Recent Press | Vero Beach 32963 September 17th, 2020

Natural gas not coming soon to the barrier island. P16 Vero police suspend parking enforcement. P8 Domestic violence spiked here after start of the pandemic. P10 For breaking news visit

Sebastian River hospital fights to fill patient beds

COVID-19 cases

BY MICHELLE GENZ Staff Writer

BY LISA ZAHNER Staff Writer

As Sebastian River Medical Center braced for the financial strains of a pandemic and tried to finish a much-delayed $65-million addition, the hospital was also fighting for an infusion of its own financial lifeblood – patients in the door.

Figures just released by the state to Vero Beach 32963 show Sebastian River Medical Center continued to see a drop in patient volume through the end of 2019. That is despite assurances last fall from then-CEO Kyle Sanders who predicted

Vero’s barrier island communities have had the lowest number of new coronavirus cases for a three-week stretch since the beginning of June.

The 32963 ZIP code has added only 10 new positive COVID-19 cases since the last week of August, and the island’s total at press time since the start of the pandemic is 108 cases.

By comparison, the mainland area of Vero Beach just across the causeways – ZIP code 32960 – surpassed the

on island drop to summer low

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Cut in state funding reduces services to special needs adults

Beachside salons, spas hoping for a surge in October

BY MARY SCHENKEL Staff Writer

BY STEPHANIE LABAFF Staff Writer

The Arc of Indian River County, a nonprofit that provides job training, group homes and other services to special needs adults, has been forced to cut services due to pandemic conditions and reduced state funding.

A day program operated

by Arc that provided job and life skills to 110 clients before the pandemic has been cut by half, and the group’s transportation services have been

57 percent compared to the busy summer of 2019, according to data provided by Mike and Kim Thorpe, broker-associates with ONE Sotheby’s International Realty.

New contracts, a leading

When salons and spas were finally allowed to reopen after stay-at-home mandates were lifted for the industry, clients flocked to their stylists, barbers, nail techs and estheticians to have their roots done, hair trimmed, eyebrows plucked, and nails painted.

But after the initial flurry died down, things settled into the typical summer slowdown for some beachside salons

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September 17, 2020 News 1-16 Arts 37-40 Books 30 Dining 50-53

32963 REAL ESTATE HAS RECORD SUMMER

BY STEVEN M. THOMAS Staff Writer

The summer of 2020 has been the busiest ever for 32963 barrier island real estate – a record-breaking spree of home buying and selling fueled,

Volume 13, Issue 38

Editorial 28 Games 31-33 Health 41-45 Insight 23-36

© 2020 Vero Beach 32963 Media LLC. All rights reserved.

ironically, by the pandemic itself, which has motivated buyers to flee densely populated big cities and relocate to small, “safer” locales like the Vero Beach.

Between May 1 and Labor Day, island home sales were up

Newsstand Price $1.00

People 17-22 Pets 54 Real Estate 57-68 Style 46-49

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Super Sebastian fireworks display ‘Labor’ of love. P20

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Vero Beach 32963 / September 17, 2020

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NEWS Record summer for real estate CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

indicator of market volume, jumped almost off the charts, with inked deals up by more than 125 percent compared to the same period last year.

The number of homes priced at $1 million or more listed as sold in the MLS between Memorial Day and Labor Day surged from 39 to 54, with the dollar volume of those sales more than doubling, from $62 million to $130 million.

“In what is normally our quietest time, we have had record levels of sales,”

said John’s Island Real Estate Broker Bob Gibb. “We came out of the COVID shutdown expecting the worst, but it has turned out to be the best summer ever.”

Gibb’s brokerage wrote $92 million in contracts between May 1 and Labor Day, an 80 percent increase over the $51.5 million in deals the company secured last summer.

The island market has been “Hot! Hot! Hot!,” said Marsha Sherry, broker at The Moorings Realty Sales Co., which set records every month over the summer, with business up 40 percent for June, July and August. And it’s not slowing down.

“We have already broken our record for the number of new contracts signed in September,” Sherry told Vero Beach 32963 on Sept. 10.

In another example of the blockbuster market, Dale Sorensen Real Estate handled 125 transaction sides amounting to $103.5 million in business between Memorial Day and Labor Day, according to Broker/Owner Matilde Sorensen. That was up from 77 transaction sides and $48.9 million in sales in 2019.

“Needless to say, we are very proud of our sales associates and support staff,” said Sorensen.

“The difference this year compared to last is stunning,” said Mike Thorpe.

“I can’t remember a summer this active in the 39 years I have been selling real estate in Vero Beach.”

Sally Daley of Daley & Company Real Estate said the hottest sectors this summer included “anything priced from $700,000 to $1 million, anything on navigable water, and homes perceived as move-in ready.”

Daley said her company broke records all summer “by a mile,” with dollar volume up 48 percent between May 1 and Labor Day. Island-wide MLS data compiled by Daley shows the dizzying pace of new deals written throughout the summer.

Between May 1 and Labor Day, 414 home sales contracts were signed on the island – more than double the 184 written during the summer of 2019.

Sales have also been fueled by the lowest mortgage rates in modern American history.

This astonishing upsurge in real estate activity amidst a worldwide economic and social crisis culminated in August, when the number of new contracts was up 163 percent compared to August 2019, according to Daley’s data.

“Summers are usually slow for real estate on the island,” said Debbie Bell, a top producer at Berkshire Hathaway.

“Normally we might see five properties go under contract in a week in the summer, but this summer we are seeing as many as 30.

“When COVID came along, I thought it would be the end of my business, but I decided to redouble my efforts and work really hard and I have done very, very well!”

“Typically, August and September are our slowest months,” said Buzz MacWilliam, broker at Alex MacWilliam Inc. Real Estate. “But this August was the single best month we have ever had in the history of the company, going back to 1949.”

MacWilliam was not able to break out his island sales separately, but countywide his company “wrote 64 new sales contracts for $29.9 million in sales volume. Both of those numbers literally doubled what we did in August 2019.”

New homes and homes priced at $1 million and more kept pace with the rest of the market.

Between Memorial Day and Labor Day, 28 homes on the island sold for between $1 million and $1,999,000, along with 21 homes priced between $2 and $4 million.

Four home sales closed for more than $4 million, including a $25-million oceanfront compound listed by Premier Estate Properties brokerassociates Cindy O’Dare and Richard Boga that was the most expensive home ever sold on the island.

“Things are moving and shaking,”

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Vero Beach 32963 / September 17, 2020

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NEWS said ONE Sotheby’s Realtor broker-associate Janyne Kenworthy, who has a portfolio of 20 new luxury waterfront homes listed at Orchid Cove, one of the largest new home developments on the island.

“I have five homes under contract and I’m working with four or five more buyers. The buyers we are seeing are more serious. They are not browsing.

COVID has pushed people to do what they have wanted to do – to get out of the big, congested cities up north, to retire earlier and get more living space – and they are taking advantage of the interest rates to make a move.”

“Everything is turning out very positive,” said Bill Handler, head of GHO Homes, which is building the other 37 homes in the 57-home Orchid Cove community.

GHO has sold 12 of its homes so far, which puts it well ahead of company projections.

“Based on what we thought when COVID shut things down, we are doing far better than expected,” said Handler.

“But even if you took COVID out of the equation, I’d say our sales are still outpacing what we would have expected for this summer.”

Along with local families, brokers say buyers are coming from Vero’s traditional feeder markets – the New York City area, including parts of Connecticut and New Jersey, Dade and Broward counties in South Florida, other big cities like Chicago and Boston, and, increasingly, from California.

“COVID was a tipping point for many of the people flocking to Vero,” said Boga. “A lot of them were already planning to move here and had enough good reasons to do it but hadn’t pulled the trigger. COVID was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

“We have low density, low crime, good value in real estate and relatively few cases of COVID,” added O’Dare. “Our restaurants and stores are open, and the beaches are beautiful. People perceive Vero as a safe, happy environment and want to bring their families here rather than get stuck in an apartment in a big city if the virus flares up next winter.

“Here people can get outside and enjoy life even if there is an outbreak.”

O’Dare and Boga, who sell homes priced at $1 million and up, had a 20 percent increase in number of transactions this summer and saw the dollar volume of their business jump dramatically, due in part to the $25-million sale.

For the most part, island agents and brokers expect the good times to continue into fall and the coming winter season, but there is one cloud in the sunny sky that worries them – a lack of inventory, with supply tightest “between the bridges.”

“I have been doing this a long time and this is the lowest our inventory

has ever been,” said Bell. “There wasn’t much on the market after the hurricanes in 2004, because so much was damaged, but there is even less now. It blows me away.”

“We have a number of clients we can’t seem to place,” added Dan Downey, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway.

“We have buyers coming by the droves but not much to show them,”

added O’Dare. “For the first time since I’ve been here, we are sitting on a pool of ready, able and willing buyers.”

“Some people didn’t list in recent months because they didn’t want people in their house during the pandemic,” said Kenworthy. “But I am hopeful that those who were COVID scared will loosen up and begin to list their homes as we go into fall.”

The lack of inventory itself is another incentive brokers hope will motivate potential sellers. With so little on the market, prices for island homes are up compared to a year ago – 5.2 percent for homes under a million and 4.3 percent for those priced between $1 million and $2 million, according to data provided by Boga – and presentable CONTINUED ON PAGE 4

Record summer for real estate 4

Vero Beach 32963 / September 17, 2020

Your Vero Beach Newsweekly ™

Record summer for real estate

thirds of the increase of usage he’s CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3 seeing in the automated floor scrubbers is due to robots operating during homes that are priced rightuncommon sell almost daytime hours, a fairly instantly, withmachines multiple offers. time for often the big to run.

“I just usage did a study a builder cliDaytime hoursfor have more than ent and found that there’s only a doubled since last year, he said. They 4.3-month supply of homes in 32963,” said Mike Thorpe. “Six months is considered a balanced market, so we are definitely in a strong sellers’ market!”

Data provided by Boga shows that the supply is tightest on the island in the under-a-million sector, where there is only a 2.69-month supply.

“Inventory is getting very low,” said Sherry. “If you are thinking of selling, this is an excellent time to list your property.” 

Salons and spas CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

and spas. The overwhelming consensus among spa owners is that October – the start of the preholiday mini-season – can’t come too soon.

Salon Salon owner Heather Berlin says she was closed for nearly three months. A cancer survivor, she closed before mandated spring shutdowns occurred, erring on the side of caution.

“It’s been difficult because I lost my entire season. Within those two months (March and April), you make enough to live on. I’ve been in my salon for 30 years, so I’m well aware that I have to put away for the summer,” says Berlin.

She took safety protocols seriously when she reopened, going so far as having a client leave when she mentioned that she had just flown into town from New York. “Everybody’s head in the entire salon turned,” recalls Berlin. “We asked her to leave and sanitized everything.”

Rhonda Martin, the owner of Hair Biz and Company, has been in business on the beach for 35 years. “We lost a lot of revenue,” she says. “I don’t know how a lot of the small businesses are going to come out of it.”

Martin says things are notably slower since her seasonal clients headed north, but she expects things to start picking up in October when they begin to return.

Over at the Beach Barber Shop, where island residents have been having their hair cut since 1984, owner Janine Pfarr says the summer has been a series of stops and starts. After the initial flurry of business when she reopened, things came to a screeching halt when Florida had a spike in coronavirus cases.

Walk-in business from the hotels, people shopping on Ocean Drive and folks visiting year-round residents

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

homes that are priced right sell almost instantly, often with multiple offers.

“I just did a study for a builder client and found that there’s only a 4.3-month supply ofthrough homes in 32963,” usually carries Pfarr the sumsaidusually Mike Thorpe.

“Six iswhen conmer, but she saw fewer those cusare turned on months atofnight sidered a balanced market, so we are tomers this year. buildings are mostly empty. definitely in a strong sellers’ market!”

Tanja McGuire, owner of A PamA lot of customers asked for inDataLife, provided Boga shows that pered a cosmetics store thatearly procreased day workbyduring the the supply is pandemic tightest onsaid the island vides skincare and massage services, months of the Padilla in the under-a-million sector, where and Polished, a mani-pedi from Spotless Cleaning.

Theylounge, wantthere is only a 2.69-month supply. hair studio and boutique, has fared ed touch points such as doorknobs “Inventory is getting very low,” said better.

While she lost revenue during Sherry.

“If youshe aresaid thinking of selling, the shutdown, June sales were this is an excellent timelast to year. list your substantially higher than property.” seasonal residents stayed “A lot of our longer than normal, and we’re seeing people purchasing more at-home spa and self-care stuff. People are opting to buy locally instead of online.”

CONTINUED FROM PAGE McGuire, who has been in1 business 15 years, says “we’ve been able to susand spas.

Thethis overwhelming tain through crazy time consen... [but susisamong spa owners is that October it] the worst thing I’ve ever been – the start of the preholiday mini-seathrough from a business standpoint.” son come tooMcGuire soon. says seaOn– acan’t positive note, Salon Salon owner sonal clients who went Heather north areBerlin startsaystoshe was closed for nearlyforthree ing call to book appointments Ocmonths.

A cancerDecember survivor, she tober, November, andclosed some before spring shutdowns even in mandated January, a promising sign that occurred, side one of caution. this seasonerring will beon a the healthy for her “It’s been difficult because I lost business. my season.

Within those two At entire the James Geidner Hair Studio, months says (March andjust April), you [after make Geidner “it was insanity enough to live was on. I’ve been my sathe shutdown lifted].

Weinworked lon19 fordays 30 years, so I’m well aware that for straight,” noting that many I have put away for two the summer,” of his to clients stayed or three says Berlin. months longer than in past years.

She tookexisting safety protocols Besides customersseriously returnwhen she reopened, so onslaught far as having, Geidner says hegoing had an ingnew a client leave when of clients when he she was mentioned able to rethat she had just into town from open – a trend thatflown continues, which he New York.to “Everybody’s in the enattributes new peoplehead moving to Vero tire salon turned,” recalls Berlin. “We Beach. asked her to leave and sanitized everyBonnie Stansel, Oceanside Salon thing.” says she feels like it’s her duty to owner, Rhonda the she owner provide theMartin, safest spot can of forHair her Biz and Company, hasonbeen in busiclients without passing the cost.

“I’m ness on “We doing thethe bestbeach that I for can35 do,years. but some lost a lot of revenue,” says.hair “I don’t clients have decided toshe let their colknow how thewhat smallMother businesses or grow outa lot andofsee Naare going to come it.” ture’s offered them;out butofeveryone’s hair things notably slowstillMartin grows,says so they stillare need haircuts.” erThe since her Orchid seasonal White Spaclients at Veroheaded Beach north,and but Spa she had expects thingsstart, to start Hotel a rolling expickingBrittany up in October they beplains Nuzzi, when spa director, gin to return. because of the variety of services they Over at the Beachfacials, Barbermedical Shop, where offer – massages, spa island residents haveand beenlash. having their services, and brow Each is hair cut since 1984, owner Pfarr overseen by a different stateJanine agency. says summer hasbegan been offering a series its of Onthe June 1, the spa stops andofstarts.

After the initialtheraflurry full slate services, but several of business when she pists were unable to reopened, return to things work cametoto fear, a screeching when Florida due family halt health concerns had loss a spike in coronavirus cases. and of childcare.

Walk-in business from the hotels, Upon reopening, says Nuzzi, “we people shopping on Ocean Drive and started with a boom.

I think people folks looking visitingto year-round residents were get back to normalcy.

We definitely had hotel guests because, if they were willing to travel and put themselves in a hotel, there’s no difference at that point coming into the spa.”

Nuzzi says White Orchid has incorporated sanitization protocols, including masks and touchless temperature scans, among others. “People

ent and found that there’s only a hair studio and boutique, has fared Whiletoshe during 4.3-month supply of through homes inthe 32963,” usually carries Pfarr sum- better. are coming thelost sparevenue to escape from she said were said Thorpe. months is conmer,Mike but she saw “Six fewer of those cus- the shutdown, virus, the stress andJune the sales anxiety of higher than last year. sidered a balanced tomers this year. market, so we are substantially it all. Your We want people see that we’re Vero Beach Newsweekly ™ “A lotall of our seasonal residentsthat stayed definitely in a strongowner sellers’ofmarket!”

Tanja McGuire, A Pam- taking of the precautions we Vero Beach 32963 / September 17, 2020 27 than and we’re seeing DataLife, provided

by Boga shows that longer pered a cosmetics store that propossibly cannormal, while still offering the more at-home spa the is tightest on the island people videssupply skincare and massage services, servicespurchasing people need.” self-care stuff.d’Este Peoplewas are closed opting for to in under-a-million sector,lounge, where and andthePolished, a mani-pedi C/Spa at Costa locallywhen instead online.” there is only and a 2.69-month hair studio boutique,supply. has fared buy six weeks, theof hotel was closed, but McGuire, who hasMay, been in business “Inventory getting very low,” said top better.

Whiletois she lost during has been open since seeing a steady are coming the spa revenue to escape from service currently being booked, 15 years, says “we’ve beenthat abletime, to susSherry.

“If youstress are said thinking of selling, the shutdown, she sales were increase business over acvirus, the andJune thehe anxiety of the with nailin services a close second and cleaned nearly constantly, said. disinfection robots, will persist tain through this crazy time ... [but this is an excellent time to list your substantially higher than last year. cording to Jessica Milton, regional difacials making a slow comeback. it all.

We want people see that we’re “I think the first maybe two months and expand into more hotels, hospiit] is the worst thing I’ve ever been property.”  “A lot of our seasonal residents stayed rector of public relations at C/Spa. Chris Walker, Studio Gabriel Salon taking all of the precautions that we people were really afraid,” he said, not- tals and warehouses. through amany business standpoint.” longer than and offering we’re seeing Milton says the spa’s reguSpa from owner, used social media possibly cannormal, while still the ing customers have since backed off and “Wouldn’t you feel of safer being in to a athat positive note,only McGuire says seapeople purchasing more at-home spa space larOnlocal customers have keep in touch her clients during services people need.” daytime cleaning a bit. has with not beenreturned, dusted sonal clients who went north are startand self-care stuff.d’Este Peoplewas areclosed opting to and along with hotel guests.

Massage is be the the shutdown.

The provided C/Spa at Costa for The pandemic won’t last forever, swept, but is alsostylists certified to ing to call to book appointments for Ocbuy locally instead of online.” six weeks, when the hotel was closed, but “how-to” hair survival suggestions and but Rus says the robots, especially virus-free?” she asked.  CONTINUED FROM PAGEin 1 business tober, November, some who has been color kits and December retail itemsand curbside. hasMcGuire, been open since May, seeing a steady sold in January, a promising sign that 15 years,in says “we’veover beenthat able to susIronically, Walker says her business increase business time, ac- even and overwhelming consenthis season will be aseason healthyshe oneconsidfor her tain spas. through this crazy time ... [but so busy last cording toThe Jessica Milton, regional di- was sus among spa owners that October business. it] is the worst thing is I’ve ever been ered expanding hours from six to sevrector of public relations at C/Spa. –through the start of the preholiday mini-seatheaJames Geidner Studio, from amany business standpoint.” days week before theHair pandemic.

Milton says of the spa’s regu- enAt son – can’t comenote, too McGuire soon.

Geidner says “it was just insanity [after On a positive says sea- Now, lar local customers have returned, with business down 40 percent Salon Salon owner the shutdown was time lifted].

Weyear, worked sonal clients who went Heather north areBerlin startto this last the along with hotel guests.

Massage is the compared says closed for nearlyfor three ing toshe call was to book appointments Oc- for 19 days straight,” noting that many months.

A cancerDecember survivor, she tober, November, andclosed some of his clients stayed two or three before spring shutdowns in past years. even in mandated January, a promising sign that months longerBYthan SUE COCKING Staffcustomers Writer occurred, onathe side of caution.

Besides existing returnthis seasonerring will be healthy one for her “It’s been difficult because I lost ing, Geidner says he had an onslaught business. myAtentire season.

WithinHair those two of new clients when he was able to rethe James Geidner Studio, From now through mid-October months andjust April), you make – a trend that of continues, he Geidner (March says “it was insanity [after open is the best time the year which if you are enough to live on. been inworked my sa- attributes to neworpeople moving to Veroa the shutdown wasI’ve lifted].

We a nearshore surf angler fishing lon fordays 30 years, so I’m well aware that Beach. for 19 straight,” noting that many along the coast of our island.

Iofhave put away for two the summer,” Bonnie Stansel, Oceanside Salon his to clients stayed or three We are currently in the exciting says Berlin. owner, saysofshe feelsfishermen liketoit’s heryards dutythe to months longerBYthan in past years. throes what call outfits loaded with up 300 SUE COCKING She tookexisting safety seriously provide therun”: safestthe spot can for her Staffprotocols Writer Besides customers return- of “mullet annual southward 20-pound-test line orshe something when she reopened, so far as hav- like clients withoutofpassing onwith theforage cost.

“I’m ing, Geidner says hegoing had an onslaught migration millions of fish a 10-weight fly rod intering aFrom client leave when mentioned doing theline best that I can do, anchovies but some of new clients when he she was able to re- mediate – mullet, pilchards, now through mid-October that sinks abay bit. that had flown from to letmullet hair open – a best trendjust that continues, he clients andhave glassdecided minnows –their spurred by is she the time of theinto yeartown ifwhich you are However, the annual runcolNew York. to “Everybody’s head infishing the en-a is oranything grow outwater andconsistent. see what Mother Naattributes new moving to Vero cooling temperatures along a nearshore orpeople surf angler but On any tire salonthe turned,” Berlin. “We given ture’s them;may but everyone’s hair Beach. theoffered South Atlantic coast. along coast ofrecalls our island. day, anglers come upon asked herare toStansel, leave and sanitized everystill grows, they stillare need haircuts.”

Bonnie Oceanside Salon vast Thesesobait fish being chased We currently in the exciting schools of bait, or nothing at thing.”

White Orchid Spa atpredators Vero owner, says feelsfishermen like it’s hercall dutythe to all.The by of hungry throes ofshe what Thelegions movement patterns of Beach the – Rhonda Martin, the owner of Hotel and king Spa had a rolling start,toexprovide therun”: safest spot she can forHair her fish sharks, andto Spanish “mullet the annual southward change hour hour, mackerel, day Biz andwithout Company, hason been in busiplains Brittany clients the cost.

“I’m tarpon, jacks,Nuzzi, snook spa and director, ladyfish migration ofpassing millions of forage fish day. ness on beach 35 “We because ofjust the variety of and services they doing thethe best that Ifor canbay do,years. but some – that everyone likes to – mullet, pilchards, anchovies “You gotta goabout out there search lost a lot of revenue,” says.

“I don’t offer – massages, facials, medical clients have decided toshe let–their hair colcatch.

And larger fish generand glass minnows spurred by for them,” saidthose Sebastian angler Pe-spa know how awater lot ofsee the smallMother businesses services, and brow Each is or cooling grow out and what Na- ter ally swim within casting temperatures along Hinck.

“You mayand notlash. seerange any- of are going to come ofeveryone’s it.” overseen by state agency. ture’s offered them;out but hair thing, the but beach or just outside the the South Atlantic coast. ana different hour later, there theysurf Martin says things notably slow- are.

On June 1, the spayour began offering still grows, so they stillare need haircuts.” break.

These bait fish being chased You have to put time in.” its er The since her Orchid seasonal clients of services, theraWhite Spa atpredators Veroheaded Beach– full “There’s no way to several get out by legions of hungry Asslate an example, onebut day lastbored week, north, butking she and expects things to start pists were unable return work Hotel and Spa had Spanish a rolling start, ex- hordes there,” said Veroto Beach angler and sharks, mackerel, of bay anchovies and atofew picking up jacks, in October be- mullet duefly-fishing toswarmed fear, expert family health plains Brittany Nuzzi, spa director, Grady. tarpon, snookwhen and they ladyfish the Bill surf lineconcerns along gin return. and loss of childcare. because of theabout variety of services they ForIn those who have –to that just everyone likes to Riomar. one exciting hournever at mid-witOver the Barber Shop, where Upon Nuzzi, “we offer – at massages, facials, spa morning, nessedreopening, the mullet run, it looks like catch.

AndBeach those largermedical fish genersurf casterssays caught and island haveand been having their started with aset boom. think people services, and within brow lash.

Each is released somebody off aI depth charge ally residents swim casting range of two nurse sharks, a whiting hair cutbeach since 1984, Janine were to get back to thousands normalcy. overseen by a or different state agency. right off the beach, the justowner outside thePfarr surf and alooking tarpon, using livewith mullet and says the summer hasbegan been offering a series its of artificial Weof definitely had hotel gueststorpedoes because, On June 1, the spa small brown and silver break. lures. stops andofstarts. the initial flurry they weremorning, willing tothe travel andlarger full slate services, several theraexploding into the airwater and “There’s no After waybut to get bored out if The next offput of business when she reopened, themselves in flying a hotel, there’s no differpists weresaid unable to return tothings work torpedoes and splashing hot there,” Vero Beach angler and Riomar was quiet, completely devoid came to afear, screeching halt when Florida of ence thatBut point into the spa.” due to familyBill health concerns onattheir tails. fly-fishing expert Grady. bait fish. justcoming to the north near had spike in coronavirus Nuzzi says White Orchid inand aloss of childcare.

Surf fishers launch lureshas ofoflive For those who havecases. never wit- Jaycee Park, some small schools Walk-in business the hotels, corporated protocols, Upon says “we bait that sanitization they’ve caught in cast nessedreopening, the mulletfrom run, itNuzzi, looks like bait appeared, and anglers caught people shopping on Drive and snook including masks andchaos touchless started with aset boom. think people netsand at the foamy whiletemboat somebody offOcean a I depth charge jacks. folks visiting year-round residents perature scans, among others.craft “People were looking get back tothousands normalcy. anglers maneuver their right off thetobeach, with Vero anglers are hoping for ajust Weofdefinitely had hotel guests because, bountiful ahead ofnearshore the traveling schools small brown and silver torpedoes mullet runand if they were willing to air travel and put thisthrow their baits and lures back exploding into the and larger season, which they didn’t have themselves inflying a hotel, there’s no differtheSeptember, mayhem. torpedoes and splashing hot lastinto fall the or inmiddle 2018. of Last ence thattails. point coming into the spa.” Hurricane Success in hooking large quarry onat their Dorian’s strong winds Nuzzi White Orchid in- andlikerough a tarpon or shark in the middle Surf says fishers launch lureshas of live waves scattered the corporated sanitization of the mullet requires mediumbait that they’ve caughtprotocols, in cast mullet and otherrun bait fish offshore. including masks andchaos touchless tackle – large nets at the foamy while temboat Andheavy the fishing previous year, redspinning tide perature amongtheir others.

“People anglersscans, maneuver craft just ruined the bait migration off our ahead of the traveling schools and coast when it should have been at throw their baits and lures back its peak. into the middle of the mayhem.

So, when is the best time to get in Success in hooking large quarry on this year’s mullet run? High tide, like a tarpon or shark in the middle low tide, dawn, dusk, midday? of the mullet run requires mediumSaid Grady: “Regardless, the bait heavy fishing tackle – large spinning is going to be somewhere.” 

NEWS INSIGHT COVER STORY

Salons and spas

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Best time of the yea has arrived with t

Best time of the year for surf anglers has arrived with the ‘mullet run’

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