieces (about the size of Panko pieces) and combine with the Panko. Remove bacon fat/drippings with a paper towel.
Prepare dredging dishes: 1 for a beaten egg; 1 for the Panko/bacon mixture. Pat dry each piece of fish with a paper towel. Lightly salt and pepper each side. Dredge fish in egg then Panko/bacon (you may need to push it in to help it stick to the fish, but just pile it on and it will come together once you start searing). Heat pan to medium/high. Add coconut oil and wait about 30 seconds for it to heat up.
Carefully place fillets in pan and reduce heat to medium so it doesn’t scorch. When the first side is deep brown (about 1-2 mins.), flip the fish. Cook 1 more minute then turn off heat and place the pan in the oven. Cook about 2-3 minutes until the fish is firm to the touch. Remove and plate with the Ranch/Dill Sauce.
Please check out www.MyDeliciousBlog.com for more tasty recipes like this. Nicole Coudal
is an avid fishing gal who hails from New England but has lived in SW Florida for 25 years. MyDeliciousBlog.com showcases her "coastal inspired" cuisine using fresh, seasonal ingredients, from sea to land.
Reel In The Fun Kid Tournament
JUNE 2016
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @
presented by Downtown Bait & Tackle
WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE 17
There was just enough breeze and just enough fish to keep everyone happy.
Hannah Pedigo with a spadefish
Skyler Day has a lizzardfish
Sean Lehew Jr. holds his first fish Jaekwon Pringle with a spadefish.
Mathew Pringle Sr. shows Mathew Jr. to wait for a nibble.
PAGE
18
New Gasparilla Slow Speed Zone Approved
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
Kayak Fishing The Flats
By Bob Fraser Water LIFE kayaking This month I had a client who wanted to learn how to fish the flats, this was his main objective. He didn’t care if we caught a lot of fish or not. This would be a learning experience that he could use in Sarasota Bay where he usually fishes. His only experience with kayak fishing up to that point had been fishing the boat docks for sheepshead and drum. Teaching people how to fish the flats is always part of my guide service. Being a retired teacher I enjoy teaching my clients how to fish our backwaters. Most of my clients are from the north and don’t have a clue about our saltwater fishing. I met my guy on a Monday morning at 7 o’clock at the Boca Grande toll bridge. Our plans were to fish the Gasparilla Sound flats behind Uncle Henry’s Marina. There is a nice launch site there for kayaks. As you pass the road to go to Uncle Henry’s Marina the very next road will have a sign that says Boca Grande Fishing Pier, that’s where you turn to find the launch site. The weather.com site predicted the
Herpes Virus to Kill Carp Responding to a request by Charlotte County, the FWC has determined that substantial competent evidence has been provided to support the boating-restricted zone within Gasparilla Sound between the Boca Grande Causeway and the railroad trestle to the west
JUNE 2016
Water LIFE Report Australia plans to tackle one of its biggest environmental challenges with the herpes virus. This yearʼs Australian federal budget, formally announced last month, includes funding for an initiative to release the herpes virus into the Murray-Darling Basin to
wind to be 6- to 7-MPH early in the day, so I thought it would be a nice day for a kayak trip. I would like to take the person who writes those weather reports out with me some day, because it is never what they predict. The wind was blowing about 12-14 MPH. Never the less, we launched for a 4 hour fishing trip. We started out using shrimp under a popping cork fishing the shrimp about 2 ½ feet below the cork and we also fished with Z-Man soft plastic. I showed my client the sandy pot
holes in the grass and taught him to cast beyond the hole and pop the cork as he’s retrieving his line over it. I also explained about fishing the edges of the sand bars, in the area we were fishing there are two large ones. We also fished the drop-offs in the grass flats, I told him to look for any deviance in the depth. We managed about 10 trout and a few catfish. The trout were caught on live shrimp and a pearl colored Z-Man soft plastic, which is my favorite soft bait.
Bob Fraser guides kayaking trips. He can be reached at 941-916-8303
eradicate carp. This apparently needs to be done because the invasive carp suck in and spit out mud as they eat. Environmentalists claim this muddys the water and damages the ecosystem. Australia will spend $15 million on the program, a small expense compared to the $500 million the government says it now spends
yearly dealing with the carp problem. The money will largely go towards financing the cleanup of thousands of dead fish. The herpes virus takes about a week to kill off the carp. Scientists, who have been testing the pathogen for years say they donʼt expect it to affect other fish or humans.
SOLD! SOLD!
Punta Gorda Isles
SOLD!
SOLD!
Punta Gorda Isles
Call the Captain! Original Sailboat
Section! Fantastic home only minutes out. Beautifully updated 3/2/2 pool home, built 1977 with huge dock. Sold $425,000
Call the Captain! Fabulous Deep Water Sailboat Home! Large 3BR plus Den, 2600sfAir, Pool Home. Luxury features throughout with quick access to Ponce Inlet. Sold $580,000
Punta Gorda Isles
Call the Captain! Perfect Home Perfect Location! Gorgeous 3/2/2 pool home, built 1979 located in power boat section. Many updates with fast access to Harpoons. Sold $375,000
SOLD!
Port Charlotte
Burnt Store Isles
Call the Captain! Huge Open Waterview On Tip Lot! Stunning sailboat waterfront home, granite counters/wood cabinets and high-end appointments. Sold $519,900
Call the Captain! Deep Water Sailboat! Two minutes to open Harbor. Perfect home for dedicated boaters. 4/2/2, built 1967. Large yard and porch. Sold $220,000
SOLD!
Punta Gorda
Country Dream Home! Perfect family home located on 2 acres. 3/2/2, large pole barn, fenced with huge privacy. Sold $240,000
Call the Captain!
JUNE 2016
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @
Analyzing the Analysis
On The Line
By Capt. Ron Blago Water LIFE Senior Staff
Each year, the FWC Division of Law Enforcement publishes a statistical report that analyzes all the watercraft accidents and fatalities in Florida from the previous year. I just finished reading the just released 2015 report and here are a few of the highlights I got from it. Once again Florida is number one in the country with the most registered vessels 915,713 slightly higher than last years 899,635. Before we celebrate the recov-
ery of the boating industry, remember that back in 2006 there were 1,010,370 registered vessels; so I guess the best we can say is the growth is slow to flat. Unfortunately, once again, Florida lead the country in boating accidents and fatalities. This is one of those good news and bad news situations. We had an increase in accidents with 737 last year but a decrease in fatalities with 55 boating deaths. Men made up 95-percent of the fatalities and the main cause was falling overboard. Even with this high number of accidents, your chances of being in an accident on the water is 48 out of 100,000 registered
$2 off any haircut!
WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE 19
COMING IN HOT: Not included in our boating accident statistics, last month the cruise ship Carnival Pride was returning from the Bahamas when it struck an unoccupied, elevated, passenger gangway, while docking, toppling the gangway and crushing two trucks.
vessels; much safer than being in an auto. The FWC determines if an accident is a reportable incident by using three criteria: 1) Was there a death or personal injury? 2) Was there a loss of a vessel? 3) Was there a minimum of $2,000 loss in aggregate property damage? There are discrepancies in the data that should be considered when trying to determine how safe Florida boating is. Boating is a year round activity in Florida; so more time on the water means more accidents. Also, it is estimated that over one million out of state vessels travel through Florida's waters during the year; so more boats means more accidents. The biggest problem I see with the report is how they tackle the issue of what the FWC calls paddle craft (canoes, kayaks and paddleboards). This is one of, if not the, fastest growing segments of the boating public. All it takes is a trip to Walmart with a few hundred dollars and you're on the water as part of the boating community. No need for boat registration or mandatory boating safety classes, just get out there and paddle away. Because paddle craft are not registered they are not included in the total number of vessels using Florida waters. This results in less money for law enforcement
on the water, less boat ramp and pier maintenance and fewer channel markings. Here’s an example from last week’s FWC report: Officer Lewis was on water pa-
trol on Blackwater River when he observed a woman in the water clinging to an overturned kayak. The woman had a dog with her and the dog was attempting to climb on her back, and the woman was unable to upright the kayak. Officer Lewis emptied water from the kayak and turned it upright. He helped the woman on board the kayak, but she was unable to maintain her balance because the kayak was still taking on water. Officer Lewis helped the woman and the dog onto his patrol vessel and transported them to a local boat ramp.
Unfortunately, paddle craft accidents and fatalities are included in the state wide boating statistics, which throws off our total accidents/100,000 registered vessels. If you think that point is insignificant, consider that in 2015 there were 9 fatalities with paddle craft; that's over 16-percent of all watercraft deaths. If you think that was just a bad year, think again; in 2014 there were 16 fatalities. And if you think that a paddle craft is safer than jetski you are wrong again. Last year, personal watercraft (PWC) had 4 fatalities; less than the 5 deaths they had in 2014. The water can be a safe place or a deadly place it's all up to you. Captronb@juno.com
20
SAILING PAGE
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
JUNE 2016
Sarasota to Havana Race Back After 50 Years By Peter Welch Water LIFE Sailing After 50 years of efforts by the Sarasota Yacht Club (SYC) and the Hemingway Yacht Club in Havana, the 289 mile race from Venice to Havana finally got back underway this year. Improved relations between the US and Cuba were, no doubt, a major factor. For this report, the crew of Serendipity a Hunter Passage 420 based in Punta Gorda, told me about their Bucket List race. The skipper, Mike Busher, and his crew comprised of Dave Cleverly, Ron Scalzo, John Romano, Garrett Geiger and Lee Holm had all raced before. That was a big plus for the three days of six hours on/ six hours off shifts that started with getting the boat first from Punta Gorda to the Sarasota Yacht Club, and then, in the face of worsening weather, back down the ICW to Venice, where the start had been moved to avoid the rough pass at Sarasota. The night before the race the skipper’s meeting turned into a social event and instructions regarding allowed motor usage may have been inadequate – normally motor usage in a sailboat race is allowed only for collision avoidance or rescue. The Notice of Race said all US Sailing rules would apply, which meant motoring only for safety, not to improve finish time. This would become important later.
Boats in the race to Cuba were required to have Spot Tracker instrumentation so all participant’s positions would always be known. That also allowed each boat to pick its own start time. Eight sailboats, a trawler and a powerboat all took off for Havana. When Serendipity passed the start line the wind stopped. Some boats then began to motor, but were they racers? After 45minutes the wind filled in from the NW and the boat speed jumped up to 8 knots. What does a crew do for the next 40 hours? They stand watch, eat, then sleep when off watch, which was difficult at first, and in this race they changed boat heading to optimize speed with the spinnaker ..... and watch out for shrimpers and the Rebecka / Dry Tortugas shoals. The wind direction varied, but the spinnaker was effective for most of the race and the boat stayed within four miles of the shortest course to Havana. All hands praised the food. Some off-watch crew had grumbles about the electric winch for spinnaker trim disturbing their sleep. After passing the shrimpers and shoals, the wind died again and they drifted in sighting distance of other racers. One competitor started his engine and continued toward Havana. Serendipity remained stationary until the wind returned and then was off again at up to 8 knots with genoa and spinnaker. In the pre-dawn of April 5 there was a
Race action in the Mano-a-Mano race. Serendipity, entering the Harbor at Havana, is shown in an inset on page 1
glow on the horizon that was Havana. The finish line was crossed at 12:21 PM. The skipper sought and was granted a dock near Regatta Headquarters. Serendipity was listed as finishing second behind the boat that motored in the calm. Then redress was granted in the motoring violation and Serendipity was given first place! Second place went to My Time, chartered by Dr. Paul Gilroy and Skippered by Patrick Hirt. Dr. Gilroy lives in Sarasota and belongs to SYC. Going to the awards ceremony the skipper said Serendipity would not participate in the "Mano a Mano" race to be conducted by the Hemmingway YC, however the skipper was so impressed by the Commodore’s welcoming speech at Hemmingway, and by his actions, that Serendipity
Photo by Garrett Gieger, from aboard Serendipity
did enter and finished second to a 75 foot boat flying the Cuban flag. Their trophy was a great bottle of Cuban Rum! The following day the crew toured Havana and they praised the welcome afforded by the Cuban people. Serendipity returned to the US waters at 1:30 AM. The Coast Guard advised that Homeland Security would handle them, but there was no reply from Homeland on the radio, so Customs was contacted. The Skipper had filed a float plan so Customs cleared them back into the US without inspection. And as for the concept of serendipity, (good discoveries by accident) the crew’s discovery, quite by accident, was Go to Cuba, but don’t use their ice cubes and don’t drink their water!
Don Ball School of Fishing
THANK YOU!
to our 2016 Sponsors
There is still time for YOU to become a sponsor too, and WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT!
To become a sponsor and see your name here next month, visit www.waterlifemagazine.com 100% of the money goes to the kids!
JUNE 2016
SCUTTLEBUTT ONLINE EVERY MONTH @
WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
PAGE 21
Sometimes Unsubstanciated, But Often True
SHOCKER While checking occupants of a vessel on the Apalachicola River for fishing licenses and compliance, Officers observed four catfish underneath the passengerʼs feet. Right behind him at the operatorʼs feet was an orange extension cord with a chain tied to the end of it, part of a device which is commonly used to shock fish. There were no fishing poles of any kind on the vessel. The officer asked the
operator where his shocker was located and he pulled an electrical device used to shock fish (snuff can style) out of his back right pocket. The shocking device and extension were seized as evidence. The owner/operator was cited for taking freshwater fish with an illegal device (electroshocking) and the passengers were issued written warnings.
DOUBLE TROUBLE Driving southbound on US-1, an FWC officer observed a subject walking on Shark Channel Bridge carrying what appeared to be a large snook by the gills. When the officer approached the subject and announced himself, the subject stated “I donʼt know what kind of fish this is” and stated “I can
subject was issued a notice to appear for possessing an oversized and out-of-season snook and supplied with current saltwater fishing regulations.
The shrimp truck can empty its tank on the boat ramp but you canʼt empty your boat. Itʼs a city regulation to control traffic, the FWC officer told us.
throw it back.” The subject then laid the snook on the ground. The snook was bleeding, unresponsive and appeared to be dead. The snook measured to 36 inches in total length, and was caught during a closed season. A short time later another officer said they had conducted a fisheries inspection on the same subject approximately 30 minutes prior, and had issued him a written warning for possessing an undersized mangrove snapper. The
BIG NUMBERS During the second annual Lionfish Removal Festival May 14-15, in Pensacola alone, 8,089 lionfish were removed in only two days at the Gulf Coast Lionfish Coalition Tournament. More than 7,000 people, more than double last yearʼs numbers, attended the FWC festival. Charles Meyling of Montgomery broke the state record for longest lionfish caught in Gulf waters when he brought in a 17.5-inch lionfish. The previous record was 17.25-inches. That weekend and in the period leading up to that weekend, another 5,978 lionfish were removed for a total of 14,067 statewide. In 2015, 2,975 lionfish were removed statewide.
SHOT DEAD DOLPHIN The number of violent incidents towards dolphins in the Northern Gulf appear to be increasing. Since 2002, at least 18 dolphins have been found with gunshot wounds, with 12 of those occurring since 2010. UN IN FISHING AGAIN The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced that 29 countries and the European Union have become party to the 2009 Agreement on Port State Measures to prevent, deter, and eliminate Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing. With 30 parties on board, the agreement will officially enter into force on June 5, 2016, giving countries that have joined
the agreement the necessary tools to prevent the offloading and sale of IUU fishing products.
BUT WILL IT LEAK? The Panama Canal expansion is set to open with an inaugural ceremony set for June 26. While the expansion will
create a new route for larger ships to transit between the Atlantic and Pacific, logistics experts disagree on its immediate effects on U.S. East Coast and Gulf Coast ports – many of which have invested heavily in dredging and facilities upgrades to accommodate bigger vessels and an expected increase in traffic. H O W D I D T H E Y K N O W TO D O A G L U COSE TEST ON A TURTLE? An FWC officer was transporting an unconcious sea turtle to the Marathon Turtle Hospital. Once inside his cool, air-conditioned patrol truck, the turtle rapidly came to and began moving around the truck with great energy. It was later determined that the turtle had dangerously low glucose levels that were life-threatening, it was treated.
PAGE
22
EMAIL:
BackBay Xtremes Capt Dave Stephens www.backbayxtremes.com
941-916-5769
Fish With A Guide!
Youʼll catch more fish and youʼll learn something new, too!
Guide Card Space Available $40/mo
Speak Easy Fishing Charters Captain Joe Angius USCG licensed & Insured Phone: (727)
234-3171
speakeasyfishing.com
speakeasyfishing@gmail.com
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
JUNE 2016
June – Predictions and Suggestions
Charlotte Harbor
as what to do, so many of them are living their lives back in the islands. Frank at Fishin’ Franks They will eat pinfish, shrimp and 941-625-3888 white bait but the ones there are Redfish are always on everyhard to find. Once you fine them, body’s mind. Reds are the largethough, they will eat. Further up tomouth bass of the saltwater industry. wards Hog Island the reds are scatI think we are still seeing the effects tered - mostly ones and twos. of the red tide we had two years Snook are a good story. We’ve ago. That cost us quite a few redhad unbelievably timely rain and the fish. The good news is there are snook are migrating in a fashion I’d still some to catch south of Matcompare to the 1980s when large lacha and south in th Pine Island Snook from an Estero trip with numbers of fish would leave the Capt. Joe Angius Sound. The east side of Charlotte canals and rivers and be moving to squirrel fish they want in particular, Harbor is pretty decent, but south is the Gulf. We are set up for a perfect if they can get it in their mouth they best. Way further back in the isstorm of an unbelievable snook are going to swallow it. lands is where the reds are. You’d spawn this year. All the signs are More and more fish are daisy think they would be out front with here. chaining out along the Gulf. That the perfect water temperatures we Out in the Harbor the electrical pattern should continue through have right now, but they are in the storms at night are pushing the tarJune. The direction they swim back. My theory about the reds still pon out deep. Every night it runs means something. One way, maybe on the east side of the Harbor, is them out. More of the bigger fish, it’s clockwise, they are getting to that those fish are leftovers from the like sharks and cobia go to the know each other, then when they redfish breeding program. I think deeper water as the storms hit the turn in the opposite direction they these redfish are not migrating out Harbor. After every storm those fish go into a spawn. I’m not sure which because they don’t know where to are 3- to 6-miles out in the Gulf. way is which though. If you see go. I think they are living out their Swimming at 15 mph lives where they were released or it doesn’t take them close to there. Because they were long to get out there. not born here they have no instincts The last week of last month the passes were full of tarpon. We should have at least one more spawn. The hill tide, as the water dumps out, carries minnows and crabs and we’ll have one more spawn offshore and then this month we should see them coming back in the Harbor. The time will be good for the Harbor and beach, just inside the pass and many moving My name is Greg Hoffman and I caught this permit A black drum from an Everglades City trip up in the Harbor. I on a top water plug 28 miles off shore. It measured with Capt. Charlie Phillips. don’t think it’s 31-inches long, to the fork, and 14 inches wide.
Guide Card Space Available $40/mo
JUNE 2016
ONLINE EVERY MONTH @
The BIG-4 TARPON On the beach spawning and and in the Harbor
them daisy chaining and they won’t eat, wait till they go the other way. The fish this month that continues to shock me are the triple tail. This is taking us back to the 1990s where we’d have triple tail offshore in the cooler months and into June and July we’d have them up in the Harbor – that’s what we have now. We’ve had decent triple tail fishing but nothing like this recently. There are lots of sharks around and will continue to be. Upper end of the Harbor, Bayshore Pier, the 41 Bridges, the Beach Complex are all seeing a lot of smaller sharks. The little sharks should be over by now, but everything is a few weeks late. The big sharks are in the middle of the Harbor and more down along the beaches. We’ll see more big sharks up here soon. As the tarpon spread out into the Harbor the sharks will spread out with them. Gulf fishing is pretty good, a lot of amberjack now but they are closed. A bit of good gag grouper in the passes and up in the holes in the Harbor and the reefs near shore. With the water as warm as it’s been I’d have thought they’d be gone too but they are not. Snapper, grunts and porgys are still here in surprisingly good numbers throughout the reefs. I’d have thought it was unsustainable but it keeps on going. Maybe it’s a credit to the fishermen who aren’t still filling their coolers. Further out, 35-to 40 miles, there is blackfin tuna, bonita, Spanish (smaller bunches of them) and a few kings that havent pushed too far north yet .
Fish you can expect in
PERMIT Offshore on the wrecks and structure
Lemon Bay - Placida Jim at Fishermen’s Edge 941-697-7595
June
WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM
SNOOK On the move and eating their way to the Gulf
SHARK Big ones following the tarpon
Biggest thing right here is the tarpon fishing. Lot of cobia around and some blackfin tuna. I saw some pictures of guys with sailfish just 7 miles out. There are a lot of big pods of baitfish offshore. Mostly threadfins. Everybody thinks there is a loop current off the gulf stream because no one can remember seeing so many blackfin this close in and it’s been going on for a number of weeks. It might be because of the close proximity of the A Jack (above) and a snook from a trip with Capt. Dave bait to shore Stephens The guys are getting quite a bit of the snapper, both mangrove and lane and the red grouper has been good too, that fishery just reopened this month along with the gag fishery. This month everything will be crazy. There are a lot of snook around, but a lot of guys will lay off them because they are out of season and the guys have so much else to catch. Lots of bigger reds are around also. All of a sudden, from Lemon Bay, across the bridge to Gasparilla Sound guys are seeing a lot more of the redfish now. There are pompano around along the beach, a lot of the light tackle fishing for any Spanish but there are still kings offshore them has been going good. Mostly they’ve close to all the big pods of threadfins. been caught on jigs tipped with a sand flea or a And there are still plenty of sharks around. shrimp. Guys have been seeing some really big ones; For the tarpon, in the Pass it’s squirrel fish black tips, hammers, bull sharks. For bait, for bait and it’s crabs or threadfins if you’re guys fishing for sharks are using any kind of fishing them on the beach. dead stuff like mullet or ladyfish or sting rays. I haven’t heard of All in all, the fishing is good.
A little tunny (left) and a kingfish caught last month aboard Hammerhead Charters, with Capt. Dan Cambern, out of Placida
HI, I was hoping you could put in my pictures of a giant Goliath Grouper. We got in the Harbor on 5/22/16. It measured over 6ft. and weigheed appoximately 300- to350-pounds. It took over 45-minutes of hell to get it to the boat with both of us working the pole! I used a Penn 345 with 60lb. test. How he didn't break me I can't say. We were not fishing for them. Marty Razner & Terry and thanks to Ken for the great pictures.
PAGE 23
Gulf Temps are low 80s Fishing is fantastic!
95˚ 90˚ 85˚ 80˚
75˚ 72˚ 70˚ 68˚ 50˚ 45˚
FISHING RIGHT NOW:
GREAT
PAGE
24
EMAIL:
WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET
JUNE 2016