W a t e r LIFE
FREE!
Charlotte Charlotte Harbor Harbor and and Lemon Lemon Bay Bay Keeping Boaters & Fishermen Informed Since 1997
March 2011
Lessons Learned Page 5
Fishin始 Frank
Page 9
Mud Crabs Valuable link in the food chain
Plenty-good eatin始 from Offshore Page 8
Page 12
Two Big Regattas this Month Page 19
w w w. W Wa at te er rL L II F FE Em ma ag ga az z ii n ne e. c o m Online every month!
Always FREE!
Page 2
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
March
2 0 11
DIRECT 941-235-5648 TOLL FREE 877-218-6552
Pending!
New Price!
NEW! NEW! NEW! Donʼt let the size fool you, 240 sq ft 12X20,does not show under A/C, this Florida room is where the seasonal owners enjoy Florida living. New roof, gutters, A/C, insulation, drywall, electrical, all new tile floors thru out, cabinets, appliances, complete baths, ceiling fans, septic tank pumped, shed and the list goes on. For right price most new furniture will stay. $79,900 Call Ellen McCarthy 941-235-5648
GREAT FAMILY HOME WITH HEATED POOL/SPA ON FRESHWATER CANAL. 3/2.5/2 with 2103 sq.ft. of living space. All nice size rooms, spacious. Living, dining, nook and kitchen open to family room. Great solar heated pool and a large spa to relax in and watch our beautiful Florida sunsets. Inside laundry with extra storage space and tub. Pool new diamond brite just 2 years old and the list goes on. $149,900 Call Ellen McCarthy 941-235-5648
BURNT STORE VILLAGE POOL HOME Country living with privacy, 3/2/2 with 1,759 sq ft under A/C. Built in 1993. 15x15 kitchen with Island open to family rm. 4 nice walk in closets, pool bath. Master has jetted tub and walk in shower. Tile thru out except for bedrooms. Two large trees in front, Just a little TLC and this could be the home you are looking for. $134,900 Call Ellen McCarthy 941-235-5648
KINGS GATE GOLF COMMUNITY HOME 2/2/2 plus golf cart garage. Built 2006 with 1,415 sq ft. over looking lake/lagoon on the 14th fairway. 55+ community. Furniture negotiable. Great room, dining that could be den/office or 3rd bedroom. Nice kitchen with nook and closet pantry. Check out all the amenities-club house, heated pool, tennis, fitness, full service restaurant. $139,900 call Ellen McCarthy 941-235-5648
SHROEDER CUSTOM-BUILT HOME shows like a model. Only lived in a few months, this 3/2/2 1,614 sf home built in 2007 features 17” tile floors (except in bedrooms), split bedroom plan, open great room, white wood cabinets & Corian countertops $159,900 Call Ellen McCarthy 941-235-5648
BANK-OWNED 3/2/2 home sold As Is. Newly painted, this 2,830 sf bargain has a huge family room with fireplace and aquarium, French doors, split bedroom plan and spacious Master bedroom suite with garden tub, walk-in shower and dual sinks. Check this one out today! $169,000 Call Ellen McCarthy 941-235-5648
KINGS GATE BRISTOL II MODEL 2006 – A true 3 bedroom, 2 ba, 2 car with 1,662 sq ft. Formal living & dining room, large10x17 kitchen with wood cabinets, beveled counters, volume ceilings thru out, ALL TILE FLOORS ON DIAGONAL huge extended 13x35 Lanai with roll up sun shield, 3M hurricane film on all windows and sliders, 550 watt generator wired to electric panel and just too many upgrades at $184,900 Call Ellen McCarthy 941-235-5648
RIVER CLUB HEATED POOL HOME. Overlooking lake/lagoon, 3/2/2 built in 2008, this home is like NEW, 1,834 sq ft, tile roof, hurricane shutters, volume ceilings, maple wood cabintry with granite counter top, plantation shutters and FULLY FURNISHED AT THIS PRICE, This home shows quality thru out. Tile floors except for bedrooms, BEAUTIFUL HOME IN GATED COMMUNITY. $199,900 Call Ellen McCarthy 941-235-5648
ROCK CREEK WATERFRONT POOL HOME - 3/2/2, 1,700 sq ft. Minutes to the Harbor, concrete seawall, dock and davits. Auto cleaner for pool. All new roof, windows, sliding doors, hurricane shutters, tile floors, complete kitchen w/ hardwood cabinets, granite, appliances, screen on cage, paint interior and exterior, 17.5 Seer A/C, and on and on. A must see! $219,900 Call Ellen McCarthy 941-235-5648
CHARMING WATERFRONT POOL HOME 3/2/2 1,749 sq ft. Just a great private home on Como Waterway and a short ride to the Harbor. Fish from your dock and watch a beautiful sunset. This home features many upgrades as new roof, pool cage, all new wood cabinets with corian tops, new white wood cabinets in both baths, 2nd bedroom has dou. doors to nook area, new tile & wood floors. Don't wait!! $239,900 Call Ellen McCarthy 941-235-5648
ROTONDA WEST GOLF COURSE/LAKE POOL HOME. What a great view of over sized deck and new heated pool 2008, lake with dock to fish from Home built in 1993 with 2,062 sq ft and the lot next door goes with the home price value of 35,000. Large living/dining room and family room off kitchen and nook. This home offers, Central vac., security sys and more. $274,900 Call Ellen McCarthy 941-235-5648
LAKE SUZY BEAUTY ON LAKE PEMBROKE - 3/2/2 heated pool home, 2135 sq ft, built in 1996. This home is a charm, with upgrades galore. Volume ceilings, Italian tile, new tile roof, pool cage, diamond brite & tile, hurricane shutters, inside laundry with lots of storage thru out home and the list goes on, This is a must see, Priced to sell at $299,900 Call Ellen McCarthy 941-235-5648
New Price!
Ellen McCarthy Broker Associate www.portcharlotte-pgi.com ellenmc@portcharlotte-pgi.com www.portcharlotte-pgi.com
ellenmc@portcharlotte-pgi.com
19700 Cochran Blvd • Port Charlotte, FL 33948
March
2 0 11
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
Page 3
Page 4
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
GIANT
March
2 0 11
March 19th
Tent Sale This Month!
Letters to: WaterLIFE@comcast.net
Water LIFE Magazine inc.
www.waterlifemagazine.com Michael & Ellen Heller Publishers
(9 4 1 ) 7 6 6 -8 1 8 0
e-mail (preferred) Waterlife@comcast.net Mail: 217 Bangsberg Rd. Port Charlotte, FL 33952
TOTALLY INDEPENDENT Not affiliated
with any other publication Vol X No 3 © 2011
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
This striking Charlotte County sunset photo was sent to us by Mathew Johnston. If you are a photographer and you like animals, see the photo contest to the left.
No part of this publication (printed or electronic) may be copied or reproduced without specific written permission from the publisher.
Contributing Editors:
Photography: ASA1000.com Senior Editor: Capt. Ron Blago Port Charlotte: Billy Barton Punta Gorda: Capt. Chuck Eichner Commercial Fishing: Kelly Beall Sea Grant: Betty Staugler Real Estate: Dave Hofer Inshore: Fishin’ Frank Offshore: Capt Jim O’Brien Diving: Adam Wilson Kayaks: David Allen Sailing: Bill Dixon Office Dog: Molly Brown
on the COVER
Collecting mud crabs for bait
If you expected crowds like you saw in Cairo to turn out on Feb 25 in St Pete to protest the NMF gag grouper ban youʼd have been disappointed. A couple hundred people showed up, many with signs with slogans like, "Fishing is not a crime," and "I fish, I vote." The crowd listened to Tom Petty tunes, "Refugee'' and "Don't Do Me Like That." Marine Fisheries reports grouper stocks have been reduced by half since 2004.
Water LIFE is also FREE ONLINE every month
ADVERTISE HERE
$99 per month!
Water LIFEʼs 1/8 page ad (this size)
still just
call 941-766-8180
Your effective and economical advertising solution
4- C O L O R is always FREE If you want to reach boaters and fishermen...we are IT!
Photo: CHIP OSOWSKI/STAFF Tampa Tribune
Page 12
On Facebook type in Water LIFE Magazine ... click
www.waterlifemagazine.com Link to your website from ours ... advertise in Water LIFE
Water LIFE i s the o ffi ci al publ i cati o n o f the Charl o t t e Harb o r Reef As s o ci at i o n, the o ri g i nato r o f the Ki ds Cup To urnament and the pro ducer o f the Do n Bal l Scho o l o f Fi s hi ng .
We don’t just count the people we reach, we reach the people that count
Figuring it Out March
2 0 11
By Mi chael Hel l er Water LIFE Editor We all have a right to experiment. How experimenting effects our lives depends on the situation. Sometimes you suffer from experimentation and sometimes you benefit. Fishing is centered around experimentation. I went out one Friday morning pre-fishing with Capt. Larry Todd of Little Gator Charters. Pre-fishing in the days immediately before a tournament involves either looking for fish, or keeping an eye on the fish you have already found. In Larry’s case it was a little of both. We motored down the harbor just after sun-up and worked our way around the bar at the top of Pine Island. But the water was skinny and we couldn’t get to the trough where Larry had figured some redfish were laying. Instead, we tossed shrimp and artificials across the grass to anything that would bite and stayed where we were waiting for the tide to come in. It was one of those calm beautiful mornings in February that tempt you into thinking summer is right around the corner. The water temperature was toying with 70-degrees and all around us bait-fish were dimpling the surface. We were alone on a flat that the following day at this time would probably hold a dozen tournament boats. Off in the distance a small skiff appeared and made it’s way toward us. One hundred yards away the skiff’s outboard made that throaty noise that comes right before the sputtering splurt of running aground. Bewaaaaaaah...blup...blup...blup...blup...blup...blup...... ..blup. The two boys looked around, got out a paddle and tried to push themselves free. The boat was aground and tipped over slightly to port. Finally they hopped overboard, swung the boat around and pushed off. Through
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
my telephoto I could see they were young boys. They got back in the boat and started it up. Wraaaaaaaaaa. The prop was still out of the water. They trimmed it back down and idled off. Larry and I smiled and fished some more, keeping an eye on the kids as they circled around us and got back on plane. Larry looked at me, I looked at him and we both watched. Bewaaah...blup...blup...blup...blup...blup...blup...blu ---up. Aground again. This time they were out of the boat and pushing much sooner.
Page 5
And the following time as well. They were back in earshot when Larry called to them and told them to look for deeper water pointing to a nearby pvc stake. “I think we’ll just head back in the direction we came from,” one boy called as he pointed the boat where he knew the water was deeper and idled off. This is what boating in the shallow water estuary is all about. You take it easy, you screw up and eventually you figure it out. That’s fishing too; experimenting and trying not to make the same mistakes twice.
Alaskans Loved our Fishing
Page 6
By Capt. Chuck Ei chner Water LIFE Punta Gorda Fishing trips are often more about the adventure than the catching itself. Your fellow anglers color the day with fishing knowledge and personality from years of pursuit of things that swim. Such was the case on this trip as Alaskan residents Kenny Johnson and Tim Reichenburg joined me for a day on Charlotte Harbor. A beautiful day with light winds led us to fish from Gasparilla to Useppa to North Pine Island, Bull and Turtle Bay and to the east side of the Harbor. Rarely do I run around this much in a day, but calm winds, low tides and the pursuit of redfish led the cause. Our first spot took us to the back side of Boca Grande to fish a shallow basin. Easing my Maverick across a ¼ mile of skinny water we pitched potholes. Kenny connected early on with a fat Sheepshead which was his first. Eventually we all got in the game and caught shallow water sheepies and a few small redfish. A larger deeper sandhole had 3 anglers pitching all sides of it and trout were on the menu. Alaskan Kenny caught his first speckled trout as well, one of just many on this day. Kenny proved to be one very interesting person. He literally lives off the land in a remote village in Alaska and works on the Alaskan pipeline. He has hunted and fished in some of the most remote locations you can imagine and caught more large fish than you can imagine. His one room shack was his home for many years, living in isolation when not on the oil fields. His modest home boasted 4 deep freezers to keep elk, moose, bear, cod, halibut and salmon to eat as there were no stores in his town and
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
a plane and boat ride was required to get to the closest store. He lives to fish and hunt. Easing further into the shallow basin we steadily caught nice trout with a few pushing 20-inches. An occasional redfish that was barely legal kept things interesting. Focusing on bank related potholes Tim decided to fish open water where mullet were jumping wildly. His first cast was a large trout and then redfish after redfish. When he first cast into no man’s land I scoffed under my breath that he was waisting his time casting out there. Boy was I wrong, as we all caught fish on nearly every cast! But no big fish, so we motored south to Useppa Island and fished flats on an incoming tide, then to flats near Cabbage Key. Kenny and Tim marveled at the beauty of the waters that proved unproductive this day other than for a few trout and 2 small redfish. Bull Bay and Turtle Bay were fished this day as well with an occasional rat red and small trout. Running back to the east side to fish closer to home we discovered that the west winds had pushed an extra foot of water onto the flats. This was good news as we eased the boat off plane and began to cast in sequence. Large whole live shrimp were the bait we fished all day. Mainly rigged weedless Texas style. This bank was a proven spot for me and produced several nice redfish to 6 pounds! Kenny banged a couple really nice fish and was as happy to release them as he was serving up marinated moose and venison for dinner Leaving the dock that morning Tim was hoping we would connect with some snook as Kenny had never even seen a snook. As a knowledgeable
angler I informed them that the waters were too cold and if we caught one it would be a small one in a deeper basin and we would be lucky at that. The sun was setting and the air was cooling down and I knew the day was about over. We motored to one last spot to hopefully catch a few more small reds off a deep hole located on an island point. The south end of the hole produced several redfish to 18” as the incoming tide predictably had positioned them there. To get to this spot we had to run the boat on plane and shut down on the deepest part of the hole to avoid grounding out. As the redfish bite slowed we began to drift back over the area we had just run through. Kenny pitched his shrimp into the middle and to my surprise reared back on a big fish. Jumping 2 feet into the air a beautiful 28” snook splashed back down and we all let out a yelp. A spectacular fight ensued with more leaps and burning drag. With a set-
March
2 0 11
ting sun, Kenny posed with another first catch. With the camera put aside Tim casts to the same area and bangs a snook in the 23-inch class. Charlotte Harbor once again proved to be a world class fishery in late winter. Kenny and Tim both caught a grand slam consisting of redfish, snook and trout. My fishing luck was not quite as good but the luck of
spending a day with these anglers was my reward.
Capt. Chuck Eichner operates Action Flats Back country Guide Serv ice and can be reached at 941-628-8040 or go to his website www.back country -charters.com
County Holds Up on Proposed New Manatee Regulations
March
2 0 11
On the Line
Wi th Capt. Ron Bl ago Water LIFE Senior Staff The Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners, on February 22, voted to postpone the decision on volunteering to join the 14 counties that already have a state run Manatee Protection Plan (MPP). I have to applaud their decision to step back and gather additional information on a plan that may forever change the way people use the waterways in Charlotte County. The decision to have a MPP is a big one and should not be taken lightly. That is why it has taken over 20 years for the original 13 counties in Florida ordered to have a MPP to produce them. Now the Florida Bureau of Protected Species is asking counties to volunteer to accept a MPP. Their timing couldn't be worse; with high unemployment, falling real estate values, soaring gas prices and loss of local tax revenue. I can't think of a worse time to ask local counties to go along with the expansion of an expensive state program that is of dubious merit. So far Clay County has been the only county to volunteer for a MPP. Frankly, I didn't know much about Clay Co. except that it is an inland county near Jacksonville. It's claim to fame as far as manatees go, is that a section of the St. Johns river runs through it. Their 20 year average manatee watercraft mortality is 0.5 manatees per year. So you have to ask, how much lower can that figure get with a MPP? Is it about pro-
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
Manatee Mouth
Manatees have no incisors or canine teeth, and the number of cheek teeth is variable, with teeth being replaced from the rear like an elephant. Manatees may have as many as 80 cheek teeth in their lifetime. The alleged only difference between the Florida Manatee and the Caribbean manatee is one tiny bone formation in the top of the skull.
Page 7
tecting manatees or is it about protecting your job in a bloated state bureaucracy ? People have tried to convince me that the Charlotte County MPP has no new regulations on boaters. I tell them to read a MPP and ask the other counties how the MPP has worked for them. Inside the MPP is a provision for a review committee to make changes to the MPP. All changes must have approval by both the FWC and the Federal Fish and Wildlife Service. Sarasota County just finished their review process and sure enough it resulted in more slow zones for boaters in their county. I got to see a copy of a memo written by the county administrator of Miami Dade County outlining the changes to their MPP . They were one of the first counties to have a MPP. Their plan, after several reviews, now controls the number and locations of individual docks, marina and boat storage plans, sea grass beds, marine law enforcement and manatee speed zones. To my knowledge, no speed zones have ever been removed. They have only increased in number. The power to control local waters goes to the State, the Feds and these review committees. The local government is pretty much taken out of the process. I would encourage the Charlotte County BCC to take their time and learn exactly what a MPP is. The BCC must ask themselves what does Charlotte County get from this plan - and what do we give up to get it. Factor in the continuing rise in manatee population numbers and the financial troubles we are in; and then vote for the best interest of the people of Charlotte County.
Page 8
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
The Bigger Fish Won
March
2 0 11
By Capt. Bart Marx
Water LIFE Inshore On a Friday in February I met a couple of guys at the boat ramp for a fishing charter. We introduced ourselves and off we went. It was the start of a very fine day. I prayed for safety on our trip and a bounty of fish that these guys could take home and share with there family and friends. I had already been to Fishin' Franks and picked out 200 shrimp for the 4-hour charter. This time of year shrimp is the meal ticket – it was still too cold for the white bait to come back into the local waters. Greg is the party that signed us up for this adventure and he brought his son in-law, Mike. These guys came ready to fish, not knowing that there would be a big fish story in the making. We traveled a few miles from the ramp and anchored the boat in position. We started by catching and releasing some under 18-inch reds and some sheepshead. There were your typical bait robbers - little pin fish that just eat the legs off the shrimp and an occasional snapper bite that just leaves the head of the shrimp on the hook. As we started casting in different spots around the structure, we found the larger reds. Greg caught the first slot size red - 26 3/4 inches. He had a hard time - this redfish was not happy. We had to adjust the drag
tighter to help keep that red out of the pilings. The next fish was a nice size sheepshead of 15 inches which we added to the dinner collection. Mike finally got in to the action catching two keeper size sheepshead. Then Greg hooked another big fish. This one was pulling drag easily even after we had tightened it up earlier. I even had to use the trolling motor on that one, he was a big boy. Greg finally boated a 28-inch red that was very tired and almost belly up from the battle. We put the fish right in the well to help him recover. Then Mike hooks another good fish, has another good battle and we net the fish - this time it is a 26 1/2inch red. We have 3 people on the boat and 3 reds, one fish being in for recovery that is still catching his breath. There were some of Flipper's relatives in the background fishing too. I didn't think too much about it until I let the 28inch red back into the water. Then there was a large ruckus and I realized that Flipper's cousin had bagged himself a nice fat 28-inch lunch. He came within 15 ft. of the boat to grab it and run with it. At first
we saw the second dolphin with no fish in his mouth and for a short time we thought that the big red survived. Then the other rascal surfaced for air and showed off his bounty. It was cool to see all that happen, but I felt bad our big fish didn’t get away. People do not believe the big one gets away - they think that those are fish stories. We did release the big one but a bigger one got him - that's how big fish stories get started. We continued on to our next fishing location with two keeper reds and a pair of sheepshead in the box. We arrived at the next spot and started catching some small fish; pin fish and small sheepshead. Then we added three keeper mangrove snapper and another sheepshead to our catch for the day. We fished until we used every one of the 200 shrimp. The big fish story has a good ending mission accomplished. Enough fresh fish for a family fish fry. You guys waiting for the white bait get your nets out and buy some chum fix-ins, the water is getting warmer every day.
Captain Bart Marx runs Alpha & Omega Charters. Contact him ` at: 941-979-6517
March
2 0 11
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
Fishinʼ With Your Feet Up
branches. Smugly I looked over at Robert By Fishin’ Frank who's first cast had not made it quite to the Water LIFE Offshore mangrove edge about 6 feet away. I thought Robert and I head for I-75. As we got closer to silver ‘I will catch him now.’ trout lane on the north side of I-75, there were three Jon But a s Robert started to reel in, wham boats, two pontoon boats, a couple of center consoles and went my smug look and the possibilthere a partridge in a pear tree (a gull sitting on the slow speed ity that I was going to catch up, as Robert sign), so we pass on by and go fish under the flat part of started reeling in a redfish. Robert played the bridge on the north side, looking for trout. him to the boat. It was short of legal, but a I used a poppin’ cork with a live shrimp about three feet fish. What do they say, it’s better to be red below the cork. Robert tossed out a live shrimp with just lucky than good? a split shot. Bam! Robert got hit almost immediately. The Frank is rod was bouncing and jerkin’ and now three fish behind and a catfish was the first fish to fall getting worried. I did do one for Robert this day. Robert thing right, as this was a unhooked his little kitty-kat fish spur of the moment trip, all (not really big enough to be we had was 1 pack of 1/0 called a catfish), put on another needle point hooks and now shrimp and cast out figuring we find our selves catching maybe the cat was a fluke and undersize red fish. Usually I this place was really full of over would switch to circle sized sea trout. hooks, because as you After a minute or two of not know, these rat-reds (under getting a bite Robert noticed the size red fish) will bite, chair. Hey, we are in a pontoon swallow and start to digest boat, might as well get into the before you can begin to set sprit of it. the hook. So without circle Robert was sitting in the hooks we did the next best Spotted Sea Trout chair with his feet propped up thing. With my pliers I flaton the rail waiting for his next tened the barb of the hook to the shank so all that was left fish and just as he got settled in, jerk, jerk, jerk went the of the barb is a slight bump. We had no trouble keeping line. And dig, dig, dig, went the fish. We gave up on the over size trout theory for this spot and rather than try for the shrimp on the hook, and did not lose one fish, but more catfish we decided to move up against the island just when it came time to release the fish, the hook just slid to the north. I positioned the boat so we could (with a lit- out without tugging or ripping, So simple! The barbless hooks we sell at the store are great, except tle effort) cast right up against the shore line. I cast my rod when you pinch the barb down on a regular hook the bait out... “perfect cast.” It landed five inches up under the
Page 9
seems to stay on better – with the real barbless hooks the bait tends to fall off more often. Back to the action. Now Robert was ahead of me three fish to none, I usually don’t keep score, but it was embarrassing, so I summoned up my courage and pitched my bait right at the mangroves. It slid under the branches and was not under there for more than two minutes before I was no longer skunked. A 16-inch redfish kept me from getting ridiculed for the next month at work. I like that fish. Anyway, I was so excited about not getting skunked I kissed him and put him back without even getting a picture. A couple more fish, two cats and another red, and it started slowing down so we decided to move again. We went back under the bridge and I cast my shrimp just before the shadow line and let the tide take it into the sun. Bam! There was a dumb spotted sea trout waiting to play. Then after he was released I had to catch my catfish so Robert didn’t have all the fun. We had a great day sitting in the chairs feet up, in the sun and calm of the Peace River, even if every once in a while we had to deal with those pesky fish. I think not every trip should be about big fish, and even when Robert catches more fish than you, it’s still a good life. Frank or Robert can be reached at Fishin’’ Frank s at 625-3888 or frank@fishinfranks.com
Marinating Your Fish Vocabulary Page 10
By Betty S taugl er Water LIFE / Sea Grant Vertebrates are animals with a backbone and include mammals, birds and fishes. Considering roughly three quarters of the earth is covered in water it should be no surprise that fish are the most numerous vertebrates in the world. According to the Florida Museum of Natural History there are about 28,000 known fish in the world, although thousands more likely have yet to be discovered. One might think since 97% of the earth’s water is saltwater that an equal percentage of fish would be found in saltwater environments. However in reality only 58% of all fish are saltwater fishes, 41 % are found in freshwater and 1% can live in either salt or freshwater. This makes a lot of sense if you think about how all of the freshwater lakes, rivers and streams are really like a bunch of isolated islands, thus fish that may have started out as one species, likely evolved over time into distinctly different species. If we go back to the 58% that live solely in saltwater and look at where they live, the majority (45% of 58%) live in the near-shore areas, in less than 200 meters depth (roughly 600 feet). This is because sunlight can penetrate those
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
waters so there is more primary production (algae), more oxygen, more food and therefore more biodiversity. Most fish are cold blooded (also known as poi kel othermi c or ectothermi c) meaning their internal temperature is the same as the external temperature. All living fish are divided into three major groups. The first group, Agnatha, is the most primitive and includes hagfish and lampreys. Agnatha are known as jawless fish. They are essentially an eel-looking fish with a suctioned mouth for a head. Hagfish and lampreys are slimy and lack scales. Most are temperate species where they are parasitic to other fishes. Fossil records indicate that this group of fishes is at least 500 million years old although the living Agnatha date to about 350 million years. The second group of fish, known as Chondri chthyes, includes sharks, rays, skates, ratfishes and chimaeras. Sharks, rays and skates comprise a group of Chondricthyes known as el asmobranchs. Chondrichthyes means “carti l agi nous fi shes". The skeletons of
March
2 0 11
A fish biologist holds the calcium carbonate otolith of an American barrelfish
sharks and other Chondrichthyans are made of cartilage instead of bone. Chondrichthyes are the earliest known jawed fish. Like the rest of its skeletal structure, their upper and lower jaw is made of cartilage and contains a continuous supply of teeth. Unlike most boney fishes that mass spawn, sharks and rays reproduce through internal fertilization. Many sharks and rays give live birth. In some cases the eggs are held internally but receive no nourishment from the parent (ovovi vi parous). Others receive nourishment from the mother (vi vi parous). Skates more frequently lay egg cases (ovi parous) after internal fertilization. The egg cases are commonly called “Mermaid’s purses”. The males of sharks and rays have modified pelvic fins called cl aspers to hold onto the female during mating. Sharks and rays have pl acoi d scales (also called dermal denti cl es). The denticles are like teeth that are pointed to the rear. This makes a shark feel like sandpaper if you rub it from back to front. Fossil records indicate sharks date back 400 million years which makes them older than dinosaurs. Rays and skates are about 150 million years old. The last group of fish is the Ostei chthyes or bony fish. This group
includes the primitive (lobe finned) lungfishes as well as (ray finned) gars, sturgeon and the largest group tel el osts or modern fishes. This last group, modern fishes comprises well over 25,000 species. Bony fishes as its name implies have a skeleton comprised of bone. Most bony fishes have (cycl oi d = smooth or ctenoi d = feathery) scales, some have armor plates (ganoi d scal es) and some, like the catfish, have no scales and are considered naked. Most bony fish have two sets of paired fins in addition to three unpaired fins to aid in locomotion. They also have a swi m bl adder which they can inflate and deflate allowing them to move up and down in the water column. The swim bladder is also used to detect movement as are ear stones (otol i ths) and the lateral line. Because fish are comprised of water, their density is the same as their surrounding environment, with the exception of the gas filled swim bladder and solid otolith. Otoliths are made up of cal ci um carbonate (same as coral). Fish lay down rings of calcium carbonate as they grow just like a tree develops rings. So scientists are able to age fish by slicing the otoliths and counting the rings. Betty Staugler is the Florida Sea Grant Agent for Charlotte County. S he can be reached at 941.764.4346 Sea Grant is part of of the University of Florida IFAS Extension
Just Gets Better March
2 0 11
By Bi l l y Barton Water LIFE Inshore Our winter time species – trout, whiting, pompano, flounder, and sheepshead – although all pretty tasty, just don't always cut it for some of us. I don't know how to say this, I don't know if this is the right way or not, but some of us guys like to feel like the fish we're fighting has our life in his hands – feelin’ like your gonna’ be pulled overboard by a fish, there's nothin like it! For any of ya’ll who haven't experienced this and want to, fasten your seat belts and be ready for the fight of your life because this is the place! Here are a few exciting species you can expect to encounter soon. Tarpon are the game fish that gets the most attention during this next chunk of the year. Tarpon are just so amazing. There's nothing like fighting a fish bigger than you are and seeing him jump ten feet in the air right next to the boat! I prefer to fish for tarpon when they're schooling up out in the middle of the harbor, or at the bridges at night time. Most of the time they'll hit a blue crab, small ladyfish, or a small mullet or catfish tail. But sometimes they can be pretty picky and you just can't figure out what they want! I've caught150 pound tarpon on small pin fish and shrimp. It just depends what they want to eat. Don't get me started on tarpon fishing in the pass, that place is just crazy! Jig fishing in Boca Grande Pass can produce more numbers than fishing them any other way. If you want to do this I highly recommend taking an experienced guide, and doing it right. Boca Grande Pass can be a very dangerous place when you cram over 100 boats in a small area all fishing for giant fish in strong rip currents over schools of hungry sharks! Yep it can get scary out there. And that brings me to sharks. We do have sharks in Charlotte Harbor all year round it's just uncommon to hear of them in numbers in the winter time. An important factor when shark fishing is you want to use a piece of steel leader that is at least as long as the fish you are trying to catch. Sharks are notorious for tailwhipping your fishin line and breaking you off. As far as live bait vs. cut bait I prefer fresh or live bait. A lady fish, mullet, jack cravelle, or stingray would be my main choic-
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
es. However you can still definitely get into ‘em on some frozen stuff. Chumming is an option, it isn't necessary but it will get them to you in more numbers, that's for sure. Where to fish for them? They'll be all over the place in another month or so, no doubt in my mind. S pani sh mackerel are here now. They probably won’t pull you overboard, but boy do I love catching these fish! Always make sure you have a light piece of steel leader when fishin for macks. My favorite way to catch these toothy critters is free lining a piece of whitebait and chumming them up. But another good tactic is just a gold spoon, or a gotcha plug. A good way to find these fish is to check around your channel markers, your public reefs, and to look for birds diving on bait because there's a pretty good chance of some Spanish mackerel being down under there too. Another great sport fish which I just love to target is cobi a. These fish are bulls. They are so much fun to catch on light tackle and in open water. Boy oh boy are they good on the grill too! I like to look for cobia outside the sandbars on the east and west walls of the harbor. One thing about cobia is they usually aren't too picky. Live bait such as pin fish, thread fin, finger mullet, or a big shrimp they will almost never resist. A piece of cut bait or even an artificial bait should work just fine for em too. A bomber, or a windcheater lure is what I like to put in front of em. Colors don't matter much in my opinion. Just make sure its got good strong hooks these are powerful fish. I like to steak em up almost as I would a shark. Lots of cobia stories also come from the fourty-one and El Jobean bridges too. A couple of other good places to look for em is on structure like the Alligator Creek or Cape Haze reefs. Billy Barton passed his captain’s test and is awaiting official Coast Guard certification.
Hereʼs my fishin partner Jason Tari with a good size sheepshead. and my other fishin partner Matt Johnsonʼs girlfiend (Jenn Fulton) with a fine winter time snook. Thatʼs me in the middle with the red.
P a g e 11
Mud Crabs
Page 12
By Mi chael Hel l er Water LIFE Editor I stepped carefully from rock to rock, with brittle oyster shells crunching beneath my feet like dry peanuts on a bar room floor. Richard Dwyer was rutting around the rocks on the far side of a mud flat near the mouth of the Peace River. It was a particularly low tide, just after sunrise. “You want to watch where you walk,” he warned as I approached. Mr. Dwyer was bust rutting around the elevated edge snd he appeared to know exactly what he was looking for. He had been alone until I trudged out to say good morning and see what he was doing. “This is a beautiful estuary, people find out about these and before you know it they will come down here and wipe them out. I only take as many as I need and never all from the same place.” Mr Dwyer held up one of his recent finds. “Sheepshead bait,” he said. “These little mud crabs are the best sheepshead bait,” he told me while he continued to turn over one black muddy rock after another. I’ll bet redfish like them too, I said and he looked over at me and smiled. I promised not to divulge his spot although he said this wasn’t the only place to find mud crabs.
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
March
2 0 11
for bait
“There Two mud crabs, can you see them? are three kinds of crabs around this estuary, he explained. Fiddler Crabs, mud crabs and the square oyster crabs. These are the mud crabs,” he said holding out a wet-gloved hand. I looked for the flat rear legs that helped the crab to swim. “You just can’t have people walking around here. The oysters are like razor blades, people will come down here with kids and they will wind up falling and ... look at my glove,’ he said. The fingertips were worn and cut through. He turned over another oyster and barnacle encrusted
rock. The harbor bottom, underneath it was surprisingly clean and on closer examination I could see it was made up of a variety of broken and semi-whole shells. “There, that one is too big. I don’t want to take the big ones, they are the breeders. Sometimes you will turn a big one over and you will see the yellow egg sac,” he told me in a friendly, teaching tone.
March
2 0 11
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
Richard Dwyer searches for mud crabs
Page 13
The rocks are very sharp and the environmental componants are fragile. “You have to put the rocks back where they were.”
“This is all part of the estuary, if we wipe them out then it upsets the whole chain. These crabs (mud crabs) move around a lot. Up there,” he points, “the mud washed out and the crabs moved. I don’t want people to come in here and walk all over everything and destroy it. This is a balance that is very delicate,” he told me “Here, look.” He had turned over yet another rock and he pointed to the spot it had lay in. “That one is too big,” he said, brushing a little wet glistening sand off a crab so I could see it better. “That’s the one I want,” he said, now pointing to another spot. I didn’t see anything at first, and then the little quarter sized crab came into focus. He flicked it up into his glove and then dropped it into his little blue bait bucket all in one motion. “You can’t take the big ones, here, this one is just the right size, Mr. Dwyer said as he held out another one. I could see where a redfish would pick this little guy right up.
Above: This one is too big Left: This one is the perfect size
REDFISH YACHT BROKERS
“You have to make sure to put the rocks back when you turn them over, this is a delicate balance and we don’t want to upset it,” he repeated. We moved a little further through the crunching shells and then stopped again. I asked him what he did before he retired. ‘What was your job?’ I had said and he told me he worked with DRN (Department of Natural Resources) and was a dredging consultant for state coastal projects up north. It made sense as to why he was so informed and so careful with the resource. He clearly knew how important it all is.
HA S : 7 Brokers wi th over 100 combi ned years of boat s al es experi ence! S O L D : Over TWO MILLION dol l ars worth of boats l as t 3 months ! Call TODAY for a F REE No Obligation Appraisal of Your Boat LET US S ELL YOUR BOAT, WE HAVE BUYERS WAITING Punta Gorda Marina, 25096 Marion Ave, Punta Gorda, Fl, 33950
$14,900
2004 Pro-Line 20' CC, 150 Merc salt water, 316 hrs. No bottom paint, trailer
941-639-9400 • www.redfishyacht.com
$19,900
$69,900
$59,500
1999 Boston Whaler 20' Outrage. 200hp Merc 2001 Cobra 3100 Predator- H.P Cat, twin 225 Egg Harbor 33' Conv. New interior and exterior 2002, Cat diesels, flybridge MUST SEE! saltwater EFI. Factory T-top, dual batteries Yamaha 4-st, w/150hrs. Dual jack plates.
REDUCED!
$22,900
2007 Hunter Schoal Draft, 25' like new Coastal Cruiser. Hardly used, lift kept. Nissan outboard.
$39,900
1986 40' Kha Shing Sundeck trawler, Nice amenities. Twin Diesels
Page 14
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
March
Punta Gorda Isl es
Punta Gorda
Call the Captain! SAILBOAT QUICK ACCESS 3/2/2
POOL HOME! Excellent condition, 5 minutes to open water with dock. Nicely updated $179,000
Port Charl otte
Punta Gorda Isl es
Call the Captain! DEEP WATER IMMEDIATE HARBOR ACCESS! Intersecting canal views and 7 lots from harbor. Expansive deck and beautiful tropical lanai overlooks pool, multiple docks, lifts and open water. $299,900
Call the Captain! TIP LOT HOME! Approx. 179 ft of waterfront with this custom built 2/2/2 home. An added feature is a gazebo styled bonus room perfect for studio or den. $249,500
Call the Captain! LARGE BASIN VIEW! Super
Call the Captain! KEY WEST STYLE STILT
Punta Gorda Isl es
quick sailboat access to Charlotte Harbor in this 2/2/2 home at the end of a cul-de-sac on a quiet street. The true sailors getaway! $269,000
Punta Gorda Isl es
Call the Captain! UPDATED TIP LOT HOME!
Incredible 199 ft. of sea wall! Tile roof, pool and open floor plan. Tons of upgrades include counters, lighting, floors, roof. Large yard. $339,000
Pi rate Harbor
Call the Captain! DEEP WATER CANAL!
Only 5 minutes to Charlotte Harbor. Lot has 100 ft. of seawall, dock & boat davits. Short ride to Boca Grande Beaches. $99,900
Pi rate Harbor
HOME! Water views from the wrap around sliders in this 3/3/2. Two bdrm are upstairs, the other downstairs with full bath. $219,900
Burnt S tore Mari na
Call the Captain! LAKE FRONT HOME! Stunningly beautiful, ‘2007’, 4/4/3 with over 3,400 sq. ft. of living space. Prestigious Burnt Store Marina, rich wood cabinetry, island kitchen, stainless steel appliances. $549,999
Pi rate Harbor
Call the Captain! WIDE OPEN WATER VIEW
OF PIRATE HARBOR BAY! Fully sea walled with composite dock decking with lift pilings. Lot is cleared and ready to build. $175,000
2 0 11
Punta Gorda Isl es
Call the Captain! BEAUTIFUL 3/2/2 POOL HOME! Quick access, seawall, close to downtown Punta Gorda, 2 bay garage, in great condition with nearly 1900 sf under air $249,900
Call the Captain! DEEP WATER, SAILBOAT QUICK ACCESS! View of intersecting canals in this 3/3/2, pool home. Brick paver driveway, large concrete dock. $349,000
Port Charl otte
Punta Gorda Isl es
Call the Captain! IMMACULATE GOLF COURSE HOME! This 3/2.5/2 pool home with over 2,000sfAir is located on the fifth hole of the Twin Isles Golf Club. Immaculate $249,900
Punta Gorda
Call the Captain! NO BRIDGES TO CHAR-
Call the Captain! HISTORIC DISTRICT!
Pi rate Harbor
Pi rate Harbor
LOTTE HARBOR! Walking distance to the Beach Complex from this 4/2/2, 3000sfAir home. Granite counters, gorgeous cabinets and newly remodeled. $419,000
Call the Captain! ENORMOUS TIP LOT! Overlooks large basin, complete with fill and seawall. Only 5 minutes to open water, 20 minutes to the Gulf, no bridges. $249,900
Port Charl otte
Call the Captain! QUICK SAILBOAT ACCESS
TO CHARLOTTE HARBOR! Located near Port Charlotte Beach Complex. 2/2/1, Florida room, breakfast nook, tons of updates! Fantastic Price ! $219,000
Fantastic location on this 3/2 home walking distance to Charlotte Harbor, parks and Fisherman’s Village for dining and shopping fun. $79,000
Call the Captain! NEW EXQUISITE KEY WEST STYLE HOME- 20 MINUTES TO GULF! Custom home with Million Dollar appointments - 3/3 plus den, 4 car garage! Built in '05', hardly lived in with boat house, 3 porches, RV Pad $549,900
Punta Gorda
Call the Captain! EXECUTIVE HOME- MARINA & GOLF COMPLEX! Panoramic lakes views, enormous loft, designer granite throughout in this 4/4/3, 3400sfAir, Country Club Living! Brand New. $549,999
March
2 0 11
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
Page 15
From the Olʼ Fishʼn Hole
With Capt. Jim O'Brien
Water LIFE Englewood Hey y-all how do ya like this warm weather? Man, I mean to tell ya, I like this 70 to 80 degree weather and a lot of the days 5 to 10 knot winds. Fish'n has been excellent. Some of the guys I know that do back bay and near shore charters, tell me the fish'n has been progressively getting better with the water temperature getting warmer. Redfish are bitting pretty good, but they are mostly small - uns. Most of the fish'n has been on the West Wall. Silver spoons and live shrimp under a popping cork are working best. Guys are getting some decent size sheepshead off the pier at Tom Adams bridge. The best bait for these guys are fiddler crabs or shrimp. On the offshore wrecks and ledges, believe me these places have a lot of BIG mangrove snapper. They’re still running 3 to 6 pounds and average 20- to 26inches. These guys are a ball on light tackle. If they stop bitting, switch down to 10 lb. fluorocarbon leader and I use 1/4 oz. flutter-jigs in fluorescent pink or lime green. Tip the jig with a small piece of shrimp or a small piece of sardine. If you have any glass minnows with you that’s also an excellent bait. For getting these guys turned on, I take a lot of block chum with me. If your not getting some good hits within 15 to 20 minutes, send the chum block to the bottom and give it a good shaken every 5 to 7 minutes for 10 to 15 minutes, then bring the chum block up 20- to 25-feet and shake it there for 10 minutes, and keep bringing the block up till you get to the surface. This trick should bring a bunch of them towards the surface and
with a good pair of polarized sun glasses you should be able to pick the big-uns out. Fish'n out deep, the gag grouper and red grouper are chewing real good. REMEMBER CATCH & RELEASE, not FILLET & RELEASE. We only have to wait till the end of this month. You will see in the pictures for this month an American red snapper (below) and an AJ we got on one of our outings with a bunch of buddies. American red snapper are chewing like there’s no tomorrow and we had to put them all back since
Thatʼs my buddy Scott, holding the American red snapper and the AJ
ice that’s on the fish, this makes a very cold slurry that goes all around your fish inside an outside. When you get back to dock' cut all the red meat out of the fish (it runs down the middle of the fish) cut the top shank of meat and the lower shank of meat, cut these pieces into 1 to 2 in. steaks; that’s a lot of fine eating, my friend. We are going to be running out on some more rocks and ledges this weekend, about 60 miles out, on some of my numbers. I haven't fished these places in about American red snapper doesn’t open till midnight May 3. We caught these fish in 150-to 170-feet of water. I can't wait till June 1. You know where ol' Capt. will be. I can taste them already! If you want to charter one of these 10- to 12-hour trips give me a call. All I can tell ya is my buddy Scott that’s holding the snapper and the AJ; his biggest AJ has been 100 lbs. and biggest American red has been 20 lbs. AJ's are real good eating, but you have to bleed them right away. I throat an belly cut them and I put some saltwater in the
a year. These spots used to hold some HUY- MUN- GUS black and gag grouper. Hopefully I will have some great pictures for next month. Well it’s time to get out of here Remember: Get out and snort some of that good clean salt air cuz - it’s good fer ya! If y ou hav e any questions or if y ou hav e a good ol' fishin’ story or a recipe for cook ing fish that I can share with our readers giv e me a call. To book an offshore charter with us aboard the Predator II call (941) 473-2150
Fresh Florida Jumbo Shrimp Arriving now! $7.50 and up Grouper, Snapper, Mahi Our boats – Direct! 941-623-2100 Gulf Brand Seafood
Real Estate News
Page 16
PROVIDED to Water LIFE BY: Dav e Ho fer RE/MAX Harbor Realty (941) 575-3777 dhofer@remax.net www.harborparadise.com
Recent area news i tems:
1. Australia Yachts, a fledgling manufacturer of luxury yachts, is pushing to start a new facility near the airport with taxpayer assistance. The County's Industrial Development Authority had offered $500,000 as an incentive to create new jobs for Charlotte County residents. Australia Yachts threatened to sue the IDA after County Commissioners balked at this give away.
2. Heritage Lake Park, a boom era multi-family development on Rampart Blvd in Deep Creek, defaulted on their loans from Premier American Bank and will deed 10 parcels scheduled for 470 additional units to the bank. Heritage Lake had already completed and sold 370 units in the development.
3. The Preserve, the 48 unit sister project of Fountain Court in Punta Gorda Isles, was foreclosed in November and resold this month to a Massachussetts developer. 24 of the units are at drywall stage, pool and clubhouse and land for 24 future units were included in the $1.25 million purchase price.
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
4. KB Home has applied to increase the density in its Creekside development to 84 units on its remaining 42 acres. The property had formerly been approved for 21 units.
5. The Laishley Group agreed to waive their requirement to have certain improvements funded by the County in their land swap for a portion of Murdock Village. The simplified agreement appears to be well on its way to acceptance by both parties.
6. Punta Gorda turned down a proposal for a lease on 9,500 square feet in the Herald Court Parking Garage complex. Citing the fact that the new enterprise was not "peoplecentric", Council and the CRA opted to pass on the deal. Understandably, the leasing agent resigned.
7. State Farm Insurance suffered net losses of $322 mil in Florida as a result of losses of more than $2 bil from sinkholes. True to form, State Farm not only cancelled coverage for future sink hole damages, but has requested a 28% rate increase to reimburse them for past losses.
In other news: Our featured entertainment spot, The Loft, failed last month but will reopen in March under new management promising the same format for local musicians. Our good friends at the Sabal Palm RV Park will be hosting their third annual BlueGrass Festival on March 3-6.
Capt Bart Marx told us a story about these people. They fished for a while and caught some nice fish. Capt Bart got some pictures, and then they wanted to take a break, so they all went down to Cabbage Key for lunch. These people went home thoroughly satisfied with their day and when ever they show this photo they will be ambassadors of goodwill for Charlotte County. Boating and fishing is what brings people to Charlotte County.
March
2 0 11
Real Reel Fixinʼ Tips
March
2 0 11
From Fishin’ Frank
When your bail goes backwards, it is your anti reverse. On new reels the antireverse consists of a one way roller bearing which lays against the main shaft of the reel. This roller bearing only turns in one direction but it has to make contact with the shaft. Gunk or caked grease will cause this not to work properly. Very seldom do these bearings actually fail. If you are like me, it is not the best idea to take any thing apart, somehow there are always a few un-necessary parts left over when I am done. Unfortunately you need each and all of the parts in your reel. Here is a guide for anti reverse problems. First you have to remove the line spool. Under that you should see a couple of washers setting on a gear, these washers and gear should slide up and off the main shaft. Be VERY careful, they must be put back in the correct order. After you have them off, on the rotor you will see a screw, which holds a locking ring on a brass nut. Remove the screw, and the nut. Carefully now lift the rotor bail assembly off. Now you should see the anti-reverse roller bearing, whether you know it or not. Using a can of INOX or WD-40 which is a pretty good cleaner, spray the gears, bearings and shaft, do not get stingy. I would go outside. You need to get the gunk out of the bearing. It is very rare for it to go bad, 99% of the time it just gets sticky and will not lay against the main shaft properly. Spray and turn the handle of the reel, repeat this until the anti-reverse works normally. Now the hard part. If you removed each piece in order and laid them out on newspaper in the order you removed them, put them back in. If you just tossed them on the table, without
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
them in order in which you removed them, let me know I will get you the address of a reel repair place. To get to the anti-reverse bearing on a Quantum you have to disassemble the entire reel. Take the spool off and under the spool you will see a black piece of plastic (at least it is on the Boca) held on with two small Phillips screws. Remove the Phillips screws and under that piece of plastic is a brass nut. Remove the brass nut. Then you have to take the side plate off the body housing and remove the gears. Under the main gear you will see an L-shaped piece of metal and the main shaft is held captive with a screw on that L-shaped piece of metal. This will let you take the main shaft out and remove the rotating assembly. Under the rotating assembly you will find a housing held on by three tiny Phillips head screws. On the Boca it’s a white piece. The antireverse bearing is under that housing. What I like to do is completely disassemble that bearing and clean it thoroughly. There will also be a metal collar in there. The outside of that collar serves as the inner race for the anti-reverse bearing and the inner surface supports the main shaft. Completely clean the collar and bearing. Pack the bearing full of grease and put the top piece back on. Now, on the Quantum's I like to seal that top piece with grease, that will prevent any water intrusion to that collar. If you’ve ever used a Quantum Boca, Cabo or Catalyst you know how they get that feeling like they’re full of sand? That’s caused by corrosion on that collar. If you dunk your reel or hose it down with high pressure water you WILL get water on that collar and it WILL get that sandy feel. So pack that bearing well with grease.
Page 17
BOAT SALE! REDUCED
1995 Wel l craft
1998 Action Craft 1810
1999 Pro-Line 220- 200hp
$9,900
shape. $12,990
2006 115HP Merc. Mercury EFI, GPS, Porta Potti, trolling motor, Deep V, Trlr. poling platform. Nice seating, Great Fishing really good Boat! Only
175 2000 aluminum trailer, 115HP Yamaha Only $4,900
1997 Aqua S port 200
2001 Pathfi nder 2 2 0 0 V,
Trim tabs, Bob’s jackplate, hyd. steering, dual stations, Yamaha 200 VMax, w/t-top, aluminum trlr.
$24,900
Osprey, Bimini Top, 150HP Johnson, TrailerOnly $5,900
1 9 9 9 Reg al Des ti ny , 20' Deck Boat, 5.7Liter Volvo w/only 46hrs on new motor, seats 12, Bimini, GPS,
Like New!
$11,990
REDUCED
941-627-5777
23269 Bayshore Rd
2000 Pathfi nder 1 8 0 6 - 100hp
Yamaha 4-st, 4 blade SS prop, Bob’s jackplate, GPS, 2 wells, bimini, extra clean! $12,900
REDUCED
Spl endo r 2 6 0
Pl ati num
Deck Boat. 200hp Yamaha, bimini top, full cover, custom trlr, excellent shape, shows like new! Only
$13,990
Charlotte Harbor
BAYSHOREMARINEFL.COM
Page 18
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
March
2 0 11
Deer Prairie Creek AN UNEXPECTED CHALLENGE
By Davi d Al l en Water LIFE Kayaking A chilly February morning…bundledup paddlers, some in parkas, were quickly sliding their kayaks off the tops of their cars and down to the waters edge just above the weir. Let’s go! Get the kayaks into the water so we can start paddling and warm up. Deer Prairie Creek, just west of North Port (but with a Venice address), has always been a challenging paddle. This is real wilderness paddling, and as you progress upstream overhanging branches and submerged tree stumps make progress difficult, and it often takes some skill just to keep the kayak upright. Although paddling the Creek is still a challenge, the infrastructure has been significantly improved in the last five or six
years. Between 2002 and 2005 Sarasota County purchased some 6,400 acres along the eastern bank of the Myakka and established the Preserve in the southeast corner of Sarasota County. Since 2005 the county has improved the long gravel road that takes you from Highway 41 to the parking area next to the Creek, enlarged the parking area, and installed restroom facilities. And, with over 70 miles of hiking trails through pine flat woods, it’s easy for all to enjoy the wilderness, and perhaps, to spot one of the scrub jays, wading birds, alligators and river otters that inhabits the Preserve. This Sunday morning we were returning to Deer Prairie Creek after a hiatus of several years and we were not disappointed by what we found. Although the tem-
Kayak Festival March 19 Port Charlotte Beach. Boat Ramp will be CLOSED
A wood stork took off in front of the Shell Creek dam, last month
peratures were on the chilly side, the sun was shining brightly, and we were all ready for a good paddle. The launch site is just upstream of a weir that keeps the brackish tidal water from the Myakka River from entering Deer Prairie. Several fishermen were trying their luck there as we launched and paddled north. Above the launch site the Creek widens out for about half a mile, then the fun begins. Several club members had paddled the Creek a few days before the club outing to remove the worst of the branches blocking the stream, but there was nothing they could do about the many large, submerged tree trunks or large trees that had fallen across the Creek. It was very tough to paddle over, under and through the tangle. Two of our paddlers capsized when going over large, sunken branches. The water was not too deep in most areas, particularly the north-
ern stretch, so getting upright and bailing out the kayak was not dangerous, but it’s darned uncomfortable to be soaking wet on a cool day. The Creek, from the weir to the north end is only about 1.5 miles, but it takes several hours to negotiate the tortuous path up and back. It is also possible to launch just downstream of the weir and paddle a little over 1 mile to the Myakka River. Deer Prairie enters the Myakka just above the Highway 41 Bridge. By the time we finished the paddle the day had warmed up; we shed our jackets, and enjoyed the bright sun and warm breezes. Deer Prairie was certainly a challenging paddles, but fun, too.
The Port Charlotte Kay ak ers meet each Wednesday ev ening at 5:30 PM at Port Charlotte Beach Park . All are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Dav e Allen at 941-235-2588 or dlla@comcast.net.
March
2 0 11
Conquistador Cup
Noti ce of Race March 5 and 6 are the dates for the 18th Annual Conquistador Cup Regatta on Charlotte Harbor. The Punta Gorda Sailing Club is the organizing authority in cooperation with the Royal Order of the Ponce de Leon Conquistadors. This two-day event, one of the largest regattas in the region, usually draws some 70 sailboats from throughout southwest Florida. Competitors will be broken into four classes: spinnaker, non-spinnaker, cruising and multi-hull. Multiple races will be run on Saturday. Two courses are used. One will be west of Ponce de Leon Park and the other in the upper Harbor northwest of Fisherman’s Village. On Sunday, all boats will compete on the same long distance course using a reverse start system. Each boat will start at a specified time based on their individual performance handicap. This race is designed so, theoretically, all boats will finish at the same time. This rarely hap-
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
Page 19
March 19: Small Boat Regatta March 26-27: Big Boat Regatta
pens, but it does make for an exciting finish in front of Fisherman’s Village. The registration and skipper’s meeting is Friday evening, March 4, at the Punta Gorda Boat Club at 802 West Retta Esplanade. On Saturday night, an after racing get together with a buffet dinner will be next door at the YMCA Bayfront Center. The Sunday afternoon’s Conquistador Cup awards ceremonies will again be at the Punta Gorda Boat Club. The Conquistadors and Punta Gorda Sail Club encourage every sailor in the area to consider taking part in the Conquistador Cup Regatta. For additional information www.pgscweb.com or call 941-505-4583.
Last year the Conquistador Cup sailors had some good wind to work with.
Charlotte Countyuntys Complete Swimming Pool Supplys Pool Repair and Maintenance Store
Specializing in Heaters and Pool Pumps
575-2525
Located in the Punta Gorda Crossing Shopping Center Next to Publix
Mon-Fri 9AM-5:30PM Sat 9AM-3PM
“Green Pool” Clean Up & Maintenance
Page 20
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
Water LIFE Distributor 始s Club
March
You can always get a copy of Water LIFE at these businesses
Cooks
Sportland
4419 So. Tamiami Trail S. Venice 493-0025
You can always get a copy of Water LIFE at these businesses
Water LIFE Distributor 始s Club
2 0 11
March
2 0 11
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
Page 21
SCUTTLEBUTT
F o r Sa l e B y O w n e r
Sometimes Unsubstanciated, But Often True
At a recent county meeti ng at the Beach Complex it was revealed that the county is presently clearing some of a 107 acre parcel owned by the county along the Myakka River. The site is supposedly upstream from the bridge on the same side as the open part of the fishing pier. There was some talk of deepening the access there so boats could come and go and it was suggested that the Kayak Festival could be moving there in the future.
Whi l e on water patrol i n Pi ne Isl and S ound, officers received a complaint regarding four individuals who were harvesting bay scallops near Panther Key. When the officers arrived in the area, they observed two individuals in the water and two in a nearby vessel. While the officers made contact with the two individuals in the vessel, the other two individuals swam to their location. The officers located a dive bag about 20 feet from the vessel, in the area where the two individuals in the water had been which contained 21 bay scallops. The individuals cited for the illegal harvest of bay scallops. Investi gati ons i nto
Englewood:
Park Pointe on "Lemon Bay"
Right next to "Stump Pass Marina"
1,400 foot access on Lemon Bay. Private Boat Basin, Swimming Pool, Clubhouse You can actually throw a stone into the Bay from this one bedroom, 58' mobile home, which has new carpet and an extra large carport.
GOTTA LOVE THOSE DIESELS After laying submerged in mud for 62 years in a lake in Estonia this WWII German tank was brought out, cleaned up....and after a little wrenching, the diesel engine started right up!
Mi sl abel i ng S eafood gained a big victory last week when a complex NOAA Office of Law Enforcement investigation into conspiracy, misbranding and smuggling resulted in two guilty pleas in federal court. The defendants, who were co-owners of Consolidated Seafood Enterprises Inc., in Phoenix and Reel Fish and Seafood Inc., in Pensacola, Fla., pleaded guilty to one conspiracy count, nine violations of the Lacey Act, two counts of receiving smuggled goods and one misbranding count. Both businesses are now closed.
A vessel was observed bei ng operated on pl ane i n Lemon Bay manatee sl ow speed zone. The vessel was stopped and while the operator was being cited for the viola-
Possible owner financing. Drastically reduced to only $119,000. Please call (860) 388-7614
tion, it was determined he had two outstanding warrants for his arrest. He was arrested on the warrants and for not having a prescription bottle labeled properly.
Offi cer responded to a si ngl e vessel acci dent on Lake Cypress where a bass boat ran aground in shallow water. When the officers arrived on scene, they found the operator was extremely impaired, but was claiming his girlfriend was operating the boat at the time of the accident. When his girlfriend was contacted, the officers found she was at her house in Orlando and had not been on the boat and was not even in a relationship with the operator. The man was arrested for boating under the influence and charged with providing false statements to an officer.
In-house Upholstery Shop
Fabrication • Spot Repairs • Major Structural 1 7 2 6 S t e a dl e y A v e . P u n t a G o rda
Pro fessio na l Qu ali ty Awl Grip Fin ishes Gel Coa t • Free E stimates Mobile Service
S hop
941-
Custom work is our Specialty
575-8914
Ho me
235-2243
Custom Fiberglass
K AYA K S !
Fishing Report
Page 22
“We have a Spanish invasion along our shores, their forces have penetrated the interior all the way to Alligator Creek, indeed as far as the reefs out side. Many valiant fisherman have been diligently trying to stall this invasion, by the use of Got-Cha lures, and have been successful in capturing many of the invading Spanish, many over 25 inches.” – Fi shi n’ Frank
Charlotte Harbor:
Robert at Fishin' Franks Port Charlotte: 625-3888
Down south there have been some tarpon in Pine Island Sound, mostly way south towards the end of Sanibel, those are resident fish that are starting to show big time. The Everglades is loaded with migrating tarpon right now and my prediction is they will be in the pass by the end of this month. There have been a few tarpon spotted in the passes already, but it will be a few weeks before they settle down and are fishable... but they are around. The little resident tarpon around here are really getting active in the mouths of
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
the canals and in places like Spring Lake. On a light rod they will be real fun this month. In the River there haven’t been any tarpon reports yet but they will soon be there too. The big tarpon could show up overnight, literally, this year so be prepared if you are out fishing. Same way with the other species, they could show up all at once too. This is because the water is warming up so quickly. S heeps head will leave early because of the same warm water and tarpon, shark and cobi a will appear. The new moon this month should really kick it off. The last cold front petered out before it got here, so I think we could be 4 weeks ahead on the fishing calendar right now. I’d be looking for loose schools of redfi sh on the flats in the Pine Island sound and over by Whidden Creek. I’d be looking in the 3-to 4-feet of water range, and not concentrate so heavy along the bushes right now. Shrimp are still going to be the bait of choice because the whi te bai t are probably 3- to 4-weeks away. It’s been a really good shri mp year in Pine Island and
Tampa bay so far. Judging by what we are seeing cleaning them, redfish seem to be eating a lot of pipe fish this year. Last year their stomachs had a lot of small snails, this year it seems to be pipefish, so maybe a little 4-to 5-inch jerk bait would work to replicate what the reds are eating right now. S nook are starting to turn on. There are a lot of snook moving out of the rivers right now, but they are closed until September. Cobi a could show up inshore soon. Judging by what we hear on the near shore reefs they could be showing up very soon. Look for them cruising the bars on either side of the harbor. Continued on following page
Professional Local FISHING GUIDES Coming Soon! ....
Capt. William Barton
Charters
Offshore Fishing Trips: 1/2 day • 8hr • 10 hr • 12 hr We help put your charters together
Shark, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper, Kingfish, and MORE!
Nighttime Trips Available
Capt. Jim OʼBrien USCG 50 ton license since 1985
941-473-2150
March
2 0 11
We are seeing a variety of different sized redfish. Thatʼs Robert from Fishinʼ Franks to the left with the smaller example and Stephen Mason and a friend with two bigger redfish caught in the Pineland, Pine Island area on an incoming tide with DOA Clear Shrimp.
March
2 0 11
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
March March
The to expect expect in in Fish to The BIG-4 BIG-4 Fish S harks are showing up, we’ve had a few bl ack ti p reports and the bonnet heads are showing up real good too, but no heavy numbers of the bigger sharks... yet. REDFISH Rat reds leaving SMALL SHARKS More and SPANISH MACKEREL From SNAPPER Have been on Pompano are starting to bigger reds arriving more on the grass flats Alligator Reef to Boca fire at the near shore reefs show up down south, finally! Grande We’re getting mixed reports on those fish in the south S no o k re m ai n s c l o s e d Pine Island Sound up towards Captiva. If they keep t o harv e s t unt i l S e pt 2 0 1 1 going they could get a lot better here in the next few weeks. March 10-13: S WFMIA Fort Myers S napper fishing out in the Gulf has been Boat S how - Lee Ci vi c Center. incredible and they should stay good for the next 954-570-7785 month or so. The key thing is that the water is really clear so you have to use a lighter and longer leader. S heepshead will be leaving the harbor and March 19: Charl otte County Kayak get heavy on the offshore reefs now. This is the and Wi l dl i fe Festi val Port Charlotte month for mangs, porgys and snapper all at the Beach Park. Cardboard Boat Races, the close-in wrecks. We’ve had quite a bit of same time. Ki ds Fi shi ng, semi nars, food venS pani sh mackerel are on the Alligator Creek grouper too, but guys aren’t trying to catch dors. Entry is FREE reef right now and they are scattered down to the them. There are a lot of reef fish; cobi a swimsouth end of the Harbor towards Boca Grande. They ming around like crazy, a lot of bai t fi sh bustBoat Ramp Will Be Closed for the Day will get heavier and heavier in numbers this month ing everywhere, sheepshead on Trembly and as the gl ass mi nnows move in. Ki ngfi sh Novak Reefs. There has been pretty good AJ March 19: Tent S al e, Fishin’ Franks should show up in the passes and along the beach- action offshore as well. es with an oddball few coming inside this month. Inshore, there are still a lot of undersized red April 9 & 16, 2011. About Boati ng I’ve had mixed reports of bl uefi sh in with the fi sh and also some really nice trout from lower S afel y USCG Aux. 2 day program Lemon Spanish. March will be the last hurrah for trout. Lemon Bay down to Pine Island Sound. Not that It will get so warm so quick the trout are going to Bay Park,Englewood, 8:30 AM 12:30 PM. many guys getting them with a cast net yet, but disappear. Registration fee is $25 941-697-9435 white bait is showing up already. We’ve even had www.coastguardenglewood.com a couple of tarpon jumped at El JoBean. There are pompano around, up on Manasota Program will qualify the participant for a Jim at Fishermens Edge, Beach and at Boca Grande along with whi ti ng, Florida Boater Safety Identification Card. l adyfi sh and S pani sh all in the surf. The Silly Englewood: 697-7595 Willy, Goffy Jig, Crazy Jig or whatever you call For a FREE listing send your calendar I just had some guys stop in the store on their them are working on those surf fish. events to: way in from offshore and they said they were In freshwater a lot of bass at Lake O; a lot of catching all kinds of stuff: mangrove, waterlife@comcast.net S pani sh, some fl ounder up to 22 inches, all on fish on the beds there and a good number of crappi e being caught at Lake Istokpoga. Continued from facing page
Page 23
Water Temps on the Rise
EVENTS
Lemon Bay:
Big O
Fi s h i n g ri g h t n o w:
Very Good
Okeechobee ‘It’s a zoo’, Capt. Chuck reported when we asked about fishing at the Big O. ‘It’s crazier than Charlotte Harbor,’ he added. But Crazy is sometimes good.“My friend Mickey Kierferle and I have been bass fishing lately. Here are a couple of nice fish,” he wrote with the photos.
NOW OPEN
Bl a ck T i p B a it & T a c kl e Our b ai t i s g uarant eed t o cat ch fi s h o r di e t ry i ng !
Li ve S hri mp, Pi nfi sh, Li ve Crabs
at El Jobean
Ful l Li ne of Tackl e S uppl i es
(941) 627-0809
Open Every Day Mon - S at: 6am - 6pm S un: 6 am - 5 pm
March
2 0 11
www.WaterLIFEmagazine.com
Page 24