Beauty on the waterfront
Angie Blunt captures the beauty of American white pelicans foraging in the shallow bay water and the pink glow of sunset with a backdrop of mangroves Jan. 4 while dining at Swordfish Grill in Cortez. “We had the best table outside by the railing and watched these white pelicans the whole time. The pink glow at sunset was gorgeous.”
One down, one standing — meet the likely appointee to AM commission
Anna Maria Mayor Mark Short reached out to The Islander by email Jan. 5 to share information with the newspaper’s readers on the withdrawal of one of two candidates for an open commission seat that was to be decided this month by the four seated commissioners.
Lynch
Short stated:
“Brian Seymour has withdrawn from being considered for the open city commissioner position.
“We will still hold our 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 7, candidate forum to allow John Lynch, the other candidate, the opportunity to address any questions submitted.
“The commission is then expected to vote at the Thursday, Jan. 9, meeting on adding Mr. Lynch to the commission.”
In his letter, which can be read in full at islander.org, Seymour said that due to the priorities for the commission of replacing the Anna Maria City Pier and fi nalizing the “Reimagining Pine Avenue” project, for which another commissioner already recuses, and the likelihood he would have to recuse from voting as a tenant on the pier — and as a business owner on Pine Aveune —
“I think all five commissioners should have have a vote on the various stages of the pier rebuild.”
Lynch shared his vision and priorities with The Islander Jan. 5: Vision: Anna Maria continues to
grow as a thriving, friendly, healthy, safe and environmentally sustainable community that is a wonderful place to live, do business and entertain visitors.
Anna Maria cares about our people, business owners and guests and balance our plans to serve these stakeholders.
Anna Maria is the beautiful endpoint destination where people want to live , vacation and prosper.
Priorities:
1. Develop and implement plans that continue to improve the safety and security of our full-time residents.
2. Fiscal Rrudence inside the framework of a long- and short-term capital and financial plan. Ensure we are efficient with our resources and leverage city and other external resources and expertise to successfully implement projects on budget and on time. We have
a number of projects on the docket and the impact of recent weather events have made this an even greater priority.
3. Continue to improve and maintain robust communications so we are proactive and collaborative and have the input of stakeholders in decisions to be made.
4. Build productive and collaborative relationships with the surrounding city, county and state agencies to help achieve our goals while maintaining the independence to chart our own future.
5. Maintain our independence as a city. I would oppose proposed city consolidations or any plan to dissolve cities. We, of course, would look to gain efficiencies and save taxpayer money where possible, but not at the risk of losing our independence.
— Bonner Joy
The Best News on Anna Maria Island Since 1992 islander.org
Seymour
There’s good news for the new year
The Islander reached out in the past week to the three cities on Anna Maria Island for our city officials’ wishes for 2025, and the results follow:
From Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer by email:
Happy new year for starters! Let’s hope state and county anxieties are reduced and that we draw a pass from storms this year…. if that occurs we can focus entirely on citywide improvements.
My objectives for the year include:
1. Continued focus on finite clean up of rights of ways, parks and city entry points, replanting of vegetation for beautification and facility repairs and improvements.
2. Positive communication with county board and state representatives with cooperative measures for funding assistance and overall community betterment.
3. Working more closely with Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach to assess projects and improvements benefitting the entire island.
4. Continued efforts to identify potential ad-hoc committee members and future commission candidates.
Thank you for the opportunity to respond,
— Terry Schaefer
Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Soustek wrote in an email to The Islander:
What will I do to make my city, Holmes beach, better for residents and visitors in 2025?
Following the example of my fellow islanders’ positive attitude to rebuild their homes and businesses inspires me to be a better commissioner. The way they have faced the challenges and setbacks daily, is to be admired. I have
seen and experienced the helpfulness and kindness of neighbors toward each other. I have witnessed the city use its powers to expedite red tape and supply help in all areas. But it is the islanders that make our community the best place to live. My hope for 2025 is to make sure my community is once more a place of beauty and safety for all. I will do so by using my powers, as a commissioner, to uphold the ordinances and laws that benefit my community.
— Carol Soustek
From Holmes Beach Commissioner Carol Whitmore:
My goals and wishes for 2025 are:
1. Improve our city and state relationships so we can receive our fair share of state funding.
2. Respond and communicate with our citizens on a regular basis.
3. Work better with our business community and our residents for a common goal.
4. Work closely with the TDC on eligible funding and educate those who don’t understand the funding restrictions.
5. Remain open to ideas and solutions to retain the quaint community we have, although hanging on by a string.
— Carol Whitmore
From Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth: I will continue my work on resiliency. Climate change continues to bring challenges to barrier islands and I will continue to work hard in upsizing storm infrastructure and adding infrastructure where needed in order to help mitigate the threats of increased rain events and increased intensity of storms. I also understand that property owners are becoming
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Red tide alert remains active for 3 local beaches
Christopher Tittel, communication director for the Florida Department of Health in Manatee County said Jan. 6 in an email to The Islander that a local health alert for red tide remains active. Red tide remains in the Gulf of Mexico at the 10th Street South Pier and at Coquina Beach South Boat Ramp, 1465 Gulf Drive S., both in Bradenton Beach.
A notice posted Nov. 15 for Tampa Bay near the former Rod & Reel Pier, 875 N. Shore Drive, Anna Maria, also remains in effect as of Dec. 20. DOH-Manatee is asking visitors to the affected areas to take the following precautions:
• Check current water quality status at Protecting Florida Together
• Do not wade or swim in or around red tide. Red tide can cause skin irritation, rashes and burning/sore eyes.
• Wash your skin and clothing if you believe you’ve had contact with red tide.
• Remain cautious and stay away from reported red tide locations, especially if you have chronic respiratory conditions.
weary of the challenges of living on the island due to these storm events and I will focus the next two years on promoting our city for what it truly is, a wonderful place to live!
Our community is exceptional. Our schools are exceptional (including our pre-school). Our social media outreach promoting our city and our Destinationholmes.com website will be heightened in the hopes of sustaining our residential community. After all, our local business community depends on residents, as do our churches and schools.
— Mayor Judy Titsworth, City of Holmes Beach Editor’s Note: Look for more wishes next week from Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach.
Titsworth
Soustek
Whitmore
Schaefer
Holmes Beach winds down hurricane recovery efforts
For more information, contact Tina Allen, community outreach representative for the Cortez Bridge project, at 941-306-4660 or info@amiprojects.io.
Vegetative debris that was picked up from homes and businesses in Holmes Beach after a hit two hurricanes — Helene on Sept. 26 with substantial flooding and Milton on Oct. 9 with devastating winds — was piled and ground down at the city fi eld adjacent to city hall on Flotilla Drive and is now scheduled to be hauled off the island with completion by Jan. 11.
Sage Kamiya, superintendent of public works/city engineer, also reported Jan. 3 that the city discovered the southbound trolley shelter on East Bay Drive at Publix Super Market was unsafe due to damage to support structures and had to be removed.
Reimbursement is being requested to replace the shelter.
Kamiaya said there is still longer-term work to be done on roadways and sidewalks and beach access improvements and more are yet to come, however, the city is making “good progress.”
Kamiya
aBOVE: a bird’s eye view taken Dec. 26 shows the landscape debris pile at Holmes Beach city field. RIGHT: The aerial view taken Jan. 3 shows the remainder of the landscaping debris at city field in Holmes Beach. Islander Courtesy
Photos: CofHB/Matt McDonough, digital and media strategist
ices up for kids, families and fun fundraising
What do you do if you can’t take a chilly plunge into the Gulf of Mexico on New Year’s Day? What if the beach is still showing the impacts of two hurricanes and there’s no parking and no safe path to the shore? What if people are counting on you to raise money with your “Shamrock Shiver” shenanigans to help kids and families?
Ask Rayma Stowe and her team at Clancy’s Irish Pub. They reinvented the plunge and held an ice bucket challenge and found lots of other fun ways to raise money at their bar on Cortez Road. And the results from Jan. 1 … $25,170!
TOP LEFT: The Doctor Dave Band entertains the crowd at Clancy’s. TOP RIGHT: Tom Overmyer and Teresa Ellis (Shiver participants every year with volunteers selling tickets, Delaney McFadden and Hailee Lahman and, LEFT: Lisa Pierce and Jeanette nohe with Ryan from Take Stock in Children-Manatee. Islander Courtesy Photos
KUDOS to Rayma Stowe of Clancy’s and all the teams for raising more than $25,000 in 2025.
Manatee Ave. W. Bradenton 941.795.4285 MJefferson@bobscarpet.com Bobscarpetmart.com
Clancy’s charities: Healthy Teens Take Stock in Children Mothers Helping Mothers. To make a donation, call Clancy’s, 941-794-2489.
“Anna Maria Island,” a pictorial history book of the island by Bonner Joy is available from The Islander online or Island Mail & Print, 3230 E. Bay Drive, HB. Joy is publisher of The Islander newspaper. She launched the newspaper in 1992. She first came to the island in 1972.
Manatee County re-opens boat ramps, Kingfish delayed
Boaters and water enthusiasts can rejoice as Manatee County has reopened the boat ramps that were impacted by recent storms.
But the county may have forgotten Kingfish.
On Jan. 4, Kingfish Boat Ramp remained off limits with extensive damage to the ramps and the adjacent shoreline. Debris has been removed and the parking lot has been leveled but much work lies ahead at this popular boating fixture.
The Capt. Scott Moore (formerly Coquina North) and Coquina South boat ramps are now available to boaters for launching and hauling following extensive repairs and cleanup efforts necessitated by this year’s hurricanes, according to Bill Logan, county information outreach manager.
The restoration process included the removal of derelict vessels from nearby waters and repairs to the ramps and docks to ensure safe and accessible conditions for all users.
The boat ramps sustained significant impacts from Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The recovery efforts, spearheaded by Manatee County, involved: Repairs to ramp infrastructure to ensure safety and usability.
Clearing of debris and removal of storm-damaged vessels.
Sand-sifting operations to restore nearby beaches and berms.
“We are thrilled to reopen these facilities,” said Manatee County Director of Natural Resources Charlie Hunsicker. “These ramps are essential for our community’s recreational and commercial boating activities.”
Information outreach manager Bill Logan emailed the Islander Jan. 3 regarding Kingfish Boat Ramp in Holmes Beach, saying that according to Manatee County property management staff, they had to wait on approvals from Florida Department of Environmental
Protection and other agencies to make repairs to get the boat ramp operational.
He said the contractor has been working for the past few weeks on the ramp and it is estimated that the facility will be back up and “accommodating boaters by Jan. 24 or perhaps earlier.”
There is no plan to expand Kingfish or add a ferry dock.
The county’s Dec. 31 announcement said continuing efforts to repair coastal infrastructure and re-open beach-side facilities are showing signs of a return to normal, although parking remains limited in some areas.
There are still portions of the public beaches that remain closed at this time. Beachgoers are encouraged to stay safe and observe all posted warnings and advisories to help ensure a pleasant visit.
For more information about Manatee County government, visit mymanatee org or call 941-748-4501.
Kingfish Boat Ramp at the gateway to anna Maria Island on Manatee avenue/State Road 64 remains closed to the public Jan. 4. Islander Photos: Bonner Joy
Good news, bad news
We’re happy to see some familiar faces — snowbirds! — returning to Anna Maria Island for the winter months.
And that goes for our long-term visitors and parttime residents on AMI and in the surrounding areas.
And we’re thankful you have homes and accommodations to return to in the aftermath of the two hurricanes.
And we’re also pleased to see the white pelicans are following their usual migration patterns back to our area of Florida. The sight of these large relatives of the common brown pelican on the waterfront is just a small sign of our return to “normal.”
According to Audubon: The American white pelican is one of the largest birds in North America, with a 9-foot wingspan. Similar to the brown pelican in shape but much larger and very different in habits.
They feed together in shallow water — they do not dive from the air for fish like the brown pelicans. And despite its great size, the white pelican is a spectacular fl ier, with fl ocks often soaring very high in the air, ponderously wheeling and circling in unison — and what a beautiful sight for us.
They winter on the Gulf Coast and in California and Mexico. During the spring they migrate to summer nesting areas in the Great Plains and the Great Basin.
And photographers are drawn here for the beauty of the birds on bay waters — especially in Cortez — where Angie Blunt found them foraging the night of Jan. 4 as she and her husband dined at a waterfront restaurant. She couldn’t resist picking up the camera.
Across the waterway from Cortez, folks in the Pines Trailer Park were receiving a letter from the park owners with bad news.
It seems the Pines Trailer Park investors have determined the impacts from Hurricanes Helene and Milton are greater than previously thought and the park is no longer viable for mobile home rentals.
That leaves the homeownwers with a tough decision — to compare the high cost of renovating and repairing their homes against the short-term rental period offered at the park.
Those storms are still taking their toll on our communities.
And we’re left to wonder … what do the investors envision at the trailer park? After all, they have a mortgage to pay, too.
Meanwhile, we’ve got one eye on an update that’s due this week on the sale of the Seafood Shack to Manatee County.
Stay tuned. — Bonner Joy, news@islander.org
OpinionYour
Saying good-bye
Gloria Dei members attended their last worship service in the Holmes Beach sanctuary Sunday, Dec. 29.
All are welcome to this gathering.
In the future, we expect many of the Gloria Dei members will be attending Redeemer Lutheran Church, 6311 Third Ave .W., in Northwest Bradenton.
— Alice Longworth, president, Gloria Dei Church Council
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Since 1958, the congregation of Gloria Dei Lutheran church has served Anna Maria Island and Bradenton, offering worship services and participating in many community outreach projects. The congregation supported various projects, such as All Island Denominations, Our Daily Bread, Selah Freedom, Habitat for Humanity, Project Heart and Safe Children’s Coalition to name a few.
Thanks to The Islander for giving our 2024 horseshoe celebration recognition. I think all of the players will enjoy the year-in-review and the 1920s recreation photo that was staged in Anna Maria.
Gloria Dei was a “Reconciling in Christ” church and welcomed everyone, without exception, to worship with us.
Our building was designed by Victor Lundy, a pre-eminent architect working in Southwest Florida in the 1950s and 60s. Gloria Dei is distinguished by its dramatic steeple with a 14-foot cross at the top.
In 1959, the congregation of 75 purchased 3 acres of land on Anna Maria Island and broke ground Aug. 20, 1961. The first worship service in the sanctuary was on May 13, 1962.
After suffering major damage from Hurricane Helene, the council voted to repair and continue our mission. After Milton, the expense to continue the repairs was too great.
In November the congregation of Gloria Dei Lutheran church voted to be placed under the administrative guidance of the Florida-Bahamas Synod.
The Florida-Bahamas Synod will take over the responsibility of the church building and property Jan. 1, 2025. The current bank accounts and money received from the sale of the property will be held in escrow for 18 months. During that time, former members of Gloria Dei and the Synod will work together to create the next chapter in the congregation’s life.
At 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, the Florida Bahamas Synod will conduct an official closing worship service.
Pitching horseshoes continues as one of the longest running non-organized activities on the island and brings together lots of annual snowbirds who become friends and enjoy each other’s companionship.
I can truly say it’s one of the most pleasant groups of individuals I have ever met. These guys are so dedicated that we even had games on New Year’s Day, although we did take off for Christmas.
I rode my bike past The Islander office in Holmes Beach this past week and it still looks closed up. I hope you didn’t suffer too much damage and am happy to see you didn’t miss a beat in publication despite the storms and all the challenges.
Even those of us who no longer live on the island enjoy reading about it.
I wish you and your readers the very best and a happy and prosperous New Year.
Tom Skoloda, Bradenton, former Anna Maria City Commissioner
Letters to the editor
The Islander welcomes your opinion letters Please, submit your opinion with name, address and contact phone number to news@islander.org. Only your name and city are published. Letters may be edited for space and style.
Murphy
Fire and flood insurance
It was just after Helene trashed us.
I opened the front door to the bar I own, The Doctor’s Office.
Three feet of oily, foul chocolate milk rolled out. The Doctor’s Office does not serve chocolate milk.
After a couple of hours of pressure washing, the chocolate milk flow was reduced to a trickle.
I was standing in brief repose, exhausted.
The electrical socket by my foot sparked viciously and burst into flames.
I splooshed water from my plastic water bottle into the socket.
The flames stopped briefly, and then flared up again, more viciously.
I splooshed again.
It burst into flames a third time. Bigger flames.
I was becoming alarmed. I had a vision from an old, bad restaurant joke.
Three old guys were playing golf in Miami. The first old guy says, “I had a restaurant in New York. It caught fire. I took the fire insurance money and retired here in Miami.”
The second old guy says, “Really, I had a restaurant in Chicago. It burnt down. I retired to Miami with the fire insurance money.”
The third old guy says, “My restaurant was in Seattle. We had a flood, and I retired here with the flood insurance money.”
The first two old guys look at the third guy, and ask, “How the hell did you start a flood?”
I had decided against buying flood insurance. In the 40 years I had been in the restaurant business I had never seen a restaurant get a penny from their flood insurance.
So, I had no flood insurance.
But I had fire insurance.
The Bananas Foster wagon was right there.
Bananas, brown sugar, and a big bottle of highly flammable, high octane, 151 rum.
The little devil on my shoulder said, “A little sploosh of that 151 rum in that socket might be just the thing.”
Thankfully, us fallen Irish Catholics get to keep our guardian angels.
My guardian angel made me sploosh the water again instead of the rum.
The fire fizzled and died.
That was three months ago.
It has been a long three months for us Islanders. Three months of pain, drudgery and dirty chocolate milk all over everything. It has also been three months of resilience and amazing perseverance.
We could all use a little of that 151 rum, so this Friday, The Doctor’s Office will be treating everyone to a warm rum toddy and bananas Foster in the Doctor’s Office Garden.
Here’s my vision:
We’ll get cozy under shawls from the Sand Dollar.
We can enjoy Trevor Bystrom with his guitar and vocals — this Friday and every Friday.
We will set fire to dessert with big flames while he plays.
The fireworks, bananas and ice cream will make you happy — and the 151 rum will put a little fire in your socket.
Sean Murphy is proprietor of the Doctor’s Office and the Doctor’s Garden, a craft cocktail bar with fine dining in an intimate setting in Holmes Beach as well as an outdoor “garden” dining area with entertainment — when the weather permits.
Do not disturb
In the white circle above, a pair of osprey have made a post-Helene residence in the australian pine tree on the east side of the ramps at the Kingfish Boat Ramp. But do they know their nest is protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty act?
Gloria Dei church pending permanent closure in January
As the year came to an end, the Florida Bahamas Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, based in Chicago, assumed all responsibility for the Gloia Dei Lutheran Church building and property, according to church spokesperson, church council president Alice Longworth.
Longworth said in an email exchange with The Islander that “it will be up to every former member to find their own church of worship. A number of former members will attend service at Redeemer Lutheran and maybe Trinity. Our memberships do not transfer as, according to the Synod, there isn’t a Gloria Dei to transfer from.
“We don’t have a church or congregation.
Longworth said the Rev. Bill Friederich’s last service with Gloria Dei was Dec. 29. The closing service at 2 p.m. Jan 18 will be conducted by the Florida Baha-
mas Synod.
She also noted that the School for Constructive Play held classes at the church building before the Hurricane, but they relocated after the storm to the Center of Anna Maria Island, “and we wish them every blessing.”
The Gloria Dei congregation formed in February 1959. But, when the church was built in 1964, its roofline and design became an island landmark. It is a beautiful structure inside and out — an asset to the community.
In 2016, the church sought a rezone of a small area on the outside edge of the church parking lot that the church deemed suitable for two homes.
The church attorney told the city then, “We are here to save the church.”
Without knowing the financial ins and outs of a religious institution, it’s hard to know what brought the church to its point of need.
But the rezone was declined by the city.
Sometimes the future is unclear.
But conversations are ongoing among the church community and local visionaries that may lead to a path forward that preserves the building.
And, on Jan. 3, Mayor Judy Titsworth told The Islander she plans to do whatever she can to preserve the building
To bring you up to date on the other churches on AMI, we checked websites.
Roser Church is active and the sanctuary is open, but the fellowship hall and chapel suffered damages and the repairs are ongoing.
The same is true at St. Bernard Catholic Church with Mass continuing in the sanctuary and repairs ongoing due to flooding in the parish hall.
Crosspointe Fellowship in Anna Maria is still serving its congregation, and there was a minimum of damage at the church, according to the Rev. Ed Moss.
According to the Episcopal Church of Annunciation website, they are celebrating Sunday services at 9:15 a.m in the Chapel of the Good Shepherd at Christ Episcopal Church in Bradenton.
They thanked Rev. Michael Brady and the members of Christ Episcopal Church for allowing them to hold services there while repairs are ongoing.
Harvey Memorial Community Church’s pastor, the Rev. Steve King announced they would gather for their Christmas Eve Service at their own sanctuary — “There is something beautiful and right about being back in our own ‘spiritual home’ for Christmas Eve!
King thanked the members and donors for their gifts and donations for the renovations.
— Bonner Joy
Roser offers outdoor yoga
Holy Yoga will begin anew at Roser Memorial Community Church in Anna Maria.
Everyone is welcome weekly 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Wednesdays to the outdoor class on the stage behind the Roser sanctuary.
The class is led by Perri Parkman. Participants are asked to bring a yoga mat or large towel.
• Contact staff (the office is
The Rev. Bill Friederich and wife Bah Hero pose at the alter of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. The Rev. Friederich filled the pulpit for the final five sermons at the Holmes Beach church and now will focus his pastoral care at Longboat Island Chapel, where he was pastor for five years. Islander Courtesy Photo
Obituary
Jason Edwards
Jason Edwards, 51, of Bradenton, died Dec. 31, 2024. He was born Feb. 20, 1973, in Newport News, Virginia.
He moved to Winter Springs as a young child and to Bradenton in 2014. He went to Oviedo High School. Services will be held 2-4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, at Roland Toale and Sons Funeral Home at Manasota Park, 1212 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton. He was co-owner of BlueWave Restorations, a mediation company serving Anna Maria Island and the Tampa Bay area. He was helping a friend/client connect an RV to electric at a home in Anna Maria at the time of his death.
“We are heartbroken by the loss of Jason,” said Pete Dospel, co-owner of BlueWave Restorations. “He wasn’t just a part of our team; he was family. Jason’s generosity, integrity and love for life will forever be an inspiration to us all.”
“Anna Maria Island,” a pictorial history book of the island by Bonner Joy is available from The Islander online or Island Mail & Print, 3230 E. Bay Drive, HB. Joy is publisher of The Islander newspaper. She launched the newspaper in 1992. She first came to the island in 1972.
Mr. Edwards is survived by his mother, Diane; father David; brothers Aaron and Andrew; sister Megan; nieces Alexis, Freya and Audrianna; and nephews Tyler, Andrew, Marley and Braelyn.
The family of Mr. Edwards has set up a Gofundme memorial page to assist with his father’s care.
Back to School? Time for a checkup!
Edwards
a photo taken by Jack Elka with his drone camera from The Islander archives shows osprey nesting on the Gloria Dei steeple in July 2014.
HBPD apology letter missing in DUI plea agreement
By Ryan Paice Islander Reporter
A resolution was reached last November in a court case involving island developer Shawn Kaleta allegedly driving under the influence.
State Attorney Ed Brodsky of the 12th Judicial Circuit told The Islander Dec. 13 that part of the resolution requires Kaleta to submit an apology letter to the arresting officer — who has yet to receive anything from the developer.
Kaleta-HB background
Developer Shawn Kaleta owns or manages many properties in Holmes Beach, including Bali Hai Beachfront Resort, Anna Maria Island Resort, Coconuts Beach Resort and Islands West Resort, as well as numerous vacation rental homes and units across the island.
He also has been involved in several lawsuits against the city, including his now-resolved federal lawsuit, which claimed the city has an “Anti-Kaleta policy” that violates his constitutional rights under the Equal Protections Clause.
The parties settled the lawsuit in February.
— Ryan Paice
Comedic relief arrives at Island Players
“Birthday Suite,” a fast-moving comedy, opens Jan. 9 and runs through Jan. 26 at the Island Players in anna Maria, featuring Jeff McMahon, left, Sylvia Marnie, Pam Hopkins and Eric Johnson with Dan Coppinger, front, in the cast. Curtain is at 7:30 pm. with two Sunday matinees at 2 p.m. The box office is open at the theater, 10009 Gulf Drive, anna Maria, and tickets also may be purchased online at theislandplayers.org. The theater is dark on Mondays. For more information, call 941-778-5755.
Kaleta was arrested in June 2023 in Holmes Beach and was charged with a first-degree misdemeanor for resisting or obstructing a law enforcement officer without violence and a second-degree misdemeanor for DUI.
Last November, Kaleta enrolled into a Driver Enhanced Treatment Education Rehabilitation, also known as DETER, contract.
The contract stipulates Kaleta must remain crime and alcohol free, complete in-person DUI school, an online victim impact program and 60 hours of community service, as well as install an ignition alcohol monitoring device into his vehicle within 60 days.
If Kaleta completes the DETER program, he will be offered a plea of one second-degree misdemeanor charge for reckless driving with alcohol as a significant factor, rather than face both misdemeanors and possible jail time.
The contract stipulates that adjudication against the developer would be withheld if he completes the program.
The potential plea also includes preset sanctions, such as 12 months of probation, 10 days of vehicle immobilization, a $500 fine, 50 hours of public service
and more.
Kaleta’s attorney, Louis Najmy, told The Islander Nov. 23, 2024, that “The state attorney had no choice but to eliminate the DUI and resisting charges given the then targeting problem that has been resolved and the fact that no unlawful impairment existed.”
However, Brodsky said Najmy’s interpretation was “not accurate.”
“We believe, based on the evidence, there was no intentional targeting. This officer did not know who (Kaleta) was. There was no evidence that we saw or were ever made aware of that he was specifically targeted by anyone at the police department,” Brodsky said.
“He’s being offered this program because he’s a first-time offender,” he added. “We were prepared to litigate the case. … If he did not accept the DETER agreement, or had decided to proceed forward, we would go forward with a DUI charge.”
In order for Kaleta to complete the DETER program, he must submit the apology letter ahead of a status conference at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20, at the Manatee County Judicial Center, 1051 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton.
Friends lecture series opens with respected fishing guide
Capt. Scott Moore has been fishing and running charters in the waters around Anna Maria Island for more than half a century.
He has been honored for his lifetime of dedication and commitment as a skilled captain, an ocean steward, conservationist and educator.
He will be the featured speaker for the Friends of the Island Library lecture at 2 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 9. Doors open at 1:30 p.m. and seating is first served.
He serves on several fishery committees, both locally and nationally, and has demonstrated how part-
nerships between scientists and fishers can protect and restore marine life.
His dedication to ocean stewardship and conservation is exemplary, earning him numerous honors and accolades for his tireless efforts in preserving marine ecosystems. As an educator, Capt. Moore has enlightened countless individuals about the importance of sustainable fishing practices and the delicate balance of marine life.
Moore
Jim Hollerich, Pittsburgh no winner
Hole-in-one rings in 2025 at KRC
By Kevin P. Cassidy Islander Reporter
To highlight the end the year at the Key Royale Club in Holmes Beach, member Jimmy Livanos notched a hole-in-one.
He aced the 136-yard eighth hole using a five iron. Following a long-standing tradition, Livanos purchased beverages in the clubhouse.
The ladies ended the year on the course with a nine-hole individuallow-net match Dec. 31. Jan Turner grabbed clubhouse bragging rights for the rest of the year with an even-par 32. Connie Livanos and Debi Wohlers tied for second with matching 1-overpar 33s, while Roxanne Koche and Margrit Layh were another stroke back in third place.
Wohlers’ round also included a birdie on the eighth hole, while Jean Holmes had chipins on the second and seventh holes.
Meanwhile, Jan. 1 at the horseshoe pits at Anna Maria City Hall, two teams advanced to the knockout stage. Tom Farrington and Tim Sofran kick started the new year with a convincing 25-4 victory over Bob Mason and Bob Hawks.
The Jan. 4 games saw Dom Livedoti and his grandson, Dylan Stavridis, team up to forge the lone 3-0 record in pool play to become the day’s outright champs.
Play gets underway at 9 a.m. Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Warmups begin at 8:45 a.m. followed by random team selection.
There is no charge to play and everyone is wel-
Linda Bernier and sister Sandy Meneley ran the aptly named Frosty 5K Dec. 21 at Twin Lakes Park in Sarasota with temperatures in the low 50s. Bernier finished in fourth place in the 70-74 age group, while Meneley won the veteran grand master division with a time of 26:12. Islander
winter flag football season for youth and adults.
The adult season kicks off Jan. 9 on the center pitch with five consecutive games beginning at 6 p.m. The 11-team league will play a 10-game regular season followed by a three-week playoff schedule, which begins March 14 with the championship game set for March 21.
The youth flag football season kicks off Jan. 13 with a seven-game regular season followed by a threeweek playoff run to determine a champion.
For more information, contact the center at 941778-1908 or drop by at 407 Magnolia Ave., Anna Maria.
Courtesy Photo: Fritz Meneley
Cassidy
Jimmy Livanos poses after hitting a hole-in-one on the 136-yard eighth hole at the Key Royale Club. Islander Photo: Courtesy KRC
come.
Flag football Next up at the Center of Anna Maria Island is the
Gulf harvest
Dennis Heepke and daughter Lucy, 15, of Edwardsville, Illinois, took a break from fishing to go crabbing Jan. 1 with Capt. Laura King of Anna Maria Charters. The Heepkes harvest horseradish on their farm in Illinois, but while in the Cortez-Anna Maria area, they pulled their share of stone crab — enough for a couple of hearty meals.
Tom Farrington, left, and Tim Sofran kick start the new year of horseshoe action with a dominating 25-4 victory Jan. 1 at the Anna Maria City Hall pits. Islander Photo: Courtesy of AMI
Rockets away!
Kudos to Dad — fishing guide David White — who remembered how much fun he had shooting rockets — and the name of the Rocket company — from his childhood. His three girls Layla, 8, Cameron, 6, and Lizzy, almost 3, got Estes rockets from Santa and they shot them from Palma Sola Park on Jan. 4. Just as dad hoped, there were plenty of thrills and squeals to go around — and a chase to recapture the rockets.
Pitchers
ITEMS FOR SALE
TWO BUFFALO BILLS ballcaps and Notre Dame cloth emblem, $20. Call Bill, 724-9860314.
KARCHER PRESSURE WASHER K5-65, $85, Dirt Devil shampooer CE6600, $50, Hoover Floormate FH40010B, $50. 941778-4675.
FREE: 3/4-INCH plywood in Cortez. Six pieces. 2-x-4-foot, four pieces, 2-x-8-foot. Bob, 941-720-2555.
TWO TRAILER TIRES: FT-78, 14 inches, tires fair, excellent rims. $20. 513-604-0385.
RACK: METAL FOUR-tier, $20. 941-9202494.
ANTIQUE PARTNER DESK: All wood, $500. Inquire at The Islander office, 315 58th St. Suite J, Holmes Beach. 941-778-7978.
FREEBIE ITEMS FOR SALE
Individuals may place one free ad with up to three items, each priced $100 or less, 15 words or less. FREE, one week, must be submitted online. Email classifieds@islander. org. (limited time offer)
TRANSPORTATION
GOLF CART RENTALS: Fun for residents and tourists! 212-941-2402. www.GolfCartRentalAMI.com.
BOATS & BOATING
HAVE A BOAT and wanna catch more fish, better bait or learn the water? 50-year local fisherman, your boat, my knowledge. Captain Chris, 941-896-2915.
SUNCOAST BOTTOM PAINTING: Professional bottom painting. Mobile. Call 941704-9382.
BOATS & BOATING Continued
CAPTAIN FOR HIRE and boat caretaker services: If you need help with your boat on or off the water, call Captain Dan. USCG, retired. 772-486-8085.
WELCOME ABOARD JOYFISH Charters for private fishing, sunset cruises, and dolphin watching. Check out joyfishcharters.com or follow us on Facebook. Call to reserve, 941840-3181.
2017 YAMAHA 242LTD boat for sale. One owner, well-maintained, on lift since new. 217-825-6575.
HELP WANTED
BEACH MARKET VENDOR looking for set-up person. Three days a week. Pick up and carry merchandise from storage, set up tents and displays. at end of day, tear down tents and displays and return merchandise to storage. Work hours, 8-10 a.m. and 2-4 p.m. $100/day. 941-209-0497. Email everythingjustbeachy@gmail.com
NOW HIRING HANDYMAN: Full-time professional services. $18 an hour and up, based on experience. Call JayPros, 941962-2874.
REPORTER WANTED: Full- to part-time. Print media, newspaper experience required. Apply via email with letter of interest to news@islander.org.
KIDS FOR HIRE
KIDS FOR HIRE ads are FREE for up to three weeks for Island youths under 16 looking for work. Ads must be placed in person at The Islander office, 315 58th St. Suite J, Holmes Beach.
HEALTH CARE
SEASONAL RETIRED RN available to assist with your family or your needs, 20 years’ experience. For more information please, call 973-819-2824.
SERVICES
IS YOUR HOME or office in need of some cleaning? Well, I’m your girl! Local, reliable, professional! Please, give me a call or text, 941-773 -0461.
CLEANING: VACATION, CONSTRUCTION, residential, commercial and windows. Licensed and insured. 941-756-4570.
PRESSURE WASHING, PAVER sealing, driveway, roof, fence, pool area. also, window cleaning. Licensed and insured. 941-5653931.
BICYCLE REPAIRS: Just4Fun at 5358 Gulf Drive can do most any bicycle repair at a reasonable cost. Pick-up and delivery available. 941-896-7884.
I SLANDER ARCHIVE UofF Florida digital newspaper collection at ufdc.ufl.edu.
SERVICES Continued
API’S DRYWALL REPAIR: I look forward to servicing your drywall repair needs. Call 941524-8067 to schedule an appointment.
PC OR TECH issues? Not sure where to start? With years of experience, I’ll come to you with reliable solutions. Contact Gavin at 928-587-1309. www.gse.codes
SARASOTA PAINTING: INTERIOR/exterior/ cabinets: Call or text Don, 941-900-9398. Free estimates. Fully insured, twenty years’ experience.
RIDEEASY 247 YOUR professional, reliable and courteous car service to airports and events since 2015. You can reach us via text 941-447-7737 or email to mrfort5001@gmail. com. We are available 24/7.
LOOK NO MORE! Residential, vacation rental and commercial cleaning. Give us a call, 941-250-8548.
LOOKING FOR SOMEONE who needs me: Clean, house-sit. I can cook, make sandwiches. I can do anything you can do but better! I can run to the grocery store for you. I can walk pets or go out to lunch with you. Looking for a part-time job caregiving companion, I am your right arm! I love people and I love helping others. I have references and I’m reliable and dependable. My name is Dena Gray a.k.a. Sparkles! 941-704-9948.
OUR SERVICES: CLEANING, home repairs, tile, concrete, remodeling, decks, steps, flooring, water drainage solutions, rental 24-hour services. Hurricane shutters and pre-storm service. New, low-cost generator and insulation (starts and runs on propane when power off). No permits needed. Islander, over 40 years here! Call 941-4049163.
IS YOUR POOL deck, driveway, or garage floor looking worn out and dated? Bring them back to life with our top-tier resurfacing services! Services offered: Pool deck resurfacing, Slip-resistant, cool-to-the-touch finishes that enhance safety and aesthetics. Driveway resurfacing, durable surfaces that stand up to heavy traffic and harsh weather. Garage floor resurfacing, easy-to-clean, stain-resistant surfaces that look great and perform even better. Don’t wait! Transform your spaces today with our trusted resurfacing services. Contact us now for a free consultation and estimate. Call U Plus Me LLC at 727-6235050 or visit u-plus-me.com
WINDOW CLEANING: DOWNEAST Window Cleaning, 207-852-6163.
AIRPORT SHUTTLE: QUALITY transportation, 10 years by Lewber. 352-339-3478.
BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS JD’s Window Cleaning looking for storefront jobs in Holmes Beach. I make dirty windows sparkling clean. 941-920-3840.
BEACH SERVICE air conditioning, heat, refrigeration. Commercial and residential service, repair and/or replacement. Serving Manatee County and the Island since 1987. For dependable, honest and personalized service, call Bill Eller, 941-7207411. Residential, call Nate, 941-524-2248. CaC184228.
SERVICES Continued
CLEAN TECH MOBILE Detailing. At your location. Cars, boats, RVs. Call or text Billie for an appointment. 941-592-3482.
LAWN & GARDEN
CONNIE’S LANDSCAPING INC. Residential and commercial. Full-service lawn maintenance, landscaping, cleanups, hauling and more! Insured. 941-713-1965.
COLLINS LANDSCAPE LIGHTING: Outdoor lighting, landscaping, irrigation services and maintenance. 941-279-9947. MJC24373@ gmail.com
NOW HAULING STORM trash. Shell delivered and spread. Hauling all kinds of gravel, mulch, topsoil with free estimates. Call Larry at 941-795-7775, or “shell phone” 941-7200770.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
VAN-GO PAINTING residential/commercial, interior/exterior, pressure cleaning, wallpaper. Island references. Bill, 941-795-5100. www.vangopainting.net.
GRIFFIN’S HOME IMPROVEMENTS Inc. Handyman, fine woodwork, countertops, cabinets and wood flooring. Insured and licensed. 941-722-8792.
LANE’S SCREENING SERVICES: Replace your window, door or lanai screens. Many screen options available. Retired veteran serving our community! Free estimates, call 941-705-5293.
LOOKING FOR ANY home improvement?
JRCC Home Improvement, handyman service can get the job done. Please, contact us at 413-246-2410. We would love to help.
TILE-TILE-TILE: All variations of ceramic tile supplied and installed. Quality workmanship, prompt, reliable, many Island references. Call Robert, 941-726-3077.
DONALD PERKINS PAINTING LLC. Interior/exterior/pressure washing. Island references. dperkinspaint@hotmail.com. 941705-7096.
GORILLA DRYWALL REPAIR LLC. Let’s solve your drywall problems together. Give us a call at 941-286-0607.
MASSEY CONTRACTING: PROVIDING quality roofing services on all jobs, big or small. Giving honest, hassle-free quotes at a great price. Call Jon to schedule your free estimate, 727-477-5313. Lic#CCC1332486.
HOME IMPROVEMENT
CALL HYDRO CLEAN. Full-service pressure washing, sealing. Pavers, travertine and natural stone. Window washing too, up to three stories. Call Jacob, 941-920-2094.
ISLAND HANDYMAN: I live here, work here, value your referral. Refinish, paint. Just ask. JayPros. Licensed/insured. References. Call Jay, 941-962-2874.
RENTALS
ANNA MARIA GULF beachfront vacation rentals. One- two- and three-bedroom units, all beachfront. www.amiparadise.com. 941778-3143.
AVAILABLE NOW AND season: 1BR/1BA, seven-night minimum. carlesvacationrentals. com Special rates are available. 941-8071405.
2BR/1BA ANNUAL LEASE: Electric/ac/heat all included. $2,975/month. Looking for 1 or 2 quiet adults with no pets or smoking. Steps to Gulf. Owner-occupied duplex. Owner, 508496-8480. williamshomes@yahoo.com
MAY 2025 AVAILABLE: Snowbird special! Perico Island patio home, single floor, high ceilings, 3BR/2BA, privacy wall/gate, twocar garage. Call or text Alison, 859-7716423. www.pericoislandrental.com
AVAILABLE JANUARY: FOR rent Anna Maria Island condo. November to November availability. Great value. Beautiful upgraded first floor 2BR/2BR. Incredible water view. Excellent rental terms. Owner/renter. Call/email for pics, 570-239-0431. marketreps@aol.com.
ANNUAL RENTAL: HOLMES Beach. Three minutes to the beach, newly renovated house, 2,100 sf, 3BR/3BA. Two-car garage. $5,950/ monthly. 514-730-4825. kondiloveroutis@ gmail.com
MINUTES TO BEACHES! 2BR/2BA condo, water and cable included, pool, washer/dryer, $1,795/month, annual, 941-713-6743.
LAST MINUTE CANCELLATION for upcoming season! 2BR/2BA Gulffront condo at Tiffany Place, January, February. (two-week minimum). 4BR/2BA home, one block to the beach in the City of Anna Maria, January, February. 5BR/5BA Gulffront home, February, (weekly available). 3BR/2BA canalfront home, January, February (monthly minimum). 2BR/2BA condo, Sunbow Bay, March. Call Green Real Estate, 941-778-0455. ken@ greenreal.com
RENTAL: MARCH, APRIL, May. 1BR/1BA condo, second floor, all inclusive. West Bradenton. 941-962-0971.
REAL ESTATE
WINNIE MCHALE, REALTOR, 941-5046146. Dalton Wade Real Estate. You need an aggressive and experienced Realtor in today’s market! Selling island homes, Sarasota and Bradenton areas. Multi-milliondollar producer! “Selling Homes - Making Dreams Come True.”
COMMERCIAL SPACE FOR SALE in Palm Condo. 12x25-foot office suite. Street frontage. One allocated parking space. Shared client parking. $120,000. Call 941-7302606.
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY
All real estate advertising herein is subject to the Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination Familial status includes children under age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians, pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination, call HUD toll-free at 1-800-669-9777 or for the hearing impaired, call 0-800-543-8294.
Something new
By Bonner Joy
As if the remodel work wasn’t enough for the many established businesses after the storms, an ambitious team of restaurant folks are opening a new restaurant Jan. 10 in a “tucked away” spot on Longboat Key.
The new Lo’ Key Island Grille is offering a friendly neighborhood feel and a excelent culinary team headed by chef Seth Groseclose — familiar to islanders from the Beach Bistro and Doctor’s Office — and a menu that is a “celebration of soutern coastal flavors.”
Seafood is the star of the menu, from succulent shrimp and pulled pork to savory crab bisque, including “Sea-cuterie, a Tuna Poke Tower, Crabby Poutine, Florida Man Po’Boy, a Surf & Turf entree and much more.
Lo’Key is located mid-key at 5620 Gulf of Mexico Drive. Hours are 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. daily with indoor and covered patio seating, a full bar with TVs and happy hour daily.
Maybe this is that quiet, delicious “low-key” spot with an “island vibe” you’ve been looking for? If so, head south on Longboat Key and keep your eyes peeled on the 5600 block for Lo’ Key Island Grille. The restaurant can be reached at 941-387-0089.
Debris Removal, Flood Cut, Full Demolition, Complete Restoration, Insurance Estimates.
We can restore your property from landscaping to the roof! We are locals helping locals since 1999!
Meanwhile, we chatted briefly with Bob Slicker, the key figure behind Slicker’s Eaterie in Cortez, about his reopening.
It seemed for awhle there after the floods and wind damage suffered almost everywhere in Cortez, that Slicker would be more involved in fundraisers and helping other people get on their feet than himself.
But he’s “getting there.”
He said Jan. 4 that the restaurant has really come together in the past week and he’s optimistic they can open mid-January.
Trivia Tuesday anyone?
Over the bridge to Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach, the hard hit Sports Lounge reopened just days ago in the new year but the Drift In remains closed. Blue Marlin is coming along ... and it looks like the Island Creperie will change hands before there’s any action there.
But there is good news for shoppers and market vendors — the Coquina Beach Market at the south end of the public beach has opened, offering vendors with local honey, food and refreshments, T-shirts, home decor, toys, custom jewelry, AMI products and more.
The market operates 10 am.-2 p.m. Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays — now throught June, when the brutal heat moves in.
For another market opportunity, shoppers can
Guests at the bar at Lo’Key Island Grille enjoy libations and an advance look at the menu — where “seafood is the star.” Lo’Key’s chef, Seth Groseclose, is a familiar face on Anna Maria Island and the atmosphere at Lo’Key is much like a “Cheers” kind of place. It is located midkey at 5620 Gulf of Mexico Drive, Longboat Key. Lo’Key is hosting a grand opening Jan. 10 and all are welcome. Islander Courtesy
head north to the Center of Anna Maria Island — the community center — where from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on tuesdays, starting Jan. 14, they will find the Anna Maria Community Farmers Market — formerly the city market at City Pier Park.
Devinne Whittaker of Devs Bevs — who operates DBTB Juice Bar and Bakery at the center — is the drive behind moving the market this winter to the center.
You can look forward to art, produce, coffee, baked goods, massage, clothing, pickles, micro greens and other foods and more at the new “center” market.
And thank Whittaker for the market revival.
But there’s more.
Look for the Coquina Beach Winter Art & Craft Show, hosted by Danielles Blue Ribbon Events, to settle at the southernmost beach 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 18-19.
This art and crafts market brings together some of the finest artists and artisans in the area for a two-day show and there’s a benefit.
Admission and parking are free, but patrons are asked to support the Roser Food Pantry with donations of canned or non-perishable foods.
The event will include painters, wood workers, quirky yard art, jewelry, beachy items, pottery, upcycled art and many other handmade creations.
Additionally, the event organizers have set aside an area for local businesses to participate for free with
Photo
By Capt. Danny Stasny Islander Reporter
With sunny days, mild temperatures and fairly calm seas, Anna Maria Island anglers are ringing in the new year by getting out on the water to do some fishing.
Fishing inshore and nearshore is producing good action on a variety of species with most being caught on live shrimp as bait.
While fishing inshore, many anglers are finding spotted seatrout to be the most accommodating. Using live shrimp combined with a small jig or just a plain old live shrimp on a hook with the addition of a split shot is leading to many hookups.
If shrimp aren’t available, casting a jig head with a soft plastic over the flats is producing action, too.
Using live shrimp along the beaches is also working well as pompano, whiting, trout and black drum are being caught in these areas.
And if there’s any structure present, you may even encounter a few sheepshead.
Speaking of structure, redfish and black drum are being found around docks, piers and other structure throughout our area and they also like a live shrimp.
Nearshore fishing is still going well on the calmer days. Species such as hogfish, grunts, porgies and snappers are being caught in depths of 40-60 feet.
Moving out slightly further is producing action on keeper-sized red grouper, which are back in season as of Jan. 1.
With this being said, weather forecasts are predict-
ISL BIZ FROM PAGE 14
a booth in its AMILocal section where they can hand out menus or brochures and sell gift cards.
Owner Danielle Lynch asks Anna Maria Island or Cortez businesses or chamber members to call her at 231-350-8277 to reserve a spot.
Meanwhile, Blue Ribbon’s Community Coffee corner will brew up fresh, free coffee each day until noon.
Lynch says her events are popular because there’s something for everyone — handcrafted and unique items — in all price ranges.
Come for the art, stay for the fun, is her mantra.
You might find your island vibe waiting among the vendors.
temps invade our area
ing more wind and a deep dive on the thermometer so plan accordingly as you’ll need to do some homework to find a consistent bite when the temperatures drop. It might be time to start fishing a real wintertime pattern, which for those anglers who welcome a challenge, will be entertaining.
On my own Just Reel charters, I’m catching a variety of species throughout the back country while using live shrimp as bait and artificials, such as soft plastics on a jig head.
Spotted seatrout are the most apparent species being caught and are responding to both live shrimp and artificials.
Redfish and sheepshead are being caught on shrimp around docks and in a few areas along the Gulf beaches. Whiting are also present with the sheepies and reds while working the beaches.
Mangrove snapper and flounder are being found occasionally around rock piles some select docks in Tampa Bay.
Lastly, I’m seeing a few pompano being caught while drifting and jigging the flats.
Capt. David White says he’s finding plenty of spotted seatrout while working the deep grass flats and some select areas along the Gulf beaches. Both live shrimp and shiners as bait are working well to cast catch the trout. While using shrimp as bait, White is hooking into redfish, black drum and pompano. For the reds, casting shrimp around rocks and docks is producing the best action.
For the pompano and drum, fishing along the
beaches is most consistent.
Kiaan adinata, age 9, visiting Anna Maria Island from La Cañada Flintridge, California, shows off a giant spotted seatrout that ate his shiner Dec. 30. Kiaan was guided to the fish by Capt. David White.
Capt. Johnny Mattay is putting his clients on a variety of species inshore. He’s using live shrimp on a jig head to attract species such as black drum, pompano and redfish to the hook. He says slowly dragging the shrimp along the bottom is resulting in a bite that has some large spotted seatrout in the mix.
On the nearshore bite, Mattay has his clients hooking up with hogfish, mangrove snapper, sheepshead and small groupers while using live shrimp on a knocker rig.
And, as of Jan. 1, red grouper season is open and Mattay is cashing in. Using live pinfish as bait is leading to some large red grouper.
Capt. Wes Wildman reports finding inshore fishing for spotted seatrout is quite good. Casting soft plastics on a jig head on shallower grass fl ats is leading to many slot-sized trout.
Switching to live shrimp as bait and working around structure in Tampa Bay also is producing action for Wildman. Redfish and black drum can be frequently found in these areas and are readily responding to live shrimp offerings.
Moving into the Gulf of Mexico, Wildman says fi shing ledges and hard bottom with live shrimp is leading to hookups on a variety of fish, including mangrove snapper, lane snapper, hogfish and gag grouper. Wildman reports that the gags are responding well to live pinfish as bait versus live shrimp.
Send high-resolution photos and fishing reports to fish@islander.org.
