We welcome 2023 with a full slate of offshore sportfishing tournaments and sailing regattas. They offer lots of fun out on the local waters, and will raise the adrenaline levels of sailor and spectator alike.
The Halifax River Yacht Club is hosting the Commode’s Cup Offshore Race Series from March to October, while the St. Augustine Yacht Club is having their annual St Augustine Race Week again this April, along with the 2023 Regatta of Lights Boat Parade in December.
The New Smyrna Beach Big Game Tournament is on again in late May, and the Ancient City Game Fish Association 2023 Challenge is set for July. And the Halifax Sportfishing Club is launching their 3rd Annual Kingfish Tournament in late July.
The CCA (Coastal Conservation Association) is promoting catch and release practices, and of course The Billfish Foundation has guidelines to enjoy and protect our treasured big game fish for future generations. The Riverside Conservancy Center in Edgewater is enabling local scientists and volunteers to restore and protect our shoreline with the Protect Our Lagoon campaign.
So check out the local goings-on inside this issue, and get your vessels, gear and crew ready for an awesome 2023!
What is Sol Fishing’s “Youth Angler Program?” Capt. Evan Sanders and Capt. Adam Coniglio owners of Sol Fishing and founders of “Captain & The Kids” take hundreds of youth anglers out fishing free of charge every year! Youth anglers must be between the ages of 5 to 17 years old and are allowed to be accompanied by one of their parents for the trip.
Capt. Evan & Capt. Adam started the Youth Angler Program after finding out how many kids in the New Smyrna Beach area had never been fishing, never been on a boat, and was born and raised in the area.. Since that day Capt. Evan & Capt. Adam strive to getting more and more youth anglers on the water each and every year! Sol Fishing will do everything possible to make every young man or ladies fishing dreams come true. It does not matter if the kids want to go offshore or inshore,
Sol Fishing will target whichever species they want to catch. Some of the most recent species that the youth anglers have been wanting to target are red snapper, lane snapper, cobia, amberjack, sharks, barracuda, redfish, and snook.
Sol Fishing has expanded their “Youth Angler Program” to be nationwide! Sol Fishing sponsors youth based fishing charters all over the United States. Sol Fishing is always adding new captains in regions all over the United States to offer the dream of going fishing to kids around America!The Youth Angler Program is made possible by all our retailers who stock Sol Fishing’s gear such as our Hats, Decals, and Performance shirts and many more products.
DATE EVENT RACES
Thu-Sat St. Augustine Race Week (SARW) Offshore*
Mar 23-25
https://www.staugustineraceweek.com/
Sat/Sun Apr 15-16 SYC Lipton Cup*
https://www.smyrnayachtclub.com/
Sat May 27 Commodore’s Cup Race Day
Meet at HRYC after the race
http://www.regattanetwork.com/event/25746
Sun Jun 18 Commodore’s Cup Race Day
http://www.regattanetwork.com/event/25746
Sat Jul 15 Commodore’s Cup Junior Challenge **
Meet at HSA after the race
http://www.regattanetwork.com/event/25747
Sat Aug 12
Old Timer’s Memorial Regatta **
http://www.regattanetwork.com/event/25748
Thu-Sat HRYC Starlight Regatta and Sprint **
races scheduled 8/31-9/2 Party at HRYC Thursday 8/31, race start 9/1
http://www.regattanetwork.com/event/25749
Sun Sep 17 Commodore’s Cup Race Day
Sat Oct 14 Commodore’s Cup Race Day
Meet at SYC after the race
Sat Nov 17 Awards Dinner* HRYC Clubhouse
races scheduled
Scheduled races: There are 17 scheduled Cup races including multi-race events.
Eight (8) races are required to qualify for the series. If any scheduled events are cancelled, or fewer than scheduled races are held, the Race Committee reserves the right to reduce the number of races required to qualify for the series.
The best twelve (12) scores will be used to determine the final scores for the series. Boats will be scored using a high points scoring system based on the number of boats that start a race. If any of the scheduled events are cancelled, or fewer than scheduled races are held, the R/C reserves the right to reduce the number of races used to score the series.
* Separate fee required to the sponsor of the event.
** Registration for this event is discounted with a Commodore’s Cup Series Registration. Participation in just this event is possible with a separate entrance fee. See the appropriate Notice of Race (NOR) for event and registration details.
Commodore’s Cup Junior Challenge Old Timer's Starlight Regatta & Series Race Memorial Coastal Sprint
If you are in the market for a golf cart, street legal, or not, look no further. This New Smyrna Beach company offers new carts, used carts, street legal carts, service, accessories, wheels, marine grade stereos, aluminum tops, aluminum fishing attachments, canopies, seat kits, rentals, and more. This is your one stop shop for everything GOLF CARTS!
Salty Rentals is a golf cart sales, service, and rentals company. It was founded in 2018 by John Kostoglou and Lisa Cordell, who are from Northeast Ohio. John grew up and learned the car business from his father, Tony Kostoglou. Tony was a successful and hardworking man who loved the car business and investing in real estate. He is 89 years old and lives with John, Lisa, and their daughter, Vasilia, in beautiful New Smyrna Beach, Florida. The family moved from Ohio in 2012.
John and Lisa purchased and renovated an old oceanfront motel in 2015. It opened in May 2016 as Salty Mermaid Hotel, in New Smyrna Beach. In addition to the five boutique guest rooms, they offered a few golf carts and beach bikes that could be rented from the office. They are proud of the reputation they have worked hard to establish
over the past 7 years. The rentals business operates at the Salty Mermaid Hotel in the heart of the tourist district.
The rental business continued to grow at a fast pace. In 2018, John and Lisa realized it was time to form a new company to set them apart from the hotel. They formed Salty Rentals NSB and continued to expand the rentals business. Their stellar reputation and growing demand for golf carts prompted them to open another location for sales and service on US1. They began servicing their carts as well as offering golf cart service in the area. They began building carts in 2019 and expanded their business again, to include another location for building and manufacturing in Edgewater, Florida. The company is focused on offering the best products and excellent customer service. They opened a new location in Key West at the Marriott in 2022.
The couple have plans underway for a new sales and service headquarters to be built at 2153 State Route 44 in New Smyrna Beach. This is a prime location for maximum exposure on the main artery coming into town from I-95. John and Lisa are very excited to continue growing their business and offering the best products available along with their excellent reputation for customer service.
Salty Rentals • 386-444-6436
saltyrentalsnsb.com
1101 N Dixie Freeway
New Smyrna Beach, FL 32169
March 25 HSFC Sprint Fling Inshore Tournament
Rain Date (4/1/23)
April 21-23 OffShore Challenge, Capts meeting 4/20/23
Rain Date (April 28-30)
June 3 Lady Angler, Capts Meeting 6/1/23
Rain Date (June 10)
July 29 Gas Saver King Fish Tournament Capt Party 7/27/23
Rain Date (Aug 5)
Oct 21 HSFC Inshore Championship Capt Party 10/19/23
Rain Date (Oct 28)
The Halifax Sport Fishing Club (HSFC) was established in August 1967, and is a “registered not-for-profit organization”. For over 50 years, HSFC has a long history of involvement in community service projects:
• Maintenance and placement of Port Authority artificial reefs
• Construction of wheelchair-accessible docks at local boat ramps
• Free fishing contests and picnics for physically or economically challenged children and adults
• Fishing outings for the elderly, especially those in nursing homes and assisted living facilities
• Fund raising activities for the benefit of other non-profits and community causes
• Support for local Marine Science Centers and museums
Club meetings are held monthly on the third Tuesday at 7:00 PM and are open to visitors and those interested in joining. We invite you to come early to spend some time with us.
Thank you for your interest in the Halifax Sport Fishing Club Inc.
Whether you are a serious angler, or just a novice, a membership in the HSFC will provide plenty of value for you and your family. The club provides an excellent forum to discuss techniques, share strategies and tactics, identify productive fishing spots and meet other anglers with similar interests. You also get the opportunity to participate in a wide range of social activities, special events and interesting projects.
We always have something going on,
like family cookouts, boating excursions, monthly fishing seminars, kids fishing events and our special events parties Of course we always have a fishing tournament brewing and our club offers a Fish of the Month contest and an Angler of the Year contest for the membership. What are these contests you ask? What kind of tournaments are we having? Well, we invite you down to the club to check us out. Enjoy our hospitality and come as often as like. You and your family can socialize with our members and enjoy the programs we put on during our monthly meetings. Some examples are: fishing seminars by local and national captains, offshore seminars by local fisherman, charter captains and tournament winning teams, boat repair and maintenance lectures from local marine business’s, and much, much more.
As a member, you will be able to enjoy the tournaments, monthly seminars, meetings, events like those above and the company of great people in all age brackets. All of our members and associates also get discounts on tournament entry fees and other club events.
HSFC is located at 3431 So. Ridgewood Ave, (Riverside Pavilion) Port Orange, Florida. We have our monthly club meetings on every third Thursday at 6:30 PM. Membership dues are $75.00 annually. This is a family membership that includes your spouse and children under 18. If you have any questions regarding our club or our membership please email our Membership Director, Charlie Bird 703-928-4231.
Join us on Friday, May 22nd thru Sunday, May 31st (Fish any 2 of these dates).
Captains Meeting: May 20th
6pm @ Outriggers Tiki Bar and Grille
100% ENTRY FEE PAYOUT
FISH FLORIDA, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization supports organizations that teach people, especially children, about Florida’s fish and aquatic habitats through donations of fishing equipment, grants, and scholarships.
The mission of Fish Florida is to promote public awareness of and encourage the protection of marine fisheries and coastal habitats. This is accomplished through clinics, classes, seminars, presentations, displays and other means designed to teach and promote responsible angling, particularly to Florida’s youth.
Flooding, shoreline erosion, and extreme weather negatively affect Florida’s natural resources, livelihood, and the health of coastal and inland communities. Throughout Florida’s estuaries and rivers, polluted runoff has contributed to harmful algal blooms and threatened the quality of life of riverfront communities. Riverside Conservancy helps meet the need of providing vibrant/resilient communities, combating stormwater pollution, increasing coastal resource stewardship opportunities, and providing special places and living classrooms in which to share the benefits of coastal “green” infrastructure for years to come.
That’s right, YOU can make a difference… even from the comfort of your couch! So, dive right in and let your passion be fuel for creating a better and brighter future.
By adopting a clam, you are helping restore the Indian River Lagoon! Your donation will enable Riverside Conservancy grow a clam in the Indian River Lagoon on your behalf. Clams filter the water and each clam can filter up to 30 gallons of water a day.
EVERY DOLLAR COUNTS!
It supports the restoration of marsh grasses and living shorelines. Your donations are what drive forward each and every conservation success.
Everyone loves enjoying a great day of boating on the water with the sun on your face and the wind in your hair! What could be better?
Always remember that the best things in life are meant to be enjoyed in moderation! Too much of the sun’s powerful UV rays can result in sunburn, dehydration, aging, eye damage, and even worse—cancer.
The Facts, According to the Skin Care Foundation:
• It only takes 20 minutes of sun exposure to get a sunburn if your skin is not properly protected
• Surfaces that reflect light also reflect UV rays. This means that when you are on the boat, there is an increased exposure to the sun due to the reflection on the water and off the deck of the boat.
• Prime boating times tend to correspond with peak UV exposure times (10am-3pm).
• One in five Americans will develop skin cancer.
• Approximately 90% of non-melanoma skin cancers are associated with exposure to the sun.
• Some 40-50% of Americans who live to age 65 will contract skin cancer at least once.
Considering these facts, it’s important to be proactive and to do everything possible to protect yourself, your family and friends from harmful sun damage. The good news is that there are plenty of things you CAN do to help minimize the risks associated with exposure to the sun.
Here are three of the most effective sun and safety tips for boaters:
1. Sunscreen. Choose sunscreen that blocks both UVB and UVA rays. UVB rays cause sunburn and skin cancer while UVA rays penetrate the skin and can lead to leathering and deeper sun damage. Check the label to make sure your sunscreen covers both types of rays. To block against both, choose a
sunscreen with “broad-spectrum” protection and an SPF (Sun Protection Factor) of 15 or higher. IMPORTANT: apply it 20 minutes before you go outside so it has time to start working. Cover ALL exposed areas of your body (don’t forget areas like your hairline, ears and the top of your feet) and be sure to reapply every two hours, especially if you are swimming or in contact with the water.
2. Sun Protective Clothing. Everyday clothing does offer some protection from the sun, but there is apparel you can purchase specifically to block the sun’s rays. Those involved in fishing and watersports activities may find brands specifically suited for this type of boating and life-style activity. Look for clothing with a UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) rating, which is similar to SPF with sunscreen. The higher the rating, the more effective the fabric is at blocking UVB & UVA rays. Please note, this clothing may not be as effective if it stretches or gets wet. Other accessories such as wide-brimmed hats and buffs are also great for added sun protection.
3. Sunglasses. Every year, approximately 3.2 million people go blind from eye conditions caused by prolonged exposure to UV rays. To shield your eyes from damage, make sure to wear polarized sunglasses that block 99100% of the sun’s rays. Polarized sunglasses help to improve visibility and comfort on the water by reducing glare, which is the light that bounces off the water and causes you to squint.
While we hope every day boating on the water provides plenty of sunshine and fun, we also encourage you to take every precaution to maximize your outings by observing these sun and safety practices.
Foundation works worldwide to advance the conservation of billfish and associated species to improve the health of oceans and economies. Considering the context of a planet with over seven billion human inhabitants, conservation strategies must be forward-looking and adaptive. By accounting for the roles of billfish within the marine environment as well as in relation to their interactions with humanity, TBF’s conservation campaigns maintain the flexibility to adapt to emergent threats as well as those which have historically confronted resource managers. TBF employs a multi-tiered, proactive suite of initiatives involving research— both biological and socioeconomic–education, and advocacy projects. As billfish and other highly migratory species are not confined to the territorial waters of any one nation, these strategies must also take into account the differences in culture and law inherent to the international arena. Empowered by an internationally diverse constituent network, The Billfish Foundation is uniquely equipped to do just this.
Established in 1990, The Billfish Foundation’s Tag and Release Program is the largest private billfish tagging database in the world and the cornerstone of TBF’s conservation and advocacy efforts. With more than 220,000 tag and release reports, TBF receives over 15,000 tag and release records annually from across the globe and provides vital information for billfish conservation.
The success of TBF’s Tag and Release program is contributed to the dedicated anglers and captains around the globe that voluntarily tag, release, and report their billfish catches. The deployment of traditional tags and the data gathered from recaptured billfish provides valuable scientific data to further understand growth rates, migratory patterns, habitat utilization, and postrelease survival rates. Tag and release data also provides valuable information for stock assessments that are instrumental in a time when industrial longlines represent the largest source of marlin mortality. This valuable data, much of it impossible to measure without the use of traditional tagging, provides the groundwork for conservation minded policy, scientific advancement, and gives insight into the demographics and socio-economic benefits generated from billfishing.
As tagging provides The Billfish Foundation with substance for its conservation efforts, TBF recognizes those anglers and captains that tag and release the most billfish each year at an awards ceremony at the Miami International Boat Show. The annual International Tag & Release Competition recognizes members who tag and release the most billfish by species in each
of the world’s oceans. TBF award winners are the ‘who’s who of the billfishing world’ and are those that do not just catch and release a great number of fish, but embody and share a common conservation ethic. As captains and anglers on the water represent the first line in billfish conservation, recognition of their efforts provides a means to illustrate the direct link between catch and release fishing and marine conservation. To recognize the efforts of all of its members, TBF also provides release certificates for those that report billfish tags and releases.
AFTER THE FISH IS LEADERED: Bring the billfish alongside the boat. Idle the boat forward and maintain this position to allow the billfish to calm down and allow for easier tagging. Never attempt to tag a jumping or thrashing fish. This can be not only dangerous for the health of the billfish but for you too!
NEVER remove the fish from the water. This can result in fatal damage to the fish for two reasons. Excess rubbing and drying can result in the loss of the protective slime coat found on the surface of the fish. Without this protective covering, the fish becomes susceptible to bacterial infections and parasites. Additionally, the skeleton of a billfish is designed for the buoyant conditions of the ocean. Removing the fish from the water, even onto the gunnel, causes the skeleton to come under the full strain of gravity, which can damage the skeleton and internal organs.
It is vitally important that the tag be placed in the proper area: in the dorsal muscle well behind the head and gill plates, above the lateral line and away from all vital organs (see Figure 1). It is not necessary to use a great deal of force to insert the tag. A firm, well-aimed stroke is best. Place the applicator against the fish’s flank and push, inserting the tag until the stopper assembly is pressed against the fish. Improper tag placement or tagging too hard can result in serious injury or death to the fish. Speed tagging often results in injury.
(800) 438-8247 • (954) 938-0150
5100 N. Federal Hwy, Suite 200, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33308
Modifying the types of hooks you use can significantly affect a fish’s chances for survival after it is released. When fishing with natural bait (dead or alive), IGFA strongly encourages the use of non-offset circle hooks. Extensive research on species from salmon to sailfish has demonstrated that circle hooks gut hook significantly fewer fish without sacrificing catch rates. Lures that have treble hooks should have the barbs bent down or removed to facilitate easier hook removal.
Interested in the science behind circle hooks? Read Circle hooks, 'J' hooks and drop-back time: a hook performance study of the south Florida recreational live-bait fishery for sailfish, Istiophorus platypterus published in Fisheries Management and Ecology in 2007.
If you’re not going to photograph your fish or document it for record purposes, the best method is to not remove the fish from the water. In-water releases can be aided by the use of de-hooking devices that eliminate the need to boat the fish and keep hands safe distances away from the fish. If the fish has swallowed the hook, it is much better for the angler to cut the leader as close to the fish as possible, rather than trying to forcibly remove the hook.
If a fish needs to be removed from the water to remove the hook and/or document it for record purposes, anglers should use either their hands or knotless, rubberized landing net. Most small to moderately large sized fish can be landed by hand. Ideally, this should be done with wet hands or soft, wet gloves to minimize slime and scale loss. Lip gripping devices may be used to help subdue fish. However, they should not be used to hoist fish vertically out of the water, as this can cause damage to jaw muscle and bone as well as to internal organs. The best method for removing fish from the water is to grip the fish or the lower jaw and support the fish’s underside. Again, the point is always to hold fish horizontally and not vertically.
The Marine Discovery Center has spent 25 years informing and educating citizens and guests about the amazing biodiversity of the Indian River Lagoon.
Tagged as the most biologically diverse estuary in North America, the Indian River Lagoon boasts more than 4,000 species and spans 156 miles down Florida’s east coast — providing countless ways to engage the public. Programs at MDC for all ages are designed to offer hands-on, feet-wet learning opportunities through classes, camps, lectures, boat and kayak eco-tours with certified naturalists and teachers.
MDC’s daily eco-tours and monthly free public lectures help visitors understand the ecology of the Lagoon. Camps, field trips, and other education offerings allow children from pre-K through high school (and beyond) to experience our local ecosystems. Coastal ecosystem and other supplemental classes are offered through the Florida Master Naturalist Program (FMNP) at the center multiple times throughout the year.
Working with area colleges and universities, as well as environmental conservation groups, the center also provides opportunities for citizen scientists to become personally involved in restoration and sustainability activities, such as oyster-shell recycling, shoreline restoration, water-quality testing, invasive-plant eradication, sea grass surveys and horseshoe crab surveys.
In addition to our education and conservation science programs, MDC also hosts (and co-hosts) various special events throughout the year including fundraisers, symposiums, and galas. The center always boasts a busy calendar!
The nonprofit Marine Discovery Center is now housed in the former administration building of New Smyrna Beach High School, which operated on the 22-acre site from 1963-2006. Prior to the school’s construction, the site was a natural salt marsh.
Through grant funding in 2014, 5½ acres of salt marsh was restored on the land adjacent to the current MDC building, followed by construction of a butterfly garden, nature play area, a 29foot observation mound overlooking estuarine waters, an archery range and a living shoreline demonstration area. Future plans include construction of an amphitheater and kayak storage and launch area.
Widely recognized as a regional resource for the Indian River Lagoon, the Marine Discovery Center is centered on education and outreach in an effort to preserve, protect and restore the lagoon for generations to come.
Admission to our facility & grounds is FREE!
Tours, education programs, and other special events have associated fees.
What the 2022 Hurricane season in Florida may have lacked somewhat in quantity it far exceeded in impact. The first of Florida’s two hurricanes this
