Water LIFE March 2010

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March 2010

Plenty of Good Fishing

Big Wind for Small Boats

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Charlotte Harbor Regatta

Kayak Rescue Techniques Page 13

w w w. W a t e r L i f e M a g a z i n e . c o m

7th annual Kids Cup Coming in May Page 13

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March

2010

DIRECT 941-235-5648 TOLL FREE 877-218-6552

GREAT INVESTMENT – Deep Creek Pines 2/2 condo. Everything is new, even the drywall and duct work. All floors are tiled incuding the lanai. This condo is neat and clean and shows like new. Community pool and golf community. Priced to sell View this one before it is gone! $49,900 Call Ellen McCarthy 235-5648

CORNER LOT HOME WITH POOL on Freshwater Canal. 3/2 bargain with newer items such as windows, roof, cabinets, countertops, A/C, pool cage, and more! $138,500 Call Ellen McCarthy 235-5648

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DEEP CREEK LAKE VIEW CONDO – 2/2 ground floor end unit is perfect for permanent, investor or seasonal owners. Features of this 876 sq. ft. condo include 2002 A/C, storm shutters, updated appliances, smoke detectors, 5 ceiling fans, tiled lanai and open floor plan. Enjoy Lakeshore Complexʼs heated pool and club house amenities while just minutes from shopping and restaurants. $64,900.

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NEW YORK SECTION – NOT A SHORT SALE. This 1,814 sq. ft. home has been completely renovated in the past 3 years with new roof, soffit, fascia, gutters, hurricane shutters, A /C duct work, electric and plumbing fixtures in baths, flooring, cabinets and tops, appliances, fans and light fixtures, etc. etc. Other features include two splitplan master suites and baths, inside laundry room, breakfast nook and bar and large back yard with room for a pool.. $92,500 Call Ellen McCarthy 235-5648

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DEEP CREEK BEAUTY – 3/2/2 with heated pool, tile roof, nice landscaping with curbing and stones to match pavers at front entry and lanai/pool area. After you have seen the rest, see the best. This home features great room and large country kitchen open to dining room, with lots of wood cabinets.

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POOL HOME ON 3 LOTS -- 3/2/2 with 2,046 sq. ft. shows pride of ownership.

This beautiful home includes hurricane shutters, sprinkler system, new water system, 2008 metal roof, large pool equipment storage room, sliders to lanai, kitchen with bar and pantry, separate laundry room, 7 ceiling fans, and 3 bay windows. Relaxing Master Bedroom has sitting area , 2 walk-in closets, dual sinks and jetted garden tub. Privacy abounds! $209,900. Call Ellen McCarthy 235-5648

FERO-BUILT POOL HOME –This gorgeous 2,986 sq. ft. home on 2 lots has all the whistles and bells. You have to see to believe all the quality in upgrades. 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, and 3-car garage and game room.

List of upgrades too long. Hurricane shutters, central vac. Tri-level wood cabinetry, granite, gourmet kitchen, built-in entertainment and wet bar area. Beautiful tile, fans, crown molding, recess lighting, fireplace, outdoor kitchen. French doors, and a shower in Master to die for. Check this one out. $495,000 Call Ellen McCarthy 235-5648

MYAKKA RIVER VIEW – Waterfront living at itʼs best. If you are thinking of a home on the River, this one is for you. 2,770 sq. ft. built 2006 home with all the upgrades youʼll love. 3 bedrooms, 3 ½ baths. 3-car garage.

Walkway to dock and boat lift. Master downstairs with living, dining, family room, kitchen and nook. 2 bedrooms, sitting room and bath upstairs. Breath-taking décor in all rooms, with ceiling fans, trays, molding, lighting, wood cabinets, corian thru out.

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Ellen McCarthy Broker Associate www.portcharlotte-pgi.c ellenmc@portcharlotte-pgi.com www.portcharlotte-pgi.c

ellenmc@portcharlotte-pgi.com

19700 Cochran Blvd • Port Charlotte, FL 33948

March

2010

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March

2010

www.fishinfranks.com L e t t e r s t o : Wa t e r L I F E @ c o m c a s t . n e t

Subject: How the hell do you know they are still eating manatees in Cuba?

Hi, I found in your website a statement regarding Cubans eating manatees. I am Cuban, I grew up there and never heard From the WaterLIFEMagazine.com website or found any place that sold manatee meat in any possible way.

Manatee, carey (hawksbill) turtle, any turtle eggs, aura tiñosa (turkey vulture) and many other species are banned from killing or eating. As you can imagine laws in a communist nation are sort of harsh, therefore people tend to respect them. There is also a program throughout the school system that educates the kids about the importance to protect the wild life, furthermore the lack of fishing and hunting gear makes almost impossible for Cubans to dedicate time into killing wild animals.

Since is not easy for Americans to go and poke into Cuban affairs, I really would like to know where did you get that information. Based on my 29 year experience living there, I think it is wrong.

Regards, Orl ando E. Agui l ar Senior Consultant Ciber Inc. Tampa Global Solution Center Now, suddenly the link is no longer good

Edi t or’s R esponse: Thanks Orlando, but wait a minute! I never said they sell manatee meat commercially or offer it in a restaurant anywhere. But there are people throughout the Caribbean that still eat manatee meat. Evidently it tastes good and hunger often wins out over environmental correctness. My information came from two places: The United Nation’s Caribbean Environmental Program and the Wildlife Preservation Trust which attributed the manatees ‘delicious flesh” as being one of the top reasons that manatees are threatened animals in the Caribbean. ‘Delicious Flesh,’ that sounds like a menu item to me. – MH

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Contributing Editors:

Photography ASA1000.com Senior Editor: Capt. Ron Blago Charlotte Harbor Tarpon: Capt. Mark Bennett Port Charlotte: Capt. Andy Medina Gasparilla: Capt. Chuck Eichner Offshore: Capt. Steve Skevington Commercial Fishing: Kelly Beall Sea Grant: Betty Staugler Real Estate: Dave Hofer Inshore: Fishinʼ Frank Diving: Adam Wilson Kayaks: David Allen Sailing: Bill Dixon Office Dog: Molly

on the COVER :

A Hobie Cat digs a sponson in and flips forward in the rough water and wind of the Charlotte Harbor Regatta Page 20

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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

No Secret, Nothing New

March

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2010

By Mi chael Hel l er Water LIFE editor The whale took the bait. Don’t we spend time figuring out what bait to use by looking at what the fish are eating in the wild? Match the Hatch, right? When local fish are eating local pink shrimp we use an appropriately colored bait. This is not a secret.

As far as the whale goes, figure it this way: Nature designed it to operate under water. The whale’s eyesight when out of water was limited. That big bulb on his nose is a sonar receiver meant to track things.

The trainer was feeding the whale fish, some of which were about a foot long, about the same size as her ponytail.... you know where I am going with this...when she turned her head the whale thought the swinging poney tail was just another fish. Chomp.

It’s all just another animal sideshow. History has shown accidents happen when you play with wild animals. That’s not a secret either.

We give them human names and bestow love and affection on them, but they are still wild animals.

Think of what has happened lately: The face ripping Chimpanzee, the Crock Hunter who got a stingray barb in his heart, and the tiger – not the philanderer Tiger – the one with and Sigfried and Roy. There will always be incidents. It’s like a wreck at a car race. It is going to happen. It’s nothing new.

SeaWorld and other marine parks are in business to make money. It cost almost $80 to see the show at

SeaWorld. The fact that they make their money with animals is just the nature of their business. If you don’t like it, you don’t go.

SeaWorld, reportedly, obtained that whale to make money breeding him. Then they decided to make him a show animal to make more money. He was big, so it meant big money. Simple business. No secret.

Eventually Sea world will have to answer why it disregarded the contract it had when they received the whale. The contract allegedly specified no public shows with this whale. I’m sure they will have a plausible answer.

Stuff happens when you play with animals, and big stuff happens when you play with big animals.

Animals tend to do things we cannot predict. Animals hurt people when they are threatened. Big animals often unintentionally hurt humans. These are all known truths.

I don’t think you can ever really train the wildness out of a wild animal. You can train them or break them, but reason will never trump primal instincts.

Try this experiment: Next time you are at the zoo, go to the lions cage and check the distance between the bars. Look at the lion’s head. Convince yourself beyond any doubt that the lion can not fit through the bars. Now stand by the cage with your back turned and wait. When that lion roars you will jump. It’s a natural reaction and you cannot reason or control it away. It’s your primal instinct kicking in.

Deceased trainer Dawn Brancheau and Tilikum the Killer Whale. In Eskimo language Tilikum means ʻFriendʼ, in Orlando it means Big Money.

Did all those cold nights in Orlando last month influence the animals? That was one theory I heard.

Maybe. And eventually there will be an official explanation and a gory picture will surface. Meanwhile the Dine with Shamu restaurant at the park is open again Personally I don’t think anyone should be using animals that have been designated: Protected, Threatened, or as A Species of Special Concern in a circus act. If I put a manatee in my swimming pool and charged the neighborhood kids a quarter to see it, do you think that would fly?

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Call the Captain! Waterfront Key West Style Home! Located in one of the best areas left in Florida to truly enjoy the relaxing lifestyle. 3/3/2, 3020sf, '1981', dock, boat hoist $250,000

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Call the Captain! Beautiful Key Call the Captain! Beautiful PGI Call the Captain! Super Nice West Style Home With Nautical Flair.

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Remodeled Sailboat Waterfront Home, 5 minutes to the harbor, 3/2/2, boat lift, 100' seawall, new kitchen, baths, tile, paint, oversize lot $199,900

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March

2010

Offshore With Capt Steve

Capt. Stev e Skev i ng to n Water LIFE Offs ho re Oh what to do, if you are a bottom fisherman in March, without grouper being allowed on the menu?

The answer is simple, go fishing.

We have some of the best weather of the year ahead of us for the next couple months. With mild temperatures everyday, and the winds that make for big seas starting to finely calm down.

With all that nice weather we are really looking forward to some long runs offshore. Waiting for us at the end of those coffee filled mornings are amberjack averaging 35-40-pounds, mangrove snapper pushing 10-pounds hogfish and a few early kingfish... as well as some of the biggest black-fin tuna of the year.

Let's start with what I like to call "March Mango Madness" this is the one time of year, that I will fish the artificial reef system almost every trip.

All the stuff out there from the Power Poles to the Box Cars and beyond is going to be covered in big spawning sized mangrove snapper. These fish will be very aggressive one day and turn their nose up at you the next. But that's all going to depend on how much fishing pressure they get, and the moon phase.

But for near constant success, stick to small live white bait & live shrimp. The Box Cars, the Bay ronto and Fantastico, are all good places to look for amberjack.

Just don't look too hard if you don't have some really nice live bait to offer them. You just about have to make a "live-bait stop" if you are serious about catching A.J.s. $32,500

$84,900

This can sometimes take half the morning, but is worth every minute if you get the right bait for the job. Big blue runners and large pinfish will get the job done well.

As far as the tuna, all I can tell you is chum, chum and more chum... on a deep wreck. The deeper the wreck, the better. I like wrecks in 120 feet or more.

When they show up, 3/0 circle hooks and live white bait will almost never be turned down.

Out here is where you'll run into the first kingfish of the spring, and they are the big boys. If while your chum-

ming you suffer a few breakoffs, those are most likely the kingfish. Just tackle up with a small piece of wire and hold on tight.

Grouper season is slated to open April 1st.

Whoever you decide to fish with, book in advance.

April should fill up for everyone pretty fast.

Capt. Steve operates out of Pineland Marina. He can be reached for fishing information or to book a charter trip at: 941575-3528 his website is: www.paradisefishingcharters.com

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March

2010

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Commercial Netting Permit Sought for Bahamas Staff Report A commercial Bahamian purse seine netting operator is attempting to obtain permits to begin operating in the islands of the Bahamas for yellowfin tuna, much to the frustration of conservation groups and sports fishing interests.

“If the Bahamian government authorizes commercial purse seining of tuna it could have a devastating effect,” said Ellen Peel, president of The Billfish Foundation in Ft. Lauderdale. “We are asking the government to consider a moratorium before permits are issued.

“Purse seine netters are indiscriminate,” she added. “Such a large scale net vessel (with nets reportedly a mile long) will have bycatch trapped in the nets of not only blue marlin, white marlin, sailfish and spearfish but it will also kill marine mammals such as porpoises, bottle nosed dolphin as well as sea turtles.

Attempts by commercial operators from Japan, Korea and Taiwan to seine net in the islands have been rejected over the years, but the current marine laws in the Bahamas apparently don’t exclude Bahamian operators within its own country like the one on Grand Bahama Island, from setting up an operation.

Seines are large nets that hang like a vertical fence with weights at the bottom. The purse seine style of nets employ rings at the bottom in which a rope is fed through. As the boat encircles a school of fish the rope is pulled clos-

ing the net, not allowing the targeted fish, trapped billfish or mammals to escape below. The fear is that commercial fishing will kill the Bahamian sport fishing industry.

If they want to catch yellowfin they are going to end up using fish aggregating devices (FADs) which in turn will attract lots of billfish, dolphin, wahoo and other fish that will become bycatch.

Fish aggregating devices are floating objects that are specifically designed and located to attract tunas, and therefore allow fishers to find them more easily.

No one understands exactly why tunas are attracted to FADs, but the ropes, floats and the other materials used presumably mimic the build-up of driftwood and seaweed found naturally in the sea. A FAD comprises a large anchor and chain and mooring rope, with about 50 purse-seine floats srung at the surface. The ropes and chain are joined using various shackles, rope connectors, splices and thimbles. A flagpole is attached to locate the FAD.

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March

Marching into March Screaming Reels

By Capt. Andrew Medi na Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor Funny things are happening right now.

First, the fish were slow, due to the winter cold fronts that swept through Southwest Florida. Then we had a slight (and I say slight) warming trend. That seemed to provoke the fish to chew the bottom of the boats off. This slight warming trend allowed my team to take first place in the Flats Masters redfish series tournament at the end of February. The fish were off the chart, feeding aggressively again like we like them to do. Now, a week later we find ourselves facing yet another cold front.

What will it do to the fishing? That is a very good question.

Depending on the severity of the front, it could very well shut them down, especially if the temperatures fall to previous levels. When the water temps rise just like it did, our fish will continue on the feeding patterns they have been on.

Remember one thing: The water will not have to warm up drastically to change a fish’s feeding pattern. Just a couple degrees are huge to a fish.

I myself don’t care about the water temperature in winter time, as long as it is maintained for a period of time. Drastic changes in temperature are what turn fish off and could very well be the difference of them feeding, or not.

My advice is still to fish moderately slow, allowing the fish to find the baits.

The one exception I have to a slow presentation is if you see the fish chasing baits.

Then you can switch to different tactics using Jerk Shads, or top-water plugs.

Search baits are also a great way to discover how the fish are feeding, where they are, and what kind of approach you can use to catch those fish.

The species of fish is not that important, the same approaches can be use from species to species. For example trout can

2010

Capt Andrew Medina with the 8.41 ounce redfish that helped him and team members Rick Seachrist, and Steve Griffing win the first round of the 2010 Flatsmasters Tournament at Punta Gorda

be caught on top water, the same plugs an angler would use on redfish.

Top water fishing right now has been great for both trout, and redfish. Loud, large, topwaters such as Baby Spooks, in chrome and black have been producing fish in the back country, and out on the flats.

This rule will also apply for soft plastics, such as jerk shads in the same color, and choice of bait (whether it’s a Dart by Exude or Gulp, or any other).

Snook, trout, and redfish, can all be caught in the same area, and will all eat the same bait. When it comes down to tackle selection it all comes down to personal choice, what you have confidence in. Your best bait in the tackle bag is the one lure, you have confidence in. And that should be your go to bait. If you have caught fish on a lure before, do you think that another fish can’t be fooled into eating it again?

I bet if you throw your favorite lure with enough confidence you will find that “Ol’ Faithful won’t let you down.

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

Dream Fish

March

2010

By Capt. Chuck Ei chner Water LIFE Inshore The advent of spring inspires anglers across the U.S. to dream of warming waters and great fishing. Months of cold fronts and cloudy weather are something southwest Florida anglers are not accustomed to, but this year we had a northern winter. Northern winters cause an angler to day dream about the fishing that is just around the corner and March is our transition month to some of the best fishing. Migratory baitfish will wander into Charlotte Harbor and gamefish of all types will follow. Tarpon, mackerel, snook and all sorts of fish will suddenly appear in an almost magical way.

Last year was a record breaking year for me on many fish species and I find myself reminiscing on some very special fishing trips. Cold, cloudy, wet weather has a way of reflecting on the past and looking into the future. The first tarpon of the year that enter the Harbor in March are often quite large.

On an incredible early trip last year 2 fishing buddies and I boated 9 tarpon with the smallest weighing 100 pounds!

We anchored in a spot where we had seen a few roll and waited them out for the entire day. The first wave of large threadfins were in the harbor and we lucked out and filled the well. Patiently we fished sometimes for hours without a bite but eventually the moody tarpon showed themselves. My personal record was set this day at an estimated 175 pounds, certainly a fish that couldn’t be lifted into the boat for a photo! Fishing buddy Mick Kierferle set his personal record at 190 pounds!

Normally my thoughts are completely on snook as the waters warm in the middle of March. This year my compassion for the snook fish kill has tempered my drive for pursuing them but, a few

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early trips will better help understand how our local population survived – so I am sure I will give them a shot.

Meanwhile, the chilly rain in late February forces me to review some of most memorable snook days. One of which was off my dock! An unexpected arrival of fishing buddies from Naples Florida showed up at my house one afternoon just in time for the arrival of my brother Bob and several of his fishing buddies from Maryland. A group this large was way too many to fish on one boat so we decided the best way to get everyone fishing was to cast off the dock. Six of us left in a flats boat and went to local grassbeds to catch bait.

Certainly too crowded to fish, we filled the livewells full of bait and idled back to the dock. With great live bait, coolers full of beer and lots of enthusiasm we cast our lines out. Timing was just right because several snook blasted our baits as the night went on. The funniest thing that happened was when Maryland friend Bob Thurlowe layed his rod on the dock and walked away to pour a cocktail. I warned him this was not good policy with a live pilchard attached but my warnings went ignored. Right on cue a super sized snook mashed his bait and his rod shot off the dock into the canal like a launched missile. To Bob this was no laughing matter because this was a brand new rod and reel combo. The rest of us bust a gut laughing which only got better when someone luckily snagged the rod and got it back (with no fish, of course). The best was yet to come when Austin, a young angler from Maryland hooked a monster snook. This was his first snook and it measured 43 inches and was guessed to weigh 25+ pounds! It was more than a small miracle that he landed this fish and the rest is history.

With the advent of spring you never know what type of fish may have made its way into the Harbor. In March you can count on Spanish mackerel, jack crevalle, cobia and tarpon to eventually make an appearance. The big attraction is the baitfish that migrate into the shal-

low grassbeds to eat and reproduce.

Snook and redfish are a guarantee, but one fish you might not think of is gag grouper. They too like to follow the smorgasbord of baitfish and if you know where to fish there can be some big ones. One lucky day we were drifting for tarpon in only 9 feet of water. It had been a slow day with only one fish hooked using large threadfin herring for bait. With a stiff afternoon breeze pushing us way too fast, one rod buckled and the fight was on. Fifteen minutes later a 20 pound gag grouper came on board!

Fortunately, I had marked the general location where the fish was hooked so we went back and set up several more drifts. Each pass produced a magnum size grouper with 3 in a 96 gallon cooler the lid could not even be shut.

The arrival of warm weather is the stimulus for fishing plans for the coming year. With so many fish to catch in so many different ways it will keep you up at night. The one thing I have learned is that if you want to become good at catching a certain species you

Page 9

need to focus on it and stay with it.

Tarpon have been a constant challenge for me and typically after a couple hours of trying I would switch tactics and pursue snook, trout or redfish.

Same goes with grouper. If you try dropping in a few locations and come up dry you may decide to troll for pelagics or shark fish….really not bad options.

But to be consistent with any species you need to stay with the program.

Sometimes this means having some fishless days but over time paying your dues will pay off. This year I plan to target cobia. Both of these fish I have found to be difficult to consistently locate and catch. Cobia should be showing up soon and over the winter I have dreamed of casting eel imitations to fish that are spotted just under the surface.

Hopefully, day dreams will result in a screeching drag!

Capt. Chuck Eichner operates Action Flats Back country Charters and can be contacted for charters at 941-505-0003 or v isit www.back country -charters.com

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Report: Estero Bay

By Capt. S teve Nagy Water LIFE Estero Bay The cold weather is still plaguing us die-hard anglers, but the good news is warm weather is right around the corner (we’re hoping).

The fishing has had its challenges, but there are still many opportunities for some great fishing out there. Deep holes and warm water should be your focus for locating schooled up fish. You will find the warmest waters up creeks and rivers, that will hold good numbers of fish.

Snook and jacks can be found in the warmer holes up the river. Deep-water docks will hold larger snook that can be caught using large live shrimp or casting plugs and swim baits. Out in the bay in deep channels close to grass flats you will find schools of trout this time of year. As the water warms up in the afternoon the trout will move up onto the grass flats. Use live shrimp under a popping cork or Hybrid Flurry swim bait on a ¼ ounce jig head.

Redfish can be found on the grass flats tailing at low tide or you can find them against mangrove shorelines against dark bottom. Use shrimp with a small split shot on the bottom or under a popping cork, both techniques will work well.

There is also an array of mixed bag fish that are great to catch this time of year, in these cold conditions, such as ladyfish and jacks. Use bucktail jigs or Hybrid Flurry swim bait with a ¼ ounce jig head. Remember that the fish will strike while the jig head is falling through the water column. They will usually be schooled up together in residential canals.

March

2010

Sheepshead will be found on structure such as large concrete docks or the many bridges that span the bay. Use small to medium shrimp or fiddler crabs on the bottom with as little weight as possible to keep it pinned to the bottom.

As soon as the warm temperatures return and the water begins to warm up, the fishing will really turn on again and this cold spell will be a faint memory.

Capt. Steve Nagy www.bonitaspringsfishing.com 239-398-1528

March

2010

On the Line: Stump Pass

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Looking for Suggestions

On the Li ne wi th Capt Ron Bl ago Water LIFE Senior Staff Recently the Marine Advisory Commission of Charlotte County (MAC) received a suggestion that the navigational markers in Stump Pass be removed since they no longer accurately show where the dredged channel is located.

It is thought that if an unfamiliar boater relied on these markers and ran aground, the county may have some liability for any damage that may occur.

Some people believe that removing the markers will remove that liability.

Others say that if tax payers spend millions of dollars to dredge a pass you better mark it so that people will know where it is safe to go; so they won’t run aground.

Fortunately, in the short term, the problem is solved. The latest dredging of Stump Pass should begin sometime in March; and as part of the contract, new markers will be placed showing the location of the channel. It is hoped that these markers will be accurate for at least two years.

The trouble is that as soon as they finish the job, the pass will begin to fill in and move again. It is just a matter of time before those new markers will be useless and have to be moved once again.

Currently, the MAC approves an annual request of $80,000 for “Maintenance of Aids To Navigation” through out the entire county. Since the county has to use outside contractors to move these pilings; marking Stump Pass can eat up a good chunk of that money. Now is a good time to think about how you can keep a constantly moving pass marked; so that boaters can be safe.

Stump Pass has always been a mean-

dering pass. Over the last 100 years it has been as far north as where Weston’s Resort is now; and as far south as the middle of Palm Island. Without a fixed jetty system, I’m afraid the best we can hope for is to keep it confined in its current location with periodic maintenance dredging; and if the pass moves, the markers should move right along with it.

Over the years a number of marking methods have been used. Local boaters would tie buoys to engine blocks to mark the channel. This is now illegal. Do you know what an engine block can do to the drill head of a multimillion dollar dredge trying to do the pass?

We even tried large bell type buoys like the ones used offshore, but because Stump Pass has a sand bottom, no matter how big or heavy the anchor was, it just wouldn’t hold in the sand. Eventually tides, wind and even vandalism would cause the buoys to disappear. We have pretty much run out of ideas.

This is where we need your help.

Coast Guard Auxiliary members, boating and fishing clubs, charter guides and inventors; we need your ideas. The goal is to find a simple, inexpensive method to mark Stump Pass. If you come up with something please e-mail me at captronb@juno.com.

In the mean time the best advice I can give you is to go slow if the water is calm. If the water is rough and you can not see the bottom; wait for a boat larger then yours and follow them through the pass.

If you come up with something, please e-mail me

Capt. Ron can be reached for comments or fishing information at: capronb@juno.net

Stump Pass, seen above, before the dredging that straightened it out. In this photo you can see the lighter fan shaped area made by shifting sand.

Scientists have found this is the traditional and historic way that the ʻflowʼ moves in SW Florida.

If there is not routine maintenance dredging Stump Pass will return to the shape shown above. And even with routine maintenence dredging the sand will begin to move the day the dredging stops. Navigational markers in Stump Pass will have to be moved from time to time to follow the contour.

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March

2010

March

2010

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Kids Cup Entry Forms at Local Bait and Tackle Shops

By Mi chael Hel l er Kids Cup Tournament Director By the time you read this the Kids Cup Tournament entry forms will be at local bait and tackle shops around the area. Please remember you MUST mail in your entry and release forms. You can not drop it off at my house until the last day!

Different in the rules this year is the way we will handle the Top 5. Since the Redfish Cup has gone belly up, we will award our over all Kids Cup winner’s trophy at the end of the tournament.

There will still be the Top-5, and age group awards - presented for each age from 10 through 16 and a smallest legal redfish award as well. This year as in previous years the Top-5 winners will be ineligible for their age group award, that helps keep the awards spread around.

This month are The Boat House of Cape Coral . “I will support the Kids Cup as usual” Tom Hansen wrote back. I just can’t thank sponsors enough but especially a merchant who continually support our efforts to educate our young anglers even during difficult economic times. Toms support for kids and fishing has gone back for as long as I have known him. He’s the kind of guy

that makes the Kids Cup possible.

Thanks Tom. And double thanks to Noah Parry of Noah’s Mari ne in Englewood who we mentioned last month but who has now told us he is donating a Motoguide electric trolling motor to the Kids Cup. Thanks Noah.

Also new to the Kids Cup this year is Mosai c, the phosphate company. We appreciate their support for our kids.

All Kids Cup supporters get an ad in the program which is distributed throughout the month along with Water LIFE. El ena’s Restaurant in Punta Gorda is also again a Kids Cup sponsor this year, as is Harbor Chevron in Charlotte Harbor and Greggs Automoti ve in Punta Gorda. These businesses are all long time Kids Cup sponsors who put their money where their mouths are when it comes to kids.

Capt. Ral ph Al l en our weighmaster and go-to-fishy-problem-solver has agreed to take over the Fountain Project.

We will be pumping Harbor water into the fountain at Center Court in Fishermen’s Village and using the fountain to keep some of our tournament fish in. No one I know could do a better job of setting up the plumbing and making

sure the fish stay alive. Thanks Ralph.

We are going to try and demonstrate that a fishing tournament can be visually exciting for spectators while still being totally concerned for the welfare of the fish.

The procedure this year will be to measure fish as soon as they come off the boat, then we will have a fish walker carry the fish in a water bag into center court where it will be weighed. After weighing, the fish will be returned to the Jr. Angler in a basket. The junior angler will then release the fish into the fountain. We want to accentuate proper release technique since this will be in an area where the spectators can easily watch and learn. This will also give spectators a chance to see the fish swimming around.

If a fish can’t swim on its own in the fountain it will be declared dead.

The Mote Marine staff will take possession of the fish in the fountain and route them to either the surgery area or to the release area. All the surgery tables and release tanks will be positioned in Center Court so spectators will have a great view without hindering the scientists at work.

It should all be pretty cool!

Page 13

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Are You in the Tarpon DNA Program?

Page 14

By Betty S taugl er Water LIFE / Sea Grant The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's (FWC) encourages anglers from throughout the state to genetically sample a tarpon, regardless of size, prior to release, for identification purposes. A small sample of skin cells collected from the outer jaw of the captured tarpon provides enough DNA to determine whether the fish was previously caught.

Tarpon can be identified using DNA fingerprinting, or "fin printing," techniques. Tarpon that are genetically sampled by the angling public can be used to determine survival rates, health, migration, and movement of individual fish within the fishery. By evaluating these factors on recaptured fish over time, biologists can assess the success of tarpon stocks and the connectivity of, or relationship between, tarpon and different bodies of Florida waters.

Recreational tarpon fishing lures people from all over the world. Few tarpon

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are harvested, but fishing pressure is high. Tarpon are targeted hard when the fish are present, so the fishery resource needs to stay healthy to support the demand of anglers and to continue to generate the revenue for the state. All current state-funded tarpon research programs focus on the questions surrounding whether or not tarpon can handle the fishing pressure.

To begin addressing the question of whether or not tarpon can handle the local fishing pressure, a study was started in 2002 to estimate short-term, postrelease survival rates. Acoustic telemetry was used to tag and track 82 tarpon from 2002-2007 in Boca Grande Pass and

Tampa Bay. Eleven of the 82 tagged tarpon died, based on visual observations or tag signals that stopped moving.

This study found that the number one cause of tarpon mortality was shark attacks. The second most common cause of death was attributed to handling stress.

This may have been caused by a wound from improper handling or simply from physiological stress on the fish from the fight and its inability to recover from it.

Approximately 87% of the fish tracked in this study survived. Note: fish attacked by sharks during the fight were not included in the results of this study. This was a study to evaluate post-release survival rates. When data points associated with post release mortality due to shark attacks are removed (leaving only handling stress mortality), we have a 95% post-release survival rate. 95% survival is good news.

Enter DNA Analysis - DNA is the new way to tag and track tarpon. Unlike conventional tagging methods, DNA will not break and does not rely on technology to work. It will not fall out of the fish. It will not rub off the fish. It will not get covered in algae making it hard to see. It cannot be permanently removed from the fish by another angler, and it never needs to be repaired.

All of the lab work is done in house at the FWC-FWRI lab in St. Petersburg so there is no extra expense to ship samples elsewhere for processing, making it a very cost effective program.

Our motto: Any tarpon, anywhere, any size. It does not matter if the tarpon is 5 inches, 15 inches or 55 inches.

Small tarpon are targeted year-round in Florida. Information on recaptures of these small, immature fish can provide us with information on habitat preferences, residency, and site fidelity (being caught in the same area year after year).

It is important that the young fish survive to become mature adults and learning about them and their habitats is critical for their conservation. Recapture information from older and larger fish can provide us some insight on the con-

March

2010

nectivity of the coastal and inshore waterways for tarpon movements, site fidelity and evidence of long-term survival of sexually mature tarpon.

In 2007, the FWC partnered with Mote Marine Laboratory (MML) in Sarasota, FL to help with the statewide program and to have them assist in outreach efforts and in 2010, FWC and MML added Florida Sea Grant as a partner to continue to expand this program across the state.

Taking a DNA sample is a simple three step approach: 1. Scrape the jaw to remove some skin cells.

2. Be sure the sponge has silver tissue on it.

3. Place the sponge with silver skin cells into the labeled vial and record your data.

We ask anglers to make it a habit and carry a DNA sampling kit.

A phone number is in place (800-3674461) to call toll free and request a kit or an email can be sent to TarponGenetics@MyFWC.com and a kit will be mailed to you. Each kit is in a small zip lock bag and has enough material in it to sample three tarpon.

There are also more than 165 statewide collection centers that can be visited to obtain a DNA sampling kit.

These local bait and tackle shops and stores also serve as places where people can drop off their tarpon samples at no cost to the angler. Tarpon Team members contact the shops monthly to pick up samples and resupply the DNA sampling kits. Please take a new kit with you when you leave and you will always have supplies on hand to genetically tag your next tarpon. Visit http://research.myfwc.com/features/view_ article.asp?id=32093 to find a collection center near you.

Betty Staugler is the Florida Sea Grant Agent for Charlotte County. She can be reached at 941.764.4346. Sea Grant is a Univ ersity of Florida IFAS program.

March

2010

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Page 15

This is a Perfect Time

By Capt. Mark Bennett Water LIFE Tarpon Traditionally March is the start of the best fishing of the year. The snook will be feeding up after the long winter to get ready for the coming spawn this summer. Redfish will be more abundant and some of the largest trout of the year will be caught all over the area.

Even the first tarpon or two will be caught this month. Although the big push of tarpon into the area most years will not be till later in April. I, for one, can hardly wait.

This month, bait of all kinds will start to invade the shallows around the harbor and down in the sound. Usually glass minnows or silversides will be the first to show. Then the whitebait or pilchards and threadfin herring will not be far behind.

This is a perfect time to get out there on the water, especially if it has been a while because of the cold. I can't think of anything to help an angler get a feel for what is going on with the fish more than a day of searching out the flats with artificial baits. That is how I make a plan to go back another day with a full baitwell to capitalize on the

knowledge I obtained from the search.

Have you ever wondered how tournament fishermen fish all around the country and consistently catch fish?

Put these guys in Jacksonville one week and Texas the next and they always seem to have a plan and bring home the bacon. Try this the next time you are on the water, while moving around fishing everything, points, holes, backwater pockets, creek mouths, flats, bars and drop offs, take the time to take note of all of the factors in place. Every time you catch or just simply see fish in a certain location try to understand and figure out why that fish was there. Is the tide moving?

Which way is it going, in or out? Left or right? Is the tide high or low? Did the fish come off an ambush point on structure? Out of a hole? Wind is also another factor to take into consideration.

Was the wind blowing the water in or out? Windblown point or sheltered cove? Eventually you will start to see patterns that repeat themselves over and over. It doesn't matter where you are fishing, in the harbor, down in the sound or on the other coast. A snook is a snook no matter where he is.

Spring Break fishing in Charlotte Harbor last month

Learning to see these patterns ahead of time is how the better fishermen always seem to catch fish, even if they are fishing water that is new to them.

All of our inshore gamefish, snook, redfish and trout, will stage in areas to take advantage of the tidal movement.

This is what makes certain spots good on particular stages of the tide. Some are better on the incoming or the outgoing tide and certain areas just need the water moving. The same way some places need a certain tide and wind con-

dition to make them good. Learning to recognize these factors hopefully can help you look at the water a little differently.

Keep these few tips in mind and I know they will help to bend your rod a few more times a day.

Till next time, keep the line tight and bow when they jump.

To book a trip, for comments or questions: www.tarponsnook.com or (941) 474-8900

From the Ol' Fish'n Hole

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Page 16

By Capt. Ji m O'Bri en Water LIFE Englewood

In my last article I started out talking about winds we have been having.

Well there is still no change. I haven’t seen it blow like this in a long time. It has kept me close to shore for the last few weeks. Hopefully we will be getting back to normal, as far as the temperatures and the winds. The captains I know that do back bay charters are getting nice size trout in Turtle Bay. The flat around Sand Fly Island has been producing some nice trout too. Redfish reports are coming in from around the Tom Adams Bridge, Bull Bay and Turtle Bay. Sheepshead are still chewing good at the Boca Grande Causeway and at the Phosphate Docks at Boca Grande pass.

Don't have any reports on sharks or cobia this month. The last couple of weeks the wife and I have been doing fresh water bass, snook, and tarpon fishing in the manmade ponds and lakes in the Rotonda Sands area off SR.771. The picture I have for this month is my mate Denny Morin holding 1 of 4 freshwater snook we caught

in these man made fresh water lakes.

Another picture I had was my lovely wife Debbie giving it everything she had. She did manage to catch the bank on the other side of pond, and wrapped one of my best top water lures around a dead tree limb that I just went out and retrieved the other day.

A11 in all, she did pretty good, since 8 weeks ago she had open heart surgery – 6 bypasses to be exact, so Yeah, I'll let her catch the bank a few times or wrap my favorite top water plugs around old dead tree branchs.Ha Ha..

We talked with some fellows that were fly fish'n just down from where we were fish'n, said they had caught a small tarpon and a 38 inch snook. He was using a bright yellow fly.

Well it's that time again.

And remember to get out and snort some of that good clean salt air cuzit's good fer ya!

–If you have any questions or if you have a good ol' fishin’ story or a reciepe for cooking fish that I can share with our readers give me a call. To book an offshore charter with us aboard the Predator II call (941) 473-2150

March

2010

POLING & TROLLING WILL BE USED TO BLACKMAIL CHARLOTTE COUNTY FOR DREDGING PERMIT

Lee County applied for a blanked dredging permit to maintain its area canals.

Before they would approve the permit, the DEP required Lee county to install poling and trolling (no outboard operation) zones in various areas. It was a two year process that started with 11 zones and ended up with 3. But Charlotte County is next. Charlotte will have an opportunity for stakeholder (public) input.

It is estimated that the procedure could take 2 or 3 years to complete.

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March

2010

R Re ea al l E Es st ta at te e N Ne ew ws s

PROVIDED BY: Dave Hofer RE/MAX Harbor Realty (941) 575-3777 dhofer@remax.net www.harborparadise.com

Recent area news i tems: 1. The future Peace River Botanical Sculptural Garden will likely be accessed directly from Riverside Drive. Responding to neighbors complaining of excessive traffic, the County seems to be leaning towards a plan that avoids directing traffic through the quiet neighborhood.

2. Port Charlotte was voted the top "low cost" retirement place by the magazine "Where to Retire".

3.

The huge 13,000 unit residential project in North Port dubbed "Isles of Athena" officially came to an end last month with a foreclosure sheriff sale. The former owner was deeded the property back to satisfy the $37 million loan that he had made to the buyer of the property.

4. Charlotte County suspended talks to sell the naming rights for the Charlotte County Sports stadium.

Phosphate giant, Mosiac, would have provided $75K/yr for the privilege to have their name on the stadium.

Public objections seem to be caused

by Mosaic's history of lawsuits with several Florida counties over water pollution.

SNOWBIRDS

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5. The University of South Florida will rent the top floor of Iberia Bank on Pan American Blvd. in North Port. The City of North Port will chip in $125K to make the lease a reality.

6. The Charlotte County Commissioners are split on a strategy for Murdock Village.

Commissioners Starr and Loftus are inclined to give the property to a worthy developer if it means reaping future tax revenues to repay the mountain of debt incurred by the prior group of well meaning Commissioners. Once again at odds with the others, Commissioner Cummings is advocating holding out for a more promising development climate before making any additional plans for the property.

7. Overturning the decades long prohibition against building pool cages over pools that are closer than 20' from seawalls, Punta Gorda City Council has provided amnesty to any "hardship" hampered homeowner with a desire to negate this rule.

Continuing this Council's "reign of benevolence", Charles Wallace declared, "I just want to keep all the neighbors happy!"

8. Appeals for TIGER funds from the Fed's stimulus program have failed to land support for an "intermodal" facility on a 20 acre site at the Seminole Gulf Railway near the intersection of Rt 17 and I 75.

The $36 million sought by Charlotte County will be directed towards other projects outside of our area.

Page 17

Keep Up with WaterLIFE every month, FREE on the internet

www.waterlifemagazine.com pages sized to print on your printer or just read it on the screen

Sales Statistics: Lot sales continued to be dominated by collectors with prices languishing in the $7,000 range for unimproved residential lots and almost no activity in waterfront lots. Home sales have continued to be good with prices down in the $80's for tract houses in Port Charlotte & North Port. Inventories continue to decline with real buyers slowly emerging to take advantage of low pricing.Store Marina.

Please visit us at www.harborparadise.com to view any available properties from Venice to Burnt

An Urban Paddle

Page 18

KAYAKING

By Davi d Al l en Water LIFE Kayaking

We were all raring to go paddling, to get out of the house on a “Florida” warm day and dip a paddle into the water. After the last few weeks of cold mornings, when our club kept moving the launch time later and later in the day, a break in the weather had to happen. Didn’t it?

Last Sunday the weather did change; the day dawned with a bright sun and the kind of temperatures that spell a great day on the water. We had decided to stay close to home and launch from one of the newer parks in Charlotte County; Sunrise Park, just off Edgewater Drive.

This little-known park is about ¾ miles west of Harbor Blvd. and has restroom facilities, a covered picnic table and ample parking for cars and trailers. An observation deck extends out over Little Alligator Creek (ie: East Spring Lake) providing visitors with a wide view of the boating activities.

And what a turnout we had. Twenty eight kayaks launched from the beach on the west side of the park and paddled

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south into East Spring Waterway. If we had continued paddling south, we would have soon left the mangrove channels and have entered Alligator Bay just west of Port Charlotte Beach Park. From here the whole Bay and shoreline is open to explore and enjoy.

March

2010

However, some in our group had never explored the West Spring Lake channels that lead generally north and will take you all the way to Highway 41.

This is mostly a built-up area with lovely homes along the canal. There are also several small islands in the middle of the Lake, so you can beach a kayak for a break.

After paddling north of a mile or so, the main channel splits into the Morningstar Waterway on the right and the North Spring Lake Waterway to the left. The Morningstar Waterway crosses under Highway 41 about ¼ mile from the main channel, so we elected to cross under the Midway Avenue Bridge and continue up North Spring Lake Waterway.

As you paddle north, the waterway gradually narrows with mangroves encroaching ever closer to the channel.

And there are fewer and fewer home as you approach Hwy. 41.

The end of the waterway, just a few yards from Cochran Avenue and Hwy. 41, is barely wide enough to turn a long kayak and head for home. This was clearly not one of our longer or more scenic paddles, but it was a delightful way to explore the urban waterways of Port Charlotte.

The Port Charlotte Kayakers meet each Wednesday evening at 5:30 PM at Port Charlotte Beach Park at the end of Harbor

Blvd. All are welcome to attend. For additional information contact Dave Allen at 941-235-2588 or dlaa@comcast.net

Speci al No te: The Senior Games will be held from March 4th to the 14th, at Port Charlotte Beach Park. A 3 mile and 6 mile kayak race will be included in the event, probably on March 14th.

Come join in the fun, and perhaps win a medal. Registration must be submitted by February 23.

March

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2010

Page 19

Righting an Overturned Kayak in Deep Water

1

ByHeather Comba S peci al t o Wat er –LIFE It was a cool dry January day and our group had planned a trip to the Manatee Park in North Ft Myers to paddle with the manatee. We had not been long on the river before our group drifted apart. While some stayed to watch a pod of adults with babies, the others moved on to check on the action around an island. I was watching a pod of about 15 and enjoying their curiosity, grace and beauty when, from across the river, there came a chorus of whistles. Someone had capsized.

Just days before we had participated in a kayak rescue class and although somewhat nervous, myself and Donna Friesen, another of our guides headed over to the swimmer. We flanked his kayak and immediately began to put into practice what we had learned.

After establishing he was not injured, we had him inflated his PFD .

Fortunately he had put it on correctly but he had no idea where the inflation tab was located! We soon found out that an anxious person confuses left and right and finds difficulty in following even simple

Simplified Directions for Rescuing a Capsized Kayaker

By Sylvia Shirley

Photo 1 Approach the up-side-down kayak on the opposite side to the swimmer.

Check they are not injured and their PFD is inflated / worn properly.

Have them help you rotate the kayak so it is at right angles to the water

Photo 2 Have the swimmer lay on their back

3

2

directions. After helping him right his boat, we instructed him to lie on his back next to the kayak with his feet floating towards the bow.

It was at this time we found out that he did not have use of his legs, however, he told us he could swim. This was most fortunate as our system involved rolling the kayak on to its side, thereby half filling it with water. This enables the person being rescued to "swim" into the boat feet first.

The first attempt at righting his boat was unsuccessful as our instructions were not fully understood, but the second attempt was perfect and the kayak rolled right up with him inside it.

The secret was to make sure he was leaning back, with his feet as far forward of the seat as possible, and his hips were inside the cockpit. As soon as his body was in this position I pushed down on the up side of the kayak as he leaned towards me. Perfect! He rolled right up!

We rafted up either side of his kayak and began to bail. Thanks goodness his kayak had sufficient flotation to keep the cockpit above the level of the water even with him in it. Soon he was on his way!

In thi s epi sode there are defi ni tel y l essons for al l paddl ers to l earn.

with their feet pointing towards the bow.

Have them hold the high side of the cockpit.

the kayak to grab the rescuer's cockpit or the rescuer's other hand. The swimmer also leans his head towards the high side.

Photo 3 Instruct the swimmer to put his legs into the bow of the boat, slide the feet beyond the foot pegs, and LEAN BACK. Photo 4 Once the lower body is in the kayak the hips need to be over the edge inside the cockpit. The low hand can grab the bottom edge of the cockpit to help the hips in. The body still leans back.

Photo 5 The top hand reaches over the side of

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1. Be sure that your swamped kayak floats with the cockpit above the water level, even with you in it, and that the buoyancy compartment hatch is properly closed.

2. Wear a PFD properly and know how to use it. Carry a whistle.

3. Carry a bailer or pump and a tow rope.

4.Know your paddling ability level and be wise in choosing where and when to paddle.

5. Be ready to perform a rescue or to instruct some one else how to rescue you.

6. Practice this method before you need it for real!

5

6

Tandem and Single Tow Technique

Photo 6 The rescuer pushes down on the

edge of the cockpit and the kayak rolls up with the swimmer in it.

A kayak will be most stable if it is rafted up between two other kayaks.

If the swamped kayak is below the water level it can be towed.

When towing the buoyancy compartment should be in front.

Towers can split their paddle and use a canoe stroke to get to shore, while the rescued person holds on to the back of their cockpits.

Thanks to Kayaking Adventures in Port Charlotte and to Kathy and Nick Bernardi, and Barbara Zuhlke for doing the demonstration photos

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They Loved It! Page 20

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By Bi l l DIxon Water LIFE Sailing The first annual Charlotte Harbor One-Design regatta is history. Sixty plus boats participated, most from out of town. Several hotel nights and many restaurant meals were sold. By any measure it was a success, and plans are already underway for a bigger and better one next year.

The winds were fierce and some fleets did not race their full schedule. The Viper 640 fleet suffered 3 downed masts out of 7 boats, the Hobie Cats and the Sunfish capsized uncountable times, and they all loved it!

Congratulations on a job well done ro Brian Gleason.

On March 6 and 7 the 17th Annual Conquistador Cup Regatta will be held on Charlotte Harbor. The Punta Gorda Sailing Club is the organizing authority in cooperation with the Royal Order of the Ponce de Leon Conquistadors.

Some 70 sailboats from throughout Southwest Florida are expected to compete in this two-day PHRF handicap event making it one of the largest regattas on this coast.

Competitors will be broken into four classes: spinnaker, non-spinnaker, cruising, and multi-hull. On Saturday, two buoy 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 8.7 mile 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 happens, but it does make for an exciting finish right out in front of Fisherman’s Village.

When this regatta was inaugurated 17 years ago it was the vision of its founders to someday have over 100 sailboats out in the harbor all at the same time. Agai n for thi s year’s regatta we are encouragi ng every sai l or i n the area to consi der comi ng out duri ng the weekend. Enter the full weekend’s activities, participate in just the Sunday Conquistador Race, or simply come out into the harbor and sail among the boats to celebrate the joy of sailing For additional information visit the Punta Gorda Sailing Club’s website: www.pgscweb.com or call 941 505-4583.

Later in the month, Isles Y C will run two Leukemia cup regattas, a small boat one design regatta on March 20 and a PHRF handicap regatta for larger boats on March 27, 28.

These regattas raise funds for the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. More info is at the IY C website: www.islesyc.com or call Mike Savino at 505-2063

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SCUTTLEBUTT

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Sometimes Unsubstanciated,But Often True

GATOR BELLOWS When (if?) spring comes, American alligator males advertise for females. Their principlel method of impressing potential mates is to bellow. The alligator lifts its head and arches its tail and produces perhaps the most characteristic of crocodilian signals. The bellow involves a lot of low-frequency sound, much of it below our threshold of hearing. This is called "infrasound" and it travels long distances through the water. The intensity of vibrations that the alligator produces are so great, it literally causes shallow water over its back to "dance" for a brief moment.

LEE COUNTY Officers responded to a call involving an osprey. After arriving in the area, the officers located a boat on a lift with a glue-like substance taped to the tee-top.

The complainant stated that prior to the officers’ arrival, an osprey had gotten stuck in the glue, but after struggling was able to free itself.

The osprey was exhausted and fell into the water, and was rescued by the complainant, who took the bird to a wildlife refuge for care. The boat owner admitted to placing the substance on his boat to discourage the osprey from building a nest.

The officers issued the owner a citation for the species of special concern violation.

S NOOK S URVEY The photo to the right has been circulating in local emails. It shows snook collected right after the big freeze in the Pine Island area. Although there are numerous guestimates as to the number of snook that died in the freeze, it will not be until the spring snook surveys are conducted this year and the results are compared to previous years that we will be able to make an educated guess.

Sat Sun Sat Sun

Mar Mar Mar Mar

6 7 13 14

Wed Mar 17

S HARK S TUFF Coming this summer is the new, made for TV, Guy Harvey Ultimate Shark Challenge which will feature invited teams and be a catch and release event held out of Fort Myers. The Ultimate Shark Challenge will tag all animals with high tech equipment.

In other shark news Lemon Sharks have been designated as a closed species for the forseeable future. And closer to home, Fishin Frank’s annual Shark Tournament will be held this summer with only one event. The second event, usually held in July will not be held this year.

PHOTO FROM NEW YORK: Deer in the back yard does not necessarily mean Spring must be near.

Sun Mar 21 Sat Mar 27 Sun Mar28

Tilly's 1st Birthday Party, music by "Signal 20" 1st Sunday Biker Bash, music by "Mystic River Band" Karaoke Live music by "Up The Creek"

St. Patricks Day Party music by "Irish Paul O"Elliott"

Live music Karaoke Live music

1 til 5pm 1 til 5pm 6-9pm 1 til 5pm

7-10 pm

1 til 5pm 6 til 9pm 3 til 6pm

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March Fishing Report Charlotte Harbor:

Robert at Fishin' Franks Port Charlotte: 625-3888

Get ready for more wind. March and April are the two windiest months of the year, but things are starting to change, pine trees are pollinating, oak trees are blooming, and redfi sh are starting to come back a little better. Throughout this month there should be more reds as the water temperatures continue to increase.

You should see better numbers of bigger redfish soon. Pine Island will see larger fish and more of them. The rat reds will become less abundant - I don’t know if

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they scatter or head offshore, I just don’t know.

Shrimp is still going to be your best bait. Artificials will be great for sight fishing when the water clears a little more. This is the time to switch your colors to things like bubble gum or nuclear chicken; a lot of funky colors (brighter) will work in this season.

Downsize your leader and lengthen it, fish can see better in the clear water. And that’s for all species for the next couple of months. Be a little more stealthy walking or standing in your boat. Learn the habits of fish; where they stage etc., so when the water darkens you will have a bretter idea of where to go.

Trout will still be another real strong

fish this month. They will move out on the flats a little more now.

Shrimp will still be the bait of choice because of the abundant shrimp that are here now and because of the salinity and colder water. A few good spots for trout are El Jobean, the upper end of the Peace River around US 41 or I-75.

Some better fish tend to be real active in the Pine Island Sound around Useppa and Captiva Pass. The ICW and Lemon Bay will traditionally load up on trout towards the end of this month. S heepshead will be almost a mirror image of what trout will be doing. They will be migrating through the end of the month and then start to move offshore. They will be

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2010

abundant around El Jobean and around the artificial reefs when come out of the canals. Sheepshed will associate themselves with structure for food and protection.

One species that should start to show up (if the water warms just a little more) will be cobia.

Continued on facing page

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Fishing Report .

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The The BIG-4 BIG-4

conti nued Cobi a will be moving up onto the flats and there SNAPPER: Offshore from the should be some small Pass to 20 miles schools of them at the nearshore Gulf reefs like Novak and the Pine Island Ferry reefs.

S napper and grunt will be the primary species offshore - since grouper has been taken away. Take advantage of any calm days we get to look for spotty showings of ki ngfi sh and S pani sh mackerel . This is the time of the year to have different poles ready for any species that may show up.

Tarpon could start to feed better on the upper Peace and Myakka Rivers this month. Those are resident fish but when they start being more active it is a sign of things to come.

Fish to expect expect in in Fish to

TROUT: more and more on the grassy flats

Jim at Fishermen’s Edge, Englewood: 697-7595

The most involved reports I am hearing are of trout and redfi sh.

One guy I know had 7 trout in the 27-28 inch range. He was fishing Whidden Creek, drifting over the potholes and grass. They limited out on trout and redfish that day and they were catching fish with a float or freelined.

There is some sheephead action around the docks now.

The Tembly and Novak reefs have been giving up bl ack drum and sheepshead. I haven’t hear a word about cobi a, tri pl e tai l or pompano. Those three have disappeared from radar.

Offshore some boats are doing OK on snapper and grunts. There have been some really nice porgy’s and banded rudderfi sh. A lot of the fish have been cooperating, Grouper fishing is good, but you have to throw them all back.

There have been a couple of fl ounder here and there, caught in the bay towards the passes.No big numbers, just a few here and there.

March March

SHEEPSHEAD: On the inshore pilings and reefs

Lemon Bay:

Look carefully at the 5 photos in this page spread.

They all came from Capt. Angel Torres. Clearly Capt Angel was on some nice fish last month, but there is something else going on here. Note that all the fishermen are holding both their fish and their fishing rods. And bu coincidence it looks like they all are Penn products. We wonder if Capt Angelʼs new sponsorship from Penn Reels might have something to do with this new subliminal Penn ad!

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Go

REDFISH: A few bigger fish starting to show

Fishing!

4265 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte

941 - 625-2700

700 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda

941 - 637-0019

CALENDAR

March 4: CCA Banquet, Punta Gorda March 6-7: Conqui stador Cup Regatta Punta Gorda (see sailing P20) March 11-14: Fort Myers S pri ng Boat S how, Lee Civic Center March 19: Raymari ne Mobi l e S howroom at West Marine Port Charlotte 8am-5pm March 20: Backwater Series, Fort Myers Beach, (239)-825-8311 March 20 & 27: About Boati ng S afety Cl ass USCG Aux Flotilla 87, Lemon Bay Park, Englewood, $25 Successful completion of this program will qualify the student Fishing to receive the Florida Boater Safety Course RIGHT NOW Id Card. 941-697-9435 Warming www.coastguardenglewood.com Up March 27: Bobby Hol l oway memori al Tournament, St James City Fishermen’s CoOp. red/trout/mystery fish. Visit http://hollowaytourney.org May 15: Ki ds Cup, Fisherman’s Village Punta Gorda, 766-8180 or www.KidsCupTournament.com Send cal endar i nfo rmat i o n t o :

waterlife@comcast.net

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