HOLMES BEACH – It’s been more than two months since commissioners first began their discussion on whether or not to allow property owners in Seaside Gardens to raise their ground floor homes above the flood plain level. Now it seems they may have reached a decision.
During a Sept. 26 meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to approve the first reading of an ordinance allowing property owners to raise the ground-level structures that characterize the waterfront neighborhood – the catch is that they can only do so if the home was involuntarily damaged.
If the new ordinance passes a second and final reading at an upcoming meeting, Seaside Gardens owners will be able to raise their units to or above the current flood plain level, but only if the unit is involuntarily damaged by 50% or more of the townhome’s market value by fire, flood, windstorm or other similar event. Property owners will not be able to simply choose to raise the structure.
If the unit is damaged, when reconstructed it will have to meet or exceed the current elevation requirements, the ground floor will have to be converted to non-habitable space and the existing floorplan cannot be increased.
The decision comes after work session discussions in which Mayor Judy Titsworth and commissioners heard from several residents and property owners in the small neighborhood, part of which fronts a canal. While some property owners felt they should be able to choose to build their properties up, others said it would change the character of the neighborhood and reduce the quality of life for adjoining residents.
All of the properties in Seaside Gardens have at least one wall that adjoins another property, with some being duplex units and others townhouses in buildings with three or more units. During discussions, Commissioner Pat Morton, who lives in Seaside Gardens, said he was not in favor of allowing property owners to choose to raise their properties to a second story because of the issues neighbors would face including construction noise and possible damage to their units. Under the new ordinance, property owners who raise their units must make sure that the construction doesn’t damage adjacent properties or cause those property owners to not be able to elevate their own units at some point in the future if necessary.
HOLMES BEACH – City leaders are making sure that state leaders know where they stand on the idea of consolidating the three Anna Maria Island cities.
Prior to an upcoming Manatee County Legislative Delegation meeting planned for Thursday, Oct. 5, Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R-Manatee) and Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Manatee) sent out a letter warning the mayors of all three Island cities that if they don’t have a proposal for how the three municipalities can better work together, the state leaders would be seeking a state-funded and run study to determine if the cities should be consolidated into a single municipality.
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth responded individually to both legislators on behalf of the city in letters dated Sept. 26. During a meeting on the same day, she added that she’d also spoken with Boyd on Sept. 22 and felt that they’d had a productive discussion.
Titsworth said that while city leaders are not in opposition to the study if it is used to find ways to reduce the tax burden on residents, they’re not in favor of using it as a means of paving the way toward consolidation of the three Island cities. While the cities share a single 7-mile island, she said they each have their own character that charms both residents and visitors alike.
She added that during her discussion with Boyd, she apprised him of the steps the leaders of all three Island cities are taking toward making processes more streamlined across the board, such as the building permitting process and the efforts they’re making to work together to consolidate some other processes.
While state leaders had made suggestions such as combining law enforcement, public works and building department efforts into a single department across the Island instead of one for each city, there are currently no plans to integrate any of those departments into one.
ANNA MARIA – The Planning and Zoning Board (P&Z) has requested modifications and clarifications regarding a proposed ordinance that would amend the city’s sandwich board sign regulations.
City code currently prohibits A-frame sandwich board signs, but in recent years the prohibition has not been enforced. In late July, Mayor Dan Murphy suggested revisiting the sign ordinance in response to a complaint he received. Murphy said then that he was not in favor of prohibiting the signs that help businesses attract customers.
On Aug. 24, City Attorney Becky Vose presented the commission with a proposed ordinance that would no longer prohibit sandwich board signs. Vose noted past city commissions enacted enforcement moratoriums on the sandwich board sign prohibition in response to the COVID-19 pandemic; and before that when the City Pier was closed and replaced due to damage sustained during Hurricane Irma.
The proposed ordinance would allow one A-frame sandwich board sign per business address.
The signs will only be allowed on commercially zoned and Retail/Office/Residential (ROR) zoned properties. The signs will be allowed only during active business hours and must be removed at the end of each business day, and also during inclement weather. The signs shall not be located on any city-owned sidewalks or rights of way and shall not impede pedestrian traffic or vehicular sight lines.
P&Z review
The proposed ordinance is being reviewed by the P&Z members, who will ultimately make a recommendation the city commission can accept, reject or modify.
The Anna Maria Planning and Zoning Board consists of David Haddox, Dr. Jose Erbella, Lisa Bagwell and Dusty Crane. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
During the Sept. 27 P&Z meeting, board member David Haddox asked what constitutes a business address. City Planner Ashely Austin said if 307A is one business address and 307B is another business address, and both are located on the same property, each business would be allowed one sandwich board sign. The board members requested further clarification as to what constitutes a business entity and business address.
The board members noted the Pineapple Marketplace features approximately 30 different vendors that share the same address. Board member Lisa Bagwell expressed concerns about not allowing businesses with shared addresses to display sandwich board signs when there’s enough space on the property for more. Board Chair Dr. Jose Erbella suggested the number of allowed signs be determined by the available privately owned space on a property.
Board member Dusty Crane said she’s not a big supporter of sandwich board signs and she questioned how the proposed sign allowance would be enforced.
“I’d like to see them all gone to tell you the truth,” she said.
The proposed ordinance currently says a sandwich board sign shall not exceed 24 inches in width by 36 inches in height, including the frame. Haddox noted the standard size offered by many sign manufacturers is larger than that. He suggested the sign’s graphic area not exceed 24×36 inches and the surrounding frame not exceed 27×45 inches.
Haddox noted some sandwich board signs feature a single panel that hangs in the middle and swings in the wind. He suggested prohibiting signs that move in the wind and requiring them to have two fixed panels.
The board also requested clarification on the vehicular sight distances and visibility triangle referenced in the proposed ordinance.
“You all do a great job of analysis and I want to thank you for it,” Vose said in appreciation of the board’s efforts.
The requested modifications and clarifications will be brought back to the P&Z members before the proposed ordinance is forwarded to the city commission.
HOLMES BEACH – In the early afternoon of Sept. 24, Holmes Beach Police Officer Chris Liotti responded to a dispatch call about a possible fraudulent renter with a bad credit card at 210 72nd St.
When the officer arrived at the home, he met with Adrian Johnson, the owner of Seabreeze Vacation Rentals. Johnson said he received a rental agreement for the property and sent the renter the door code by email, but shortly after, he learned the credit card had been declined. An email and phone call to the renter went unanswered, so he called police.
However, an arrest would be made on an entirely different matter.
According to Liotti’s report, Johnson allowed him and other officers into the home so they could make contact with whoever might be inside. Officers loudly announced their presence, but no one responded. After continuing to order anyone in the home to make their presence known, a male and female came out of a bedroom and said there were more people in the house, but they weren’t sure how many.
Continuing to clear the house, Liotti went to the second floor and found a locked bedroom. A male and female eventually came out, looking as if they had been asleep, according to the report. Officer Jason Higgins escorted the couple downstairs while Liotti continued to the third floor where he found a fifth person hiding beside the bed, who was placed in handcuffs and detained while the officers continued to clear the house.
Liotti noticed the door to the upstairs patio was open, so he walked outside and saw a spiral staircase leading to a rooftop observation deck, which appeared to be empty at first glance.
“After advising the roof was clear, Sgt. Copeman advised he could see someone hiding on the lower portion of the roof,” Liotti said in his report. “I tried to walk across the roofline to try to make contact with the subject, but due to the pitch of the roof, along with the slippery texture, I made the determination it was no longer safe to proceed.”
Police determined the only way to safely reach the roof was with a tall ladder, so they called West Manatee Fire Rescue, which didn’t have a ladder truck available at the time but sent another truck to try and assist. Once firefighters arrived on the scene, the man on the roof, later identified as Eric Woods, 43, of Sarasota, came out of hiding and surrendered. Once he came off the roof, police found there was an active Sarasota warrant for Woods for theft. In addition to being arrested for the warrant, Woods was charged with obstruction and resisting arrest without violence.
No charges were filed against any of the occupants of the home, but Liotti’s report says charges could be issued pending further investigation. None of the other occupants had any warrants and were allowed to get their items and leave the home.
While being processed, Woods complained of an injured foot and was taken to Manatee Memorial Hospital. Afterward, he was taken to Manatee County Jail by a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputy.
ANNA MARIA – Efforts are afoot to allow leashed dogs at City Pier Park.
Section 38-28 of Anna Maria’s code of ordinances addresses domestic animals and currently prohibits dogs and other domestic animals in city parks and other public spaces.
“It shall be unlawful for the owner or keeper of any domestic animal to allow or permit any such domestic animal on any beaches, coastal barrier sand dunes or parks located within the city limits,” the ordinance states.
During the Sept. 21 city commission meeting, Commissioner Jon Crane foreshadowed the pending efforts to allow dogs in City Pier Park while still prohibiting them in other city-owned parks.
During the city’s Sept. 10 centennial celebration at City Pier Park, some event attendees told Crane they didn’t know dogs weren’t allowed in the park.
Crane, a dog owner himself, said to the commission, “Since when can’t we have dogs at City Pier Park?”
City Commissioner Jon Crane is among those who recently noticed the “No Dogs Allowed” signs at City Pier Park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Crane said Mayor Dan Murphy provided him with a copy of the ordinance that prohibits dogs in the park.
“I think there’s going to be some movement in this regard, having dogs allowed in City Pier Park. I think it might come from Planning and Zoning, but I’m not sure. It might be something we ought to think about,” Crane told the commission.
Crane said allowing dogs in City Pier Park would be different than allowing them in Bayfront Park, which abuts Tampa Bay and provides space where children and adults can play in and along the water. He noted that if dogs are allowed in City Pier Park, their owners must clean up after them.
“I’m not proposing it this second, but I think it’s going to be coming down the pike. Everyone should think about it,” Crane said.
None of the other commissioners commented on his remarks.
The city ordinance has been in place for a long time but no one seems to know exactly when the “No Dogs Allowed” signs first appeared at City Pier Park. Crane said he and several others first noticed them during the September centennial celebration.
Board discussion
During the Sept. 27 Planning and Zoning Board meeting, board member Dusty Crane, Commissioner Crane’s wife, initiated an impromptu discussion on allowing dogs in City Pier Park.
Planning and Zoning Board member Dusty Crane will present the board’s request to the city commission. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“I think it’s over-restrictive for residents and visitors. Along with that, I’d like to institute two things. One would be a poop station. The other would be a fine if the owner of the dog does not clean up its waste,” she said.
“And of course, no pets in the play area,” she said about the City Pier Park children’s playground. “And they all have to be leashed and under control.”
Dogs would still remain prohibited in the City Pier Park children’s playground. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Crane said she’d like to see language added to the existing ordinance that would create an exception that allows dogs in City Pier Park.
“I’ve had a lot of people surprised to see the signs go up,” she said.
Planning board Chairman Jose Erbella said he doesn’t own a dog and he didn’t know dogs weren’t allowed in the park. He asked how the Planning and Zoning Board would proceed with such a request.
City Planner Ashley Austin and City Attorney Becky Vose said the board should direct one of its members to attend a city commission meeting and ask the city commission to direct city staff to address the matter.
Board member David Haddox made a motion to delegate Crane to address the city commission on the issue, including leash and clean-up requirements. The board voted 4-0 in support of Haddox’s motion.
PALMETTO – Following testing of multiple potential sources, and with no responsible party identified, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its investigation on Sept. 26 into the source of an oil spill at SeaPort Manatee, pending any new information.
The spill was reported by SeaPort Manatee on Sept. 1, launching the Coast Guard’s examination of facilities and ships for evidence of an improper oil discharge.
“A forensic analysis of oil samples from approximately 30 sources, including the spill itself, and subsurface dive assessment of the port seawalls and basin for any irregularities was conducted. Despite an exhaustive effort, a definitive source for the spilled material was not identified,” according to a press release from U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg.
By Sept. 12, the spill was 99% cleaned, with the remaining oil residue cleaned by Sept. 21. Approximately 20,500 gallons of oil/water mixture and 6.4 tons of oily debris were removed from the site.
“I am pleased that we were able to quickly isolate the spilled material within the port to mitigate impacts to the environment while enabling a focused response and rapid clean-up,” U.S. Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg Commander Capt. Michael Kahle said. “Our investigators worked tirelessly in search of the spill source and the responsible party.”
Coast Guard environmental response specialists leveraged the Oil Spill Liability Trust Fund (OSLTF) to clean up the spill.
“The emergency fund of the OSLTF is used for federal on-scene coordinators to respond to discharges and for federal trustees to initiate natural resource damage assessments,” according to the U.S. Coast Guard website. “The emergency fund is a recurring $50 million available to the president annually.”
Approximately $1.17 million from the fund was spent for cleanup and investigation efforts.
“As part of SeaPort Manatee’s ongoing port inspection efforts, port team members were among the first to notice a visible discoloration within the basin, and immediately notified the National Response Center,” according to a press release sent by SeaPort Manatee Director of Communications and Public Relations Virginia Zimmerman. “The U.S. Coast Guard’s prompt response in deploying boom and initiating its cleanup process has resulted in the complete removal of the material at the port. An endangered species analysis of the area conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration found that no fish or wildlife had been affected.”
“On behalf of the Manatee County Port Authority, I wish to express my appreciation to the U.S. Coast Guard for its tireless efforts in cleaning up and investigating the recent event at the port,” Port Authority Chairman James Satcher said. “While it is disappointing that the investigation could not pinpoint the origin of the material, we are reassured in our proactive response efforts and pleased to learn that it was not identified as coming from a SeaPort Manatee-related source.”
“If anyone has information regarding this spill, please report it to the Sector St. Petersburg command center at 866-881-1392,” Kahle said. “We ask anyone who sees oil or hazardous materials pollution that may impact the water to immediately report it to the National Response Center at 800-424-8802.”
BRADENTON – In response to a preliminary Manatee County commission vote to reduce wetland buffers on Aug. 17, the environmental community is making it clear that scientific evidence backs up the importance of wetland protection.
In a press release announcing a Sept. 26 Value of Wetlands Science panel discussion sponsored by the environmental advocacy group Suncoast Waterkeeper, its executive director, Dr. Abbey Tyrna, began with a quote from County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, who said at the August meeting, “I’m not being shown any data to back up good intentions.”
Tyrna noted that the Aug. 17 meeting had four hours of public comment and included both passion and logic from scientists, engineers, professionals and residents opposing the change.
“(Van Ostenbridge) is just one of the six Manatee County commissioners
in charge of protecting remaining wetlands and aquatic buffers under the Manatee County Comprehensive Plan who claim there is insufficient science to support current policies,” she wrote. “In the face of outright disapproval from their constituents, the board still voted 6-1 (to reduce local wetland buffers), with the only opposing vote coming from Commissioner (George) Kruse.”
On Thursday, Oct. 5 at 9 a.m., Manatee County commissioners will consider adopting an ordinance to amend the comprehensive plan to “achieve consistency with state standards” for wetlands.
The proposed changes include eliminating the 50-foot wetland buffer requirement along inflowing watercourses and reducing wetland buffers from 50 feet to the state minimum of 15 feet and an average of 25 feet for Outstanding Florida Waters and Aquatic Preserves.
“If it’s true that all the Board of County Commissioners need is scientific data, then we are in luck – there are plenty of scientific studies on wetlands and water quality being conducted across the state,” Tyrna wrote.
“This panel is a continued effort to save our wetlands and follows a public petition which has garnered 2,168 signatures and counting,” she wrote. “Other organizations supporting this fight include ManaSota-88, East Manatee Preservation, Waterline Road Preservation Group, Speak Out Manatee, Florida Kids for Clean Water, Manatee League of Women Voters and Manatee Fish and Game.”
The Sept. 26 science panel at the Bradenton Woman’s Club drew more than 150 people including Kruse, the lone voice of dissent in the 6-1 commission vote.
“All we heard on that board (of county commissioners) was there was no science behind this,” Kruse said. “I knew that wasn’t true. It may be one thing to disagree with the science, but the science is definitely there.”
He said he attended the panel discussion an as audience member to hear speakers with firsthand knowledge of wetland science.
“I know there will be at least one vote against this” at the Oct. 5 meeting, Kruse said, referring to himself. “We just need three more.”
Speakers at the Sept. 26 Value of Wetlands Science Panel at the Bradenton Woman’s Club were Ed Sherwood, executive director of the Tampa Bay Estuary Program, A.J. Reisinger, assistant professor of Urban Soil and Water Quality at the University of Florida and Jim Bays, president of Stewards of Our Lakes (SoUL.)
Tyrna moderated the discussion. Each speaker spoke for 15 minutes and the presentation was followed by a question and answer period.
“Tampa Bay is one of 28 national estuary programs established by Congress as estuaries of national significance,” Sherwood said. “We’re interested in protecting wetlands because our estuary is continuing to be urbanized. We only have about 32% of the natural lands undeveloped in the watershed.”
Sherwood said habitats that are key to fish and wildlife have been lost as land development is expected to increase.
“There’s not enough space,” Sherwood said. “A lot of it has already been developed and those opportunities don’t exist. So we need to do our best with what we have now to look at our existing native habitats while looking for new and novel ways to expand our opportunities.”
It’s taking more and more effort to find those restoration opportunities, he said.
“In the past 30 years, we’ve lost about 180,000 acres of opportunity,” Sherwood said. “Development that’s going on has outpaced our ability to restore these key habitats. We’ve converted restorable lands to developed lands. We need to continue to make investments in restoring these key habitats.”
In addition to environmental benefits, Sherwood said the watershed has economic benefits.
“In Manatee County alone, there’s about $70 million in flood protection benefits just from the wetlands over a 30-year period,” he said. “There’s both economic and intrinsic value to these habitats.”
Resinger discussed scientific studies showing the role of stormwater systems role in flood control and the enhancement of water quality.
Bays outlined other benefits of wetland buffers.
“It’s not just the wetlands that are important, but the areas around them,” Bays said. “They remove pollutants, provide water storage and preserve habitat for animals that live along the perimeter.”
Other ancillary benefits include opportunities to grow plants that will mitigate the effects of climate change, provide trails for such activities as birdwatching and have an aesthetic value, he said.
“A 30- to 50-foot buffer is needed to achieve nutrient removal and protect wildlife,” he said.
During a question and answer period, Tyrna read a question submitted by an audience member.
“What do you say to people who do not believe in science to guide decision-making?” she read.
All three panelists agreed that conversation is key.
“I think we live, work and play in the Tampa Bay region because of certain aesthetics,” Sherwood said. “At the end of the day, I think we can have common conversations about what makes Tampa Bay special.”
“You need to figure out connections and reach people where they are,” Reisinger said.
“I would first ask them what is guiding your decisions,” Bay said. “I believe it’s a matter of education and outreach for those folks.”
Meeting attendees received cards with information about the upcoming Thursday, Oct. 5 meeting at the Honorable Patricia M. Glass Chambers at the Manatee County Administration Building, 1112 Manatee Ave. W. in Bradenton, suggesting that parties meet, call or email their county commissioners to register their opposition and attend the meeting.
ANNA MARIA – Mayor Dan Murphy has sent State Sen. Jim Boyd (R-Manatee, Hillsborough) and State Rep. Will Robinson Jr. (R- Manatee, Sarasota) a written response to their continued push for a state-funded Island consolidation study, expressing his and the city commission’s partial support.
“We endorse the study and wish to actively participate going forward in its development. We heartily welcome new ideas which can both reduce taxes as well as provide expanded and enhanced services to our community,” Murphy wrote in the Sept. 29 letter. “With that being the stated goal of the study, you have our whole-hearted support with this effort. Our city opposes both governmental consolidation or de-annexation (elimination) of the local governments on our Island.”
Murphy’s letter serves as the city’s formal response to the Aug. 21 letter that Boyd and Robinson sent to the three Anna Maria Island mayors informing them that the legislators’ pursuit of a consolidation study conducted by Florida’s Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) remains active. OPPAGA is a research arm of the Florida Legislature and provides data, evaluative research and objective analyses that assist legislators in their budget and policy deliberations.
STUDY DELAYED
Study requested
On Jan. 12, the Manatee County Legislative Delegation that consists of Boyd, Robinson, State Sen. Joe Gruters (R- Manatee, Sarasota), State Rep. Tommy Gregory (R- Manatee) and State Rep. Mike Beltran (R- Manatee, Hillsborough) unanimously supported requesting an OPPAGA consolidation study be conducted before the 2024 legislative session begins in January 2024.
Sen. Jim Boyd supports a consolidation study. – Flsenate.gov | Submitted
On Jan. 19, the delegation members sent a letter to Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo requesting an OPPAGA study to be completed by Sept. 15.
“The study should focus on the potential benefits of combining the three municipalities of Anna Maria Island, which encompasses the cities of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach. The study should analyze the existing municipalities and present any and all options for future government structure on Anna Maria Island,” the delegation letter said.
That letter stated all three Island cities experienced significant population declines between 2000 and 2020, with Anna Maria’s population decreasing by 46%, Holmes Beach’s population decreasing by 39% and Bradenton Beach’s population decreasing by 39% during that 10-year period.
“If all three cities were combined, their population would bring the resident population to a state ranking of 478 out of 950,” the letter noted.
Study delayed
On Jan. 30, Boyd and Robinson met with Murphy, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie and Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth and agreed to give the mayors some time to develop ideas on how to consolidate some of the similar services each city provides.
On Aug. 21, Boyd and Robinson sent a letter to the three mayors informing them that the delegation was resuming its pursuit of an OPPAGA study. That letter stated the ma
Rep. Will Robinson Jr. supports a consolidation study. -Myfloridahouse.gov | Submitted
yors had not presented any “implementable concepts” regarding the potential consolidation of police, building department and public works department services in order to help lower the rising property taxes paid by Anna Maria Island property owners.
“We tabled the OPPAGA study in good faith to allow you the time to find better ways of coordination and present such to the delegation. Unfortunately, we have not received any major update so far,” Boyd and Robinson stated in their letter. “Please be assured that the delegation, and the authors of this letter, have not made a decision on consolidation or de-annexation while we await your response. We would like to receive your response prior to our delegation meeting scheduled for Oct. 5. Should we not hear back from you before the delegation meeting, we will move forward with our request to OPPAGA.”
The Manatee County Legislative Delegation meeting will take place at Bradenton City Hall in downtown Bradenton on Thursday, Oct. 5 from 8:30 a.m. to noon.
City’s response
Murphy first addressed Boyd and Robinson’s letter during the Aug. 24 Anna Maria City Commission meeting.
After noting that he met with Chappie and Titsworth earlier that day, he said, “Unanimously, we agreed that the right thing to do is to embrace this study. If this study can reduce our taxes, and if it could also enhance and improve the scope of services to the residents of this Island, we’re all in. The scope (of the study) should not be the consolidation or the elimination or the de-annexation of the three municipalities on this Island.”
According to Murphy, each of the three Island mayors are submitting their cities’ written responses to Boyd and Robinson.
In his Sept. 29 letter, Murphy addressed the loss of full-time residents referenced in the delegation’s letter to Passidomo.
“Even though our cities are small in permanent population, our actual population is six- and seven-fold higher in reality. With over 70% of our dwellings being upscale vacation rental homes, our real population continues to grow at a rapid exponential rate while our permanent resident population declines. We struggle to meet the demands and expectations for services to this growing upscale community and we feel this study will help us proactively meet those increased demands and expectations head-on,” Murphy wrote.
“On the other hand, our primary concern with governmental consolidation is a loss of our individuality. Each city on this Island presents a distinctly different environment to full-time residents and visitors alike. Speaking for the city of Anna Maria, we have long been, and we remain, a cultural and quiet residential bastion on the Island,” Murphy wrote.
His letter referenced the Island Players theater, the Anna Maria Island Historical Society and historical museum, The Center of Anna Maria Island and the City Pier as Anna Maria-based entities. It also mentioned the city-sponsored Veterans Day Parade, the Memorial Day veterans’ recognition ceremony, the seasonal farmers market and the free movies at City Pier Park that are unique to Anna Maria.
“These differentiators make our city a cultural and residential jewel for locals and visitors. Our concern is that all of these cultural differentiators would become lost through a governmental consolidation process,” Murphy wrote.
“Combining these three unique and culturally diverse communities into one ‘vanilla community’ would result in the loss of the most valuable asset our Island offers, our diverse cultural differences. One size would not fit all in this instance,” he wrote.
BRADENTON BEACH – Longtime Bradenton Beach visitor and homeowner Judy Kuhlman passed away on Sept. 23 at the age of 81.
Judy was born in 1942 in Fremont, Ohio and was laid to rest in the Harris-Elmore Union Cemetery in her hometown of Elmore, Ohio on Sept. 30.
Judy and Dick Kuhlman enjoyed 59 years of marriage. – Submitted
Judy is survived by her husband, Richard “Dick” Kuhlman, her son, Bret Richard Kuhlman, his wife, Dr. Stephanie Kuhlman (Liebmann) and two grandchildren, Luke Richard Kuhlman and Jilian Rose Kuhlman. Judy and Dick celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary on Sept. 5.
Historic cottage
In the late 1940s, Judy’s grandparents, Floyd and Florence Myers, purchased a 29-foot 1948 Airstream trailer, trailered it to Bradenton Beach and parked it on a vacant beachfront lot they bought at 2214 Gulf Drive N. The Kuhlman’s still own the trailer that remains in place today, surrounded and engulfed by the 1,180-square-foot beachfront “3 Pines Cottage” Floyd gradually built around it.
Floyd and Florence Myers brought their Airstream trailer to Bradenton Beach in the late 1940s. – Wagner Realty | Submitted
“The trailer is still inside the house. It’s our kitchen. Florence decided she couldn’t live in an Airstream so he added a living room, a bedroom, a bathroom, a second bedroom and a porch. This all happened between 1947 and 1955. Floyd had retired from his truck stop business in Ohio, the A Station, and they were living in Bradenton Beach fulltime.
The 3 Pines Cottage continues to serve as the Kuhlman family’s vacation home and also as a beachfront vacation rental. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
During his time in Bradenton Beach, Floyd Myers was the first president of the newly-formed Annie E. Silver Shuffleboard Club, which later evolved into the still-active Annie Silver Community Center at 103 23rd St. N.
Floyd Myers, fourth from left, was the first president of the Annie E. Silver Shuffleboard Club. – Annie Silver Community Center | Submitted
According to an old newspaper story displayed inside the Community Center, Floyd Myers and Chris VanEss conceived the shuffleboard club and wanted to buy the property from Annie Silver to accommodate the soon-to-be-built shuffleboard courts. Instead, Annie Silver donated the land and Myers, VanEss and P.J. Franzoni are listed as trustees on the warranty deed dated Dec. 23, 1955. Floyd died in 1958 and Florence continued to live in the cottage until her death in 1982.
Floyd and Florence Myers spent their later years in Bradenton Beach. – Wagner Realty | Submitted
“Judy and I started dating in 1959, I think, and we got married in 1964. Judy started coming down in 1948 or 49. She came once or twice a year and sometimes stayed with her grandmother for the summer,” Dick said.
“My first visit was in the spring of 1965. I was in grad school at Ohio State and Judy was working for Chem-Abstracts in Columbus after we both graduated from Bowling Green State University. Being from Northwest Ohio, and growing up near Lake Erie, we really enjoyed it. There was not a lot going on on the Island in those days. There might have been two or three restaurants. There was Trader Jack’s and Pete Reynard’s and very little else. It was quiet and we had a good time. We came down frequently and stayed with Judy’s grandmother. We did that for many years,” Dick said.
Judy and Dick purchased her late grandmother’s cottage in 1983. They also purchased, and many years later sold, the neighboring fishing cottage Judy’s grandparents owned next door at 2216 Gulf Drive N. Built in 1915, the fishing cottage was then renovated by its current owner and renamed “The Love Shack.”
Judy and Dick continued to use 3 Pines Cottage as their vacation home and they also rented it out to others. In 2000, they contracted with Wagner Realty to manage the vacation rental aspects of their property. Wagner Realty has an office directly across the street from the cottage.
Wagner Realty has an office across the street from 3 Pines Cottage. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Regarding Judy’s passing, Wagner Realty Property Manager Lisa Varano said, “We’re going to miss her. They’re probably one of our oldest clients out here.”
Varano said the cottage’s kitchen, a bedroom and a half-bath are still located in the original Airstream trailer.
The 3 Pines Cottage kitchen and dining area is located in the old Airstream trailer. – Wagner Realty | SubmittedOne of the 3 Pines Cottage bedrooms is located in the old Airstream trailer. – Wagner Realty | Submitted
Wagner Realty Marketing Manager Jeannie Flynn said, “Wagner Realty will be forever grateful to Judy Kuhlman and her grandparents for contributing towards a rich heritage in real estate and being part of Wagner Realty’s history since its beginnings in 1939 on the Island.”
The 3 Pines Cottage extends westward of the original Airstream trailer and its wooden ceiling. – Wagner Realty | Submitted
Judy and Dick continued to visit 3 Pines Cottage least once a year, until Judy’s ongoing bout with multiple sclerosis (MS) made those Florida visits too challenging. Dick said they didn’t return in 2022 or 2023, but he plans to visit for six weeks next March.
Well-traveled couple
“Judy developed MS when she was 34. She was a fighter and she fought MS until she died. She was a chemist. She started with Merck in New Jersey. I was with Esso at the time in New Jersey. Before that, she was an Army wife in Germany, North Carolina and Texas. She taught Army kids at an elementary school in Fort Bragg,” Dick said.
“Then we moved to New Jersey and she became a literature scientist for Merck. Then she started her own antique business, ‘Judy’s Bygones.’ Then I changed jobs and we went to St. Louis. We were there 18 years and she became involved in philanthropy. Then I got transferred to Richmond, Virginia. After five years there, I transferred to Detroit and she loved that, being closer to Elmore. I worked there until I retired in 2010 and we moved back to our hometown of Elmore, which is where we started.
“We were gone 50 years and then we came back. We went from Elmore to Bowling Green, to Columbus, to Texas, to West Germany, to North Carolina, to St. Louis, to Richmond, to Southfield, Michigan and back to Elmore,” Dick said, noting their return visits to Bradenton Beach remained constant during those five decades.
At the time of her passing, Judy remained a member in good standing of the Annie Silver Community Center.
“We have them in our living will and trust for when I pass away,” Dick said.
Changing times
Dick mentioned how the taxes and other expenses associated with owning a beachfront cottage have increased over the years.
“The taxes are so bloody high down there. You have to rent the place out or you couldn’t afford it. When we bought the place, the taxes were about $600-$700 a year. Now they’re almost $18,000 a year. And then you’ve got your insurance for $6,000, your water, sewer, electricity, internet, pest control and lawn maintenance. If you don’t earn at least $25,000 (from rentals) you’re in the hole,” he said.
The Kuhlman’s 3 Pines Cottage faces the Gulf of Mexico. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
He also noted another significant change that took place over the years.
“The big change on the Island as far as we’re concerned – and it was a negative and a positive, and mostly positive – was after the storms of 1986 or ‘87 the Army Corps of Engineers later renourished the beaches.”
According to Charlie Hunsicker, the director of Manatee County’s Natural Resources Department, after reaching a renourishment agreement, Manatee County and the Army Corps initiated the first beach renourishment efforts in Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach in November 1992 and completed them in March 1993.
“Before that, there was a seawall 50 feet from our windows, with steps leading down to the water. At high tide, we could hear the water slapping against the seawall. The storms took our seawall out. We had to put a new one in and it cost us about $60,000. Then they renourished the beach to what it is today. The seawall is invisible and it’s under the sand. That was a huge change,” Dick said.
“Before that, the only people that went on your beach was you. There were rock jetties on both sides of our beach and it was very private. Now it’s totally public. You lost your privacy, but on the other hand it brought all this new money in from people who want to walk and jog and go up and down the beach. It’s been a real plus, but I think the old-timers miss their privacy,” he said.
ANNA MARIA – Just past the midway mark in the Island’s adult co-ed soccer fall season, the Moss Builders team is on top and undefeated with a 4-0-0 record. Team Moss Builders in the 8- to 10-year-old league is also undefeated with three weeks of play completed.
With a 2-0-0 record and having completed their bye week, Moss Builders has four teams hot on their heels. Teams sponsored by Adrian Griffin Interiors, La Creperie and Isola Bella Italian Eatery all have one win under their belts. Isola Bella has two ties, while their competitors both have a loss and a tie in the season.
Team Solid Rock Construction had the week off, retaining their 1-1-0 record.
The younger Moss team won by two goals against AMI Coconuts last Tuesday night. Isola Bella Italian Eatery captured their first win against Adrian Griffin Interiors. The Porch team goes into week four looking for their first win after a loss against Le Creperie.
Highlights for the league include the 10 saves by goalie Santiago Cantero for The Porch and a hat trick for Silas Whitehead playing for La Creperie.
Cheesecake Cuties leads the 11- to 13-year-old league by one point over The Gitt Team/KW on the Water with a 1-0-1 record. The Gitt Team has a single win and loss so far in the season.
Solid Rock Construction holds on to third place after a loss to Cheesecake Cuties. HSH Designs continues to work hard on the field despite struggling to get a W.
Jack Zaccagnino, playing for Solid Rock, topped the goalkeeper last week with six saves, but Cheesecake Cuties’ Thomas Holly had five stops. Also with five saves in their games were keeper Austin Guess, playing for The Gitt Team, and HSH’s Cyrus Ryan.
Topping the scoring for the older youth league, Renan Kesten shot four goals for The Gitt Team.
Winning the first game last Thursday night in the adult league, Ross Built Custom Homes got the win from a Sato Real Estate forfeit, the team’s first loss of the season.
Struggling to find their first victory, Pool America lost to Sandbar Seafood & Spirits by one goal. The win was the first of the season for the Sandbar team.
The Gulf Drive Café team won their second game by a single goal against Gulfview Windows & Doors.
Also struggling to put a win in the statistics this season, Slim’s Place lost to Moss Builders 5-2.
Adult goalie accolades go to Charles “Tuna” McCracken with 12 saves for Gulf Drive Café. Coming in a close second was Chris Klotz playing for Pool America with 11 stops.
Solid scoring throughout the league, with all of the teams having a roster of strong shooters, resulted in three players with two goals in their games. Pool America’s Murat Akay, Gulf Drive Café’s Eliza Faillace and Moss Builders’ Dean Hinterstoisser each put two points on the scoreboard for their teams.
Island soccer action continues at The Center with playoffs going into November.
SUN SCOREBOARD
SEPT. 26
YOUTH SOCCER
WEEK 3
8- TO 10-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE
Moss Builders (2-0-0) 3
AMI Coconuts (0-2-1) 1
Isola Bella Italian Eatery (1-0-2) 3
Adrian Griffin Interiors (1-1-1) 0
La Creperie (1-1-1) 3
The Porch (0-1-1) 1
Solid Rock Construction – bye week
11- TO 13-YEAR-OLD LEAGUE
The Gitt Team/KW on the Water (2-1-0) 7
HSH Design (0-2-1) 2
Cheesecake Cuties (2-0-1) 4
Solid Rock Construction (1-2-0) 3
SEPT. 28
ADULT CO-ED SOCCER
WEEK 4
Ross Built Custom Homes (3-1-0) – winner by forfeit
We are kids who live in Manatee County and the surrounding areas. We love our community and our environment. We are sunset watchers. We are kayakers of mangrove swamps, snorkelers of seagrass beds, and sailors of our beautiful bay. These are the things we love, the experiences that have shaped us.
That’s why we are distressed to see our wetlands disappearing and our waters becoming increasingly dirty. We are concerned that we are losing what we love, that the reckless destruction of our environment being committed today will leave us nothing for tomorrow.
We are shocked and saddened that you are considering removing our already inadequate wetland protections. If our wetlands are destroyed, we stand to lose everything we love about our home forever. Decisions like this will define your legacy. Please, do not eliminate the county’s increased wetland buffer requirements.
Brice Claypoole
Manatee County
(Editor’s note: 71 other minors signed this letter)
Anna Maria Island provides more than pristine water and white sand beaches for residents and visitors. As one of Florida’s west coast barrier Islands, it is ecologically diverse and an important habitat for a variety of wildlife.
The Gulf provides abundant fish, mollusks and crustaceans that support a large population of bottlenose dolphins. Manatees, also known as sea cows, graze seagrasses in the Gulf and Sarasota Bay. Manatees have been listed as an imperiled species since 1967 and protected areas have been set aside for them in the Sarasota Bay.
The island is a sanctuary for sea turtles and shorebirds. About 90% of all sea turtle nesting in the United States takes place on Florida beaches. Manatee and Sarasota County host the highest density of loggerhead nests in the Gulf of Mexico. In 2022, there were 453 nests with a record of 35,850 turtle hatchlings and successful crawls to the Gulf. Shorebirds such as black skimmers, least terns and snowy plovers nest on Anna Maria Island from spring through early summer. Research has demonstrated that chronic disturbance from human activity around nesting birds has a negative impact on reproduction according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. Shorebirds need space to nest, rest and feed undisturbed.
Like Anna Maria Island wildlife, visitors and residents depend on the water quality of Sarasota Bay and the Gulf of Mexico and the health of the beaches and they make an effort to maintain the beaches and swimming areas. AMI’s three cities are leading a combined effort to improve local water quality with the Islanders 4 Clean Water campaign. Locals serving with Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring coordinate with county, state and federal efforts to conserve sea turtles and shorebirds. The Wildlife Inc. Education and Rehabilitation Center on AMI rescues and rehabilitates wild animals, and Mote Marine Laboratory cares for manatees, sea turtles and dolphins.
As stewards of Anna Maria Island’s resources and biological diversity, we are learning to make use of the earth’s natural resources, both renewable and non-renewable, in a manner that ensures sustainability and equity into the distant reaches of time. This attitude of stewardship requires full consideration of the potential environmental consequences of all development activities. It compels us to temper our actions with moderation and humility, realizing that the true value of nature cannot be expressed in economic terms. It is important for us to understand the natural world and its role in our collective development – both material and spiritual. Therefore, sustainable environmental management must come to be seen not as a discretionary commitment that we can weigh against other competing interests, but rather as a fundamental responsibility that must be shouldered – a prerequisite for spiritual development as well as the individual’s physical survival.
We must carefully evaluate the environmental impact as well as social requirements before deciding to develop a three-story parking garage on Manatee Beach.
BRADENTON BEACH – In the first of what will be multiple public hearings about an application for a 106-unit resort hotel at the corner of Bridge Street and Gulf Drive, the city Planning and Zoning Board will conduct a hearing on Wednesday, Nov. 1 at 1 p.m. at City Hall.
In addition to the hotel, the proposed project includes a 60-seat restaurant, 2,485 square feet of retail space and 99 on-site parking spaces. The project area extends to Third Street South and would require zoning changes.
City Clerk Terri Sanclemente published notices for the Nov. 1 hearing as well as public hearings before the City Commission on Thursday, Nov. 16 at noon and Thursday, Dec. 7 at 6 p.m. All meetings will be held at City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N.
According to the notices, the hearings will be held regarding an ordinance amending zoning for 1.61 acres at 101, 105 and 117 Bridge St. and 106, 108, 110 and 112 Third St. S., establishing a planned development overlay district within the C-1 and C-2 zoning districts.
City Building Official Steve Gilbert told The Sun in December 2022 that a proposed development carrying a major development designation must be reviewed by the city’s Planning and Zoning Board and then approved by the city commission. Gilbert said multiple land development code interpretations will be required and multiple land use issues will need to be addressed before the proposed development can be advertised for public hearings before the planning board and city commission.
The Land Development Code application for the project was made on Dec. 2, 2022 by property owners Shawn Kaleta and Jacob Spooner. Kaleta is a developer on Anna Maria Island. Spooner is a Bradenton Beach businessman and commercial property owner and a member of the Bradenton Beach City Commission and the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency. As a sitting city commissioner, Spooner would have to recuse himself from any commission discussions and votes related to the proposed hotel development.
With Commissioner Marilyn Maro absent with excuse for an extended period of time, and with Spooner’s recusal, that leaves only three City Commissioner members – Mayor John Chappie and Commissioners Ralph Cole and Jan Vosburgh – to consider the application.
According to Bradenton Beach Code of Ordinances Section 10, however, an affirmative “supra-majority vote,” (at least four out of five members) of the City Commission is required to approve any comprehensive plan amendment including map or text amendments, rezoning, special exception, variance or vacation of any city rights-of-way.
“Luis (City Planner Luis Serna) and I agree that a PUD (Planned Unit Development) process should include an ordinance to apply a PUD overlay on top of the zoning map,” Gilbert said. “As far as our understanding is concerned, the ordinance adopting that PUD overlay will require whatever supra-majority vote the city attorney deems appropriate.”
Any interested party may appear at the meetings and be heard. Copies of the proposed ordinance are on file at Bradenton Beach City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive N., and may be reviewed between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, excluding holidays.
HOLMES BEACH – Only 18 people came out to the Island Branch Library on a stormy Wednesday night to hear what Manatee County Commissioner-at-large George Kruse had to say, but the conversation continued for nearly two hours.
Kruse held his monthly town hall meeting in Holmes Beach and invited anyone who attended to ask him questions. One of the hot topics of the night was the anticipated parking garage at Manatee Beach.
Parking garage
While Kruse said he wasn’t particularly for or against the parking garage, he doesn’t believe that it’s worth the cost to taxpayers or the best use of an estimated $30-50 million.
“We have much more important things to do in this county,” he said. “We do not have the money to do all the important CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) work we need to do. We don’t collect enough in impact fees; we don’t collect enough in FIF (Facility Investment Fees). We need to be focusing on our bridges, we need to be focusing on our major roads, we need to be focusing on Ft. Hamer, so for anyone to tell me this parking garage is even in the top 50 most important things is asinine,” Kruse said, referring to a recent county commission work session where several of his fellow commissioners stated that the Manatee Beach parking garage was a top priority project for the county.
Due to legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis and supported by members of the Manatee County legislative delegation, Manatee County commissioners can go against Holmes Beach city ordinances and the city’s land development code to build a three-story parking garage at the county-owned Manatee Beach, located in the Island city. If it’s built, the parking garage is planned to have 900 parking spaces along with restroom, concession and retail facilities. The project would require the removal of the restaurant, restroom, bar and retail store at the beach, along with the existing 400+ parking spaces.
Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, who is leading the charge to build the garage, said he estimates the garage will take at least two years to build. During that time, no parking, facilities or public access would be available at the popular beach.
Infrastructure and utilities
Another topic of conversation was water.
Kruse said that the county is facing a number of infrastructure issues, including a water shortage and water quality.
“We’re running into a water capacity issue,” Kruse said. “Not tomorrow, but I have to look into the future. You can’t build something in a day.”
He said that the long-term growth going on in the county will eventually create a strain on water utilities. As to the issue of water quality, he said he’s looking for any ideas to help increase water quality in the county in order to help increase water capacity for the county.
He also addressed the issue of the water main serving the north end of the Island that is still being repaired.
“That happened because we’re not maintaining it,” he said of the pipe that fell off the bridge this summer and has since been replaced with a temporary pipe taking up the south side of the sidewalk. “We don’t have the money to maintain it because fees and rates have been kept too low for too long. No previous board wanted to be on the hook to increase something even a nickel because then they’re going to have some negative campaign ad against them saying they raised taxes, so we kept the rates artificially low. It covered the water, but it didn’t cover the maintenance.”
Kruse added that the fees paid by developers that are supposed to help increase capacity and expand infrastructure are also too low. He estimated that those fees are about 20-30% of where they need to be.
Regarding infrastructure, he said that the county was keeping up with maintaining and creating new infrastructure, including roads, until 2008, when the housing market crashed. After that, he said it took the county years to begin collecting impact fees from builders again and by that time it was too late to catch up with all of the work that needed to be done.
“We’ve never caught up from then,” Kruse said, adding that some of his fellow commissioners have delayed a vote on increasing impact fees. Currently, he said the county is charging based on a 2015 impact study that used 2013 data. A new impact fee study has been done, though he said bringing impact fees to a vote has been delayed multiple times. Though it’s now currently slated for discussion by the commission in November, Kruse noted that if the vote is delayed again until December, an argument could be made that the study is now stale and would need to be redone, delaying the vote another six to eight months.
Bridges
On the topic of bridges, Holmes Beach Commissioner Terry Schaefer said that the Cortez Bridge is currently scheduled to be replaced in 2026, pending litigation, with the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue tentatively scheduled for 2029. On both bridges, he said, the Florida Department of Transportation is looking at adding a third lane that would be designated for transit and emergency personnel.
Kruse said the county is considering adding another trolley for the Island trolley’s free transit system. He also said he’s pushing for the county to open libraries at least part of the day on Sundays and run Manatee County Area Transit buses on Sundays, when he said people are off work and can take advantage of the free amenities.
The first cold front is probably still a month or more away, but fish are showing up and now is a great time to prepare for the fall season, getting tackle in order and keeping an eye on the sky for diving birds and breaking fish.
Under those birds, you’ll find Spanish mackerel, little tunny, jack crevalle and any number of other predators that come together to feast on giant schools of baitfish that migrate to nearshore waters in the fall. All will take live bait, lures or flies and can be caught on spinning, bait casting or fly tackle. Except for king mackerel and cobia, most can be landed with light (8- to 10-pound test) tackle, adding to the excitement.
Depending on the species you’re targeting, you’ll want to rig accordingly. Since it’s possible to encounter such a diversity of fish in a single outing, multiple outfits are a good idea. One of the main considerations should be rigging. After a long, hot summer, tackle can fall into disrepair and need to be replaced. However you fish, take care to avoid the number one way fish are lost, improperly tied knots. To ensure you’ll never lose a good fish to inferior knots, moisten and tighten all knots. Properly sharpened hooks and rig outfits with the appropriate bite tippet and leader are also key. Options include wire, monofilament, long-shanked hooks or a combination of these. It’s possible to catch a kingfish without wire, but your odds aren’t good. The same applies with certain exceptions to Spanish mackerel. Mackerel can sometimes shy from the wire. That’s the time to switch to a long shank hook or a heavy (60-pound) monofilament leader. Even then it’s possible to get cut off, but you’ll be guaranteed more action if the fish are feeding.
When using wire or heavier mono for a bite tippet an 8- to 12-inch trace can be tied to monofilament using an Albright Special knot (best) or a swivel. If you use a swivel, use a black one as opposed to silver to prevent fish from mistaking it for forage. American Fishing Wire makes a product called Surflon Micro Supreme that is extremely flexible and kink-resistant. This wire can be knotted to your lure, hook or fly like monofilament; it also provides greater flexibility and less stretch than monofilament. Umpqua makes a product that’s ideal for fly anglers. Their Re-Twistable Haywire Twist wire is reusable and will allow you to change flies in a snap. This is the quickest and most painless system to rig wire for toothy fish. A wire is less likely to deter a bite under low light conditions like early morning, overcast days and late in the day.
One of the most effective ways to find schooling fish in the fall is to look for surface action and diving birds in the inshore Gulf waters. Predators can also be present without revealing themselves around structure, reefs and wrecks, so a few exploratory casts around structure and baitfish schools is advisable. When you find baitfish schools and feeding fish, you can approach them by trolling, drifting or with the use of a trolling motor. Whatever method you employ, never let your boat pass through or get too close to the action. With more and more boats and anglers pursuing feeding fish, they are likely to sound and move away. The best bet is to stay outside the action but within casting distance. If trolling, make wide turns so only your lures pass through the action. On species like little tunny that surface, feed and then sound suddenly, only to resurface yards away, learn to watch hovering birds. The birds track the finicky fish as they move from between baitfish schools.
Live bait anglers target schooling fish in several ways. Anchoring upcurrent from a likely area, they may deploy a chum bag and then toss wounded live baits to draw fish into casting range. This can be an extremely effective method. Those who prefer artificial lures find spoons particularly effective as well as jigs like the DOA CAL or the Berkley Gulp. One of the most exciting and effective types of lures are top water models like the MirroLure Top Dog, the Heddon Zara Spook or the Rapala Saltwater Skitter Pop. Not only is the strike visual and often explosive, but the surface action can attract target species.
Fly fishing is also an effective and exciting way to target fall species from cobia to triple tail, Spanish mackerel and even kingfish. The same rigging applies and top water flies like the Crease fly or Garthside Gurgler can produce some memorable strikes. Clouser Deep Minnows are also a great choice for Spanish mackerel and little tunny. This would be a good time of the year to have a 10- or 11-weight rod rigged with a big black fly should a cobia or late-season tarpon make an appearance.
Whatever your fishing style, take advantage of the great action you’ll find in area waters this fall. If you’re new to the game, consider hiring a guide. It’s a great way to learn the ropes and a great value when shared with a friend. Good fishing!
