Water LIFE Oct 2006

W a t e r LIFE Charlotte Harbor and Lemon Bay

Keeping Keeping Boaters Boaters and Fishermen Fishermen Informed Informed

FREE!

October 2006

BigGators Page 11

Tournament Results Page 18

Photoshoot

Black Salty

Fishermenʼs Village Marina Re-Opens

Federal Judge: Page 21

“The “T American Public has no federal or state ‘right’ to fish or hunt on any navigable waterway in America”

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They get the ʻotherʼ black Page 22

w w w. C H A R L O T T E H A R B O R M A G A Z I N E . C O M

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Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

October 2006

Water LIFE

October 2006

There is so much we donʼt know

By Mi chael Hel l er Water LIFE Publisher Fishin’ Frank, Capt. Ralph Allen and I will once again be the measuring committee for the World’s Richest Redfish Tournament, Oct 7. Last year one Richest Redfish angler brought in a dead fish to be measured. Not a little dead or dying, but all dead, through and through, 100-percent.

Ralph looked at it and said ‘dead fish,’ Frank looked at it and said ‘dead fish,’ I looked at it and said ‘dead fish,’ but this guy wasn’t happy with our collective wisdom so he grabbed his fish and took it up to the stage and stuck it in the tank there.

The lure of big money will make anglers do strange things. He pushed the fish hard by the tail, giving it a torpedo ride around the tank’s circular perimiter.

“Look,” he said, with great satisfaction, “my fish is alive.” “Frankenstein,” someone in the crowd muttered, “It’s Alive!”

In the last few years various chemical additives have come onto the market for ‘enhancing’ the water ‘quality’ in livewells and tanks. Chemicals can’t bring a fish back from the dead, we know that to be true, but chemicals may help keep a fish alive. The problem is,

Reduce d!

24284 Vincent Ave Punta Gorda, Never lived in, custom built KB home, just waiting for you to move right in. This fabulous two-story 4/2.5/2 has more room than youʼll know what to do with. Located directly across the street from the prestigious Burnt Store golf club.

Call me today for more details on this one of a kind deal. MLS#642678 $349,000

by regulation, not all chemicals can be legally used in a livewell that ‘circulates’ back into open water, and we don’t know a lot about what they do to fish long term. Up to now, only one product, the all organic Rejuvenade, has been approved for recirculating livewell use inshore and offshore in Florida.

Rejuvenade clearly makes fish more active. Stand on any weigh in dock and watch the anglers take their fish out of their livewells. Those fish will often be ‘electric’ in behavior – so much so that the scale becomes impossible to read.

So what happens to all those jitzed up fish, long term? I know for a fact some of them survive. I’ve photographed fish at one tournament and had them show up again in photos the following week.

Same fish, same distinguishing marks – no doubt about it ... and healthy. And I’ve seen healthy fish tagged, released and re-caught. But a few observations do not make a scientific conclusion. I’ve seen tanks green with rejuvenade, like the one shown here, filled with dead fish.

The state says surveying tournament anglers and collecting release information from them would not be ‘good science,’ but what information is the state gathering that’s better?

Today, anglers frequently know a lot.

3

Redfish roll up dead in a ʻholdingʼ tank after a tournament.

They bring their fish to the scales in treated water that is also super oxygenated. You’d think with all the savy anglers and all the tournaments we have in our area there would be more dialogue between anglers and scientists.

Trout caught in the summer are going to die. Redfish caught in the winter will probably live. Don’t handle fish with a towel. That’s about the extent of what we hear conclusively about catch and release fishing. There has to be more.

Recently I heard of a new livewell additive coming on the market. That one is a tranquilizer for fish. I remember seeing the FWC adding a tranquilizing chemical to their tank when they transported fish. It made sense to me.

6272 Scott St - This listing is offering lots 6 thru 10 (35, 000 sq. Ft.). All lots to be sold together.

Omi zoning next door and ci zoning across the street. There are currently two older homes on property. Not many parcels of this size come available in Punta Gorda.

Call me today for more details. Mls# 643665 $445,000

451 Viceroy Terrace Brand new 3/2/2 + den pool home has fabulous features including: energy saving insulated glass windows, custom hickory wood cabinets, granite counter tops, ceramic tile in master shower, tray ceiling with crown molding, marble garden tub in master bath, 13 x 26 roman style pool with full cage and bay barrio ceramic tile, and stainless steel just to name a few. MLS# 635787 $379,000

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So now we can be administering both uppers and downers to our fish. Is an exciter the way to keep the bait in the live well frisky and, conversely, is a tranquilizer better for tournament fish that are going travelling? Who knows this?

And what about Oxygen? If oxygen is good, how about NitrOx or some other specially formulated breating gas?

At what point does all this chemical and blood-gas altering effect the sporting part of fishing? Would an olympic athlete be allowed to compete if he was doped like a redfish? Would a race horse?

Would tournament results be any different if a fish had to swim unattended for 24 hours before the winner got his

15484 Gregus Ave Come build your dream home on this fabulous lot in Port Charlotte. Only minutes to great shopping, dining, and schools. Call me today for more details.

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310 Shreve St, Reduce d!

Punta Gorda, In the heart of historic downtown Punta Gorda, this is the deal you will not want to pass up.

This charming and quaint dollhouse is a piece of history, built in 1920. Home offers two bedrooms, one bath, lush tropical landscaping, a spacious enclosed lanai area. Impeccably maintained, MLS#643429 $299,000

3293 Port Charlotte B l v d .

Charming 3/2 plus office, completely refurbished spacious kitchen with new cabinets and countertops, new carpet, new tile, upgraded baths, fresh paint throughout. Close to shopping, restaurants, schools, and medical facilities.

Priced to sell, MLS# 636764 $ 199,000

Water LIFE

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October 2006

MAGAZINE

Letters and e-mail to Water LIFE Magazine THREE CHEERS FOR DORADO Dear Mr. Mi chael Hel l er The beautiful and tasty fish that the restaurants and Hawaiians call Mahi Mahi and most Florida fisherman call dolphin is more properly identified by you on page 17, September issue, as the dorado.

Throughout most of the Caribbean and virtually all of Central and South America this colorful fish has been known as dorado, probably since the Spanish conquests centuries ago. We should all call the fish by that name to eliminate the confusion with the mammal named dolphin. I wish some influential fisherman’s organization would petition the Florida Department of Marine Fisheries to change the name of the fish they call dolphin to the logical Spanish name dorado.

S . F. Hutchi ns, Rotonda Hi Fol ks,

I want you to know that your kind assistance in getting our message out to the public resulted in our having 26 persons take the course, all of which passed. Your publication has helped to make the boating in Charlotte Harbor much safer. Thank you very much.

Dave Bradford US CG Auxi l i ary

From a Water LIFE Reader:

Please vote on November 7th, and if you live in Charlotte County, please vote, YES for the Environmentally Sensitive Lands REFERENDUM that will raise funds to facilitate County purchases of areas for permanent protection and management. Passage of the REFERENDUM would provide 77 million dollars worth of purchasing power over a 20-year period by adding an ad valorem tax of 0.20 mill, or only about 35 bucks a year to the average homeowner. And

through cost-sharing partnerships with our State and Federal governments, and private foundations, that 77 million could reasonably exceed 200 million to save the best of what is left of Charlotte’s irreplaceable native landscapes, wildlife, and coastal waters. All of the counties surrounding Charlotte have already, successfully adopted such a plan.

Voters in Sarasota County are so pleased with their program they voted overwhelmingly (80%) a year ago to extend it for another ten years. We waterfolks should really get behind Charlotte’s environmentally sensitive lands bonding REFERENDUM, because all of the regional residues of inappropriate watershed development end up right in our fish’n hole – The Greater Charlotte Harbor Estuarine System.

The letter asks for donations to the Lemon Bay Conservancy Dear Water LIFE Last month Fishin’ Frank said you get less bites using braided line than mono? That means that fish have reasoning powers. Quite an accomplishment for having a brain the

size of a grain of sand. And that also assumes that fish have eyesight that's developed enough to even discern what line is. Why then can't they see the treble hooks hanging off my top water plug? And why would they even eat my hot pink Skitterwalk?

I've tried that experiment and I'm convinced that it makes no difference what kind of line you use. If you put a bait in front of a hungry fish, he's going to eat it no matter what it's tied to. Sure, I use a leader tied to my PowerPro. It's a heck of a lot easier to cut and re-tie than the braid.

Lucas, in Englewood Dear Mi ke Nice picture of you and Ellen in Sunday’s HeraldTribune. Don't feel too guilty about building on former wetlands. I understand the

Herald-

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Contributing Editors:

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

on the COVER:

Danny Latham with one of the bigger redfish in the Flatsmasters Red Snook event. Partner Mike Friday holds the bag. Along with Dannyʼs father Homer they won 2006 Team of the Year.

on our WEBSITE:

WWW.charlotteharbormagazine.com

Tide Graphs: For local waters

Weather: Links to all of our favorite sites.

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

Manatee Myths: Read the original plan to create sanctuaries and refuges, as spelled out by the United Nations in 1984 Links to Realtors: Connect with our real estate advertisers

Black Salty trip

October 2006

By Capt Robert Moore Water LIFE Staff The email I received from an old friend started something like this. ‘Can you help out with a trip on Charlotte Harbor targeting snook, redfish & tarpon’? Not a problem I thought, but then I read on. They will be flying in Black Salty baits for the trip. My first thoughts were what the heck is a Black Salty and why do we have to fly them in? So I went to their web site and began to research. The first thing that I realized was these were fresh water shiners being used in saltwater. Then I read on about ‘years of intensive development’. I really like that phrase, I always have. It’s just my nature. Tell me you have researched something for many years, something that catches fish, and you’ll always get my attention.

I replied back with a date for our trip, honestly not knowing what to expect. I then sent fellow guide, Capt. Mike Mahan, a link to the web site and an invitation to join us. If there was anyone that would dissect this he would.

I’ve never met anyone like Capt.

Mike. He never seems to leave a stone unturned. The next thing I know Capt.

Mike has a 60 gallon aquarium set up at his residence with dozens of Black Salty’s swimming in it. (See what I mean?) Soon we were on Charlotte Harbor with a livewell full of freshwater and several dozen 5-7 inch Black Salty’s.

What happened over the next hour and a half really got my attention.

As we came off plane I could see tarpon rolling all around us. I quickly grabbed a frisky Black Salty, put a 5/0 Daiichi Light Chuck Circle Bleeding Bait hook through the nose and waited for a rolling tarpon to pitch to. As I stood on the bow of my boat waiting for my opportunity I watched the 6-inch Black Salty dance just under the surface

Water LIFE

trying to free itself from the hook. After about 5 minutes a tarpon gracefully rolled within 20 feet of the boat. I quickly made a cast 10 feet in front of the tarpon and waited. It took all of about 10 seconds before I felt the familiar ‘twang’ on the end of my line that comes when a tarpon swallows your bait. Ten minutes later I was bringing a 50-pound tarpon boat side. We immediately returned to the rolling fish and drifted two lines behind the boat and I remained on the bow looking for another sight casting opportunity. Within 20 minutes I was hooked up again. As we watched the 6070-pound tarpon perform its aerial acrobats, one of the lines off the rear began to sing. Then a 100+ pound tarpon leaped from the water spitting the hook as fast as we hooked it. It was at that moment I was convinced tarpon will eat a Black Salty.

A hundred yards away fellow captain Dwayne French was fishing with his clients watching two grown men giggle like little school girls. He called on his cell phone and asked if he could borrow a few baits because he was out of large threadfins and didn’t want to waste valuable time trying to catch more bait. We offered him the rest of our baits provided he had a separate well to put the baits and fresh water in. His reply was ‘Oh, you guys are using some top secret baits!’ After 30 minutes we left Capt.

Dwayne. Then he called and thanked us once again. They had just landed a large tarpon estimated about 125lbs.

A week later I snuck over to Capt.

Mike’s house early in the morning and stole 30 of the inshore size Black Salty’s from his aquarium. I wanted to see how they would work on snook and redfish. I fished on a high flood tide, pitching mangrove bushes for 5 hours. By the end of the day I had landed 13 redfish (20-25 inches) and 2 snook. One of the

MAGAZINE

snook weighed in at 9-pounds. Ok, now I know redfish and snook will eat them too. I used an 1/8 ounce jig head, hooking the baits through the nose. At the end of the day I had used all but two baits. The best part of that day was when I returned home it only took me 10 minutes to clean the boat. It’s amazing how clean a boat stays when you don’t throw a cast net that trip.

When the day arrived for Larry Bozka with Anderson Farms (the company that

Page 5

produces the Black Salty) to arrive and fish with only Black Salty’s, Capt.

Mike and I were more than just comfortable we could get the photo’s Larry wanted for his web site, we were confident. Confident because we both knew first hand that these baits really do work.

The day must have been somewhat of a success because by noon we were all sitting at Harpoon Harry’s eating lunch.

Continued with more photos on page 16

Water LIFE

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Completely REDUCED! remodeled 3/2/2 pool home on Saltwater canal.

1432 sq ft, built in 1970. Features new roof, gutters, soffit, pool cage, A/C, water heater, appliances, wood cabinets, interior doors, carpet, tile, jetted tub in master bath, and more.

Electric & water at dock. Great home at a great price. MLS #645852 $329,900 Call Ellen McCarthy at 235-5648

Looking for a reasonably priced home on Saltwater canal.. Then this is the one for you.

3/2/1 with pool, just minutes to the Harbor.

129 ft on the water Living, dining & Florida rooms, wood cabinets, new pool cage, soffit & fascia, wet bar and much more. $ 324,900 MLS # 648137 Call Ellen McCarthy at 235-5648

REDUCED!

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

2,400 sq ft, built in 2004. This is your dream home, shows like a model with granite countertops, wood cabinets thru-out, 18 inch tile floors, double stain glass entry doors, double coffered ceilings with lights and much much more. Call for more details. Offered at $434,900. MLS # 647430 Call Ellen McCarthy at 235-5648

Best priced home in Deep Creek....3/2/2, 1320 sq ft, built in 2000. Nothing to do but move in.

Home shows like a model, some of the features include open living, Dining & kitchen to enjoy, bay window in breakfast nook, wood cabinets, pantry, tile thru-out except bedrooms, master bedroom has trey ceilings & walk in closets. Home is located on nice quite cul-de-sac. MLS # 637920 $229,900. Call Ellen McCarthy at 235-5648

REDUCED!

WHY WAIT TO BUILD!! This 3/2/2 pool home overlooks a lovely waterway, has 1614 sq ft and was built in 2005. Home features many upgrades including Granite kitchen countertops, wood cabinets, ceramic tile, walk-in shower and more. This home also comes fully furnished with beautiful furniture. This is a must see!!! Bring all offers!!.

MLS # 634989 $330,000 Call Gerry at 268-4249

Centrally located 2/1/1 pool home on oversized corner lot on Fresh Water canal. 1182 sq ft of living area. This home comes fully furnished and has updated kitchen & bath. New roof, carpet and pool cage. Come take a look today today you won't be disappointed. $199,900 MLS# 646108 Call Andy Rodriguez at 628-8399

Great investment home on 2 lots. 2 bedroom 2 bath home with 1136 sq ft, Come take a look at all the potential this home has to offer. Living room and family/office or 3rd bedroom. Family/office has beautiful wood beams and ceilings, Tile thru-out. Explore all the opportunities this home has to offer. Motivated seller!! $159,900 MLS # 649028 Call Ellen McCarthy at 235-5648

Like New, This 2/2/1 waterfront home was completely remodeled before Charley. 1211 sq ft of living area, just minutes to the Harbor. This home has all new plumbing & electrical, new roof & A/C in 2001, all new furniture, wood cabinets, tile floors, concrete seawall with 2 docks and 6,000lb boat lift. Nothing to do but move in...Offered at $ 369,900 MLS # 648220 Call Ellen McCarthy at 235-5648

October 2006

MAGAZINE

Beautiful 3/2.5/2 pool home on Saltwater canal, with 1937 sq ft, built in 2001. This home is located in Collingswood Pointe area, and has 108 feet on the intersecting canals, Only 20 minutes to the Harbor. Some of the features include , solid surface counters, breakfast bar, walk-in closets, intercom & security systems, sprinklers, storm shutters, jetted tub in master bath and more. Seller will pay up to $10,000 towards buyers closing costs!

Don‚t miss this one!!. MLS 635104 $519,900 Call Ellen McCarthy at 235-5648

REDUCED!

Gorgeous 3/2/2 pool home, 2060 sq ft, built in 1989. This home has so much to offer including hardwood floors thru-out except for tile in baths & foyer, 2 breakfast bars in kitchen, bay windows, 4 walk-in closets, master bath has jetted corner tub with a view, dual sinks,& vanity, beautiful landscaping and the list goes on. Great home for entertaining, You won‚t want to miss out on this one!!!!. MLS # 634149 $249,900 Call Rieka at 235-5648.

Enjoy breath taking panaramic views of the lake from your backyard. This 2/2/1 has 1432 sq ft and has been completely remolded with wood cabinets, 17 inch ceramic tile, new carpet, windows, roof, and A/C. Nothing to do but move in. $ 244,900 MLS # 646886 Call John at 204-9428

Deep Creek Beauty!!!

3/2/2, built in 2003, 1596 sq ft, this open & airy home has everything you want, living,family, & dining rooms, vaulted ceilings, 2 pantries, walk-in closets, plenty of storage, custom window treatments, breakfast bar and more.

Nordic spa also included in price of home. MLS # 638693 $229,900 Call Donna Brooks at 235-5648

A DELIGHT TO SEE... Fits this beautifully maintained large 3/2/2 home on a corner lot. If you are looking for a home with wide open, spacious rooms, this is it 2394 sq ft. Huge kitchen with butcher block island, super size family room plus separate dining room and formal living room and large entry foyer. The diamond brite swimming pool has a fountain, new pool pump and the garden has all new fencing. This home also comes fully furnished with beautiful furniture. $325,000 MLS # 644668 Call Gerry Gilbert at 268-4249

REDUCED!

Beautiful 3/2/2 pool home built in 1991, 1503 sq

ft. Home features new roof, stainless steel appliances, wood cabinets, solid surface counters, ceramic tile throughout except bedrooms and more. Great big lanai wonderful for entertaining, Hurry this one wonʼt last long!!! MLS #635828 $244,900 Call Diane at 235-5648

BRAND NEW NEVER LIVED IN LARGE 3/2/2 home on very private Cul-DeSac with fast access to I-75 as well as to Murdock Mall. 2169 sq ft of living area. Formal living and dining rooms, wood cabinets, cathedral ceilings, inside utility room, master bath with garden tub, & dual sinks. Endless entertainment & family living possibilities. Won't last long at this price!! $237,900 MLS # 648961 Call Rich at 875-5967 or Maura at 276-8752

Beautiful 3 bedroom and office 2 bath pool home, 1533 sq ft.

Living room with wood floors, 15 x 17 family room under A/C which is part of the garage, can be easily converted back to oversized garage. New roof, pool cage & heat pump. Large kitchen with tiled countertops and plenty of cabinets, backyard is completely fenced. Won't last long at this price!! $184,900 MLS # 649029 Call Ellen McCarthy at 235-5648

Water LIFE

Itʼs time to register all non-motorized vessels

October 2006

An Opi ni on, By Capt. Ron Bl ago Water LIFE Senior Staff Let me just come right out and say it – It’s time we start registering all canoes, kayaks, rowboats and all other non-motorized vessels that use our waterways.

Now before the mob shows up at my door with pitchforks and torches let me say that I own a canoe and use it quit a bit, especially this time of year. I just love the quietness of paddling on the water and being one with nature. I also have a 1982 boat registration sticker on the bow, from Ohio where I bought the canoe many years ago. So registering non-motorized vessels is nothing new, it’s common practice in other states.

Recently a committee that was assigned to examine issues involving non-motorized vessels, voted to recommend not requiring registration of non-motorized vessels when the state's Boating Advisory Council (BAC) meets in December. The recommendation passed by a 4-3 vote. I assume the BAC will take another vote and pass their recommendation to the Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) who will decide whether they want to change the current regulations. So I guess there is still plenty of time if you want to express your opinion on the matter. Go to:

www.myfwc.com The main reason to register non-motorized vessels is money. It takes a lot of it to maintain the waterways. Things like public access to the water, navigational aids, law enforcement and safety services are all paid in part from boat registration fees. Then there is the protection of manatees, turtles and seagrass; each year all registered vessels pay $1.50 each just for manatee protection. Then there is the issue of matching funds and grants. The more registered vessels the more money that is returned to the local counties to help with water quality testing, habitat restoration, derelict vessel removal and red tide research. Each year the Charlotte Co. Marine Advisory Commission struggles to find funds to apply for these matching grants. One of the main sources of these funds is the Boaters Revolving Fund, which is funded with boat registration fees.

It really is all about money; the more registered vessels, the more funds, the more grants, the more local projects can be done. Since everyone benefits, why shouldn’t everyone pay?

Then there is another aspect of the issue that doesn’t get a lot of publicity- safety.

Kayaks have become big business in Florida. They have their own dealers, their

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A safety demonstration of how to right your ʻboatʼ

own magazines, their own clubs, even their own fishing tournaments. No one knows the total number of non-motorized vessels that use Florida waterways; but what we do know is that last year they accounted for 12 of the water accident fatalities in Florida. Some may question if that is a high number, so consider that Personal Water Craft accounted for 13 deaths last year and form your own conclusion. I don’t think most people realize that it’s just as deadly in a kayak as on a Jet Ski. If kayaks were registered then they would probably be required to take the same boating safety course that the PWC folks are currently required to take.

There is also the practical benefit of registering all vessels. A few years ago, a kayak was found floating down the Peace River. Thinking that someone had fallen overboard, the Sheriff’s Dept. and the

Marine Patrol sent out the search boats and even sent up the helicopter. Fortunately, it was just someone’s kayak that had blown off her dock. Had the kayak been registered it would have been a lot easier to call the owner. If your vessel is lost or stolen, a registration sticker is a big help in getting it returned.

The last time I wrote on this subject, I received a few nasty e-mails; but that’s ok, we still live in a free country where everyone has the right to express an opinion.

Personally I think you would do better to express it to the FWC. Just remember it’s not about motorized verses non-motorized boats or who is the better environmentalist or the nicest boater. It’s about, should everyone who uses the water pay something to maintain it?

Capt Ron can be reached for fishing information or charters at: 474-3474

25' Catalina 250 Sloop, 1986. Single 10HP Universal Diesel. $9,500

28' Bertram with new Indmar 275 hp engines in 1991.

Private stateroom forward with V-berths, lower helm and dinette. Great fishing or cruising boat. $22,500

38' Bayliner 3870, 1985. Twin135 HP Mitsubishi Diesels. $69,500

24' Wellcraft 2400 Coastal, 1997, single 225 Johnson Ocean runner. Lift kept, no bottom paint.

Asking $24,900

30' Wellcraft Scarab Panther 1987. Twin 465 HP Mercruisers. A real head-turner. Tandem axle trailer included. $44,900

38' PT Cheer Men Sedan Trawler, 1982. Single 120 HP Lehman. This is a beautifully maintained vessel. $149,500

30' Proline Express 2002 T/225hp Evinrudes Fichts only 78 hrs,. autopilot, depth, VHF, GPS, hydraulic steering $64,700

25ʼ Pro Line Center Console Sportfisherman.

Twin 130 hp Honda 4-strokes with only 64 hours.

Loaded with extras, trailer included $58,000

22' Wellcraft 220 Coastal 1999 model with single 200 hp Johnson Ocean Runner. Asking $18,500

31' Trojan Express, 1972. Twin 215 HP Ford 302's Great Condition. $15,900

26' World Cat 266SF 2000 -Twin 130hp Hondas, custom T-Top. Asking $51,900.

33' Cruiser 3370 Esprit,1990. Twin 330 HP Mercurys. $44,900

28' SeaRay Sundancer, 1986. Single 330HP Mercruiser. $19,500

25' Proline WA Cuddy 1998 -225hp Mercury EFI. Clean boat, lift stored. Asking $28,500

25' Carolina Classic 1997 - 300 hp Volvo Duoprop, clean boat thatʼs ready to fish!

Reduced to $39,900

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MAGAZINE

October 2006

Water LIFE

October 2006

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Extreme Redfish Tour

By Capt. Wayne Kerry Tournament Director Time flys when the fish are biting!

We are ready for this year’s last Xtreme Redfish tournament event which will be held on Oct. 21. The check in is on the dock at 5:30 a.m. at Harpoon Harry's. There is no captain’s meeting.

It has been a good first year and a number of anglers have high expectations for winning the Championship Grand Prize, a 17-foot Ranger Ghost.

Come out and join us for the event, we are looking forward to having you all

fish and have fun. Bring you wife with you, have a fun day with your child or just get out on the water with a friend.

This is a low pressure fun event. Entry fee is $110 for a two angler team plus membership. We will have a schedule out some time in February for next year's events that start in April so look for it. If you have any questions you can e-mail: bighitchartersfl@hotmail.com.

Thanks to all of you for your support in our first year. Shown here are some of our first year tournament winners.

Directly on the Intracoastal Waterway facing Sanibel's Ding Darling Preserve. CBS 3bedroom, 2 bath pool home on large cul de sac lot. Deep water canal runs along east side of property with dockage, 25,000# lift, jet ski docks and davits. One of a kind. 1.7 million

Deep water, bay front, lot in Pirates Harbor. Central sewer coming 2007. Absolutely beautiful views to Charlotte Harbor. $750,000 Family compound - Two homes on oversized lots, two boat lifts, large boat house, boat ramp on canal that leads to Pine Island Sound and great back water fishing. Private setting. New 3/2 home $975,000. Older 2/2 CBS $550,000. Buy one or both !

Beautiful Pine Island Home on Back Bay. Community shares beach front on Charlotte Harbor.

Private dock. 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, wood floors. Furnished. No condo fees. $1,150,000.

Best Canal Buy on Pine Island. Large cleared lot with new rip rap seawall, dock, wrapped pilings. Access to Matlacha Pass and the gulf. $287,000

Water LIFE Magazine

is expanding and we are looking for a

Part time SALES PERSON with AD DESIGN EXPERIENCE Call Ellen at 766-8180 Experience is important

Page 10

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

Screaming Reels

Capt Andy Medi na Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor Before we get into fishing. Let me ask you one question: Motor or No Motor? Let me tell you why I ask.

Some fellow anglers have asked me “what’s going on in Pirate Harbor?”

They’re all saying that they’re not seeing the fish they have seen in previous years. It’s true. I know Pirate Harbor like the back of my hand. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of fish left in Pirate Harbor – snook, redfish and many other species, but I’ve come to the conclusion that the secret’s out and it’s been out.

On any given weekend Pirate Harbor looks more like Bull Bay. And this has been going on for a while. At every mangrove point and all across the flats there are anglers and recreational boaters.

As I have said in the past, fish will not stay when they’re not in a comfort zone, ...and I got to put the blame somewhere.

Well, let’s start with me. No, that’s not a typo I said me. I, till not long ago, was one of the guys you have seen in a tower boat flying around the islands. Looking for fish, while prefishing for a tournament. And now, nine out of ten times, you will see me on a poling platform. After seeing so many different areas and estuaries throughout the state and gulf coast and seeing what the effects of the ‘No Motor Zones’ can do to improve fishing, It’s a no-brainer.

Some anglers may disagree, but it really is undisputable.

I was recently on a shore line and watched boat after boat run the flats. I sat there and I couldn’t say anything, not one word, because I was part of the problem! Are ‘No Motor’ areas a good idea for Charlotte Harbor? I don’t really have an answer. I’m by far, not a scientist, but after seeing the positive results no Motor Zones have had on Tampa Bay and the Indian River Lagoon I’d say they

October 2006

work. Even Texas has implimented ‘No Motor’ zones. Can they all be wrong?

Now the fishing: redfish have started schooling up. Good reports of fish are coming from the shoreline between Ponce Inlet and Alligator Creek. If you can get there early enough to work top water plugs along the shore lines do it!

Good reaction strikes have been on Top Dogs, and Skitter Walks. Just sit back and read the water. Look for signs such as finger mullet, or what you might think is a school of Jacks coming down the shore line. Even if they are Jacks it’s still fun to get your rod bent.

When the tide is falling, switch to jerk baits, Try watermelon or white colors and keep an eye on the potholes and sand guts just off the shore line in about 3 feet of water. You can’t go wrong with Riptides new-penny colored, five inch jerk bait in this situation. Snook are also making their way in, check the creek mouths or entrances to canals. I’ve noticed fish are not too eager to move up very far into the creeks. Food supply for them is still out on the flats until the later winter months. Try netting up large finger mullet in the 6 to 10 inch range. Believe me, a linesider won’t hesitate to eat it. As October comes and goes fishing will be improving with the low tides of winter. When a lot of the bigger boats can’t get into the low water areas they become my home away from home. I love the shallow water, so it’s time to dust off that push pole because winter will soon be upon us. If you have any thoughts or questions, please feel free to drop me an email at BentRods4u@aol.com Be safe and just have fun on the water. And remember take a kid fishing.

Capt. Andrew Medina can be reached for fishing charters at: (941) 456-1540 or for information at www.BentRods4u.com Congratulations are in order to Andy, Sheri and their new baby Justin – ed

Big Gators

October 2006

S t aff R eport We received the top two photos in an email. “Big gator” the subject said. The middle photo is particularly interesting as the gator, photographed from a Game and Fish helicopter, has a full grown deer in its mouth.

Below: One of our own home grown Peace River ‘gators taken during the annual aligator harvest by Joe Cellamare, Andy Nusbaum and their sons Chase Cellamare and Jonathan Nusbaum.

Alligators have been harvested in Florida since 1988

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MAGAZINE

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MAGAZINE

October 2006

With Bill Dixon / Punta Gorda Sailing Club

By Bi l l Di xon Water LIFE Sailing I did the CMCS Summerset Regatta over Labor Day weekend. Great regatta, good folks. We motor-sailed to Ft Myers Beach, partied at Salty Sam’s on Friday, raced off shore from Ft. Myers Beach to Naples on Saturday, partied in Naples Saturday night and raced buoys off shore on Sunday. We had buckets and buckets of liquid sunshine, winds to 35-plus, followed by periods of calm so bad, it took 13 minutes to drift across one starting line. We also had looong drum rolls of thunder, but thankfully we didn’t get much close-up lightning.

PGSC sent five boats (of 51) and took three trophies. Tom Bragaw took 1st in Multihull Class with his F-33 Bahama Hunter. Ed Zysko took 2nd in N/S with his Tartan 3500 S ea Fever 2.

Chuck Taylor took 3rd in True Cruising

with his Hunter 380 Ironic Breeze.

Jerry Haller, he of the shredded sail in the photo, finished a credible 5th in N/S with a replacement sail from the middle of the last century.

All boats entered picked up big points in the ‘06-‘07 BOTY contest. In the area of self development and personal growth, I found out at the Summerset that I am not good crew, I have been a captain too long.

Fall series is underway, with 2 light air races marked by adverse tides and the

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Mon-Fri 9AM-5:30PM Sat 9AM-3PM

“Green Pool” Clean Up & Maintenance

highlight of the series, a USCG buoy tender pulling the pin end of the starting line just before the start on Sept 17.

What fun! The race Committee headed

by PRO Gene Fuller on Skip Mansfield’s boat did a great job relocating themselves and the fleet from where 3A used to be to Marker No. 2 and getting the races started ASAP. Fall #3 is October 1. Next fall series race October 15, but first, on Saturday October 7, PGSC is sponsoring the 2nd annual Moonlight Regatta featuring the McCue Perpetual Trophy. The trophy was awarded last year to Dennis Peck who finished first in his AMF 21, Bowling Ball. Awards will be presented at a picnic on Sunday October 8 at Charlotte Beach. Details are posted on the PGSC web site at pgscweb.com.

I found out Fishville will be opening soon and talked about applying for a job as dock hand. I could get paid to hang around live-aboards. My wife told me

The tattered jib on Jerryʼs boat

that I am much too old and too crotchety to ever work for anyone again. I wondered, briefly, if Mrs. D could possibly be right.

Seriously, Harbormaster Jim Branch told me that due to uncertainties about the actual opening, he had lost a lot of snowbird business and should have vacancies this winter. All you people looking for a deepwater sailboat slip better hurry on down before they are all gone.

Marker ‘T’ near the north shore of the river just west of the 41 bridges has disappeared. It is a yellow cylinder about a foot in diameter and four feet tall. It is marked ‘T’ and has the USCG permit number stenciled on it. If you see it call me. .

Bill Dixon cane be reached at: 941-637-2694 or send e-mailto:dixonwj@comcast.net

Dark Water Fishing October 2006

By Capt. Chuck Ei chner Water LIFE Pirate Harbor The mysterious dark waters of October bring some of the best fishing of the year.

Mysterious because you can’t tell 1 foot of water from 10 feet of water; Charlotte Harbor looks like day old black coffee.

This actually makes it a lot easier to catch fish that are spooky in clear water.

The clarity of the water has been slowly decreasing as the summer weather moves forward to fall. Rain storms are the culprit bringing tannic stained water into the harbor from the Peace, Myakka and even a contribution from the Caloosahatchee. The tannic stain comes from the mangroves that line the shorelines. Even the passes of Boca, Gasparilla and Captiva have lost their gorgeous tropical clarity. The fresh water also has changed the food line up. In short, the migratory baitfishes are less predictable and not as easy to find. Chumming in your favorite grassbed may not produce.

The steady influxes of rain water change things around and this is good. Good because with less forage to feed upon the fish are more apt to eat your bait.

Another trigger for fantastic fall fishing is the shortened daylight hours. Gamefish instinctively clue in to cooling waters and less daylight. This is natures way of warning aquatic creatures to feed up for the winter season. Our winters are mild but

Water LIFE

the fish still recognize the seasonal changes.

October snook fishing is just some of the best of the year. Snook are much more reckless in the dark waters and there are some big ones to be had. For lures, we all know a gold spoon is hard to beat.

Fish mangrove shorelines tight to the overhangs on the high water phases.

There are dozens of popular spoons out there and confidence is often more important than the lure itself. On the low tide, fish fast moving plastic jerkbaits Texas rigged to prevent hanging up in the grass.

The baby bass color (white/green back) is always good. Some days you may want to try bright colors such as chartreuse, pink, yellow or a dark brown with an accent tail. This is also a great top water month. Any walk the dog type is good such as a Zara Spook. Stickbaits such as a shallow lipped Rapala are deadly with a fast twitch-twitch-pause retrieve. Bright colors such as yellow or red/white are always good. The firetiger pattern is always a good producer when water visibility is low.

Redfish will be in the same places as the snook and will eat spoons and plastic.

Reds are always keen on eating shrimp.

The DOA shrimp and Berkley Gulp shrimp are really good. Fish them weedless and impart a short twitch-fall-twitch pattern. The slower the retrieve the better.

Good colors are rootbeer, white, fluorescent white and light green. Bigger shrimp

Page 13

move into the harbor in October and the reds know it.

For sure, nothing beats a live rigged shrimp- nothing! If you’re a live bait guy, then you can castnet a well full of pinfish which are reasonably plentiful. Under a cork or freelined, a frisky pinfish will get some attention.

Speckled trout made a strong showing in September.

Bigger trout usually show up in October that commonly make the 20 inch mark or better. All lures mentioned above will work. The difference is that the trout like deeper water over grassflats in open water.

The outsides of the bars are always a sure thing. Just about any plastic bait will catch trout but a small shad imitation with a pink head is Capt. Ron Hueston pulls a snook out of the livewell tough to beat. Trout love fishing a live shrimp around the manpink which is highly visible in the dark water. Yoyo your bait up and down on the groves for reds.

Braided lines are less visible to fish retrieve allowing the lure to touch the top now and you can get away with fishing a of the weeds. Another method is to use a 30-pound braid and 40-pound leader. With racket float such as a Thunderhead which some hammer sized snook in the harbor has clacker beads that make noise when a this still may not be enough if you hook sharp jerk is applied. Place your bait him up against the mangroves but any about 2 - feet under the float. Use a pullpull-snap technique. The noise attracts the more and it’s not sporting.

Capt. Chuck Eichner is a local charter capfish to the area and the fish will hit your tain. For information or to book a guided lure by sight. This float is also good for fishing trip call 941-505-0003 or go to:

Page 14

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

Carpet and One New p i ece of Glass ...

This New House Part 17

By Mi chael Hel l er Water LIFE editor “No Way!” was the consensus of opinion when I told my friend Capt. Keith and a group of his friends about the anvil test.

Earlier that day I had borrowed an anvil from Keith’s A-1 Auto Body and Sales in Charlotte Harbor and lugged it up to the second floor patio of our new Port Charlotte home. The house is on a 6 foot high foundation, thanks to FEMA, so by the time I balanced the anvil on the patio rail it was 22 feet above the ground. I had constructed a wooden frame 16 inches above the ground and placed a sheet of 1/4 inch PGT laminated glass on the frame.

PGT touts their hurricane resistant glass to withstand a 2x4 traveling at 60 mph, but how would it do with a 90 pound anvil dropped from 22 feet?

Several friends thought the idea was ludicrous, that I should start by dropping smaller stuff on the glass. Sinkers, then bigger sinkers, a hammer, a sledge, a small cannonball, a bowling ball - there were as many suggestions as there were people who I talked to. But an anvil there is just something about an anvil.

The glass we used had come from our Florida room and our first repair. A month before, one of our installers had hung a large piece of brown paper over the east facing window to keep the morning sun out. Later when the paper was removed there was a crack in the glass. The installer owned up to the problem and last week we had a new piece of glass installed. This was roughly a 30 by 54 inch piece of laminated glass that filled the center opening between two casement windows. The replacement process wasn’t easy.

The first problem was selecting an installer. PGT recommended several of their ‘certified’ installers and after calling around we picked Quality Door in Port Charlotte. They came out and measured and gave us a price; $750 installed. That’s $62.50 a square foot. It could be the most expensive square foot in the entire house!

At those prices, homeowners might want to install hurricane shutters just to protect the expensive hurricane glass.

And if there is a big storm how long will it take to get all the laminated glass changed? A hurricane window will break but it’s still very hard to penetrate.

It took the two man crew about two hours to get the old glass out. PGT Winguard glass is secured by rubber edged aluminum strips that go in with what is called (in automotive terms) an ‘interference’ fit. Interference fit means ‘wedgedin, really tight.’ And in case that’s not enough they also use a heavy bead of silicone.

“Sometimes the new glass breaks when we put it in,” the installer said, but luckily ours didn’t. The new glass in, sealed

with silicone, wedged with aluminum, the glass guys packed up their truck.

“Just a minute,” I said. Can I have the old glass? “Sure,” they said and they leaned it against the side of the house.

“What do you want it for?” one installer asked. “I want to do some tests,” I said.

With only the one piece of glass I wanted to go for the gusto right off the bat – that’s where the anvil idea came in.

Up on the patio I lifted the anvil off the rail and let it go. The sound it made hitting the glass, a loud dull thud that clearly said something had broken, caused the workers on the house across the canal to look up from their jobs.

Looking down from above, the concentric circles of the impact were what first caught my eye. As I followed the rings my eyes came to the center...and the anvil. Not having been secured to the frame, the glass had collapsed inward, but the anvil hadn’t passed through. “I’d stand behind that glass in any hurricane,” my wife said when she saw what happened, “but I’d still duck if a cow was coming,” Capt. Keith later added!

This was far from a scientific test, but it still spoke volumes for the merits of annealed and laminated glass. Annealing in case you don’t know, is the process of heating and slow cooling glass which gives it strength.

There were other house projects on our list last month as well.

We’re working on our right-of-way improvements. Doug Timmons of Shore Protection (the local seawall and dock company) came to our rescue when they stopped by to cut our swale down to the required contour and ordered some sod for our front yard. The sod hasn’t arrived yet, but we’re on the way to greenery one day soon. Once again, thanks to Doug.

Inside the house, my neighbor Butch spent another Saturday mitering trim and baseboards and then we caulked the nail holes and painted it all just ahead of the carpet installers. We shopped around local-

October 2006

How much can it take?

ly for carpet and settled on Hessler Carpet and Tile in Punta Gorda to get the job done. The carpet was ordered on Thursday and by the following Wednesday it was in.

In preparation for the carpet install we sealed all the plywood joints in the floor and had a water-resistant under carpet pad installed so that if we ever leave an upstairs window open in a big rainstorm maybe we won’t ruin the ceiling in the room below. Maybe.

The carpet guys arrived at 10 a.m. went upstairs and came back down. “Boy it’s hot up there” one fellow immediately said.

It was. We intentionally left the upstairs air conditioning off the night before, the reason being; you want carpet installed hot so that when the room is later cooled off the carpet will shrink a little tighter.

What a pleasure having carpet. We’ve been living for the last three weeks like hippies from the 70s, with a mattress on the plywood floor. I was reminded of how old I was getting every morning when I tried to crawl up to a standing position.

Now we’re in high cotton. The carpeted floor is like having a new pair of air-Nikes under your feet, everywhere.

Our dog Molly came upstairs for the first time and sniffed her way around the perimeter of the room, covering every inch of it. Then she lay down in the middle of the floor and gave a big sigh of relief. She didn’t much like the old plywood floor either.

Outside we painted the front of the garage and up in the attic I began to map out the plan to install the United Enertec vent and fan.

United Enertec’s unit is a beautiful piece. We wanted something strong when it came to a vent fan, something to go with the strength of

Top: I couldnʼt photograph the anvil-drop so we illustrated the path here in this photo.

Below: The glass sen from above, before and after.

the rest of the house. A vent that failed in a hurricane would be a breach in the integrity of the entire house. We found nothing that looked stronger than this unit which is engineered to meet the Miami Dade hurricane codes. It’s welded 1/4 inch aluminum continued on facing page House continued with a weather tight motorized clamshell door on the back side. With a fire hose on

October 2006

it you might have a 1/4 ounce of water come through in an hour. The fan will go in the north side gable, anchored in a custom fabricated angle iron frame bolted to the top of the tie beam. The only other hole in the roof is a our 14 gauge gooseneck vent for the kitchen hood fan bolted to the roof trusses.

Now for a few updates: After talking with the county’s zoning administrator the county has agreed to allow us to post a bond instead of pay a fee for our tree requirements. Previously we had been told we couldn’t move in until we either paid $500 or planted five trees. We agreed to plant the trees, but we couldn’t get it done

Recent area news items:

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

1. Governor Bush appointed Tricia Duffy to replace Sara Devos on the Charlotte County Board. Duffy leaves her post at Comcast to enter public service.

2. After much complaining about the delays and costs associated with redesigning the Events Center, Charlotte County Board authorized a revised elevation to bring the architectural style into conformity with TEAM Punta Gorda's master plan. With less than two months prior to the November ground breaking they realized that the velocity zone designated by FEMA in 1993 did not go away. The zone, which prohibits filling affected areas, encumbers much of the front half of the property. Therefore, the building will have to be relocated further back on the property or reengineered to provide for raising the building on stilts. This delay could push the projected start date back several more months.

3. After two six month extensions, Florida denied further extensions to Charlotte County and some 80 other counties and municipalities in submitting required comprehensive plan documentation.

That has the effect of halting any planned

Water LIFE

right away. The county bent over backwards to give us some leeway to buy and install trees on our lot, which is what we wanted to do and still move in under a temporary C.O. That was good.

Last update: We received a letter from a law firm in Englewood demanding we cease publishing any more information about our previous plumber and the problems we had with him. The letter called for us to print a retraction.

Here’s my retraction: Jack you no longer need to call me.

MAGAZINE

Page 15

This 16-inch square United Enertech vent has a motorized weathertight clamshell door on the back side. A second duct and a housing for the vent-fan will be attached in the attic. The wiring is set so the fan is regulated by a thermostat in the attic.

When the fan comes on, the small motor on the vent opens the clamshell doors.

The website is: www.unitedenertech.com

application to zone property differently than what is in the current version of the comprehensive plan. For example, a developer wishing to subdivide property for high density residential that is currently planned as low density will not be able to start that application for at least six months.

4. The State is also trying to throw a huge monkey wrench into the development process. On a statewide basis, it is recommending that any proposed changes to local comprehensive plans be put to voters rather than to staff personnel to approve changes.

Some counties have many changes every year (Palm Beach had 1500 in 2005) and putting these decisions on a ballot every time will simply slow down further development.

5. Commercial and non-homesteaded residential property owners are reeling from the effects of outrageous real estate tax valuations. With many vacant properties seeing price manipulation by speculators, the Charlotte County Assessors office grabbed the opportunity to ratchet up taxable valuations by more than 40% this year. Most taxing agencies jumped at the opportunity and raised budgets by an almost commensurate amount. Hopefully, they will take advantage of the opportunity to add needed new (or at least more perceptive) employees (see items 2 & 3 above).

6. The Charlotte County Stadium will likely be spring training home for Tampa

Bay's baseball club. Subject to a stipend from the State of Florida, Charlotte County taxpayers will spend $30 Mil to make Charlotte Stadium comfortable for this privately owned organization and their multimillionaire players in 2009.

7. On the flip side, the Charlotte Performing Arts Center announced its meager calendar of cultural events for this season.

Not in need of renovation, only the modest operating costs of this underutilized facility will be a burden to taxpayers this year.

8. Joe Suriel and his Harbor Inn group, pulled victory from the jaws of consistency.

City attorney, Levin, had found that the approved PUD application to build 114 luxury condos and a 90 room hotel on the old Holiday Inn site violated the limitations of the City Center Zoning ordinance. Code appears to limit density to not more than 61 condominium units. Public support for the project at two council meetings was overwhelmingly favorable, encouraging the Council to accommodate the developer's requests. Rather than bringing prevailing code up to date to reflect today's demand for taller buildings with more greenspace, council chose to simply ignore its own code.

Setting a precedent like this is not likely to go unnoticed by other variance desirous developers. Financing for the mid rise (but swimmingpool-less) hotel is closest and so construction will likely start on it within

three years. Luxury condos will start when market conditions dictate.

9. Feeling the empire building goals of the City of North Port, Sarasota is seeking ways to limit further land annexation to this community which is emerging as the commercial and industrial center of our trade area.

10. Burnt Store Road will be widened from Rt 41 to Notre Dame and then straightened southward to Zemel Road.

11. In Punta Gorda, Pies and Plates will open a new store in the former Artistic Gourmet location on "restaurant row". The new endeavor will feature prepared and prepackaged meals for fast at home dining.

12. Beall's announced that it will take its fight to another Appeals Court to gain a sympathetic ear for its plight in being denied a spot in the City Market Place.

Provided that tenants are lined up and financing falls into place, City Market Place is scheduled to break ground later this century.

13. Punta Gorda public housing has razed the 120 unit complex on the river next to the courthouse. No new construction plans have been announced.

Sales Statistics: Speculative lot sales continued to deteriorate. Median prices fell another 7.5% this month and are now down 50% from a year ago. Even at these reduced prices, the number of lots going under contract fell to 111 from 693 a year ago. House prices continued a more modest decline, 5%

Page 16

Continued from Page 5 It wasn’t one of those ‘catch a fish every cast’ type days. We simply started the morning looking for tarpon. After about an hour of looking and another hour of fishing we landed our first tarpon. We then slid over to the backcountry and started pitching to the mangrove bushes. Within another hour we landed half a dozen nice redfish and several snook completing a Grand Slam for the boat. Honestly, I don’t think between the three of us fishing we used more than thirty baits that morning.

Will Black Salty’s replace the other live baits I use for my style of fishing? The answer is no. Will Black Salty baits have a place in my style of fishing? ‘You betcha’.

Let me give you one good example.

Charlotte Harbor is pretty much 95% fresh water as it usually is this time of year and finding the right tarpon bait can be very hard. On a recent half day trip I spent 35 minutes running from the boat ramp to where I was confident that I could catch enough large threadfin herring for tarpon fishing. Keep in mind I ran past rolling and feeding fish to do so. It took me fortyfive minutes to net the bait and run back to the tarpon in the upper harbor. Within 15 minutes every one of the baits I caught was dead due to the fresh water. The very next day I purchased 20 large Black Salty

Water LIFE

Salty Bait for Reds & Tarpon MAGAZINE

baits from Fishin’ Franks (yes, Fishin’ Franks now sells them). By the end of the trip around noon we had landed three tarpon and still had 7 baits left. I figure I saved money buying the baits versus the amount I usually spend on gas to catch my bait.

Will I purchase 300 baits for a flats trip so I can chum shoreline after shoreline to get the snook popping? ‘Nope’, this bait doesn’t work like that. But there will be days when I will purchase 30-40 baits and pitch to sand holes, shorelines and the mangrove bushes with them. Will I never have to throw a cast net again (a personal dream of mine)?

The answer is ‘No’. But when bait is tuff or time is short I will be down at Franks in the early am filling my livewell. continued on facing page

October 2006

October 2006

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MAGAZINE

Page 17

Now nothing is perfect. These baits do require a little pre-planning and logistics. In order to keep them frisky and alive you must keep them in cool fresh water. I have found that during the summer months when the water temperature is high they will live up to 30-40 minutes in saltwater. When the water cools down I believe you could get up to an hour or so. If I use a bait and don’t catch anything on it and place it back into the cooler fresh water they will usually bounce back and can be reused.

To keep my baits alive I fill one of the livewell’s in my boat with tap water. I then add the appropriate amount Aqua Safe Water Conditioner (can be bought at any pet store) to the water. The Aqua Safe is used in aquariums and neutralizes the chlorine and heavy metals from the water. I then put an aerator that re-circulates the water. I have had up to thirty baits live in my livewell for up to a week in between trips.

Now you can purchase these baits in large quantities and have them shipped directly from the company.

They will Fed-X them right to your front door. The only problem with that is they do require a lot of maintenance (ask Fishin’ Franks). They produce a lot of fecal matter and need the water changed daily. The more baits you have the more frequently you have to change the water.

Unless you are planning a big trip and know you will need a lot of baits I have found it is much more practical to just buy 2-4 dozen for each trip from a tackle shop.

Now these baits are 100% legal to use in saltwater. But Florida law prohibits them to be used to catch freshwater species. For more information about the Black Salty’s you can visit their web site at: www.blacksalty.com. You can also visit their photo gallery for more pictures taken of the fish we caught on

Page 18

Water LIFE

October 2006

MAGAZINE

Flatsmasters Makes a Big Splash

S t aff R eport The weather was perfect. Not too much wind and enough clouds to keep the weigh in line comfortable. Snook were the hard fish to find, redfish were a little easier. In the end there were lots of boats with only one fish to weigh in. The water in the harbor had gone dead black, a result of recent rains and the Peace river runoff. Standing knee deep at the top of the harbor, you couldn’t see your ankles. Bait had moved to Devilfish Key and it was even more pronounced on the bar behind Useppa. Lots of teams ran way-south to look for their fish today. In all, only 24 out of the 90 plus

teams signed up came back with two fish.

The biggest redfish came in with the Robinson Underground team weighing in at 7.55 pounds, but the team didn’t have a snook. The biggest snook was 11.55 pounds for team Galloway Ford. They had a second fish, a 5.85 pound red that put them in first place at 17.40 pounds. Second place in points (with 17.05 in fish weight) at this event and first place in points overall was Danny and Homer Latham and Mike Friday, named the Flatsmasters Team of the Year.

Thirty Three teams did not weigh in any fish in this round.The championship is Oct 28-29 at Harpoon Harry’s in Fishermen’s

Top-40 FINAL STANDINGS after the regular season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40

Capt. Name

Latham, Dan Rebol, Clay Lambert, Paul Meredith, Miles Jones, Mark Bradshaw, JB Little,Kevin Hoke, Dave Bryant, Scott Harris, Brain Padgett, Doug Reynoso, Jason Eggers, Steve Brown, Brad Simes, Jeff Grennell, Gary Russell, Jimmy Koza, Jeff Bevis, Colby Davis, Eric Locke, Rob Liscum, Ron Mason, Patrick Fulton, John Robinson, Roy Morris, Bruce Beye, Jesse Tucker, Travis Lewis, Mark Vaughn, Tim Withers, Jay Blackburn, Bing Smith, Josh Taylor, Jim Tanksley, Joe Opsahl, Brad Susko, Brian Morningstar, Dave Beerbower, Blake Santini, Gene

Team Name

Team Latham Ken-Rite Construction Bent Rods Team Cape Tool & Tackle Fish Hounds New Beginnings Const.

Family Boating Center Taco Bell Shallow Minded Renegade Aint' It Rainin Irrigation JTM Team X Vicious Strikes MoonLite Charters Fort Myers Marine Beaches Restaurant 1-800-Plumbing Galloway Ford Moon Doggie Team G. Loomis Team Tropic Trailer Harpoon Harry's Team Parcell Express Fulton Pools Robinson Undergroud Thomas Ryan & Assoc.

Cape Fear Rods Team PC Skinny Dippin' Team Extreme Crackers Team Maverick/Pathfinder Cabinets Plus Sacabum Keetchin' Keepers Ft. Myers Marine #3 Polk's Badcock Furniture Red-Jay Kitchens Team Morningstar Quantum Soggy Flats

Leg #1 Leg #2 Leg #3 Leg #4 Total

144 130 141 150 138 139 123 132 110 149 109 137 136 133 99 114 101 80 134 147 98 115 143 79 88 93 117 113 86 68 146 71 85 107 108 75 118 74 81 63

147 145 136 151 132 139 133 146 144 107 143 88 106 101 149 113 102 126 110 87 129 103 124 138 105 127 109 90 121 99 0 131 114 89 91 112 85 100 93 111

134 146 142 125 109 139 150 113 124 110 131 141 137 144 148 127 135 122 104 83 91 123 94 144 120 99 90 98 116 118 133 92 107 115 80 71 89 129 68 88

149 139 114 105 148 107 115 124 140 146 127 144 130 131 103 137 147 151 126 145 135 109 88 87 125 119 120 134 110 132 133 112 98 90 122 142 104 89 138 116

574 560 533 531 527 524 521 515 515 512 510 510 509 509 499 491 485 476 474 462 453 450 449 448 438 437 436 435 433 417 412 406 404 401 401 400 396 392 380 378

October 2006

Water LIFE

Bleak report for mangrove survival in the path of hurricane Charley

By Terry A. Tattar, Ph. D. , Professor Emeri tus of Mi crobi ol ogy, Uni versi ty of Massachusetts, Amherst, and Davi d C. S cott, Professi onal Geol ogi st, Cape Coral .

Introducti on and Background: Hurricanes are a major cause of widespread mortality in mangrove forests.

While effects of hurricanes on mangrove forests in the Caribbean basin and in the Gulf of Mexico have been widely reported, there have been few studies on the long-term impacts and recovery of mangrove forests. Studies of the impacts of mangrove forests following major hurricanes have indicated that widespread and almost complete mortality can be expected near the path of maximum wind velocity. These studies also indicate that recovery of the mangrove forests are usually very slow and depend primarily on recruitment from mangrove propagules that naturally wash into the areas of dead mangroves.

Current Condi ti on of Mangroves i n Charl otte Harbor: Hurricane Charley caused widespread mortality to the fringing mangroves in the upper sections of Charlotte Harbor, but substantial impact to the lower Harbor and barrier islands have also been recorded. Our preliminary observations in upper Charlotte Harbor are consistent with the earlier reports from Hurricanes Andrew, Donna, Georges, Hattie, Joan, and Mitch. Two years post Charley, we now have ‘ghost forests’ of dead mangroves that line the western wall of Charlotte Harbor from Turtle Bay to Half-way and on the east shore from Pirate Harbor north to Alligator Creek.

However, mortality can also be found throughout Charlotte County north of Half-way and south of Pirate Harbor into Lee County in the north sections of Matlacha pass. In addition, major impact has also been reported in Lee County on Pine Island and on the barrier islands, especially on Sanibel and Captiva Islands.

Review of current aerial photographs of Charlotte Harbor indicate that from the southern tip of Cape Haze at station ‘Fir’ to Cattledock Point, on the west wall of northern Charlotte Harbor, there is 310 Ha.(778 acres) of total mortality in the fringing mangrove forest. On the east wall, from station ‘Ran’ north to Ponce de Leon park, there is 740 Ha (Hectors, or 1830 acres) of mortality. In addition, we examined aerial photographs out of our study project area in Lee County. From station ‘Ran’ south along the east side of Matlacha pass there is

240 Ha mortality and on the west side of Matlacha Pass there are 200 Ha of mortality. The northern tip of Pine Island contains at least 850 Ha of dead mangrove forest. If one includes Pine Island Sound south toward Sanibel Island there is at least 6100 Ha of lost mangrove forest.

Our initial surveys of monitoring sites in the upper Harbor indicate that mangrove recruitment in the high impact sites could not be detected as of spring 2006. This observation also agrees with published reports of the slow pace of natural recruitment. However, growth of invasive exotics, such as Brazilian pepper and seaside mahoe, were found some on shoreline berms lacking living mangroves.

During the spring 2006 surveys, the decay of the roots of the dead fringing mangroves became increasingly apparent. These roots, which were non-woody roots, primarily of red mangrove, were breaking from larger roots and floating at the shoreline. It is expected that entire fringing mangrove root systems will be blown or washed over by wind and wave action in the coming months, exposing the shoreline sediments to erosion.

What Can Be Predi cted for the Charl otte Harbor mangrove Forrests?

The impacts of Hurricane Charley in the highest impact areas near the eyewall path appear to be similar to that observed in mangrove forests from other major hurricanes, i.e., high mortality and slow natural recovery that may take a decade or longer. However, what is not known is how the shoreline will be impacted and where the impact will be greatest. We do know that unless a living mangrove forest occurs on top of mangrove peat sediments, rapid peat collapse will occur.

We do not know how far from the path of the eyewall did the effects of Hurricane Charley impact mangrove forests. In areas where red mangroves were still alive, but injured, it was rare to find any reproductive propagules being produced in the spring of 2006.

Since the production of reproductive propagules is key to any recovery scenario, the lack of production within and near the sites of major impact is concerning.

What i s Needed?

We should continue to monitor the mangrove forests in the upper and lower Charlotte Harbor. Future studies need to focus on hurricane impact on reproduction of mangrove trees. It has been suggested, in some studies, that planting of mangrove propagules should be consid-

MAGAZINE

Page 19

Fishing near Turtle Bay where mangroves were seriously damaged. If mangrove roots decay as some experts predict underwater structure and fish populations will be impacted.

Shown here: Bob and Sandy Melvin from the Orvis Fly shop at Boca Grandeʼs Tackle Unlimited fish in the Lake and Bay Boats tournament last month.

Tuna Time Page 20

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

By Capt Dan Cambern Water LIFE Offshore I am often asked by my clients what my favorite fish is to catch.

Truth is I don’t have just one favorite; I’m an equal opportunity fishaholic. Any fish that strikes hard and furious and can peel line off of a reel fast enough to make it hot to the touch is tops in my book.

When I Craig (top) and Dan with blackfins and (very bottom) Tom with a handfull of gag was younger and had a lot more stamina I thought the best fish battles were the longest ones. Playing tug of war with a big shark for hours on end was a rite of passage when I was a teen fishing on the Venice pier. Back then you would buy the largest reel you could afford and then build your own rod out of a long Calcutta pole and wrap the guides on with dental floss.

Surprisingly, these home made rods were very strong and worked quite well when fishing off of a pier or on the beach. We would spool our reels with 80 or 130 pound Dacron which has very little stretch for better hook setting power but was harder on the arms and back when a shark would surge for another run.

The long Calcutta poles acted like a spring to help absorb some of the shock and worked well as long as the fish was at an angle going away from you and not straight down under you like when you’re fishing from a boat in deeper water. I just about gave up on shark fishing out of a boat until I found out about the short stroke stand-up style poles that had been developed for giant blue-fin

ws Sun: ce Fish XS F here

tuna fishing. Once you got the rhythm down using these rods with a proper gimbal worn low on the thighs and a lower back brace for the reel straps you could just about cut a battle down to half its length.

Nowadays I prefer catching smaller sharks on light spinning tackle versus a knock down drag out two to three hour battle with Jaws.

Fighting small sharks is a great way to hone your light tackle skills for going after more desirable species.

Although the mighty silver king is undisputedly our local big game sport fish, I prefer going to the deep blue water in search of less sought after species such as dolphin, tuna, sailfish, and wahoo. These are pelagic species which like to migrate up and down our offshore waters in search of food and their preferred water temperature. They like the nutrient rich waters of the Gulf Stream and its loop currents that flow any where from 30 to more than 200 miles into the Gulf of Mexico, where marlin and swordfish are also a possibility.

The coolest thing about all of these fish is their ability to ‘light up’ during battle. There is no way to describe this natural phenomenon except to say it looks like someone stuck their tail in an outlet and gave them a jolt of electricity. The site of a lit up fish being reeled up through cobalt blue water is something every angler should experience.

Most of the time these fish are caught while trolling using an assortment of lures designed to look like flying fish, ballyhoo, and even small dolphin and tuna. Out there it’s a fish eat fish world, just about anything goes. High speed trolling is one of my favorite ways to fish when making long offshore runs and searching for signs of fish, like weed lines, anything floating, or better yet birds feeding on bait fish that are being pushed to the surface by hungry fish below. There are some lures that can be trolled as fast as 18 to 20

October 2006

knots which is perfect for my cruising speed on the Hammerhead. I like to put two or three lures way out in the clean wake when I get about 30 miles offshore and keep running west until we find something worth slowing down for. Pelagics can swim as fast as 50 mph so hitting a lure at this speed is no problem.

It’s important to have a reel with a smooth drag and enough line capacity (at least 400 to 600 yds.) to let out while trolling and when the fish hits the lure. You might have 300 or more yds. out by the time you slow the boat down and are able to start reeling. Keep the boat moving forward slowly so the other lines stay straight and you might pick-up a second fish while bringing in the first one.

Using a combination of rigged ballyhoo and artificial lures spread with out riggers and deep trolling lures we can put 6 to 8 lines out at around 7 to 9 knots when a good weed line is spotted. Sometimes you have to work a weed line for several miles before you find a productive patch. Barracuda and little tuny will most likely be in the mix but they are just as much fun to catch and can help you get the crew ready for the really hot bite. Be patient because some days you can troll for hours before something happens but when it does it’s worth it.

Another way to target these fish when you’re anchored up or drifting on hard bottom, wrecks, and springs is to put a live bait out on a flat line and throw out some pieces of cut bait or small live bait behind the boat to draw them in. I usually use 50 or 60 # fluorocarbon leader for tuna, dolphin, or sailfish but you will have to switch to a light trace of wire in front of the hook if the wahoo, cudas, or sharks decide to join the party.

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

October 2006

ScuttleButt

Sometimes Unsubstanciated ... but often true!

IS FISHING ILLEGAL?

Staff Report In the case of Normal Parm, et al v. Sheriff Mark Shumate, of East Carroll Parish, (Civil No.3:01-CV2624; United States District Court; Western District of Louisiana, Monroe Division), United States District Judge Robert G. James has declared it to be criminal trespassing for the public to boat, fish or hunt on the Mississippi River and other navigable waters of America, affirming the arrest of fishermen and boaters utilizing the waters of the Mississippi River. This ruling declares recreational boating, fishing tournament, waterfowl hunting, and pleasure boating illegal on navigable rivers, unless conducted within the main channel of the river, or with the permission of all riparian landowners along the navigable river.

District Court Judge James’s ruling under federal law grants to the riparian landowners of the Mississippi River, the exclusive and private control over the waters of the Mississippi River, outside of the main channel of the Mississippi River. The shallows of navigable waterways are no longer open to the public. This decision, based in federal law, equally applies to all other navigable waterways of America. For bass fishermen and duck hunters, and other fishermen and hunters that use the ever changing shallow waters of navigable rivers for their outdoor activities has been declared illegal. District Judge James affirmed that the public is subject to criminal arrest for trespassing on the riparian landowner’s privately owned and controlled water if they venture outside the main channel of a navigable waterway.

On April 30, 2006, Magistrate Judge James D. Kirk (Document 80) found that the American public had the right under federal law and Louisiana law, to navigate, boat, fish and hunt on the waters of the Mississippi River, across the entire surface of the Mississippi River, up to the normal high water of the river. Judge Kirk relied upon the long established federal principles of navigation that recognized that the public’s federal navigational rights ". . . entitles the public generally to the reasonable use of navigable waters for all legitimate purposes of travel or transportation, for boating or sailing for pleasure, as well as for carrying persons or property for hire, and in any kind of water craft the use of which is consistent with others also enjoying the right possessed in common." Silver Springs Paradise Co. v. Ray, 50 F.2d 356 (5th Cir., 1931). Further, Magistrate Kirk affirmed the public’s fundamental right to boat and fish on the navigable waters of Louisiana for both

recreational and commercial purposes affirming the Civil Code’s declaration that " Everyone has the right to fish in the rivers, ports, roadsteads, and harbors, . . . ." (Louisiana Civil Code, Article 452), and the Louisiana Constitution declaration that "[t]he freedom to hunt, fish, and trap wildlife, including all aquatic life, traditionally taken by hunters, trappers and anglers, is a valued natural heritage that shall be forever preserved for the people." (Louisiana Constitution, Article 1, Section 27).

On August 29, 2006, District Judge Robert G. James, United States District Court, sitting in Monroe, Louisiana rejected the findings of Magistrate Judge Kirk, and declared that the American Public has no federal or state right to fish or hunt on the Mississippi River, or any other navigable waterway in America (Document 139).

U.S. District Judge James specifically declared that neither century old statutes enacted as each State joined the Union, nor federal common law of public use, create a right of the public to use the navigable waters of America for recreation, fishing or boating, unless the activity is done as a commercial enterprise, and limited to the main channel of the river. Judge James has declared that the public’s only right to use the navigable waters of America are limited to commercial activities, and specifically DOES NOT INCLUDE the right of the public to boat, fish and recreate on the rivers of America.

Judge James rejected the argument made by the Plaintiffs that the multi-billion dollar commercial activities that support the manufacturing and sale of personal and recreational water craft and related equipment, and the public recreational uses of the navigable waters, were sufficiently "commercial" to be allowed on America’s navigable waters. If the judgement of District Judge James is affirmed, the exclusion of the recreational boater, fisherman and hunter threatens the financial viability of the entire segment of the American economy that supports recreational use of public waters.

Finally, Judge James declared that the people boating, hunting or fishing on the waters of the Mississippi River, at normal heights, are subject to arrest for trespass, unless the activity is limited to the narrow, main channel of the river.

Editor notes we are waiting for more on this weird story. The key is that this ‘judgement’ must be affirmed by another judge. This is an election year and politicians do strange things to get re-elected.

We’d bet there is a political motive somewhere behind this case.

Charlotte Harbor FISHING GUIDES Water LIFE

Page 21

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Donʼt Mount Your Fish ...Just Rub It! MAGAZINE

Fish Rubbing

October 2006

Left and above author Adam Wilson with the gag and the ʻrubbingʼ he made of it

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By Adam Wilson You need to buy some cotton based material, sheets, painters dropcloth or just by-the-yard material from a fabric shop. You also need to buy water based acrylic paints in the colors you want your fish to be and a few small all purpose paint brushes. Nothing fancy, just a small $10 variety package. I prefer to try and maintain a realistic look and color to my work, but you can use any color you want i.e. plain black, hot neon colors or soft pastels all can create a very interesting art piece. Next you need to lay your fish on a work table and wipe it down with a rag to remove any moisture or slime. I also like to spread all the fins open and pin them in that position with small nails or push pins ( super glue also works ). If it's a larger fish you may need to support the underside of the fins with a book or small block of wood. Now it sounds a little crazy, but begin applying your paint to the fish. I like to begin at the tail and work forward, brushing the paint into the scales. When you are confident you have covered the fish evenly and all the paint is still wet, hold your material tight ( a buddy really helps here ) and slowly lower it over the fish. Immediately begin rubbing the material to transfer the paint from the fish onto the material. Again, start at the tail and rub towards the head,

DIVING

Wi th Adam Wi l son Water LIFE Diving All my buddies and I could talk about for the past week was the two huge black grouper we saw and that I mentioned in last months report. We ran through the story to each other, telling our own interpretation of what went down. It’s funny how the same dive, on the same structure, seen through three different sets of eyes can be quite different, but

this brings out alot of detail in the scales.

Once the paint has been transferred onto the cloth, grab each corner and lift. You will have a replica of your catch to look at forever. The only feature you actually touch brush to canvas with is the eye.

Once the print is dry, simply paint in the eye and all that's left is framing.

A few mistakes I made early in this hobby were uneven paint patches. Too heavy in some areas creates ugly blotches, too light in others and not enough paint will transfer to give a good print.

The fins tend to dry faster than the head and body so I will do those last. Other than that, with just a little practice, it only takes a couple of prints before anybody can really get the hang of it. I would also recommend starting with a smaller fish first, the big ones can be a little overwhelming for a beginner. That's about it. I think a redfish would be excellent for the beginner. They have large scales that transfer nicely and a fairly simple color pattern.

Relief printing has been around for centuries, but it was the Japanese in the late 19th century that began doing fish rubbings to remember their great catches. Traditionally, the art is created with water-based inks and transferred onto rice paper. I find the method above to be just as visually pleasing and a little easier on the wallet. Usually the most expensive part is the frame.

it’s not that unusual when diving depths over 130 feet.

For each atmosphere of pressure you descend (33 feet) the nitrogen in air becomes a narcotic. The deeper you dive the stronger the narcotic effect. Some people describe it as having a cocktail for each atmosphere. So 145 feet equals roughly 4 1/2 martinis. Experience teaches us to overcome this nitrogen narcosis by focusing on the task at hand.

Continued on facing page

October 2006

Sometimes you focus so much you can easily miss what’s happening right next to you. So although our details were all a little different, we each agreed on one thing, there were some monster grouper on this spot.

Pulling up on the spot that next Sunday morning the bottom machine was lit up with a column of yellow and red almost to the surface. The familiar schools ofamberjacks (lesser & greater) and barracuda were still on duty.

We had a forecast of numerous thunderstorms and the clouds were already beginning to darken. With only 8 minutes of safe bottom time we wouldn’t be long and with a driver we didn’t have to drop anchor either. Being this far out in the gulf, it’s a no brainer to bring someone to stay topside.

On our first drop we all swam to the bottom as fast as our ears would allow us to clear. We could easily burn up several minutes of precious bottom time with a slow descent. The goliath grouper were first in sight with the reef structure materializing behind them. The black groupers don’t usually hover in the open over a reef like goliaths.

They tend to hide in as small a space as possible. It is always incredible to watch a 15 pound grouper swim into a hole that looks no bigger around than a 2 liter bottle. After searching for a few minutes I didn’t see any signs of our large fish and began my ascent.

Re-grouping on the surface Craig said he caught a glimpse of a big fish through a rather small hole, but was certain of a positive black grouper I.D. Dive two, and arriving at the structure we swam right to the last known spotting and upon shining a light in the hole you could make out a very large eye and the tell tale pattern of beautiful gold freckles. Carl was closest with his gun and let a 60” shaft fly into the fishes head. Sand erupted from the hole like an atomic blast and we knew we had a solid hit, but the fish was no where to be seen, having cut the 1,000 pound line that attaches shaft to gun as if it were sewing thread. No time to spare and we were surface bound again.

Dive three and we had some serious weather moving in with 40 knot gusts. Our

Water LIFE

MAGAZINE

bottom time was now down to about 2 minutes and we had to try one more time. This fish had a mortal wound and the thought of leaving it for dead was not an option. I was the first one to the bottom this time and as the structure came into view for a third time I could see the outline of a big fish lying on its side in the sand surrounded by goliath grouper. It was our big black, near death, and it had a goliath trying to swallow it head first. This goliath could easily swallow a much larger fish whole, but the shaft from our previous dive was sticking out of the fishes head and keeping him from his lunch.

Carl and I almost simultaneously planted second and third shafts into our buddy and gave a quick yank, ruining the goliaths lunch, but making ours much better for the next couple of months! We surfaced with just enough time to climb in the boat, ice down the big guy, and turn east to run from the ominous clouds almost directly overhead.

He measured 48 inches. Weighed in at 55 pounds. And we are quite sure he was the one that got away the previous week! That means there’s still one out there pushing the 100 mark. Maybe next weekend.

Diving for the past few weeks has been great. The water temps are mid 80’s top to bottom, even at depths out over 130 feet.

Visibility in 60 feet is good and gets better the deeper you go. The murky water usually on the bottom this time of year hasn’t really shown up. I could even make out • Upholstery large portions of the Bayronto from a • Covers quick freedive down 20 feet this past • Convertible Tops weekend.

It’s still to early to investigate some • Camper Backs of our favorite shallow reefs, but it • Mooring won’t be long now till stone crab sea• Complete Tops son and clearing fall waters.

• Cockpit Covers Adam Wilson can be • Sun Dodgers reached at: wilsonpools@comcast.net PHOTOS: For the record, the guy holding the big black with me is my end of summer sale good dive buddy Carl Gill. In the botgoing on NOW! tom photo, I’m with Paul Wagenseil of Englewood.

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Page 23

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By Capt S teve S kevi ngton Water Life - Fort Myers Beach Wow, what a great month September has been for us offshore guys willing to put a few miles of water behind us. The big red grouper were on the flat rocks in 90 foot & deeper, mixed in with lane snapper and vermilion! A few permit

Water LIFE

where still around on the deeper wrecks, at about 85-90 feet, I got a great dive trip in on a ledge about 70 feet deep, and we put a few black fin tuna on the gaff!

Those black fin should hang around a bit longer. Yellowtail snapper were almost a nuisance as they gobbled up flat lined baits and we even got a few of them in the

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October 2006

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boat past the ever present barracuda. If I sound excited its because I am, it's been one of the best summers of fishing I have seen in a while, and on the doorstep of the fall mackerel run I don't see fishing slowing down anytime soon! The annual run of these fish in the last two years has been great with the biggest concentrations of fish within five miles of the beach – that's great news for you guys watching the fuel bill. In among those mackerel will be bonita (little tunny), kingfish, black tip sharks, ladyfish, bluefish, and blue runners, as well as a host of other toothy guys just waiting for an easy meal. Trolling hardware with your eyes wide open is a great way to spot the best action. Watch for diving birds, even one bird making a dive can spell non stop fish underneath. I like to troll ‘Squid spoons’ but everyone has their favorite stuff they like to drag behind the boat, just be sure to "match the hatch" – try to size your lure to the size of the bait in the area, and you’ll be amazed at the difference it will make at the end of your line.

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October 2006

On the LINE

Water LIFE

Page 25

MAGAZINE

FISHING WITH CAPT RON BLAGO

By Capt Ron Bl ago Water LIFE Senior Staff Red tide still seems to be a hot topic in the local papers and frankly I think they are just getting people all worked up with no real facts to back it up. Let me give you an example. We have a lot of people testing for red tide in our area.

There is the Florida Dept. of Agriculture checking for shellfish, particularly the clam farms in our area. You have the Florida Marine Research Institute part of the FWC. You have Mote Marine, a private research lab, funded mostly with public tax dollars and now you have the new guys Charlotte Co. Parks and Recreation Dept testing Englewood Beach. You would think that all these people could test the same waters at the same time and get the same results; but you would be wrong. On Sept 19th Charlotte Co R&P tested Englewood Beach and found red tide levels to be high. Two days later on Sept 21, tests at the same area came back- red tide not present. At the same time, FMRI tested the waters outside Stump Pass about a mile from Englewood Beach and found red tide at the medium level. So I guess you could say the red tide level in the

area was High, Medium, or Not Present and still be right.

It looks like Mote Marine has surged ahead in receiving the most funds from the red tide lotto. They are continuing their tests on people who hang out at the beach when red tide is present. I hope they do a nice control study on these same folks during allergy season in the spring when all the plants bloom.

I’ve always wanted to know what is a greater danger to my health; pollen or red tide.

Here is a tip from an old fisherman.

Every morning I walk out to my dock and look in the water. If I see fish, I forget about red tide and go fishing.

It’s been a great redfish season this fall, lots of fish all over. Big schools of reds have been spotted around Pine Island, Gasparilla Sound and Lemon Bay. You really can’t miss these fish early in the morning. Live bait works best under a popping cork. Shrimp, whitebait or small pinfish work equally well. If you are having trouble finding fish, a jig or the classic gold spoon will help you locate a few. In Lemon Bay , snook action is hot from Forked Creek north to the Manasota Key bridge. If

Capt. Danny Latham with a snook on the way to the Flatsmasters Team of the Year

you really want to catch a legal size snook, night fishing is your best bet.

No boat? Try the local fishing piers at night.

A lot of Spanish mackerel are showing up just off the beaches. Just look for the schools of bait. As the water temper-

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Water LIFE

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October 2006

On the Mark, Get Set, Donʼt Go! MAGAZINE

S t aff R eport One of the cardinal rules of science states that no two objects can occupy the same space at the same time. At no time was that more evident than on September 17 when the Punta Gorda Sailing Club was readying its boats for the first of the fall series races. The committee boat was anchored about 150 yards from marker No. 3. The wind was coming from the east and the starting line had been set, running between the committee boat and the mark.

Twenty five boats tacked and ran back and forth behind the starting line, getting a feel for the wind and trying to calculate their movement so as to be at full speed when they approached the starting line and the starting horn was sounded. There were about five minutes to go before the start.

Several weeks earlier, Marker No. 3 had been struck by a vessel and canted obliquely from the impact. Markers in the harbor fall under the responsibility of the Coast Guard so the old marker was removed and a temporary green rubber buoy was anchored in it’s place, until a new permanent marker could be installed. It was that temporary rubber buoy which served as the other end of the starting line on that Sunday when the sailing club was about to have its race.

I was drifting along behind the starting line, next to the committee boat, when a large gangly shape came into view, steaming towards us from the south. It was the Coast Guard maintenance vessel Vice, pushing a barge with a crane and a pile

driver on it. The Vice was coming to replace the temporary buoy with a new piling for Marker No. 3. What were the odds that this would happen exactly at the time the sailing club had mustered its fleet at that mark for a race?

The Coast Guard made contact with the committee boat and being the good sports the sailors were, and being seriously out weighed, and having no other choice in the matter, the race start was put on hold as the racers moved their fleet off to the west and gathered around Marker No 2 where they set up a new starting line.

In the mean time the Vice got to work on its mission.

First the skipper of the Vice navigated his vessel into the current and approached the rubber buoy. Vessel in place, the ‘spuds’ (movable iron pilings) were lowered into the muddy bottom. Vice was now in place for the work to be done. Next, a few deck hands on the bow of the barge snatched the buoy line with a hook and hauled it aboard. Then one man threw a grappling hook several times in the area of the old mark just to make sure there was no underwater debris left there. The area being clean, the crew then went to work setting the new piling. Marker No. 3 is a 40-foot wooden see: Moving the Mark on Page 29 and photos at right, here

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Water LIFE

A barge attached to the bow of the USCG vessel Vice captures the temporary Marker No 3 buoy (above) . Sailors had planned to use the mark to designate their starting line. But the race relocated while the coast guard installed a new piling and number board for Marker No. 3.

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October 2006

The Water LIFE LIFE Distributor始s Club

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Watch fo us at the new Bass Pro Shops, opening soon in Fort Myers at I-75 and Alico Road

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October 2006

MOVING THE MARK from 26 piling. The crane on the barge came to life swinging around to pick up a 40 foot piling from the deck and hoist it out over the bow. The crew, using large timbers for pry bars wrestled the dangling piling into a metal collar on a steel beam also hanging from the tip of the crane.

Once in place the pile driver attached to the other end of the beam was brought to bear on the top of the piling. The steel beam acts like a track for the pile driver and when everything was properly aligned the pile driver was allowed to bear on the piling, its weight alone sinking the piling the first 10 or so feet into the muddy bottom below. Then the pile driver’s mechanical advantage was brought into play and the piling was driven hard into the bottom until about 10 feet of wood were sticking out above the surface of the water.

Wood in place the steel track beam and pile driver were raised out of the way and a work platform was put in place off the bow so the crewmen on the deck could walk up to the new marker. One crew leader indicated When the race finally started, some sailors the correct facing angle for the upcould hardly contain themselves. river face and it was first nailed then bolted into place. Next the down back in the current until she was clear of river side was positioned and with that the work area and then motored away to the job was done. Platforms secured, the her next job. Time to completion about spuds were pulled up and the Vice drifted 40 minutes. Professionalism 100-percent.

Fishing Club a Book Review MAGAZINE

... and maybe a Holiday gift?

By Pete Johnson for Water LIFE In THE FISHING CLUB author Bob Rich’s quest is to discover what besides an optimistic attitude draws his group of famous and not-so-famous friends to the water and to the endless pursuit of fish. Is it patience, perseverance, hope; a combination of all three or something else altogether? What life lessons has the pursuit of their passion for angling – season after season – taught them?

Rich, author of Fish Fights: A Hall of Fame Quest (now in paperback from Lyons Press and slated for a Hollywood movie), who pursues his passion near his home in Islamorada in the Florida Keys, has a lot of friends who fish.

THE FISHING CLUB profiles President George H. W. Bush’s fishing confidence to late baseball Hall of Famer Ted Williams’ best fishing day ever.

Rich has gathered compelling and enthusiastic fishing stories on other notable, diverse and insightful anglers which include the humble beginnings of Don Tyson, former president of Tyson Foods, who now fishes for 1,000-pound black marlins in the tradition of Zane Grey and Ernest Hemingway. He learns how outdoor legend Bill Dance first realized the importance of proper fly presentation. It

Congratulations to Capt. Steve Skevington!

also includes Andy Mill, Olympic champion ski racer, and star of the TV’s awardwinning Sportsman’s Journal; and Sandy Moret, saltwater fly fishing guru and founder of the Florida Keys Fly Fishing School.

The book is a charming, intriguing and fun look at the world of fishing through the eyes of some of the most patient, persistent, hopeful and passionate anglers Rich has ever met. It’s a mustread for fishing fanatics, or anyone inspired by what makes anglers do what they do.

Author Bob Rich will be signing his latest book Tuesday ev ening, October 24th at the IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame banquet and on Wednesday, Oct. 25th in a lunch time promotion with newly inducted Hall of Fame fishing legend Bill Dance The IGFA Hall of Fame is off I-95 and the Griffin Road ex it just south of the Ft. Lauderdale Airport. The two signings will benefit the IGFA and St. Jude’s Hospital, two of the 13 charities that all of the book ’s proceeds go to. For more on Bob Rich, v isit the website: www.bobrichbook s.com

7 YEARS of great fishing and countless fish caught – both inshore and offshore!

Congratulations to Capt. STEVE SKEVINGTON and his business: PARADISE FISHING CHARTERS 941-575-3528 www.paradisefishingcharters.com

Capt Steveʼs PARADISE CHARTERS is located at 18400 San Carlos Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach, Florida.

1/2 Mile north of the Matanzas Pass bridge and two miles south of Summerlin Boulevard - next door to Pincher's Crab Shack.

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Best Wishes from RAY GUTHRIE PEACHTREE RIDES

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October Fishing Report Charlotte Harbor

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

Redfi sh will be the first choice this month.

They don’t call it red october for nothing. This is the time when reds start to school up and they will do that the entire month. Breeder sized fish (30 to 40 inches) are starting to come in from the gulf, fish in the 15 to 40 pound range. They will be out along the beaches, in the passes and all along the Intracoastal. They have been there since late September. There will be anywhere from a couple of fish to a couple of hundred fish in the

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MAGAZINE

schools this time of year. Pinfish will be one of the better baits to throw at redfish now. Shrimp also does really well. Fish in schools will literally eat just about anything so this is a good time to practice with artificials.

Richest Topwaters work very well; Redfish Rapalla, Skitterlunk, the Top this month Dawgs and the Catch 2000s are Oct 7 at all wonderful baits. In addition Fishermenʼs to the bigger fish, some of the Village $20,000 first legal sized fish are also starting place prize! to school up, with scattered There is still time fish all over the flats on the to sign up. east side of the harbor.

Continued on facing Page

October 2006

October 2006

BIG-4 BIG-4

Those fish would be on the inside of the bar, in the little deeper water along there and up under the bushes.

Once again, pinfish and shrimp are the two best baits to use. You could even try one of the new Black Salties. Alone, they will swim down and settle on the bottom, but I myself like to fish them under a float. I can tell you, so far, the snook like ‘em.

October is snook time but it’s a weird month since the river is flowing early in the month, but by the end of the month the water will slow up and it will be better for snook fishing. By late October, snook will start coming this way. Now most of the better quality snook are down the harbor on the west wall, the east wall and around toward Placida.

Some guides are saying the snook have been running away from the red tide and the snook spawn may be a little delayed this year because of that.

Tarpon are my next choice. Not too many people are fishing tarpon right now, I guess a lot of people don’t realize there are still a lot of really, really nice size tarpon around right now.

Tarpon are still in their summertime haunts; the middle of the harbor, Burnt Store, Cape Haze, just look for birds on ladyfish and pretty much there is a tarpon under there somewhere. Get yourself one of the ladyfish and freeline it and a tarpon will came and find it.

D.O.A. Bait Busters work well if you don’t have any live or fresh-dead bait. Traditionally, tarpon will be here until we get our second good cold snap.

From the shore, the best place for a tarpon would be East Spring Lake, under the bridges or at the 41 bridge where there are a lot of juvenile (20 to 50 pound) tarpon. Up the river towards

ABC, America's Boating Class

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 98, Port Charlotte, Presents; a Condensed version of Boating Skills and Seamanship, a 10 hour course. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. beginning October 4th, and ending October 24th. Classes will be conducted at the new PGI Civic Center, 2001 Shreve St., Punta Gorda.

This class includes a Harbor Orientation Tour Program and an America's Waterway Watch Program.

There is a $30.00 Fee per person, or a $40.00 Fee per couple.

For registration and information contact Fred Counter (941) 505-1290

SNOOK are back in season

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Octoberʼs Octoberʼs Target Target Species Species

SNAPPER are very numerous all over

Nav-A-Gator and the campgrounds there are a lot of juvenile tarpon and there is always an oddball big one around that might just break you!

This whole summer has been spectacular with mangrove snapper and they are still running pretty strong. The 41 bridge has quite a few of them in the 8 to 14 inch range, with some a little smaller. The PGI and Port Charlotte canals are good for snapper as well.

Frozen shrimp and cut sardines are the two best baits for those fish right now.

Set the bait on the bottom with a split shot or an egg sinker depending on the current. If there is shade and structure there will be more fish, but pretty much anywhere in the canals a snapper will find your bait. Placida, and south pier on Boca Grande are loaded with some really nice quality snapper right now.

S heepshead will start to show up again at the end of this month and Ki ng mackerel will be making their presence felt within the next month as well.

Lemon Bay

Ji m at Fi shermen’s Edge Engl ewood: 697-7595 Mostly I’m just hearing about stuff in Lemon Bay. I haven't heard much offshore stuff. There are mackerel out by Boca Grande. Snapper and grouper, yel l owtai l and mangrove are the reports. The S pani sh mackerel that are still around inside are along the

TARPON small fish are still in the lakes and canals

REDFISH BIG REDS are coming in from offshore

Turtle Bay bar. It seems like 8 week, $34 Florida we’ve been catching mackerel all summer. The head boats Fishing Course have had a few good trips lately. ...starts Oct 9 In the Bay, the last few An introductory course in Florida Fishing days, there have been a lot of will be offered through the Adult l adyfi sh and jacks that Education program at the Port Charlotte Cultural Center beginning on Monday came pouring in - acres of October 9. The eight week course ladyfish – as some bait meets on Monday evenings from 7:00 seems to be coming back p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in Room 18. Topics to into the bay. One or two be covered include salt water fishing in the Gulf of Mexico, estuary fishing in sheepshead should start to Charlotte Harbor and fresh water fishing show up soon around the in Southwest Florida ponds, canals and Englewood and Placida Piers, streams. Fishing techniques, tackle but the early fish won’t want selection, rigging, knot tying, lures, baits, cast nets, fish identification, tides and to bite on shrimp. Maybe fishing regulations will be discussed. sand fleas or small crabs Various types of rods, reels, lures and would be better, or scrape a nets will be displayed during the class few barnacles and use them and there will be a number of useful hand outs issued to students. The class to get the bite going. will be taught by long time local fishing Trout are pretty good size guide Capt. Ralph Allen. Cost for the right now. Some guys are class is $34 and advance registration is smoking them with the mulrecommended since the 30 person class is likely to be completely filled. let. Mullet are starting to get roe and are nice and fat. I’m For more information or to register going to put some of thos for the class you can call 625-4175. big ones in the smoker myself. past 80 feet is going to be a We’re fortunate not to have red tide good bet. In 115 feet there in the bay right now. There are a lot of are a lot of nice yel l owredfi sh and snook a some jack tai l and mangroves. creval l e and bl uefi sh. There are Bl ackfi ns are in 120 some juvenile tarpon in the 5 to 30 to 180 feet. pound range in the creeks hanging out Ki ngfi sh could with the mul l et. Offshore, anything

CALENDAR OF EVENTS Powered by

n October 1: Sailboat Race, fall series race #2 by PG Sailing Club

n October 7: Richest Redfish Challenge, benefit tournament for the Good Shepherd Day School, by Laishley Marine, at Fishermenʼs Village, 639-3868 n October 15: Sailboat Race, fall series race #3 by PG Sailing Club

n October 15: 8th Annual Pine Island Elementary Fishing Tournament & Derby at Olde Fish House Marina, Matlacha, Entry: $50, $1000 Slam Prize, $500

each: heaviest legal snook, redfish & trout, phone (239) 283-3232

n October 17 & 19: How to Use GPS by USCG Aux, 7030 Chancellor Blvd, Northport, at 6:30 p.m. (941) 613-1266

n October 20 & 21: Snook Research Round-Up Tournament and BBQ. Adult & Youth divisions, Mote Marine (877) 6211010 n October 28-29: Flatsmasters Championship, Punta Gorda

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Send your events to:waterlife@comcast.net

Fishing

Great!

RIGHT NOW:

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October 2006