Water LIFE, July 2013

Water LIFE C Ch ha ar rl lo ot tt te e

H Ha ar rb bo or r

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L Le em mo on n

B Ba ay y

Keeping Fishermen and Boaters Informed since 1997

The Don Ball School of Fishing

July 2013

Sharks & More OFFSHORE Page 14 New!

AQUATICA

Charlotte Harbor

Seeing RED Fishing Report Page 22 Tournament Science Page 14

Page 12

Crab Trap Clean Up Page 12

BLACK WATER Fishing Page 6

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JULY 2013

Inshore & Offshore Headquarters

LETTERS

Water LIFE inc.

email: WaterLIFE@comcast.net

Different Strokes

Different is important in publishing. Different benefits all readers, different provides choices and it helps establish a real personality for each publication. When different is done ethically and intelligently with technical skill and visual content, different draws in readers and advertisers for the experience.

In July of 1776 Joseph Addison wrote “Imitation is a kind of artless flattery.” He wrote that in the English newspaper The Spectator. Imitation is flattery, but when the local Charlotte Sun newspaper pressured Betty Staugler, our county Sea Grant Agent, and columnist for the last 8 years, to write a column for them like she does for us, imitation went too far. Most newspapers donʼt want the same writers and pictures another publication has, they wants something different and hopefully better. Readers are best served by choices and competition is good for all.

Although she is a talented writer, it would be impossible for Betty to write a personal column for every publication in the area, thatʼs not her job, she has a more important contribution to make outside, on the waters of Charlotte County.

So now Betty will be providing one general press release to all publications and passing out an occasional follow up fact sheet as required. Betty is the closest thing this county has to a staff Marine Biologist. We all benefit from her projects and I believe the community still needs to know more, not less about what Betty is doing.

So in order to keep this publication different, and to give you more, we are introducing a new ʻfoldʼ this month. One that will appear every month and give our readers a new look at Betty Stauglerʼs Sea Grant world. We call it Aquatica. It is an on the water perspective, in pictures, of the things Betty and I are involved with.

The Sun apparently thinks imitation is the way to grow their business. We strive to be different for the very same reason.

Michael Heller Publisher

Michael & Ellen Heller Publishers

(941) 766-8180 email:

WaterLIFE@comcast.net 217 Bangsberg Rd.

Port Charlotte, FL 33952

Not affiliated with any other publication Vol XII No 7 © 2013

This is the picture used by the FWC at last monthʼs tarpon meeting to show some ʻacceptableʼ tarpon jigs. Clearly there is some long distance to travel before perspectives come together.

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Contributing Editors:

FUTURE QUESTIONS? Oliver Grasland sent this “Gator Tarpon” photo.

Itʼs a big fish, still in the water for a photo, no tarpon tag required... but there is a stringer attached through the mouth, perhaps used to help resuscitate the fish before release. When the new law is debated: is a tarpon ʻposessedʼ no matter what, when it is kept on a stringer?

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Photography: ASA1000.com Senior Editor: Capt. Ron Blago Charter Fishing: Capt. Bart Marx Port Charlotte: Capt. Billy Barton Punta Gorda: Capt. Chuck Eichner Real Estate: Dave Hofer Inshore: Fishinʼ Frank Offshore: Capt Steve Skevington Offshore: Capt. Jim OʼBrien Kayaking: David Allen Circulation: Robert Cohn Office Dog: Molly Brown

on the COVER:

Capt. Dave Stephens put Josh Taves on this Charlotte Harbor tarpon. Tarpon are moving into the Harbor. See page 6

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“Like a good day on the water”

JULY 2013

They Didn’t Know

By Michael Heller Water LIFE editor My wife and I were wading in the surf at Englewood beach last month. Earlier in the day I was at Fishin’ Franks for the weigh in at the annual shark tournament. I remember saying to my wife that I wonder how many other bathers would be out here in the shore break, `50 feet from the beach, if they had read Franks fishing report last week. Frank spent a lot of time talking about fishing for snook and sharks right where we were standing, but it was mid afternoon, not a very sharky time.

As we walked back to our towels I noticed a group of people congregating at the water’s edge. As I got closer I could see a large shadow in the surf, but it wasn’t a shark, it was a manatee.

By the time I walked over the people were gathering in a circle around the lost seacow. The wind had been blowing in from the southwest and the waves had pushed old ‘fat-Bambi’ too close to the beach and she was disoriented.

People started touching and petting the animal. One young adventurer looked like he was positioning himself to hop on its back. “Hey” I yelled, “you can’t do that.

Manatees are protected - it’s a Federal offense to mess with them.” Some people looked at me puzzled, one guy apologized saying he didnt know, speaking in a German accented voice. One fellow identified himself as having something to do with Mote Marine. ‘Let’s you and I push her back out,’ I said, but he moved away with the rest of the crowd. “You should know better, you are setting a bad example,” I said. “You and I could herd this animal back out into the Gulf I said, but he wasnt interested because his friend was taking pictures.

I waded back to shore to find my wife and by the time

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This time of year bathers at Englewood Beach often see manatees swimming by.

I turned around the manatee had moved up the beach 20 yards and had a bigger crowd around it.

It was a tough decision, kids were having a great once in a lifetime moment interacting with the big manatee, adults were enthralled, but they again had it encircled.

OK OK, we have to help this animal I said as I waded back in with my phone to take a few pictures. I moved up next to the creature. “Come on big girl, let’s get you out of here I said and the crowd instinctively moved back.

Alongside the manatee, cell phone in one hand, my hat in the other, I hip-bumped the animal to face it back out into the Gulf and began herding her along. She went right with me.

With no one in front of us, the manatee got the idea.

Her nose came up for a breath of air, she put her head down and brought her big barnacled paddle tail out of the water right alongside my head. Then she submerged and leaving a gentle circular tail-wake on the surface, she was gone.

Earlier in the day, at Frank’s tournament two anglers brought in lemon sharks. Lemon sharks are also protected animals. Frank told them politely to take the lemons back. They didn’t know, either.

The cure for a lack of knowledge is better education.

Either our government agencies aren’t doing a good enough job teaching, or people just aren’t listening.

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BLACK WATER FISHING

By Capt David Stephens Water LIFE Inshore

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fish or just find the pot holes on the flats.

One easy solution is making a little extra run out closer to the passes usually on an incoming tide when clearer water will move into LUCKY MAN – Ryan Woythaler with a fine snook and a good cigar! the Harbor. For baits. Please be courteous to guides and you guys that are not afraid of a little other anglers you see out fishing for tardarker water, I would recommend taking pon. If you have a trolling motor please your time setting up on your hole to not use it and also keep a distance that you spook any fish. Even though the water is would like kept from you. It is a big Harstained, I guarantee the fish will still be in bor with plenty of fish to be caught. the area. You just might have The snook fishing is also very good to put a little more time in loaround the Barrier Islands. Fish that cating them. haven’t spawned yet will be looking for Also, this is the time of the higher salt levels. And to all the snook anyear tarpon start to move up in glers out there, we will have an open the Harbor to feed on the snook harvest this fall. threadfins; catching them can Trout like higher salt levels, and good be a task in its self. I prefer to numbers of fish have been taken fishing throw a bigger mesh net that the flats closer to passes. Look for good sinks really fast. I have heard current flow with broken up bottom with of people having luck using sabiki rigs. Lady fish and mul- grass and sand and I am sure your rod will be bent. let are also excellent tarpon Horse Creek (ahead) emptying into the Peace River in

The summer rains have begun to fall here in South West Florida and that’s not a bad thing. If there is one comment that I hear the most now, it is: how muddy the water is. That could not be further from the truth. We have two major rivers that flow into the north end of the Harbor, one being the Peace River and the other being the Myakka River. During the rainy season in Central Florida all the creeks that flow into these rivers crest, sending their over flow our way. On a positive note, most of our prized game fish do not mind a little extra fresh water, but on the negative note it takes away our ability to sight

JULY 2013

late June. Photo taken from the River.

Not A Bad Thing!

Capt. Dave writes;

ʻThis is Gary Ennis with a 180lb tarpon. We were doing satellite tagging for the University of Miami, that is why the fish is in the boat, otherwise having a fish over 40 pounds out of the water will soon be illegal.ʼ The fish was released unharmed.

If you would like to experience some of Charlotte Harbors best fishing give me a call or send me an email. All charters are customized to fit you and you party’s needs.

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

JULY 2013

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Lionfish on the Line Special to Water LIFE Glen Ballinger They are not coming anymore..... they are here! I have fished in the Gulf, out of Venice, for the last 8 years and my friend, Capt. Joe Miller, has fished here for well over 25 years. I have, like most, heard about these dangerous/poisonous lion fish taking over the Gulf of Mexico.

Much like the scare we heard about the zebra muscles taking over the Great Lakes many years ago, and how much damage they would create in those bodies of water and beyond.

I have been reading about lion fish and even though I hear that divers have speared them, I have been fishing 50 trips per year and never caught a single one.

This last weekend we decided to take an overnight trip so we could be out deep for large American red snapper. We were fishing in 180-220' of water. I had a great crew of experienced and excited fisherman for the Super Moon, a great chance to catch mangrove snapper and red snapper at night, plus red grouper, true black grouper, porgies and alamco jacks.

We stopped for live bait on the way out and traveled 2 1/2 hours in calm seas to our first spot. Immediately we hooked up with some firetruck grouper and then worked our way to a few more holes.

Before sunset Ron Bowerman, fishing a sardine on a circle hook, brought up a lion fish. Immediately we all knew what

it was, but up till now we had never ever caught one off Venice. We used long nosed pliers to take the hook out and did our best to kill it. We took a few pictures and threw it back in the water.

Fished for an hour and here comes another one! This time a little bigger. Same thing- we took extra precautions with them because we were so far offshore.

Here is some information from FWC “Lionfish should be handled carefully; they have venom glands on the dorsal, pelvic and anal spines.

NOAA recommends treating a puncture wound by immersing the wound area in hot (not scalding) water for 30-90 minutes (outboard overflow is hot) and to seek medical attention as soon as possible. The Poison Help Hotline, 800-2221222, is available 24 hours a day. Unless a person is allergic to the venom, lionfish stings are very rarely fatal. Stings can be very painful, cause numbness, swelling and even temporary paralysis.�

Our trip lasted 21 hours and we ended up catching 6 lion fish. Before that day never seen or heard of one being caught on hook and line here. Funny part is my friend Joe Miller with Fish Galore Offshore also caught one on the same day.

His first as well. So take my word for it... they are here. Be prepared and take caution!

Glen Ballinger (941) 323-5251

SHARK IN THE RIVER

A juvenile bull shark caught June 9 by Shawn Stackhouse above I-75 in the Peace River.

Reel Science PAGE

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JULY 2013

Shark Tournament

By Michael Heller Water LIFE editor We’ve heard some talk about Fishin’ Frank’s shark tournament and how Greg Poulakas, the ‘scientist’ there, was just there to give credibility to the tournament.

Clearly that is not true.

Greg Poulakas has been going to Fishin Franks for years... He started collecting samples from Frank’s tournament sharks 13 years ago.

“We probably have over 100 samples now,” Poulakas told me, sitting in a back office of the FWC Research Lab in Murdock where he is a fish biologist. “I do the shark study on my own time,” he added.

“We are able to look at the bull shark samples in an isotope study that enables us to compare its diet to other animals,” he said. “Currently the bull shark diet is being used to compare the diet of sawfish and cow nose rays.

The isotopes show how the diet is assimilated into the fin.

A mass spectrometer is used to see the individual elements” ‘It’s basically carbon and nitrogen we are looking at.

The difference in the ratio of the heavy to the lighter isotopes is what we look at,” Poulakas explained.

The samples are all stored in small vials filled with 95percent ethyl alcohol. Stored like that the samples are preserved for a very long time. Poulakas says the samples are being kept to provide data for future scientific collaborations.

The idea for the isotope study idea was started by Jill Olin, a graduate student working on her dissertation at the Lab. Poulakas does his study on his own time since

Bull or Lemon? The teeth on a bullshark will tell it apart from a lemon shark, if you get a chance to look. The teeth on a lemon are almost the same width top to bottom, while the teeth on the bullshark shown here are more pointed.

the state doesn’t monitor the shark population, the Feds do that.

“I try to sample what ever I can and even if the shark tournament ‘goes away’ the sampling will still go on.” Poulakas noted that the value of any scientific study involving data collection is the lengthy time period over which the data was gathered.

“I am always talking about the project with other scientists at scientific meetings so we can share data,” Poulakas said.

The shark population in Charlotte Harbor seems to be doing well. People are catching a lot of sharks. “We at the research lab don’t usually catch sharks in our sampling nets. Occasionally we get some juvenile blacktips, but mostly what we see are bonnet head sharks and some young-of-the year bullsharks in spring and early summer when they give birth.” Poulakas said.

Sampling involves fin clips and muscle samples. The fin is used for isotope study for diet assimilation, the muscle determine genetics. “They also sample vertebrate.

By cutting a cross section, isotopes can look at growth along the vertebrate for an age study.

Occasionally they take a jaw sample to help identify the animal. Poulakas says “black nose and fine tooth sharks are very similar, as are blacktip and spinners. The jaw sample helps identify which is which.”

“Working with Fishin Frank’s baitshop and his tournament is a good way to stay plugged in to the local fishermen,” he said.

JULY 2013

By Capt Billy Barton Water LIFE / Charlotte Harbor Well guys, if we haven’t met, my name is Billy Barton and I’m a fishing addict.

As a full time guide I spend every day of my life putting folks on fish and the ultimate goal is always to put my customers on a day of fishing that they will never forget. Very rarely are my days spent on land. When I have a day off, what do I do?? I go fishing! When you are truly passionate about something I don’t believe that yearning feeling ever goes away.

I suppose there are worse things in this world that I could be consumed by, however there’s no life like the Salt Life.

My birthday was on May 31 and as a little brotherly birthday celebration should always go, my fishing partner and I decided on a night time trip to the bridges for some possible tarpon.

We started off fishing the shadow lines with some small soft plastics for ladyfish and filled the livewell up quickly. We also put a few catfish in the boat which came in pretty darn handy, and that’s what I’m getting at. We anchored up on the East side of the El Jobean bridge to fish the start of the incoming tide. The tarpon typically will hang in the dark and feed into the light as baits come through with the tide. Anyhow, we soaked live ladyfish for a solid hour with only one shark run. I mentioned to Jason, maybe, it may be a good idea to try a catfish tail, and to fish something a little more stationary. He whole-heartedly agreed.

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Never Under Estimate the Catfish Tail!!

Now pause for a second, I’ll continue on this part of the story in a minute!

A lot of experienced fisherman in our area actually know about this little secret.

However some folks just don’t know!!

And this is what I’m here to tell you.

It works best in dark water during the day, and it can make one heck of a night time bait in our harbor and rivers! I’ve caught everything from 20 pound snook, to 200 pound tarpon, to 50 pound cobias, and even 300 pound, 8 foot bull sharks on catfish tails. So truth be told. Mud cats, also known as hard heads, are actually not just good-for-nothin’ like a lot of folks will tell you!! This is no lie. I know a very experienced tarpon fisherman who keeps a deep freezer full of hard heads just for tarpon bait. Just cut him at an angle behind his pectoral fins, and take his head and spines off. Might sound kinda gross to some female readers... But leave the guts in the tail too for a good result.

So partner and I are fishing at the bridge, at night time, on my birthday. I throw out a hefty catfish tail on my tarpon spinning outfit and set the bait runner. It wasn’t in the water for two minutes before the drag was screaming!! And after one heck of a battle, to my surprise I boated a good 15 pound cobia, that was 35 inches long to the fork of the tail. No doubt, he’s going on ice! That’s one of my favorites!

After landing the fish my bait was still

good and juicy so I just threw it back in the same spot. The next thing I know, two minutes later, there goes the bait runner again!! And again to my surprise, it was another good size cobia... and let me tell you, he did not want to come in the boat!

But he did! And he also went on ice. Now that’s a great birthday gift!

I told Jason how happy I was and that I had pretty much stopped caring about catching a tarpon at that point and he said he was in the same boat! (We were both lieing!) We kept fishing for a couple more hours and I don’t have to tell you

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what we were BOTH now using for bait!

The bite did shut down on us though, with the change of the tides, so we opted to call it a night.

The moral of the story: If you are a big game fisherman, and you like feeling something pull extremely hard at the end of that rod, don’t ever under estimate the power of the catfish tail. I don’t know if it’s all that slime, or the taste of the guts, one way or another, the fact is that these stinky prickly creatures are highly under estimated by most and yet treasured by some very experienced fishermen for a bait most folks wouldn’t think about. Hope this gives you guys a little insight, and something else to go out there and try.

The confidence comes real quick after you hook that first big fish. Fish hard people!

Life’s too short! And we live in Paradise!

Now get out there and get ya’ some!!!

Capt. Billy Barton operates Scales N Tails Charters. Phone 979-6140 or email him at : bartonw24@yahoo.com

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Unpredictable Fishing

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By Capt. Chuck Eichner Water LIFE Punta Gorda Fishing Catching bait can some days be tougher than catching the fish your after.

At 6:00am I stood on the bow of my flats boat with anglers Mike Wright and Ray Zimmerman. The water shimmered with thousands of scaled sardines around the boat but even under low light they would stay just 20 feet from the boat with only a few baits caught on each throw of the net.

An hour and a half of frustration and I made the call to go after a group of large snook I found before the sun got too high.

Excitement brewed as we peered into the clear water at “Lincoln Log” size snook with some approaching 40 inches.

After a few casts a smaller snook munched the snack cracker size pinfish but the big girls lurked enticingly in front of us. With only a handful of fat pilchards left Mike and Ray cast one each to the front of the bushes and the water exploded. We realize these snook are aggressive and we have about 30 minutes of bait left. On the next cast a big snook mashed Mike’s line. With only 10 pound test a battle ensued and then the 35 inch snook wrapped him around a branch. Opening the spool and releasing the tension, the fish managed to swim out and 3 minutes later we captured the prize. Bite after bite we got broke off or bit off. Ray pitched a $10 Yozuri plug up tight and wham, a 30 incher took to the air, burned drag and pulled him into the mangroves.

With no bait left we ran south and an

hour later we had a full livewell and did more hand to rod combat with snook that won most every battle! What an incredible day we mused, as the fish moved on with the low tide.

I pondered what to do next as we headed towards Matlacha, but on the way the Harbor revealed a group of aggressively feeding tarpon in only 10 feet of water. Sheets of big threadfin herring passed as the tarpon mashed around the boat. For hours we cast big pilchards and lures to no avail. We even had a couple of crabs that they would not eat. With no big net and no sabiki rigs on board along with no tarpon rods, we couldn’t make it happen. So Ray decided to play with the mackerel that crashed into the bait pods and boated one about 16 inches. Ray dehooks the mackerel, slips it off the deck and a 125# tarpon crashes the mack right at boatside spraying water into the boat!

We certainly were not equipped to fish baits this big, either, so we called it a day.

Ever thought of fishing live mackerel for tarpon?

Two days later I was back. Beautiful calm waters, no boat traffic and in the distance I see tarpon rolling in the same area as before. Now totally armed with heavy tarpon tackle, hooks and leaders attached I glided quietly with no motor noise into their area. An amazing number of tarpon from 50 to 150 pounds rolled happily around my corks with suspended large threadfins and a free swimming ladyfish.

How could this be I asked myself, non-

3-Second Snook Rule?

WE ARE KEEPING IT HORIZONTAL – We know all fish live their lives weightless and horizontal in the water. We are told when in above-water gravity big fish, especially big snook, need to be kept horizontal to keep their internal organs from ripping. We are also told, if held by the jaw, their jaw could be damaged. Now someone just asked can you hold them vertically or by the jaw for just a little-bit? Is there a 3-second rule for holding snook? We donʼt know!

Eric Keeler, thanks for letting us use your picture to help make people think.

feeding tarpon today when I am ready and active tarpon on the day we have no bait or tackle for these big fish?

For the next 4 hours I quietly sat in amazement as this one little area in the middle of nowhere held countless fish.

Not another bite this day, but tarpon milling around the boat kept my heart rate up. With all the preparation in the world, I was still no match for Mother Nature.

I release this out of place fish and drop another half of ladyfish on the bottom.

Moments later another fish on - cobia!

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JULY 2013

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Capt. Chuck Eichner operates Action Flats Backcountry Charters and can be reached at: 941-628-8040 or go to his website: www.backcountry-charters.com

I cut the live ladyfish in half, threw it out and placed the rod in a holder. Within minutes the rod goes off and I can barely get it out of the rod holder! Fish on, but no jumps and a minute later I am looking at a 15 pound black grouper on the deck!

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Gags In and Around the Harbor JULY 2013

By Fishin’ Frank Water LIFE Baitshop I would have to say the big news in July is that Gag grouper opens back up.

The only grey side to that is right now the biggest gags are being caught in 60 plus feet of water. Gag will need to be 22-inches total on length, 2 gags per person with an aggregate of 4 total grouper per person.

A neat trick to catching gags is not to be right on the structure. Most grouper when something strange or noisy happens, will hide in the structure, where-as a gag will move out from it and look back to see what's going on.

So get set up just off of the structure and drop big baits first. Live pin fish or whole sardines, try to get the larger ones interested in the baits first, then after you bait starts to be picked apart, switch to a smaller bait. I use a 6/ to 9/0 hook for grouper. At this point I switch to a 2/0 to 4/0 and first place a piece of squid on the hook, then I put on a live pin fish or shrimp, that way if they get the first bait off, they will come back and hit the squid still on the hook, Squid is so hard to get off it will usually stay on after the first or primary bait has been taken.

In the Harbor there are a few good places to try for keeper size gags. Boca Grande Pass is No.3 in my ranking, not because of how many fish you catch, more because it is a pain to fish there. This time of year you have to contend with tarpon boats as well as an uneven bottom. Here you have to drift and it is hard not to be constantly snagged in the rough uneven bottom, If you want to try in the Pass the best rig is to fix a 3-ounce sinker about 18 inches above your hook.

Fish with shrimp in select sizes or live pin fish, they are the best bait choices. Watch your bottom machine to try and keep your bait about a foot off the bottom, Easier, so I would rank it No. 4, is the Cape Haze Reef. This is an anchor-up and bottom-fish place. Use your bottom machine to find anything sticking up, and drop a buoy on it so you can an-

WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

chor and fish the structure. It’s a little different than fishin in the Gulf where just off the reef is better, the piles are so close the fish should come off one and be right onto yours. #2 on the gag grouper spots list is the reef off Alligator Creek. Get on the high side of the reef, which means you want to anchor on the up side of the tide, so the current from the tide will take your chum over the reef. This is a spot where chumming is the key to bigger fish. Sardines and or live pin fish are the baits of choice here. If you can use a bobber-stop, set it so your bait is about 12 feet from the surface, your second line should be on the bottom, I have people ask should I put the chum lower down?

This reef sits in maybe 14 feet of water, it is just not deep enough to put the chum on the bottom. The only time I do that is in 30 feet or more, so I can chum the fish under me.

In 14 feet, enough will fall straight down.

The No. 1 spot for gags in the Harbor is the holes. You can drift or anchor here in the holes but trolling is the key to big gag grouper here.

The Mann’s stretch lures, 15 and 20, or the Rapala, both have a set depth marked on the box.

The trick is to have one almost scraping the bottom and the other just a couple feet off. You should be about 2.5 mph to 3.5 average speed, can you guess 3 mph? You do have to vary it with the tide – faster with, and slower against.

The main thing to watch is that the tips of your rods are bent and vibrating.

To be sure, your chances of getting that monster Ga-ga are better out in the deep water of the Gulf, but many keepers have been caught right here in the Harbor and if you are heading to Turtle Bay or Cape Haze you are going right across the holes, so why not stop and give them a try?

Grouper for dinner sounds pretty good right about now.

Frank can be reached at: 625-3888 or at: Frank@ FishinFranks.com

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A Crime Against (Fishinʼ) Humanity

Last month Fishin Frank got a call from the sheriff to say his bait shop had been robbed. He was interviewed in his shop with empty shelves. His neighborʼs business showed him their video surveillance footage which pictured this man.

Frank posted the image on facebook and within a few hours they knew the identity of the man. The sheriff located him and he was arrested. Frank estimated the burglary at $40- 60,000. The Sheriffʼs office retrieved a lot of fishing tackle from the suspect and another man, but the sheriff couldnʼt readily identify all the technically specific fishing gear and rods, so a detective and a forensic officer brought all the evidence back to Franks to be identified It was not clear when we went to press whether all the stolen items were recovered or whether some of the items returned may have come from another burglary. According to Frank, three other tackle shops in SW Florida have been robbed recently.

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AQUATICA Charlotte Harbor

JULY 2013

Searching for the Truly Lost

Recovering derelict crab traps

Permit bands are checked

Betty Staugler and volunteer Michael Walters retrieve a trap

This small crab was rescued from a derelict trap

The snag line

This one will swim away

There was a lot of circling around

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

One trap, stuck in a submerged tree, wouldn始t come out 25550 Harborview Rd., Port Charlotte, FL 33980, http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu

Tell tale boat strike www.flseagrant.org

JULY 2013

WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

THIS FRESHWATER WETLANDS TRIP up Shell Creek last month was part of the Master Naturalist Program offered by Charlotte County Sea Grant. Geared toward habitat subjects, water levels, geology, animals and reproductive cycles. The program is an adult education class that provides its graduates with certification by the University of Florida. The different programs are: Freshwater Wetlands, Coastal Ecosystems and Uplands Habitat. The class cost is $250. Contact: Betty Staugler, Florida Sea Grant (941) 764-4346 or see http://charlotte.ifas.ufl.edu or www.flseagrant.org

By Michael Heller Water LIFE editor With potentially 13,000 crab traps in the waters of Charlotte County (33 crabbers @ 400 traps each) at any one time there are bound to be some traps that go missing. Boat strikes and weather seem to be the main culprits. The State organizes a 10 day crab trap closure each year (coming this month) when any traps remaining on the water are pulled. But what about the ones that got away?

Betty Staugler, the County Sea Grant Agent is in the process of coming up with a plan for them.

“I find the truly lost,” Betty said. Using a side scan sonar she cruises the Peace River reading the shorelines and bottom and marking the crab traps she spots. “The crabbers are pretty good at looking for their own traps since traps cost between $40 and $50 each,” Betty said, “but once a powerboat snags one and drags it a-ways from where it was, or even just cuts the line, the crabber can't easily find it any more.” Betty says if you should snag a crab trap it is important to make an effort to let her or the FWC know. “If we find one and the required tag is intact I'll call the crabber and they will come down and get their trap.” “If it's unidentifiable, the trap goes in a pile that is turned over to

the FWC.” Why pick up the derelict traps? Because they still have the potential to do harm. They are a navigation hazard and they also trap critters. One of the impacts could be the goliath grouper population.

Goliath eggs hatch in the river after the spawn and small goliath grow there. Peace River crabbers will tell you they have been finding small goliath grouper in their traps a lot, lately.

Betty has special paperwork from the FWC and from the crabbers allowing her to retrieve crab traps not just during the closure but all year long.

“The ultimate goal is to develop a process (for collecting derelict traps) that is sustainable,” Betty said, talking about crabbers using the side scan equipment, recreational volunteers being trained, or even some sort of on-the-water public event.

The current process isn't too technical. You navigate to a point on a gps and drag a snag line across it. If you find the trap, you pull it in.

Crab traps are made of coated chicken wire and re-bar. Most of the traps we pulled last month were still fairly new, showing their green chicken wire color in places. Betty checks the traps and records data such as permit band color - blue this year till June 30, green the previous year, yellow before

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that. She checks, exclusion rings, and whether there is a line attached. The exclusion rings in three sides of the trap to allow small creatures to escape.

She also records whether it is fishable with 6 intact sides capable of catching an organism. The trap has to have two of the following to be fishable: line, buoy, tag or identification. “They are doing something similar in the Chesapeake Bay," Betty said, “but they are not using the side scan.”

On several previous trips a number of derelict traps had been located and marked. Some were recovered others remained. On this day we motored back, forth, and around the GPS marks towing the weighted snag line that was a 3/8 rope with big 90-degree bent, 10-penny nails, zip tied through the braid. There was a couple of pounds of lead on the end of the line to keep it down. Once we passed over a trap, the line would bump along and snag.

The line-holder person keept tension while the boat operator slowed down. Then we pulled the trap aboard. The location and trap data along with what was inside the trap was recorded. “It’s all a work in progress at this point. It will get better.” Betty promised.

So far 450 traps have been removed since 2006, 130 since 2010 using the side scan.

Offshore PAGE

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Fun with Capt. Steve Skevington

JULY 2013 Letter to Water LIFE: On page 9 of your May issue is a picture of King fish, Barracudas and Amber-Jack, that Steve Skevington brought back from off shore.

If they brought the Kingfish and Amber-Jack back to eat OK, but bringing back a barracuda that size, for a photo, is a waste of the natural resource that makes him a living.

Thank You Jim Hoffman Editor notes* People eat barracuda. In our region they are both safe to eat and delicious!

By Capt. Steve Skevington Water LIFE Offshore Fishing right now is reflective of the weather; red hot!

The flat calm seas we have had for the last several weeks have resulted in crystal clear waters. All that clear water changes things up in the Gulf quite a bit, so now we are catching fish we don’t normally get to see too much of.

Blackfin tuna, dolphin, mutton snapper, yellowtail snapper, we got them all!

The deeper you go, the better the fishing gets right now. There are huge red

grouper are out there, ready and willing to eat almost anything you drop down.

Lane snapper are piled up spawning on all the hard limestone bottom for the next few weeks. They might be small, but boy are they tasty!

A bit further out, the amberjack are everywhere, and still out of season ... btw.

Barracuda are on every wreck right now and they are mid-summer hungry, willing to cut in half anything you put in front of them.

There are still a few straggling kingfish around too, as well as plenty of little

$2 off any haircut!

tunny and lots of BIG sharks.

If you can’t find fish this month you’re in trouble!

And if your in trouble... call me :) Capt Steve Skevington Paradise Fishing Charters 941-575-3528

Steve Skevington Sr. noted: it looks like a pic i saw one time of net damage, lots of struggle.

JULY 2013

WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

Kids Did Most Of It

By Capt. Bart Marx Water LIFE Fishing

This month should be as exciting as last because the waters have warmed up a lot and this is good for fishing in SW Florida. For you big-game anglers, sharks, goliath, and tarpon should be around in high numbers. Sharks and tarpon are in the Harbor in the deep holes and goliath in the near Gulf, around structure. June was a good month for Capt. Bart. I went with a friend out in deep water and got a nice red snapper and some good red grouper. Had a family from Texas - father, son and mom, and they caught a hogfish, porgies and some nice mangrove snapper.

They had a 6 hour trip that we call a coastal trip in state waters. The Texans had a blast and plenty of fish that they harvested to have a couple of meals while they were here for the week. There also was another family from Texas - grandfather, son and two grandsons. These guys also did a coastal state waters trip for 4 hours. The two grandsons caught most of the fish and that makes for a fun trip for me. I really enjoy it when the kids do most of the catching because things happen and it gets exciting. On their trip they caught scamp, a couple of mangrove snapper, some porgies and white grunts/key west snapper.

Last month was family month. There was a family that came down from Massachusetts - Dad, Mom, brother and sister - and they decided to fish the inshore waters. The kids caught lots of fish - snook, mangrove snapper and trout. There was a fierce competition in the family between the son and daughter that always

kept things fun and exciting. The trophy for the trip was a snook that was about 30-inches. The daughter got it up to the boat and the snook rubbed through the leader then swam away a little tired after the battle but unharmed. This was great as the little girl let her brother know that she had the best fish and was the prize winner for the day. With trips like these, it makes me happy that I get to show families around our Harbor and share with them about fishing as well as about the Indian mounds and the fish shacks. I know most of those people that own them and have spent some weekends at some of those shacks fishing. There are some shacks in Pine Island Sound, Bull and Turtle Bay that have been there for many years. They are on the historical register as part of the history of SW Florida.

If you would like to join us and create your own Florida fishing adventure memories, give Capt. Bart Marx a call 941-979-6517 or e-mail me at captbart@alphaomegacharters.com. Always remember that singing drags and tight lines make me smile.

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Real Estate News Provided to Water LIFE BY: Dave Hofer RE/MAX Harbor Realty (941) 575-3777 dhofer@remax.net www.harborparadise.com Recent area news items:

1. North Port has already spent $16K in legal fees to negotiate with it's partner, Sarasota County, over the future control and management of the Warm Mineral Springs spa. The property has been managed by its owners, Cypress Lending who foreclosed on the property in 2010. Cypress Lending has indicated that they are not interested in continuing their management role after the current lease expires on June 30. North Port and Sarasota are still undecided as to how to resolve this mess.

2. Punta Gorda City Council has decided that grass won't grow well in Laishley Park with the traffic that it has been experiencing.

They will be redesigning the drainage and installing a sprinkler system.

3. The Sarasota County Environmentally Sensitive Land Commission is trying to acquire 112 acres north of Price Blvd. in North Port. The University of Miami, who acquired the site by gift in 1980, had been managing the property and its archeological research, but has found it financially impractical to continue to do so. The county appraiser has the site valued at about $2.3 Million. The site contains a sink hole of more than 230' and burial grounds dating

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back 13,000 years. Ignoring the lesson of Warm Mineral Springs, Sarasota ESLOC will be trying to partner the acquisition with the Florida Aquarium.

4. Punta Gorda is attempting to incorporate the former Loop property across from Wal-Mart on Jones Loop Road. Charlotte County must grant permission to Punta Gorda because the annexation would create pockets of unincorporated property.

They've made it clear that they can be bribed by the city by paying for various land improvements in the area but irrelevant to the subject site.

5. The Laishley Group has thrown in the towel on the Calusa Green land fill project.

Facing overwhelming opposition from its neighbors, the group withdrew it's rezoning request. The owner has put up the 4,000 acre parcel, which includes the Calusa Green site, for $25.3 million.

6. Jamie Haase will negotiate a lease for the Speedway property from the Airport Authority. His ambitious plans include broadening the entertainment offerings with flea markets, concerts, etc.

7. Our Canadian guests should get a little relief from Uncle Sam this year. Current tax law considers visitors as resident aliens (thereby taxing all of their income here as well as in Canada) if they stay here for more than 182 days per year. Senator Schumer (D-NY) has proposed that threshold be

Spring rains bring older seawalls into the spotlight for repair. This PGI job uses precast concrete slabs, jetted into the mud and then capped with formed concrete.

raised to 240 days. Second home owners and renters will be able to add October and May to their stays here in the US.

In other news: Beall's Outlet is getting ready to move into its new location in the Crossroads Shopping Center on Tamiami in Punta Gorda this fall. They will be vacating their Burnt Store Isles location at that time.

A new restaurant: The Cove, has applied to take over 2,600 square feet of space in the Herald Court Garage in Punta Gorda.

Air traffic remained strong at the Punta Gorda Airport. Passenger count in May was almost 3 times last year's activity.

More destinations will be announced this month.

Sales Statistics: North Port issued 40 building permits in May, up from 15 last year. Inventory of single family homes and their median asking prices have been gradually improving, helped along by a torrent of Wall Street capital which has been buying up distressed homes to rent out. That activity may be nearing the end of its cycle.

Carrington Holdings, one such well funded speculator owns 25,000 rental homes around the country, many in our market place. With gross rents running between 6 & 8% of acquisition costs, they have found that it's tough to eke out a profit. Rents have risen 2.4% while acquisition costs have risen 11% over the past year. As Carrington says, "we don't see returns there...".

Punta Gorda HarborWalk Opens July 4th

JULY 2013

WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

KAYAKING

Advancements in Boats

David Allen Water LIFE Kayaking Trends in Kayaking Over the last few years, I’ve seen a trend toward lighter, shorter kayaks. This fact seems to be true, not just for my own club, the Port Charlotte Kayakers, but also for other clubs in Southwest Florida.

When I asked the new owners why they chose a lighter kayak, one of the main reasons for their decision; ease of transporting and launching.

As you probably saw in a recent newspaper column, Charlotte County has the oldest median aged population in the U.S. As kayakers age, they are less willing to load and launch a heavy kayak. Secondly, there are more women taking an interest in kayaking than in the past, and most are looking for a light-weight kayak to car-top and launch. And finally, new technology and manufacturing techniques have, over the last 10 years, matured to the point where light, well designed kayaks are priced in a range that most kayakers can afford. Also, some of the advanced materials are capable of producing a kayak that is stiffer than roto-molded polyethylene, resulting in a kayak that has reduced flex, longer life span and a better hull shape.

I recently spent an afternoon checking out the newer, lighter kayaks and I was not disappointed. I found two familiar names, Current Design and Epic Kayaks, and one new manufacturer, Hurricane Aquasports. What was also noticeable was that more manufacturers were using some form of composite or thermoforming technology to produce a better, lighter kayak at a competitive price.

Hurricane Aquasports, located in Warsaw, NC, is a relatively new manufacturer using advanced materials and production techniques. Combining Trylon, a rigid, thermoformed ABS plastic with thin acrylic outer cap to produce the hull and deck. Trylon, in one of its various compositions, has been used in the automotive industry for a number of years. It is very strong and rigid and takes a beautiful surface finish. Less maintenance means

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more paddling. You do have to be a little careful however, as ABS can crack under a hard impact. A good value though, as the Santee 126 model, at 12’ 6” weighs in at 42 lbs. and retails at about $1049.

Most kayakers and would-be kayakers are familiar with the Current Design (CD) line of kayaks. CD has long been known for their innovative designs, quality construction, excellent tech service, and reasonable pricing. CD too has moved, in recent years, to smaller kayaks, like the Kestral, and introduced composite hybrid materials, Kevlar and polyaramids, into their Kayaks. Combining the new composites with vacuum bagging/infusion technology has resulted in lighter, stronger, more durable kayaks at some of the best prices in the industry. The

Kestral 140 & 150 have been prominent in the CD Recreational line for some years, and we have several in the club.

CD has lately introduced the Vision 14 & 15 into their Transitional Line, a line between the recreational kayaks, and the more traditional, touring kayaks. The Vision 14 seems to be a winner at 43 lbs. and a list price of $2199.

And finally, the grandfather of advanced composite kayaks, Epic Kayaks.

Greg Barton, an Olympic Gold Medalist in kayaking, founded the company a few years after his successful run at the Olympics. Epic kayaks, from the start, used the same advanced composites that were used in Olympic kayaks and in military aircraft. The well designed and easy

This short, stubby old roto molded Kayak was tough to paddle in the swift current and hard to keep on line. The entry level paddle didnʼt help either.

to paddle kayaks were the leaders in lightness and ease of handling for many years.

Epic kayaks never competed on low price; truly, they were about the highest priced kayaks on the market. But their kayak met with immediate success and the com-

pany has never modified their business strategy.

The current line of kayaks includes the GPX, which is a fiber glass composite, weighing in at 37 lbs. in the 12’11’’ length. This model is recommended for general use, has excellent tracking, is light

weight, and has ample storage. The more advanced kayak lines, the 16X and 18X, include Kevlar and carbon fiber in addition to fiberglass, and combine a foam core with vacuum infusion, to produce the lightest strongest kayaks on the market.

The Performance model 16X weighs just 41 lbs. and costs $3395. The Ultra model uses nomex honeycomb core, weighs 35 lbs. and the price is a whopping $4395.

Too much for my budget!

The Port Charlotte Kayakers meet each Wednesday evening at 5:30 PM at Franz-Ross Park off Quesada Ave. All are welcome to attend. For more information call Dave Allen at 941-235-2588 or email to dlaa@comcast.net.

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Left: Englewood fisherman Tom Smith with a true black grouper caught with Glen Ballinger late in June in 180 feet of water out of Venice Inlet. Above: One of Glenʼs buddies with a respectable snapper

JULY 2013

By Captain Jim O’Brien Water LIFE Offshore Hey Ya-All, how about the fish'n?

Isn't it great? Everything is in full swing.

The tarpon are chewing good in the Pass, the cobia are cruising the Harbor and some of the inshore reefs. We have been doing real good at 120 to 130 feet of water. The AJs are all over the offshore wrecks and reefs. Man I sure don't know why they shut these guys down for 2 months, but they will reopen July 31.

Sharks are all over; in the Harbor, in Boca Grande Pass, on the inshore and the offshore wrecks and reefs.

Like I said earlier, we have been concentrating on 37 to 45 miles out. We want to do some at 50 to 70 miles out too, in July and August. Black tips are up in the Harbor at Boca Grande Pass, the trestle in Placida, the other passes and at the Tom Adams Bridge at night. Best baits are strips of bonita and cut mullet.

I talked with a couple of guys that nailed a couple of smokers at 28 miles out they got them while fish'n for grouper and snapper.

Snook season is still closed but it looks like it is going to reopen in September and that will be great for all you snook fishermen.

Spanish mackerel and bonitas are coming back from deep water. Fish from the beach out to 7 miles from Stump Pass south of Little Gasparilla Pass, Cast a 1/4 oz spoon at them.

Mangrove snapper and lanes -- the BIG -UNS are still out on the offshore wrecks and reefs. They are 20 to 26 inchers, now that's -a -nice -a - fish!

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Red grouper -- are chewing good in 85 to 130 ft. of water. The picture for this month is Glen Keasers biggest red grouper. We also got some big mangs, but the Capt. was fish'n on this trip and the camera didn’t' get used very much.

By the time you read this article Gag Grouper will be open. It opens July1 OH YEH !

I’ve had no reports on blacks, no one I know has been out 160 to 200 feet of water. (except for the photo to the left!)

I want to say thanks to the people and the corporations for the donations they have given us for FISH'N FOR HERO'S WOUNDED WARRIORS INC. Without people like you, we couldn't keep the project going. And we still need more donations too!

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Super Boats to Race in Englewood JULY 2013

WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

We like this picture! This was a Poker Run to Punta Gorda.

The Superboats will come to Englewood with boat trailers, support trailers and staff vehicles.

Where will they and all the spectators park at Englewood Beach?

ON THE LINE

By Capt. Ron Blago Water LIFE Senior Staff Englewood has always been a sleepy little town on the boarder of Charlotte and Sarasota counties. It is primarily known for its waterfront access on Lemon Bay and its entrance to the Gulf through Stump Pass.

There are no movie theaters or much night life to speak of and although some may disagree; not much that would be described as fine dinning. Frankly, if you don't fish or play golf, it’s a pretty boring place to live. But all that may come to an end for a few days in April next year if the Super Boat Grand Prix decides to have one of their races in Englewood.

The idea started about two years ago when the Charlotte County tourist development council was looking for new ideas to boost tourism. Not since the Tampa Bay Rays came to Charlotte County for spring training has there been a signature event that has made Charlotte County their home. One of the ideas that seemed to have merit was to have a Super Boat race similar to the one that has been going on in Sarasota for the last 30 years.

The point man for the project is Jerry York from Punta Gorda. I don't know much about Jerry's background, but I did see his presentation to the MAC committee and he comes off as a guy who knows what he is doing and if anybody can pull this off, it’s him.

A little luck came Jerry's way earlier this year when Sarasota County threatened to pull their financial support from this years race. This caused the sanctioning body of Super Boat to scramble around for another venue. That's when they came down to Charlotte to look; I guess they liked what they saw. I don't know if their strategy was to pressure Sarasota, but Sarasota reversed themselves and put up the money for this years race.

The one good thing that came from all of this was that the Super Boat folks said that they would not have a problem with adding Charlotte Co to next year's schedule as long as a few details got worked out.

The first little detail is money. These guys don't race for free. Most of the prize money comes from local government, sponsors and vendors: it is hoped that sales tax and bed tax revenue and the business generated from the event will be greater than the expense. Jerry must have given one hell of a pitch to the Board of County Commissioners, because they agreed to put up $250,000 for a two year trial.

Here is what we know so far: An agreement has been signed between the BCC and Super Boat International (SBI) for a race April 11, 12 and 13 2014.

There will be a boat parade that will leave Punta Gorda and go by land to Englewood Beach which will be the staging area for the event. Chadwick Cove (next to the White Elephant Restaurant) will be the pit area. On race day, the boats will travel down Ski Alley through Stump Pass to the Gulf.

The course itself will be approximately 5 miles, North of Stump Pass to Englewood Beach. The SBA expects about 25 to 30 boats to race in 5 different divisions.

The logistical problems are going to be tremendous. The attendance is estimated to be as high as 80,000. I think that's way too optimistic, but even if you have 20,000 people show up; where are they going to park and where are they going to watch the race from? Mr. York and his group have a lot of work ahead of themselves, but problems can be solved if the Englewood community gets behind the effort. You can keep up with the latest news on the race at Charlotte Harbor Super Boat Grand Prix website: www.CHSBGP.net

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JULY 2013

Your free copy of Water LIFE is waiting at over 100 locations These are a few of them:

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SCUTTLEBUTT

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Sometimes Unsubstanciated, But Often True TOO MUCH MONEY Dubai island project shaped like the continents of the world will consist of between 250 to 300 smaller private artifical islands Each island will range from 250,000 to 900,000 square feet in

size, with 50 to 100 metres of water between each island. The development is to cover an area of 9 kilometers in length and 6 kilometers in width, surrounded by an oval shaped breakwater. The only means of transportation between the islands will be by marine transport.

Critics say Palm Jumeirah, another manmade group of islands, is emblematic of Dubai's financial overreach. Palm Jumeirah wants a reprieve on its $60 billion debt.

ALCOHOL MAY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED On Memorial Day, Officers Heidi Cogburn and Bernard Bresie were dispatched to a call about an airboat versus a car. Two men on an airboat decided that they owned Buck Lake in Geneva and began their morning by harassing a fisherman in a kayak. Then they turned their attention on a second individual who was standing by his car. They drove the airboat on land and rammed the car, even as the victim was attempting to back the vehicle up. The passenger on the airboat wasnʼt satisfied and jumped off the airboat and threw his cell phone at the car breaking the windshield. The operator and passenger of the airboat were booked into the Seminole County Jail on numerous charges. The men were charged with a total of four felony charges and four misdemeanor charges, including BUI for the airboat operator.

Officer Adam Bunker was on water patrol when a subject advised him that three people were having trouble swimming after their canoe had overturned. Two adults, a child and a dog were in the water upon the officer's arrival. A yacht captain, who was anchored approximately ten yards away, put his engines in

reverse to assist but the suction effect from the prop wash, aggravated the circumstances by pulling the child and dog toward the yacht. Officer Bunker instructed the vessel captain to stop his engines. He then was able to retrieve the people and the dog. Officers Page Pestka and Hunter Caldwell responded and assisted by retrieving the overturned canoe.

DONʼT STEAL FROM THE COPS Lieutenant Tim Kiss was alerted by FWC Officer Bryan Little (Dade County) that his parentʼs stolen pontoon dock/boat was seen in the evening on Memorial Day by Officer Littleʼs father. The pontoon boat was stolen in April.

Investigator called to advise him that he had conducted a boating safety inspection several days ago and issued a uniform boating citation to the operator for unregistered vessel. When contacted, the mangave confessed that he stole the boat. He is direct filing grand theft charges. The man told the Investigator that he was very popular in his new vessel and that many people commented on it, including on Facebook.

they observed the identified vessel.

They observed two females engaging in sex while one of the males was taking photographs. Upon stopping the vessel, the operator displayed indicators that he was impaired. During this time, several families that were witnesses to the activity showed up at the boat ramp and a large disturbance ensued. The next day, the Judge sent a strong message by setting their bond at $75,000 each.

HERO STUFF A small vessel with five individuals on board entered the ocean from Sebastian Inlet. The vessel took a wave and began taking on water. The boat filled with water and capsized ejectBONE ing the five individuals into FRAGMENTS the water. Officers reOfficer investigated an sponded by land and by 11-foot alligator that was vessel. Several of the inshot and killed. The offidividuals were struggling cers found tire signs and in the shore break. One of foot prints at the scene of them, a 16-year-old male, the crime. Several hours was not wearing a lifelater the officers located jacket and was calling for foot prints and vehicle help. Officer Lightsey resigns in the yard of a resmoved his gun belt and idence that matched uniform shirt, donned a life where the alligator was jacket and entered the killed. They interviewed ocean. He swam to the three male subjects and sixteen-year- old and found a 12-gauge shot pulled him onto the beach. gun with fresh blood and Officer Lightsey then enbone fragments on the tered the water a second barrel. The individuals Limitless Fun time and assisted an adult admitted to shooting the onto the beach. A Good alligator. Charges are pendSamaritan in another vessel was able to resing cue the other three individuals from the water.

All of them were uninjured and refused medNEKED ical treatment. Officer Corley conducted a Officers were conducting water patrol on the boating accident report on the incident. (OffiSuwannee River when they received a comcer Lightsey went home to clean the sand out plaint of naked people having sex on a boat in of his weapon - ed) plain view. While searching for the suspects,

JUST PLAIN STUPID Lieutenant Robert Rowe and Investigator Kevin Hansen were on water patrol on the Indian River in Titusville. While fueling the patrol vessel at the Titusville Marina, Lieutenant Rowe observed a vessel speeding in the manatee zone adjacent to the marina. After fueling the vessel, Lieutenant Rowe and Investigator Hansen located the speeding vessel on a nearby spoil island. During the vessel stop, a records check revealed the vessel to be a 2013 homemade vessel. This information did not match the overall appearance of the vesselʼs age. Further investigation revealed ghost letters stating the vessel manufacturer was “Rogue”. When questioned about the ghost letters, the owner stated that the vessel may have been a gift to him. The vesselʼs transom hull identification was missing. The vesselʼs motor was also missing its serial number sticker, as well as the serial number on the motor itself. The owner is being investigated for title fraud and possibly a stolen motor.

PEACE RIVER CRABBER BUSTED Officers apprehended a commercial blue crab fisherman they had been investigating for several days. Surveillance techniques were used to identify and determine who the subject was, when he was fishing, and where he was launching his vessel. The fisherman was observed and photographed while actively working the traps, resulting in violations including commercial traps not tagged, no biodegradable panel, and improper buoy and vessel markings. The individual is facing 73 misdemeanor charges.

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July Fishing Forecast

JULY 2013

Capt. Billy Barton Water LIFE guide 941- 979-6140

Tarpon are still in the Pass as well as on the beaches. They are starting to work up into the Harbor and are at the bridges.

Redfish are all over the place. They are just starting to school up now. The big breeders should be moving in next month. I can’t narrow it down to one spot to look for redfish because they are everywhere.

Snook are on the flats, but primarily they are on the beaches. This is the time they are spawning. The big females are all heavy with eggs now. A crank- bait like a red and white small Bomber or Mirrolure is the plan, something like the Above: Tom Mut Charlotte High School teacher and coach, catching a small whitebait on the beach the snook are eating.

Goliath Grouper in Charlotte Harbour Cobia are on the markers and also running the weedlines in Left: Mel Williams with a nice 31 inch Red and a 39 inch Charlotte Harbor the Pass and they are eating crabs there. Every one I have snook caught with cap. Dave Lowery cleaned lately has been filled with crabs, live pinfish are a good second bet. There are also cobia outside the bars.

Shark fishing has been excellent. Now most sharks have moved a little further south, closer to the passes. It’s been one of the most incredible years for bull sharks I have ever seen.

For shark bait a lot of guys are using live sting rays or stingray wings.

Black drum fishing is slowing down but what is happening has been up in the PGI canals.

Spanish mackerel, tons of fish have been working the threadfin schools out in the center of the Harbor.

Snapper fishing has been incredible!

Down the east side on the bushes and in the canals, under the docks, the average snapper have been 12-16 inches.

Trout are a lot better to the south. They have moved into the Pine Island area. The I am 6' 1" 225-pounds, this is a big snook! I caught it last month near Pirate Harbor on big bait that was approx. 6 to 7 inches. freshwater and the water temperatures push Iʼm also a big fan of your publication! Thanks, Keith Gross them out, big time.

Fishing has just been shutting down in the hot stagnant middle part of the day.

Charlotte

Harbor:

Michael at RioVilla Bait & Tackle, Punta Gorda

639-7166

Most of the baitfish have gone out of the Harbor because of all the rain. There are still sharks in the harbor, mostly small ones... but some bigger. The smaller tarpon and the cobia are everywhere now.

They are feeding really well. It’s sardines and artificial eels for the cobia and for the tarpon; sardines and blue crabs... as usual.

The West Wall of the Harbor is better overall, but we still have redfish in the mangroves on both sides. Pompano fishing is doing really good in the canals in PGI, shrimp are still the best bait for the pompano, local guys are also still getting some large black drum in the PGI canal system as well.

Charters

Offshore Fishing Trips: 1/2 day • 8hr • 10 hr • 12 hr We help put your charters together

Shark, Tarpon, Grouper, Snapper, Kingfish, and MORE!

Nighttime Trips Available

Capt. Jim OʼBrien USCG 50 ton license since 1985

941-473-2150

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941-916-5769

JULY 2013

continued from facing page

Lemon Bay:

Jim, at Fishermen’s Edge Englewood: 697-7595

Fishing is incredible! The guys have been catching permit to 32 pounds on the close in reefs, like 6- to 7-miles, but no one will tell me exactly where. Inshore, the permit are real good too, all the way to Captiva all along the southwest corridor where they migrate.

There are big snook and redfish in Lemon Bay right now and inshore, around the passes. In the Bay, behind Eagle Preserve, one guy tells me there are redfish over there all the time, behind his house. It’s an un-fished spot. That

WATERLIFEMAGAZINE.COM

The The BIG-4 BIG-4

TARPON In the Pass more and more, moving in and out

SHARK Sharks are everywhere, both big and small

whole side; Oyster Creek, Buck Creek - it’s all good, maybe because it doesn’t get a lot of play.

The bottom looks un-fishy but the fish are in there, now.

There have been Spanish mackerel right off Boca Grande on the rockpiles along the shore to the north of the Pass. It’s phenomenal how many mackerel are around on the beach right now.

They are along the rocks in the

We left Stump Pass at 3:30am to get the early morning bite for the American Red Snapper opener. Within the first 2 hours we limited out!

Then we had mangrove snapper 10-feet off the stern and thick. Before we were able to limit out on the mangos we caught a 36"cobia and a few red groupers. Not bad for the first day of a short season! Derrick Knapp and Dale McEntire

Fish Fish to to expect expect in in

July July

PAGE 23 and and we we mean mean BIG BIG

SNOOK in the deeper spots outside the bars

surf by the lighthouse. The used to be more rocks before the beach renourishment, but now as the sand washes out, the rocks and the fish are starting to show again. Tarpon have been great in the afternoon and up until dark in the Pass. Most guys are fishing for them with crabs. Guides have told me tarpon were good in the Pass on the incoming and then the fish were pouring out onto the beach with the outgoing.

We’ve had a lot of red grouper and snapper in the Pass too, and at some close in spots.

We’ve seen little schoolie chicken-dolphin and there are still some king mackerel around too. Maybe it’s because of all the bait. There is a lot of big bait around right now and not many cast nets. I heard some guys have been catching cobia in the Harbor, like 40 inchers, they thought they were onto sharks. Shark fishing has been excellent as well.

There have been a lot of black tips, bulls, lemons, bonnet heads and hammerheads. Guides have been running tarpon trips in the morning and shark trips in the afternoon.

Offshore $160/person 8am-5pm

Capt. Steve Skevington

www.fishingpuntagorda.com

Gulf Temps are 86 o

COBIA Weʼve seen more cobia these last few months than ever

and climbing the Harbor is almost 88

QUALITY FISH! Capt. Dave Stephensʼ client shows ua a snook from the Harbor and Capt. Billy Bartonʼs client, Amanda Zeigler, shows us there are still nice redfish around as well.

FISHING RIGHT NOW: Never Better!

PAGE

24

EMAIL:

WATERLIFE@COMCAST.NET

JULY 2013