W Wa atte er r
LIFE
Charlotte Harbor, Lemon Bay & the Gulf
el y ve ap pr ox im at “W he n w e ha of s ig ht an d 12 hr 12 hr s of da yl lle d te ch ni ca lly ca da rk ne ss it is ui no x. th e Sp ri ng Eq is tim e of ye ar is th e, m Fo r !” on as er Sn oo k Se ca lle d M on st 9 ge Pa hu ck , – se e C ap t C
The Don Ball School of Fishing
March 2015
Mondays with Dad
page 15
Curing the Curse page 17
Regatta Perspective page 21
Net Ban Upheld Page 5
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MARCH 2015
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Water LIFE I thought your readers would be interested in this note from the FWC calendar: During the week of February 9-13, Officers Ruggiero, Thompson, and Price attended Speed Measurement training at the Southwest Florida Public Service Academy. This training will allow the officers to operate RADAR and LASER in wildlife speed-restriction areas, such as Panther and Manatee zones, to help enforce safety regulations. Steven Burke
Dear Water LIFE on page 23 of the Feb issue you have a picture of Matt Barton holding what is identified as a yellow tail, I believe it may be a lane snapper. Orange rounded tail instead of yellow v shaped tail (like the one in the photo to the right). Jim Hoffman
KIDS DAY
Edfitor notes* This month Capt. Joe Angius joines the ranks of the regular Water LIFE writers and guides staff. Joe will be reporting from Estero Bay. Look for his column monthly and may God have mercy on his soul!
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Mr. Heller, Thank you for recognizing our gift to the Don Ball School of Fishing in WATERLIFE. However we are the Gulf Cove Fishing Club, not South Gulf Cove, which is a different community entirely. Respectfully, Neil Heisner, President Gulf Cove Fishing Club
Dear Water Life Enjoyed the fly fishing articles. Hope there is a continuing series on Malory Herzog and her exploration into fly fishing. I'd love to see a regular column on fly fishing. There are a few of us out there who are crazy enough to try to catch fish on fly in Charlotte Harbor. Daniel Ferraris
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Michael & Ellen Heller Publishers
(941) 766-8180
217 Bangsberg Rd. Port Charlotte, FL 33952
Independant - Not affiliated with any other publication Vol XIV No 3 © 2015
No part of this publication (printed or electronic) may be copied or reproduced without specific written permission from the publishers.
Contributing Editors:
Anglers for Conservation (AFC)
Hook Kids on Fishing program to
a non-profit 501(C)(3) organization, in partnership with Fishermanʼs Village, is
coordinating its engaging
be held on Saturday, April 11, 2015 from 10am until 12:00 noon at Fishermen's Village, Punta Gorda. Open to kids ages 6 to 16, must be accompanied by an adult. The first 100 kids registered and who complete the training will receive a free rod and reel to take home! Registration is mandatory. Call King Fisher Fleet at 941-639-2628.
Photography: ASA1000.com Senior Editor: Capt. Ron Blago River and Shore: Fishinʼ Frank Charlotte Harbor: Capt. Billy Barton Family Fishing: Capt. Bart Marx Punta Gorda: Capt. Chuck Eichner Venice: Glen Ballinger Kayaking: WRITER WANTED Sea Grant: Betty Staugler Offshore: Capt. Jim OʼBrien Fly Fishing: Capt. Scott Sichling Beach Fishing: Mallory Herzog Circulation: Robert Cohn In Memory of our Office Dog Molly Brown
on the COVER: Capt Chuck Eichner put this angler on some nice fish. His story about Monster Snook appears on page 7
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Words For Newcomers MARCH 2015
By Michael Heller Water LIFE editor I was talking with Izzy, the head barber - (get it? head....barber!) - at the Charlotte Harbor Barber Shop last month and we both agreed, there were a lot more new faces around town this season than we have seen in the past. The vote is out whether the weather up north is an influencing factor or not, but there are plenty of new folks here and it looks like they are all headed for the water. If you are one of the new faces I say welcome! Please buy a house, get a boat and go fishing, or go sailing or go kayaking. The water is what this county is all about... but you probably know that already. In January the annual Charlotte County Boat Show was a record breaker in terms of sales. Both new boats and used boats have been selling well. If you are new to boating here, the best way to understand the Harbor is to hire a fishing guide for a half day or a whole day and have him give you a tour. You’ll find there is a lot to see here. Charlotte Harbor is a very live estuary where many species spawn and grow. The full name of the Harbor is The Charlotte Harbor Aquatic Preserve. The Harbor is also a wonderland for kids and there are fishing guides who will go out with you on your own boat to show you around. If you pick the right day, when the wind and waves aren’t a handicap, you can work your way down the East Side of the Harbor, maybe even check out the fishing grounds called Two Pine, cut across the Indian Fields and Pine Island. Have lunch by boat at Cabbage Key or the Pink Flamingo and then go see Bull and Turtle Bay. Then come back up along the Westwall of the Harbor to complete the circle. Bring sunscreen and tip your captain well, he is going to burn some gas and don’t hang out at any one spot. Get a feel for each area - if you fish, throw a
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lure or, better yet, throw a gold spoon, a lot of fish here will take a gold spoon, then move on to the next spot. We have a very diverse fishery so what you want is to get the big overall picture. The big fish will come soon enough! I still remember the first time I came here. There was no g00gle or GIS back then. Driving across the 41 bridge and looking out, I thought what I saw WAS Charlotte Harbor. Boy was I wrong, the Harbor turned out to be huge! So before you get on a boat, check the Harbor out from above. Look at the Charlotte County GIS website which shows highly detailed local satellite photos, better than Google, to help you find interesting spots to explore. If you are new here and you haven’t already bought a boat, think carefully. On the morning I am writing this it’s a cold 38 degrees outside and the wind is blowing 25 knots from the north. There are white caps on the Harbor. If I had to be on the water today, this would be the day to be in a cuddy-cabin boat with an I/O and a warm spot below, but we get, maybe, two days like this a year. Tomorrow’s forecast is for 80 degrees! You don’t want to own a cuddy cabin if you plan on boating here. Most of the perimeter of the Harbor is sandy and shallow. For sailing, naturally, you want a boat without too much keel. For inshore fishing, what you want is to have an open skiff, a flats boat or a center console... and an outboard motor. If you want to get close to where the gamefish are you often need a boat that floats shallow and one on which you can tilt the motor up. And you want a push pole or trolling motor for quiet. If you want to go fish in the really ‘skinny’ water, then a 16 foot or shorter boat with a jack plate on the motor is what you need. And if you want to cover some distance, or run out into the Gulf, then you’ll want a bigger boat, maybe 21 feet. So ideally, you’ll need two boats! But even if you only have one boat, get out on the water as much as you can. Look around, fish, relax. You can buy that second boat later.
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These are octopus eggs, developing before birth. Numerous species, ranging from the tinyiest shrimp to the giant Goliath Grouper, spawn in Charlotte Harbor.
Last month the Supreme Court of Florida denied a petition by the Wakulla Fishermenʼs Association and upheld the stateʼs Net Ban Amendment that was approved by 72 percent of voters in 1994. The ban prohibited using entangling gill nets and limited net size to 500 square feet in order to preserve fish stocks. Last monthʼs ruling puts an end to the latest challenge brought by gillnetters who won a sympathetic circuit court ruling in 2013 that allowed them to briefly reintroduce gill nets into Florida waters. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, with the support of CCA Florida, challenged the 2013 ruling immediately in the stateʼs highest court.
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MARCH 2015
All About The Bait
By Capt. David Stephens Water LIFE Harbor Warmer weather means warmer water and on Charlotte Harbor, when the water warms above the 70 degree mark, great things begin to take place. The days are getting longer, the lush turtle grass has begun to grow back on the endless flats and live bait, I’m talking sardines, or greenbacks, are showing up. We have endured cold water temperatures for the past two to three months and a lot of our inshore gamefish have become sluggish and do not want to feed aggressively. Now, as water temperatures begin to rise, those fish are feeding heavily to restore lost fat reserves. Now is when their focus switches from shrimp to something a little more fatty, like sardines. Catching live bait can be a little tricky for the weekend fisherman. The key is to pay attention to the birds. A lot of our birds feed on the same bait that we like to use on a day of fishing. The top bird you want to keep your eyes open for are pelicans, when they are diving its not for the fun of it. Another little bird to watch when you are looking for baitfish schools is the tern. They look similar to sea gulls but are smaller and have a orange beak. One of the biggest mistakes I see people make when catching live bait is to be using the wrong net. I don’t know how many times I have been catching bait and the guy next to me is having no luck due his choice of nets. If I’m in water over 6 feet deep I will use a net that has more weight - at least 1.5 pounds of lead per foot. I choose to throw Calusa cast nets. You can visit your local tackle shop and they will fit you with the proper cast net for what you are doing. Once you’re ready to catch bait, you’ll need some chum. There are several different recipes for chum. One of the oldest and most proven, is Jack Mackerel and bread.
This is a very simple recipe. Mix one can of JackMak with one loaf of bread, add water and squish it with your hand until it’s the consistency of oatmeal. Another chum that has become very popular is tropical fish food. You can find that at most of your feed stores. All you need to do is mix this cornmeal-textured powder with water. Once you have your chum and you’ve located bait, a stealthy approach is necessary. If you have a trolling motor use it. If there are other boats in the same area catching bait, show them the same respect you would want.
If you would like to experience some of Charlotte Harbors best fishing give me a call or send me an email. All of our trips are private and customized to fit you and your parties needs. Capt. Dave Stephens 941-916-5769 www.backbayxtremes.com
MARCH 2015
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March Opens Monster Snook Season By Capt. Chuck Eichner Water LIFE Inshore March is the month we normally associate with rising temperatures and the time we begin to anticipate spring, which occurs on March 20 this year! Scientifically, our seasons are determined by shifting sunlight hours. When we have approximately 12 hrs of daylight and 12 hrs of darkness it is technically called the Spring Equinox. For me, this time of year is called Monster Snook Season! Snook are primarily dormant from December to early March. They take refuge in deeper waters of canal systems, local rivers, basins and bays and feed sparsely on tiny minnows, shrimp and sea creatures to sustain themselves. If there was ever any uncertainty as to where our snook reside in the winter, it was proven several years back when thousands were cold shocked and died. Our local canals were
full of dying snook floating to the surface. Many think they winter in the rivers which is only partially true. As our waters quickly warm, snook leave their protective deep water haunts and migrate to the closest shallows. Now they are super hungry and that hunger makes them vulnerable. Anglers lucky enough to catch pilchards and threadfins will find that the first snook of the year are easy to catch and this is the only time that the big ones consistently make mistakes! With a bit of logic you can figure out where they are likely to show up first. Countless miles of canals in Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda exit into shallow water flats and mangrove areas. Those should be your target areas. River systems present the same opportunity. The Peace and Myakka Rivers and Alligator Creek have many miles of snook sanctuary. If you look to Matlacha, Pine Island Sound, Gasparilla and Englewood you have the same scenario. Canals and tributaries abound where snook have wintered over. They will come peeling out of there when the water temperature is right, setting up shop in our saltwater estuary and putting the feedbag on. The recipe for suc-
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cess is relatively simple in March. We need a consistent weather pattern with temperatures in the upper 70s for 5- to 10 days. Afternoon sun will heat the shallows well beyond the air temperature and snook will wander onto the flats on higher tide phases. Artificial lures and live bait will work fantasticly! March is the month when I always catch my largest snook of the year and the largest number of big snook. For a short window of time, bait is scarce in the shallows when they first appear and that is the recipe for hooking a monster. Your bait appears as an easy meal. Fish points and shorelines closest to the deeper water. Snook need an exit strategy. With changing weather conditions and tidal phases, a sudden cold front can drop temperatures making them vulnerable. As such, they will come and go from the flats on any given day seeking refuge in the nearby deeper water.
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For big snook, fish 40- to 50-pound leader as they will literally bite your line off. Snook have a tendency to “turn and burn� when hooked against a mangrove and will run you straight in, cutting you off. When this happens, open your reel bail and free spool the fish. When you remove the pressure, snook will stop pulling for just a moment giving you time to change your rod position and reapply pressure from a different angle. If you are lucky, you will turn the fish for a photo-op at boatside! Capt. Chuck Eichner operates Action Flats Backcountry Charters and can be reached at 941-628-8040.
Winter sure did bring the pain this year! Our water temps made it down into the 60s!
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By Capt. Billy Barton
we still have tarpon here. We call those fish locals because a lot of them never leave the area. You just don't hear too many folks talking about tarpon in winter because the fish are hanging out up in the rivers to warm up and they stay deep just like a big snook would.
Water LIFE Inshore
A lot of you folks from up North probably gave a little chuckle to this story’s headline. I know you guys got it good up there, which is why we're currently so busy down here! Cold up north is a good thing for this area, but when I have to scrape ice off my windshield in the morning, before I pull out of my driveway, that's a problem and I'm wearing at least five layers of clothes at that point hurts! On a brighter note March has arrived, and winter’s almost over. We're heading into the Springtime. It will continue to be fairly breezy throughout the month I'm sure, but we should at least see an incline in our air and water temperatures in the next few weeks. This change will be nothing but beneficial to our fishing. We call March and April transition months. Things get pretty fishy in our inshore waters and things get pretty fishy out in the Gulf as well.
MARCH 2015
It being chilly though doesn't by any means mean you have to write off a good
Our sub-tropical fish love the Florida sunshine. Don't get me wrong, we love our winter time fishing too and the fish will be cooperative in winter if you play your cards right, but now the fishing's just
going to get better and better! Spring is when you dust off the big gear and watch for the big fish to show up by the acres. Literally acres. Pretty cool huh!?
What we've been seeing in the Harbor over the last month was major fish movement. Basically, our weather isn't staying consistent. Our temperatures are in the 70s or 80s for a few days, then we hit another cold snap. What this does, is it keeps the fish from staying in one particu-
lar area and settling down. Seeing some consistency in our weather patterns should settle the fish down a bit and get them moving around a little less.
You have to remember that a lot of our fish have a low tolerance for the cold, so when it gets cold for a period of time, they look for the warmest water they can find, bait-fish included. A few examples may be a narrow, dark water canals that retains a lot of the sun’s heat during the day. Another example might be fish sunning in less than a foot of water above some dark sand when the sun is high. I'm speaking, specifically, of snook, redfish, and tarpon in particular... and yes,
This tiny squid came up one morning in one of the cast net pulls.
day of fishin!
We have several species that migrate here for the winter, and disappear when it warms up. Pompano, flounder, sheephead, and spotted sea trout are our most
popular winter fish to target. These fish all come here in large numbers. They're a load of fun on the other end of a fishing pole and they're some of the most delicious fish you could make a meal out of. When we have cold spurts, you can bet I'm out targeting them.
If you have redfish or snook fishing on your mind, you may want to start early with the species listed above, then move
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want an easy meal, they like conserving their energy without having to try and chase something down. Their metabolisms still aren't at what they will be in another month of so. That’s why Spring is one of the fishiest times of year around here. That's the gist of it for now, ladies and gents! Expect some fantastic fishing to come around over the next few months!
on to your targets when the sun’s been out for a bit. This is what I've been doing on a lot of my charters and it's proven pretty effective.
The Harbor water temperature is almost a steady 70. Hope for lots of sunshine and ya'll catch ‘em up, out there. Till next time, see you on the water!
Your bait of choice is still a shrimp or a crab of any sort, fished deep and slow. Pinfish and sardines have been my secondary baits, they also work well on a jig head fished near the bottom. The larger snook and redfish definitely
Capt. Billy Barton owns and operates Scales-n-Tails Fishing Charters. Check out his newly redesigned website at http://www.puntagordafishingcharter.com or call him at: 941- 979-6140 He’s also on All fish shown here from February charters
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Boat Ramp Revenues PAGE
On The Line By Capt. Ron Blago Water LIFE Senior Staff
It's been a few years since Charlotte County began charging boaters to park at their public boat ramps. How this came about is a story for another day, but I can tell you that at the time I fought like hell to prevent it from happening and got crushed by certain county staff members. Ironically, those people are all gone but the parking fees remain. I thought I had another shot at removing the parking fees two years ago when the county discovered that the parking ticket machines were breaking down due to salt water corrosion and the constant pounding of frustrated boaters trying to get the thing to work. Once again I lost the battle when county staff decided to double down on the project and spend over $150,000 on new parking ticket machines ... and to add
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insult to injury, they raised the parking fee to 75 cents per hour. Let me come right out and say I do not believe boaters should have to pay to park at a public boat ramp. Tax payers have already paid for the land and the construction cost; and boaters pay to register their boats and in the case of Charlotte County, boaters pay an additional surtax to maintain the boat ramps. I have made my peace with losing that argument and now realize that getting the County to eliminate those fees would be like trying to remove food from a pit-bulls mouth. To prepare for the next future battle I have been trying to get data on how much money each boat ramp brings in and how much money the county spends to collect it. Everyone I talked to in the County was sure that information was available but no one knew how to get it. After three years of trying (with the help of County Commissioner Deutsch) I was finally given the following summery of
MARCH 2015
New to area boat ramps are the life jacket loaner stands installed by Sea Tow Charlotte Harbor. The stands hold childrens life jackets which boaters can take for free and return when they come back in off the water.
parking meter revenues and cost. In 2014 Parking meters brought in $287,077.25 at a cost of $64,801.83 for a net revenue of $222,275.42. That sure is a lot of quarters and for that reason the county is not giving up that revenue. Most of that money does not come from boat ramp parking but from parking at Englewood Beach and Port Charlotte Beach Complex. Of the total they make up $164,353.50 or 57.25%. The other county boat ramps brought in $122,723.75 or 42.75% of the total. Here is the 2014 list of sites and boat ramp parking money. Placida $53,703.45 Port Charlotte Beach $36,002.00 Ainger Creek $11,447.65 El Jobean $9,841.30 Spring Lake $6,278.60 Harbor Heights $4,270.80 Hathaway $1,179.95 So. Gulf Cove 0
You can see that compared to Placida and the Port Charlotte Beach ramp which make up 73.1% of all the money brought in; all the other boat ramps collect peanuts and that is why I think they should be free. I did notice that there appears to be a problem with the Port Charlotte Beach boat ramp figure. With the numbers I was given they list the entire Beach Complex as bringing in $50,938.05 in parking fees. I serious doubt that 70.7% of that amount came from boat ramp parking. If you are like a lot of boaters, you will find it a lot easier to just buy an annual pass for $53.50 but remember as they say on the County web site, “A pass does not guarantee you a parking spot”. So if you are like a lot of Englewood folks you will just launch your boat at Indian Mounds or Manasota Beach. Parking is still free at the boat ramps in Sarasota County. capt.ronb@juno.com
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An Estuary Worth Fishing MARCH 2015
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By Captain Joe Angius Water LIFE Estero Bay Estero Bay is an estuary that holds trophy sized redfish and snook, but it can be a difficult fishery to understand. There are five major river systems that feed into the bay. Starting with the river farthest North and moving south, there is, Hendry Creek, Mullock Creek, Estero River, Spring Creek, and the Imperial River. Each of these rivers influences water temperature, water quality and tidal flow. Knowing about where you fish is vital to your success and will determine what techniques work best. This monster jack was caught in twenty-five feet of First and foremost, every water using large whitebaits on a 3/0 Owner hook. With fishing report should always the deeper water and bigger fish, it is safe to use 30start with a bait report. As a 40lb fluorocarbon leader. captain, catching quality bait is the key to getting large stubone-by-one. born fish to bite. With that said, my mornSo there’s gas in the tank and the live ing starts at the beautiful Lovers Key Bait well is full of bait, but where do you go and Adventure boat ramp. From the ramp fish? My first tip when you’re fishing an
This 29” redfish was sight-casted and caught using whitebait on a 3/0 Owner hook. Itʼs crucial to use a long piece of 25lb fluorocarbon leader when fishing in crystal clear water.
I head south to a nearby bridge that has been holding medium to large sized white bait. If the bridges aren’t producing enough bait, I’ll begin to search for them on a grass flat in 2-to 3-feet of water. At the bridges I would recommend using a 10’ net with a ¼- or 3/8-inch mesh. The smaller mesh net will definitely help an angler catch a lot of bait if the bait is running small. In the case that they are not small, the larger mesh net allows for the net to sink faster and filter out any unwanted smaller baits. On the grass flats one should use an 8-foot or a 6-foot net with a 3/8 mesh. Using a smaller mesh size on a grass flat will result in more grass than bait. Though it can be done, I don’t advise throwing a ¼-inch mesh net on a flat due to the frustration of cleaning grass and picking out the glass minnows
area is to look for any signs of life. This includes sting rays, mullet, baitfish, birds, moving water, and even the fish you are trying to catch. Right now the most productive areas have been around oyster bars on an incoming tide, on mangrove edges with a current and deep swash and on the shallow water mud flats. A 1/8-ounce jig head tipped with shrimp or a cut piece of white bait has been extremely successful. Also, pitching free-lined white baits and shrimp on a 3/0 Owner hook has been my go to setup. In the gin clear water I love to fish in, I use a three to four foot 25-pound fluorocarbon leader. In water that’s turned up from the wind and tide, I wouldn’t use anything less than 30-pound fluorocarbon leader. If there is a strong current I sometimes use small pinch weights to keep the bait down. This also gives me better casting distance. At times when I’m trolling a mangrove edge looking for these “signs of life” I’ll stumble upon a small school of redfish, sheepshead, or snook. Now if you roll over a few fish with the trolling motor or the outboard motor, don’t panic. Slowly, pull off of the spot and then power down your motor. Any sudden movements or irregularities of the motor will spook them. I recommend pulling off of the spot, powering down, making sure all of your gear is rigged and ready with bait, and then start to position your boat at the right angle to cast at these fish. Remember have fun fishing! Even though it can be frustrating at times, you’re in one of the most beautiful and unique estuaries in Southwest Florida.
Captain Joe Angius Speakeasyfishing.com (727) 234-3171 Speakeasyfishing@gmail.com
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Capt Joe and a client with a healthy sheepshead and a beautiful redfish
SNOOK NOW OPEN
The recreational harvest season for snook reopened on March 1 in Floridaʼs Gulf of Mexico state and adjacent federal waters, including Everglades National Park and Monroe County. The season will remain open through April 30. In the Gulf region, anglers may keep one snook per day that is not less than 28 or more than 33 inches total length, which is measured from the most forward point of the head with the mouth closed to the farthest tip of the tail with the tail compressed or squeezed while the fish is lying on its side. A snook permit is required to keep snook, along with a saltwater fishing license unless you are a Florida resident age 65 or older or qualify for one of the military exemptions from the license requirements. Only hook-and-line gear is allowed when targeting or harvesting snook. It is illegal to buy or sell snook and restaurants canʼt serve it unless they cook your catch.
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In and Around the wreck Bayronto
By Adam Wilson Water LIFE Diving I haven't been doing much diving since October. Every time I have an opportunity the wind is howling, but I know that will change soon. The pictures here are from October. The shipwreck photos are from the Bayronto. The goliath grouper and lionfish were deep inside the ship. I have been exploring the inside of this wreck for sometime now and I know it well. I always love taking a shot of the rudder post. The school of bonita that swam by us on our ascent was pretty cool. It always leaves us looking for the sharks
that always seem to follow them. I know gag grouper season is closed now, but it was still open in October and I am always amazed as to what we pull out of fish stomachs. The partially digested squid was huge! When it was alive it was probably as long as the fish it came out of.
MARCH 2015
AQUAT FUTURE
Staff Report The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council met in Point Clear, Alabama in January to discuss a number of fishery issues, including regional management for recreational red snapper and red snapper allocation. Here are some of the actions they took: Red Snapper Update The Council heard an update on the Red Snapper Stock Assessment, including information on the 2014 provisional red snapper catch estimates. The Council also received the overfishing limit (OFL) and acceptable biological catch (ABC) recommendations from its Scientific and Statistical Committee (SSC). The Council then asked staff to prepare a framework action to increase the red snapper annual catch limit (ACL) based on revised ABCs using the 2014 provisional red snapper catch estimates. Because the SSC has not yet seen the provisional catch estimates or revised Grouper still doing well ABCs, they had to review those estimates and determine whether to approve the revised ABCs. The SSC met last month. The Council will now hold another special meeting this month to review the SSC ABC recommendations and take final action on a framework action to increase the ACL accordingly. The meetings are being conducted via internet webinars. Red Snapper Allocation Amendment 28 The Council reviewed a revised draft of Amendment 28, which considers reallocating a portion of the commercial quota to the recreational sector. After amending the purpose and need statement, the Council added 2 alternatives to Action 1. • Alternative 8 – The increase in allowable harvest (due to changes in recreational data) from the update assessment will be allocated to the recreational sector. The percentage increase for the recreational sector
MARCH 2015
TICA
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PLANS : Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council charter for-hire component. The Council also will creshould be that amount attributable to recalibration of ate a new Ad Hoc Reef Fish Headboat Advisory Panel MRIP catch estimates. and initiated another amendment that considers man• Alternative 9 – The increase in allowable harvest agement options to improve accountability and flexibil(due to changes in recreational data) from the update ity in the headboat component. assessment will be allocated to the recreational sector. Gag The percentage increase for the recreational sector Last year, a stock assessment concluded that the should be that amount attributable to recalibration of gag stock was neither overfished nor experiencing MRIP catch estimates and the change in size selectivity. The Council will review Amendment 28 again during overfishing. The SSC initially recommended only a small increase in ABC out of concern that a large red its next meeting and could take final action as early as tide event that occurred over the June. summer may have had a negaRegional Managetive impact on the stock. In Janument for Recreary, the SSC received a ational Red Snapper presentation from the Florida Fish – Amendment 39 and Wildlife Research Institute The Council continthat modeled the impact of the ued discussions on red tide event. The model conAmendment 39, which cluded that mortality of gag in looks at dividing the 2014 due to red tide was no recreational red snapworse than in normal years. Conper quota among resequently, the SSC revised its gions to allow for the ABC recommendations to include creation of different 5.21 million pounds in 2015, an management measincrease of 67% over the current ures that better suit ABC. Based on the revised ABC each area. Staff from recommendations, the Council the Mid-Atlantic Counasked staff to begin a framework cil provided an amendment to increase the gag overview of summer ACL and Annual Catch Target flounder management, (ACT) and to look at season opwhich the Council is tions. interested in exploring Greater Amberjack as a model for red The Council continued working snapper regional manon a draft framework action for agement. Staff will Sharks continue to challenge offshore anglers greater amberjack to adjust the continue to revise the ACL and to consider adjusting document for Council commercial/recreational management measures, such consideration. Recreational Charter and Headboat Red Snapper as size limits and trip limits, to ensure that the stock is rebuilt and the mandates of the Magnuson-Stevens Act Management Measures are met. This past summer, it was determined that The Council took no action on a proposed framegreater amberjack remains overfished, is experiencing work that considers changing the management measoverfishing, and did not meet the 10-year rebuilding ures for the for-hire component of the recreational plan that ended in 2012. The National Standard 1 sector. Instead, the Council agreed to reconvene the guidelines state that when a stock remains overfished Ad Hoc Red Snapper Charter For-hire Advisory Panel at the end of its rebuilding plan, subsequent harvests to continue its discussions and initiated the developshould not exceed either the yield at a fishing mortality ment of an amendment that will consider management measures to improve flexibility and accountability in the corresponding to the rebuilding plan, or at yield when
fishing at 75% of the fishing mortality rate corresponding to maximum sustainable yield, whichever is less. The Council expects to take final action on the framework during its March/April meeting in Biloxi, Mississippi. Coastal Migratory Pelagics (Mackerel) After receiving a report on the King Mackerel Gillnet Workshop held in South Florida in January, the Council agreed to begin working on a framework action to evaluate alternative gillnet trip limits, accountability measures, and the elimination of latent permits. The Council also voted to scope and get public input on the following CMP Amendments: • Amendment 26, which addresses Gulf and Atlantic king mackerel annual catch limits, allocations, stockboundaries, and sale provisions and • Amendment 28, which addresses splitting the Gulf and Atlantic king and Spanish mackerel commercial fishing permits. Amberjack are back Data Collection The Data Collection Committee met to discuss recommendations made by the Technical Subcommittee for Electronic Charter Boat Reporting and to hear a presentation on the NOAA Fisheries Electronic Monitoring/Electronic Reporting Implementation Plan. As a result, the Committee asked staff to begin developing a plan amendment to require electronic logbooks for the charter for-hire vessels in the Gulf and South Atlantic, as well as the use of Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS). photos Capt. Joe Miller, Fish Offshore Gallore, Venice
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MARCH 2015
Swimming with the Fishes and Why You Should Fear Toilets By Capt. Betty Staugler Water LIFE Sea Grant I hang out with a bunch of runners and triathletes and when the water is warm enough we sometimes meet for open water swims at area beaches. Now while anglers tend to be realistic about the risks associated with sharks, novice swimmers tend to blow the risks way out of proportion‌think Jaws! So, being the Sea Grant agent I try putting their fears at bay with sound science. If you have friends that fear sharks here is some good information to share with them. While it is thought there are over 400 different species of sharks worldwide, only about 30 have been reported to attack humans. In the Gulf of Mexico, only five out of the 35 or so species that inhabit its waters are considered to be potentially dangerous to humans, mainly because of their large size. The sharks that most fishermen encounter along our shallow coastal waters tend to be relatively smaller. Regardless of their size, sharks are predators and should be handled and treated with respect. So what exactly are the chances of being attacked by a shark? Fortunately there is just the resource to help answer this question and many more relating to shark attacks...The International Shark Attack File (ISFA). The ISFA is a compilation of all known shark attacks worldwide that is managed by
the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida. According to the ISFA, "The chances of being attacked by a shark are very small compared to other animal attacks, natural disasters, and oceanside dangers. Many more people drown in the ocean every year than are bitten by sharks. The few attacks that occur every year are an excellent indication that sharks do not feed on humans and that most attacks are simply due to mistaken identity...Worldwide there is an average of 50-70 shark attacks every year. The number of attacks has been increasing over the decades as a result of increased human populations and the use of the oceans for recreational activity. As long as humans continue to enter the sharks' environment, there will be shark attacks." While Florida is considered the "shark attack capital of the world" (with the largest
number of attacks in Volusia, Brevard and Palm Beach Counties), there has only been one reported unprovoked attack in Charlotte County's waters between 1882 and 2014. Lee County and Sarasota County have each had 7 during this same period. In addition to providing a wealth of information on shark attack incidents and trends around the world, the ISFA also provides statistics on the relative risk of being attacked by a shark compared to other natural and human-caused phenomena such as lightning strikes, car crashes, dog bites and house hold accidents. For instance: Between 1959 and 2010, there were 459 fatalities in Florida from lightning strikes compared to 9 fatalities from shark attacks over the same time period. From 19902006 there were 16 sand hole collapse fatalities compared to 11 shark attack fatalities in the United States. Here is a
sobering one for bicycle riders, between 1990 and 2009, 112,581 people were injured and 2,272 were killed in a bicycle related accident in Florida. Over the same time period 435 people were injured and 4 killed by shark attacks. From 2002 to 2013, 782 boaters were killed in boating accidents in Florida compared to zero killed by shark attacks in Florida over the same time period. Ok, this is where the toilet comes into play‌ In 1996, the only year I could find data for both topics, there were a total of 13 shark attack injuries and deaths reported in the United States, but in the same year there were 43,687 reported injuries associated with TOILETS!!! So toilets are clearly a greater threat to you than sharks! Charlotte County Sea Grant Agent, Capt. Betty Staugler UF/IFAS Extension, Charlotte County (941) 764-4346
MARCH 2015
Mondays with Dad By Fishin’ Frank
Water LIFE Baitshop Last week I forgot the bait. Yes, I own a bait shop and I forgot to take bait on my way to go fishing. I won’t live that down for a while. Our trip this week was to Pirate Harbor and the flats just north of there. We started out inside the Pirate Harbor canals looking to see if trout were still hanging out. Dad got a 14 inch trout on a slip sinker rig with a 1/2 once weight using a live shrimp, but we had been there about 30 minutes before we got our first hit. We saw a couple people catch cat-fish and decided we were heading out to the flats. Out on the open flats the wind was perfect for a drift, so we started casting in front of the boat while we moved. The best part of drifting is you can see if there are fish movin, there is lots of information to be had just by looking. I can tell you one the thing I learned, there are no fish in the open. It will be the end of this month before the fish are back on the open flats. We stayed with out fishless drift until we came to a set of islands, then using my Stick-It as a push pole, I guided the boat between two of them. There was a nice trough about 4 foot deep running between the islands. We casted the trough then just before we got to the back side of the is-
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land I anchored the boat and dad tossed his shrimp under a poppin cork three feet from the mangroves. Blamm!! The bait must have hit that redfish right in the mouth right while it was yawning. Dad’s red was heading around the boat so I reeled in and took up the landing net and camera. The fish was about 25 inches and foot-ball fat. We fished the island for a while more but we had made a lot of noise and we had spooked the fish. Why was that redfish there in that spot? It is not enough for me to catch a fish in a spot, I want to know if there is a chance there will be more fish there later. It’s crazy, but after 30 some years of fishing the Harbor I had never fished these islands before, so we idled the boat along the shore line spooking out two more reds and looking around. It turns out there is a nice deep hole there, 3 to 4 foot deep, maybe 20 feet long and 8 feet wide, right against the shore line and that hole connects to the cut between the two islands, so the fish can be in the current during the incoming tide and sit back next to the island as the water gets low. It was a perfect place to hold redfish or snook. Now I have that hole in my head. I count anything more than 6 inches deep as a hole. I figure the average water depth is two feet, so that 6 inches is 25 % of the depth, that to me is a hole. We fished around a couple more islands spooked some more fish, and saw some others but they were not ready to eat
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so we headed back out by the sand bar. We anchored where we could see dark and light places in our casting zone. Then with our shrimp under poppin corks we cast them out off the sides of the boat so they would drift back behind us covering as much water as possible. I decided to help the fish find us, so I took a bag of frozen shrimp and crushed the shrimp in my fingers and started tossing them out in a broad pattern to get some smell in the water. That worked and 10 minutes after I started the chumming Dad got a bite; it was a feisty little fish and getting it to the boat we saw it was a puffer Puffers really like shrimp, They are just the craziest little fish. They have sharp beak-like jaws and like a parrot, they are biters. But they are also so cool when they blow up. Suddenly the line we had a shrimp on, the one with a sinker on one of the sand
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holes, goes screaming off. I picked it up and the fish runs way off to the side of the boat. It turned out to be a cat-fish. This is the problem when you start chumming on the flats, it can bring in any fish, not just the ones you want. Frank@fishinfranks.com 625-3888
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Three Generations
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By Capt Bart Marx Water LIFE Inshore Hello fellow anglers March can be a good month or great month depending on whether or not it is dark and windy or sunny with a slight breeze. On one of our trips last month I had a group of four men spanning three generations. It was what looked like the start of a tough fishing day in South West Florida. There had been a couple of cold fronts pass that week. It was a bit windy, 10- to 15-knots with gusts higher every now and then. It limited where we were able to travel in a 22-foot center console. We started at the Placida Park boat launch site. We first took a peak at the Gulf through Little Gasparilla Pass – it was all whitecaps across the mouth of the pass, not going out there! We ventured into the Boca Grand Island canal system and anchored up on a spot where we caught some sheepshead and some mangrove snapper. It was a calm spot behind the island and it had warmed up nicely. We traveled over to another area to fish and it was a bit slow there so we didn't stay long. We traveled through the canals around the golf course where the Bush families go to celebrate the Holidays on Boca Grande. This is part of the Inn on Boca Grande that has a lot of history. We also motored by the almost new Boca Grande Marina. It is looking good with a new fuel dock and all. We found another spot to throw the anchor and cast some shrimp up along the mangroves for reds and mangrove snapper. The youngest of the three generations caught some reds. We stayed untill the bite slowed and headed over to the old phosphate dock pilings where we anchored and started casting live shrimp which got us some good bites, a couple of sheepshead and some small jack cravelle. The dad of the 10 year old was fishing from the front of the boat and caught a nice snook about 24inches, then his brother from California (in for the weekend) caught himself his first ever snook, it was about 27inches. The bite slowed there too so we ventured to yet another spot for the last few minutes and then it was time to make our way back to the dock. It still was pretty windy. We were traveling into the wind so it was choppy but we all made it back to the dock dry. These guys had a great day catching fish and making memories.
MARCH 2015
If you would like to book a trip with Capt.
Bart Marx and make your own fishing memories call 941-979-6517 or e-mail me at:
captbart@alphaomegacharters.com
Singing drags and tight lines make me smile!!
MARCH 2015
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Curing the Redfish Curse By Mallory Herzog Water LIFE Fishing Redfish are a common species in Florida. They are one of our state’s most popular sport fish. These fish dine on a variety of baits; crabs, shrimp, pinfish, ladyfish and mullet. They also respond very well to spoons and artificial's. Sounds easy right? Not for me. For the last few years I have had this redfish curse. I’ve spent hours on the water coming up empty handed. But now that we bought a boat, I was determined to learn how and where to fish for reds. I mean, if you fail so many times you have to be doing something wrong. Ask for help. My experience in saltwater fishing has been largely off the beach. The backwater fishing is a challenge and that makes it all the more exciting. Thankfully I have some great friends who are familiar with our local waters and who gave me an idea where to start. It was a cold morning with a super low tide. I wasn't too confident the fish would eat with these crazy temperatures we've had recently. When we arrived we had to wait for the water to come up a bit so we explored a few bays and canals near where we would be fishing later that morning. The water was only 3- to 4-feet deep and crystal clear. As we were trolling motoring along we came across a large redfish eating right next to the boat,
oblivious to our boat until in the excitement began. I cast too close and scared him off. Well thats a good sign right? Found one, I am sure there's more. We came out of the canal to the main flat to see a few boats already anchored up waiting on the tide. Looks like a pretty popular area, we used our trolling motor to quietly find our own spot along the flat. These grass flats are delicate and hold abundant sea life vital to those fish you love catching. Sea horses, starfish, crabs, conch, juvenile game fish, all grow up in our flats. Damaged sea grass regrows at different rates depending on the type. Regrowth can start in a few months to a few years. Paying special attention not to harm our sea grass will ensure successful fishing in the future. We anchored up with our Stick It pin. We were using large live shrimp and jig
heads, hooking the shrimp in the tail so it can walk around the bottom and look natural. We threw them near the shoreline in some sandy spots. Some people prefer to throw in the grass others do not. I figure if my shrimp has to crawl across the sand to get into the grass where it wants to hide maybe it will grab a fish's attention along the way! We set three lines out, two off the back of the boat towards the shoreline and one off the side in the deeper water. We set these in rod holders and began to put things away and grab some breakfast when all of a sudden my rod bent over. I rushed over to pick it up, its a jig head not a circle hook, I had to set hook and not pull it right out of the fish's mouth! Success! I saw her roll in a big golden flash. I’ve hooked my first redfish on my own boat! Andrew had to yell at me to calm down, put my rod tip down and hide my excitement since this fish wasn't in the net yet. After I got a few snapshots with her, she was released. I love our boat's large release well. Its perfect to set your catch in while you dig out your camera. I am not much of a fish eater, so almost all my catches are returned to the sea. WOW, my first and biggest redfish! Not much could bring me down that day. I didn’t care if we caught anymore, I felt accomplished. Then, as Andrew picked up his rod to check the bait he was on a
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fish as well, catching another, larger keeper sized redfish. We caught about a dozen between keepers to smaller rat-reds as we explored further down the flat. The bite seemed to be the best during the tide switch in the AM hours. We saw so much life on these flats. Smaller snook not interested in my bait at all, tons of various crabs, pinfish and stingrays. I can’t wait until the wind lets up this spring so we can catch a few on fly. But on this day, in spite of 15 mph wind gusts, it was still not bad fishing on Charlotte Harbor.
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MARCH 2015
Kids Outdoors By Adam Wilson Water LIFE Outdoors The boys and I get out whenever we can to hunt or fish. Brandon really prefers the hunting, but he also likes throwing the harpoon we made too. The fish pictures are from Gasparilla sound. The harpoon/bow fishing for mullet was in old Knights Pass. We shot several birds in Myakka State Forest during the small game season, mostly dove, but also quail like in the photo – a flushing covey of quail really gets the heart rate up! Our trail cam got photos of hogs, also in the Myakka State Forest. I had it mounted under my tree stand. We learned hunting hogs in Myakka, although fun, is difficult. The hogs there see a lot of hunters, you can't bait them and the underbrush is so thick you can be on top of hogs and not know it! It's basically sit in a stand and hope they
happen to wander by. After several weeks of chasing hogs around Myakka State Forest without success, I decided to reward the boys patience and take them down to Hog Heaven preserve in North Fort Myers where
MARCH 2015
Brandon shot his first hog in December. Christian and I left Brandon and his dad in some tall grass near an open game trail at the edge of some thick brush and we circled around to spook hogs toward him. When we were within about 100 yards of him we heard his 12 gauge fire and we knew he had one. Jalapeno stuffed, bacon wrapped back-strap on the smoker, yum. We also made a bunch of
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Editor notes* Water LIFE donated the rod as a tournament prize and our writer and friend Adam Wilson won it!
breakfast sausage out of the hams with our new electric grinder. In the photo above, Brandon (his last name is VanDerVeer) is using the Redbone rod I won in the Englewood Open photo tourney. I put a Penn reel on it from Frank's with some spider wire. It is an awesome set up, Thanks again!
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MARCH 2015
SCUTTLEBUTT
Sometimes Unsubstanciated, But Often True
FWC DOINGS Officers responded to a complaint of someone cutting down mangroves which covered the entire length of their Transatlantic under sea cable property line. The property owner was not present upon arrival, however there were freshly cut mangroves piled up on the ownerʼs property. Witness statements were obtained and the property owner was contacted by phone. The case is pending and was filled with the States Attorneyʼs Office.
Lieutenant Frantz was interviewed on “Fishn Franks” “Pod Cast”. The interview was concerning being aware of your surrounding area when fishing and boating. Officers received a call from dispatch about a vessel that was sinking near the El Jobean Bridge. The caller advised that he could see two people in the water who did not appear to have on life jackets and that the water was extremely rough due to the wind. Deputies, responded to the location of the sinking vessel and were able to keep the capsized boat from sinking and towed it back to the boat ramp where it was returned to the owners. After warming up and drying off in the ambulance, the two occupants went home unharmed. The Stump Pass State Park Ranger called about a
boat taking on water in Ski Alley. When the officer arrived on scene, the operator had placed the motorboat on the service boat lift at the park. The operator admitted that he forgot to insert the drain plug when he launched from Indian Mound Boat Ramp and the bilge pumps were Checking muscles at the base of the not working. Statue of Liberty. NOAAʼs nationwide While the boat study show the occurrence and severwas being ity of disease and parasite infections drained, the ofin muscles to be generally low. ficer noticed that there was damage to the lift caused by the operator. The boat and individuals on board were safely returned to the water. The case is still under investigation waiting for damage repair estimates.
Officers responded to a search and rescue in the Henry Creek area of Lake Okeechobee. Information indicated one of the individuals was on oxygen. Officers were able to locate the individuals from the top of the dike using binoculars. The only visible sign was a small American flag that was attached to a fishing pole they
were waiving above the vegetation. The officers attempted to reach the individuals in a kicker boat but the vegetation was too thick. One officer got on an airboat while the other officer spotted from the dike. They located the subjects in a head of cattails about 12-feet tall. They were able to get the vessel out to open water where they cleaned the prop and water intake of vegetation. The individuals were then able to motor away.
Officers received a tip in reference to a subject keeping undersized fish at Gasparilla Island State Park. They then observed the subject catching and keeping fish. Both officers made contact with the subject and conducted a resource inspection. The inspection revealed undersized sheepshead, mangrove snapper and flounder. The subject also had an expired out-of-state fishing license and was issued the appropriate citations. An FWC officer was walking the Boca Grande fishing pier and observed two subjects leaving the area with two buckets full of sheepshead. As the pier was busy with fisherman. The subjects stated they measured the fish using the opening of a five-gallon bucket. The officer measured the fish using a lawstick and explained to the subjects that several fish were undersized. Both subjects had been issued citations for similar violations within the past 18 months at the same location. The subjects were issued the appropriate new citations
Sailing MARCH 2015
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Charlotte Harbor Regatta
By Peter Welch Water LIFE Sailing This year’s One Design Regatta in south west Florida has increased the variety of one design boats to 11 registered designs. Three race circles accommodated 82 boats on day two and three. The speed of Hobie 16, F18, and F16 catamarans and favorable winds facilitated 10 races over three days on circle 3. Circle 2 Weta and Wind Rider trimaran’s also completed 10 races. Circle 1 hosted 2.4M, Sunfish, Precision 15, Harbor 20, Wave catamaran, and Flying Scott boats and completed 6 races in two days. Each competitor’s worst race finish was removed and low point wins. Tied scores are resolved by lowest points early in the series. The 2.4M class is being promoted on Charlotte Harbor by 2.4M builder Tony Pocklington and sailing instructor Dennis Peck, but for different reasons. Tony believes it is the right budget racer for solo sailors. Dennis likes it because the boat gives disabled sailors independence. Together they provided five of the 14 boats entered. At the end of day one Tim Ripley trailed Tony by one point, and Peter Eagar trailed by 4. When each had their throw out applied Tim lead by 3 points and Tony and Peter were tied so the tie break put Tony second. The last race took place after a major wind shift. Dennis Peck noted “ a favorable wind on one side, favorable current the other, neither good for me in the middle.” Peter Eager of Canada placed second in that race, but the tie break rewarded early success.
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Water LIFE sailing photos: Fran Burstein
Isles Yacht Club is finding their Precision 15s are too wet and tippy for winter sailing by the older members. They trialed Harbor 20s against sail maker Doug Fisher. Doug had five firsts and the club sailors traded identical throw outs and a three point spread between second and fourth. I conclude that the Harbor 20 can support a great club program. Weta and Windrider trimaran’s appeal to those seeking a compact boat that does not require hiking out or a trapeze in high wind. Weta catamaran racer Linda Wright is so hooked on the boat that she will sail one in the upcoming Everglades Challenge. Sixteen Hobie 16s shared circle 3 with the F16 and F18s. Friday’s winds transformed the Hobies into dual trapeze speedsters. Heather MacDonald crewed on a Hobi 16 last year and was “hooked.” Her Fleet 2.4 Meter F16 F18 Flying Scot Harbor 20 Hobi 16 Precision 15 Sunfish Wave Weta WindRider
$2 off any haircut!
best and worst summary: “Friday’s winds were awesome. The worst thing was when the skipper fell off the boat and we capsized.” Second place was decided in the last of 10 races. There was barely enough wind and incoming tide to get the boats back to the start area where the finish order was taken at half distance. Heather rates this as their best sailing in very light wind “just feeling the wind,” and passing fleet winner Dan Borg. The Borg and Sanchez boats were 2nd and 3rd in this race, securing their 1st and 2nd place overall. The nine F18 s were the speed stars of the Regatta and raced on the longer of two
First T Ripley M & A Brunsvold L Muma Thomas/Sherman D Fisher Borg/Giovando C Heek/L Squire J Richter M Pederson K Rice R&L Powell
Score 10 9 20 6 5 12 7 5 7 16 12
Second T Pocklington P & D Laurent K Marshack Knowles/Suter M Mixson Sanchez/Macdonald J Heek/B Coyne C Whitten R White K Rodgers J Murphy
courses on circle 3. Except for the last race they were able to fly a hull both up and down wind and boat speed seemed to outweigh any tactical maneuvers that monohull racers employed. Laura Muma and crew proved to be the speed kings of day one with four firsts. Charles Tomeo and crew held that honor on day two and three, but absence from day one ruined their Regatta. So Ken Marshack and crew held second place. The F18’s return to Charlotte Harbor October 17-25 for their International Championship where we expect exciting races from the world’s best F18 teams. This is a big honor for Charlotte Harbor! Proceeds of the Charlotte Harbor Regatta are used to support the three youth sailing organizations on the Harbor and a graduate of one youth program sailed in the Sunfish fleet. See: www.charlotteharborregatta.com Score 13 18 26 12 13 40 8 10 7 28 22
Third P Eager B Raska T Ricardi Shore/Gasgarth Holt/Sween Modderman/Isco J Nuzzo/C Nuzzo W Sanderson S Woodruff J Adams J Rodenkirk
Score 13 25 34 13 14 42 13 14 14 28 25
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MARCH 2015
March – Predictions and Suggestions
Charlotte Harbor
Frank, at Fishin’ Franks 941- 625-3888
There are a lota lota redfish around, we’re seeing more than you could imagine – the trick is getting them to eat. The first thing in the a.m., fish with shrimp. The hard part is you have to stay as far back as you can and cast to them. Any place you can find a trough in front of the mangroves there are probably reds in it. In the afternoon you catch your reds on cut bait or find some pinfish and cut them into pieces. There are lots of redfish on the east and west side and at Bull and Turtle
Bay, the trick is getting close enough without scaring them. They are just spookey. I think with the hot, cold, hot, cold, they will eat, but it’s not like they are really starving. It’s like what the full moons do to people, they are finicky and fussy. There are quite a few snook in the canals and at Alligator Creek. They are
hitting really slow moving lures. The best thing is a 1/6 or 1/8 ounce jig with a paddle tail. Don’t jig it, just reel it slowly and let the tail do its work. Out past the bar, on the low tides, there are trout, but as soon as the tide comes in they move to the inside, behind the sandbar. Pompano have been pretty good in front of Bull and Turtle and at Jug Creek. There are still quite a few hanging outside the bars. We are also starting to see a lot of cobia. A friend, Capt. Danny Latham, had a triple this week, with three customers all hooked up with cobia at the same time! That’s a first, for sure. You have to keep your eyes out for cobia and free line shrimp for them like Danny does. In the Gulf, there are tripletail and a few reports of them as you come in from Boca Grande. There are not a lot of stone crab traps out there this year so you almost have to find something on the surface and fish under it for tripletail. The red grouper are doing great 23 miles out on Swiss cheese bottom. Fish
using Spanish sardines. There are also plenty of snapper, porgy and grunts on the near shore reefs. If you are on the beach you can stand on the sand and cast out for flounder and pompano. I’m hearing good stories about whiting in the passes too, not a lot, but they seem to be much bigger than we have seen in the past few years. And jack crevalle are right there in the passes too. The jacks like it high and fast, so you got to be near to the surface with a crank bait. For the pompano, you bait with a teaser. In the local canals, fish 2- to 3-feet off the seawall where there are reds cruising from dock to dock. This is best in low light conditions, morning or night, when reds seem to be the predominant fish in the canals, just put it on the bottom or
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
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BackBay Xtremes Capt Dave Stephens www.backbayxtremes.com
941-916-5769
MARCH 2015
The BIG-4
RED GROUPER Still on fire on hard bottom offshore.
leave it drifting with the tide for redfish. Up the Peace River we are running into some tarpon that seem to be coming down from I-75. We’ve had several reports of them moving back and forth. I think it’s silver trout they are chasing, that’s what is by the bridge now. Maybe you could even try a whiting under a float. I can’t think of what else they are feeding on; silver trout or
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Good Fish to expect in March
SNOOK Back and forth to the flats, feeding heavily
REDFISH Way back in the islands on the east side
There are sheephead at the usual spots, the trestles and at Novak and Trembly reefs. They seem to be more toward the ICW. If you want numbers, get close to the Gulf. Bass are doing pretty good and the cooler weather has brought the pan fish up. Hillsboro and Lake Betty are real good. Crappie are hitting little jigs and minnows. For bass, fish a crank bait or a fluke, which is a bass fishermen’s term for a jerk bait. Fish a frog bait if you are on heavy weed cover. It’s slow and methodical fishing that may take 50 casts for a bite, but it’s probably going to be a very good fish.
Lemon Bay
Jim at Fishermen’s Edge 697-7595
Fishing has been good. The best thing is if you have a chance, get off Rachel Nicole played captain and push poled her sweetie Capt.Scott Sichshore. I’ve been seeing ling around one day last month. “For all the fish he has put me on, he dereally big fish pictures served it!” she said. Now thereʼs a keeper! lately. African pompano, 8-9 pound mangrove snapper, cobia and yellowtail, mostly from the whiting. Very early or very late is when you Bayronto wreck. There was a lot of action going have a real good shot at them. Try trolling a 16on the last few days there. They got everything: Bomber and see what happens. red grouper, amberjack, almaco jacks and Shark fishing is a little slow. There are porgys. There are so many fish around it’s not sharks here, but we are at the slowest time of to be believed. The guys say there are a lot of the year right now. If we get some more warmbait fish showing up now. Glass minnows and ing then by the end of the month we’ll see good some sardines. The backcountry fishing is firing shark fishing again. up too. Guides are showing each other pictures of big trout, keeper redfish and the occasional snook. They seem to have been catching them all on shrimp. There are so many permit and pompano at the beach at Boca, it’s just lights-out crazy! The sheepshead are going pretty well still, there are a lot of them closer to the pass and at Mary’s Reef where, I guess, they go off to spawn. Along the beach there are pompano, whiting and black drum. The shore fishing picked up because the water is not so mucky and dirty as it was. There is also the occasional beach flounder, just one guy caught one so I dont know if
Pending Record
Jason Jones of Biloxi, Mississippi was expecting wahoo or tuna on his fishing trip last month, but what he caught instead was something more exotic and possibly a world record. Jones was fishing south of
Dauphin Island when he reeled in a 1-pound, 11.2ounce lionfish. “It was a normal trip my friends and I try to make about twice a month. We were fishing at the popular MP-265 rig,” Jones told the local newspaper. “I didnʼt have any idea it may be a
record, but a buddy on the trip was a professional spear fisherman and he knew right away it had to be a record.” If confirmed by the International Fish Game Association (IGFA), this fish would narrowly push out the current all-tackle world record
POMPANO In the Harbor, the surf and the passes
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Gulf Temps are high 60s The Harbor is 3or 4-degrees warmer
there are that many around. And there is quite a bit of tripletail out there, running the crab pots. A guy in my shop today was going to do that. He said he redfished the last two days and caught 20 reds so now he wanted something different. The water temperatures are still low so there is not very much Spanish or kings. They’ll be back quick-snap, especially if the sardines are on the move and the cigar minnows are with them.
95˚ 90˚ 85˚ 80˚ 72˚ 70˚ 68˚ 50˚ 45˚
Good ! FISHING RIGHT NOW:
Shark activity seems to be pretty steady. There is a lot of stuff offshore still getting bit off by the sharks. In the clear water, you can look down and watch them terrorize the AJs as you try to get them to the boat. That’s about it.
lionfish caught in 2013 off Miami and weighing 1 pound and 10 ounces. Interestingly enough, the 2013 lionfish was the first of its kind ever recognized by IGFA.
RIGHT: Jason and his new potential IGFA all tackle record lionfish
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