5 minute read
Q&A with Conservation Captain Perry Scuderi
Islamorada, Florida
How long have you lived in the Florida Keys and what changes have you noticed in the fishery?
Igrew up in Hollywood, Florida, and started coming to the Keys back in 1977. The top three things that amazed me about the Keys were the stars, the abundance of marine life—from giant sawfish to microscopic worms—and the sunrises and sunsets. was lucky that I started guiding when I did. not only got to work alongside some of the old school guides, but also to call them friends: Cecil Keith, Buddy Grace, Bob Tiburs, Sid Bryant, Joe Johansen, Croft Ashmore, Joc Leprec, Vic Gaspeny, Richard Stanzyk, Addy Adleri. These captains taught me so much respect and love for our environment.
I have lived in the Keys full-time since 1997, and since then I have seen more pressure, larger boats carrying more people, and more sharks.
Can you describe your best day of fishing?
The one trip that stands out to me is a day I went with my son in his boat, an old Whaler dubbed the “Dutchman.” We were only out for a few hours; even better, we only had one bite. One bite was all we needed, because it turned out to be a gorgeous permit. Watching my son mature into a young man and watching him catch this great fish made for possibly my best day of fishing.
What do you see as the biggest threat to the Keys fishery, and what can be done about it?
The biggest threat is water quality. We suffer from hypersalinity, which leads to algae blooms, and then to seagrass die-off. Restoring the historic flow of freshwater down the state would be the most successful part of a complex solution.
What has been your experience helping collect samples for BTT’s various studies?
have participated in bonefish DNA and tarpon DNA studies. Now the most recent study is the Permit Food Web Study. It’s been my experience that my customers enjoy participating in these studies. I’m interested to see the results. Learning new facts always helps us understand both the fish and the fishery better.
You were one of the first captains to contact BTT about the “spinning fish” phenomenon when it spread to Islamorada in the winter of 2023. What role do you think guides play when it comes to emerging concerns?
Originally, when the “spinning fish” started, I received a phone call from Tallahassee asking me what was going on. then spoke with Capt. Pat Bracher in the Lower Keys, who informed me about what guides in the Middle and Lower Keys were experiencing. Almost immediately after that we started to see the same phenomenon in the Upper Keys. I then contacted Dr. Ross Boucek from BTT. Being able to contact Dr. Ross is priceless for us. He is not only a biologist but he is also a fisherman and fellow lover of this incredible environment that we call home. Guides and commercial fishermen are really the first line of defense. Collectively we are literally out there on the water every day. Throughout my career I have seen how the guides, captains, and commercial fishermen are mostly an unused resource. Over the years we have witnessed people who sit in offices in Tallahassee make decisions on policies and laws without ever consulting these professionals who literally spend their lives on the water. Policymakers should come to our guide meetings and ask us what we see and believe is going on out there on the water.
BTT is currently working on its new Shark Depredation Project. How have you seen the volume and behavior of sharks on the flats change?
Years ago, when we were in high school, we used to bring our canoe, “Sick Trip,” down to Flamingo and the Everglades to go out fishing. We almost always encountered sharks. So it’s not surprising to know that they have always been around. But in my guiding career I have witnessed a change in their behavior. After years of taking fishermen’s fish, they have learned that the boat is where they can get easy food, so now they swim right up to the boat and circle until a fish is hooked or released. respect sharks. I love them and all creatures, but I believe there has to be a balance. Now it definitely seems out of balance.
Why is it important for anglers and captains to support research and conservation?
These groups are working to learn, understand, and protect these incredible resources that we cherish. It’s important to understand current threats and future solutions. As a longtime guide and member of the Florida Keys Fishing Guides Association (FKFGA), I can honestly say that BTT is our best ally in understanding and protecting our environment and our future. Not only are they handson, but they love these fish and our environment.
Is there anything you’ve seen in the environment that gives you hope for the ecological resilience of the fishery in the future?
When we had that freeze back in 2010, and somehow air from Siberia literally made it all the way down to the Florida Keys, we had lows with windchill in the upper 30s. Through this cold snap, I witnessed two things: despite losing a huge majority of our snook population, the following year there were redfish in the snook spots. Nature is amazing. Then in time, the snook returned and now are back to great numbers, along with great numbers of bonefish, and right now a ton of small tarpon are around.
