Water LIFE April 2016

Water L I F E

Charlotte Harbor, Lemon Bay, Venice, Estero, 10,000 Islands and the Gulf

The Don Ball School of Fishing

April 2016

Below the South Fork Local History

Page 12

Text us your photos!

See page 4

A Great Growth of Green Algae Page 14

Fish are Eating Page 10

Summer is on the way

Fishing Report Page 22-23

www.WaterlifeMagazine.com

FREE!

PAGE

2

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

APRIL 2016

APRIL 2016

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

PAGE 3

PAGE

4

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

APRIL 2016

Tune in to Radio Fishinʼ anytime!

Talk shows with Fishinʼ Frank @ FishinFranks.com

Send letters and photos to: WaterLIFE@comcast.net Left: My wife Lek Durr, catches gigantic fish regularly and she has never shared them ( except with her friends on Facebook).This photo is of a 24" Spotted Sea Trout caught along the "West Wall" of Charlotte Harbor on March 16.

Water LIFE inc. waterlife@comcast.net www.WaterlifeMagazine.com

Michael & Ellen Heller Publishers

(941) 766-8180

217 Bangsberg Rd. Port Charlotte, FL 33952

Independant - Not affiliated with any other publication!

Vol XV No 4 © 2016

NO PART of this publication (printed or electronic) may be copied, reproduced or reused without specific written permission from the publishers (and thatʼs never happened!).

ABOVE Captain Ed Johnson of Nokomis with a Red Grouper and Huge Mangrove Snapper at Venice Inlet

LEFT: Louise Updyke photographed these baby ospreys in Venice Inlet last week.

Not A Fan To Water LIFE On March 7, 2016 I picked up a copy of the Water Life March issue at Bass Pro at the Gulf Coast Town Center Mall.

This issue had two articles which I read at least twice.

On page 3, an article by Michael Heller titled "Teaching Myself a Lesson." This article had to be the most useless, asinine collection of drivel I have ever read. On Wednesday I asked my wife to read this same article, her reply was "That's Stupid."

On page 14, by Capt. Bill Damour regarding a previous article by Fishin' Frank and his "Immense Knowledge" of Florida.

Needless to say, I will never again pick up a copy of this publication.

Sincerely Robert Exby, Estero, FL

About Sending us Pictures: Yes! Please Do!

We like Fresh Fish so

resolution is best. Please

We like the First Catch

us to do that, it will look

please donʼt send old photos.

so donʼt send us pictures you are sending to an-

other publication, like for instance, the Charlotte Sun ;-(

Bigger is Better, higher

donʼt adjust, crop or

sharpen your pictures. Let better!

Send Where? email to:

waterlife@comcast.net or txt them, include your

name, to 941-457-1316 (txt only, voice calls are

not answered)

Best Picture Wins There is no guarantee your fish will appear in print, but if itʼs a better picture of a

bigger fish or something cool or unusual, it has a

very good chance of getting into the magazine.

Thanks!

Contributing Editors:

Photography: ASA1000.com Senior Editor: Capt. Ron Blago Charlotte Harbor: Capt. Billy Barton Baitshop Commentary: Fishinʼ Frank Peace River: Capt. David Stephens Diving: Adam Wilson Punta Gorda: Capt. Chuck Eichner Venice: Glen Ballinger Estero: Capt. Joe Angius Everglades City: Capt. Charlie Phillips Kayaking: Bob Fraser Sea Grant: Capt. Betty Staugler Beach Fishing: Mallory Herzog Pier Fishing: Bobby Vitalis

On the Cover:

Kevin Carvery of Marystown, Newfoundland, visiting Venice beach on March 5th, shows of a 26-inch black drum caught in the surf.

“I GOT CALLS FROM ALL OVER THE PLACE FROM MY AD THIS SUMMER” ADVERTISE HERE!

$99 per month!

Water LIFEʼs 1/8 page ad (this size)

still just

call 941-766-8180

LEONARD AT TOP NOTCH CANVAS

“... A LOT MORE CALLS FROM YOUR PUBLICATION THAN FROM ... THAT OTHER WATER PUBLICATION”

The effective & economical month-long advertising solution

4- C O L O R is always FREE WE areTHE WAY to reach people who love the WATER!

www.waterlifemagazine.com in print - online - and always FREE

TOM AT THE BOAT HOUSE “ADVERTISING WITH YOU IS A NO BRAINER! IT WORKS FOR US”

Free on yourDevice too!

C h e ck A r o u n d - s e e w h er e l o ca l a d v e r t i s e r s a r e p u t t i n g t h e i r h a r d e a r n e d d o l l a r s

APRIL 2016

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

Out Standing In The Field

By Michael Heller Water LIFE Editor Last month I was asked to recommend a good friend of mine to the Charlotte County Tourism Hall of Fame, I smiled to myself and wondered if they will cast a bust of him or perhaps commission a lifesized bronze statue.

Of course this will be a recognition in name only. I know there is not physically a Great Hall of Tourism, but if the County’s tourism division employees spent less time on self-serving, feel-good projects like this they would be serving the citizens better. The Hall of Fame has two previous inductees, the owner of a kayaking business in Placida (that is now closed) ... and the previous tourism department director herself! This Hall of Fame project has its own website, partners, plans, events and award dinners.

Lots of time and resources have, in my opinion, been wasted on this.

Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that my friend doesn't deserve the recognition. He, more than anyone else I know does deserve to be in a real Tourism Hall of Fame. His business is tourism, he deals with tourists every day and he is very good at it. I had no problem writing an honest letter of recommendation for him.

The fact is, there are a lot of Captains in Charlotte County I’d write a letter of recommendation for and most of them are very good at what they do. I see the pictures they take regularly. Pictures of

happy people with big fish. Pictures showing positive memories being made in Charlotte County. We should use that resource to promote our County.

Right now, on my computer, I have over 100 photos for this month’s edition.

In the old days of prints and film those pictures would go home with the visitors and be pasted in a scrapbook, but today pictures go out in emails and on social media and hundreds of people get to see them... and if the picture is really cool, maybe thousands get to see it.

Instead of a website for the Hall of Fame, how about a website dedicated to Charlotte Harbor? Promoting the Harbor on the internet should be one person’s full time job at the Tourism department.

Sometimes I wonder if the people steering the course for tourism aren’t a little too touchy-feely-tree-huggy when it comes to promoting boating and fishing.

When I checked, last week, the county's website for tourism opens with a main picture (shown) of the Sports Park.

Then, when you scroll through, there is a picture of a guy and an owl, then a guy playing golf, then a high end food setting with a bottle of wine, then a 4-wheeler in the palmettos, then four kids on the beach with a sailboat, then a kayak at Ponce Park, then a bird flying over the surf and finally an aerial of Fishermen's Village; if you keep scrolling, the Sports Park image comes back around again. The County’s other website, Links for Tourists doesn't

PAGE 5

This is Charlotteʼs website – power boating and fishing are very hard to find on the site

highlight fishing either, but I’m sure there must be some fishing buried in there somewhere... it’s probably kayak fishing.

God sakes man, what's wrong with these people? We are a bona fide Aquatic Preserve, the Tarpon Capitol of the World!

Record fish come from our waters. There is a tarpon in the center of the official Charlotte County seal. They knew the value of our Harbor back when that seal was created, but the tourism division has now apparently forgotten it.

The County website needs a video of a visitor jumping a 180 pound tarpon in the Harbor. It needs a 40 inch snook, a 9-

pound redfish and some 10-foot sharks.

The website needs cobia and rays and eagles and manatees and dolphin. It needs what we see here every day, updated daily.

The Harbor is, as they say in advertising, the hook. Many counties have baseball, but with Charlotte Harbor we have something unique. We have green undeveloped mangrove shorelines, solitude as far as the eye can see; the Harbor is the kind of natural resource that has been proven to attract people... people with disposable incomes, people who might want to move here, or retire here. But first, those people have to find out about it.

April’s Fast Fishing PAGE

6

By Capt. Chuck Eichner Water LIFE Inshore Life in the fast lane is the way I think of fishing in April. Both for the fish and the fisherman. Just about every fish in our seas wakes up after some dormant time in the cooler waters of winter and the old saying of big fish eats little fish is definitely in play. If you are a small fish you better be moving fast because predator gamefish are just about everywhere.

One of the earliest fish to arrive are Spanish mackerel. They pull drag just about as fast as anything that swims and are an absolute ball on light tackle. I have discovered that fishing large silver spoons in the 3” to 5” size will catch more fish

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

APRIL 2016

slam of snook, redfish and trout, but one 150-pound tarpon will make your day and just maybe your year!

If I had to pick the best inshore fishing month it would be April. Fast fishing will be found on the incoming tides with the highest waters. Instead of fishing where you see other boats set up, choose more remote locations that are less disturbed and you might just have the best fishing trip of your life!

Capt. Chuck Eichner operates Action Flats Backcountry Charters and can be reached at 941-628-8040

and prevent bite offs with the larger size without steel leader. Reel the spoons as fast as you can with an occasional pumping action and hang on!

Don’t be surprised if a cobia or jack crash your oversize spoon!

After a late start in March, April will be a smoking snook month.

With the white bait hardly showing themselves in March, the fish will be extra hungry and catching bait

should get much easier. Same deal for redfish as the influx of sardines and threadfins fills the Harbor, redfish will Gulf to feed. Just remember that redfish really would rather eat a pinfish over white bait and pinfish have already made a strong appearance in the grass beds.

Speckled Trout fishing has been, and will continue to be, stellar! Big females roll in from the Gulf and invade our shallows. There are plenty of small trout around, but the big ones usually occupy different areas than their smaller relatives, so try different spots. Catching trout in the 4-to 5-pound class is a realistic goal and sometimes they will be mixed in with snook when fishing over sand holes.

Tarpon and sharks will round out the later part of this month and can be found lurking around bait pods in open water. If you can cast net large threadfins or use a sabiki rig, then you will have the right bait. It’s often easier said then done, but worth the effort. Free drifting big threadies or fishing them under a float can produce a fish of a lifetime. My biggest tarpon have come in April and often when no one else is around fishing for them.

Tarpon fishing is a game of patience and devotion. You will need to cover lots of water and patiently watch for them.

Some days that means hours of searching and on some days you may not find them.

It is much easier to go fishing for a grand

There are lots of Spanish mackerel around.

APRIL 2016

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

PAGE 7

Cobia Fishing Best In Several Years way to spot cobia is by looking for them

By Capt. David Stephens Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor around the bigger rays. They like to forage It’s official, Spring has arrived to when the rays stir up the bottom. Most of Southwest Florida. The water temperature my bites have been coming on live has risen above 70 degrees and it is stayshrimp. ing there. This Another miis the time of gratory fish year when the that is in full fishing is at its swing in Charpeak. Not lotte Harbor is only are our the Spanish local fish mackerel. In feeding very my opinion, heavily, but these guys are we have a lot way too often of fish migratover looked as ing through. a target. You This is the don’t have to time of year be an advanced two cobia when deciding angler to have a what species of fish great day on the to target can be the water fishing for toughest part of the these guys. day.

You can find The cobia fishthem in large ing has been the schools in the open best I have seen in water. One of the several years. I easiest ways to lohave had a couple cate feeding fish, is charters on which look for the birds. we targeted them Another way to with great success. find them is to troll the deeper holes in the We have been averaging 5- to 8 to the Harbor. When locating fish trolling, small boat on a half day and most of them were spoons work great – you want something sight-cast to. Some have been under the that resembles a small glass minnow. I 33-inch minimum size limit to the V of also recommend using a small wire leader. the tail. We have also been getting some I prefer using the single strain wire. You cobia running over 30-pounds. A great will have to tie these yourself, but most of the packages have detailed direction on the back.

When it comes to eating, fresh Spanish mackerel is excellent. The only down side is they do not freeze very well. What I like to do is catch just enough mackerel for me and Rachel to have fresh that night for dinner.

I put them on a piece of foil, skin side down, with some butter and your favorite seasoning.

Snook fishing is also very good right now

I guarantee you will change your mind about them.

I can’t leave out snook this month. This is, by far, the prime time to target snook. The warm water has got these guys on the bite.

Anywhere from local docks to the potholes on the flats you will be able to locate feeding fish.

On the higher tides, mangrove shorelines and points with good tidal flow will be holding fish.

On the lower tides the potholes and docks are great places to get the rod bent.

If you can find live baits such as pilchards, thread herring or pinfish, these are my baits of choice.

Artificial baits will also get plenty of snook bites. I have been doing very good with Z-Man paddlerz, Pogyz and Minnowz baits. If your are fishing darker stained water use a darker color. In the cleaner clear water throw a lighter color. I have been rigging them on a 1/8oz to 1/4oz jig head, size depending on depth.

two more cobia

If you would like to experience some of Charlotte Harbor’s best fishing give me a call or send me an email. All of our charters are private and customized to fit you and your parties needs. Capt. Dave Stephens www.backbayxtremes.com 941-916-5769

PAGE

8

Magic Swimmer in the Parking Lot

EMAIL:

Manatees Updates

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

Water LIFE Update At Fishinʼ Frankʼs tent sale last month there were long shallow casting tanks so anglers could see how different lures ʻswam.ʼ But the tanks were almost unnecessary.

If you have lived in Florida for a while you know, when a big front is coming, right before the rain hits, the wind will blast down, and blast it did, that day.

The tents were trying to fly and people were grabbing onto them to hold them down. Then the rain started coming down.

The water came down from above and in from US 41. It filled the parking lot in front of Fishinʼ Frankʼs store, where the sale was Patrick Sebile, doing what he does best being held.

The water built up, but the show went on in spite of it and when it was all over, the prize for the most determined fishing nut went to lure designer Patrick Sebile, whose tent collapsed under the weight, not long after the picture above was taken. Patrick stood his ground, in more than ankle deep water, casting and retrieving one of his magic swimmer lures across the parking as the storm raged on. “This is cool,” Patrick said, “I donʼt have to use the casting tank any more!”

On The Line

By Capt. Ron Blago Water LIFE Senior Staff

It seems to me that the more scientific data that comes in about manatees the less the main stream media wants to report about it. You just don't see the pictures of dead manatees on the front page of newspapers like you used to. Stories of recovered manatees being released back into the wild are not as frequent on the evening news as in the past. I guess people are just losing interest in manatees. We are all suffering from what I call manatee compassion fatigue (MCF).

After years of arguments and law suits that seem to drag on forever, most people are saying enough already; let’s just get this manatee business behind us and move on. I agree 100-percent!

This year's manatee aerial population survey has been released. Once again, they have found a new record number of manatees in Florida. A total of 6,250 were counted; 3,292 on the east coast and 2,958 here on the west coast. Since most experts in the field say that these studies under count the population by 20- to 40-percent; that means we have a lot of manatees in Florida. As long as the winters are mild, the red tide is low and the seagrass still grows, the manatee population will only get larger.

The manatee mortality rate for 2015 has

APRIL 2016

also been released. The state had recovered 405 dead manatees last year. Once again the cause for the highest number of manatee deaths (129) is listed as “undetermined”.

That's 5 years in a row that the leading cause of manatee deaths has been scientifically classified as undetermined.

The Federal Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is moving forward with their plan to move the manatee from endangered to threatened. They will still take public comments on their web site www.regulations.com until April 7th. They have already received 1,200 comments against the move. It has come down to science and data versus personal opinion. Even the Save the Manatee Club (SMC) has come to realize that the tide is turning. Kate Trip the SMC Director of Science and Conservation has said that “she recognizes the FWS is focusing on facts and data and not opinions.”

She went on to say” it seem the delisting is inevitable, but they're not going to get it without a fight; and that could be a court fight.” So here we go again.

Chuck Underwood, the spokesman for the FWS said that they would read and review all the public comments they receive and that should take between 9 and 18 months. He expects the FWS decision to be public early in 2017.

Captronb@juno.com

CANVAS & UPHOLSTERY

APRIL 2016

White Butterflys are Here Tarpon are Here Now Too!

By Fishin’ Frank Water LIFE Baitshop Tarpon, the Silver King our springtime visitors – strange how we locals know when the tarpon are here, the secret? Butterflies, the little white ones with a light bit of yellow color. Butterflies are the tell tale for tarpon and we are seeing little white butterflies now.

How can the tarpon move so fast? Be gone one day and here the next? Do the math. The Keys, where the tarpon “winter” are (give or take) 110 miles from Charlotte Harbor, so a tarpon swimming at 5 m.p.h. would be here in less than two days, at 10 m.p.h. the same day.

I get that question a lot: How do the tarpon know when to show up? and how can they be here so fast or gone so quickly? A tarpon can swim much faster than 10 m.p.h.

During the 1980s, until the late 1990s, we could count on the tarpon showing up by the second week of May maybe before, but for sure by then. Now it is not uncommon to have tarpon here in March. In December of 2015 Boca Pass had a bunch of tarpon in it because the water was still above 80 degrees. This brings us to how the tarpon know when to show up. Tarpon do not carry smart phone with an appointment app. It is the water temperature which will get them traveling here or going away.

Tarpon start showing up here as the water reaches 73 degrees. The Harbor and passes are full of tarpon by the time the water is 76 degrees. The is a caveat is will the tarpon stay here? The deciding factor is the food.

Sometimes, when the tarpon show up, it is before the bait fish like threadfin herring, sardines, ladyfish, or mackerel arrive. The tarpon may come for the water temperature, but they stay for the food. No food, no tarpon, it’s that simple.

The other reason tarpon show up in Charlotte Harbor is it is where they like to spawn. Small tarpon would not survive the open water of the Gulf or Atlantic Ocean, so until they get larger enough they live here in our canals, creeks, and rivers, where even a small two-foot size tarpon is a big fish already. That limits the fish that can prey-upon them as young fish.

The tarpon, most of them, come in from the south, reaching Sanibel first. While some of the tarpon come from the west or north, the first ones here are from the Keys. They come in though Punta Rassa Pass and head

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

PAGE 9

Spinning tackle allows for more distance with the light weight bait fish. And the drags on the new spinning gears are more than equal to the task of stopping a 150 pound, mad, dashing, jumping fish.

Lures are often a must for finding tarpon and the D.O.A. Bait Buster has been and still is the king of tarpon hook ups. More fish are hooked up with a Bait Buster than any other lure. A neat trick is on the choppy days, where it is hard to see the tarpon rolling, place a bait buster 5 feet under a bobber and cast it out and let the waves do the jigging for you. It is very, very effective. A new comer in the world of tarpon lures is the Savage Gear Trout 6 inch. It has UN-real action whether you are casting it or trolling it. It is called a trout but it looks way more like a mullet than a trout to me when it is in the water.

The tarpon are here in the deep holes of the Harbor and in the passes until May when they will be moving from place to place a lot. You may have to look for them, but from now until September it’s game-on, tarpon wise.

Frank@fishinFranks.com 941-625-3888

Tarpon, big tarpon, are here already! This beautiful tarpon was painted on a Gallery Series canvas by aspiring local artist Justin Markley, using acrylic paints. You can see more of Justinʼs marine work at: www.artbyjmarkley.com.

PTTS Tournaments Cancelled Boca Tarpon Box Slightly Redesigned

Contact him at: artbyjmarkley@aol.com

up the ICW wher their first major feed stop is often Captiva Rocks, on the west side of the I.C.W, about mid-way up Pine Island. Then they come into the Harbor.

My favorite thing with tarpon is, for a week they will stack up along the outside of the sand bar on the west side of the Harbor. Thousands of tarpon all laying side by side in 6 feet of water. Idling slowly over those fish is an incredible sight, you just start to shake, something like buck fever takes a hold of you. Sadly they are almost impossible to get to bite.

Tarpon growing up here stay until they are almost 5 feet in length which is when they are large enough to travel into the open waters of the Gulf. What is weird is that every school of small tarpon has one 6-footer that stays with them all year. It might be a baby sitter or maybe one too old to make the long journey from here to where ever - tarpon from here might later be found in Mexico or in the northern Gulf.

Live bait is the most common way to fish for tarpon.

Live bait fish like threadfins or greenbacks free lined at a tarpon, are always one of the most effective ways of hooking up. This requires casting a long way to get to the rolling fish. So most of us use an 8 foot heavy action rod.

Regulations In this box in effect: April - May - June

No more than three fishing lines may be deployed at

any one time from one boat.

No person shall use, fish with, or place in the water

any breakaway gear.

Fishing with gear that has a weight attached to a

hook, artificial fly or lure in such a way that the weight

hangs lower than the hook when the line or leader is sus-

pended vertically from the rod is prohibited. If a jig fishes in an illegal manner it is prohibited. Any jig that allows the at-

tached weight to slip down the shank so that it hangs lower than the hook while the line or leader is suspended vertically from the rod is prohibited.

Temperatures Climbing Fish Feeding – Life is Good!

PAGE

10

By Capt. Billy Barton Water LIFE Inshore After one heck of a wet, tough, winter with over 20 cancelled fishing trips in January and February due to weather, spring has been a long time coming and is like a breath of fresh air in the charter business.

April, and May especially, are two of the most exciting months to fish here in Southwest Florida. Typically during mid to late March, as our water temperature climbs and makes its way above 70 degrees, we see a major transition on Charlotte Harbor and things get a whole lot fishier inshore.

Fish species that follow a northerly migration and make their presence are tarpon, cobia, Spanish mackerel, triple tail and sharks. By April, almost every year, you can bet that these species all become targetable and all offer quite the good time fishing. Just be prepared because that tiny tackle you fished with all winter might not get it during the warm season.

You may want to bring the larger fishing gear when planning an outing over the next several months. That 10 pound line and tiny spinning outfit may be a blast on the grass flats, but it's probably not going to cut it for your big tarpon, sharks, and

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

cobia. Personally I like a 15-30 pound class spinning rod on a 5000 or 6000 series spinning reel spooled with 50 or 60 pound braid.

While cobia and sharks are somewhat similar and can be caught together, these species in general are very different and although they are both typically found in open water, they require different techniques to get a hold of. This keeps things interesting!

Not only is this time of year good to break out the big gear, this is also a spectacular time to fish the grass flats.

Unlike winter, when fishing primarily with live shrimp, the warm season offers a variety of bait fish to get out and make use of. Scaled sardines (greenbacks), threadfin herring, pin fish and finger mullet are local live baits that can make for unforgettable days on the water.

What I love about fishing with live bait fish is that you eliminate 90-percent of the bites that you don't want and you definitely increase your odds at putting quality fish in the boat. To boot, the majority of the time, you're going to put more fish in the boat as well.

It's not uncommon on a spring fishing trip to put over 50 combined snook, red-

Seminar April 28

Free Kids Pier Fishing Tournament May 7

fish and trout in the boat on a single day of fishing.

The fish perk up this time of year and their metabolisms perk up as well.

They can eat more and they get excited about seeing something other than a crustacean! It's also not uncommon to see a half dozen, or even a dozen, different species of fish caught on a single outing as well.

It's just so very important to have a good looking baitwell full of fish prior to the trip, and to make sure your presentation is correct after you locate the fish.

Enter the area you are fishing in stealth, fish as light as possible and stay as distant as you can.

You do all of this with a little bit of persistence, and you should make it happen. Best of luck on the water!

Capt. Billy Barton, 941-979-6140 Scales ‘N Tails Fishing Charters http://www.puntagordafishingcharter.com

APRIL 2016

APRIL 2016

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

Little Tunny vs Bonito

PAGE 11

Water LIFE Factoid One of the most miss understood and incorrectly identified species in Florida waters is the fish locals call the bonito. These fish are powerful fighters. The large bonito resemble small tuna and is brightly colored and very plump. Some people say they are not good to eat. Even some seasoned anglers insist the bonito is a trash fish, only suitable for bait!

Actually there are two very different species of what Floridia anglers call bonito, one with superior taste, the other not. One is basically sushi grade tuna and the other is mackerel.

The sushi-grade species is in the tuna family, so the technique is to catch it, bleed it in ice water, and have some raw. We know of one tuna angler who packed soy sauce and wasabi when he went tuna fishing, he’d have a fresh cut hunk of fish right on the boat and then bring the rest back to shore for the grill.

Little Tunny Tuna Family Grows to 40 inches and 26 pounds. Spots on belly with horizontal blue-green wavy stripes on top. Rounded bullet-shaped body. Cone shaped teeth both top and bottom. Sushi-grade tuna, no fishy taste or smell, excellent table fare.

Atlantic Bonito Mackerel Family Grows to 30 inches and 1to 2-pounds. Distinct vertical stripes with horizontal waves running thru. Compressed body.

No teeth on the roof of its mouth. No food value, tastes fishy, use for bait.

PAGE

12

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

The Calusa Middens: People Lived Here

By Michael Heller Water LIFE Editor

Near Alligator Creek, tucked back in above its twisting drainages, below the creek's south fork, is a place that 1500 years ago many local Indians called home. It probably had some meaningful Indian identifier back then, but that name, whatever it was, has been lost in time. Today they simply call it the Calusa Middens.

first hand. The site is only open to the public as a guided walk, one day a year.

“From the excavations that were conducted, nearly all the shells were estuarine.” Bear told me, adding “The environment here has changed over

25 years ago, it became a dumping ground. “There were abandoned cars all over and a number of the bars in town regularly dumped their empty cans and bottles here. On a high tide, the trash would be floating in the woods,” Isaksen

Indian middens are mounds made of shells, as opposed to Indian mounds which are piles of sand or dirt.

Indians in the southwest Florida area, around Charlotte Harbor and Estero Bay, relied on fish as the staple of their diet. Were the 25 foot high piles of shells they built simply trash dumps or were they something else? Lithics (artifacts made of stone) are sometimes also found at Midden sites.

“This is one of the few places we don't see an agrarian society,” Cindy Bear, a researcher at the Randall Research Center on Pine Island, told me last month when we met at the CHEC site off Burnt Store Road to hike in and see the Calusa Middens

time and there was probably seawater and shells a lot closer to the east side of Charlotte Harbor, back then,”

“In the early 1900s this was a pineapple plantation.” Bob Isaksen, long time CHEC/ DEP volunteer for the site told me.

In the 1950s and 60s the site was planned for development, but that never happened. Then

This is the Calusa Middens site, recorded for The Charlotte Harbor Mounds Survey, Phase II Report of Investigations, prepared by Robert Patton in 1995

said. Ultimately, the State of Florida took control of the site and now it monitors it to protect against damage and theft.

Numerous Indian mounds exist around the shores of Charlotte Harbor, among them are Cash Mound, near Turtle Bay which dates from AD 700 to 1500; Bay Three near Devilfish Key which was a salt water midden that contains numerous fresh water shells; the John Quiet Mound near Turtle Bay had five circular ridges that may have served as shellfish unloading and processing stations and Big Mound Key south of Placida, covers 37 acres and also has semi-circular ridges like the John Quiet Mound.

Storm tides, hurricanes, and looters using bulldozers have caused extensive damage to many of the Charlotte County mounds, so today they are all closed to the public and protected.

There may be vital clues to history buried in the Indian Middens of Charlotte Harbor, but to date archaeologists have been reluctant to dig into them. Instead they are using large clam shells found on the sites to base their timeline on.

Clams are excellent candidates for carbon dating, The remnants of illegal digging and two core samples that were drilled years ago are also sources of information.

When the Spanish arrived in the 1500s the Calusa Middens were the second most populated Indian site in southwest Florida, second only to the Estero Bay site. According to Bear, the Indians that were responsible for the Calusa Middens were descendents of Indians living at Pineland and Useppa 1000 to 1500 years earlier. By analyzing artifacts, archaeologists have been able to determine the two sites were related.

Pottery is central to understanding many of the Indian cultures around the US. Archaeologists tell us Indians at the Calusa Middens first used a sand-tempered pottery, the pottery was hard and functional, not decorative, but later, after they began to interact with another large Indian population at Bell Glade, on the muddy shore of Lake Okeechobee, the Calusa began to use a more decorative clay pottery. Bear said the transition took place some time around 200 or 500 AD and that by 1000 AD all the Indian pottery in the region was clay and decorative. Pottery shards, some still found around the Calusa sites today, bear this conclusion out. “People lived here. It was a community,” Bear said.

Contact CHEC at 941-575 5435 for information about next yearʼs Calusa Middens walk.

APRIL 2016

AQUATIC

The Middens Wa

1

1 - The first part of the walk from the CHEC the Calusa Middens site was over a recently m access trail. Pine, scrub oak and palmetto fla with several little ponds alongside. Eventually to a hard inland tidal flat that looked like it only sonally. Then our surroundings became wetter liage turned to mangroves.

1

2 - We entered the mangroves across a muddy ditch. The path was marked for us with occasional plastic streamers. Several small foot bridges took us over black swampy marshes.

The elevation rose a foot or two and the ground dried back out.

“There is evidence of papaya, agave and chili peppers. The Indians probably brought them here from Central or South America,” Thomas Hecker, 2 CHECʼs CEO and a Horticulturist by trade said. There are also buttonwood trees, which the Indians used to make charcoal to cook with. W smoking fish back then? Scientists arenʼ

APRIL 2016

BACK ISSUES @

CA

3 - We stopped under an old oak tree to look over the map Bear had distributed. We were at the base of the 25 foot high midden, but the foliage was so thick it was impossible to discern it in its entirety. According to Hecker, a lot of the vegetation at the Calusa site is the same as is found in the Florida Keys. The tallest trees were the Mastic trees which are known to attract butterflys – and we saw several. “Did the Indians bring them here, island by island, too?

The seeds are too big for birds to carry.

alk

headquarters to manicured, grass anked the route y the trail turned y saw water sear and the side fo-

Were they ʼt sure.

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

2

3

4 - A path circled up the left side of the midden. Near the top, we came upon several very large gumbo limbo trees. There are other big gumbo limbo trees like these on other Indian Midden sites around Charlotte Harbor.

“Archeologists don't know,” Hecker told me, “was this tree sacred?” There is some lore that the Spanish buried treasure here and used the trees to mark it. Maybe the Indians planted the gumbo limbo trees or maybe they grew after the Indians left.

2

2

PAGE 13

4

4 5 - We gathered at a slight depression in the surface, at the top of the midden. Bob Isaksen (left) kneeled at an area scraped by looters in the past. It wasn't very deep.

Below the covering of leaves, white shell fragments contrasted with the brown. What looked like it might be a pottery shard rested on the surface amid the shells. “Please don't touch anything,” Bear (center) advised.

5

Green Algae Growing PAGE

14

By Betty Staugler Water LIFE / Sea Grant If you’ve spent any time fishing along shore or strolling in our parks along the shoreline, you’ve probably noticed all the green algae attached to the rocks and other intertidal structure. I walked along the shoreline at Bayshore Live Oak Park and noticed two species of filamentous green algae. One species was closer to the water than the other in what biologists refer to as resource partitioning. I suspect that the one closer to shore is probably better adapted to being periodically exposed at low tide. The other is probably better at competing in deeper water.

Closest to shore I saw Enteromorpha flexuosa. If it has a common name I don’t know what it is. Enteromorpha means “intestine-shape,” and this algae resembles hollow tubes much like intestines.

Enteromorpha is light green, unbranched, and only about four to five inches in length, often shorter. It grows in clumps or tufts at or near the low-tide line and is often found on rocks, mangrove roots, or other woody debris. This species of algae has a wide salinity range and can be found in almost any shallow-water brackish or marine environment.

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

Ulva lactuca, also known as sea lettuce

The other species on the rocks was Ulva lactuca, commonly called sea lettuce. This algae is more problematic as it is often associated with areas of high nutrients, including polluted or recently disturbed areas where few organisms are feeding on the algae. Ulva lactuca is bright green with thin, ruffled or flat, sheetlike blades (blades = leaves) that hold fast to hard substrates in intertidal zones or in shallow, quiet coves. Ulva is a fast growing plant that can readily take advantage of high nutrients in the water making it a concern. However, Ulva also has many beneficial uses. In many countries it is eaten in soups, salads, and other dishes. It is also used as fertilizer, in cos-

APRIL 2016

ters with low nutrients and high light availability. In contrast, macroalgae tend to dominate where there is less light and more nutrients. This can make macroalgae problematic in areas where coastal pollution is a concern, and in particular where seagrass and macroalgae are competing for the same space.

Studies indicate that nitrogen is genEnteromorpha flexuosa erally the nutrient that metic and pharmaceutical industries, as a seems to control macroalgae growth rates food supplement for poultry and livestock, throughout the year. However phosphorus for color extracts, and for energy producalone, or at certain times of the year, both tion. nitrogen and phosphorus together may be It’s noteworthy that both Enteromorimportant. To complicate this, different pha flexuosa and Ulva lactuca are from species of macroalgae can be limited by the same phyla (Chlorophyta or green nitrogen or by phosphorus in the same esalgae) and same family (Ulvaceae). This tuary. family includes many other similar algae In recent years a few studies have been species. conducted in southwest Florida estuaries You might ask, why are these algae and coastal waters to identify the species present now? I don’t have the answer but of macroalgae present and to determine it’s likely some combination of the right what nutrient sources (fertilizers, sewage, nutrients, light levels, and temperature. etc.) macroalgae were utilizing. Ulva in Algae, like all plants, photosynthesize, particular is fairly well studied in Florida meaning they convert sunlight energy and and elsewhere because it is hardy, stationnutrients into plant material that in turn is ary, and will accumulate pollutants such transferred to other organisms as the plant as metals, hydrocarbons, and pesticides. is consumed. Marine algae and seagrass Consequently, analysis of Ulva tissues provide food, oxygen, and protective provides a means of assessing pollutant cover for most fish and invertebrate inloads in coastal waters. Interestingly habitants. In the winter when other plants Charlotte County staff recently hosted a such as seagrasses are dormant and not special workshop which featured a wellreadily photosynthesizing or growing, the known researcher who specializes in ecological role of algae is amplified, but water quality and using macroalgae stable too much of a good thing, is not always a radio isotope analysis to identify pollutant good thing. sources in coastal waters. I’ve read several The algae attached to the rocks are of his papers. This is a topic that is gainconsidered macroalgae (large usually ating attention here and elsewhere. Stay tached algae). A key difference between tuned. Perhaps more research is in the macroalgae and other coastal plants such hopper for our area. as seagrasses is in their ability to take advantage of low light and high nutrient Capt. Betty Staugler, Florida Sea Grant conditions. All plants require light, water, and nutrients to grow. Studies have shown Agent. UF/IFAS Extension that seagrasses generally dominate in waCharlotte County (941) 764-4346

Estero Bay: APRIL 2016

You Gottaʼ Have a Backup

By Captain Joe Angius Water LIFE Estero Bay The fishing in Estero Bay continues to get better as the fish become more aggressive due to the rising air and water temperatures. Good quality bait will begin to move closer to our passes, find their way onto our grass flats and make the mornings catching bait less stressful than it has been compared to last month. Along with the warmer water and quality bait, anglers will begin to find early signs of our tarpon migration. Early in the morning I will visit my backwater tarpon spots and patiently wait to see any juvenile fish rolling. In the meantime, there have been plenty of opportunities to catch redfish, snook, and trout out on the flats and deep in the backwaters.

Catching and using live bait, such as pilchards, threadfin herring, mullet, and ladyfish can always be a productive method for catching fish. When finding and netting live bait becomes difficult, it is always important to have a backup plan.

My backup plan involves buying live shrimp and using a variety of artificial lures. A good rule of thumb when buying live shrimp and you’re not sure how many to get, is to purchase three dozen per person. This will ensure enough shrimp throughout the day without worrying about running out of bait. When it comes to choosing from an array of artificial baits to have a successful day out on the water, an angler must understand what they’re fishing for and where.

When it comes to backwater fishing in Estero Bay, there are a few lures with different presentations that I can rely on for a hookup. Each lure that I will present in this section covers a specific water column.

Fishing in each water column will help in locating the fish and revealing how they are feeding.

My go-to topwater plugs are the Flats HQ Flats Walker in brown and a Rapala Skitterwalk with a red head and white body.

The Flats Walker casts great and presents a high-pitch “walk-thedog” action perfect for calm mornings. To displace more water, I will turn to the Rapala Skitterwalk which has a lowerpitch rattle; great for windy and harsh weather.

The middle of the water column can present some challenges, because an angler usually doesn’t see the lure and relies solely on sensitivity. Since

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

there may be grass while fishing the middle of the water column I will start out by using a Flats HQ Flats Jerkbait in white with a 1/8oz 3/0 Owner worm hook. By using the worm hook I can fish my bait weedless allowing me to skip my lure under the mangroves and not worry much about getting hung up on oysters and grass. If the water appears to be clear, I will throw a Mirr-O-Lure Mirrodine. The Mirrodine is one of those lures that I have a lot of confidence in when I need to get a reaction bite out of the fish.

At the bottom of the water column there are two baits that I enjoy fishing: D.O.A. Terroreyez in root beer and a GULP! Shrimp on a 1/8oz Mission Fishin’ Jig Head. The D.O.A. Terroreyez is great for bouncing off of the bottom in really deep water. Typically I’ll fish this bait in eight feet to fifteen feet of water. Large female snook will take a liking to this bait when it’s presented low-and-slow. The

GULP! Shrimp is a great bait to cast up near oyster bars, grass flats, mud flats, and deep holes around creek bends. This bait can be fished at various speeds allowing an angler to cover a large range of water at the bottom of the water column.

My hope is that these small tips for fishing can have an impact on your next fishing adventure and experience. Remember that fishing is an experience; good or bad. While you are out on the waters of Southwest Florida enjoying your

PAGE 15

surroundings, be sure to be a responsible boater and abide by all of the rules and regulations that are in place. Respect other boaters and fishermen, even when you think that may not be respecting you. To be a part of Florida’s waterways and ecosystem is a privilege and should not be taken for granted. Have fun fishing and good luck.

Captain Joe Angius (727) 234-3171 Speakeasyfishing.com FlatsHQ.com Speakeasyfishing@gmail.com

PAGE

16

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

10,000 Islands / Everglades City

By Capt. Charlie Phillips Water LIFE / Everglades City If you had a hard time producing during your Everglades fishing trips during the month of March, don’t feel bad…I did to!! I will fill you in on a guide se-

cret, but you didn’t hear it from me. We

have hard days just like you. Heavy winds, cool waters and a rare case of red tide in our waters added to the challenges we have faced this past month.

This too shall and has passed and I am happy to say that as of the middle of the month, things settled back down and got back to relatively normal conditions for our area .... though as I write this, the last grasp of winter is pushing thru with one more big cold front so we have something to remember as we move into our warmer months.

In spite of all these challenges, we have still had some great days on the water. I have been targeting the speckled trout all month on the higher stages of the tides around the grass flats down by pavilion, the flats and deeper cuts that have good flow around the Camp Lulu and Round Key area as well as in the back in places like House Hammock and the Chatham River. Popping corks with live shrimp will do the trick, but don’t overlook using fish imitating hard baits as well for some of the bigger fish in the area.

Snook fishing has really heated up the final two weeks of the month with Everglades Captains reporting some trophy

catches. These fish are moving out front as it’s getting close to spawn time and since the water has heated, it’s become far easier to find linesiders on the outside points and bars waiting to ambush bait.

Live bait is always a great option, pinfish under a float, free lined or on a knocker rig will do the job when you put them in the area a snook is roaming. Also don’t overlook a big live shrimp handpicked by Mrs. Alana over at Everglades Bait and Tackle. When bait is hard to come by this time of year, live shrimp can really make a difference in a quality day or not. Fished the same way as the pinfish, you should see some great results.

Redfish have been tough for me this month, but have gotten a bit stronger as we closed the month out. I have been working the bars and oysters around the backwaters, sight fishing when conditions allowed. Bass Assassin Jighead combos with curly tail plastics in white, root beer and Mamas 14k gold have been my preferred colors.

The one thing, I can’t stress enough when using these choices is SLOW DOWN your retrieve. As I bring folks on the boat each day, it’s a common thing to see folks not realizing just how fast they are reeling in their lures. Typically, simply having them perform a pass the length of the boat where they can see the lure in relation to their handle turns is enough to drive home the slow down message. Try it out, and see if it doesn’t help your catch ratio increase.

Finally this month I had the honor of trailering up to the Cape Coral Yacht

APRIL 2016

Cape Coral Yacht Club to participate in the Florida Council for the Blind annual fishing tournament.

Club to participate in the Florida Council for the Blind annual fishing tournament.

This is our second year taking a vision impaired angler fishing, and folks I have to say it’s a very challenging and extremely rewarding day for us at HOPE Fishing Adventures. The next time you’re out, close your eyes and try to cast to the mangroves, or pop a cork for trout to get a taste of what these anglers are faced with and you quickly realize how tough it is. But man, when they get a fish on the line the joy on their faces, as well as on mine is worth all the hard work. My angler caught speckled trout, snook, snapper and catfish. No monsters, but I don’t think it mattered. This is an annual event that seeks volunteer boats each year and not just captains, anyone with a boat that wishes to offer their deck for a day is very welcomed and needed. I hopewe will see you at the dock next year.

April is here, the water has warmed up nicely and I expect a great month on the water. Get out and have some fun, I’ll talk to y’all next month.

Capt. Charlie Phillips: 863-517-1829 e-mail: hopefishing@hotmail.com Web: hopefishing.com

APRIL 2016

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

Fishing is on the Verge

By Mallory Herzog Water LIFE Fishing On the water, we are on the verge of some of the best fishing months.

April's warm temperatures bring the bait back and it sets fishing on fire.

In the Gulf of Mexico, kingfish and Spanish mackerel will be making a comeback as the white bait becomes heavy along the beaches. Mackerel is an easy catch right now out in the Gulf. You can use live bait or lures, I often catch them on spoons. Some people enjoy eating them, I say they make better shark bait!

Mangrove snapper and lane snapper has been an easy limit on our near shore wrecks. Gag and red grouper occasionally as well. For snapper fishing, use 10-to 15-pound leader to a 2-to 3/0 circle hook with a weight 6-to 12-inches above the hook.

Inshore fishing is getting better.

Around the Boca Grande/Placida area it seems to be quality over quantity.

The last winter cold snap last month had the fish a bit confused, but now it seems they are getting back into the swing of spring.

When you are working the shoreline, convince your live bait to swim under the mangroves and over hanging trees. Have you ever seen a mangrove under the water? Its an incredible maze and a perfect habitat for your favorite catches. What an exhilarating feeling, hooking up to a slot snook a foot deep into the mangroves. If you keep pressure on the fish you can usually pull them out, slow and steady.

Pinfish on a jig head in the grass flats

has been irresistible to trout.

If you find the bite to be slow, try reeling in your bait slowly.

Movement triggers the trout to bite on a number of occasions, especially when using rattling jig heads. Trout have been eating small pinfish and shrimp.

You can fish using a float to avoid your bait burrying in the grass bed. A float helps it swim freely above the flat, enticing a bite from a hungry predator below.

Trout are very delicate, you can minimize trauma to your fish by wetting your hands before handling and returning it to the water promptly. The "slime" covering the fish is a protective coating helping it to

fend off germs and survive.

Jumbo shrimp are working best for redfish. Some smaller schools have been popping up here and there. These tailing fish are easily scared so step lightly. When you see anglers wading they are trying to sneak up on their catch. You will see this more and more as the weather gets nicer. Please be courteous and do not to wash them out

PAGE 17

with your wake as you drive by.

Look for fish on the drop offs of the sandbar during low tide. If you're finding it to be a difficult bite, try cut bait to appeal better to the fish's sense of smell. Throw a piece of cut bait in a sand hole while fishing or drifting the flat to catch the eye of a fish moving in or out with the tide.

The next month could bring some really exciting fishing, the BIG guys – tarpon and sharks – are about to invade Boca Grande and Charlotte Harbor. Extra early morning wake ups, gorgeous sunrises, and big fish stories.

I’m not sure about you, but I am looking forward to silver flying though the air.

There were reports of tarpon at Sanibel and Captiva at the beginning of this month. We are all watching for them.

You can contact Big Bully Outdoors Charters for a trip with Mallory’s husband, Capt.

Andrew Herzog. Call 941-661-9880 or visit BigBullyOutdoors.com

Cosmetic Repairs • Perfect Match • All boats • All Sizes

Rob McCloskey Gel Coat Specialist 828-557-6824 29 years experience Licensed & Insured / Lee & Charlotte Counties

PAGE

18

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

Mahi Mahi with Strawberry, Mango & Mint Salsa

By Nicole Coudal Water LIFE Delicious!

This time of year, strawberries are in peak season in Florida and I’ve been busy coming up with recipes that incorporate the beautiful berries into as many as possible!

If you live near a U-Pick farm, I highly suggest going because it’s not only fun to pick them, it’s also a treat to chomp into a fresh, pristine berry that’s been warmed by the sun. I recently picked 10 pounds of berries and have been enjoying them immensely but, even if you can’t pick them yourself, they're at farmer’s markets and supermarkets this time of year -they’re sweet and juicy and well-priced.

There are many tasty options for berries, but I also love incorporating them into savory dishes to create something tasty. This salsa combines sweet strawberries, juicy mango, fresh mint, lemony basil and a little vinegar to give it some zing. I used it to top hot, blackened Mahi Mahi and it was the perfect pairing -- the sweet, juicy berries and mango, along with a burst of mint and basil nicely complemented the tender, spicy fish. My husband said it was one of his favorite fish dishes, and that’s high praise, since he’s eaten lots of fresh fish!

Mahi Mahi is abundant, fast-growing, delicious and quite beautiful, especially when first caught -- it’s an amazing thing to see when it lights up in neon colors.

The fish is also fun to catch because it's a tough fighter and, if you find one, you’re likely to find more because it loves to gather in schools. When cooked, it’s tender, delicate and even a little sweet.

$2 off any haircut!

APRIL 2016

Not only was this a colorful and tasty dish, it all came together in less than 20 minutes - how great is that?!?

Nicole Coudal is an avid fishing gal who hails from New England but has lived in SW Florida for 25 years. MyDeliciousBlog.com showcases her "coastal inspired" cuisine using fresh, seasonal ingredients, from sea to land.

INGREDIENTS:

Salsa 1 c. fresh strawberries, small dice ¼ c. fresh mango, small dice 1 Tb. red onion, minced 1 tsp. red chile, seeded and minced 3-4 mint leaves, thinly sliced 3-4 basil leaves, thinly sliced 1 Tb. olive oil 1 Tb. red wine vinegar ½ tsp. granulated sugar Fish

1 lb. Mahi Mahi fillets (or other white, flaky fish) - enough for about 3 servings 1 Tb. blackening seasoning (I used Paul Prudhommeʼs Redfish Magic) 1 Tb. unsalted butter

1 Tb. extra virgin olive oil INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Combine the Salsa ingredients in a small bowl. Cover and refrigerate about 10 minutes before serving.

2) Sprinkle fillets with blackening seasoning on both sides.

3) Heat a nonstick skillet to medium/high. Add butter and olive oil.

When warm, carefully place fillets in skillet. Reduce heat to medium and cook for about 2 minutes.

4) Flip fish and cook for another minute or so (Mahi fillets are relatively thin so they donʼt require a lot of cooking time).

5) Serve with the Salsa.

APRIL 2016

BACK ISSUES @

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

KAYAKING: Pine Island Trout

By Bob Fraser Water LIFE kayaking I strayed from my usual trout hole, Gasparilla Sound, to fish Pine Island on Saturday. I have only fished Pine Island 5

or 6 times, so I’m still learning the area.

There are some nice grass flats with “pot holes” right out from the kayak launch site.

My experience in fishing Pine Island has been catching fewer trout than Gasparilla Sound but larger ones. In Gasparilla Sound, there had been times when I have taken a couple of clients out, and they caught 50 or 60 trout on a four hour charter, but only two or three of them would be keepers.

This trip I decided to go for quality instead of quantity, so my son and I went to Pine Island. We caught six trout along with several strikes on our top water lures without a hookup. Two of the trout were 13-14 inches long, and the four keepers were 16-18 inches with plenty of meat on them. We caught two on a red and white Spook Jr, and the other two were caught on shrimp under a popping cork.

When we got to the Monument kayak launch site I remembered why I prefer to go there during the week. Although we got there at 7:15 am just as it was getting light out, the five car parking area was already filled up. After we unloaded the kayaks I had to park my truck a few blocks away.

It was a perfect day for throwing topwater baits with calm winds and overcast skies. I had a strike on my very first cast, but no hook-up. In the past, getting a strike on the first cast has been the start of a productive day and other times it would take a few hours to get another bite.

We caught four of the six trout in the first hour of fishing. We found them in two to three foot of water. The second hour we caught the other two trout, then nothing in the last hour. After 3 hours of fishing, we decided to call it a day. We had enough fish for a nice fish fry.

If you go to the Monument launch to put in your kayak be sure to bring some insect repellent. Yesterday wasn’t too bad, but as summer approaches, the mosquitos can be very bad in the morning.

Also, wear some water shoes that don’t come off too easily or you will lose them because there is a lot of muck at the launch site.

Bob Fraser guides kayaking trips. He can be reached at 941-916-8303

PAGE 19

East Coast Fishkill

Floridaʼs east coast, around Cocoa Beach, experienced a huge fish kill last month. Although the exact cause has yet to be announced, warm water and an accumulation of brown algae is thought to have sucked the oxygen out of the water suffocating the fish. Concentrations of nitrogen in the water, possibly from fertilizer, may have fed the algae bloom.

PAGE

20

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

SCUTTLEBUTT

APRIL 2016

Sometimes Unsubstanciated, But Often True

HIGH LEVEL OF DRUGS Young salmon found in Puget Sound tested positive for more than 80 different drugs, including cocaine, antidepressants and dozens of other medications used by humans. When researchers tested the water at and near sewage treatment plants in the estuaries of Puget Sound near Seattle, Washington, they discovered high levels of drugs and personal care products – at some of the highest concentrations found anywhere in the nation.

REAL-TIME 3D POSITIONING While conducting hydrographic survey work in Queensland, Australia, the motor launch HMAS Mermaid made a brief detour to conduct a condition assessment of the wreck of HMAS Warrnambool. The Bathurst class minesweeper was clearing a mine-field in the Great Barrier Reef when on September 13, 1947 she struck a live mine and slowly sank. After resting on the seabed for 69 years. Mermaid inspected the wreck while testing new real-time 3D positioning systems which are able to search for and classify seafloor objects with incredible accuracy.

MISCHIEF REEF: Last month, a panel with expertise in maritime law, the merchant marine, the military and foreign policy predicted that tensions over Chinese claims in the South China Sea will soon escalate over claims to Mischief Reef, a disputed feature in the Spratly Islands.

About 100 Chinese fishing boats were detected encroaching in Malaysia's waters in the disputed South China Sea. The reported encroachment raises concern of China's claim to virtually the whole of the South China Sea.

MASKED WEB Officers responded to a call of a subject wearing a ski mask at the Cecil Webb WMA gun range. The officers arrived at the location and made contact with a subject who was wearing a black ski mask and holding up a sign at the entrance to the range. The officers talked to the subject and informed him that it was illegal to wear a mask in public according to Florida Statute 876.13. The subject removed his mask.

GULF OIL AND GAS EXPLORATION: The U.S. Bureau of Ocean Energy Management will offer approximately 45 million acres for oil and gas exploration and development in the Gulf

of Mexico in two March lease sales. Concerns have been raised about the use of some areas by the military and may be reconsidered. The Obama administration is reworking its plan to open the southern Atlantic Coast to offshore oil exploration as it could interfere with naval exercises and missile tests.

SUB MISSING: The U.S. and South Korean militaries are reportedly keeping close tabs on the search for a North Korean submarine believed to have sunk, according to South Korean media.

It is believed the sub went missing while it was on “a mission of some sort," South Korea's Yonhap news agency said.

SUB FOUND: Niagara Falls NY: Last month, divers from the U.S coast guard took part in a delicate wreck recovery operation to bring a Nazi submarine to the surface. It was discovered two weeks ago at the bottom of Lake Ontario.

The U-boat was spotted for the first time by amateur scuba divers who contacted the authorities. Archaeologists associated with Niagara University and master divers from the U.S

Coast Guard soon realized they were dealing with a German submarine that sank during World War II. A wreck recovery vessel refloated the sub and brought it back to Niagara Falls, where it will be restored before becoming a museum ship. The recovery operation took nearly 30 hours to complete.

The submarine was identified as the UX-791, a unique experimental German submarine, based on the U-1200 model, participated in the “Battle of the St. Lawrence”. It was reported missing in 1943 and was believed to have been sunk near the Canadian coast.

Archaeologists believe that the U-boat could have traveled up the St-Lawrence River, all the way to the Great Lakes, where it intended to disturb the American economy.

A report from February 1943 suggests, that the ship could have attacked and destroyed three cargo ships and two fishing vessels, even damaging the USS Sable (IX-81), an aircraft carrier of the U.S. Navy that was used for training in the Great Lakes, before finally being sunk by anti-sub grenades launched by a Canadian frigate.

“We have known for a long time that the Nazis had sent some of their U-boats in the St-Lawrence River, but this is the first proof that they actually reached the Great Lakes,” Professor Carpenter told reporters. “This could explain the mysterious ship disappearances that took place in the region in 1943, and the reported “Battle of Niagara Falls” which had always

been dismissed as a collective hallucination caused by fear.”

TINY BUBBLES The AID Aprima is the world's first cruise ship equipped with the Mitsubishi Air Lubrication System, Mitsubishi Heavy Industry's proprietary technology that enhances fuel efficiency by forming small air bubbles which cover the bottom of the vessel and reduce friction between the hull and seawater when sailing. MALS also reduces carbon dioxide and fuel consumption by approximately seven percent.

BOAT BACK A 2001 Hells Bay Waterman vessel was stolen from a residence in Lee County in September 2015. On December 12, FWC officers observed two subjects gill netting off Pine Island and the subjects fled, later abandoning their vessel. The abandoned vessel contained the stolen motor and other navigation equipment from the stolen Hells Bay vessel.

On March 1 the owner of the Hells Bay vessel advised officers that the specialized poling platform from his vessel was listed for sale on the internet. The internet seller was surreptitiously contacted and furnished the geographic location of the poling platform. On March 2, Investigators observed the poling platform in the front yard of a Lee County residence. The investigation is ongoing.

HOT SHIP A ship carrying over 330 kilograms of weaponsgrade plutonium, enough for 50 nuclear bombs, left Japan last month for the Savannah River Site nuclear in South Carolina.

The material is being carried from the Japan Atomic Energy Agency plant, by an armed British vessel Pacific Egret, operated by Pacific Nuclear Transport. Pacific Egret is being accompanied by another armed vessel. The plutonium shipment is part of a deal between Japan and the U.S. that was agreed in 2014 during a nuclear summit, and aims to alleviate concerns about Japanʼs stockpile of plutonium. Japan possesses about 47 tons of plutonium, enough to make as many as 6,000 atomic bombs.

PGI OH NO! At a presentation in Punta Gorda last month, a developerʼs agent unveiled their plan for 400 condos a 400 room hotel, shops and a large luxury spa they want to build on the last remaining large parcel in Punta Gorda Isles.

The location is off Aqui Esta. Reaction was, reportedly, mixed.

APRIL 2016

BACK ISSUES @

Leukemia Cup Regatta

By Peter Welch Water LIFE Sailing The Regatta, managed by Isles Yacht Club, was held in two parts: small sailboats on March 12 and large ones March 19 and 20. The profit from the Regatta and other activities during the month go to support research to eradicate leukemia and lymphoma. Volunteers from five area sailing organizations participated in and or managed this 13th edition.

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

PAGE 21

sailors. Ten boats with male, female, able and disabled completed 4 races with a tie for 1st place between local sailor Dennis Peck and three time disabled champion Charles Rosenfield. The

March 12 Winds from the southeast at 10-15 knots facilitated a race course half way between Bay Front and CHYC where waves were moderate. Conditions were perfect for the 26 small boats in four different fleet starts by design. The Optimist is the 7.8 foot single person boat that most every young learn to sail in and most Olympic sailors have excelled in.

These six boats were all from Venice Youth Sailing. There is a big difference in age, experience and performance in this fleet, but all completed the scheduled races. J Kowacki had all 1st and L Bartlett all 2nd place finishes.

All completed the four races with a smile. The next step is the 13.8 ft C420, a two place boat that has jib, main and spinnaker sails. They will plane in some conditions, and can be a ticket to college scholarships.

Five teams from Venice completed 3 races with first and second place only three points apart. The 2.4 meter (13.7 ft., single person boat) is designed to be adapted to and raced equally by disabled and able bodied

Photos by Fran Nasher Burstein

tie breaker process put Charles first.

The Harbor 20 class boats sailed with two or three crew.

Three races were completed with Tony Burkhart one point ahead of Bill Wilkinson. All racers returned to Isles YC for awards and refreshments.

March 19 The larger Performance Handicap (PHRF) boats gathered near Harbor Mkr. No. 2. A windward/leeward course was set for spinnaker boats and an Olympic style course for the others. Sixteen boats competed. Wind velocity increased to a maximum of 24 knots and the direction changed nearly 90 degrees to the southeast. The Race Committee

had to move the course markers three times to assure a fair event. The first race was twice around and the wind angle and velocity changed significantly in that short time. The second race was postponed while the race marks were moved.

The second race was three times around in increasing winds. A thunder storm was about to move in and racing was suspended. If your dock was accessed via Ponce Inlet and you were in a small boat (me), it was a slow and wet slog into the waves to the sound of thunder. It was an exciting and physical day on the water.

And there were some great races. Knowles and Flechsig each with a first and Knowles the winner by one point in spinnaker fleet.

Brauer beating the larger cruising boats by three points. McLearn second to Pouquett’s larger boat by two points.

March 20th was the Pursuit Race where boats start in order of calculated speed potential...slowest first. This is a test of knowing how to keep out of others wind shadows. The forecast 10 plus knots was not maintained. Pouquett passed McLearn (first boat to start) in a dieing wind but could not cross the finish before the race time limit expired. When this happens there is no calculation of finish order.

The PHRF Regatta results were thus based on what happened on the 19th.

Deep Water Big View!

Island Dream Home!

Pirate Harbor

Call the Captain! Executive Level Custom Built Pool Home on 100’ Waterfront! All the features you would expect! Spectacular lanai. 3/2/2, 2500sf Air, with Den. Built in 2005. $569,000

260’ of Waterfront!

SOLD!

Port Charlotte

Call the Captain! Enormous Building

Lot Huge Views! The ultimate in privacy Very quick access to the Harbor, oversize tip lot has privacy yet is convenient to town. $180,000

Pirate Harbor Call the Captain! Newly Remodeled Key West Style Home With Soaring Views! Two huge decks and a wrap-around porch, designer kitchen, huge waterviews, 4/3/2 with over 2500sf. Stunningly Beautiful! $539,000

Burnt Store Isles

Call the Captain! Oversize Lot With Huge Basin

View! Sailboat water with short boat ride to Alligator Creek. 105 feet of seawall, cul-de-sac location. $259,900

122' Deep Water Sailboat!

Punta Gorda Isles

Call the Captain! Top Location-Beautiful Homes! Perfect building spot on quiet cul-desac. Large seawall and fill in place, ready for your dreamhouse! $189,000

Saltwater Lot!

Punta Gorda

Rare Opportunity, Rare Price For Punta Gorda! Waterfront lot with good access to Alligator Creek and harbor. 3725 Wisteria Place ONLY $45,000

Call the Captain!

PAGE

22

EMAIL:

BackBay Xtremes Capt Dave Stephens www.backbayxtremes.com

941-916-5769

Fish With A Guide!

Youʼll catch more fish and youʼll learn something new, too!

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

April – Predictions and Suggestions

Charlotte Harbor

Frank at Fishin’ Franks 941-625-3888

Suddenly it’s crazy with tarpon and king mackerel. Tarpon have been by Sanibel and the Captiva Rocks. Guys are just starting to hit the 4-to 5-footers up in the Harbor.

Some are resident fish, but some are transients. I had one guy up here by the US 41bridge out catch-

This ugly toad fish, some people call them oyster crackers, came in at Venice

ing whiting with his kids and a big tarpon free jumped 20feet from the boat. Boy did the kids love that. Tarpon is on! King mackerel, on a different scope, are from 3- to 5miles off the beach and further out. There seem to be a lot of kingfish around Sanibel and Marco... and up by Venice... but not right here.

The water temperature north,

by Pensacola is still in the 60s so we are not going to lose them soon as if the water was Nine year old Katie Fisher with her very first getting too hot – the prime sheepshead. Now she's hooked! temperature for them is still coming up. are looking for shade. From Two Out in the Gulf, the snapper Pine to Mangrove Point they are are still unbelievable, grouper is usually just inside of the bar. If you picking up a little and stories of can find white bait, that’s probably AJs, cobia and Spanish mackerel the best – anything else you have are all of increasing numbers. As to put under a bobber to keep the you come into the Harbor Spanish bait 6-inches off the bottom and it mackerel are from Marker No. 2 by doesn’t matter what the bait is.

Bokeelia to the 41 Bridge. Trolling Snook fishing on the east side is for them double up a small and a good around the mangrove islands large Storm Twitch, preferably the where there is a little deeper water. white ones. Put the large lure Around the west side, around the closer to the boat and the smaller creeks, it’s about a month early for one further back. the snook migration but it’s on That’s what they want now. It’s spring time and they are and they are hitting it ready to spawn. We have a wide like crazy. variety of sized snook, with a lot of Getting to tradioversized. Down at Bull and Turtle tional fish, like redBay, at the entrance and in the tranfish, they are moving sition between Bull and Turtle, back towards the we’ve had some nice snook too mangroves, when the and at El JoBean where they are water is warmer they coming down the river.

Keith Scholle with an 85-pound AJ off an 80-foot wreck.

Speak Easy Fishing Charters Captain Joe Angius USCG licensed & Insured Phone: (727)

234-3171

speakeasyfishing.com

speakeasyfishing@gmail.com

APRIL 2016

Glen Ballinger and the grouper/snapper crew.

APRIL 2016

Jerry Cain with a red grouper from a trip out of Venice Inlet.

Trout fishing is still pretty good in Bull and Turtle in the open water. Up the Harbor, out in front of Hog Island, there is a decent amount of trout. Then, halfway down the east side, by Cormorant Key, trout is doing really good too. They are nice size there, but the numbers are more in Bull and Turtle Bay. Anything under a bobber, live or dead, will catch trout.

Cobia fishing has been good with small white jigs, try trolling at 3 mph between Alligator Creek and the Alligator Creek Reef. Once you are out at the Reef switch to a Savage Lure for trout and troll around. The cobia are bigger around Mkr. No. 5 nice big ones and even larger off Hog Island... you’re best with a gold spoon over there.

All in all, the temperatures are perfect, the weather is still iffy, but hopefully April will be nicer than March. The salinity is moderate, fish are moving in, it all looks great.

Lemon Bay - Placida Jim at Fishermen’s Edge 941-697-7595

The (Lemon) Bay snook and redfish fishing has heated up.

We have warmer water temperatures now and the white bait is starting to show up. Top water baits and some 3- to 3.5-inch twitch baits, the Yozuris and Rapalas, guys are having good luck on them with those. We got six snook yesterday using the twitch baits. Trout, snook and reds are pretty much gangbusters now. We

BACK ISSUES @

The BIG-4 TARPON In the passes to the south some in the Harbor

Fish you can expect in

MACKEREL in the Harbor and passes, kings are near shore

were using the Exude plastic baits, top waters and 3D minnows.

I was out Saturday with some friends and we jumped a couple of tarpon over by Sand Fly Key. We had a coupe blast up right in front of us.

We jumped them, but didn’t catch any. The ones we jumped yesterday were 4-to 5-footers. They were in there from Devil Fish to the clam lease area. They seemed to be resting and then they’d blow up like a rocket and freak you out! A friend had some tarpon over in El JoBean, some 70to 80- pounders.

There have been a lot of cobia in the Bay too, from Gasparilla to the Sound. One guy caught 5 on Saturday 31-, 32-inches. The guys offshore are catching them bigger.

There’s been a lot of fish on the beach: whiting, Spanish mackerel, ladyfish, black drum... reports of all kinds of fish coming in.

April

WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

SNOOK On the move to the Gulf as the water warms up

COBIA following the rays in the Harbor

PAGE 23

Gulf Temps are low to mid 70s

The fishing is exploding!

95˚ 90˚

A unique ʻschooling fishʼ bass lure

The king mackerel are starting to come around now too.

There have been some right in Boca Grande Pass. You don’t have to go very far, they are close inshore now and right in the Pass.

Offshore it’s snapper, big snapper and grouper. Put down a chum bag and drop some shrimp down. There are red grouper and gag grouper now.

Sheepshead seem to be moving out of the Bay and going offshore, there are still small ones but not the numbers or the size.

The bigger ones are at Novak and Trembly Reefs now. In freshwater, people are catching bass, talapia and alligator gar in the canals and ponds.

85˚

John Greenfield with a nice trout

80˚ 72˚ 70˚ 68˚ 50˚ 45˚

Michael Collins' first legal redfish, 26-inches and 6.5-pounds, and his first big snook, 36-inches and 17.5-pounds, both from Estero Bay.

Above:Charlie Burba's 14-pound "fire truck" from 110 feet of water.

Right: Bruce MacNeil, retired Florida fireman and grouper.

Far Right: Firemen John Goss with a big red grouper.

Elizabeth Wong caught this 39-inch black drum in Charlotte Harbor. “There was an amazing school with thousands of fish including pompano and Spanish mackerel,” she wrote “Just like in Jacque Cousteau!!”

FISHING RIGHT NOW:

OMG!

PAGE

24

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

APRIL 2016