Water LIFE Oct 2017

Water LI FE

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

The Don Ball School of Fishing

October 2017

Irma was Good for Snook

see page 14

Txt Us Ur Fish Pix! we will use ʼem!

see page 4

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Captain Gavin catching juvenile tarpon on the Myakka

Redfishing is Good! see page 6

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Megan Armata caught and released this 27-inch snook in the Caloosahatchee River at Alva

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E! MORE TO EXPLOR ed ng ra ar Backcountry re d ge Salinity chan Pressure is off Fish are hungry LGF!

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Now a

Fort Myers store !! Fishinʼ Franks#2

14531 N. Cleveland Ave, (US41) N. Ft Myers 33903 • 239-634-1043

eMail letters and photos to:

WE WANT YOUR FISH! Txt Us Ur Fish Pix txt to:

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We like the First Catch so donʼt send us fish if you are also sending the same fish to the Charlotte Sun ;-( We like Fresh Fish so please donʼt send old photos.

One or two photos is all weʼll probably have room for.

Bigger is Better, higher resolution is best. Please donʼt adjust, crop or sharpen pictures.

FISH HANDLING: If you are harvesting your catch do what you want, but If you are RELEASING YOUR CATCH: Use wet hands on a fish you will be releasing.

No Dry Towels, it

wipes off vital fish slime. Hold big fish horizontally so as not to damage their organs, Donʼt hold big fish from the jaw, it could tear or break and Never put your hands in the gills.

No Fishy Fish if you are not in the picture it may not get into print.

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Txt picture to 941-457-1316 Include (at least) your name and type of fish (txt only, voice calls cannot be answered) You may also eMail pictures to: waterlife@comcast.net

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ALTERNATIVE PERMIT APPL/CATION PROCEDURES FOR ACTIVITIES IN RESPONSE TO HURRICANE IRMA Provided by the Department of Defense

The purpose of this notice is to advise the public that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, will initiate alternative permitting procedures in response to conditions resulting from Hurricane Irma.

These alternate procedures will be utilized for a period of 6 months from the date of this Notice, or 7 March 2018:

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Michael & Ellen Heller Publishers

(941) 766-8180

1. In accordance with 33 CFR 325.2(e)(4), an "emergency" is a situation which would result in an unacceptable hazard to life, a significant loss of property, or an immediate, unforeseen, and significant economic hardship if corrective action requiring a permit is not undertaken within a time period less than the normal time needed to process the permit application under standard procedures.

2. Most permitting will likely be accomplished through the nationwide permit (NWP) program.

For example, containment/clean up/restoration operations may be authorized under NWP #38.

Additionally, bank stabilization activities may be authorized under NWP #13. These activities would be accomplished under the authorities of Section 1O of the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1899 (33 U.S.C. 403) and Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 U.S.C. 1344).

3. For those actions which do not qualify for authorization under the terms and conditions of the NWP program, the following procedures will be used: a. Requests for expedited permits associated with Hurricane Irma will be reviewed to determine if there is truly an emergency situation associated with the request. b. If the action is determined to be an emergency, descriptions of the proposed action will be transmitted to representatives from each of the commenting agencies, including the State/Commonwealth agencies responsible for Section 401 Water Quality Certification and Coastal Zone Management Consistency if required. c. The District will make a permit decision after considering/addressing any comments submitted by the agencies. It is anticipated that this process can be finalized within 24-48 hours for most actions.

4. If additional information is needed, please contact Mr. Dale E. Beter of the Regulatory Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Mr. Beier may be reached at 904.232.1361, or by email at: dale.e.beter@usace.army.mil.

FishPix, text only number 941.457.1316

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Vol XVI No 10 © 2017

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

Contributing Editors:

Photography: ASA1000.com Senior Editor: Capt. Ron Blago Baitshop: Fishinʼ Frank Peace River: Capt. David Stephens 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 Diving: Adam Wilson

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OCTOBER 2017

Failing Seawalls

By Michael Heller Water LIFE editor We’re a couple of pages skinnier this month, we need more fish pics and a chance for everyone to dry out. We will all be back to normal, what ever that is, next month for sure... I hope!

This month the Army Corps of Engineers has issued a special procedure to deal with permitting for repairs of seawalls and docks, the information is on the facing page. This is a step in the right direction, making people’s lives easier in this time of rebuilding. I know what is involved, we went through replacing our seawall 15 years ago.

The cause is pretty simple: saturated ground from an abundance of rain and an extremely low tide. The land-side water pressure simply forces the seawalls out into the canal where the pressure is lower when the water is out. This is not something new, it’s just something you don’t hear about until it happens.

Marine contractors will tell you a seawall requires four things: Penetration, tiebacks, drainage and returns.

Today, a seawall is constructed by water-jetting precast concrete pannels into the mud and then constructing a steel reinforced concrete cap over the top. Seawall panels come in various different lengths. On open water they use longer pannels to penetrate deeper.

Today’s panels interlock together.

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The cap on top might be 16 or 18-inches wide, pannels are often 8-inches thick.

When the concrete cap is poured, contractors use steel rods encased in plastic (so they don’t rust) to ‘tie-back’ the wall to another concrete mass that they bury in the yard, maybe 20 feet back from the seawall. These ‘deadmen,’ as they are called, are anchors to hold the wall from falling out.

Over the years, many steel rods that attached to the deadmen have failed. If I was buying a waterfront property today, I’d have an engineer check the soundness of the ‘tiebacks.’

A really well constructed seawall will also have ‘returns’ at both ends – one extra pannel installed at a right angle -, to provide more strength. With a longer seawall you might have several returns.

To combat water pressure building up behind a seawall, old time contracters put drainage holes in the pannels at strategic points, but often dirt washed out through those holes, so people filled the holes to stop the wash out. Today they use a special mesh glued behind the hole to let water drain.

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A King Pile style seawall is shown on top, an Interlocking pannel seawall is on the bottom.

There are at least 5 failed seawalls on our own Port Charlotte canal with many more around the area and in Cape Coral. Compounding the problem, there are not enough qualified marine construction companies to do the work.

Many seawalls around the area are 50 years old. In the old days, concrete pilings were driven deep into the mud to secure the seawall. Those old pilings were known as ‘king piles.’ With king piles, the pannels didn’t need go as deep into the mud, but there is more of a chance for a washout from underneath.

If you look at a homeowner’s policy you usually won’t see a dock or seawall insured. When Punta Gorda had hundreds of seawalls fail, 15 years ago, the city received funding from the Federal Government to fix them because Punta Gorda had a homeowners association, without a homeowners association the Federal Government won’t step in.

Our seawall cost $18,000 to replace,

15-years ago. Today the going price will be $30- to $50,000. The Small Business Administration will offer low interest loans. A homeowner with a failed seawall (without a homeowners’ association) will probably pay $200- to $300 a month on a second mortgage to pay off the repair ... and that won’t include a new dock.

It will be interesting to see how the local Counties will deals with property owners who are unable, or unwilling, to replace their failed seawalls.

CANVAS & UPHOLSTERY

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Mullet Point to Redfish

-By Capt. David Stephens Water LIFE Charlotte Harbor We are in the midst of the best fishing in all of Southwest Florida. I hope everyone survived Hurricane Irma and has power back. As you deal with the aftermath and recover please stay safe. We got lucky here on Charlotte Harbor, the mangroves still look as pretty as before the storm. I know we’re not in the clear yet, but let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Let’s talk about the flow of freshwater that is pushing into the Harbor.

We have two major rivers that feed into our estuary. The biggest of the two is the Peace. It flows from Lake Hancock, it also has many feeder creeks that flow into it, such as Horse Creek and Charlie Creek. It might be a month or so before we start seeing some clear water. Don’t worry folks I didn’t forget about best fishing part!

Fall on the Harbor is one of my two favorite times of the year to fish. This is the time our most sought after fish are schooling up and getting ready for winter. In my opinion, one of the most important and most over looked fish is the mighty

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mullet. These guys play a large roll in our estuary. If we don’t have mullet, most of our predator fish would either leave the area or starve. Of all the fish species that depend on these guys, redfish would be the main one.

During the fall months, these two fish are never far apart.

I know what your thinking, mullet are vegetarians, so what could these two fish have in common! Well I’m going to tell you a little secret. Mullet play a very big roll in helping reds find their food source this time of year.

Redfish, by nature, love to feed on crustaceans ... and where do crustaceans live? They live in the grass and on the oyster bars that mullet love to school up around during the fall months.

So while these wonderful vegan fish are feeding on their diet, they just happen to be stirring up the water, and all those little crabs and shrimp are scurrying for their lives and the predator redfish are waiting just for that right opportunity. So the next time you see that big school of mullet, think about what might be in the area just waiting and looking for an easy meal.

A little stealth is still required though, when you’re fishing around mullet for reds. If you spook one of the two, well you have spooked them all!

Get out and take advantage of this great fall fishery. A lot of great things are happening on Charlotte Harbor.

We dodged a major bullet this time, with Hurricane Irma. Please pray for the fellow anglers in the Everglades and Chokoloskee.

Those guys took the major impact of the storm. And please thank the first responders, our fire fighters and local police. And last, but not least, give thanks to the workers who came from all over to help restore power to those effected! Y’all guys are the TRUE HEROS!!

If you would like to experience some of Charlotte Harbor’s finest fishing, give us a call or send an email. All of our charters are private and customized to fit your party’s needs.

Capt. Dave Stephens, 941-916-5769 www.backbayxtremes.com

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OCTOBER 2017

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“When you live on Hurricane Alley, sometimes you gotta pay the toll” 10,000 Islands / Everglades City

By Capt. Charlie Phillips Water LIFE / Everglades City September 2017 will be one for the record books in SW Florida. I was staying pretty busy at the start of the month, running several trips as I prepared to hit the busy fall season.

The speckled trout bite was very strong in the grass areas down south around the mouth of Lostman’s River. Popping corks with soft plastics were about all my guest needed to easily find a limit of quality fish.

Had several trips this month that wanted to target sharks and these same areas were the place I headed to. I like to use catfish tails, cutting them off at the dorsal and then putting them on a 10/0 non stainless hook. Instead of wire, I opt for 300-pound leader material. It works very well and gives me something to hold onto when I leader the fish and work to get a hook release.

With a little time in chumming and two baits out, we usually get our first bite in about 20- to-30 minutes, but once we get the first one, it’s fast after that. My last shark trip in the Glades netted us 20 sharks, blacktips, lemons and bulls from about 15-pounds to a lemon that was well over 175-pounds. For my client and his two daughters, they had a blast.

The highlight of the day though was the 40pound cobia that decided he needed a catfish tail as well, and after a good fight was brought home as the guest of honor for dinner. Never know what you are gonna find in the Glades this time of year.

Then Hurricane Irma roared into town and fishing took the backburner for all of SW Florida. Everglades City was devastated, as a wall of water over 6 foot washed thru town, leaving destruction and Chokoloskee mud in every house that wasn’t on stilts. My wife and I lost our home in the community as a great many others have as well. Several restaurants and hotels are damaged so extensively it is doubtful they will reopen. But, as bad as all that is to see, no lives were lost during the actual Hurricane. Those that should have evacuated did or were gotten out before the waters got so high.

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Capt. Charlie Phillips

The outpouring of love and support has been an amazing and for myself, an overBook a Trip whelming experience. So many complete Capt. Charlie Phillips: 863-517-1829 strangers calling, writing and stopping by to e-mail: hopefishing@hotmail.com see what they can donate, what we need and Web: hopefishing.com how they can help. It’s a very beautiful thing for a much challenged community.

Give us a few months and we will be back on track, His boat made it, but the house didnʼt. Capt. Steve Betz ornery and outlaw as ever. And when points to the high water mark at Capt. Charlie Phillipsʼ Everglades City and the Keys are up Everglades City home. and running, we will need your support more than ever. Book a trip with one of the many captains in the area and come eat at our wonderful restaurants, buy a bag of stone crab claws from the fish market and stay in our hotels. This will give us the boost we need to get thru what Hurricane Irma left behind, so I encourage you to plan to vacation local this year and help stimulate the SW and Keys economies.

Thanks for all the love, be careful in the Everglades for a while, channels have changed, new bars are everywhere and there is plenty of stuff to hit out there. Need something, give me a public service message from the Florida Guides Assn. and Water LIFE magazine shout and see you next month.

Stay-Cation in Florida

Plan to vacation locally this year Help support your areaʼs coastal communities and fishing guides

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It’s Only Getting Better!

By Mallory Herzog Water LIFE Fishing We made it though the storm with minor damages.

Back on the water this week, I am finding if anything has changed it’s only gotten better!

Inshore, bigger bait is moving in on the flats calling in the fish from all areas. The water that was us clarity isn’t the greatest, but that isn’t stopping the fish. Snook season runs though the month of October, so there is still plenty of time to hook up on a slot fish.

Boaters beware of debris in our waterways. Hurricane Irma shook things up, many pilings and dock pieces have been flushing out with the tides. These obstructions can be difficult to see in dark water or low light conditions.

Pick up and dispose of whatever you can. Captain Chris Slattery and Captain Kaelin Olayer found this large rail road tie (pictured) near Devilfish Key. The higher than normal tide is great for fishing under

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the mangroves. Fish enjoy high water because they can really spread out, explore new areas and find an easy ambush zone.

With lots of ground to cover, try using your trolling motor and casting ahead of the boat to cover ground quickly. You can do this with artificial or live bait. When using live bait especially now, use the most lively bait you can pull out of the well. An active live bait will grab the attention of a larger predator fish swimming by.

When you start to get a few bites deploy your stick-it or PowerPole anchor system.

Redfish are beginning to school up in the Harbor and in and around the flats of Boca Grande. These schools will only get larger as the month presses on. A school of reds can often resemble a mullet school. Look for the tails. Especially at sunrise across peaceful waters, you can easily see their tails as the reds forage in the flat

below. Time to stock up on those top water plugs, Capt Andrew likes the bone white color best. Running one of these near a school of fish will get all their attention.

Nearshore, the snook are still cruisin’ along the Gulf beaches. The best part of these, you can catch them from the boat or the beach. This kind of beach fishing is what started my obsession with snook. Cast net some live bait, small amounts can be easily kept alive in a bucket with a bubbler while fishing from the sand. This type of make shift livewell will keep you catching all day long. Look for live bait flicking along the shore line. The snook are swimming right in the trough, ready to ambush white bait and small mullet as they go by.

To book a trip with Capt Andrew Herzog Call or TXT 941-661-0304 Visit http://bigbullyoutdoors.com

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FISH PIX! f r o m Wa t e r L I F E m a g a z i n e

OCTOBER 2017

Readerʼs P

Jo Ann Maslyn with a 37-inch snook caught in Lemon Bay

Jim Shiflett with a sheeps head aboard Miss Ruth, out of Pirate Harbor

Steve Shiflett from Auburn, Ala with nice fish caught aboard Miss Ruth out of Pirate Harbor.

Kathleen Granning caught and released this snook in Bull Bay.

Ian Roberts of Fort Myers with a 32-inch ʻGapperʼ caught using artificial on first day of snook season!!

Kayla Dietzel- first redfish of the season Louise Gussins first spadefish and black drum from PGI canals.

Captain Gavin's hurricane bass

Bryan Trenholm, shark, near the Boca Pass

Courtney and Mikaela Martin caught plenty of snapper 16 miles out of Stump Pass

Wayne Stoutner out of Stump Ppass

OCTOBER 2017

Photos

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FISH PIX! f r o m Wa t e r L I F E m a g a z i n e

Captain Chris Fanelli with a charter client and his 41-inch snook, weighing 22-pounds

Catching Cod fish in Newfoundland are Cecil Sooley (above ) and Punta Gorda Captain, Rick Kelley

Marla Velazquez 11 she caught her first snook near Pine Island

Jack, snook

Mike, with a nice snook

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Heather Steele, Decatur ill. nice sheephead.

Johnna Filipowicz caught her first tilefish deep dropping in Islamorada

Heather on same day with a 21- and a 25inch red grouper. Fishing out of Cape Coral

August 29, it was our 10 year wedding anniversary. We used Capt JP Baar. We made it just before Irma and tore it up: 6 blackfin tuna, 4 skip Jack tuna and 2 tilefish

John Kammerer, 39.5-inch snook Stump Pass

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Harbor Reconnaissance Mission

By Capt. Chuck Eichner Water LIFE Inshore On the first day of fall, with Hurricane Irma behind us, I decided to explore the Harbor and near Gulf waters. With no clue what to expect, my first stop was for bait in Bokeelia. Within minutes bait was churning the surface and with one throw I had 200 whitebaits and a 21-inch snook in the net! That is my first snook in a cast net and about as quick as I ever got bait.

The next stop was near Pelican Bay where the normally blueish-green Gulf waters were black as coal with lots of floating debri. The waters did not look very fishy to say the least, but my wife Joyce and I cast out and immediately doubled up! Trout on one line, jack on the other. And so it went until we were literally tired of reeling in fish! Trout from 14to 17- inches were ganged up heavy.

From there we bounced around from spot to spot and caught snook at every hole.

There was no doubt in my mind the fishery is in excellent shape and all fish we caught looked fat and healthy.

To make things more interesting, we starting fishing places off the Intracoastal Waterway near Boca Grande that we had never fished. Again, we caught fish at every spot including snook, trout, snapper

Unlike after Hurricaner Charley, the mangrove leaves around the Harbor are still here!

and jacks. One spot had so many snook that when one would jump and shake off the bait another would eat it. Add to that the bird life was amazing with bald eagles, osprey and plenty of seabirds singing their songs in many of the places we fished.

In 6 hours of fishing we had caught 50 fish and headed for home. No big fish this day but amazing action. There was also no boat traffic on the ICW and only a few boats fishing the Harbor. As we crossed the 20-foot hole in the Harbor there were birds dipping and ladyfish chasing baits.

It was a perfect opportunity for us to catch fish to be used for our empty crab traps.

With 5 ladyfish in the livewell we headed

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to our traps that had not been baited in many days. Surprisingly each unbaited trap was full of crabs and we ended up steaming 2 dozen crabs Maryland style a couple of hours later! There was also a baby stone crab in one trap; that was a first for us and it was released.

So our day began with one throw of the cast net, fish biting everywhere and a snook in the net and the day ended with crab traps full of crabs, a crab feast and lots of memories. I would say there might have been a hurricane bite going on!

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

OCTOBER 2017

OCTOBER 2017

Estero Bay:

By Captain Joe Angius Water LIFE Estero The first day of Fall brought a feeling of rejuvenation to me this year. After Hurricane Irma made landfall on September 10 here in Naples and Fort Myers, the cities I once knew were changed. Environmental impacts such as broken and fallen trees, overflowing river systems causing severe flooding, excessive amounts of freshwater pouring into our bays, and dangerous debris littering our roads and waterways all have played a role in altering the way I perceive our cities. Since hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30, we are not free from future tropical storms and hurricanes yet. Though hurricanes and storms alike can bring devastation to an area, there’s always something good that comes from events such as these.

Estero Bay along with many other bays, estuaries, beaches and reefs have all benefited from being cleansed by these storms and can now undergo their regrowth.

Fishing spots that I would rely on for charters look completely different now, not just above the waterline but especially below the surface of the water.

In one area of the bays a sand bar and an oyster bar have shifted in a way that causes the tidal water to move differently now. This may not seem like a terrible thing yet, but it will eventually affect the potholes, drop-offs, and bottom structure that used to hold fish consistently.

Remember that change can be a good thing and adjusting to these changes is and always will be a part of the environment. These changes should challenge fishermen and fisherwomen in a way that makes them better anglers, while at the same time giving them a deeper sense of respect and wonder for the natural environment around them. So what does all of this mean for the fisheries and fishing in the month to come?

Bait is a good thing and it seems that it’s everywhere clean moving water is.

Large schools of mullet are dominating the beaches and shallow sand flats. Either alongside or underneath the mullet

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Irma Brings Shells and New Backcountry to Explore

schools, anglers can find medium sized pilchards. Pinfish and small pilchards are still on our grass flats, but are more concentrated in these areas during an incoming tide. This tide flushes in water from the Gulf of Mexico with high salinity levels, which energizes the once lethargic fish that would be found in poorly oxygenated areas. The backwaters are filled with an excess of freshwater from the swollen river systems. Bringing baits back to these areas will often result in them dying, so I would recommend fishing the backwaters with artificial baits.

Juvenile tarpon and small snook don’t mind the high levels of freshwater and have been opportunistic in feeding first thing early in the morning. Redfish are definitely around, but are slow moving looking for an easy meal. Speckled sea trout can be found in deep potholes and

on our grass flats during the incoming tide. Keep your eye out for birds diving down on bait and good-clean moving water to hone in on where active fish

PAGE 13

might be.

The month of October may look and seem different, but don’t be discouraged.

Fall fishing provides anglers with countless opportunities to catch snook, tarpon, trout, redfish, and blackdrum. Water quality may seem like an issue for beach goers but as for anglers, it has not stopped the fish from feeding.

Stay connected with local officials and fishing guides for honest updates and don’t take the media’s word for it all of the time. It is my goal to ensure that my clients are safe, comfortable, and can go back home with a memorable fishing experience. If environmental factors compromise any of my goals, I will inform my guests accordingly. I am fortunate enough to be back up and operating and pray for the families both here at home and in Texas. Thank you to all of the first responders that aided these disaster areas; we appreciate everything that you do. ... and fish hard.

Captain Joe Angius (727)-234-3171 Speak Easy Fishing Charters www.speakeasyfishing.com

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14

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OCTOBER 2017

Flooding Favors Snook Population

By Capt. Betty Staugler Water Life / Sea Grant When it rains, it pours, and sometimes it floods. Last month – early in the month when a weather system sat on top of us for a week dropping rain, and later in the month when Irma graced us with her presence, we got a lot of rain; over 20 inches in some places.

Interestingly, for as much attention the impending storm surge received prior to Irma, very little attention was given to possible flooding from rainfall. That was a surprise since the ground was so saturated in so many areas.

Irma’s rainfall caused many rivers and creeks throughout Florida to reach flood stage, including the Imperial, Peace, and Santa Fe rivers, and Alligator, Shell, and Prairie Creeks…just to name a few. I’m

The Peace River was lapping at the 771 bridge

sure I was not alone, watching the water rise behind my house upstream on Alligator Creek in Punta Gorda.

My house is tidal, and it did experience storm surge, but that surge didn’t hold a candle to the freshwater flowing from over the dam at Taylor Road. My end of the neighborhood flooded and sadly four of my neighbors had water in their house, but my house stayed dry. Other areas, particularly along the rivers experienced significantly greater flooding.

Now as much as people hate flooding, there is at least one flood winner, and that is snook. An FWC study that examined snook abundance, condition and diet relative to river flow and flooding in the Peace River found that when snook come back into the estuary after spawning offshore a certain percentage of them will go

Canoe Outpost on the Peace River: “We never saw the water this high”

Water had gone down a foot at Nav-A-Gator Restaurant in DeSoto when this was taken

Upper Alligator Creek drains Babcock Webb

up into the rivers.

The study determined that snook abundance in the rivers was directly related to the amount of flow with greater abundance found during higher flow years.

The study also found that snook condition (the ratio of weight to length) was directly correlated to flow indicating a greater abundance of food during high flow years.

In fact, researchers found that during high flow years the condition of snook in the river was 8% higher than those that stayed in the estuary. But, during low flow years, snook in the river were 6% less conditioned than those in the estuary. Why is this? Well, during high flow (rainy) years snook prey moves out into the floodplains, but eventually the rains stop, the floodplains dry up, and all the prey get concentrated in the River creating a snook (and bass) buffet bonanza.

The primary diet of snook in the rivers includes crayfish and exotic brown hoplo, blue tilapia, and walking catfish. Once this river food supply is depleted, snook move back down to the estuary. During high flow years, highly conditioned snook are often referred to as humpback snook by anglers. I suspect we may see some fat happy humpbacks this year.

Capt. Betty Staugler, Florida Sea Grant Agent. UF/IFAS Extension, Charlotte County (941) 764-4346

HOLIDAY LIGHTS CRUISES

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Dennis Wheeler 33 inch snook

Tammie caught a nice 27inch redfish

By the NAV-A-GATOR

The Nav-A-Gator Grill & Marina 9700 SW Riverview Cir Lake Suzy, announces its Christmas Lights Canal Cruises starting December 2. 2017.

This custom cruise is designed for individuals and groups such as churches, clubs and organizations with an affordable price. Passengers will enjoy Christmas music, beautiful holiday decorations and caroling. The tour boat can seat 30 people comfortably, and you may bring your own beverages for the ride. The boat departs at 5:30 and 7:30 nightly, from the public boat ramp at Laishley Marina in Punta Gorda and travels through many of the decorated canals of Punta Gorda Isles, returning at approximately 7pm and 9pm. Advanced reservations are required. For more information or reservations call 941-627-3474.

Flats Tarpon OCTOBER 2017

ONLINE EVERY MONTH @ WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

Carmine Key. We could see fish rolling just off the point while the tide was coming in. This was around 8 a.m. With the

By Fishin’ Frank tide moving in they seemed to stay just Water LIFE Baitshop between the islands, in a cut, and as the OK, what’s up? Tarpon (yes tarpon) tide slowed they came more out in front of fishing right now is really going crazy.

However, just like the rest of these strange the islands.

Dad hooked the first one while they days, it is not the normal tarpon fishing were in the cut between the islands and we think of, where these monster fish are wow did they like that top water... just a hanging out in the deep holes and you couple pops and Slam! We had been castwould drift a lady fish through them and ing shrimp up to the islands looking for then hang on for dear life for the next hour. That is still possible, but the real tar- redfish and even tossed a couple by where we saw the fish rolling. pon story is on the flats. And thery are Once we had hooked one I started to one-third size. try different Tarpon are in lures and see unreal numbers what they on the east side – would eat. maybe more on Dad worked the west side. top water and They have found I worked sub new feeding surface, Dad grounds back on won. the flats. Tarpon On the have always west side of been year round the Harbor here in the canals the tarpon and up the Peace can be found River and Shell right off the Creek, but this mangroves, year, for some just like the reason, the tareast side, pon are still in only they are those places, but just as likely even more, they to be out on, have moved onto or just inside, the flats.

Frank sr, with a jr. tarpon the sand bar.

While the snook Why the difference? We did not see any and redfish are mostly under the mantarpon on the east maybe because the grove branches, I would think finding a cooler place to hang out during the heat of sandbar on the west side is much closer to the shoreline. The distance is less than the day, the tarpon I am talking about are out in front, maybe 20-feet away from the half of that on the east side.

Now, once again, this is a catch and shore line and you will see them rolling. release fishing, so here is my recommenNow this is where the fun part starts. dation. The tarpon want to hit topwater How do you get one to bite? lures so try the new D.O.A. PT-7. I would I am going with a top-water lure. I get a dark color and a lighter brighter one. threw a lot of sub surface lures at them This lure has a single weedless hook and with no luck. My Dad decided to try his comes pre-rigged. I would not stick the hand with a top water, A Mirro-l-lure Top point of the hook back into the plastic, let Pup, which is just like a Zara Spook or it ride just off the top, this will give you a Skitter Walk.

We were on the front side, or west side, more sure hook set.

To use a walk-the-dog style top water of an outer island, two islands north of

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Steve caught a nice over slot redfish

like a Zara, Skitter Walk, or Top Pup, remove the back treble hook and replace it with a single hook. VMC and Owner make a single hook replacement for treble hooks, the VMC is #7237CB and the Owner is #4101. You should leave the front treble hook, but take the time to flatten the barbs on that treble. Removing the front treble can cause the lure to lose some of its fish-catching wiggle-action. In the store, take the lure and hold it up to the packages of hooks. Try to find one

PAGE 15

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Win caught a nice bass

that is just slightly larger than the treble hook you are replacing.

You do not have to work the lures hard for tarpon, just give your rod tip a twitch and then pause, then another twitch or jerk of the rod tip. This is a really fun way to get into top water lure fishing.

I hope everyone is OK and back to the new normal as much as possible.

Fishin Frank Port Charlotte 941- 625-3888 Ft Myers 239-634-1043

16

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Pass Open, Shelters Closed PAGE

By Capt. Ron Blago Water LIFE Senior Staff Looks like we dodged a big bullet when Irma was down-graded in strength and passed to the east of Charlotte County. After seeing what happened to Everglades City, Marco Island and Naples, the damage to our area seems pretty light by comparison.

Right after the storm I had to listen to the County officials from both Charlotte and Sarasota Counties pat themselves on the back for the great job they did during the crisis.

As an Englewood resident I beg to differ. Englewood was abandoned by both counties by not having an evacuation shelter available to the local residents. Neither the Sarasota County Englewood Sports Complex or the Charlotte County Tringali Park were open as emergency shelters - both had been opened during past emergencies. To make things worse, the Englewood Hospital was also closed. Rumor has it that their emergency generators would not work. New Rule: fire up your generators before hurricane season, just to make sure they work when you really need them. County officials from both Counties have to get together and work out what facilities will be open in an emergency. When it comes to protecting peo-

ple and saving lives, it shouldn't matter what county you live in.

I was surprised by the amount of sea wall damage that occurred throughout the area. It will be a long and expensive process to get them repaired and home owners are pretty much on their own.

There was some additional damage in the area that will have an effect on boaters and fishermen. The Venice fishing pier is closed. It suffered some decking issues at the end of the pier. Good thing the decking was already scheduled to be replaced. The Bay Heights boat ramp had some damage at the dock area, but is still open to boaters. The floating docks at the Port Charlotte Beach Complex is closed until the pilings can be reset, but the boat ramp is still open.

Skip's Marina in Englewood had some damage to their boat storage racks but are still open too.

Over on Manasota Key, on the Gulf side, there was a washout on Beach Road that closed the road. There are only two ways on and off Manasota Key, if one is closed it is a safety concern. People in the area have suggested putting culverts under the road to allow the water to run from the Gulf to Lemon Bay. The trouble is that in other places where this strategy has been tried, the culverts quickly filled up with sand.

OCTOBER 2017

Google Earth updated right after Irma. This is Stump Pass. We donĘźt see the groin, do you?

The big problem on Manasota Key is beach erosion. The beach front property owners have, for years, watched their property disappear into the Gulf while government debated what to do.

Of course my bigger concern is for Stump Pass. This was the first major storm after the dredging was finished in May and it seems the Pass held up just fine. A little sand was pushed around and a few pilings were knocked down; but the main channel is still open. I have been told that the lighted marker at the end of the groin is missing. This is also a safety issue.

Speaking about the groin; is it just when I see it, or is it that the groin is always underwater? I remember during the planning and pre-construction meetings, being told that at least the first 150 ft of the groin would be available for fishing. Nobody said anything about it being under water. Maybe when I pass by it’s always high tide.

The County asks if you know of missing or damaged markers or pilings, debris, or sunken or derelict boats, you report it to the County at 941-575-3600.

GPS numbers would be most helpful. capt.ronb@juno.net

OCTOBER 2017

ONLINE EVERY MONTH @ WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

SCUTTLEBUTT

PAGE 17

Sometimes Unsubstanciated, But Often True

TURTLES SAVED A large amount of seaweed washed up onto the beaches throughout several coastal counties after Irma. FWC started receiving calls and seeing news reports that a lot of the seaweed contained numerous sea turtle hatchlings and that beach goers were digging through the massive piles of seaweed and retrieving the hatchlings.

They were collecting dozens and dozens of hatchlings in buckets and whatever else they could find.

Officers were dispatched and relayed instructions from FWCʼs regional sea turtle biologist, on what to do with the hatchlings. Officers transported many hatchlings that seemed lethargic and too weak to swim to the FWC biologist for rehabilitation. The rest of the hatchlings were returned to the shoreline and away they went!

Beluga Whales pushing ʻbow wakesʼ

pre-determined location. An individual with the livery was issued a notice to appear citation for renting a vessel that was not seaworthy and not displaying boating safety information.

A warning was issued for failure to provide pre-ride safety instructions.

FWC fisheries biologists certified a new state record jaguar guapote, weighing 2.78 pounds and measuring 16.7 inches, caught by 14-year-old angler Jerry Martin, from Miami.

HE HAD A SCREWDRIVER FWC officers were on vessel patrol conducting boating safety inspections in the Crab Island area and observed a pontoon in violation of the idle speed/no wake zone. The officers stopped the pontoon to address the violation and conduct a safety equipment check. The inspection revealed the pontoon was rented from a livery company and that a screwdriver was being used to steer the vessel because the steering wheel had become inoperable the previous day. It was then determined the vessel was not in seaworthy condition. The officer contacted the livery company and met them at a

WE ARE OPEN!

HAND SLAP FWC officers working a plain clothes patrol in Charlotte Harbor when they observed a commercial fishing vessel near the mangroves. The officers positioned themselves to observe what was going on. After a few minutes, the vessel took off and struck some nets out of the back. The officers quickly approached to conduct a marine fisheries inspection. As the officers approached, they observed the men pulling in sein nets full of mullet. During their inspection, the officers determined that the men struck four seine nets from a single vessel along with other violations. The fisherman was charged with fishing with more than two nets from a single vessel and got seven warnings for other violations.

BOAT FIRE Offices responded to a boat fire in the Choctawhatchee Bay near Crab Island. A 35Tfoot “go-fast” boat was heading to Crab Island when smoke started coming out of the engine compartment. The operator had his two passengers put on life jackets and move to the front of the boat away from the fire. A Good Samaritan on a nearby boat saw the smoke coming from the boat and went over to help. All three passengers safely boarded the Good Samaritanʼs boat to get away from the

The Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major was a 28-cylinder four-row radial piston aircraft engine that was both supercharged and twin-turbocharged ... plus it had water injection. It was 4362 cubic inches and could produce 4300 horsepower. Designed and built during World War II, it was the largest-displacement aviation piston engine ever to be mass-produced in the United States.

fire. The “go-fast” boat was quickly engulfed in flames and drifted to the shoreline about one quarter mile west of U.S. Coast Guard Station where it burned to the waterline before it could be put out.

STINGRAY SKILLS Stingrays swim through water with such ease that researchers from the University at Buffalo and Harvard University are studying how their movements could be used to design more agile and fuel-efficient

PAGE

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OCTOBER 2017

October – Predictions and Suggestions

BackBay Xtremes

First Night of Classes

Capt Dave Stephens www.backbayxtremes.com

941-916-5769

Our Don Ball School of Fishing is up and running in its 17th year. Here, Capt. Bart Marx talks to his class at Port Charlotte Middle School. The Classes are also offered at Punta Gorda, Murdock and L.A .Ainger.

See waterlifemagazine.com for more info.

Don Ball Student this year

Fish With A Guide They Need Your Business!

Youʼll catch more fish and youʼll learn something new, every time!

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Ryan Warfield Big Cat 24-inches at Laishley Pier WOW! Sept 18

Frank & Gino Double submissions

PLEASE pick one.

We want only fresh fish pictures!

If we see your fish picture in another publication first, you wonʼt see yourself here... too bad, nice fish too! – MH

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

234-3171

speakeasyfishing.com

speakeasyfishing@gmail.com

Charlotte Harbor Frank at Fishin’ Franks 941-625-3888

Right now, if you have the chance to get out in the Gulf there are decent Spanish mackerel schools, and a slight probability of cobia. The bottom fishing is good in 40+ feet but 60-feet is better for keeper grouper. You can be trolling for Spanish from 3 miles plus we have incoming-tide mackerels at Boca, Gasparilla and Captiva Passes. We’re not seeing many in the Harbor yet, probably because of the lack of salinity. Up in the Harbor, snook and redfish are pretty much all over. There are quite a few reds in the Myakka Cutoff, the west side has the best variety, but Bull and Turtle Bay have had the slot fish. The east side has been harder to figure out, they could be on the flats or under the mangroves. In the Pine Island Sound you’ll see schools of bigger fish moving in for the spawn, down by St. James City. We heard about one big school of reds that went through Lemon Bay, they were around, guys saw them, and then they were gone.

Trout have been slow but fairly sure on the east side, either just inside the bar, mostly in the middle, or a few down by Bokeelia and Sandfly flats.

The Harbor water is brown, but it’s clearing and it seems to be losing a lot of the mud and sediment. You probably want to look at pink lures as the water looses its murky quality. When the water has a brown tint, pink becomes the hottest thing to throw. I don’t know why but, it is. .

Mangrove snapper are a little bit on the reef at Alligator Creek, they are better at Boca,

and Captiva and at Novak and Trembly Reef, they are keeper sized and steady. Both Passes have had fairly consistent gag grouper. At Placida Trestle there have been three reports of legal sized gags.

October is early for shrimp.

They are moving now because of all the fresh water but there are not a lot of big shrimp yet.

Next month will be when they are molting and shedding. Historically the best shrimp is January-ish.

Freshwater is pretty good for bass, we’re selling a ton of frogs, a little bit of spinner baits and a lot of June bug soft plastics. As the water goes down anglers will be going back to worms and soft plastics. Frogs are getting hard to find. Structure bug seems to be doing real good. It’s all about getting it down into the grass and popping it through. As the water recedes, fish will go back to the center of the canal and it will be worms again.

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

I’ve never noticed the boating activity this slow. Guys getting out are finding stuff that is biting but not many are going out. You gotta find where the water is clear. Around 12-miles there have been red grouper, porgys and mackerel around.

Bonita and schools of bait are still around too, offshore. On the Bayronto wreck, amberjack and barracuda have been caught.

Inshore has been good too.

Numerous guys are reporting catches of snook way above the slot, along with some keeper size. There has also been a lot

OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

OCTOBER 2017

October

ONLINE EVERY MONTH @ WWW.WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

The BIG-4 TARPON Juvenile fish on the Charlotte Harbor flats

of redfish activity – maybe the fresh water is flushing them out this way. Whidden Creek and Cayo Pelau has had redfish and guys are saying they are catching reds going towards the west side. Out into the Harbor, there is still a lot of fresh and brown water. Some guys said the fish there don’t have any vitality because of the fresh water. One guide said it’s like the fish had the flu and they don’t want to eat.

And there is still some tarpon around. Anything close to a spillway going into a creek that leads to the Bay has a lot of baby tarpon around it, eating the minnows and shrimp that are in there right now. Some bigger tarpon are still out around the passes at Gasparilla and Boca Grande. Tarpon season is not over it’s just been interrupted.

Fish you can expect in

GROUPER Good on the reefs Deeper water means bigger

REDFISH Staying closer to the salty water

SNOOK Moving in and up into the rivers

PAGE 19

Nearshore water temps are now mid to low 80s

95˚ 90˚ 85˚

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Capt. Dan Hack offshore slot snook 30-inches, near Redfish Pass and a redfish, below

80˚

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

75˚

Nicholas Kammerer caught this huge sting ray in Stump Pass

72˚ 70˚ 68˚ 50˚ 45˚

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

Matt Wallace from Cypress Lake, with a 5-pound Jack caught right after Irma, early morning tide on little Hickory Island at Estero Bay and a 30 inch, red. I'm six nine so the length of my arm is pretty big. It's my PB.

Joey Keene's 27-inch largemouth. Wish I had my scale for this one.

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

D. Larson, redfish and crevalle jack, Punta Gorda

Kingston with his first keeper 20-inch black drum

FISH PIX!

from Water LIFE magazine

FISHING RIGHT NOW:

changing

LAST CAST

Kai Streeter on his 5th Birthday with a very nice redfish!!

PAGE

20

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OCTOBER 2017