July 2017
The COASTAL STAR
Outdoors/Calendar H11
Two-day sport lobster season set for late July
This year’s two-day sport lobster season for spiny lobster is July 26-27. A saltwater fishing license and lobster permit are required unless you’re exempt. The daily mini-season bag limit is 12 lobsters — except in Monroe County and Biscayne National Park, where the daily sport-season limit is six. A lobster’s carapace, or head section, must measure more than 3 inches to be legal to keep. Divers must carry a lobster-measuring device and measure lobster under water. Egg-bearing lobster must be released. Red-and-white dive flags are required by law. Boaters must stay 300 feet away from dive flags on the open ocean and 100 feet away in inlets, rivers and navigation channels. Those approaching closer should do so at idle speed. The regular spiny lobster season opens Aug. 6. For details, go to www. myfwc.com. (Click on saltwater fishing, recreational regulations and lobster.)
Lobster season is July 26-27. The daily bag limit is 12 spiny lobsters, each of which must have a carapace larger than 3 inches. Graphic provided
Coming events
July 8: Basic boating safety class offered by Coast Guard Auxiliary, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the headquarters building at Spanish River Park, 3939 N. Ocean Blvd., Boca Raton. Fee $35 for adults or $20 ages 12 to 19. Register at the door. Bring lunch. Call 391-3600 or email fso-pe@cgauxboca.org. July 8: Big Dog, Fat Cat KDW fishing tournament based at Sailfish Marina in Palm Beach Shores. Captain’s meeting 7 p.m. July 7 at Sailfish
Outdoors Calendar Note: Events are current as of 6/23. Please check with organizers for any changes.
JULY 1
Saturday - 7/1 - Sand Sifters Beach Clean Up at Oceanfront Park, 6415 N Ocean Blvd, Ocean Ridge. Meet at pavilion in lower parking lot. 8-10:15 am. Free. jefflev02@gmail.com 7/1 - Tram Tours of the Marsh at Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge, 10216 Lee Rd, Boynton Beach. M/W/Th 1-2:30 pm; M/W/Th/Sat 10-11:30 am. $5/ automobile; $1/pedestrian. Reservations: 733-0192; loxahatcheefriends.com/events/ events.shtml 7/1 - Nature Detectives at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. New mystery each month. Age 5-7 w/an adult. Held again 8/5. 11:30 am12:30 pm. Free. Reservations: 544-8615; gumbolimbo.org 7/1 - Outdoor Marine Aquarium Feedings at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. All ages; children must be accompanied by an adult. Daily 12:30 pm. Free. 544-8605; gumbolimbo.org 7/1 - Boardwalk Tours at Green Cay Nature Center, 12800 Hagen Ranch Rd, Boynton Beach. Docent-guided tour of wetlands. All ages. Times vary, call for details. Free. 966-7000; pbcnature.com
JULY 2-8
Wednesday - 7/5 - A Walk On The Ashley Trail at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Guided walk winds through the butterfly garden, coastal hammock, mangroves to a sandy beach by the Intracoastal. All ages; children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult. Every W 11 am-12:30 pm. Free. 544-8605; gumbolimbo.org Thursday - 7/6 - US Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 36 Boca Raton meets at Spanish River Park Headquarters Building, 3939 N Ocean Blvd. 1st Th 7:30 pm. Free. cgaux.org Friday - 7/7-8 - Big Dog Fat Cat KDW Shootout Fishing Tournament at Sailfish Marina, 98 Lake Dr, West Palm Beach. Benefits A Second Chance Puppies & Kittens Rescue, Inc. and Vinceremos Therapeutic Riding Center. Captain’s meeting at Sailfish Marina 5:30-8:30 pm
7/7; Fishing 6:30 am-3:30 pm Saturday; weigh station 1-4:30 pm; awards dinner & party 4-8:30 pm. Entry fee $250/boat, includes 2 dinner tickets. 855-456-7634; bigdogfatcat.org Saturday - 7/8 - Birds & Breakfast at Green Cay Nature Center, 12800 Hagen Ranch Rd, Boynton Beach. Coffee, refreshments, 1-hour walking tour w/a naturalist. Age 9+. 9 am. $3. Reservations: 966-7000; pbcnature.com 7/8 - US Coast Guard Auxiliary About Boating Safety Class at Spanish River Park Headquarters Building, 3939 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Beginner in-depth boating safety course provides knowledge needed to obtain boat license or safety certification in many states; possible insurance discounts. Bring lunch. 9 am-5 pm. $35/person; $25/police or firefighter. 391-3600 x2; cgauxboca.org 7/8 - Naturalist Program: Frog Talk
Marina. Entry fee $200 per boat through July 2 or $250 thereafter. Call 315-3722 or visit www.bigdogfatcat.org. July 15: Full moon wahoo tournament, the second of three summer wahoo events organized by the West Palm Beach Fishing Club. Entry fee $60 per team. At least one team member must be a West Palm Beach Fishing Club member. Call 832-6780 or go to www. WestPalmBeachFishingClub. org. July 22: Boating safety
class offered by Coast Guard Auxiliary, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the classroom building next to the boat ramps, Harvey E. Oyer Jr. Park, 2010 N. Federal Highway, Boynton Beach. Fee $20. Discounts for ages 14 to 18 and for family groups. Register at the door. Call 704-7440.
at Daggerwing Nature Center, 11200 Park Access Rd, Boca Raton. Ages 5+. 10:30 am. $3. Reservations: 629-8760; pbcnature.com 7/8 - Seining the Lagoon at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Explore grasses and flats of the Intracoastal Waterway behind Gumbo Limbo. Hand-held dip nets and large seine nets allow participants to catch and release a variety of fish, shrimp, crabs, marine life. Wear clothes that can get wet. No flip-flops or sandals. Old Sneakers or water shoes only. Age 10 to adult; children must be accompanied by an adult. 3-4:30 pm. $7/ member; $10/non-member. Reservations: 544-8615; gumbolimbo.org
Free. 818-7574; auduboneverglades.org
JULY 9-15
Tuesday - 7/11 - Audubon Society of the Everglades at FAU Pine Jog Environmental Education Center, 6301 Summit Blvd, West Palm Beach. Conserving the Florida Burrowing Owls at South Florida Airports: 4 speakers, Q&A. 6:30 pm doors open/refreshments; 7 pm program.
Tip of the month
Boats carry hazardous products that should not be disposed of in residential garbage cans. Outdated emergency flares,
JULY 23-29
Tuesday - 7/25 - Boynton Beach Fishing Club at Harvey E. Oyer, Jr. Park, 2010 N Federal Hwy. Join other fishermen, discuss hot topics, learn new tricks of the trade. 4th T 7-9 pm. Free. 703-5638; boynton-beach.org Wednesday - 7/26 - Beach Treasures at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center, 1801 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Learn about seashells, the animals that make them. Caravan to Red Reef Park, 1400 N State Rd A1A, to search for ocean treasures. All ages; children must be accompanied by an adult. 9-10:30 am. Free May-August 2017. Reservations: 544-8615; gumbolimbo.org Thursday - 7/27 - The Night Stalkers at Green Cay Nature Center, 12800 Hagen Ranch Rd, Boynton Beach. Join a Naturalist on a boardwalk tour looking at nature from the point of view of its nocturnal residents. Age 9+. 8 pm. $5/person. RSVP: 966-7000; pbcnature.com
spent fire extinguishers and old batteries, for example, should be taken to one of the Palm Beach County Solid Waste Authority’s Home Chemical and Recycling Centers. Unwanted fuel, oil and boat cleaning products also should be taken to an SWA facility. Disposal is free for Palm Beach County residents. The SWA’s home chemical drop-off locations include: • The Central County Transfer Station, at 1810 Lantana Road. It’s open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 7 a.m. until noon on Saturdays. • The East South County Transfer Station, at 1901 SW Fourth Ave. in Delray Beach. It’s open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. For details, call 697-2700 or visit www.swa.org. Willie Howard is a freelance writer and licensed boat captain. Reach him at tiowillie@ bellsouth.net.
Friday - 7/28 - Fishing Fun at Daggerwing Nature Center, 11435 Park Access Rd, Boca Raton. Bring sunscreen, water bottle, closed-toed shoes that can get wet/muddy. Age 8+. 10 am. $10/ includes fishing supplies. RSVP: 629-8760; pbcnature.com Saturday - 7/29 - Sea Angels Beach Cleanup at Ocean Inlet Park, 6990 N Ocean Blvd, Ocean Ridge. Last Sat 8-10:30 am. 369-5501; seaangels.org
JULY 30-AUGUST 5
Saturday - 8/5 - US Coast Guard Auxiliary About Boating Safety Class at Spanish River Park Headquarters Building, 3939 N Ocean Blvd, Boca Raton. Beginner in-depth boating safety course provides knowledge needed to obtain boat license or safety certification in many states; possible insurance discounts. Bring lunch. 9 am-5 pm. $35/person; $25/police or firefighter. 391-3600 x2; cgauxboca.org